MistahSinclair - Less Fatter, Mo’ Faster!

Ok, so it’s been a long time since I posted anything…many moons to be honest (April maybe?).

In the meantime the company I was with filed chapter 11 (yes, again) driving another long distance move.  This one feels like a good one though (the last didn’t).

Anyway, cutting a long story short, I’ve moved from the north east to the deep south - Louisiana to be exact.

Even though I’ve not posted anything in a long time I’ve still be keeping myself busy in the gym.  During the past 6 - 8 months I’ve average an hour a day for 4 days a week in the gym…not too bad, but not much direction to it all.

Since the move the average has gone up to about 5 days a week and I’ve been able to get some time in on the bike.

During my time in CT I got about 50 miles in on the bike, all over the course of about 3 weeks.  Since making the move a couple of months ago I’ve put in about 120 including the longest ride of my life…then the next weekend I went further.

Until this move my previous longest ride was 37 miles back in the days when I was at university in Scotland.   About 3 weeks ago I pushed it out to 42 miles on a seriously windy day where I shouldn’t have even been on the bike.

The following weekend I put in 61 miles on a much nicer day.  The wind was still up, so my average was only about 18mph, but that was a good long ride.  Since then I’ve not been out at all.  I had the flu for a week followed by Christmas related activities.

So, what’s going on now?  Well it’s new year and time for a new goal!

The goal is a Duathlon which is happening in early March.  2 mile run, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run.  I know it’s not a lofty goal, but I need to start somewhere.

Ok, that’s the end of the update for now…more to follow.

Laters

Having testing my body fat analyzer I went back to my normal weigh-in day of Thursday…first thing in the morning.

Taking my weight and body fat they came out to be 189 and 18.6. So these are my baselines to track and work from.

Health:

• Date: 05/01/2008
• Weight: 189
• Mood: Normal
• Sleep Hours: 7
• Sleep Pattern: Normal
• Body Fat: 19

Since I’m fumbling a bit with weight loss goals - meaning I don’t really have a specfic goal any more - I decided to buy myself a body fat analyzer.

As far as I know (you don’t need to correct me if this isn’t a perfect statement) they’re pretty decent at estimating body fat % when compared to the skin fold tests.

When I started going to the gym again (about 2 months ago now) I was right about 184lbs. Following 2 months of working out, without much change in diet, I weighed in last week at 188. My assumption would be that I had built muscle in that time rather than gaining fat. The problem here is: it can only be an assumption.

The scale I use is a digital job that allegedly measures body fat %, but in reality it only measures BMI. Following a lot of weight loss it tells me that I’m still in the very high fat range for my weight. Whilst this could be true I don’t think it’s likely…this goes back to my assumptions.

So…the body fat analyzer arrived in the mail today (Omron one…same as they have at my gym). Tomorrow morning, Thursday being my normal weigh in day, I’ll try it out proper and start tracking body fat.

Based on an analysis right now my body fat is at about 17.7%. That works out to be 33.28lbs of fat. Now it’s time to figure out where I want to aim with a goal.

Depending on the study you read 17.7% is OK. Certainly nothing to write home about (I’ll write it here instead) but acceptable.

Ok, so a goal would be 12% body fat (just to put a number out there) which would mean a little over 11lbs of fat shed - without gaining any muscle back.

This is going to be interesting to track. I might even go to the length of tracking the exercise I do and seeing what effect different combinations have (if any).

TBC…

Well, it’s almost one month since we arrived on the East Coast and we’re still living out of boxes and trying to get adjusted.

So far I’ve not been able to get any exercise in, but I am maintaining my weight at around 190 which is encouraging.

The noble steed got here unscathed but hasn’t yet been out on the roads. Once we’ve got some kind of a routine established I’ll start explorin the backroads in the area by bike. Looks like there are some potentially challenging rides nearby…nice 15-20 mile loops out into the country a bit.

I’m also eyeballing a few gym options. Looks like the best time for me to hit a gym would be before work, somewhere closer to the office than I am now. One very good thing stemming from our move is the number of options has increased dramatically…for everything, gyms included.

Anyway, just wanted to write a quicky post!

Laters

The last day of the marathon road trip went pretty smoothly.  Since it was just over half the distance of some other days with decent weather that shouldn’t be a shock.

The second half of Pennsylvania was a huge improvement over the first half…thankfully!  The roads were infinitely better!

From PA we had a short (70 mile) hop across New York state then into Connecticut and down to New Haven.

Some of the running jokes from the journey:

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Every time a horse went past in a trailer I said “Why the long face?”  - actually this is a full time poor joke by me

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As we came into Oregon this exchange happened:

12yr old daughter:  “What are those overgrown black sheep?”
Mom:  “Around here we call them cows!”

Every time we past a herd of cows we pointed out the overgrown sheep to the girl…she didn’t see the funny side after 3300 miles of that!

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Going over a bridge in Kansas the announcement was made “Now passing over the highest point in Kansas”.

This was repeated in southern Illinois and Indianana!

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The midwest had a huge number of adult stores and fireworks stores on the roadside.  This lead to a lot of jokes that shouldn’t be repeated!

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The 4yr old boy told a great many jokes…some were very bizarre and most referred to bodily functions - again not to be repeated!

He also repeated a couple of lines from Underdog  (the movie) which got much airtime on the DVD player on the drive.  His two favorites were:  “Freak!” and “Whoa, whoa, no stripes, they make me look fat!”

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Many jokes were also made about the muttroid (half dog, half mattress - derived from mattroid to describe someone who is half person, half matress - referring to Scout’s many sleeping positions)

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Finally there was the stalking hawk.  Not much of a joke here…we just saw a hawk, many times over during the drive (on lampposts, fences, flying overhead, etc).  Every day really!  Maybe it wasn’t the same hawk every time, maybe it wasn’t…but we know it was…and it was watching us!!!

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Ok, here are a few more pictures from the trip.

  The kids take in the scenery on day 6!!
  Scout takes in the scenery on day 6!!
  Now entering Connecticut!
  World’s Largest Fireworks Store!
  Now entering Ohio
  Downtown Indianapolis
  Sunrise over Kansas - can you see any hills??
  McBreakfast in Kansas, stalked by McHunter Dog.
  McHunter Dog says “Who me?  I’m innocent!”
  Biggest barn in Kansas (so the signs said - may also be highest point in Kansas)
  Erm…something we saw in a truck stop in Kansas
  Snowpacked roads on the way up Monarch Mountain, CO
  Eerie snow blowing across the road outside Gunnison, CO
  Summit of Monarch Mountain

Well, so far as exercise go I’ve done nothing recently!  My eating habits have gone out the window too…all because we’re getting ready to make a cross-country move.

I would guess I’m up 2-4 lbs over the last 3 weeks..not good, but in the greater scheme of things I think this will all be a good thing  (not the weight, the move!).

This Friday we’re heading out the door to catch the 4:40 ferry off Whidbey Island and not looking back.  Day 1 will be a short one, about 450 miles to the in-laws place in Oregon…overnight stay there then pressing on.

The plan is:

Day 1:  Washington to Oregon

Day 2:  Oregon to Colorado (might end up being Utah if the weather is rough)

Day 3:  Colorado to Kansas

Day 4:  Kansas to Illinois (Happy New Year in IL)

Day 5:  Illinois to Pennsylvania

Day 6:  Pennsylvania to Connecticut (and the end of the journey).

That will work out to be around 3,300 miles…driving…with 2 kids, 4 cats, 1 dog, 1 rat and 1 parrot!!  Can you say fun?

I was talking to my dad about the drive yesterday…he lives in the UK where this kind of distance does not compute!  To put it into perspective I decided to look up Google Earth and see what 3,300 miles in a straight line from the UK - my dads house in northern England - does for you (I realize we’re not doing 3,300 in a straight line, but it has more impact that way).

3,300 miles in a straight line…Moscow and back….Kuwait…Baghdad with 700 miles to spare…Nigeria…Connecticut (!!!)…almost to Bermuda (60 miles short).  In other words it’s a long, long way!

Once we’re on the other side life should get back into some kind of a normal routine…going to work, coming home, eating better, getting to the gym (or out on the bike if the weather is ok - bit more snow there though)…I’m looking forward to it!!

My plan is to give a day by day log of the trip.  Sadly I don’t think Day 1 will get a blog, but all the others will when we’re in hotels with internet access.

Merry Christmas all!

I suppose I should be giving thanks that all I gained was 0.4lb.  I don’t think the actual turkey, etc, would cause any problems but the rest of the sweet stuff!

Combine the food with the in-laws in town and no time to exercise it wasn’t too bad.

Today looks like it has potential to be a good riding day.  It is a bit cold (certainly the ground was frozen when I took the puppy out to potty this morning) but looks like it might stay dry.

Health:

• Date: 11/29/2007
• Weight: 189.4
• Mood: Normal
• Sleep Hours: 7
• Sleep Pattern: Normal

Ok, maybe that’s re-tire…re-tyre?

Stick some new rubber on the bike!!!

Did the rounds of the local bike shops today…both of them…looking for new tires and decided I can’t buy them locally.  The best single tire deal I could get local was $37 for a 700cx25 and $45 for 700cx23…good grief.

I bought a PAIR online, including 2nd Day Air shipping for $41.  Based on that kind of difference I’m just wasting my time even looking.  Granted I will wait a couple of days for them to show up, but I will get quality tires and save myself $50.  Being that I’m Scottish I just can’t bring myself to spend the extra!

Weighed in yesterday at 189 for the second week in a row.  Not really surprising I didn’t lose anything during the past week and I likely won’t over the next week (no bike in action and Thanksgiving easting).

Health:

• Date: 11/23/2007
• Weight: 189
• Mood: Normal
• Sleep Pattern: Disturbed

…to reach 50 for the week.

Since I missed 50 last week  (due to being 3000  miles from my bike) I really need to get myself out there and get there this week.

Next week I should be ok as I’m already planning the routes and days to ride them.  That is weather permitting though.

Yesterday should have been a 20 mile day but the rain was lashing down all day and it didn’t motivate me!

Today is dry, although cold and grey…both of which I can live with.

Well, this morning I hit my weight target.  189lbs! (13.5 stone, 85.7kg)

Now that I got to the goal I can see clearly that a new goal needs to be set as I am pretty far from being in tip-top condition.

Right now goals are very difficult to set.  Since I’m not sure exactly where I’ll be in the future, or at least the time frame when I’ll be there, it makes local goals tough.  Similarly with weight I’m not sure that a number is a good goal to set.  I should be shooting for a body fat percentage or similar measure.

Until I get my head wrapped around what I want to achieve I’ll just keep going in the same direction. 

Health:

• Date: 11/15/2007
• Weight: 189
• Mood: Normal
• Sleep Hours: 8
• Sleep Pattern: Better than Normal