2019 weight loss and fitness accountability club

Dan!

Member
Messages
3,029
Happy New Year!

Following on from Newton’s post that started as a thought and is rapidly becoming a reality, that he (and now I as as well) will be kayaking from England to the south of France in September/October of 2020. The reality has dawned that the pair of us need to get considerably fitter and stronger!

To ensure us every chance of success I’ve decided to create a forum accountability club. It’s open to all! The more the better.

The idea is that anyone wishing to join has to post their starting stats (be that weight or girth; what ever excites you most...) and then posts their monthly activities and progress.

Once you join you make a commitment to post your results. (Photographic evidence is optional!)

All members are accountable to each other. And without going all Mumsnet we can then support each other to make sure we don’t fall off the wagon.
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Brilliant idea - was just about to do the same... kind of a SportsMaserati does Weightwatchers!

I’m definitely in, and happy to start... I’m 47, am 5ft 9 (shortarse), and this morning when I stepped on the scales I was 14st 5... That means I have a large beer belly, and at least two to many chins.

Edited to add measurements

Neck 17.5”
Chest 43.5”
Belly 44.5”
Waist 37”

Target weight for me is probably around 12st 7, but I’m more interested in getng my waist back down to 32/34” and losing my belly.

For me, the issue is I eat and drink too much ****, and the more I drink the more likely I am to snack late at night. I think overall I exercise enough, but probably do too much cardio and not enough weights / resistance stuff.

My plan is to give up alcohol for January and hope that gives me a bit of a boost start in terms of weight loss. Will then see where I go from there.
 
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CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
Thumbs up from me. I was going to start a thread tomorrow, but very happy someone's beaten me to it.
Minesweeping today, so we'll have a starting point tomorrow morning and off from there. :D

C
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
I'm in, I was reasonably fit until a couple of years ago, time to get it back. Will sort out stats soon. Looking to lose around a stone and a half, and get tone back.
The stats shocked me.
Age 57, ( I can deal with that.)
Hight 5' 6"
Weight 11 St 12 lb !
Chest 40"
Waist 36" !!
Belly 42" !!! WTF
Biceps 12" rest 14" clenched.
Excercise in last year none.
Drink plenty.

Target is to get waist back to 32" belly gone, and get down to around 10 St 7 lb.
I'll take it slowly, but first step is to take the clothes off the expensive clothes horse, aka the x-trainer.
 
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zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,758
I'm in - 57 (feck that sounds old), 5ft 8in (even shorter than Jon) and this morning was bang on 15st. A realistic target for me would be below 13st 7lbs, plan is to cut alcohol for Jan at least, more exercise hence cycle trainer interest and eat less sh1t.
 

Dan!

Member
Messages
3,029
Ok, so my starting point:

Alcohol consumption; daily in considerable quantity.
Exercise over the last 6 months; non existent
Belly measurement at rest; 40"
Waist at rest; 37"
Chest; 42"
Right bicep at rest; 14.5"
Right bicep clenched; 16"
Weight; 13st 4 or 84 kg

Target for January:
Zero alcohol consumption
Join gym in Ireland and get into regular exercise routine

Before photos (cringe):
 

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rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Great thread Dan. Had to be a good idea that we can club together and motivate each other. Maybe a Bennyless thread

I'm bang on 6ft and 13st 3lb or 83kg. Target weight I think I should be is 12st or heavier if there is more muscle/tone.

I definitely have lots less energy and vitality to what I had obviously 23 years when I stopped playing amateur 11 a side football. I was 13st 7lb then but had less than 4% body fat and so was much more toned/muscly. I was a goalkeeper so had a strong core, a six pack and could do the splits. Amazing what 23 years does to a man!

I started senior football at 10st 7lb and was told I was too small/light. I ate better and much more, then swam 30 mins in morning then 2 hours in gym after work 5 days a week for 3 months and added 3st of pretty much all muscle. Just been losing the muscle/tone in favour of fat so keen to turn the tables now.

My first session on the garage bike tomorrow morning early before work. If I can do that 4-5 mornings a week for up to 30 mins that should hopefully make a difference over time.
 

Dan!

Member
Messages
3,029
Inspired, I just did 5 mins on my rowing machine...

I now have a headache and I'm out of breath!! This may be long over due :)
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
Don't push yourself too hard, Dan

People may well find something like this helpful:
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/

You can record calories in and exercise. You'd be amazed at how it focuses the mind....

If anyone wants to 'friend' me on there, it's CatmanV2 (durr)

C
 

Marti

Member
Messages
358
What an excellent idea, it certainly gets harder the older you get to get motivated about exercise. Got my sons wedding in September so best get fit !!
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Cheers (alcohol free one that is) Dan, we may have started something here!

Starting stats:

This copied from Thoughts!

View attachment 53315

Well there’s the brutal truth, 21st 9lb or 303lb or 137kg

At 6' 1 1/2" tall I'm not a short **** but not as tall as Catman

Waist has been a steady 42" for 15 years

Belly; not prepared to measure it but it hangs out further than other bits!

Alcohol consumption is minimal except at 'events' in all honesty I sometimes go 2-3 months without touching a drop of the stuff.

General fitness is surprising but I remain very active even though I'm effectively carrying a second adult around all the time!

Target is as Dan has confirmed is to be near to an elite athlete by the time we set off next summer! I doubt I'll get below 17st but even that will be an achievement.
 

Oliver6796

Member
Messages
497
Best of luck guys, I’m going for overall fitness so no stats to post.
Dry Jan for me (excluding one weekend when we’re away) day 1 nearly done :eek:
 

outrun

Member
Messages
5,017
Good luck chaps.

But as Colin McCrae said, “I’m here for a good time, not for a long time”

Seeing as I’m already the perfect specimen....

Actually, I’ll be hitting the gym this year as well but mainly because I enjoy it!
 
Messages
6,001
I am in
I have a morbid fear of diabetes!

I have a slight advantage in that I started my regime about 2/3 years ago so I have some degree of control now.
I am 6 feet 1 inch and did weigh 14 stone with a 34 waist which was expanding
Currently I am still 6 feet tall but have dropped to 12 stone 10 lbs which is in the healthy green zone on the NHS BMI calculator thingy and waist is down to 32 inches
I did it by counting calories and calorie burn. This way I took control of my diet and recorded it on Excel spreadsheet. I am active and cycle about the area for about 40 mins and little else.
I drink far too much at my peak it was a bottle of gin a day but I now have that more controlled.
my aim would be to lose another 1/2 stone
I have found what works best for me
Exercise I enjoy
Calorie care
Realistic achievable targets
Time taken so far 3 years
Rewards have been I feel better physically and mentally all round and I look better from a weight perspective and I can still enjoy the treats of life
My tips would be do not rush, control calories for your life style make obvious improvements straight away like walk more, use stairs not escalators/lifts, no smoking, control drink.
Feel free to question my routine - I am learning too
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I agree not to rush and that is my plan as well. If you go too hard too early it ends up being too hard or fails pretty quickly.

Baby steps to start with with a view to making long term lasting changes. I'm only going to start doing something like 4k cycles as that is the shortest the free Premium Tacx software shows. I'm trying that to start with.

At 10 km/h that 4km is 24 mins. That will be plenty for me in the morning before work and I can either get faster at doing the same 4km or do longer. I think 30 mins before work is the ideal. Gives me 30 mins to have shower and get changed after. My commute is 10 secs into my garden office

Forgot to say my waist is 34 at mo and not really any belly to speak of.....maybe a little less obvious extra bit of warming flesh.

Alcohol intake is low. Couple of blow out binge sessions for couple of golf weekends a year.

My issue is always feeling the need to have a cake or biscuit with tea/coffee often. Mainly as it is there in the house so need the wife to stop buying these non-essentials. I find it difficult not to eat anything wife/kids don't eat as don't like waste. So end up eating stuff I don't really need or want as don't like it being binned.

I love fruit and vegetables but don't get enough of them and too much time spent working means little or no time for cooking or prep so leave my wife to organise this. I expect portion sizes are often too big as well which doesn't help.

Looks like we can all help each other here. Long may it continue ;)
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Inspired, I just did 5 mins on my rowing machine...

I now have a headache and I'm out of breath!! This may be long over due :)

I did the same on the bike tbh. You have to be realistic though and not beat yourself up. You will be using muscles you either haven't used at all or for a long time. Also your cardio/aerobic capacity will be poor and will need to be built up to a level that works. Maybe get a heart rate monitor as well. I got one for the bike so I can just keep any eye on max levels mainly at the start. It is all too easy to be big, tough and manly and push through the pain. It isn't so big, tough and manly to have a heart attack or stroke! Think Andrew Marr.

It is a marathon not a sprint so baby steps to start with.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,113
Really enjoying these posts and I'm sure you guys can do it.
I'm not into exercise routines like going to the gym and thankfully my work is physical.
Eating healthy and cooking from scratch so you know what you're eating.
Too much sugar and salt put into everything doing us no good.
I use an app on my phone where I have given it my vital statistics and it helps me stay in check.
Good Luck all.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I am in
I have a morbid fear of diabetes!

I have a slight advantage in that I started my regime about 2/3 years ago so I have some degree of control now.
I am 6 feet 1 inch and did weigh 14 stone with a 34 waist which was expanding
Currently I am still 6 feet tall but have dropped to 12 stone 10 lbs which is in the healthy green zone on the NHS BMI calculator thingy and waist is down to 32 inches
I did it by counting calories and calorie burn. This way I took control of my diet and recorded it on Excel spreadsheet. I am active and cycle about the area for about 40 mins and little else.
I drink far too much at my peak it was a bottle of gin a day but I now have that more controlled.
my aim would be to lose another 1/2 stone
I have found what works best for me
Exercise I enjoy
Calorie care
Realistic achievable targets
Time taken so far 3 years
Rewards have been I feel better physically and mentally all round and I look better from a weight perspective and I can still enjoy the treats of life
My tips would be do not rush, control calories for your life style make obvious improvements straight away like walk more, use stairs not escalators/lifts, no smoking, control drink.
Feel free to question my routine - I am learning too

Great work ;) That is a cracking result.

A bottle of gin a day....chr1st....that is a level I can't even comprehend. My problem is drinking a bottle of water a day. Gin....wow. As long as it under control now tough it is all good.#

Did the gin come out often around service/maintenance work on the Maser?!
 
Messages
6,001
Yes it did!
I was in a bad place and used to structure my drinking around the necessity to drive
But lets not hijack this excellent thread
 

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
Don’t rush, lose the weight through eating first trust me you legs and lungs will thank you all the more for it. Get Joe wicks lean in 15 book and cook from that plus use the HIIT exercises to burn the fat and take test days.