My wife and I went to the cinema on Saturday (for the first time in 5 years!) to watch The Artist before it disappears from the schedules forever.
Things have moved on a bit since we last went - reserved seating? What's this? Still, that's cool - it means we can skip the trailers and get back to our seats just in time to see the usual anti-piracy messages. I'd planned on not drinking much (that would be in the bar afterwards, and in moderation), and there was No. Way. I was having ice cream.
Guess what. I got to the cinema and saw those magic words. Ben & Jerry's. You can guess what happened. But HOW MUCH?! And of course nowadays you have to get your tickets from the refreshments counter. Clever. Very clever.
And I wasn't planning on drinking. Wrong again. One in the bar across the road; two (small ones) with the meal afterwards and a YUMMY banana bread beer in the bar after that.
Still, I did go out on the bike on Saturday AND down the gym on Sunday. Somehow I don't think that's going to compensate for the ice-cream and the baklava.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Wow. Just... wow...
Anyone who knows me will know that I have something of a soft spot for food. That's why I got up to (and some way beyond) 200lb in the first place.
In some ways I'm glad I don't live in the USA when it comes to food. Such staples as the Philly cheesesteak and the row upon row of fast-food joints make it all too easy to fall into bad eating habits. But I think this one just about out-chomps them all.
Apparently, the Washington Nationals are going to offer the StrasBurger (named after their star pitcher, Stephen Strasburg) for the 2012 season. Made of a combination of: ground brisket, chuck and short ribs, the burger is served on a large burger bun with our secret sauce, American cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, pickle chips and served with a cone basket of fresh cut fries and a pitcher of your choice of soft drink.
It doesn't say anything about price, but what it does tell you is that it weighs... 8lb. Eight... pounds? Let me quantify that for you. Take a 2-pint carton of milk. Now take 3 more. Fill them all with food. That's how much you're eating. I defy anyone (even me) to put that down.
* Source: Matt Snyder at CBSSports.com quoting a Nationals PR
In some ways I'm glad I don't live in the USA when it comes to food. Such staples as the Philly cheesesteak and the row upon row of fast-food joints make it all too easy to fall into bad eating habits. But I think this one just about out-chomps them all.
Apparently, the Washington Nationals are going to offer the StrasBurger (named after their star pitcher, Stephen Strasburg) for the 2012 season. Made of a combination of: ground brisket, chuck and short ribs, the burger is served on a large burger bun with our secret sauce, American cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, pickle chips and served with a cone basket of fresh cut fries and a pitcher of your choice of soft drink.
It doesn't say anything about price, but what it does tell you is that it weighs... 8lb. Eight... pounds? Let me quantify that for you. Take a 2-pint carton of milk. Now take 3 more. Fill them all with food. That's how much you're eating. I defy anyone (even me) to put that down.
* Source: Matt Snyder at CBSSports.com quoting a Nationals PR
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Weekly weigh-in
Today's weight: 13st 6lb.
That's -3lb, which gets rid of the weight I'd put on after last week's debauchery.
That's -3lb, which gets rid of the weight I'd put on after last week's debauchery.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Motivational tip #2
You have a choice.
You can either throw in the towel...
Or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.
You choose.
You can either throw in the towel...
Or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.
You choose.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
The road to hell is paved with... pizza?
It could as well have been for me. Pizza AND birthday cake (lots of) on the same day? NOT a good idea. Back to the gym tonight, methinks.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Unintended consequences...
All diets come with some kind of unintended consequences, from headaches to flatulence to... no. Stop there.
Most people on a diet do so with the intention of losing weight. This is generally a good thing, but in my case it has had at least one unintended consequence. My wedding ring fell off during volleyball training a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, I was able to see where it landed, and picked it up.
During a trip into town yesterday, I bought an apple (yes, just one apple) at a greengrocer and got out the door... to find my ring hanging half-off my finger. Talk about a lucky escape... It's currently on my ring finger on my other hand, which feels a little more secure. For now.
Most people on a diet do so with the intention of losing weight. This is generally a good thing, but in my case it has had at least one unintended consequence. My wedding ring fell off during volleyball training a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, I was able to see where it landed, and picked it up.
During a trip into town yesterday, I bought an apple (yes, just one apple) at a greengrocer and got out the door... to find my ring hanging half-off my finger. Talk about a lucky escape... It's currently on my ring finger on my other hand, which feels a little more secure. For now.
... and pause...
The diet is off for this weekend. We're staying at my parents; although I sent them the lists of food saying what I can and can't eat, they're technophobes and can't (or don't know how to) download the files. So we'll see what happens; I'll just have to be a bit more disciplined these next couple of weeks.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Keep Calm and... Work... Owwww!
The principle behind all diets is that you burn more calories than you eat, and you can do this in many ways. Diet alone can work, as can exercise alone (but don't just eat the same stuff, that won't solve anything); but a combination of diet and exercise is probably the best way.
I've shown up at the gym a few times more this month (and last month) than I did the couple of months before that (which was zero). After a couple of sessions of just trying not to fall off the cardio machines, I dug out an old workout and used that for a few sessions, which worked to a point.
Then I got myself a new programme. They say pain is your friend, but... it kills! Whether it's doing any good is a matter for debate (we'll see in a few weeks). One thing I do know is that I haven't actually been able to complete it in full yet. You see, it's split up into two parts. The first part is easy enough. The second part requires me to do V-sits (ouch!), then parachutes to press-ups (ouch!!) and then planks-to-push-ups (this is the problem). As if that wasn't enough, I have to do 4 sets of each... without stopping. I've not got past the second set of planks yet. So am I as thick as two short planks?
OK. To clarify - I can do the V-sits and the parachutes, but the plank-to-press-up is the real killer. Still, that's plenty of motivation. I'll buy myself a pocket notebook at the weekend and start documenting my progress. Watch this space.
I've shown up at the gym a few times more this month (and last month) than I did the couple of months before that (which was zero). After a couple of sessions of just trying not to fall off the cardio machines, I dug out an old workout and used that for a few sessions, which worked to a point.
Then I got myself a new programme. They say pain is your friend, but... it kills! Whether it's doing any good is a matter for debate (we'll see in a few weeks). One thing I do know is that I haven't actually been able to complete it in full yet. You see, it's split up into two parts. The first part is easy enough. The second part requires me to do V-sits (ouch!), then parachutes to press-ups (ouch!!) and then planks-to-push-ups (this is the problem). As if that wasn't enough, I have to do 4 sets of each... without stopping. I've not got past the second set of planks yet. So am I as thick as two short planks?
OK. To clarify - I can do the V-sits and the parachutes, but the plank-to-press-up is the real killer. Still, that's plenty of motivation. I'll buy myself a pocket notebook at the weekend and start documenting my progress. Watch this space.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Eat cookies, lose weight!
You wouldn't think it's possible, right? Well, in moderation, anything's pretty much possible. It's not having a cookie or a piece of chocolate cake that will stop you - it's having them too frequently that's the problem.
It also depends on what they're made of. You will still get the enjoyment, and some extra fibre, if you reduce the sugar content and use things like wholemeal flour instead of normal flour.
Still not convinced? Try these - this was taken (and seemingly uncredited) from the GI Diet Green-Light recipe book. I made a couple of batches about 2-3 weeks ago and they went down a storm. I'm going to unleash them on work tomorrow - I made 24. 4 have already gone (for testing purposes, obvz!) and I'll let the guys at work try them.
Watch this space.
It also depends on what they're made of. You will still get the enjoyment, and some extra fibre, if you reduce the sugar content and use things like wholemeal flour instead of normal flour.
Still not convinced? Try these - this was taken (and seemingly uncredited) from the GI Diet Green-Light recipe book. I made a couple of batches about 2-3 weeks ago and they went down a storm. I'm going to unleash them on work tomorrow - I made 24. 4 have already gone (for testing purposes, obvz!) and I'll let the guys at work try them.
Watch this space.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
GI Martyn, reporting for duty... SIR!
There are as many ways to lose weight as there are to cook food. All of them boil down to one simple (or simplistic?) four-word reduction: Eat less, move more. If it were that simple we'd all be of normal weight. I would say that I'd seen all the diets, but that's not true by any stretch of the imagination.
So how did I decide how to lose weight? I saw many options, from WeightWatchers, skipping past Slimming World, to things like DietChef and LighterLife... but no, I didn't go for any of them. I finally settled on the GI Diet by Rick Gallop*. Why? Simple - I'd already got the diet book and recipe book from a previous (abortive) attempt to lose weight several years ago. It wasn't the diet's fault that I only lost a couple of pounds and gave up; it was entirely mine. That's about £20 saved even before we started.
*It should be noted that Gallop did not develop the diet; he brought it to the market and seems to have got his pension sorted quite nicely from it. He's not a doctor - at least that I can see. His background seems to be in advertising rather than medicine, so he should have a way with words. The diet was actually developed by Dr. David Jenkins.
I re-read the book and he makes some very interesting - and valid - points. In simple terms, here's how it works. Go and get yourself a green tea, take a deep breath, and start reading.
Food is absorbed into the bloodstream and converted into glucose. The more quickly this happens, the greater the sugar spike you get - and with it the corresponding sugar crash. Each foodstuff is assigned a glycemic index rating, with 100 being the highest - this is pure glucose. The basic idea is that foods with lower GI ratings are better for you.
Hunting down exclusively low-GI foods isn't going to work. The glycemic index works basically on carbohydrates, so things like chicken wings, sausages, full-fat cheese and chocolate - all have low GI ratings. You still need to eat a balanced diet, and much of this can be done simply by swapping out certain foodstuffs.
Foods to avoid (examples):
White bread, baguettes and bagels
"Normal" pasta (made with refined durum wheat)
White rice
Foods high in saturated fat
Fruit juice or dried fruit
Salty food (or food high in sodium, to be more scientific)
Foods to stock up on (again, examples):
Brown basmati rice
Wholemeal pasta
Fruit in its natural state - but not dried fruit, juice, or melon, apparently. That's fine with me, I don't like melon enough to miss it anyway.
Lean protein - so chicken breast, turkey breast, pork tenderloin
Fish - in natural state (i.e. not battered/breaded)
Vegetables - in pretty much any state
Pulses and legumes (so beans, lentils, bulgur wheat, quinoa)
Unsaturated fats (so things like olive oil)
It's also useful to revisit portion sizes: protein should be lean and about 4oz (120g). Starchy carbohydrates (so your pasta, rice, etc.) should be no more than 25% of your plate - nor should the protein. It's so easy to overdo them. So pasta should be about 40g (1.5oz) and rice 50g (1.8oz) Vegetables and legumes should make up 50% of your plate - like this.
Also watch your caffeine intake. Caffeine has the well-known effects of making us happier, more excited, or just plain hyper - and it also raises blood-sugar levels, thus making food easier to absorb. And the bit that I thought would be hardest - no alcohol while you're trying to lose weight. It's high in sugar and is just empty calories - i.e. it has no nutritional value. Surprisingly, that's been the easiest part of it. Since I started the diet, I've had one 500mL bottle of 5% lager (last Sunday) and half a bottle of wine (Valentine's Day).
In Gallop's defence, he isn't too dogmatic about it. He says (in a later version of the book) that if you can stick to 90% of the diet, you're not going to do any major damage to your weight-loss campaign. So don't worry if you've been invited out for a night on the town - the odd one won't kill you.
If that sounds too strict for you, then you need to get a bit more backbone.. Compared to most diets I've seen, it's not very restrictive, it still means you can eat good food and a balanced diet. The other major thing in its favour is that it is the only diet I've seen that has been approved by the medical community at large.
If you like it, why not try it?
So how did I decide how to lose weight? I saw many options, from WeightWatchers, skipping past Slimming World, to things like DietChef and LighterLife... but no, I didn't go for any of them. I finally settled on the GI Diet by Rick Gallop*. Why? Simple - I'd already got the diet book and recipe book from a previous (abortive) attempt to lose weight several years ago. It wasn't the diet's fault that I only lost a couple of pounds and gave up; it was entirely mine. That's about £20 saved even before we started.
*It should be noted that Gallop did not develop the diet; he brought it to the market and seems to have got his pension sorted quite nicely from it. He's not a doctor - at least that I can see. His background seems to be in advertising rather than medicine, so he should have a way with words. The diet was actually developed by Dr. David Jenkins.
I re-read the book and he makes some very interesting - and valid - points. In simple terms, here's how it works. Go and get yourself a green tea, take a deep breath, and start reading.
Food is absorbed into the bloodstream and converted into glucose. The more quickly this happens, the greater the sugar spike you get - and with it the corresponding sugar crash. Each foodstuff is assigned a glycemic index rating, with 100 being the highest - this is pure glucose. The basic idea is that foods with lower GI ratings are better for you.
Hunting down exclusively low-GI foods isn't going to work. The glycemic index works basically on carbohydrates, so things like chicken wings, sausages, full-fat cheese and chocolate - all have low GI ratings. You still need to eat a balanced diet, and much of this can be done simply by swapping out certain foodstuffs.
Foods to avoid (examples):
White bread, baguettes and bagels
"Normal" pasta (made with refined durum wheat)
White rice
Foods high in saturated fat
Fruit juice or dried fruit
Salty food (or food high in sodium, to be more scientific)
Foods to stock up on (again, examples):
Brown basmati rice
Wholemeal pasta
Fruit in its natural state - but not dried fruit, juice, or melon, apparently. That's fine with me, I don't like melon enough to miss it anyway.
Lean protein - so chicken breast, turkey breast, pork tenderloin
Fish - in natural state (i.e. not battered/breaded)
Vegetables - in pretty much any state
Pulses and legumes (so beans, lentils, bulgur wheat, quinoa)
Unsaturated fats (so things like olive oil)
It's also useful to revisit portion sizes: protein should be lean and about 4oz (120g). Starchy carbohydrates (so your pasta, rice, etc.) should be no more than 25% of your plate - nor should the protein. It's so easy to overdo them. So pasta should be about 40g (1.5oz) and rice 50g (1.8oz) Vegetables and legumes should make up 50% of your plate - like this.
Also watch your caffeine intake. Caffeine has the well-known effects of making us happier, more excited, or just plain hyper - and it also raises blood-sugar levels, thus making food easier to absorb. And the bit that I thought would be hardest - no alcohol while you're trying to lose weight. It's high in sugar and is just empty calories - i.e. it has no nutritional value. Surprisingly, that's been the easiest part of it. Since I started the diet, I've had one 500mL bottle of 5% lager (last Sunday) and half a bottle of wine (Valentine's Day).
In Gallop's defence, he isn't too dogmatic about it. He says (in a later version of the book) that if you can stick to 90% of the diet, you're not going to do any major damage to your weight-loss campaign. So don't worry if you've been invited out for a night on the town - the odd one won't kill you.
If that sounds too strict for you, then you need to get a bit more backbone.. Compared to most diets I've seen, it's not very restrictive, it still means you can eat good food and a balanced diet. The other major thing in its favour is that it is the only diet I've seen that has been approved by the medical community at large.
If you like it, why not try it?
It starts here... or did it?
The blog does, but the weight loss (and - obviously - the weight gain) doesn't. This specific plan to get the weight off for good started several weeks ago, or more precisely something like 7 January. I'd been bouncing around the 200lb mark for quite some time, and so I decided that this time, I finally had to do something about it.
A few previous (half-hearted) attempts had failed - or partially succeeded - but then been left on the wayside for various reasons. Why, given that I'd managed to lose a few pounds here and there, did I stop? I've had a sweet tooth for ages, which, if I'm honest, will never go away. Add to that the weekly fish and chips, all-too-frequent pizzas, love of cheese and various things containing alcohol (beer, wine, some spirits...) and you can see where this is going, and there's only one direction: around my body, and principally around my stomach. Not good, and potentially fatal if left unchecked.
How am I doing it? See my next post.
A few previous (half-hearted) attempts had failed - or partially succeeded - but then been left on the wayside for various reasons. Why, given that I'd managed to lose a few pounds here and there, did I stop? I've had a sweet tooth for ages, which, if I'm honest, will never go away. Add to that the weekly fish and chips, all-too-frequent pizzas, love of cheese and various things containing alcohol (beer, wine, some spirits...) and you can see where this is going, and there's only one direction: around my body, and principally around my stomach. Not good, and potentially fatal if left unchecked.
How am I doing it? See my next post.
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