Inspired to Change

It’s a test of strength of body and mind!

 

 

 

It’s a test of strength of body and mind!

 I did a similar silly thing 7 years ago: I volunteered to cycle up some mountains in Vietnam (they told me it was mostly flat!) for the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit. This Vietnam challenge was worse in some ways and better in others. The negative was that I hadn’t been on a bike for 20 years and didn’t have a bike. On the positive side, I was still a little fit and this was a good foundation to start from.

This time, things are a bit different. For one, I haven’t been on a bike since then (2010) and I have a very sedentary lifestyle. In fact, I haven’t been doing any activities let alone exercise and I didn’t have a bike until last month when someone generously loaned me one.

So, strength of mind I have in abundance but strength of body is severely lacking to a point where I know that I could damage myself if I’m not careful (apart from my bottom!)

Where is my fitness?

Well, as I’m hoping you’ll be supporting this great cause and my journey from now to the finish line in India, I’m going to be totally open and up front with you and show you my stats.

As of the 1st June 2, 2017:

Age: 53

Height: 5’ 10”

Weight: 18st 3lb (heaviest ever and over 2 stone more than in 2010)

Waist: 48” (still wearing 40” trousers but not sure how!)

How Fit?

  • This week I have cycled twice to the office (just under 2.5 miles each way) and it was tough and close to my current limit and day 2 was harder…
  • We also got a cross trainer at home to help me train. 10 minutes on low level was hard work and I was at my limit.
  • 20 press-ups at a push 
  • 10 sit-ups if I really try
  • I get out of breath walking up 2 flights of stairs.

 I have to get fit enough to cycle 500km in 7 days in the Indian heat and over rough terrain…so I have some work to do.

         

 

 

 

Promises

  • I will do the Plank Challenge over the month of June (started, it’s hard!)
  • I will cycle to work at least 2 days per week (if in Peterborough)
  • I will get to 20 minutes per day on the cross trainer by end of June
  • I will get to 30 minutes per day on the cross trainer by end of July on medium resistance.

 

Goals

  • To be able to ride:

10 miles by end of June, 2017

15 miles by end of July, 2017

20 miles by end of August, 2017

30 miles by end of September, 2017

2 x 15 miles a week by end of October, 2017

3 x 20 miles a week by end of November & December, 2017

  • To be cross training for 1 hour on a high intensity program 3 x week by the end of November 2017.
  • 2 stone lighter in weight and be a 40” waist by February 2018 when I land in India.

 I have a lot of work to do, but the pressure of not letting down those people who are supporting me and the chance of making even a little difference by raising money and awareness for CALM will be a great motivator. I hate to let people down.

Wish me luck and follow my regular progress reports as I get fitter and stronger on the way to India for CALM.

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. In 2015, 75{5a7de17c017269d62c16f32c286dd02adb9dd8ffd446b5e5edfb3862a6069e1b} of all UK suicides were male.

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