Thoughts....

Got me searching now!
Quite fancy this as a taster to see how life in a kayak for a few days is

https://www.wildernessscotland.com/adventure-holidays/sea-kayaking/summer-isles/

I think having a goal and a carrot is always better than a stick and is what drives a lot of humans. That is why today our “incentive” based culture has got out of hand!!

But having a true life goal that is something of a “stretch” but is truly attainable with planning and commitment would be awesome to work towards.

But in my experience, you have got to “want” to do it for the right reasons. Losing weight can’t be the primary goal. It should be a secondary goal or a benefit outcome from the primary goal. For example, saying “I always wanted to do an extreme endurance event and need to do it before I get too old” is the personal goal that will get you out of bed every morning and committed to your “ “regime”, which coincidentally is the French word for diet. A by-product of reaching your goal will clearly be getting fitter which will benefit you in the future (but you need to keep up the “regime” once you have completed or you will regress)...

I applaud you for getting to this point to air this in public as this is the first step in stating to achieve your goal by exposing it to people who will support you.

Food is a funny one. We have such a relationship with it. Along with water, we need it to survive but it can be so easily and unintentionally abused....

I have always been stupidly fit, 6’3” and 13 stone, 2:01 800m, 49 mins for 8 miles but 9 years ago my body decided to attack my pancreas and now I have been type 1 diabetic since. Lost 3 stone in 6 weeks and only have have put 1.5 back one and have stuck there. Even though I was never a big eater and did not care hugely for sweets or chocolate or lots of carbs other than for training, I now have the oddest relationship with food as I need to eat to stay alive but can’t indulge in any way.... I have not had a Mars or snickers for 9 years or any form of dessert or cake but my driver when it makes me feel like **** when we all go out for a meal and I have a steak and literally 3 French fries, no starter, no dessert is I want to stay alive for as long as possible to see my kids grow up and to be able to be there for them... that is my “primary goal” 24x7x365.

So what I think you are doing a frigging awesome. Go for it, set yourself the right primary goal and make sure you have an awesome support network.

I’ll defo sponsor you if you also do it for charity..

Stu

Dan! said:

I’d seriously consider buddying up with you Newton. Quite fancy a big life challenge/achievement. For the moment I will watch with interest and ponder

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Well there’s a thought Dan, let me know if the idea sticks.

I have talked this notion through with Jeanette and the conversation was positive. I used the news this morning of the chap completing a swim around Britain today as a conversation starter.

I’ve also talked to others (on here) and again the support is there. I have looked at kyaks and there are tubs available for my size at present but the sensible maximum for the trip would be 110kg or 17 1/2 st. So a lot of work to do.

Nowhere near your plans but I adopted a regime about 3 years ago after awful circumstances prompted it.
I get on my bike every day for 40 mins tops ride around the area (talk to people too)plus a small amount of aerobic training, nothing excessive. I manage my calorie intake which allows me to still enjoy things I like such as beer and or cream cakes. This has allowed me to lose 3 stone and trim body fat and I am now in a good place with my weight/health.
It is important to do something you enjoy as exercise, also not punish yourself with a punitive diet. I generally keep active (gardening walking etc) and to remember it is a life style change and not a fad for a few months.
I feel better look in better condition and for little payback really
Good luck with whatever you choose and support I know is here on this forum

My wife moaned about my weight gain over the past 2 years - told me to give up the booze - set myself a goal and a reward.

My goal was to lose 2stone and reward a DB11

Since then she has stopped moaning and even lets me drink midweek - evening meals have improved also !

Scaf said:

My wife moaned about my weight gain over the past 2 years - told me to give up the booze - set myself a goal and a reward.

My goal was to lose 2stone and reward a DB11

Since then she has stopped moaning and even lets me drink midweek - evening meals have improved also !

Click to expand...

Is the order in for the DB11 yet?

Dan! said:

Got me searching now!
Quite fancy this as a taster to see how life in a kayak for a few days is

https://www.wildernessscotland.com/adventure-holidays/sea-kayaking/summer-isles/

Click to expand...

Think I'll sit this with out Dan......On the settee with a glass of wine....Will be thinking of you though if you do it.

rockits said:

Is the order in for the DB11 yet?

Click to expand...

Sadly not, next car will have to wait until the current PE venture crystallises.

Scaf said:

Sadly not, next car will have to wait until the current PE venture crystallises.

Click to expand...

Has the 2 stone gone though?

25% of it ......

Scaf said:

25% of it ......

Click to expand...

It's a start...you could buy a used V8 Vantage for that.

Jesus! that is quite a paddle!!! and without a doubt a challenge! but without being a bit pessimistic... maybe a bit much? I race yachts across the channel, albeit a longer crossing over to belgium - 8-15 hours is such a bore! id be tempted to cut out the grotty UK part of your expedition and just do the french canals and waterways to the med section, that would be a great trip, other than the Kudos of paddling the channel (which is pretty darn cool - ill give you that!) its pretty bleak!

As for losing weight and toning up, Im far from large - my BMI is just where it need to be, but i did suffer some weight creep a few years back... I went from usual breakfast to making a fresh smoothie forfitted with oats and seeds, not only was I more alert and less reliant on coffee for the morning, but I was also less snacky and lost weight in a maintainable manner, my wife did the same and had similar results. as with all things good, the nuti bullet has worked its way further back in the cupboard, I still use it, but not as much as i used to or would like to.

Research so far has been fun; I’ve established that the French have made it illegal to cross their shipping lane without power so it seems you have to get on the escort craft to cross it then get back in the other side. To ‘compensate’ they do a slightly longer crossing Dungeness to Boulogne.

Anyway have put together a pleminiary route down ending up in StTropez. At just over 1,000 miles all in.

Need to look at some serious sponsorship as it is over a month long trip, not counting the return run and any injury time. I’ve had some offers of companionship along the way from a couple of days to a week and hopefully one the whole way!

Sponsorship is not something I e had to get too involved with beyond school stuff and the abseiling a few years back. But this would need to be multi tiered corporate to cover the cost of the trip, equipment and support to allow the fundraising element to go 100% to the chosen causes.

Well it all took a turn to getting very real today with a corporate sponsor (the first I’d spoken to about my idea) who jumped at the chance! With all sorts of offers of assistance!

If I keep going like this I’ll HAVE to do it!

How much rowing have you done before Newton? We had a contracts manager who was an ex marine, built like a brick sh** house, and fit as ****, decided he was going to row the Atlantic with a mate, and as preparation did a few events, failed to even make it up the Thames as a warm up, not saying your not capable , but is a lot harder than you think.

I have planned it on achievable targets for daily distances for an averagely fit person. True I haven’t at this point been in a Kayak since my mid 20’s but was a white water enthusiast back then.

I fully intend to get fitness asssistance from professsinals hence my development today. Part of the reason for looking at September 2020 is to give enough time to loose weight and improve aerobic fitness. What I am not short of is stamina and muscle, anyone that has met me tends to refer to me as a ‘machine’ and a workaholic.

Early training will involve a Kayak Ergonometer (like a rowing machine but using a Kayak motion). Modern machines are incredibly realistic in the exercise and telemetry. I should be able to develop a realistic goal and learn my limitations.

Well, I admire you for even considering it, I certainly wouldn't with my dodgy knees/back/ hands, and not least my absolute fear of water!

Update:

Dan is quite up for joining me over the whole adventure making it a team effort, Benny has agreed/offered/been press ganged into managing a support vehicle for the duration, others have said they are willing to join parts of the journey. My nephew is up for coaching and joining as a white water specialist.

I have a far better understanding of the french waterway operations and legal situation already than I ever imagined I would. It seems that having a craft registered (UK) opens more of the system to you. Given the shear number of rising locks that would have to be 'portaged' in the lower north to middle section, we may have to be creative with the route to give some slippage East without going South, overland; I wouldn't see this as cheating as the overall distance covered would be at least as far. What it would then involve is a lot more white water sections in the upper reaches of some rivers. This in itself may be dependent upon water levels although most are glacial fed.

Health and fitness...

Having been a consultant to the worlds premier outdoor fitness equipment company since they set up in 2007 I have got them on-board as looking to support this major part of the challenge. Arrangements are being made for working with Loughborough university to get us assessed and 'bench marked' at the start of the training in a few weeks, regimes and programs will be developed and personal trainers allocated!

Sponsorship:

Early estimates are that around £30k of corporate sponsorship is needed to fund the whole adventure meaning that when it happens ALL personal sponsorship will go to the various charities chosen.

So it looks to be becoming a very real thing!

Good work Newton. Contrary to those thinking that I'm joking by registering my interest in joining Newton, I am indeed totally up for it.

Newton and I need to meet up and make some initial plans, such as a week long holiday/trip early on this year to see if we can manage/tolerate a week in a kayak! On wards from there a formal training regime will be established, times and dates for the adventure locked in, and of course buying a suitable craft!