Update on Dave Fowler’s Daily Updates

A cold, a trapped nerve in my back, a frozen shoulder, a hectic social schedule, a visit to McDonald’s, late nights, disturbed sleep, convenience foods, a changing life plan and no exercise to speak of other than walking the dogs.

Picture: ‘Playingwithbrushes’

My weekend has been shot to smithereens.

Some of what happened worries me but the rest really doesn’t (like the trip to McDonald’s).

Previously, such a conflagration of events has seen me hide in the hills rather than dowse the destructive flames and save what I can.

Today is the day after the several nights before, and what really interests me is whether I’ll climb back on the wagon quickly enough.

This is the point at which I’ve failed before.

I think there’s little to be gained by giving a daily update about my bad bad back and being unable to exercise, so I’ll save it for Thursday when all will become clear.

NOTE: We have another post for you today at Blog To Fit, just follow the link to read how anger can help weight loss.

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Dave Fowler’s Daily Update Number 9

Thursday 11th December 2008

Damn, slept in AGAIN. This time until 5.30. The simple fact is I’m getting to bed too late.

I woke up with a pounding headache and a sore throat from the cold I’ve been incubating for the last week. It’s been building for a few days now and is determined to derail my fine efforts to get fit.

Picture: Robert Brook

Despite the headache I hauled ass out of the door and went running. The freezing conditions made it treacherous underfoot and I had to do some mincing style running on the hilly bits. The butt cheek twinge in my left buttock has moved across to exactly the same place on the right side. I wonder if I have a muscle weakness in that part of my anatomy?

Yesterday
I did the body weight exercises yesterday but they were tougher because I hadn’t had a day’s rest in between.

Late afternoon I took the dogs for a walk in the woods and knocked out a very brisk walk lasting 30 minutes. As an aside…. It’s so dark in the woods around 4.30pm that I can barely see where I’m going, but funnily enough I encounter more people in the woods when it’s dark. It worries me a little

My eating yesterday, was similar to Tuesday’’s but I was disappointed when I ate more than I wanted to at dinner. Getting presented with a plate piled high with food is a problem. Firstly I don’t like to see food going to waste and secondly I don’t like to insult the person preparing the meal by leaving two thirds of it on the plate. It’s not a problem normally because I’m usually the one that prepares and serves the meals, but yesterday my wife cooked and served the dinner – and I’m grateful – but as a result I ate too much.

Here’s Wednesday’s food intake:

• 0700 – Serving of Shreddies – whole milk and a teaspoon of sugar
• 1000 – Slice of chocolate cake WITH icing
• 1200 – Baked beans with two slices of brown oatmeal toast
• 1200 – OMG another slice of chocolate cake (no icing)
• 1230 – Cup of tea, whole milk, one sugar
• 1400 – Carrot
• 1700 – Good quality burger (grilled), mashed potato, carrots, peas.
• 1900 – Cup of tea, whole milk, no sugar
• 1900 – Apple

SOOO much sugar!!!

Weight Yesterday: 195.6
Weight Today: 195.4

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Dave Fowler’s Daily Update Number 8

Wednesday 10th December 2008

So on Tuesday morning I weighed 197.4lbs

This morning I came in at 195.6. Amazing really but it’s supported by my measurements, so I’ll take it as it appears.

Describing to you my food intake might be a little meaningless because I’m guesstimating the volume of food I’m eating and trying to get somewhere near 2100 calories per day. But what I want to highlight is how ‘normal’ my diet is.

Picture: adactio

Although, whether my diet is normal remains to be seen. After I publish this I might be revealed to be some kind of freak. Oh, okay, so I’m already a some kind of freak!

• 0500 – Cup of tea – made with whole milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 0600 – Cup of tea – made with whole milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 0700 – A serving of Shreddies (these are NOT underpants – I’ll describe them if it turns out they’re only sold in the UK) – with whole milk
• 0700 – Cup of tea (MORE TEA!!)- made with whole milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1130 – Half a carrot plus some shreds of grated cheese as I prepare lunch (it’s sad but I was hungry)
• 1230 – Fried egg sandwich – One egg, two slices of brown oatmeal bread (oh yes! this was lovely)
• 1230 – Apple
• 1230 – Cup of tea – made with whole milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1400 – A carrot (as I prepare dinner)
• 1700 – Sausage Casserole – made with good quality pork sausages, onion, carrots, courgettes and a tomato based stock – served with mashed potatoes and garden peas (all on a child sized plate and not overflowing!)
• 1900 – A small (and thin) slice of chocolate cake (without icing)

I haven’t included water as I drink it regularly, but not as regularly as Tara.

Feel free to critique or comment on my diet as you see fit. I’m tough enough to take it.

I completed the body-weight exercises and there’s a slight improvement in the quality of the technique. The only other exercise I did was a very brisk walk with dog. 30 minutes pushing the baby buggy, with my youngest girl in it.

This morning’s run got blown out I’m afraid. I confess I slept in and got up at 5am instead of 4am. I’m not pleased about that. It’s slowed my entire day right down and I’m so far behind I’m frightened to think about it too much. But this explains why my update is sooo late.

The likelihood is that I wouldn’t have gone running today anyway. My left asscheek still has a twinge but it is getting better with the application of some rubbing compound. Actually that’s a lie, there’s been no ass rubbing going on (and I know you’re all relieved to hear that ).

To make amends, I’ll do body-weight exercises again today and I’ll run tomorrow.

So, there you go. I ate all that, did some moderate exercise and still lost weight. A fluke?

NOTE: We have another post for you today at Blog To Fit, just follow the link to the ‘Wednesday Weigh In’ and join our fun fitness community

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Dave Fowler’s Daily Update Number 7

Tuesday 9th December 2008

I’m glad I don’t have to run today because I’ve got a twinge in my left hip/ass. I hope it goes away! I’ll be doing today’s body weight exercises mid morning and I’ll get back to the running tomorrow (as scheduled).

Picture: barbequeburger

Since last Wednesday’s weigh-in my weight has been frustratingly static around 197 (my official weigh-in weight) and this is why weighing daily can be so frustrating.

I still believe weighing daily is the best option for me because it reveals the trend. The trend is still down, but it’s too slow.

The last time I tried this I was dropping 2lbs each week without fail and at the moment I’m on track for dropping 1lb per week.

DC Urban Dad disclosed yesterday that he’s hit the wall. It’s tough when that happens (and I wish you luck DCUD) but for me, I hope this is just an issue of adjustment.

There’s enough data to tell me that my calorie intake is too high so I’m dropping it down for a while.

Taking the calorie estimation route instead of the calorie counting route isn’t precise but then it doesn’t need to be. As long as I’m somewhere in the region I can make some very quick adjustments, track for another twoweeksand see where I am.

Yesterday I weighed 197.4 – and increase of 0.4 from Wednesday.
Today I weigh 196.4.

It’s unlikely I dropped a pound of fat over 24hours – as that represents a 3500 calorie deficit which again goes to show how the scale can play tricks.

I’ll settle for a one pound loss again this Wednesday, but thereafter I want to be nearer the original target of 2lbs per week.

I’ve decided to share a little more information in my daily updates, like my daily weight figures. And starting tomorrow I’ll breakdown my food intake to show you just how relaxed I am about my food choices. Real life. Real food.

NOTE: We have another post for you today at Blog To Fit, just follow the link to a picture of Tara Cain’s crap

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Dave Fowler’s Daily Update Number 6

Saturday 6th December 2008

In Daily Update number 5 Avlor and I were wondering (in the Friday Comments), whether there was a link between my recent lack of sleep, my desire to eat sweet things and overeating?

Picture: alastairb

Having only six hours sleep and therefore being awake an extra two hours each day means I’m more fatigued for sure, but I wonder if it’s more to do with the timing of my eating plan. I set my eating plan at a time when I was waking around 7am, but now I’m waking at 4am I want to eat breakfast at around 5am two hours earlier than normal.

Come 10 am when I would usually have a snack, I’m actually ready for my lunch and my belly is telling me that a snack is not good enough, so I end up eating sweets to satisfy my desire for energy dense foods. It’s a bad move.

I’ll review my eating plan again over the weekend and see if I can adjust what I’m doing.

The exercise is going well and I’m not too sore now. I’ve managed to get in a couple of extra long extra brisk walks with the dogs while my wife has had a few days off work. Not having to take the kids with me means the walks are more vigorous.

Sunday 8th December 2008

A day without any structured exercise has meant that I’ve been better able to control my eating.

I haven’t had my body telling me it’s worked hard and therefore wants to be fed more.

I also managed seven hours of sleep last night and that had to help.

I’m looking forward to my Monday morning run, but I know it’s going to be freezing.

Monday 9th December 2008

It wasn’t as cold as I feared it would be when I set foot outside my door, but it was cold enough.

It was tough to get going this morning and it was tough to keep going.

I suspect it will be the same every morning now that Winter is starting to bite.

Running at 4am has to be amongst the most ridiculous ideas I’ve ever had. But the honest truth is, if I left it until later in the day it probably wouldn’t get done.

So yes, it’s tough but it would be tough no matter what time of day I did it. Might as well be first thing when I haven’t had enough time to talk my way out of it.

My biggest challenge today is to repeat yesterday’s performance with my eating plan, i.e. stick to it.

After yesterday’s success in that department I believe I can do it again today.

This has been a good start to the week.

Have a great week yourselves!

NOTE: We have another post for you today at Blog To Fit, just follow the link to read about Dave Wright’s food choices and how you can help him make better choices

Want a bit of humor and motivation delivered via email every weekday? Subscribe to get each BlogToFit post delivered for free! Email not your thing? That’s okay, you can also subscribe via RSS – like all the cool kids do. It’s also free. Unless you really WANT to pay us.

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