Biggest Loser Week 1

“In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time.” ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Last post 24 October – dear me – not good. That just about sums up things in this life that is Lynne.

The Chest infection didn’t clear. Then I got a kidney infection. Then I got another chest infection. Worse was still to come and I got a serious dose of “cant be arsed” and that’s how I ended 2011.

2012 arrived with great expectations and still I barely shifted this fat hillbilly ass.

As if by magic a wonderful present fluttered its way into my Inbox. A Groupon offer for an 8 week Richard Callender Biggest Loser challenge for £40. Never one to resist a challenge I signed up there and then. Before anybody starts having a go about shakes and meal replacement bars… it’s not like that, honest.

Part of the Challenge was to clear the fridge and cupboards of all crap. This was such a satisfying task. I do believe the binmen of Mold have put in a complaint about the weight of a certain bin on Alexandra Road :-) Then there was the “big” shop. 2 ½ in Asda is enough to drive anybody to drink but the wine remained firmly on the shelf.

The Challenge itself started last Sunday. I weighed a horrific 17stone 11.2lbs. I got the kids to take proper Biggest Loser before pictures. Wearing only a sports bra and running shorts. Front, back and one from each side. They were absolutely horrendous and obviously, I bawled my eyes out. Then when I realised 1. nobody was taking any notice of me 2.it wasn’t doing any good and 3. the whole point in taking the pics is to show how bad I’ve got and how good I’m going to feel looking back did I stop the whinging and embrace the challenge with open arms.

There is a calorie restriction of 1200 and a sample menu which included lots of bread so that was totally out for me. The logic behind it is 45-65% of calories should come from carbs, 20-30% from fat and 15-25% from protein. I was introduced to the app myfitnesspal very early on in the week and basically I just scanned everything. It’s been the biggest eye opener ever to this person who’s tried every diet on the planet and thought I knew the calorific value of everything. I asked my boss to get me a “healthy” wrap and was chuffed when he brought back a prawn cocktail. I was horrified to find out it contained 495 calories and 24.9g of fat. I’m beginning to understand now exactly why I’m so fat.

Only on the prawn cocktail day did I go over my allowance and then it was only by 17 calories.

Exercise wise the challenge is to do between 400 and 600 extra calories a day which I’ve managed quite easily. There is a detailed exercise plan which I’ve tweeked a bit here and there to fit in with my triathlon training but lets just say I never new burpees were so painful, what a plyometric squat was and thought a downward dog was an Australian Dingo. I’ve hurt a bit (well quite a lot actually) but am absolutely delighted to report no pain no gain has given me a weight loss of 8.2lbs.

Onwards and upwards – Chirk 11 weeks and counting and I’ve entered the Chester half on 13 May

One Step Forward Two Steps Back

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her. ~ David Brinkley Not exactly bricks but a setback all the same. Woke up on Monday with a tickly cough. Not a problem did my Stretch and Strength programme. Tuesday the cough was definitely chesty so did Claire Nadir Boot Camp DVD instead. Wednesday it was worse. Had my flu jab in work and did absolutely nothing. Thursday a definite chest infection, antibiotics off the doctor and a basic write off of the rest of the week. I’m not happy but I guess sometimes life throws you lemons. I’ve just mixed mine with honey and hot water. No work this week so plenty of time to play catch up.

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. ~Henry Ford

Apologies for last week’s very rude re-launch. The logic behind it was once it’s on the Web you’ve got to do it haven’t you? Whilst it’s still in the head there are loads of excuses to bottle out.

Last Sunday was the Liverpool Marathon, the Chester Marathon and the Flintshire 10K. The plan this time last year was to do the Chester Marathon. The reality was I did nothing. The Helena Tipping (Wrexham) 10k was 8 weeks away a realistic goal but I know me and the least little excuse it’s “I can’t” or “I won’t”

I’ve been a member of Wrecsam Tri Club since I started my triathlon journey. I posted on the Forum asking for help to get me around. Emma, Queen of the Pirates sent me a text to say she was happy to help out, would write me a plan and was willing to meet up and kick my @rse if necessary.

I intend to run on Tuesday but when I got up it was blowing a hoolie. I don’t mind running in wind but a couple of months ago I ran in the wind. When I did the school run an hour later there was a tree blown down where I’d actually been running so it’s put me off a bit. Much as I hate treadmill running I headed off to the gym at lunch time to see my old friend Iain Davies-Moore and signed up for 6 months.

Wednesday I ran. Like I said I’ve faffed (can somebody please tell me how to spell this?) about since my disaster in the Divas in July 2010. I’ve probably run no more than a dozen times in the last 6 months and most of those runs were less than 2 miles. I left home with not much of a plan in my head then when I reached the end of our road I decided I had to bite the bullet and do one circuit of the Flintshire 10k (the race is 2) to give myself a benchmark of how much I’d have to do in 8 weeks. I took it really slowly but felt absolutely fantastic. I guess that’s the beauty of fresh legs.

Thursday I toddled off to the gym and did 40 minutes on the static bike. I obviously didn’t push hard enough because my legs felt fine. My back was absolutely killing though. I have an incredibly weak core. Then I tried to get off the bike and couldn’t. No mental pictures here. It was awful. When I eventually manoeuvred myself off I was walking like an egg bound duck which lasted pretty much the rest of the day.

The training plan arrived Thursday afternoon and thankfully scheduled a rest day for Friday.

Yesterday I dusted down the old hybrid and froze my bits off with a gentle 40 minutes around town.

Today I really struggled with the same circuit as Wednesday but took a minute and 15 seconds off so can’t complain.

Diet
For over a year I have had an undiagnosed stomach complaint. I was referred to a dietician who suggested a low FODMAP diet.

Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols
These are complex names for a collection of molecules found in food, that can be poorly absorbed by some people. When the molecules are poorly absorbed in the small intestine of the digestive tract, these molecules then continue along their journey along the digestive tract, arriving at the large intestine, where they act as a food source to the bacteria that live there normally. The bacteria then digest/ferment these FODMAPs and can cause symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome include abdominal bloating and distension, excess wind (flatulence), abdominal pain, nausea, changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation, or a combination of both), and other gastro-intestinal symptoms.

For 8 weeks I had to avoid wheat, onions, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, beans and a whole host of other things. It was surprisingly easy and my symptoms disappeared. I have gradually re-introduced everything except wheat and I feel fine.

On Wednesday there was a Groupon offer for “Celebrity Slim.” Whilst I would never go down the Lighter Life road I thought perhaps these shakes might give me the kick start I need.

So off I pop to Tesco to check the ingredients. They don’t do it it’s only available at certain pharmacies but as if by magic there were “Biggest Loser” shakes on offer at half price. Well it would have been rude to leave them. I’ve lost 9lbs. yes that’s right 9lbs. Unfortunately my “symptoms” have returned but it’s definitely given me the kick start I needed.

All in all a great week.

I'M Back

“She said his life would be like walking upstream in a rushing river. The secret was to take small steps and just keep moving forward. If he tried to take too big a step, the current would knock him off his feet and carry him back downstream”

Louis Sacher – Small Steps


Two weeks before my 44th Birthday, weighing 16 and a half stone I decided I was going to d o a triathlon. With fantastic support I lost a stone and a half and completed Chirk 3rd from last.

I’ve put back on that stone and a half plus another stone and a half and let my fitness slide.

Now 6 weeks before my 48th Birthday I’m starting again.

In 8 weeks I will do a 10K.

In April I will complete Chirk without walking any of the run and not coming in the bottom 10.

In June I will complete Bala whether my chip jets taken off me after the bike or not.

By the end of 2012 I will have run a Marathon.

Follow my journey. I can promise blood, sweat, tears and tantrums. There will be lows but the highs will be higher.

Tomorrow I take my first small step

Deva Divas 2010

WARNING:- Very long and very boring

Firstly this was only ever going to be a training event. Secondly I completed it in 2008. Thirdly Lynne stop making excuses and get on with it.

750m Open Water swim. I am a poor swimmer. I can swim crawl. I have a strong(ish) right arm but I drag my left arm. I swam the 750 distance (allegedly!) at one of the training events in June so I was confident of the distance. I was also confident I wouldn’t be last out of the water as there were about 20 behind me in the trining sessions. Had a really good pool based session last Monday where I swam solidly for an hour and the last half an hour crawl without a break. So the swim a great big tick.

16k bike – well lets be honest it’s short. There’s a hill that drags a bit close to the start. It caught me in a training event in 2008 but by race day I powered up it and passed many who were walking their bikes.

Run 5k on grass flat around the Mere – piece of cake.

The week building up I did very little. The ankle that I broke 5 years ago decided to swell. It’s not painful. There’s no reason for the swelling. I hadn’t intended to taper but to be on the safe side I did. I considered withdrawing but after the DNSs (this event being one of them) last year I’d vowed it wouldn’t happen this year.

Wet and windy was the forecast. I wasn’t concerned with the wet but the windy bothered me. I didn’t want to swallow half of the Mere if there were waves.

Race morning – the forecast was correct. I struggled to get the bike in the car (couldn’t remember which way around it went!). As per usual I packed the kitchen sink, even sunlasses, well you’ve got to look on the bright side.

Arrived in Manley at 7:30 with plenty of time. Off to registration. Number 22 and in wave 1 at 10am. The “goodie bag” was really good. A Tri girl pump bag/rucksack, a gorgeous grey and pink t shirt, an energy bar, a freddo the frog and a bottle of water.

Had a chat with the fantastic Sal the race secretary and Chris Morgan Chester Tri's Chairman. And said Hi to Dave the race referee who's such a sweetie.Ref.

Went back to the car to get my bike and transition kit. The transition marshal was fantastic. Every bike was checked and oh the shame I needed more air in my back tyre. He did tell me that my tyres were very good and needed 10lb of pressure for every 10kg of my body weight. Yeh mate there isn’t a tyre in the world that will take that kind of pressure.

It was still raining. I decided to leave everything in my transition box. I left my Tri Talk cycling jersey in the box. It might have been wet but it was still quite warm and the jury was still out as to what I’d wear for the bike leg.

It was at this point that I actually looked at the Mere and the buoys and was hit by blind panic. If that course was what I thought it was it was at least double what we’d done at the training event. As if by magic Colin the course putter outerer appeared and he confirmed my worst fears. Hey ho – the same for everyone.

Back off to the car to get my wetsuit. I couldn’t be bothered with any more back and forth to the car so put my wetsuit on at this point then stashed the car keys and my phone in the glove compartment. Changed my old trainers for flip flops and off to have a wander with far too much time on my hands. Met up with Carole and Sian from Wrecsam Tri but couldn’t find the lovely Debbie. This was her first Tri which she was doing for Breakthrough – Breast Cancer Research.

Decided I needed the loo which made me realise putting on my wetsuit was probably not one of my better ideas. Taking a wetsuit off in the constrains of a portaloo is not easy but with hindsight very funny.

9:45 soon came around and Colin did his legendary briefing. The man is a Superstar. It’s everything you need to know from a safety point of view but with so much humour it had us all relaxed. At this point Debbie turned up by my side looking cool as a cucumber. Colin had us doing the Diva Divas to the tune of the hokey kokey as awarm up and then it was time to kick off the flip flops, get in the Mere and wait for the air horn.


We were off. Getting across the mere is always the most difficult part for me. I felt strong, I swam well, no waves, no panic, no canoe by my side telling me I was doing well (a sure sign that you’re last) I looked back and I was last. Goggles filled up once but sorted them quickly and just kept plugging away. Was a bit hairy when the second wave caught up. Took a few biffs but still kept going. I even overtook someone from my wave. Towards the end got the swimming through treacle feeling and the buoys seemed to be moving further away but was too close then to not carry on. I tried to stand up and couldn’t. Absolute blind panic hit me. I could see Colin on the shore and hear his shouts of encouragement but I just couldn’t stand up. After 5 or 6 attempts I was so relieved and even the nausea and dizziness was put tto the back of my mind. I’d done it! I’d completed the swim.

I was so glad I hadn’t turned on my HRM. I knew my breathing was all over the shop. I’d got my wetsuit down to my waist and then my Fairy Godmother, in the guise of the transition marshal, who’d pumped my tyres earlier talked me down. Once my wetsuit was off the rest of the transition went according to plan. I was boiling so no cycling jersey. Ran to the mount line. I’m absolutely rubbish at getting on my bike and was terrified of falling off but I didn’t and the cheers and applause was fantastic.

Took me a while to get going but nobody overtook and confidence was growing with every turn of the wheel. Pretty soon that “hill” sneaked up on me. I changed down far too early and unclipped far to early (still so scarred of falling off) and knew I wasn’t going to make it but got off and walked. Was overtaken quite a lot at this point. By the time I got back on it was hammering down. The rain actually hurt my bare arms. At this stage it’s just a case of the faster I go the quicker I finish. The road surface was horrendous and obviously what goes up must come down but it was too slippery to get much benefit from the descents. Just before I got to the main road three ladies together overtook me and I then had the pleasure of an escort in the form of a lovely Chester Tri guy all the way home. He encouraged me to drink – like yeh I can take my hand off these handlebars – not. He helped me with gear changes and didn’t get very irate when I changed the wrong way. It was a lovely hand holding exercise. I’d been telling him I was scared of falling off at the finish because I couldn’t unclip and then there appeared an unmitigating disaster. A 4x4 parked and another coming in the opposite direction. I could see tarmac coming my way but as if my magic the parked moved off and yet another disaster was averted. My bike escort was quck to point out thet for someone who couldn’t unclip I’d unclipped pretty sharpishly then.

I’d resigned myself now that I wouldn’t be doing the run. I was too far behind. We came back in to the water sports centre and the cheering was phenomenal. I even stopped at the mount line and didn’t fall off.

My Fairy Godmother appeard again. I told him I was quitting. He asked me if I’d consider doing just one lap of the run? Saw Sian then who was coming up the finishing straight looking amazingly strong. I screamed encouragement and my Fairy Godmother said if you’ve got the energy to scream like that you’re not ready to quit. So trainers on water consumed and off I popped on the run. To see Debbie coming in to the finish line.

Didn’t take me very long to get my running legs. Because it’s out and back you get so much encouragement from the other competitors. I knew that they were all on their second lap and I was just starting my first. I don’t mind being last well not much anyway. I don’t even mind being last by a long way but I couldn’t bear the humiliation of being out there on my own for 20 minutes. Everyone was fantastic with their well dones and not far to gos but I knew I wouldn’t finish. I ran the whole of the out and back and sneaked into transition. I just cried. Well done’s coming from everywhere. No it’s not well done. I quit.

Sal appeared with her congratulations and just hugged me and let me cry she even offered to walk the last lap with me. It wasn’t about walking. If I’d have done the second lap I’d have run it. I quit not because I couldn’t do it but because I was ashamed. She said if she’d seen me quitting she would have forced me back out there. She was right.

Carole appeared and after explaining I’d quit she asked if I knew what time I’d finished? She told me to double my run time and then I’d know my race time.

I left transition to yet more well done’s even off people who knew I’d quit which kind of brought it home to me. I had done well. I’d started.

Sian met me at the transition exit and did exactly what I needed her to. Said absolutely nothing and took my transition box off me and walked me to the car.

I may have DNFs in the future but I’ll never have one because of these circumstances. If my body fails, fine but never because if what’s in my head.

The worst thing about it is I had provisional results today:-

Swim 38:30 exactly 10 minuted longer than last time. Bearing in mind it was a long 750, the problems I had getting out of the water and getting out of my wetsuit that wasn't bad.

Bike 1:01:39 a minute quicker than last time - taking into consideration walking up the hill and the atrocious weather - result

Run - there was no run time but I quit at 12:03 which I calculated to give me a 23 minute run. My T2 was 3:20 so I guess I'd have come in bang on my 42:04 from 2008

I may have DNFs in the future but I’ll never have one because of these circumstances. If my body fails, fine but never because if what’s in my head.

Deva Diva's Two Weeks and Counting

Such a long time…

Deva Diva’s two weeks today so how’s it going?

Swim – I swam the 750m race distance two weeks ago and was absolutely fine so one big tick there. I must swim more though and get some coaching. There’s a big difference to a shallow, warm, mere to Bala in September.

Run – it’s a pancake flat out and back (twice) grass run around the mere. I’ve been practicing on the football pitch across the road from our house. It’s soul destroyingly boring but I’ve got a big fat tick there too. I’m not losing sight of the bigger picture either, Conwy half in November and am getting long and hilly in too.

Bike – well tenacious as I am I gave up with toe clips and opted for SPD’s. With the words “you will fall off “ echoing in my ears was mighty chuffed to say the least to have got round my first attempt unscathed and quite frankly wondered what all the fuss was about. Turned into our street, unclipped, came to stop, realised my right foot had clipped back in. Wasn’t worried because we have railings I can grab, grabbed the railings and fell off spectacularly. Horrible cut to my knee and elbow. Second attempt, chain came off and I fell off in a far more elegant and sophisticated manor. Third attempt, got all the way round, couldn’t turn right into our road as there was a car right up my backside (yes I know I had right of way and should have anyway) so I carried on to the next junction. There was a bus stopped. There was a bus coming in the other direction. I dithered and fell off, in the middle of town. What made it worse was a really old man with a white stick came rushing to my rescue. All I could say was “I’ll be fine. I do it all the time.” I haven’t fallen off this week and shock, horrors I even overtook someone this morning.

Me – I’ve had the kick up the backside I’ve needed for a long time. My heart rate was spiking and I knew things weren’t what they should be. I had a severe bout of gastroenteritis. When I went to the doctors he booked me in to see the nurse for a full MOT and ECG. The ECG was fine but my blood pressure was high at 160 over 110. She told me in no uncertain terms I must lose weight. I went back 2 weeks later it was down slightly but I’d gained a kg. The results of my blood tests were back. Cholesterol, Thyroid, blood sugar were all fine but I have a fatty liver. Wake up call Lynne! I went back to Slimming World last Monday and have lost 5lbs so far this week. I’ve got to go back to see the nurse a week on Wednesday and if my blood pressure hasn’t dropped to under 90 for the bottom one I’ve got to take medication. I will take whatever I’m told to take but I really don’t want to and am determined to control it naturally.

Posted Sunday 16 May

Not a good start to the week felt “not right” The big kid’s Dad and his wife had a bug last week which made them take to their beds for 3 days. I was expecting the worse. Thursday had a grumbling tummy all day and alternated between hot and cold. Friday had the cold from hell. Morgan had an ear infection and needed antibiotics. Saturday I woke up feeling absolutely fine.

Came up with a cunning plan for these damn fire blasted pedals. I’m going to do my normal morning bike sessions and then throw in a couple of evening just getting my feet into the toe clips. If that doesn’t work I think I might just bite the bullet and head straight for cleats.

Had my first “proper” session on the new bike today (who incidentally is called Roger). Boy was it windy. I’m used to a triple and numbers telling me where I am gear wise. It’s a bit of a shock to the system just having red lines which remind me very much of a gone wrong pregnancy testing kit. Started off by my front wall and got both feet in the toes clips and pretty much blasted 10.5 miles. Took 10 minutes off my previous pb. Absolutely loved it. Felt incredibly comfortable on the hoods and even managed some nifty cornering.

This afternoon was the first open water training session in Manley Mere for the Deva Diva’s. Loads of ladies on Mountain Bikes –how superior did I feel? (Pride comes before a fall) Armed with two swim caps and my new aquasphere wetsuit with Ironman across the chest I was ready to take on the world. Amazingly it wasn’t that cold. Started at the back and within about 10m I was thinking “I can’t do this! Get me out of here! How the hell did I ever thing I’d be able to do Bala?” Fortunately good senses prevailed and I carried on. I finished near to the back but a long way from last.

I know today was only a training session but it’s as if the race mentality kicks in and I panic. This is something I’ve really got to get over. How? I’ve no idea.