The ups and downs of cycling in Sussex

As Dave was doing his flight sim show at Shoreham airport I decided to cycle over and show my support.  (It had turned out to be a bit of a family affair with James doing some filming there and Charli helping out too.

I cycled just over 31 km which took about 2 and a quarter hours.  The first and the last bit were the worst - a long slog up the very steep Tongdean lane in Withdean to start with and again, climbing Tongdean lane at the end to get home.  I know those are the very bits that help burn the fat, but I wish there was an easier way - especially at the end of the ride... The rest of the cycle was fab.

 Most of it was along the sea front, including the port road and lock in Shoreham harbour.
 Can anyone explain why bikes are not allowed on the prom here in Brighton and Hove?  I mean, bikes tootling along and looking out for other users, not those in a hurry - who should be on the road of course.  The prom must be about 20 m wide along here. 

Anyway, I felt pretty pleased with myself.  But I did possibly cancel out the positives with just one little negative... When I arrived at the airport Charli was starving and the airport cafe had closed - having run out of food!!!!  So I drove to McDonalds to get her a burger - and found myself eating one too - how did that happen:)
Still it was a good cycle and I'll do it again some day soon. 

My cunning plan to lose weight

It seems to me that my wannabe fat self (lets call her Lard) has been making some sneaky moves on my wannabe thin self (I'll call her Beyonce!). I really don't recall giving Lard permission to drag me towards biscuits, crisps and cheesecake - whilst keeping away from the gym on the flimsiest of excuses. "Your trainer lace is broken." - I have spares, somewhere, or "If you go now you might be late back and you'll miss checking with your dental hygienist on facebook..".

All the time Beyonce, bless her, has been under the impression that she has, by and large, been sticking to the straight and narrow -avoiding chips and dumplings, whilst leaping on her bike frequently and pedalling pretty furiously. Beyonce - and I'm with her on this one - is gutted to find that the weight is going the wrong way; 8 pounds - and that's on the kind and friendly scales. The gloating scales can just sit there and 'wait' for the moment. I'm going nowhere near them.

But, as I mentioned, I have a cunning plan. This is based on trickery and deception. Lard will not know what's slithered off her until she's just a mere globule of fat.  And here is an example of how it will work.

It's 4.30 pm and Beyonce is putting the finishing touches to her work for the day.  A tick here, a tick there and a shimmy across the floor as she sings to John who has come to replace the light bulb.  Soon it will be time for home.

At this point Lard, in that rather devious and manipulating little voice of hers, pipes up.  "Oooh don't forget that you need to go to the staff room to pay for those sweeties you had yesterday.  You know the white chocolate mice.  Have you forgotton that all the profit goes to charity?  And such a good cause too.... maybe you should get some more?"

Beyonce though is ready! "Yes Lard Great Ormond Street Hospital is a good cause isn't it.  However, I think I could better support them by taking part in a fun run.  So I'm going to get into training by jogging home this evening - up that steep hill."

"No, no!" shrieks Lard " You might hurt yourself.  You're too old and unfit. Anyway, you've got too much work to carry home in that bag of yours."

But Beyonce has the final word.  "Lard - I have a flash pen, with all my latest lyrics and toons on.  I don't need any heavy books in my bag, just a song in my heart and a spring in my step.  And I'll put the money in the sweet box tomorrow.  Come on let's go.  Got me lookin so crazy right now..."

Thus will I defeat slobbery old Lard and allow Beyonce to sing and dance her heart out, in a lightened up sort of way.  Wish us luck:)

 

New goals at the Seagulls Amex Stadium

Monday morning and I wasn't at work!  No I was at the brand new Amex Stadium in Falmer, Brighton - the home of the Seagulls - and a fantastic place it is too! The sun shone and life was good.

It was also meant to be a day that showed my determination, stiff upper lip and general ability to reach my goals and win in the weight loss war (yeah!)  So why is it then when you go out on a trip, even when the trip is only 5 minutes away from home, the first thing you want to do when you get there is eat your packed lunch?  I felt so hungry, despite a good 'how to be slim and still eat sausages breakfast' of quorn sausages, tomatoes and toast.  And so did everyone else.
We were on a special sporty day playing football, hockey, rugby and rounders - brilliant idea and
almost guarenteed to help the pounds fall off - were it not for the fact that it was the young students I was with who were doing the sports while I stood and watched...
But:

• I did not start nibbling - I waited until I could sit down in the stands and have my lunch - Goal!
• I kept away from those extra sandwiches and crisps... Goal!!
• I felt motivated enough to take the long, uphill  50 minute walk home afterwards... Goal!!!          

 

Ok, there were a few lapses afterward.... but I'm going to feel proud of myself.  I really think that thinking yourself slimmer is half the answer.  They say 'you are what you eat', but I also think' you are what you think you are'.   Not profound, but I think it's true...

I could curl up and cry - but I'm going to jump up and down instead and scream

Ohhhh, I am so woeful.  I have been 'coasting' with my weight loss campaign recently.  The plan was to have my hols in Turkey and then get straight back on to the diet and exercise plan when I returned.  I know it's a winning combination because it worked!

However.... I've sort of done that.  I've gone back to my favourite low fat yet filling breakfasts, lunches and dinners and I've been out cycling and swimming a lot.  But I guess 'coasting' isn't enough for me as I've put on 8 pounds in the last few weeks. Eight pounds!!!!!!

 So I need to take action.  Lots of it.  For a start the zumba wii game that I got for my birthday in June... needs to be taken out of the box.  I shall jump up and down and sing along with it for a session every day (almost... yeah a bit of copping out going on already).
The other things I know I have to do are stop the nibbling and cut down on the vino.  Both of these have crept up - actually rather leapt up if I'm honest...

So it's back to Sparkpeople every day too, which is an amazing site and has seen me through some tough times.

Ok, now I'm off to Zumba!!!!

Finding fixes for those fat times...

The plan still goes like this ... a year on.
I hadn't realised how much I owe to Pretty Woman... or how much that 50 Shades of Grey owes to the film either.  I watched it last night and it still hits the spot.   
Day - Thursday, in December
Time - 11 am
Place - Brighton, London, Paris... who knows? Somewhere with lots of beautiful shops full of gorgeous clothes.

I walk in and the sales assistants, who have been looking bored as they tootle around the store, gasp with astonishment. They all look towards the store's manageress who regains her composure, puts on a big smile and walks towards me.

"Madam - can we help you?"
I smile nonchanantly, ( I need to practise this in the mirror) and gaze around at the rich array of designer dresses dripping off the hangers. "Perhaps, yes I think you probably can."

There is an audible buzz of excitement now in the shop.
"I need a whole new wardrobe - and rather quickly actually", I add. "I have such a busy schedule these next few weeks; you know parties, balls, school productions, skiing trips, a weekend in the Cotswolds and a few nights in Istanbul. Plus I have to fit in a bit of location managing too. Colin and Pierce have asked me to find a few beautiful secluded bays in the mediterranean. Such a bore I know, but I did promise I'd do it."

The manageress smiles and nods incessantly, whilst around her the staff run for the hangers eager to help. "Would you like one of our girls to model some outfits for you?" she asks. "I guess you're about a size 8."

I smile and thank her, then slump into an arm chair, with a glass of bubbly, as the dresses start to parade themselves before me.  An hour later, I'm out of the shop, laden with designer carrier bags, l and heading for lunch; somewhere nice of course...

BUT this plan has a flaw - just one!  I am having trouble getting to that size 8 bit.  My dream is having hiccups and I need to get it back on track.

It's the tea time treats that do the damage for me I think.  I watch what I eat quite carefully in the day - and in the evening too, but I need to arm my kitchen with self locking machines to stop me nibbling late afternoon.  And maybe add in a little zumba then too.

Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan like me the way I am, of course, but I really don't want to let myself down.  A girl has dreams you know...
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You won't believe this but... wine can help you slim!

Here are four reasons why wine can help you slim. Read on before you mock!

1. If you love a glass or two of wine it probably makes you feel good.  Feeling good is fundamental to feeling positive and in control.  If you want to look good, you need to start feeling good about yourself. 
2. Women over 30 were asked about their wine drinking habits and their weight gain.  Four in ten, who said they were tea-total, gained the most inches, the Archives of Internal Medicine reports.  
3. The fewest inches were gained by those who drank 'moderate' amounts - perhaps a glass or two of wine a day. 
4. There is a  theory that in regular drinkers the liver develops a separate method of breaking down alcohol, with surplus energy turned mainly into heat, rather than fat. So drinking a small glass of red wine (120 calories),  most will be burnt off. However, if they come from a slice of pizza, more may be turned into fat. I like this theory.
   
   Clearly, too much alcohol - wine or not - provides too many calories, but for me, wine is a luxury that makes life feel better - and after a hard day's work it feels real good!
   
   

Back on the Bike

This summer has been my most fantastic for years - for lots of reasons.  I felt fitter, happier and more in control.  I went places and did things I love with lots of very special people and I think we all really enjoyed ourselves - I know I did.  Over the last few weeks I've done loads of cycling and  fully intend to do lots more!  I know it makes a big difference to getting myself fit and enabling me to eat some of the food I really like.

The other day Dave and I cycled 22 km to the top of Ditchling Beacon (one of the highest points in Sussex at 240m or there abouts.)  It was really knackering, but I felt great afterwards and can't wait to try it again.

I used the map your route app on Spark people, which I find really useful - although it doesn't (yet) work out calories used going up hills!    However, it still reckoned I'd used over 900 calories - which I can believe.

Thinking about it, we took a wrong turning at one point and had a lovely freewheel down a hill, then having to climb back up again (not so great, but good for me!!!)  So I think that means I can say I used those 900 calories ignoring the large 99 I ate when I got to the Beacon.

I don't think an ice cream has ever tasted so good.

I want to start thinking of my next goal, which I would like to be another holiday although quite how I'll pay for it is another question.  At the moment I'm trying to do 10 competitions a day (with holiday prizes).  I don't usually win stuff but you never know!