As you probably know, this summer I and a group of my friends are going to walk the 78 mile long Dales Way footpath in aid of the Joseph Salmon Trust. As you also probably know I am possibly the most unfit man on the face of the planet. These two facts are not particularly compatible.
There are now 6 months and 14 days left until we set off, and I need to get a move on getting myself ready for it. As Oli so politely put it the other day, most of us need to get in shape for the walk; whereas I need to change my shape. And despite all my protestations to the contrary it’s going to take more than having lite mayonnaise with my half roast chicken and taking the occasional saunter down the canal path.
I weighed myself yesterday and was faced with an unpleasantly high number. It was like looking at my bank statement, but in reverse. Oh why can’t I live in Bizzaro world? Still, there is time to do something about it and today marks the start of the official Dan Dietâ„¢. Basically it’s a combination of the Atkins diet and Weight Watchers; so you can eat fat and carbs and still lose weight! A plan with no drawbacks!
Oh OK then, maybe not. What I’m actually going to do is eat more healthily and get some significant exercise at least three times a week. I can’t face going on one of those weird diets like my mum does where you can eat as much cabbage, quail, and hedge clippings as you want; but only during odd numbered minutes.
My goal is to lose a total of 43 pounds, that’s roughly 1-2lbs a week from now until the 23rd of July. I’ve lost similar amounts of weight before, so I know it is possible. I just need to coax my brain into getting obsessed by loosing weight. Not the most pleasant state to be in, but ultimately rewarding I suppose. It needs to be done at any rate. I’ll keep you updated (unless I fall off the wagon of course, then I shall pretend this post never happened).
Cross posted at the Dales Walk blog
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Good luck Dan! I’ve entered a Biggest Loser competition at work to try and drop a few pounds. I’ll just eat better, drink more water, and exercise 3-5 times a week. I wanted to start exercising today but I’m under the weather.
Again, good luck!
Dwayne’s last blog post..“Ground to a halt” or “Busy as a beaver”
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 2:42 am
You just need to coax my brain into getting obsessed by loosing weight? So essentially you need to develop an eating disorder.
Good luck. The key is water.
Sam’s last blog post..Writing About Writing
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Sam - Basically yes, it’s the only way i’ve ever found that works for me. Otherwise I just find myself absentmindedly cramming things into my mouth.
Anyway, i am anorexic. Every time i look into the mirror I see a fat man.
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 4:15 am
I’ll cheer you on from my comfy couch. Good luck!
zoe’s dad’s last blog post..Take a bow…..
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Good luck! Just remember, the key to succeeding at your walk is fitness, not weight. Focus on the former and the latter will happen. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyways.
Tracy’s last blog post..5 Things That Sated My Anglophilia This Week
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Good luck. I need to lose a few pounds too so I can fit into my suits if I ever want to work again.
Darren’s last blog post..Mile Markers
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Good Luck from me too !
I subscribed to the Tesco “Healthy Living” diet (do a google search for Tesco Diets) £2.99 a week for loads of recipes, none of which include Tescos foodstuff, all based on normal grub, beer allowed,3 custard creams a day allowed, just cut out the crap and the whole packet of biscuits I used to eat every day.
I have huge stir fry’s most nights now, have never felt hungry once and have lost 16 lbs so far - I was also a large number on the scales and am now halfway to what I want the number to be.
Gary’s last blog post..Blagging from Norman Rockwell
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Man good luck with that - I’ve got to loose about 15 kilos myself which is something I’m going to write about in the next couple of days. I’m thinking that I’m going to have bribe myself:
Four trips to the gym = a book
Five kilos lost = DVD box set
mmmmmm
Lee’s last blog post..Jack Bauer vs Jason Bourne
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
bribing should work.
My parents are on a diet. It works for them, but I’m more of the ‘eat healthy’ and exercise type. But then again I don’t cope with overweight..I think I actually lóst weight by not being able to do any sport for the last month… Bye bye condition & muscles.
Arjan’s last blog post..The Life Aquatic OST
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I’m on the seafood diet.
When I see food, I eat it.
Avitable’s last blog post..Manna from heaven
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Hey Dan, I’m thinking of losing weight for the walk too. I have formulated my own diet regime - to lose weight, one must reduce calorie intake from around 2500cals (2500 is to maintain your current weight), by around 500 cals. Also, in order to have a balanced diet of 1500 cals, one must consume boring foods, and not tasty, fried or roasted dishes with lots of fat.This is a safe way.
Reduce by 1000 cals, and you lose weight quicker, but may get ill.
I choose the unsafe way.
I intend to eat a non-balanced diet whereby I receive all of my 1500 calories a day in one sandwich or tasty meal. Perhaps a nice bacon sandwich made with rashers of baCon, fried agg, and a decent spreading of butter. Or maybe a whole roast dinner on a teacake/barm/cob/bap/roll, with extra goose fat.
It is likely that I will suffer gout or perhaps have a mild case of heart attack, but at least I will be slim and happy.
P.S. - I found a really good blog if you like food…
http://www.thefoodpornographer.com/
P.P.S - Good lack Danno.
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Maybe if you just switched from lite mayo to fat-free mayo on your 1/2 chicken that would do the trick.
Seriously though, I’m rootin for ya Dan, I know you can do it!
Jeff’s last blog post..The Traveling Bathroom Showcase
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I’d suggest checking out Bob Greene’s Best Life Diet because it focuses on increasing your fitness level, not just losing weight. He’s Oprah’s diet guy. It has always seemed like a reasonable plan me, but Phase 1 involves giving up alcohol (temporarily), so I’ve never tried it :-0
http://www.oprah.com/health/bob/bestlife/diet/diet_main.jhtml
Good luck!
Donna’s last blog post..That’s all folks!
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
You’ve set some commendable and achievable goals. Good luck! I see success in your future.
on Jan 9th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
This is one of my biggest (haha) resolutions. Good luck Dan. Not that you’re going to need it. I have faith there will be no wagon falling off-ness!
Bec’s last blog post..Will You Marry Me?
on Jan 10th, 2008 at 4:09 am
I wish you good luck. It’ll be tough, but I’m sure you can pull it off. If not it will make great reading for the blog.
on Jan 10th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Dwayne - Good luck back at you. I was planning on going on a walk today, but unless the rain stops I’m going to stay hidden in my house. At this rate I might have to join a Gym as every time I’m able to find the time to get out the weather has prevented me.
Zoe’s Dad - Swine
Tracy - Fitness is the ultimate goal, and so will be the target. But as you say weight loss is a part of that too.
Darren - Or you could buy bigger suits.
Gary - I remember you mentioning the tescos thing on your blog. i might have a go on it. around three years ago I did a weightwatchers online thing which was quite effective, but the subscriptions were very expensive.
Lee - Bribery is an good idea, but my main problem is that I genuinely forget I should be dieting and find myself absentmindedly consuming crap. As I’ve mentioned before i need to get myself obsessed by it for a while so i can change my habits.
Arjan - I don’t think i’ve done any sport for around two years.
Avitable - I’d take that joke to the Antiques roadshow, it must be worth a fortune by now.
Sandip - I’m guessing your roast dinner teacake will be slightly more than 1500 calories.
Jeff - You should write a diet book.
Donna - Oprah? Isn’t she 500lb? Oh wait, that was last week.
Dad stuff - Are there any tall dark hansom strangers there as well?
Bec - I’ve taken a tumble from the weight loss wagon many a time, but I suppose i should try to be more positive.
Jason - Indeed, that’s the best thing about having a blog. Whenever anything bad happens you are pleased because now you have something to write about.
on Aug 11th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
So how did it go? What were the results?
Lose 10 Pounds A Weeks last blog post..Lose 10 Pounds A Week