Lets start off with my eating habits not gone as well as I would have hoped, normal life is so much more different than holidays. Lets not carried away that this is a major failure or I have fallen off the wagon and lost control over food, this is about my weakness over bread and and ryvita and failing back to them so easily after the holiday were the only snacking was fruit.
For this lapse I am deeply disappointed with myself and I clearly still need help at home to address this problem, whilst some may find it tiresome, I find it frustrating and upsetting that I need so much help with this area still, I can cope with sweets, chocolate's, muffin's and cakes and takeaway meals in the house and in sight which is an amazing feat considering I would have eaten it for the sake of it in the old days, but the bread issue I fail on time after time. next time
I am the proud owner of a Garmin Forerunner 305 What a brilliant piece of kit this is, the way to go after spending this long training and having my first big run and signed up for more in the future, Only used it twice so far and I have learnt so much from it, I have so much more to learn to harness this information but the quality of my training will improve because of it. The other advice I have been given about the heart monitor is to run slower to keep the heart rate lower for one run, do the same as I have for one run and to do some short fast runs and then slower runs for another run. Call it an early Christmas present or a reward for the Great South Run I don't care I just love it. This is the link to my training record http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard and this is my notes from the two runs.
First run with Garmin watch. Not sure how much information you will see so I will bore you with mile mark times. Mile one 11:01 mile two 12:37 Mile three 12:11 and last .88of a mile 10:04. So went too fast which I knew but I had my go faster new all singing all dancing watch, so hyped up was I, that I'm not surprised, seeing my times gives me a new information to work with and use to improve my runs. This is such a cool piece of equipment I love it.
Sunny Dry and mild. Day 2 of using Garmin 305 plus 1st day of using heart rate monitor, the data from the heart monitor means nothing to me at the moment but Dr's will tell me how it is, I think maybe a little to high but I don't know. This run is a new PB by 43 seconds and was helped by the information on the watch. I forgot to mention yesterday that I have have run without my skins my legs feel naked but all seems alright. The last 3 runs I have done feel quite heavy on my chest I wonder if running in colder weather makes a difference (answer's on a postcard) or email my times suggest i'm working harder but I just don't know.
Next up the big news about my Diabetes I have had the results back from my blood test for my Hba1c this has dropped further and stayed within the normal boundaries before it was 7.6% or 60 under the new way of recording to 6.5% or 48 having spoken with Dr Lorraine Albon it was agreed to stick with the Victoza regularly, to drop my night time Insulin down to 6 units, and my normal Insulin with meals at the required amount for the food I'm eating. The Insulin will not stop overnight but it is being managed in the right way and is now over 90% less than at the start of the year.
This is the 100% success story of my whole journey so far, and the most important without me being in better health no amount of weight loss or running would make a difference to me. Am I disappointed with my weight loss at the moment? yes I am for the reasons mentioned above until I have total control I fear I will struggle a little with the scales, as I am aware of this and the reason's why plus the fact I am not piling on the lbs makes it a little easier to cope with. Am I depressed by this setback? no way I have the question's and the answer's I just have get everything to click in to place at the same time, this will happen it's just taking a little longer than I would have hoped for.
I have been out for a run this morning which should be for next weeks blog, I think its important in terms of what I have already said in this blog so far,to add it this week.
Sunny mild a little windy Great run along the seafront with Mel, Carol, Karen. It was great to run and chat another first for me and what I need to be able to do with now so that's great. The girls commented on my weight which is great as they have not seen me for a month makes a mockery of the scales. Heart beat lower which is good as well. Thanks Girls really enjoyable run.
It was great to catch up and hear how everyone has got on in the last four weeks it was amazing to listen to what they said about about me knowing this blog was already written and waiting to go. Scales should be banned, I am still disappointed with my eating habits but I am so relived that others see me as some one still changing shape and looking thinner than when they last saw me, this is freaking my head out a little but is something to work on and to take the positives out of. My weight for this week is 101.5kg a tiny gain of 0.2kg so I have not fallen off the wagon like I thought I had.
This is my journey to lose weight the natural way after all the negative publicity.Thank god there are good people out there to help people like me.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Weeks Thirty Seven,Eight,Nine
Sorry to lump this altogether this is due to my holiday and lack of a decent computer,both have now finished and sorted. Normal service will be resumed with weekly blogs.
Lets start off with the holiday 11 nights on a cruise ship,this was booked and planned way before I started my life style journey for those that don't know cruise ships have twenty four hour eating a paradise for foodies and to be honest I used to partake in over indulgence in the past and had planned to on this cruise when it was booked. So what was holiday heaven suddenly had the possibility to be the holiday hell, how would I cope with all the temptation that would be on offer would I have control of myself would I fall off the wagon, loads of question's.
Well I needn't have worried my control over everything was perfect the slimpod has past with flying colours the toughest test I could ever give it. If I was ever going to fail this would have been the time that it would have happened. And the best thing about the whole cruise were the great lesson's I learnt as the holiday progressed and afterwards when I digested the whole experience.
The dinning choices on a cruise are, a set meal time we had a table of eight and had a great table of people which helped as well we had a 18:00 and the whole dinning experience lasted about two hours for a three course meal and coffee. The other option is in the main cafe which is help yourself time and go back as much as you wanted, on the first night we ate in the cafe and whilst I was good a little to much went on the plate but control was good and I was not freaking out about food. On the second and third night we hit the first winter storm of the year and for the best part of 48 hours it was rough Hazel spent this time mainly in the cabin sharing her time equally between the bed and the toilet, Like any good man on holiday I left her to it, what on earth could I do for her anyway? Anyway back to the food issue's the next night I was on my own in the cafe and whilst I ate my dinner I felt uncomfortable being on my own (fat man all you can eat what are they thinking about me?) So I made the decision for the next night to eat in the waiter service table although on my own again the other six people made me feel welcome and comfortable I explained about Hazel being unwell and had a great time. The menu's had a vitality menu 3 course's for under 800 calories, I think I've died and gone to heaven eating made easy. The weather improves and Hazel joins me for dinner for the rest of the cruise.
The biggest thing I learnt is portion size, how can I eat this little and be full up I know that the dinning experience lasting two hours helps but it something I'm trying at home with portion size's this is work in progress and I will keep updating on my blogs how it is going. After the first week back from the cruise bread took over a little to much which was disappointing but that has past now.
My aim now that the Great South Run and the cruise is over is weight loss my weight has been steady at 16 stone for nearly three months fluctuating within a 2kg limit, this clearly shows a massive improvement and lesson's learnt that I have not done in my life before. My weight at the great South Run was 103.2kg 16st 3.5lb today three weeks later my weight is 101.3kg 15st 13.3lb.Wow Broken the 16st barrier so good news straight away next target is to go under the 100kg mark then reach my target weight of 82.6kg or 13st I don't regret any part of my journey so far, the weight freeze was frustrating but taking into account the training and my first ever road race and the new experiences gained from that, everyone that counts is still happy with how I have done and more importantly I am happy with the whole process.
I must express some relief that I am now back to putting the weight loss first and the running second, this is because all the training I have done so far is banked and I don't have to do it again, for the Half Marathon in Brighton in February I just need to keep running and training to tick over what I have already done and being the next race I am aware of what is involved in the race day so no surprise's. I hope that bit makes sense to you.
Lets start off with the holiday 11 nights on a cruise ship,this was booked and planned way before I started my life style journey for those that don't know cruise ships have twenty four hour eating a paradise for foodies and to be honest I used to partake in over indulgence in the past and had planned to on this cruise when it was booked. So what was holiday heaven suddenly had the possibility to be the holiday hell, how would I cope with all the temptation that would be on offer would I have control of myself would I fall off the wagon, loads of question's.
Well I needn't have worried my control over everything was perfect the slimpod has past with flying colours the toughest test I could ever give it. If I was ever going to fail this would have been the time that it would have happened. And the best thing about the whole cruise were the great lesson's I learnt as the holiday progressed and afterwards when I digested the whole experience.
The dinning choices on a cruise are, a set meal time we had a table of eight and had a great table of people which helped as well we had a 18:00 and the whole dinning experience lasted about two hours for a three course meal and coffee. The other option is in the main cafe which is help yourself time and go back as much as you wanted, on the first night we ate in the cafe and whilst I was good a little to much went on the plate but control was good and I was not freaking out about food. On the second and third night we hit the first winter storm of the year and for the best part of 48 hours it was rough Hazel spent this time mainly in the cabin sharing her time equally between the bed and the toilet, Like any good man on holiday I left her to it, what on earth could I do for her anyway? Anyway back to the food issue's the next night I was on my own in the cafe and whilst I ate my dinner I felt uncomfortable being on my own (fat man all you can eat what are they thinking about me?) So I made the decision for the next night to eat in the waiter service table although on my own again the other six people made me feel welcome and comfortable I explained about Hazel being unwell and had a great time. The menu's had a vitality menu 3 course's for under 800 calories, I think I've died and gone to heaven eating made easy. The weather improves and Hazel joins me for dinner for the rest of the cruise.
The biggest thing I learnt is portion size, how can I eat this little and be full up I know that the dinning experience lasting two hours helps but it something I'm trying at home with portion size's this is work in progress and I will keep updating on my blogs how it is going. After the first week back from the cruise bread took over a little to much which was disappointing but that has past now.
My aim now that the Great South Run and the cruise is over is weight loss my weight has been steady at 16 stone for nearly three months fluctuating within a 2kg limit, this clearly shows a massive improvement and lesson's learnt that I have not done in my life before. My weight at the great South Run was 103.2kg 16st 3.5lb today three weeks later my weight is 101.3kg 15st 13.3lb.Wow Broken the 16st barrier so good news straight away next target is to go under the 100kg mark then reach my target weight of 82.6kg or 13st I don't regret any part of my journey so far, the weight freeze was frustrating but taking into account the training and my first ever road race and the new experiences gained from that, everyone that counts is still happy with how I have done and more importantly I am happy with the whole process.
I must express some relief that I am now back to putting the weight loss first and the running second, this is because all the training I have done so far is banked and I don't have to do it again, for the Half Marathon in Brighton in February I just need to keep running and training to tick over what I have already done and being the next race I am aware of what is involved in the race day so no surprise's. I hope that bit makes sense to you.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Great South Run
As some of you are aware the day after the Great South Run I went away on Holiday so I had no time to blog before I went away that is why this blog is late, this may have been a good thing as the day turned out to be very emotional, more emotional than I ever imagined it would be.
This is the link to the video diary that Chris and Sandra took of the day and this is the first time I have seen it since I have been back and I'm not ashamed to say that I am now writing this blog in floods of tears again. I hope you can open the link above if not check out my facebook page or twitter account to access it.
Now to try and put into words what the 30th October 2011 meant to me and will mean to me until my dying day, at least the video helps out on that one a little.
My day started at 04:15 in the morning I cannot remember being so excited since my childhood and Christmas mornings, not even the 2008 FA cup final day had me this excited, like all good days the day went way to quickly but will stay with me forever. We (that's hazel and me) arrived at Southsea common car park nice and early having parked the car a calmness overcame me this was the only anxiety of the whole day.
We made our way over to castle field to the Diabetes UK charity tent and was made welcome there, this was also the meeting place, this was the reason I was so early I wanted to meet everyone who was going to be running with or because of me and everyone who was turning up to support team Thinking Slimmer. As the morning moves on I get to meet people who I have only met on facebook or twitter so to meet them face to face is amazing plus meeting up with friends and family this was a truly humbling experience. to have Hazel my Mum, Sandra, Lorraine and Trevor all together in the same place at the same time was very important to me, my daughter Alison and my grandson's were on holiday so could not be there and also my Dad,the most important people in my life and the reason why this is all happening. Also Becca, Caroline and Vik who were running because of me thank you all so much it is a pleasure and a honour to know you all. Also to Dawn in Dundee who could not make it down you were there in spirit and we were thinking of you, we will meet up soon I'm sure.
Its now time to get to our waiting area for the start of the run the anticipation is now building up and I am looking forward to the start of the run, we move down Avenue Du Caen and round the corner to the start line, and then the start line approaches and we start running, Becca, Lorraine, Trevor and myself we lost Caroline and Vik at the start but catch up at the end. Lorraine is keeping the time we run we go for 15 minutes then a minute walk as we approach 15 minutes everything is good and we stretch another 5 minutes before we walk, as we approach the Hard Interchange Trevor needed the loo he says keep going he will catch me up, we carry on into the dockyard as we are running around HMS Victory a voice in my ear says I'm back I swear I thought I had my mp3 recording in my ear. Trevor is the voice of the slimpod we run out of the the dockyard falling a little behind Becca and Lorraine, I tell Lorraine that I'm good so she runs with Becca and Trevor stays with me taking over the timing for the 1 minute recovery walk, we run up Queen's Street and I am still feeling good and confidant that my training has stood me in good stead to complete the run with dignity and pride in myself with no regrets at the end of the run. We go into Winston Churchill Avenue they have portaloos I need to go as theirs still 6 miles to go I reckon that cost me 4 minutes as there was a queue that would make my finish time even more impressive if I did not need to stop. Off we go again up to the roundabout then back on the other side we see Becca and Lorraine on the other side Becca is looking good Lorraine has run marathon's before although she has been ill and had little training she to was going well, we head off down the terraces passing the 5 mile mark half way and feeling good and loving the experience. My time for this is none to shabby so I get another boost by this.
The next couple of miles fly by this is going really well and my biggest fear of not completing the run is fading WHY I thought this I have no idea I have done the training and done the distance so its not hard maybe its the pressure of doing the run with everybody travelling to run or support me. we reach the 8 mile marker my whole body takes a big sigh the hardest part of the run the last 2 miles the hardest part of the course as we round Eastney onto the seafront, and a smile on my face the last 2 miles I could do blindfolded, this is the start of my training runs I have run backwards and forwards along the seafront in my training I know every lamppost every parking meter every step of the way to the finish line, we hit the 9 mile mark and the jelly baby station both Trevor and myself get given some jelly babies we eat the jelly babies then concentrate on the homeward stretch Trevor talks to me word weaving its like the mp3 is plugged in to my ear but in surround sound and 3D. we take the last turn and have about 800 meters (I think) to the finish line. I see my Mum I blow her a kiss and I start to well up a little further I see Hazel I blow her a kiss as well and then the finish line approach's Trevor runs across grabs me hand and we cross the line arms in the air together.
I am now in tears I give Trevor a big hug and I thank him for making this possible without Trevor this would not have happened, we walk through and collect our bag and medal I know my time unofficially and know it is at the top end of what I knew I had done in training so I was so happy to have done myself proud and know I have cheated no one who had sponsored me to complete the run. We walk across to castle field to the where we were going to meet up, the first person to greet me is my Mum and the tears flowed I knew how proud she was of me and I was proud to have done something so special for her.
Next up was Lorraine (see the video) "are you crying" "yes" "well stop it" got to love doctors its so funny, I give her a big hug and again thanked her, It was Lorraine that said at the start of the year when I started my journey that I could do the Great South Run and again a couple of months later when I entered the run straight after I received her email, Lorraine saw something in me that I did not know I had and I am eternally grateful for that. Next was Sandra what can I say Sandra most probably started crying as we started and kept going all day (sorry Sandra) Another big hug another thank you, these people saw in me what I could not and had faith in me when I thought i would let them all down.
At the time of writing this my Fundraising total for Diabetes UK is a massive £761.00 Thank you to everyone who has donated money and had the faith in me to complete the run, to those who have not or would like to sponsor me its not to late Information details for anybody interested are Facebook: Darin McCloud Twitter: unitedarinm Blog: http://www.blogger.com/home Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes) Slimpod: http://www.ThinkingSlimmer.com
Want to have a little weep (of joy?) Watch Darin's video diary of his amazing day of achievement at the Great South Run with myself and Trevor. What's the greatest thing you've ever done?
Length: 2:49
This is the link to the video diary that Chris and Sandra took of the day and this is the first time I have seen it since I have been back and I'm not ashamed to say that I am now writing this blog in floods of tears again. I hope you can open the link above if not check out my facebook page or twitter account to access it.
Now to try and put into words what the 30th October 2011 meant to me and will mean to me until my dying day, at least the video helps out on that one a little.
My day started at 04:15 in the morning I cannot remember being so excited since my childhood and Christmas mornings, not even the 2008 FA cup final day had me this excited, like all good days the day went way to quickly but will stay with me forever. We (that's hazel and me) arrived at Southsea common car park nice and early having parked the car a calmness overcame me this was the only anxiety of the whole day.
We made our way over to castle field to the Diabetes UK charity tent and was made welcome there, this was also the meeting place, this was the reason I was so early I wanted to meet everyone who was going to be running with or because of me and everyone who was turning up to support team Thinking Slimmer. As the morning moves on I get to meet people who I have only met on facebook or twitter so to meet them face to face is amazing plus meeting up with friends and family this was a truly humbling experience. to have Hazel my Mum, Sandra, Lorraine and Trevor all together in the same place at the same time was very important to me, my daughter Alison and my grandson's were on holiday so could not be there and also my Dad,the most important people in my life and the reason why this is all happening. Also Becca, Caroline and Vik who were running because of me thank you all so much it is a pleasure and a honour to know you all. Also to Dawn in Dundee who could not make it down you were there in spirit and we were thinking of you, we will meet up soon I'm sure.
Its now time to get to our waiting area for the start of the run the anticipation is now building up and I am looking forward to the start of the run, we move down Avenue Du Caen and round the corner to the start line, and then the start line approaches and we start running, Becca, Lorraine, Trevor and myself we lost Caroline and Vik at the start but catch up at the end. Lorraine is keeping the time we run we go for 15 minutes then a minute walk as we approach 15 minutes everything is good and we stretch another 5 minutes before we walk, as we approach the Hard Interchange Trevor needed the loo he says keep going he will catch me up, we carry on into the dockyard as we are running around HMS Victory a voice in my ear says I'm back I swear I thought I had my mp3 recording in my ear. Trevor is the voice of the slimpod we run out of the the dockyard falling a little behind Becca and Lorraine, I tell Lorraine that I'm good so she runs with Becca and Trevor stays with me taking over the timing for the 1 minute recovery walk, we run up Queen's Street and I am still feeling good and confidant that my training has stood me in good stead to complete the run with dignity and pride in myself with no regrets at the end of the run. We go into Winston Churchill Avenue they have portaloos I need to go as theirs still 6 miles to go I reckon that cost me 4 minutes as there was a queue that would make my finish time even more impressive if I did not need to stop. Off we go again up to the roundabout then back on the other side we see Becca and Lorraine on the other side Becca is looking good Lorraine has run marathon's before although she has been ill and had little training she to was going well, we head off down the terraces passing the 5 mile mark half way and feeling good and loving the experience. My time for this is none to shabby so I get another boost by this.
The next couple of miles fly by this is going really well and my biggest fear of not completing the run is fading WHY I thought this I have no idea I have done the training and done the distance so its not hard maybe its the pressure of doing the run with everybody travelling to run or support me. we reach the 8 mile marker my whole body takes a big sigh the hardest part of the run the last 2 miles the hardest part of the course as we round Eastney onto the seafront, and a smile on my face the last 2 miles I could do blindfolded, this is the start of my training runs I have run backwards and forwards along the seafront in my training I know every lamppost every parking meter every step of the way to the finish line, we hit the 9 mile mark and the jelly baby station both Trevor and myself get given some jelly babies we eat the jelly babies then concentrate on the homeward stretch Trevor talks to me word weaving its like the mp3 is plugged in to my ear but in surround sound and 3D. we take the last turn and have about 800 meters (I think) to the finish line. I see my Mum I blow her a kiss and I start to well up a little further I see Hazel I blow her a kiss as well and then the finish line approach's Trevor runs across grabs me hand and we cross the line arms in the air together.
I am now in tears I give Trevor a big hug and I thank him for making this possible without Trevor this would not have happened, we walk through and collect our bag and medal I know my time unofficially and know it is at the top end of what I knew I had done in training so I was so happy to have done myself proud and know I have cheated no one who had sponsored me to complete the run. We walk across to castle field to the where we were going to meet up, the first person to greet me is my Mum and the tears flowed I knew how proud she was of me and I was proud to have done something so special for her.
Next up was Lorraine (see the video) "are you crying" "yes" "well stop it" got to love doctors its so funny, I give her a big hug and again thanked her, It was Lorraine that said at the start of the year when I started my journey that I could do the Great South Run and again a couple of months later when I entered the run straight after I received her email, Lorraine saw something in me that I did not know I had and I am eternally grateful for that. Next was Sandra what can I say Sandra most probably started crying as we started and kept going all day (sorry Sandra) Another big hug another thank you, these people saw in me what I could not and had faith in me when I thought i would let them all down.
The race details as etched in my head and my heart I swear I will never forget this time 2 hours 9 minutes 10 seconds 15251 position and in my heart the knowledge that I did the best I could have done this was a good run it was a shame I needed the loo but that's life and I have no regrets what so ever about the day. I still cannot believe that I am typing this 12 days after the race and I am wailing like a baby. Remember if I can do this You too can do this and turn you life around.
At the time of writing this my Fundraising total for Diabetes UK is a massive £761.00 Thank you to everyone who has donated money and had the faith in me to complete the run, to those who have not or would like to sponsor me its not to late Information details for anybody interested are Facebook: Darin McCloud Twitter: unitedarinm Blog: http://www.blogger.com/home Just Giving webpage: http://www.justgiving.com/Darin-McCloud Just Giving text: Text SLIM65 £5 to 70070 (any amount where £5 goes) Slimpod: http://www.ThinkingSlimmer.com
My next goal is the Brighton Half Marathon on the 19th February 2012 so anyone can use the just giving page at any time.
Thank you all for reading this far down I appreciate it I really do.
THINKING SLIMMER LOVING LIFE.
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