Week 31 (21 to go)

This was a weird week. It started with the less than positive news that I have bursitis in my left shoulder. So time to get back to the Physio and work on getting it right and planning my exercise with some expertise.

I also came down with a head-cold that my darling wife had last week. It hit Friday evening and proceeded to take hold and beat me up until Thursday. It got to the point where I was instructed to go for a COVID-19 test by my GP on Tuesday (came back negative for info). As you may expect, this lead to no exercise this week.

To offset the lack of exercise, the head-cold caused a lack of appetite. Somehow I registered one of the biggest losses in a week (2.1kg), though I am not sure how enduring it is. I weighed in at 132.6kg (about 0.8kg down on the week before) on Tuesday after no appetite on Sunday and Monday, I had to remind myself to eat normally Tuesday and Wednesday and I was back to normal on Thursday. My weight continued to drop to 131.4kg. As I return to health and get back into exercise, I kind of expect a plateau or up tick for next weeks number as things return to normal - will be interesting to see what happens. This weigh-in marks another milestone. I have now lost over 30kg since the start of this challenge - a huge number when you consider what that is. I tried to visualise the amount of weight i am no longer carrying around. The easiest is to turn it into shopping bags full of 15 x 2 litre milk bottles. When that lens is applied, it is easy to understand why things are much easier now. While I am still a fair way from my desired end state, looking at what I have achieved definitely helps boost the confidence going forward.

This weekend we are on a mini-break in rural NSW. While away I will be doing my best to maintain my diet and get out and be as active as possible. Next week's weigh in will be very interesting!

Week 30 (22 to go) - End of Month 7

Definitely on the downhill run now. This week I was back and travelling for work which put a bit of a variation in my diet and workout routine. Not to worry, I prepared for it and stuck to my guns, however it was an interesting eye opener into how routine focused I had become the last few months.

Firstly diet. Being away for 2 days in a short stay hotel does not readily allow you to bring enough food from home to store and use before returning home. That meant that Lunch was a bought chicken and salad sandwich (egg and salad on the 2nd day) and dinner was limited to a poached chicken salad. Good in theory, however I could not count all foods with accuracy and there was some guess work.

The largest meal challenge was breakfast - the hotel I stayed at does not offer meal options so I had to get takeaway from one of the cafe's in the area (courtesy of Covid-19). Fortunately I was able to get the lesser evil of a vegetarian omelette and I avoided the buttery white toast that came with it. If anything I tracked food higher than what I ate, and my weigh in was obviously not adversely affected. To avoid the uncertainty of what I have put into my body, I will have to plan better next month when I next travel for a 2 day trip.

Wednesday morning I was unable to do my cross trainer, however I prepared and brought exercise gear and went for a walk / jog (7.4km) in the early morning chill of Canberra. It was a good enough substitute, nearly matching the number of calories burnt as the cross trainer at the cost of more time and less comfort.

In other news, I had the ultrasound on my shoulder and am expecting results later today. This will at least help me get back on the weights course when it is safe to do so.

As per every end of month, below are the results for the month and how I am tracking against B52. My measurement numbers are definitely stabilising, but my weight is continuing to drop. The biggest bonus to me has been that I had to purchase a leather hole punch for my belt and I am now on a new hole!

Still on track after 30 weeks!

Week 29 (23 to go)

Back on track!

After a couple of sluggish weeks I was able to drop 1.4kg this week. I am still battling the after effects of the sinus infection and ongoing shoulder issue (GP appointment today for physical assessment), by keeping my intake in check and exercising to the limit i could achieve got me back below the B52 target line. Admittedly, i am only 0.1kg's ahead of the line, it is still better to be ahead of the line coming into the final week of month 7 than be behind.

To expand a little on the shoulder injury. I have a radiating pain from my left shoulder down to my elbow and across my back. Initially it was only after weights sessions, however after halting weights two weeks ago it has not subsided, if anything it has gotten worse. I still have a full range of movement and function, it is just the pain that is the concern. This week it started impacting my sleep, waking 2-3 times per night with a bolt of pain when i roll on my left side. I will update once i have more of a diagnosis.

The injury has meant that i have had to slow my tempo a little on the cross trainer as i am not engaging that arm while exercising (other than moving it - not pushing or pulling). I see it as very important that i dont stop moving with an injury, however focus on exercises that i can do to keep momentum up. It would be very easy to stop all together, however i think that will cause me to stagnate or go backward - not something i want to do.

On to next week, i will be repeating this weeks approach and with a bit of luck will stay on target.