Day 53 - Lazy Sunday Afternoon (at the gym)

Well induction time at the gym and lil' old me gets down to some sporting activity. First time for a long time.

And what thoughts sprung to mind when I was taken through the various 'devices' in the gym? Was it how I remembered how they all worked, it all came flooding back? NO, it was the pain each and every one of the, caused me years ago...aye why.

So I got myself set up on a cardio-vascular program, after I told the assessor I wasn't looking to become the next Mr. Universe. (was that a little smirk I saw on his face?). So mainly running, cycling and 'stepping' (oh they hurt) with a bit of rowing thrown in for good measure. I did manage to get a good sweat up and left thinking what my legs will be like tomorrow, but feeling good about myself all round.

So this song just seemed so apt.....

Song: Lazy Sunday afternoon
Artist: Small Faces
Album: Ogdens nut gone flake
Year: 1968

Wouldn't it be nice to get on wiv me neighbours
But they make it very clear they've got no room for ravers
They stop me from groovin', they bang on me wall
They doin' me crust in, it's no good at all

Lazy Sunday afternoon, I've got no mind to worry
Close my eyes and drift away-aaa

Here we all are sittin' in a rainbow
Cor blimey hello Mrs. Jones how's old Bert's lumbago?
I'll sing you a song with no words and no tune
To sing in your party while you suss out the moon, oh yeah

Lazy Sunday afternoon, I've got no mind to worry
Close my eyes and drift away, close my eyes and drift away, close my eyes and drift away.

Day 50 - Special post - May You Never

I learned last night that my best friend had been taken into hospital. I was with his partner after she returned from hospital (both are true friends) and she was distraught, as is there 11-year old daughter. I await news but it sounds like something 'inside has burst and is bleeding'.

Sounds terrible but I hope for positive news very soon. Like me, he needs to change his life but this of course (and I respect this) is his decision. I am sure the docs are giving him some of this advice right now. I will do all I can to support him and his family when he returns home.

God bless him.

I love him and his partner and this song is about him and her.

Title: May You Never

Artist: John Martyn

Album: Solid Air

Year: 1973

May you never lay your head down, without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

Your just like a great strong brother of mine and you know that I love you true

You never talk dirty behind my back and I know there are those that do

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear in mind

Love is a lesson to learn in our time

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear in mind for me

May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

And your just like a good close sister me and you know that I love you true

You hold no blade to stab me in the back and I know that some do

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear in mind

Love is a lesson to learn time

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear it in mind for me

May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a bar room fight

May you never lose your woman over night

May you never lay your head down, without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a bar room fight

May you never lose your woman over night

Day 49 - Everything's not lost (yet)

You know, when I started this journey I could not really see myself losing even three stone let alone more, if I am honest. In fact I started out wanting to change my life, hence the Blog title, and whilst this was most certainly how I felt, I am not sure I understood how I could do this. The how is something that is starting to change for me, I am so pleased to say.

So to do the 3 in 6 (3 stone in 6 weeks) was sort of a watershed for me, because I never envisaged such a major step, even in my wildest dreams and despite all the LL publicity. For other people yes, but not little (well not so little) ordinary me. However, beyond this point I travel into the unknown and the unexpected. I guess in some ways I now realise I am changing, most importantly inside my head, never mind outside in my body.

It has most certainly become less of a question of 'how much weight will I lose' and become one of 'based on my progress what opportunities does this offer me too change my life forever'. I would say I am now realising I have in my own hands the very potential I wanted to achieve and caused me to start the blog, an opportunity to 'change my life....forever'. This is VERY motivational for me.

And I say this because I guess deep down I wasn't convinced it would work. However, now I am making good progress this is making me think of the positive possibilities this holds for me, my family and my life. I must admit I am looking 'forward' much more than I ever have before. I know that I will do some things differently, but I mean know not think. I know I will drink alcohol differently, eat food differently, just run my life differently.

So onto week 7 and I lost a further 4 lb. I guess I should expect a slow down, but it is still a few pounds over 3 stone. And so my way to the two month milestone. Oh and by the way, I have been trying to walk 30-40 minutes a day regularly, but with the inclement weather this has made this increasingly difficult. Sooooo....I am starting at my son's gym on Sunday. He has given me all the encouragement to join, including getting them to waive the start up fee! I shall therefore make a mid-week post on Sunday after my first introduction to the dark side of exercise.

A newer song to think about in those moments when I am reflecting on what I have really learned. Indeed in life everything is most definitely not lost.

Song: Everything's not lost

Artist: Coldplay

Album: Parachutes

Year: 2000

If you ever feel neglected,
If you ever think all is lost,
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah,
Hoping everything's not lost,
Everything's not lost,
When I'm counting up my demons.

There's always one for everyday,
With the good ones on my shoulder,
I drove the other ones away.

If you ever feel neglected,
If you think all is lost,
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah,
Hoping everything's not lost.

When you thought it was over,
You could feel it all around,
Everybody's out to get you,
Don't you let it drag you down.

Cos if you eve feel neglected,
If you think that all is lost,
I'll be counting all the demons, yeah.

Singing out o yeah
Everything's not lost,
Come on yeah, o yeah, come on yeah,
Everything's not lost,

Day 42 - Born a poor young country boy

Today marks my sixth complete week on the big change. I have to say I never expected to have done so much in such a small space of time. This week's weigh-in added another 4.6 pounds to the total and now I have lost a total of a pound over 3 stone. Amazing, I am so pleased.

I am finding renewed interest in long forgotten hobbies and pastimes (photography, walking, reading) and my energy levels as well as my weight loss has been noticed by several people a work.

I am down to the last hole on my belt, down two trousers sizes (indicating a loss of 5 inches off my waist) and feeling very proud.

Getting smaller must be making me nostalgic as I spend more time thinking of life, family and life. Maybe I am learning to love my life a little more?

This song reminds me of my youth. Not because I was born in the country, but in fact in a gritty little mining village in Durham. But it talks of the simple life, where what we are all born with is just life and beauty. When I look back to my younger days and what I did as a boy for fun; much of it involved playing outside down on the beach banks with my friends just breathing in the fresh air and running around playing games in the surrounding fields and beach (well I say beach but it was mostly gravel banks!), a one with nature and the outside. So this is a beautiful song about life and nature and mankind. I listen, remember and learn from this song.

Title: Mother nature's son
Artist: The Beatles
Album: The Beatles (White Album)
Year: 1968

Born a poor young country boy, Mother Nature's son
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone.

Sit beside a mountain stream, see her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.

Find me in my field of grass, Mother Nature's son
Swaying daises sing a lazy song beneath the sun.
Mother Nature's son.

Day 37 - been away a long time, but taking one day at a time

Back from Uganda and having my next weigh in, albeit two days later than normal so it had better be good!

But first a little about Uganda - good or what? What a place!

To be fair I didn't see much of Kampala as I was in meetings for most of the time and these carried on from dawn to dusk, but I did get a walk through Kampala high street for a couple of hours. But the best of all was the people, they were fantastic.

Polite, respectful, smiling and very very friendly. All of them insisted on saying hello and shaking your hand, in many cases holding your hand for several minutes while they introduced themselves. And then did it all again every time they met you throughout the day. They always did this to each other too. They are like what British people (usually older ones) say they remember we were like 50 years ago. A great spirit of community and friendship with a lack of cynicism and much courtesy. I loved it and what I mean is I loved the people. I will go back for a taste of real Africa.

As for the diet, I did it! I went the whole time on plan and with no deviations. I learned the trick is to be honest about what I was doing and I received support and help from everyone to maintain my focus and nerve, despite the lovely food and drink available.

Anyway, after using the scales in the hotel room which seemed to tell me I was not losing anything I went along to my LL weigh-in with some trepidation. The results were better than I had dared expect. I have lost another 7.3 pounds since last weigh-in. So now I am below 15 stone for the first time in years and not just below, well below. I have managed to shed over 2 stone and 10 pound, in an amazing 5 and a bit weeks. WOW! Now is the time to use some lyrics from my favourite artist.

This song does it for me and supports me throughout my attempts to change my life.

Beautiful music, poetic words, powerful message and an all from an all round good bloke. Yusuf does the business with this fab song from his latest and most recent album. If you want to be spiritually uplifted get the album...but then I am biased. It is so beautiful.

Title: One day at a time
Artist: Yusuf Islam
Album: An other cup
Year : 2006

One day at a time
We can learn to leave the past behind
One day at a time
We can look the future in the eye
One day at a time
We can learn to live

One day at a time
we can leave all treasures behind
One day at a time
we can watch the clocks unwind
One day at a time
a child is born into this world eyes blind
But one day he will find - his sight, and glimpse
another kind of Light
to live by - one day
One day at a time
we can put machines behind
One day at a time
we can learn how birds survive
One day at a time
we can learn to fly

Day 27 - Finding my beach of gold - weigh in 4 minus 1 day

A day early for the weight in as I am away tomorrow. Hope I have made progress. Also, I am away (in Uganda of all places) next week so this is my last weigh in until late next week.

Weigh in added a further 4.4 lb to the total weight loss, so low I am well over 2 stone in 4 weeks, minus 1 day :-)

This song marks just how I feel right now. I am indeed a beggar on my own beach of gold. The answer to my problem of how I change my life was within me, and now I am doing something about it.


Title: A beggar on a beach of gold
Artist: Mike and the Mechanics
Album: Beggar on a beach of gold
Year: 1995

The problems I encountered
Gave me strength helped me sustain
To know the pleasure
First I had to cure the pain

When I was searching for solutions
I found the answer lay in me
I'm a drifter
But I'm drifting on a silver sea

Oh lord I'm a poor man
With all the riches I can hold
I'm a beggar
And I'm sitting on a beach of gold

Day 21 - Let it grow let it grow...or maybe shrink!!

Day 21 and my third weigh in session of the plan. Three weeks on and going strong. Will I be able to maintain positive progress?

Well my weigh in was delayed a little (which didn't help my nerves) but I need not have worried, am still making good progress.

This week I have lost 6.6 lb, so my overall loss is just about one pound under 2 stone.

So just got to keep going....

How do I feel? Wel I have een feeling a little tired late afternoon, so wil try a shake earlier to see if this helps. Otherwise have been feeling great.

Today's song is about looking for the 'way' in life and needing a friend to be a partner. This is one of Slowhand's best songs and is a good way of describing what I am looking to do in this change of life. Fortunately I have found my partner, my wife, Lesley.

Title: Let it grow
Artist: Eric Clapton
Album: 461 Ocean Boulevard
Year: 1974

Standing at the crossroads, trying to read the signs
To tell me which way I should go to find the answer,
And all the time I know,
Plant your love and let it grow.

Let it grow, let it grow,
Let it blossom, let it flow.
In the sun, the rain, the snow,
Love is lovely, let it grow.

Looking for a reason to check out of my mind,
Trying hard to get a friend that I can count on,
But there's nothing left to show,
Plant your love and let it grow.