July Press Up Challenge Day 31: 31/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 31

Monday 31/07/2017

Press Ups

Final day of the challenge! Day 31! It has finally arrived.

I went big for my first set, tried to get as many as I possibly could, my eldest daughter and wife had a bet, my daughter said I could to 110 (ever the optimism of a 5 year old) and my wife said 56.

I got....55, before collapsing in a heap on the floor! This was followed by my daughter jumping on my back and me doing 5 more. I then broke it down into the usual 20 rep sets.

I'm pretty proud of that achievement, when I started I could barely do 25, and by the end I've managed to more than double this effort.

Looking Back

The past month of July has had it's ups and downs and up again and back down (sorry bad press up joke!).

I've done 6,200 press ups over the last 31 days.  Most have been done in the spare bedroom, but I've completed 400 while camping in the rain in Great Langdales, 600 when pretty ill and didn't want to do anything except sleep, 15 with a heavy 5 year old sat on my back, 100 in Grizedale Wood.

Lessons Learnt

One of the key lessons is perseverance.  Needing to keep on going through the pain and sometimes boredom that can come with a repetitive task.

I'm glad that I persevered throughout the challenge, towards the end of the challenge I was excited about doing them, how many could I do in one go today? How quickly can I get them done?

Next Steps

Well the press up challenge is done, what is the next challenge?  I think I will be attempting a plank challenge, each day hold a plank pose until failure.  How's up for joining me and sharing their successes?

I think I'll carry on doing a few press ups every day as well, just to keep the strength there.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 30: 30/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 30

Sunday 30/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 30 of the challenge, just 1 more to go!!! So close!  I don't think I've ever been this consistent with my exercise.....

Another lovely relaxing day with the family, so the press ups were done post me tinkering with my bike.

Tomorrow is a big day being the final day of the challenge, so wanted these to be a bit easier, so split them into smaller reps per sets just doing 20 reps.  My plan for tomorrow will be to do 1 large set, see how many I can do in one go without stopping.  Then will just get through the rest, however, I can!!

I'll see you tomorrow for the final day of the challenge,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 29: 29/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 29

Saturday 29/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 29 of July's 200 press up challenge, just 2 more days to complete the challenge.

Being a Saturday, I wasn't getting up early to do the press ups instead I had a lie in until 7am, when my daughter woke up.

After a day doing family bits and pieces and catching up on some R&R decided to go out for a short 2 mile run in town, before returning to do the press ups.

Over the last few days I have been doing 150 broken down into various sets first, having a long break before coming back to have a blast at 1 set of 50.  Yesterday was the first time I succeeded in completing all 50 in one set.

Because I would have chance to do this type of split, I decided to go for the 1 set of 50 first and then carry on with the remaining 150.  Running high on confidence from the day before I set off on the 50........only to fall short and fail at 40! I'm putting it down to the run before I did the press ups.

I then did sets of 20's to get me through to the end, fair to say that the arms and shoulders were pretty tired by the end.

Think I won't attempt the 50 tomorrow, so on the last day I will be fresher to attempt to see how many I can do in 1 go.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 28: 28/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day

Friday 28/07/2017

Press Ups

Rolling on from my success of yesterday's attempt on the 50 I thought I would give it another go today.

So again up at 5.45am and did 150 press ups before 6am, this was broken down into 6 sets of 20 and a set of 30, a good way to start off the 28th day of the challenge.

Once I finally I got in from a very long day at work, I got down and did the full 50 press ups in 1 go!!! That is twice the number I could do at the start of this challenge!!  I am so pleased that I managed it.  I wasn't sure if I could arms felt shaky at the 45 mark but I powered through and got to the 50.

Hopefully I can replicate it tomorrow!!!

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 27: 27/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 27

Thursday 27/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 27 of the July press up challenge.

Was up nice and early today, started my press ups at 5:45am! My plan for today was 150 this morning and then try and get 1 set of 50 in this evening.  I knew if I tried to do the 50 first thing I would struggle with the next 150.

So I repped out the 150 this morning in 6 sets of 20 and 1 set of 30, struggled this morning, I assume because my shoulders were tired from last nights press ups. 

Anyway, this evening I went for the 50.  I fell slightly short at 44, literally my arms and shoulders gave out on me and I face planted into the floor.  But still 44 in one go!!  So people might read this and think 44 press ups, no problem I can do that.  But for me that has taken a lot of work and a lot of press ups to get to that point.  Once my arms recovered I quickly finished off the remaining 6 to get to the magic 200.

I might have another go tomorrow night at the 50, fingers crossed I'll get it!!!

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 26: 26/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 26

Wednesday 26/07/2017

Press Ups

26th day of the challenge sees the same method I've used the last few days in a bid to complete my daily 200 press ups.

Once again broke that bad boy up into 6 sets of 30 reps and finished off with a 20.  Wrist is still aching towards the end.  I shouldn't be surprised essentially I've done 5200 press ups in the last 26 days.  That is the equivalent of doing just of 8 press ups every hour for 26 days!

Tonight I finally got out for a run.  I haven't run in ages and really wanted to get out.  I'm a bit disappointed with myself as after I completed the ultra marathon I said that I wanted to continue with that fitness level and carry on running long distances.  But unfortunately I didn't keep to it.

With a half marathon in September I need to get my training in.  So tonight I ran around town, doing 3.2 miles in 34 minutes, pace of 10:22min/miles and an elevation gain of 289 ft.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 25: 25/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 25

Tuesday 25/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 25 of the 200 press ups a day for the month of July challenge.  Just 6 more days to go!!

Was feeling pretty tired tonight when I got in, was falling asleep on the sofa, but determined to get my press ups in I got up and hit the floor.

Feeling confident from yesterday I went with the same rep ratio, 6 sets of 30 reps and 1 of 20.  Felt good doing it, slight twinge in my left wrist and right shoulder but nothing too bad.  The press ups definitely helped to wake me up, which is a small issue at 8pm and you are feeling pumped and awake.  Hopefully it doesn't affect my sleep tonight.

See you tomorrow for day 26!

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 24: 24/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 24

Monday 24/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 24 of July press up challenge.  I'm starting to feel like the voice of the guy from Big Brother - "Day 24, 8.30pm and Owen has done another 200 press ups, what do the housemates think of him?" (In a Geordie accent, obviously!).

As I hoped for yesterday I shot for sets of 30 reps and succeeded!!!  :-)

6 sets of 30 and finished off with a set of 20 reps!!

I think it shows,  if you are persistent with something and you try at it everyday you will see those improvements.  It might not be press ups or exercise in general for that matter, but it could be anything you want to achieve, learning Spanish, writing a blog (which I've found harder to persevere with than the press ups), cooking, painting.......  whatever is your passion to do.  Coming back to it day after day, even when you have those days when you really don't want to, when you are too tired, when it's late, when the baby has been crying all night, when.... whatever the excuse could be, you didn't take it.  Instead you battled through to see the outcome at the end of the day.

I think it needs an accountability partner involved in these processes.  No one cares if I don't practice my Spanish, but I know if I don't do my 200 press ups and write about it Paddy will be onto me.  He's my accountability partner in this, as well as the GO Cumbria community.  I feel I need to write it or I let you down, a woman in work asks me every day how the press ups are going, that is accountability.  Find your accountability partner in a challenge and shoot for a goal.  Try and do something every day for a month and see what difference it makes to your skill on that task but also your view on that task. 

Give it a go and let me know what you are going to try for a month, every day without fail.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 23: 23/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 23

Sunday 23/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 23 of the 200 press up challenge and another weekend over with.  I'm surprised how quickly this challenge has gone, it is almost the end of July already!

The report for today is pretty short and simple really, all my press ups were done this afternoon when the kids were out, once again broke it down into 8 sets of 25 reps.  I've done this the last few days and I'm already feeling it being easier doing this set routine.  At the start I would be struggling for the last couple of sets, but not today.  I think next week I'll be upping it to set of 27 or even 30.  I would feel a great sense of achievement if I could get to doing 30s by the end of the week.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

Review: Urge Supatrail Helmet 2016

Review

Urge Supatrail Helmet 2016

I recently required a new helmet as my old one was getting to about 3 years old  or so.  Even though you might not have dropped or crashed you still need to replace your helmet every few years because they get damaged by UV weakening the structure, therefore not providing adequate protection at the critical time.

After setting my budget and trawling the internet I came across the Urge Supatrail Helmet 2016 on Chain Reaction Cycles (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com).  If we are all honest the first thing we look at on a helmet is how cool it looks!  And I really like the shape of the Urge Supatrail, also both my mountain bike and road bike are red and black so thought it would match perfectly.  I love the large circle air vents on each side and the front, the narrow profile  of the helmet is great as well.  Also the reviews were really positive.

I ordered a large/extra large for me.  Chain Reaction Cycles were great, as usual in posting out the Urge Supatrail and it arrived with a couple of days.

Once it arrived I adjusted the chain straps and the one at the back to get the right feel.  Very snug feel, but not too tight and zero wobble, which I've experienced with other helmets.

I've used in now twice since it has arrived.  Once on my commute into work and also I took it with me when I went to Glasgow to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome for my level 2 accreditation.

Very comfortable to wear, the sweat band at the front works brilliantly.  Previous visors on other helmets have been easy to pull off but on the Urge Supatrail it is riveted on.

Helmet is lovely and light and with the large air vents provides good cooling, even worked well when going around a warm velodrome.

Overall very pleased with my purchase of the Urge Supatrail Helmet 2016 and would recommend it to others.  Overall giving a five chain ring grading.

See you later,

Owen

https://www.urgebike.com/index.php

July Press Up Challenge Day 22: 22/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 22

Saturday 22/07/2017

Press ups

Day 22 of the July 200 press up challenge.  Today I was up in Glasgow's Chris Hoy Velodrome (http://www.emiratesarena.co.uk/cycling/Pages/default.aspx) for my level 2 accreditation for track cycling. 

I did level 1 back in January and haven't had a chance to get back up there to do level 2 until today.  The accreditation system introduces you to track cycling and teaches you safe riding skills.  Levels 1 and 2 are an hour long, while levels 3 and 4 are two hours long.  By the time you pass level 4 you are then allowed to go to any of their numerous open sessions and ride around the track.

Today's session was teaching us how to cycling in a train on the black and blue line.  Cycling within

a wheels width of each other and then with us peeling off one by one and re-joining at the rear of the line of riders.  An interesting skill to master because you don't have any breaks on a fixie bike, meaning if you cycle to fast and get to close to the person in front you can't just squeeze the brakes and slow down.

Glasgow is the closest velodrome for us to go to but there are numerous centres right around the country and would really recommend that you have a go, it is exciting to go around.  I know a lot of the velodrome's have their own accreditation, and I believe it can be transferred between places, i.e. once I pass at Glasgow I should be able to ride in Manchester for example.

Onto the press ups.  As I was up and out early doors this morning, giving it is a 2.5 hrs drive to Glasgow from home, I did all my press ups this evening.  And late on this evening as well as we were watching Beauty and the Beast with my 5 year old.  So she was allowed to stay up late as a special treat for finishing school.

Today I broke the press ups into 8 sets of 25 reps, so pushing myself a little bit harder.  I could definitely feel it in the shoulder area on the final couple of sets.

I hope the rain is not washing your weekend out and you are having fun.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 21: 21/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 21

Friday 21/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 21 of the 200 press up challenge.  Just 10 more days left to go.  I'll have to think of another challenge for August, any suggestions?

Today I part commuted into work on the bike so I wasn't planning an early session on the press ups.  I had planned to get up early and get into work early.  I drive about 20 miles to work, park up and cycle the final 10 or so miles into the office.

I find this a great way to get an extra piece of training in to a busy day.  The final 10 miles are pretty busy heading into Carlisle, so I'm only getting in 10 to 15 min later than I otherwise would, I save on petrol as well.  So all and all a good deal.

The morning ride in was great a nice tail wind over the 10 miles meaning I averaged 16.1mi/h, with a max of 28mi/h.

Came a slightly different way back to the car on the end of the day commute, avoiding the main roads as much.  Had a head wind for a good portion of the 11.2 miles, but by far a nice journey.  Even with the head wind averaged 16.2mi/h and a max of 30.2mi/h.

On the press up front, did these watching the Tour de France while the wife put the little ones to bed.  10 sets of 20 reps with a minute rest in between.

Off to Glasgow Velodrome tomorrow for a session which is going to be good fun.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 20: 20/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 20

Thursday 20/07/2017

Press ups

Day 20 of the 200 press up challenge, just 11 more days left.

Pretty short and sweet update on today's blog.  Baby and me have been up since 4.45am, as well as numerous times over night, remnants of her immunisation jabs, lets hope she has a decent nights sleep tonight, I think we all need it!

So as you can imagine none done this morning, all done once I had put the kids to bed.  Split up quite simply 10 sets of 20 press ups with 1 min rest.  Seeing an improvement now on the ease of doing this number.  Maybe by day 30 I'll be knocking out 40 or even 50 reps at a time?! Who knows.

Catch you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 19: 19/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 19

Wednesday 19/07/2017

Press ups

Day 19 of the 200 press up challenge.  Yesterday I had planned to get up at 5.45am and get all 200 done pre work.  Unfortunately my 1 year old didn't get the memo.  She had her next round of jabs yesterday so had a fairly unsettled night, and my brilliant wife took the brunt of this soothing her and keeping her calm.  It has had an effect on her as she is sleeping on the spare bed as I type this. 

But my wife needed to start to get ready at 5.30am so baby responsibility shifted onto myself.  Meaning I got the grand total of 0 press ups done this morning.

All 200 were done this evening after work, but actually really please with myself on this 200 and have taken it as quite a moral boost.

Did the first 100 in 4 sets of 25, then the second 100 I did 3 sets of 30 and 1 set of 10.  I think this shows quite a bit of progress so far in this challenge, from 19 days ago when I start my first set on 25 and quickly went down hill after that!!!

Hopefully I can get them in early tomorrow and retain this level of reps.  It would definitely make me more efficient.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 18: 18/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 18

Tuesday 18/07/2017

Press ups

Day 18 of the challenge to do 200 press ups every day throughout the month of July. 

Fairly standard day, up at 6am and managed to get 120 done again.  Once again didn't get that 200 I had planned and hoped for.  Need to set the alarm for 5.45am tomorrow, but that's pretty early let's hope the baby gets a good night sleep!!!!

I was pleased I managed to get 5 sets of 20 out this morning, with only the last 2 sets requiring sets of 10 reps.

Remaining 80 were done once I had put the kids to bed, which seemed to take for ever tonight.  This means I've done them later than planned.  I talked last week about trying to get exercise done am, leaving the late pm free of exercise.  As doing exercise late in the evening can reduce the amount of deep sleep you have and therefore actually inhibit your recovery.

I know the theory just need to apply the practical.

Weight

Wight this morning at 6am was 201lbs.

See you tomorrow, hopefully bright and early!!

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 17: 17/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 17

Monday 17/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 17 back to the usual work week schedule of the press ups for the 200 press up challenge for every day in July.

Up at 6am and managed to get 120 out, was going for 200 but ran out of time.  Did 4 sets of 20 press ups before going back to sets of 10.  I can definitely see my strength improving and getting more and more sets of 20's done.

I had a school Governors meeting in the evening which means home late.  This delayed the remaining 80 press ups which I'm trying to stop doing.  I would prefer to get as many of the 200 done first thing.

So once tea was had I was down on the floor getting the remaining 80 rounded off before the new season of GAMES OF THRONES!! started.  9pm all polished off ready for some R&R.

Weight

Back to the weighing in, weight at 6am was 203.2lbs

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 16: 16/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 16

Sunday 16/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 16 of the challenge saw us packing up our tent from our weekend camping in the Langdales and setting off to Wray Castle (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wray-castle).  Me with grand plans of getting some photos of me doing press ups in the castle, being a beautiful day it would have been great.

Unfortunately on the way to the castle my wife hits a sharp kerb stone on one of the small back lanes half a mile from Wray Castle, shredding the front tire.  Quickly pull into a passing place, get the spare out and the jack, but the locking nut on the tire is worn away and won't fit on! Disaster.  Call Green Flag, who's computer system is down and they are doing everything manually.  Luckily we had both cars with us due to logistics with children. 

My wife didn't want to drive my car just in case she hit anything again, so decided to wait for Green Flag to turn up, who when finally arrived said exactly what we had already told them that the locking nut can't come off so had to send for a tow-truck. Long and short of it, the wife sat in the sunshine in her car down a country lane for the majority of Sunday, while I went to Hawkehead with the kids. 

So all 200 press ups were completed once I got back home, while catching up with the Tour de France.

Quite an eventful day all and all.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 15: 15/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 15

Saturday15/07/2017

Press Ups

A wet and windy Saturday in the Langdales so the 15th instalment of the 200 press up challenge.

With friends around and egged on and one saying they could easily do 200 it brought in a slight challenge.  "lets just do sets of 25!", he quickly realise that he couldn't sustain 25.  Especially when children started climbing onto your back.

Now as much as I love my daughter she is heavy! She is far from fat or anything like that but just solid, and while our children are of the same age, they weigh very differently.  I managed to get 10 out with my daughter on my back, which is a good 4 stone extra weight.  John could only get 2 out when my daughter went onto him.

With the 2 dads going for it the 3rd felt left out and joined in as well for the last set of press ups in the 100.

I completed my 100 only to find out John had only done 80 and James had done 25.  As I finished the first 100 the heavens opened and we quickly got under the gazeebo.

The second set of 100 were done after I put the baby to sleep in the tent.  Luckily we have a good size tent which allowed me to do them without disturbing her.

200 done, even when camping in the wet!!

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 14: 14/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 14

Friday 14/07/2017

Press up

Day 14 of the challenge to do 200 press ups every day for the month of July. 2 full weeks now of constantly doing press ups. Pretty proud that I've managed it.

I talked yesterday about the benefits of doing exercise first thing in the morning rather than late at night which will improve deep sleep.

So that's what I did I got all 200 done pre 6.30am which was hard work shoulders were tired by the end. The proof of this works will be tonight and how well I sleep.

This weekend the family are away camping in the Langdales, a beautiful part of the Lake District.

So next couple of days I'll try and do some pres ups in some interesting spots.

See you tomorrow

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 13: 13/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 13

Thursday 13/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 13 of the challenge, and the best laid plans of mice and men, gang aft a-gley, as Robbie Burns would say! Planned to do 100 first thing this morning, alarm set nice and early 5.45am, baby alarm went off at 5.30am!!!!!  Meaning daddy could only get 50 in this rather than full 100 I had planned.

Never mind, means that the remaining 150 had to be done tonight.  Luckily I had my daughter helping counting them for me and then us practising her maths so win-win all around.

But listening to a podcast on the way between meetings today (living in Cumbria can mean long drives between meetings!!), raised an interesting dilemma.  The podcast was about getting good sleep, and one point that came up was that doing physical exercise at 7pm you will get 1 hour less deep sleep than you would do if you exercised at 7am.  Meaning that exercising first thing in the morning gives you more deep sleep, producing more testosterone (for men) which helps you recover faster.  So on that basis, it's probably not ideal me finishing my press ups so late.  If I can I really should be doing all 200 first thing in the morning.

Really interesting pod cast check it out at; 

https://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/shawn-stevenson-get-good-sleep-episode-286/


See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 12: 12/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 12

Wednesday 12/07/2017

Press Ups

Have you ever had that groundhog day feeling.......I mean welcome to day 12 of July's 200 press up challenge!

On the coughing front its starting to clear up which is good, lemsip carries on doing its magical work.

50 press ups done first thing this morning, couldn't get through the planned 100 arms felt heavy, I think it was because I did 200 just before bed yesterday.

Remaining 150 were done late on after I had put both little ones in to bed.  So likelihood is that arms will feel sore tomorrow morning, but determined to get all 100 done tomorrow am.

Weight

While I haven't got back to recording my diet, I weighed in at 6am this morning at 200lbs.

I think it is showing that my weight is slowly headed down in the right direction.  I don't want to starve myself and the yo-yo back up this can cause greater health risks than benefits.  Small steady weight loss is always recommended.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 11: 11/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 11

Tuesday 11/07/2017

Press Up

Day 11 of the challenge.  Feeling a good 75% of myself today, hacking cough is reducing slightly, but I've had to quarantine myself in the corner in work so I don't spread my disease around everyone.

Unfortunately this morning I didn't manage to get any press ups in as planned, because the baby woke up at 5am.   I wanted to get some in this morning as I knew my schedule was busy, from work I was heading straight in to a governors meeting, which means home quite late.

So by the time I got home from the meeting it was 9pm and I hadn't eaten.  A quick sandwich tonight and my 200 press ups.  Cough must be improving as I wasn't gasping for breath at the end of each set, and I managed to get 25 press ups out on the first set.

So all 200 press ups done by 9:45pm!  11 days down only 20 to go.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 10: 10/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 10

Monday 10/07/2017

Press Up

Day 10 and feeling as shitty as I did yesterday! Thank God for lemsip to keep me that a little bit perky.

So, for all of you eager for my diet and press up news, I've kept this blog pretty short again.

Managed to get the 200 done throughout the day, which was good only issue was after every 10 it caused a hacking cough.

Still on track for all of July doing 200 press ups.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 9: 09/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 9

09/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 9 of the challenge sees me full of cold/man flu and feeling like death warmed up. The joys of children who are disease carriers.

Pretty brief on the blog front today, I didn't record my diet because I didn't feel up to it.  Haven't eaten a huge amount due not feeling brilliant.

On the press up front all I can say is I some how managed to get the 200 done throughout the day, however, each 10 reps were leaving me short of breath.  Hopefully it gets better for tomorrow.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 8: 08/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 8

Sunday 08/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 8 of the 200 press up challenge every day for the month of July.  Today we had a family walk in Grizedale Forest (https://www.forestry.gov.uk/grizedale), which as well as being a great place to mountain bike, there are many forest walks that are suitable for all ages and abilities.

Having not done any press ups first thing, as I had a lie in or as much as you can with a 1 year old.  So took the opportunity to do some in the forest.

Only managed to get 30 out of the 200 done in the forest, the rest of the time I had to carry a heavy 1 year old in a back pack for about 4 hours.

Once we got back home and Mrs David was bathing the baby I got the remaining 170 done by breaking it down into 10 reps, shoulders are tired from all of that carrying!

Weight

Today's weight at 7.15am was 201lbs.

Diet

I'm not going to lie, this is not going to be good reading, I'm having 1 cheat day a week and that's today.

Breakfast
Quaker Oats Original - 100cal
Banana - 105cal
Coffee - 2cal
Wholegrain fruit and fibre - 145cal
Semi skimmed milk 150ml - 74cal

Lunch
Sliced chicken breast 40g - 48cal
Crunchy peanut butter 20g - 128cal
Soft brown thin - 100cal
Apple - 80cal
Mini Mild Cheddar Stick x2 - 166cal

Snack
Grapes - 62cal
Paleo bar - 212cal
Yoghurt, Fruit & Granola -232cal
Double Chocolate Brownie 0.5 - 205cal

Dinner
(PIZZA SATURDAY)
Cajun Chicken Pizza 1/2 - 328cal
Chips - 300cal
Dairy milk 25g - 133cal
Galaxy Chocolate 27g - 147cal

GOAL                 ACTUAL             DIFFERENCE
Cal 2,190             2,567                     +377
Protein 246g        82g                        -164
Carbs 137g          311g                       +174g
Fat 73g                110g                        +37g


I hope you all had a great Saturday and got and had some fun!

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 7: 07/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 7

Friday 07/07/2017

Press Up

Day 7 of the challenge also brought that Friday feeling.  Up a bit later this morning,6.15am so only managed to sneak 50 in rather than the planned 100.  But I did manage to get 30 done straight away, followed by 15 and finished with the final 5.  So even in the short period of time of doing this challenge I'm noticing that I'm becoming stronger in the work, with my previous record being 25.

Once back from work, again did 30 and then a 20 set to get me up to the half way point.  The remaining 100 unfortunately haven't been the same strength left, back to doing the 10 reps.  All finished by 7.30pm which was good.

Weight

I weighted in this morning at 6.15am at 194.6lbs.

Diet

Breakfast

Weetabix x 2 - 134cal

Fruit and fibre 40g - 145cal

Semi skimmed milk 150ml - 74cal

Coffee - 2cal

Snack

Hard boiled egg x2 - 140cal

Baguette - 185cal

Coffee - 2cal

Lunch

Soft brown thin - 100cal

Breaded Ham 92g - 83cal

Banana - 105cal

Apple - 80cal

Snack

Myprotein Impact Whey Protein raspberry flavour 2 scoops - 204cal

Apple - 80cal

Coffee - 2cal

Dinner (Curry Friday!)

Sharwoods Cooking Sauce 100g - 125cal

Chicken breast 93cal

Red peppers - 16cal

Pilau rice - 171cal

Poppadom - 37cal

Peshwari Nan - 287cal

Greek Style Natural Yoghurt 100g - 120cal

GOAL                       ACTUAL              DIFFERENCE

Cal 2,190                   2,185                       5

Protein 246g              121g                      -125g

Carbs 137g                 247g                      +110g

Fat 73g                       45g                        -28g

I hope you all have a good weekend and get out and enjoy whatever you are doing! 

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 6: 06/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 6

Thursday 06/07/2017

Press Ups

Up Early this morning at 5.45am, got the first 20 done before a 45 sec rest and onto the next 15 before tiring and settling into sets of 10, before the last set of 15.  First 100 knocked out by 6.15am ready to deal with the rest of the day.  It feels like you have already achieved something before the day has already started.

This evening, after tea with the family, I would drop down and do 10 press ups quickly getting to 170.  Decided tonight, that my shoulders and arms were feeling good that I would try for 30 and was surprised to find that I could manage it.

All 200 cleared up by 7.30pm.  Pretty good day today with it.

Weight

This morning's weight at 5.45am was 195.4lbs.

Diet

Breakfast

Weetabix x 3 - 201cal

Semi skimmed milk 150ml - 74cal

Coffee - 2cal

Banana - 105cal

Snack

Coffee - 2cal

Hard boiled egg x 2 - 140cal

Apple - 80cal

Lunch

Soft brown Thin - 100cal

Breaded Ham 92g - 83cal

Satsuma - 45cal

Snack

Coffee - 2cal

MyProtein Impact Whey Protein 2 scoops - 204cal

Apple - 80cal

Coffee - 2cal

Dinner

Pasta 2oz - 90cal

Chicken Breast Dippers x 8 - 349cal

Corn on the cob - 80cal

Greek Style Yog 200g - 240cal

GOAL              ACTUAL             DIFF

Cal 2,190           1,881                  311

Protein 246g      118g                   -128g

Carbs 137g         220g                   +83g

Fat 73g               62g                     -11g

Good day on the amount of calories, still high on the carbs compared to the protein.  Need to swap some of the fruit out for some protein instead.

See you tomorrow.

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 5: 05/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 5

Wednesday 05/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 5 of the July 200 press up challenge.  Up at 6am again this morning to get the first 100 in, doing the same method of 10 reps x 10 sets, this time I cut the rest down to 45sec from 1 min.  These were repped out well and I felt good.

The second 100 have not been that easy.  I got in from a long day in work, straight out on the bike for a 22 mile bike ride up one of the Cumbria passes - Whinlatter.  So once I've come in had some food and then trying to get the second 100 press ups in, really struggling!  But at 9pm I completed them watching the Tour de France.

Diet

Breakfast

Weetabix 3 - 201cal

Semi skimmed milk 150ml - 74cal

Banana - 105cal

Coffee - 2cal

Snack

MyProtein Impact Whey Protein Peanut Cookie Flavour - 2 scoops - 205cal

Coffee - 2cal

Lunch

Breaded Ham 69g - 62cal

Soft Brown Thin - 100cal

Apple - 80cal

Satsuma - 45cal

Hard boiled egg x 2 - 140cal

Snack

Apple - 80cal

Chicken on a stick nice and spicy x2 - 130cal

Roasted salted cashews 40g - 119cal

Dinner

Chargrilled vegetable stir in 0.5pot - 67cal

Cooked Pasta 3oz - 135cal

Grilled Chicken Breast - 93cal

Greek Style Natural Yoghurt 200g - 240cal

GOAL                  ACTUAL                DIFFERENCE

Cal 2,190              1,880                       310

Protein 246g          138g                        108g

Carbs 137g            200g                        63g

Fat 73g                   55g                          18g

Analysis

Good day today, it managed to keep my cals down and slowly upping my protein intake.

Bike Ride

Lovely day in Cumbria today so me and Paddy headed out this evening.  Did a 21.8 mile bike ride, which took us over Whinlatter, and I had some very squeaky breaks that I need to look at.  Had 1,866ft elevation gain, and we averaged 13.7mph.

See you tomorrow,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 4: 04/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 4

Tuesday 04/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 4 of the challenge, so far so good, hopefully with the consistent approach it will get easier.

Up at 6am again this morning to get the first of the 100 in before the kids awake.  The 10 sets of 10 reps with 1 min rest worked out well the last couple of days, so I went with this method again.  This worked out for the first 80 press ups then the baby began to wake so, I steeled myself and managed through very shaky arms to get the last 20 out in one go.  Meaning I got my first 100 done by 6.30am.

I had planned to get my second 100 done in the evening after work, but as I was working from home this morning, I decided to sporadically throughout the course of the morning to do my press ups.  This would have looked pretty odd in the office! But fine for home.  This has meant I've done all 200 press ups pre lunch, I'm hoping that this gives me a bit more rest time for tomorrows 200!

Diet

Breakfast

Coffee - 2cal

Quaker Oats Original Big Bowl - 254cal

Mixed berries - 70cal

Snack

Crunchy Peanut Butter - 128cal

Greek Style Natural Yoghurt - 250g - 300cal

Coffee - 2cal

Lunch

Honey Roast Ham 4.5 slices - 86cal

Soft Brown Thins 1 - 100cal

Snack

MyProtein Impact Whey Protein Raspberry Flavour 2 scoops - 204cal

Dinner

Cooked Pasta 3oz - 135cal

100% Beef burger 2 - 478cal

Peas - 67cal

Sweetcorn - 75cal

Snack

Greek Style Natural Yoghurt - 100g - 120cal

Mixed berries - 70cal

GOAL                   ACTUAL    DIFFERENCE

Calories 2,190       2,091           99

Protein 246g          148g            98g

Carbs 160g             137g           -23g 

Fat 73g                   93g              -20g

Analysis

Diet has gone better today, I do believe me writing about it is making me think about my choices more.  I've boiled up some eggs for tomorrow, this will boost my protein with keeping my carbs down which is my biggest issue.

Weight

Todays weight at 6am was 203.4lbs.

It just shows how much weight can change, yesterday I was 200.2lbs, I really don't think I've put on 3.2lbs through yesterday!!!

I'll keep putting my weight on here and over time there should be a slow consistent drop.

Training

This afternoon, I decided to do a 15minute HIIT workout, the weather outside isn't great so did this workout instead. 

I went onto YouTube and did The Body Coach's 15 minute Full Body Dumbbell HIIT Workout:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhexYROToU4

It was a series of exercises done for 40 sec with 20 sec rest, all exercises done 3 times.  Great workout, the set of 1 legged burpies was a killer!  I don't like doing burpies at the best of time, so wasn't best pleased with doing 1 legged versions, but id definitely got the burn going and the HR up.

Let us have your feedback on my progress to date, love to hear if you have any other suggestions for HIIT workouts.

See you soon,

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 3: 0307/2017

July Press Up Challenge Day 3

Monday 03/07/20107

Press Ups

Day 3 of the challenge and the first real day in which I have to fit this challenge in with work and family life.

Up at 6:10am this morning to get the first 100 in before work and with the planned second 100 in after work.

I broke the session down in to 10 press ups X 10 sets with a 1min rest in between.  This was mainly for my stomach/abs that were still aching.  Arms were a little bit shaky on the reps but managed to get all 10 done by 6.30am.

Big help this morning was having my gym shorts and t-shirt on the side to put on straight away, so I was changed and ready to go. No excuses.

Busy day in work, travelling all around the county, after my last meeting finished at 5.30pm down in Kendal, I decided to stop on the way home and get a run in.  I did a 3.5 mile run from Staveley to Ings and back.

Staveley is a lovely village and well worth a village, for the artesian bakery (https://www.instagram.com/more_bakery/?hl=en) , Wheelbase Cycle (https://www.instagram.com/wheelbase.co.uk/?hl=en) and Hawkeshead Brewery (https://www.instagram.com/hawksheadbrewery/?hl=en).

Check out GO Cumbria's Instagram Page (https://www.instagram.com/gocumbriaevents/?hl=en) where I posted a couple of photos of my run.

When I got home, I did the same plan as this morning 10 reps x 10 sets 1 minute rest.  I did this in between cooking food and seeing the kids.

Diet

Breakfast
Coffee - 2cal
Quaker Oats Original Big Bowl - 254cal
Mixed berries - 70cal

Snacks
Apple - 80cal
Paleo bar Macadamia Coconut 212cal
Coffee - 2cal

Lunch
Coffee - 2cal
Brown thins x 2 - 200cal
Apple - 80cal
Honey Roast Ham 4 slices - 76
Salad - 24cal

Snack
Myprotein Impact Whey Protein 2 scoops - 205cal
Banana - 105cal
Satsuma - 45cal

Tea
Cooked pasta 4oz - 180cal
Homemade Curried chicken breast and veg - 320cal

GOAL                       ACTUAL
Calories 2190            1859
Protein 246g              148g
Carbs 137g                256g
Fat 73g                       63g

Analysis

Today I was under, I know it is important to eat the right amount of calories, and not to starve yourself.  I need to look at swapping some of my carb calories into protein calories.

Todays wright at 6am was 200.2lbs.

See you soon

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 2: 02/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge - Day 2

02/07/2017

Press Ups

Day 2 of the 200 press up challenge.  I woke up and shoulders and chest felt fine, so thought brilliant this month is going to be easy!  How wrong was I!

As soon as I started my stomach/abs (depending on who you ask) were very sore.  Not a chance in getting those 25 that I got out on the first day.  No instead I got a solid 15 out, but throughout it my stomach ached.

Again I split the day up with a planned 100 in the morning and the second 100 in the afternoon/evening.  With day filled with children's activities and general household tasks I ended up doing around 50 in the morning and the remaining 150 in the afternoon into the evening finishing about 8.30pm.  I was batching the press ups into sets of 10s.

Diet

All numbers at the end are calories I'll just put a k indicating kcal.

Breakfast
Coffee - 2k
Strawberries 6 - 24k
Quaker Porridge Oats big bowl - 254k
Coffee - 2k

Mid morning Snack
MyProtein Impact Whey Protein - Peanut cookie flavour 2 scoops - 205k

Lunch
Meat feast Pizza 1/3 - 242k
Birthday cake 1/2 - 150k

Afternoon snack
Greek style Natural Yoghurt 250g - 300k
Crunchy peanut butter 20g - 128k

Tea
Noodles - 217k
Chicken Chargrill 1 breast - 142k
25g Cheese - 106k
Peas - 67k
Sweetcorn - 80k

Evening
Red wine - 90k
Blueberries - 85k
Grapes - 62k
Strawberries - 24k
Dairy Milk 25g - 133k

GOAL                          ACTUAL
Calories 2190                2309
Protein 246g                  119g
Carbs 137g                     232g
Fat 90g                           73g


Analysis

Over on the calories today! Lunch as you can see was left overs from so not the healthiest.  But snacks took up 44% or 1,027cal of my daily total.

Again protein I'm way under by 127g,, but both carbs and fat I was over 95g and 17g respectively.  Again snacks throughout the day took the majority of the fat, accounting for 51% or 46g.

Additional

I managed to get a 4.1mile run in today, pace was good at 9:11min/miles.

Any hints or tips you want to share with me and the GO Cumbria community please do.

Don't forget you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

See you soon

Owen

July Press Up Challenge Day 1: 01/07/2017

July Press Up Challenge: Day 1

Saturday: 01/07/2017

I don't know why, but I decided to attempt to do 200 press ups every day for the whole month of July.  These press ups don't have to be done in one go, just throughout the day until they accumulate in 200.

I thought the best way to keep myself accountable was to announce it through GO Cumbria, post how I am doing through our social media and write a blog at the end of each day on how I've done (you'll notice I'm writing and posting this on Monday 03/07/2017, sorry a bit delayed in getting this started).

I will also post my diet for the day and you can see how I eat throughout the process.  If you've got any tips on improving my diet, would love to here from you as would the rest of the GO Cumbria community.

Just a note I might mention products that I am using, please note we are not big time (yet) at GO Cumbria to have a sponsor/sponsors, so all the products I mention are just ones I use.

Press ups

Tackling the 200 for day 1!

I decided I would split the press ups up, get 100 done in the am and 100 done in the pm.  Obviously first day excitement of starting this challenge, I started fast and got down and did 25 straight off the bat.  25 is pretty much my limit of doing press ups.  Throughout the course of the morning I got my first 100 press ups done.  We were going out for my daughters first birthday party at 11 am, so managed to round off my first 100 by about 10.30am.

The second hundred was done throughout the evening after party food had been eaten and friends and family had left.  While the rest of the family was watching TV I was repping out my final few. 

That initial 25 burst was a distant memory and now was being content with 10's.


By 8pm my first day of success and all 200 are done!!!!  Time for rest before day 2 starts.

Diet

I understand the fundamentals of a good diet, but if I'm honest have never really accomplished in actually being consistent with it.  Don't get me wrong I can go for weeks doing well, but then I fall off the band wagon and back to stage 1.

Now when I talk about diet, I'm not talking about some Hollywood fad type diet. Instead it is about eating lots of healthy fruits, vegetables and protein.  While at the same down cutting down on the sugary snacks.  Unfortunately this later part is my biggest weakness.  Feeling tired = Chocolate, feeling a bit crappy = chocolate, feeling like I fancy a snack = chocolate, bored = chocolate, long drive = CHOCOLATE!  Any excuse.

I'm not big or massively overweight or anything like that.  The chocolate binge is only occasionally and most of the time I am good, I do eats lots of fruit and veg and I exercise regularly.  But I think I could do with loosing a few of those extra pounds.

Again, that's why I'm writing my diet down in my blog so you guys can be my accountability mentors.  If I know I have to be honest with you then, I'm going to hopefully be more consistent with my diet and stay off those sugary snacks.

I am using an app to track my progress on this it is "MyFitnessPal", by UnderArmour.  I've got an Android phone, I'm assuming something similar will be on Apple.  It has got a massive data base of food, but also you can scan barcodes to get all the nutritional info or if you cooking a meal enter in the recipe ingredients and it will give you the nutritional info of your home cooked meal.  So all the nutritional info I put out has come from the app.

So my goal is:
2,190 calories
246g protein
137 carbs
73g fat

Breakfast

Quaker Oats Original Big Bowl        254kcal
Banana                                               105kcal
Coffee                                                2kcal

Mid morning Snack

Sainsbury's Greek Style Natural Yoghurt 250g    300kcal
Crunchy Peanut Butter 20g                                   128kcal
Coffee                                                                    2kcal

Lunch

(PARTY FOOD)
1/2 Sausage roll 103g                 175kcal
Strawberries - 6                          24kcal
Carrots                                        21kcal
Medium white bread 1 slice       95kcal
Edam slice 1 slice                      78kcal
Breaded Ham 1 slice                  20kcal
Birthday Cake 1/2 slice             150kcal
Coffee                                         2kcal

Mid Afternoon Snack

MyProtein Impact Whey Protein 'Peanut Cookie' Flavour - 2 scoops 205kcal
Coffee                                                                                                   2kcal

Tea

1/2 Meat Feast Pizza 404kcal
Cheddar cheese stick 83 kcal

GOAL                          ACTUAL
2,190 calories               2051 calories
246g protein                 111g protein
137 carbs                      184g carbs
73g fat                           96g fat

Analysis

As you can see I was under my overall calories for the day, but was way under on the protein and over on the carbs and fat.  Saturday in our house is Pizza Saturday, which will impact on the diet. 

Any suggestions on high protein, low carb pizza options?

Any feedback on the diet will be greatly appreciated.

See you soon

Owen