It is done.

The Sprint Triathlon is booked and paid for.

I was in two minds tonight about registering, following on from a severe dose of inner thigh chaffing caused by the walking speed warm up on the treadmill. What on earth is going to happen to my legs when I start running? I now have to go shopping for some special sports related undergarments to prevent further damage.

Other sports related apparel that I need to source before the big day:

• Swimming hat (don't know what this is for yet, since I'm completely bald)
  
• Swimming trunks (to replace my current baggy shorts and improve my time)
• Trainers for running (to replace my Tesco's £5 thumpers)
• Running shorts (never owned any before, never run before)
• Running top (never owned one before, never run before)
• Cycle helmet (since they won't let you race without one, and I've never owned one before)
• Cycle shoes or toe clips (to allow speedy transition to the running section)
• Bicycle (since this is really a prerequisite to completing the cycling section)
  

Oh yes, and I'll need to learn how to ride a road bike properly over 20km and I'll also need to learn how to run, then learn how to run for 5k. And I'll need to do all the above in less than 4 months. On the positive side of things, I do already own some swimming goggles and a water bottle.

My current weight is 18 stones and 12 pounds (264 pounds /120 kg)

I wonder how many other entrants weighed in at over 300 pounds less than 3 months ago? Am I mad?

Slimming aid

To help re-boot the weight loss, I've stopped drinking during the week, hic. I've also severly cut back on food intake this week, boo. I've succeeeded in shifting a very, very stubbourn 2 pounds, hic, but it's not been easy. I've also identified that I truly enjoy a standing climb in the Spinning Class, hic, and that I don't really miss the drink at all, hic.

Friday night has arrived, and after a week without booze, hic, I've realised the weight lossing excercise severley reduces my alchohol tolerance, hic.

Brilliant, ..... hic!

This morning's weight was 19 stones exactly. Keep your fingers crossed that a few beers and a pizza didn't destroy a week's worth of hard work.

My weaker left arm

I have identified during tonight's training session that despite careful guidance by Kristy regarding the importance of balancing my muscular training on either side of my body, my right arm is still stronger than my left. Please, no muffled schoolboy sniggering. It could have been quite serious.

The second set of 20 reps of Gym Ball press ups (thighs on ball, body straight, arms on floor) went into extra time, brought on by the inability of Instructors to count properly. You know - the stutter count, the 5, 4, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, ...... 1 syndrome. I press up'd to failure and took a moment to catch my breath.

To quicken the dismount process, I gave a mighty push to force my body back over the ball and come smoothly to rest on my knees. Unfortunately, might right arm was working at about 50% capacity, but my left could only muster around 10%. This has the unfortunate effect of adding rotataional energy to an already tricky manouevre. I flipped off the side of the ball like a greased up seal with only one flipper. NOT very elegant. Had it not been for Kristy's valiant effort in halting my rotational progress, I fear I would have taken out the water fountain.

Current weight is 19 stones 2 pounds. (268 pounds / 121.5 kg)

Thin face

By the number of comments I've received along the lines of "you can really see it in your face", I judged that I should have a closer examination in the mirror. I have deduced that you can really see it in my face.

That's 2 stones knocked off so far, but more importantly, it's staying off. This is all due to around 45 to 60 minutes of intensive exercise each weekday, and probably more importantly down the reduction in my food intake. Earlier tonight I even spat out a chocolate that wasn't particularly interesting, rather than continue shovelling it down. That, quite frankly, amazed me. I had an extra Whisky to celebrate :-)

Current weight is 19 stone 5 pounds (271 pounds / 123 kg).

Naked New Year

It's a Christmas Miracle!

There are few people in this world who would be happy that they "only" weighed 20 stones. The first category that springs to mind are retired Sumo wrestlers.

After shedding shoes, fleece, jeans, socks and boxer shorts, I can confirm that I am indeed still under 20 stones. Of course I looked ridiculous standing on the scales, but the needle clearly pointed directly to the line marking "20 stones". Being an optimist, I regard my actual weight as being just under the mark, since I ate breakfast less than 20 minutes previously.

This is quite a remarkable feat, considering there were 3 big meals, 3 bottles of Whisky, a couple of crates of beer, a selection box of chocolates and more than a few handfulls of crisps in the past week. Quite remarkable.