Dave Fowler’s Daily Update Number 5

Thursday 4th December 2008

For the entire day yesterday I had the overwhelming urge to run, I have no idea why that was. I mean I wouldn’t say I love running, I like it well enough, but I don’t love it. Strange. Maybe I’m becoming Forrest Gump?

Picture: MindlessCreativity

Anyway I deferred yesterday’s bodyweight exercise right to the last knockings. My day was packed so tight I barely had room to stretch. So I didn’t. Anyway I was still sore from Tuesday’s exertions so the delay was justified.

In Wednesday’s update I reported that I’d rushed through the bodyweight stuff with bad form. In the comments Matthew Dryden pointed out that correct form is much more important than the number of repetitions, and of course he’s dead right.

My form was better this time but I still cranked them out too fast. Instead of doing my thirty repetitions in 2 sets of 15 I changed to 3 sets of 10 and it helped improve my technique… although I’m not happy that 30 push ups wipes me out these days – I’m not the man I was and sometimes that’s difficult to accept.

I’ve been struggling to keep up with my quota of sleep this week and Dad quite rightly pulled me up on that and I’m grateful. Last night I got a full seven hours in.

That said, it was the first time this week that I didn’t get straight out of bed with the 4am alarm. I felt very tired and this reflected in my run. I did it without stopping but I was slow and I wanted to stop half way through. Perhaps what I write next will explain it?

Okay, now for an admission: My eating yesterday was atrocious and I’m cross with myself. It was the sweet stuff and I ate with wild abandon. It’s not that I ate the sweets, it’s just that I didn’t stop after I’d had a few. I got to that point where I realised I’d harmed my progress….so I ate more! Not good enough!

Today and for the rest of the week I’ll stick rigidly to my eating plan. Sorry!

I won’t dwell on my mistake. The day has started well. Onwards and upwards.

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Dave Fowler’s Daily Update – Number 3

Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Woo Hoo! Once again I woke at 4am and got straight out of bed. I don’t know how I managed it as I didn’t get to bed till 10pm and even then I didn’t fall asleep for another twenty minutes or so.

I hit the streets again this morning and ran the mile and a half circuit around my neighbourhood. It was cold but at least it was dry, unlike my first run on Monday.

Picture: WiciaQ

It’s really very cold at 4am so wearing a woolly hat is essential, but I feel too hot in it after about half a mile. I need to look into how runners regulate their temperature – although it’s not a big deal as I’m not running too far.

I didn’t time the run precisely but it took about 12 minutes, which is fairly slow. The last time I was doing this seriously I regularly ran this distance in 10 minutes 30 seconds. To an athlete that would be slow but to a regular guy just turned forty it’s not too shabby. I’d like to get back to that kind of time now is not the time to push. For now, all that matters is that I run.

In the comments on Monday Urban Panther mentioned that she stretches after running rather than before and places greater emphasis on warming-down than warming up. I thought this was great advice so I followed it today. Thanks Panther.

Yesterday I did the body weight exercises element of my plan – 30 Push ups, 30 Dips and 30 Squats. I left these until mid morning as I just felt too cold first thing at 4am. I think it was a good decision.

I managed to complete the lot in two sets of 15. My form (the execution of the technique) was poor though. I rushed through the exercises too quickly because I was determined to not to fail. Tomorrow I’m going to do the same exercises in 3 sets of ten and I’m going to slow down – even if it means I don’t complete the desired number.

Yesterday, Lance, whose site has a great new look, mentioned how much squats hurt his thighs – and so that he doesn’t feel all alone… I can confirm that squats hurt my thighs too!

Another great start to the day. All I need to do now is stick to the eating plan.

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Dave Fowler’s Daily Update – Number 2

NOTE: The main post of the day is Tara Cain talking about shoes, fat feet, clothes, and something about weightloss



If you like high heels, go and check it out.






Tuesday 2nd December 2008

Don’t worry the title isn’t related to the subject today. It’s just that I’m going to run out title ideas before I run out of energy.

Picture: SiwyBoy

As it happens, my energy levels are quite high considering that that I’ve managed to wake at 4am two days in a row – and I wonder if my increased energy is a reflection of the new habits I’m trying to build?

I haven’t had my stomach full to bursting for a while now and I’ve noticed that as a direct result I don’t seem to be feeling quite so lethargic throughout the day.

Yesterday I ran for the first time in months and today my thighs are a little sore, but not enough to give me any difficulty moving. There have been times in the past where I could barely walk after my first run, so this is progress.

Today I’ll be doing some body weight exercises around mid-morning to try to convince my body that it needs to hang on to what muscle I still have, while I get busy trying to burn the fat.

I’m not going to go crazy with it today. I can’t afford to do myself an injury what with having small children to lift and carry, along with all the other duties of a stay at home parent.

I’m aiming for 30 Squats, 30 Push/Press Ups and 30 Dips..

Today I need to exercise better control over my calorie intake. Yesterday I found myself hungry for too long and ended up eating a little more than I wanted to for my main meals. Being hungry for about 20 minutes before eating is ideal for me but yesterday I found myself hungry around 30 minutes before lunch and 50 minutes before dinner.

I didn’t pig out but I ate more than I needed to. Over the last few days I’ve probably been eating closer to a maintenance diet but I’m not going to worry too much about that now, I’ll just keep making some small adjustments.

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