This is getting serious..............

I've been got at! Paul my PI at the gym has decided to up all my exercises.  I had chosen correctly to go for duration rather than effort, but, he says it would be better to do an extra set of repetitions on the muscle work, as in, 3 sets of 12 rather than the 2 sets of 15, that I'm doing. He also put the weight up 10kgs on the shoulder and chest presses and 20kgs on the leg press, he lengthened the time on the cycles too. I managed to do 2,572 metres in 12 mins non stop on the rower at an average 29 strokes per minute (that's 348 strokes), at the highest resistance, which thank god he can't do anything to! The TGS Key isn't used so I can say I've done what ever I like, but I don't cheat, there's no point!  I'd only be cheating myself, wouldn't I?  I must admit that I am really feeling well and noticing how much easier everyday things are to do.
It's not too long now until we visit Bristol again and I'm really looking forward to it.  We are staying a bit longer than we normally do so we can do a few more things/see a few more people while we are there.  We have some presents for the grandchildren and we also need to take Thom out to buy his birthday present.  Then when we return it'll be time to start for CHRISTMAS! Not sure yet when I'll be able to get to Bristol with those presents, hopefully a long weekend will fall on my duty around the end of November early December (or we might even get a visit around then)
Although I'm enjoying being back 'on the buses' I am finding it tiring doing different shifts every day but I suppose I'll get used to it again, it's also nice having a bit more money coming in.  It would be nice if we had a better fleet of vehicles as we seem to be the dumping ground for all the other depots rubbish.  Then head office moan about how much money Jesmond spends on vehicle repairs/maintenance, what else do they expect.  Our duties change for the third time on 4th September since June, as we have acquired some school runs and are losing some early morning /evening Nexus sponsored services due to cuts in spending by the LPTAs

A nice surprise for me

I was sat here at the computer entering some information into my weight watchers' chart, when I decided to see how much I'd lost in total.  To my surprise I have actually lost 15% of my original weight from when I started this diet/exercise regime back in the middle of March.  Given that I gave myself a year to get to about 20%, I think I'm doing rather well.  If I can keep the pace going I'm on target for around a 35% loss by March next year, which is wonderful and would take me down to about 15 stones of drooping wrinkly flaps of skin!

Good !... but should have been better!

Last night's weigh in was good news but not as good as it should have been. I had a loss of half a pound which earned me another seven pound loss (3 stone so far) I think the problem could be that I'm now going to the gym more and probably building up muscle as well as burning fat, so I've changed my strategy at the gym.  I'm now doing slightly longer duration but dropping the resistance/weight. Which all means the heart rate stays higher longer but less overall effort needed.  Hopefully this will burn more body fat without building up too much muscle.  Time will tell, anyway my next target is 50lbs lost by the end of August which will take me down to just over 19st.  I then have about 4 weeks to get down to my next target of 18.5st by the time I go to Bristol in September.

It's happened!

Well what a great week this has been!  Firstly I've finally joined the gym as an 'unlimited use' member, I've also dropped below 20stone, that's a loss of over 19kgs since the middle of March.  I told Lindsey at WWs that I will be giving it up in 3 weeks time when the vouchers run out, she says we'll talk about that before they run out (she has some digression over payments/weighings) think she wants to keep me going so I can get my certificate for losing 50lbs (don't know what she gets out of it, apart from continuing to see me of course lolol)  Also looks like the 'ole bank account has finally stabilised since I went onto weekly pay and had to go 2 weeks without any and above all I'm feeling great! :-) Paul the Depot Controller is being a bit of a pain, I've got Sat, Sun & Mon rest days this weekend and he puts me down to work Sunday 9 till 7! Shame it's worth so much money otherwise I'd tell him to stick-it!

GYM REVIEW DAY!

Today was the day I was NOT looking forward to as it means the end of my cheap gym sessions.  Yes! I've had my review!  Everything is good news, BP is down to 138/91 from 149/99, my resting heartbeat is down from 77 to 67 bpm (and that was after climbing a flight of stairs to get to the gym) my body fat is down from 55 to 44% and my BMI is down just over 5 points.  I've also lost over 16 kilos in weight, even my lung function had greatly improved though there was little change in the 'grip' test.  Needless to say Paul my instructor was extremely pleased at the results in such a short time (but not as pleased as me of course!).  All I have to do now is decide whether to pay £31.00 a month for unlimited sessions or £4.50 a time on a casual basis.  I'll probably take the first option then if I can't get enough sessions in to make it worth while I can go to casual visits.  Really looking forward to see what the next 18 weeks bring!

Target hit!!

Well I've done it! I've reached my 10% weight loss goal plus 1lb making 33lbs lost to date in 15 weeks ...... looking forward to the next 15 weeks to see if I can hit my new 10% target of 28 lbs. Hoping to be down to about 18st 7lbs or close to by the time I go to Bristol in September.  Got a couple of extra cheap weeks at the gym because Paul(my exercise guru) is on a fortnights hols, so it's going to be 3 or 4 weeks before I can have my re-assessment. The new job is going well, not had too many problems so far.  Surprised myself with how quickly I've picked up the routes considering I do not know Newcastle at all!

another milestone reached with another on the horizon!

Went to Weight Watchers tonight, lost 3 pounds this week, which has taken me 2 pounds past the 2 stones lost marker and left me 2 pounds short of my next goal, which is 10 per cent lost off my initial weigh in total.

It's started!

After twelve weeks my body has got used to me dieting and is starting to reject it! I'll have to give up for a week and then start again on even lower points, happens every time but usually sooner than this. The receptionist at the local medical centre is useless! I took my second Weight Watchers referral letter round last Tuesday week and she's lost it!
Almost time to start driving service buses again, last day at the training school today then depot familiarisation tomorrow. Had a refresher course on the Wayfarer ticket machine yesterday, so many different fares up here it's overwhelming! Still, it will be great to get back behind the wheel and on the road again.

Good and Bad!

The good news is I have finally started for Arriva (30th May), the bad? well after losing only 2lbs last Monday (23rd) this week I put 1lb ON! Last night I went into Newcastle to have a few pints with some friends from Park & Fly as a farewell gesture, we had a great time although most couldn't make it. We are now waiting to arrange another so the 'missers' can make it. Had some lovely comments left on my leaving card and I know most are genuinely sorry to see me go.

Y VIVA ARRIVA!

Well I finally got the phone call I've been waiting for this morning. I start officially for Arriva North East the day after I finish at the airport. Just as well, as Arriva pay is weekly but a fortnight in arrears, which sounds a bit awkward to me but still, it will be very strange going back to weekly pay for the first time since about 1988.
I've arranged an exit interview with the HR dept for Thursday afternoon which should prove interesting. Not that I think they will take much notice of what I say but to see how far they go to defend the management.
I am still going to the gym when ever I can and the Weight Watchers meetings, hope to hit the 28lb loss target tonight, if I don't then it should be pretty close to it, last week was 23lbs so it will probably be around 26 or 27 tonight knowing my luck, still ANY loss is better than a gain.