Excuses

This morning’s pre-dawn run gave me pause for thought.

I am not a very good triathlete. I am not a very good endurance athlete. In fact, I am not very good at any sport. I did not even go to PE at school and only took up training when I arrived at the age of 35 at almost 20stone.

However, I train and I compete.

I do it because I enjoy it. I do it to stay trim. I do it to stay healthy. In short, as a popular sports brand would put it … I just do it.

Many people come up to me with the usual comments and/or excuses:

“You must be mad.”

“I just don’t have the time.”

“I’m too busy.”

“Work leaves me too exhausted.”

“I travel too much with work.”

Etc, etc... You get the drift.

All the time the same people complain about not losing weight, being unfit, having no energy… but they seem to watch a lot of TV or spend time in pubs etc.

Well, I want to be blunt: We can all come up with excuses why we do not do something. It gives us a crutch to lean on. It takes conviction to find a way to get things done.

I have friends:

• With family commitments, that train at times that some would consider the middle of the night.
• With stressful jobs that fit training in when they can
• That take training gear away on business trips, then train rather than sitting in the hotel bar
• That run with their children in strollers, or bike with their kids on hook on bikes/kids seats
• Use their commute … even though they have only an flannel and towel to clean up when they get to work
• People use indoor trainers while child sitting.

I could go on and on. However, what I am saying is reasons are no more than excuses. If you really want to sort yourself out and get fit or train for something - you will find a way.

Leave your crutches by the wayside.

Will

The Weight Issue

For me, weight seems to be a constant struggle. I took up triathlon (some time ago now) because I (That’s 280lb for my American friends OR 127 KG for my continental fiends). I was fat, unfit and on the short route to a heart attack.
was a fat lazy blob, tipping the scales at almost 20stone.

Since then I have brought my weight down to a respectable level. Nevertheless, it always seems like a struggle. Like a yo-yo journey of loss and gain. Never quite getting there.

Just a couple of weeks ago I weighed in at 13stone 10lb (192lb / 87kg). This was the slimmest I have been in approximately 25 years.

Nevertheless, this was short lived. 2-week holiday in the Lake District put a sharp end top that.

Even though I did plenty of hiking, a bit of lake swimming and a little running in that 2-week period, I still managed to put on a chunk of weight…

... 10.5lb in fact ...in 2-weeks … not good.

I know it is down to me. I know it is because I like my food and my drink … more so when away from it all. 

Therefore, it’s back on the roundabout. Time to grasp that yo-yo string and with luck drag it back down again ... 

Feeling Fat 

Will