Fat and Unfit

Learnt a blood pressure fact

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1300

So it is fair to say that the fitness thing hasn't been going too well in recent months, as with the blogging too I guess. There are always a million excuses but lets just say that I am mightily disappointed that there are still only 24 hours in the day. Anyway, as I am finally getting a level of balance back into my life, I went to the Dr this week to just get a basic check up and found out from her something pretty interesting.

Last time I had a fitness test at the gym, I had got a little worried about my blood pressure. It seemed quite high. This time at the Dr's it was amazingly low, I'm talking 90 over 42. When I said that I had been worried about because of the gym test, she asked me how big the cuff used to take the measurement was. Apparently to get an accurate reading the measuring cuff needs to be at least 66% the length of your upper arm. Other you will get high blood pressure readings. At 6'4" (193cm) my upper arm is 33cm long and as you guessed it, the gym measuring cuff didn't even cover half my arm, hence the high reading.

Evidently I have always had a low blood pressure, based on my history with my Dr so, nothing to worry about there I guess.

Source: Learnt a blood pressure fact

Learnt a blood pressure fact

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1300

Source: Learnt a blood pressure fact

The new inspiration on the block

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200

I am blessed to work with a lot of truly amazing people and these last few weeks have been no exception. A few days ago we went live with stage one of a new website for Kate Nankivell's new Force of Nature site. For those of you who haven't been as blessed to meet Kate, let me tell you that Force of Nature is a perfect description of who she is. Check out her site for a full description of her achievements, but for someone like myself who currently find himself totally off course in terms of my fitness goals, it is great to come across someone like Kate to inspire me to get back on track.

Thanks Kate.

Source: The new inspiration on the block

Weight Management Product for Athletes

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300

Trijuice have just put up an interesting article about a new meal replacement and hunger supression product designed especially for athletes. The weight management product for athletes, is the first time I have come across something that specifically targets athletes.

It's an interesting concept and something I think I am keen to try it. Being the type of person who sits in front of a computer way too long and works way too much, I don't tend to put a lot of thought into my meals so I know that I don't eat very well. Probably the reason I'm fat.

It seems to take the approach of having lots of all the stuff we should be having like healthy fats and fibre that are like the body's own appetite switch. The website makes are good argument and definitely worth reading. Besides if there is anything we can take from the athletes that have signed up to be involved then, it must be unbelievable.

Source: Weight Management Product for Athletes

Achieving goals and milestones

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1200

As training progresses achieving goals progresses. What I mean is that it is not possible to put in the training and not be achieving a few milestones along the way.

Following on from my last post, I have started to get a little consistency in the training. The goal for this week was to do at least 30 mins each day with Sunday off for recovery and reward and I know it is only Wednesday but so far so good. But thing I want to talk about today is ticking off those little milestones.

Today I did the short run loop around the block and broke 30 mins for it for the first time since I started training. Now, the goal for this loop is 25 mins, but of course to get to that speed I need to first get to 30 mins, and today I did it.

Acknowledge the Milestones

Not only is it important when you are trying to form a habit to praise yourself for each time you reaffirm that habit but it is just as important to take time and praise yourself for each milestone that you get. I know this sounds very airy fairy but if you are coming from a place where you didn't have any discipline in regard to the goal, then every bit helps.

The real aim here isn't so much the reward but the acknowledgement that you are making progress.

Don't over do it

It is very important to not over celebrate your goals. My Aunty is over weight and has been going to Weight Watchers for a few years now. In the total time she has been going she has achieved several weight loss milestones. But today doesn't really weigh any less than when she started. Why? Because the milestone she keeps getting is the 10% weight loss. The celebration is so great, and lasts so long that afterwards, she has nearly gained all the weight again and it back at the starting line.

So when achieving the little milestones take time to acknowledge those achievements and give yourself a little reward, but quickly focus on the next one.

I don't know who coined this phrase but it is a good one. "Success is a journey, not a destination". For me, that means have your eye on the next goal as you are achieving the current one.

Source: Achieving goals and milestones

Forming new habits and self discipline

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1200

Forming new habits can be very difficult. I have been back from Europe now for almost two months and I really have been struggling to get any kind of consistent training in. If you are reading this blog cause you relate to my situation then you'll understand. I haven't been waking up when I should, been focusing on work too much, you name it I have done it to avoid training. Basically my self discipline hasn't been there.

Of course this isn't anything new. I mean, I am where I am because of my lack of self discipline and time management. I have always been the last minute cramer. You know the type, if the assignment is due tomorrow, don't start it until after dinner and the TV shows are watched. Being a fit and healthy person does afford you that luxary. In fact my results at Ironman NZ 2005 will atest to that. With a month to go I realised that I wasn't ready and so did a few big sessions as a means of cramming the training in. I got to the finish line but if I look deep inside, I can't say that I am proud of the achievement.

The "Farmer" approach

No being fit takes what I call the "farmer" approach. You need to sow the seeds at the right time so you can harvest the crop come race day. In terms of being fit and putting in good performances on race day this means having the discipline to get out the door and do what you should do at the right time.

What's the problem?

So ultimately, what is it that is stopping me from doing it. I'll admit that right now training hurts. Not just in the way that training should hurt but also mentally it is tough. Riding the bike up a hill in granny gear and barely turning the pedals over when you used to be able to get up the same hill averaging 30km/h is not only physically tough but mentally it is demoralising. It is very hard to make yourself carry on with the session let alone get excited about the next one when you mentally take a beating each time you go out.

What's the answer?

So, if I go back to my trainer days, when I used to teach and train real estate agents, I would tell them that to create a habit you first need to take some enjoyment out of it. It is funny how many times I should listen to my own advice.

So my plan is to do exactly what I used to tell them what to do. When I finish a session, I will smile and give my self a pat on the back. "Well done Jai, great session, doesn't that feel so good to have done that." This sounds cheesy I know, but trust me it works. It is one of the methods I used to get over a fear of public speaking many years ago. Secondly, I am going to set myself some rewards. If at the end of each week I have done 80% of my planned sessions then I will get something that I want, be it pizza for dinner, have a few drinks one night, whatever will motivate me that week.

On a side note you may ask why I am only setting it at 80%? Well this is for two reasons. First, using the principles of SMART goals (I will blog about these at a later date), I need to make the goal realistic. Second, my training program that I have written for myself, is based on the concept that some sessions can be missed. This is something I have learnt from the many training books I have read over the years. If the session missed is a key one then it is rescheduled to a day where a none key session was. It the session was not a none key one, a short easy recovery type one, then it is just missed. Because no more than 20% of sessions fall into this category, then the 80% which are key sessions still get done.

So that's the plan for the next 3 weeks, they say a new habit takes 3 weeks to form, though more ingrained habits take longer. I will check back in to let you know how it goes.

Source: Forming new habits and self discipline

Thoughts on drug cheats

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1200

As previously mentioned I have been lucky enough to be at the Tour de France this year and of course there has been drug problems again. Everybody says they are doing everything they can and that they are catching people so therefore the sport is getting cleaner, and it probably is but I have a proposal to really get sport clean.

I'll start with cycling then apply it to all sports. First if a rider tests positive then the whole team is made to leave the race if it is a stage race or not allowed to start the next race. Once it is proven, with a procedure that would stand up in a normal court of law (yes I am pointing at you, labs that stuff up the procedures), the rider in question gets a two ban and it can't be changed changed at the national level. Further the entire team the rider is from gets a 6 month ban, meaning that no member of the team, including mechanics, sponsors anyone that works with the team is not allowed anywhere near any sporting event.

This might sound a little harsh but cycling is a team sport, if just one member cheats then the whole team has cheated.

How to apply this to other sports. Easy. If a country has two or more athletes positive in any 4 year period, then the entire country is banned from the next Olympics. There are too many countries that turn a blind eye to drugs in sport and give soft sentences to their athletes that do test positive. As with my cycling proposal, if you start punishing the people who have the power to stop the cheaters and don't then they will really start to care about making sure their athletes are clean.

Source: Thoughts on drug cheats

Alpe d'Huez a Dream come true

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1200

A dream come true. For almost as long as I have followed the tour, I have wanted to be on Alpe d’Huez to watch a stage of the Tour de France and today I did it. Not only did I do it but I think today might just have been the defining moment of the tour. I am definitely still praying for Cadel to come back in the time trail but he has done so much work I fear he will be too tired.

We decided to do it properly and left where we were staying, L’Isle sur la Sorgue in Provonce, a little after 4pm and headed for the Alpes. It was 300km away and on a good day would take a little over 3.5 hours. However, I knew that it would be busy getting onto the mountain, so we allowed for 6 hours, so we could also stop and get some dinner on the way.

The speed limit on the motorways is 130km and what’s more, the roads make you feel like you are doing less than 100. It is had to explain how good the motorway system is in France. You pay tolls, but you really don’t mind, since even in heavy traffic, you easily flow at the speed limit. Arriving at l’Bourg-d’Osians, at the base of the Mt, there were people everywhere. After a quick toilet stop (we weren’t sure we would get another one for 24hours) we started up the mountain. My plan was to be about 4km up it near where the zig zag’s start, but all spots were taken, so we kept heading up. The party on the mountain was well and truly in full swing by the time we were there. After going past the 4km to go sign (to the top, around 9km up the mountain), we were sent to the right up the other end of the top loop road. About 2km up this we found a great spot on the side of the road and bunked down for the night. I found it a little difficult to settle down as I was so excited about the next day.

After a little sleep in we headed back down the road to the course and found a great little spot 10m before the 4km to go mark that was elevated and looking down on the road. Finding out what was going on was pretty easy, as across the road was the Alpe d’Huez Moto Club selling drinks with TV showing the race in french. Next to that was a scooter (yes, a scooter) with a little satellite dish showing the race in German and up the road a bit was a massive camper with an English coverage.

The partying all day was amazing. Across from us was this big group from Luxemburg who were supporters of the Schelek brothers, one of which, Frank had recently taking the yellow jersey from Cadel a few days earlier. The overall atmosphere was electrifying. Everybody there for the most amazing thing to come. I am not sure of exact numbers on the mountain that day, but there would have to have been over 500,000. By the time the race came past I was bursting with excitement. The only flag I could get my hands on was a mates All Blacks one so I had that around my neck like a cape. I also wore my green Nike Alpe d’Huez t-shirt that I got in Nimes. Getting myself ready on the inside of the bend in between some parked cars I waited. Sastra from CSC, and the Schelek brothers team mate, had attacked at the bottom of the climb and was the first to come past. As he passed, I took a step back as he was so close I got scared. When Cadel came past leading the main group I stayed were I was and yelled my support for him. I got really close to him trying to get him to hear me over the CSC supporters on the other side of the road. In fact I was so close that I really yelled in his ear. It was so amazing, for me anyway, not sure for Cadel.

I continued to cheer as the rest of the riders went past, calling out names as I recognised different riders. Julian Dean and Robbie McEwen went past together at the front of the Autobus (this is a group cyclists, usually sprinters, that aren’t good climbers. They ride as a group and make sure that they don’t miss the cut off time).

After everyone had past we headed back up to the van and managed to slip into the line of official vehicles so we were off the mountain quite quickly.

I spent most of the drive home talking and reflecting on one of the best days of my life. Even now writing about it is bring a tear to my eye. I have been to lots of live sporting events over the years but the atmosphere and energy on that Mt for something that passed and was over so quickly is something that I will never forget.

Source: Alpe d'Huez a Dream come true

Hello and Goodbye World Heading to the Tour de France

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +1200

This is the first post on my new and first ever blog. On the about page you can read my history and what I am planning. I will have some events and goals pages coming soon so that you will be able to see where I'm going and achieving. I hope that the site will be inspirational and informative. I plan to link and display everything I learn about fitness and more. So enjoy the ride.

Mean while tomorrow I am heading to europe via Singapore. Among other things the big thing I am looking forward to is spending lots of time checking out the Tour de France. This really is a dream come true. In terms of following sports cycling is right at the top of the list and of course the tour tops that.

Being Australian I obviously am a huge Cadel Evens fan. Can he go one better this year? That's the big question. I certainly hope so.

I will have my laptop with me so hopefully will get a chance to blog while I'm away, hopefully with lots of fitness related tour stuff. Au revoir.

Source: Hello and Goodbye World Heading to the Tour de France