My weight loss, lifestyle change and Isle of Wight Challenge (Healthy eating tips appreciated.)

Hi everyone!

My name is Gerard, I’m 33 and from the Steel City, Full Monty country, Sean Bean's back garden - Sheffield! By day I'm a legal adviser for a national charity, volunteer for a local one, amateur photographer and a lover of the great outdoors.

Welcome to my journey as I train in preparation for some serious weight loss, long term lifestyle and eating changes and finally my mammoth 106km non-stop ultra walking challenge, around the Isle of Wight.

Let's get one thing straight here. I'm no ultra-fit athlete or fitness fanatic that regularly enters these competitions, so this is a big thing for me. I also have many bad habits when it comes to eating. I'm no monk when it comes to food and I do let slip often.

I have however lost 2 1/2 stone since August 2015 with some general and sensible changes to my diet, but as I get closer to my challenge I need to start looking at my eating differently. I will be stepping up my training in February and March for the April challenge, and I need to ensure I'm getting what I need, without going overboard.

I have had my struggles and battles with weight loss and my fitness and their related side effects over the years. However I do like to set myself targets and goals to achieve.

So why do something like this I hear you say!? Well for starters I am fed up of not being able to do anything without feeling out of breath, hot, sweaty, tired and being massively embarrassed because of it. I have has relationships end because of my attitude towards my weight, and I am now in a new relationship. I do not want the same thing to happen again.

I recently caught the bug of challenges in 2013 which you can read about in my blog posts, and I do feel that some moral obligations to raising money for charity as well. This gives me some extra drive, in case I didn't need it in the first place.

Trust me, going to the gym at 6.30am and spin classes at 7.15am are not my idea of fun. I'd much rather be sat in the evening in a cosy real ale pub by the fire with a pint, pie, Henderson's relish and some mildly offensive folk band in the corner of the room. That doesn't get me over the finish line in the time I want though, and it doesn't help me with my long term lifestyle changes.

So please follow my progress and posts as I get ever closer to the big day (April 30th if you're interested). Any hints, tips and advice is very much welcome.

I will post some links below, I would appreciate anyone taking the time to read them and maybe even commenting, sharing, donating, etc.

Thanks for reading!

Gerard

gezasaurus.wordpress.com/

facebook.com/gezzyschalleng...

justgiving.com/walk-Gezzy-walk

[Hidden]

Hi

I have started a healthy life style since last week, it's hard but determined to do it this year.

I love food and enjoy a glass of wine, but for health reasons have to get more motivated and make changes in my diet, and avoid the wine section in the supermarket, and get up early and do an exercise DVD.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your comments. Good luck with your endeavours! I agree it's very difficult to get it right all the time. I go by the thought that I'm not a monk, so the odd takeaway pizza, bacone buttie at breakfast or night in the pub won't hurt. 2 1/2 stone lost in 4 1/2 months seems to agree with that. The key for me is not to be too hard on myself if I do slip and realise (to coin an old phrase) it's a marathon, not a sprint!

[Venusflytrap]

Wish you every success. I will share your inspiring post. Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Venusflytrap]

Thank you very much, this is much appreciated!

[Hidden]

Update - I smashed 80km today in three spin class sessions! Need to step up the training now as I only have 11 weeks left to go. I may need someone to carry me over the next two days though, ha!

On another positive note, I have now lost 3st since I started my journey in August/September last year.

I can tell you there is no secret for me. Good exercise, sensible eating (but not calorie counting) and not living like a monk with regards to it all. I give myself bad days and even bad weeks, as this is lifestyle I'm going for, not a short burst.

I have had weekends of beer, pizza and fry ups, and I don't put pressure on myself to try and make it up the next week. I'll make it up over time and when I'm good I know I can have these days without guilt.

Last week I had two really bad days at work and ate nothing but chocolate, biscuits and Greggs, but I still lost 3.4lbs.

For now, it's a big plate of food and some sleep!

[Cymromel in reply to Hidden]

Could you advice me on what you eat etc as I'm desperate for help advice loose weight