The first big gardening project is over and now it is time to start showing the results of our work. This is a follow up from Activity: Dig a Garden where I suggested a new lifestyle activity.
This is a view showing the newly planted 8.5 meter raised border, the willow trellis screen and the new turf.
Look for other items tagged MattsBigGarden to find more pictures.
This is a view showing the newly planted 8.5 meter raised border, the willow trellis screen and the new turf.
Look for other items tagged MattsBigGarden to find more pictures.
I am actively showing through my life that you can loose weight without "dieting" or slogging it out at the gym.
That's the good news - that by making an ongoing number of changes tuned to my goals I am loosing weight without effort. The bad news is that it will not work if you want to sit on you backside all day and fill your face with burgers. The reason being is that I am editing the burger to a minority part of my life.
Don't get me wrong - I'm still going to eat a burger and I'll cook it up myself with massive portions of everything on it but my new life does not have time or space to do this more than a few times a year. I'm getting good food and good living to the point that I don't have room in my life for all that because I'm making a point of filling my life with stuff that's just as good.
The result is that I am over half way towards my target and I barely give it a thought from one week to the next. I'm not slogging my guts out daily on a run, I'm not starving myself on some limited "diet" and I do not own my own set of scales. Even so the fat is shifting as if it just didn't want to be there any more.
I have more energy, my mind is sharper, I look better, my clothes fit me more, I have less days with depression slowing me down and I get a better nights sleep than ever.
A side effect of my new life is that I don't play my favourite online games so much these days (hello to Tukin, Trucker and the six or seven other guys and gals that play Eternal Lands - I'll log in soon, honest). Is that a bad thing?
For a geek that is an odd thing.
Over the next few months I'm going to try and break down what I have done and how you can do it too. It can be done and I want you to have the same effortless success that I had too. I'm going to show you how.
That's the good news - that by making an ongoing number of changes tuned to my goals I am loosing weight without effort. The bad news is that it will not work if you want to sit on you backside all day and fill your face with burgers. The reason being is that I am editing the burger to a minority part of my life.
Don't get me wrong - I'm still going to eat a burger and I'll cook it up myself with massive portions of everything on it but my new life does not have time or space to do this more than a few times a year. I'm getting good food and good living to the point that I don't have room in my life for all that because I'm making a point of filling my life with stuff that's just as good.
The result is that I am over half way towards my target and I barely give it a thought from one week to the next. I'm not slogging my guts out daily on a run, I'm not starving myself on some limited "diet" and I do not own my own set of scales. Even so the fat is shifting as if it just didn't want to be there any more.
I have more energy, my mind is sharper, I look better, my clothes fit me more, I have less days with depression slowing me down and I get a better nights sleep than ever.
A side effect of my new life is that I don't play my favourite online games so much these days (hello to Tukin, Trucker and the six or seven other guys and gals that play Eternal Lands - I'll log in soon, honest). Is that a bad thing?
For a geek that is an odd thing.
Over the next few months I'm going to try and break down what I have done and how you can do it too. It can be done and I want you to have the same effortless success that I had too. I'm going to show you how.
09/06: Activity: Dig a garden.
As part of my attitude to slimming has always been about changing your lifestyle to cause "no effort" automatic slimming I have been engaging in a new activity - gardening.
Here you can see some of the challenges I face in the next few weeks.
Today we are going to remove rubble from the garden (a secret location in Thanet, Kent, UK). We are also going to try and improve conditions in an 8 Meter raised planter. However the builder seems to have gone over the top in filling the base with "rough".
This is what I think is to be found just below the surface of the very poor soil.
More of this. It's got to come out some how.
Here you can see some of the challenges I face in the next few weeks.
Today we are going to remove rubble from the garden (a secret location in Thanet, Kent, UK). We are also going to try and improve conditions in an 8 Meter raised planter. However the builder seems to have gone over the top in filling the base with "rough".
This is what I think is to be found just below the surface of the very poor soil.
More of this. It's got to come out some how.
20/05: Success is mine.
As you guys know I have been losing the pounds at a pleasing rate. My shirts now fit me and I enjoyed a guilt free pizza last night.
The truth that I want to share is that you too can loose the pounds as I have done. It's not hard, it's not quick and it lasts.
Over the coming months I will share every last secret I used. I want you to be as free as I am.
The truth that I want to share is that you too can loose the pounds as I have done. It's not hard, it's not quick and it lasts.
Over the coming months I will share every last secret I used. I want you to be as free as I am.
There are no forms of dieting that could stop you to grow bigger. Most are only fads and instead of giving you the results you once hoped for and worked for, they leave you frustrated and well, sometimes hopeless. Well, worry no more. There are these 7 effective moves towards a healthier, sexier you!
1. Sleep well, live well. According to studies, people who just have 4 hours of sleep at night have slower metabolism than those who have 8-hour sleep. Moreover, the former resort to overeating since they feel like eating would cover up the lack of sleep. You must have enough sleep for you to feel revived after every “wake up”.
2. Sweat out a little in the evenings. There is recent research that tells us that our metabolism tends to slow down during late in the afternoon or at the end of the day. So, in order for you to burn more calories, it is wise to do some evening walks and other exercise forms that would allow you to sweat it out and burn calories.
3. Do not be a slowpoke - move more. As you move more, you burn more calories. Instead of taking a ride to a near place, walking is a better choice. You must gradually make minor lifestyle changes. These are just so minor so you will not have a hard time. It is as the fact that these may be easy for you will not need hard work. This could be done in a way like going through the stairs instead of taking the elevator, do gardening instead of watching TV too much all day long.
1. Sleep well, live well. According to studies, people who just have 4 hours of sleep at night have slower metabolism than those who have 8-hour sleep. Moreover, the former resort to overeating since they feel like eating would cover up the lack of sleep. You must have enough sleep for you to feel revived after every “wake up”.
2. Sweat out a little in the evenings. There is recent research that tells us that our metabolism tends to slow down during late in the afternoon or at the end of the day. So, in order for you to burn more calories, it is wise to do some evening walks and other exercise forms that would allow you to sweat it out and burn calories.
3. Do not be a slowpoke - move more. As you move more, you burn more calories. Instead of taking a ride to a near place, walking is a better choice. You must gradually make minor lifestyle changes. These are just so minor so you will not have a hard time. It is as the fact that these may be easy for you will not need hard work. This could be done in a way like going through the stairs instead of taking the elevator, do gardening instead of watching TV too much all day long.
08/05: What a fall!
The day before yesterday saw an event that is likely to stop all training for a while. I managed to collide with my cycling partner with the result that I come flying off my bike and have done nasty things to my wrist.
Also I totally destroyed my favourate trousers.
Catch up with me on facebook or twitter for up to the moment updates.
Also I totally destroyed my favourate trousers.
Catch up with me on facebook or twitter for up to the moment updates.
Yes you have six pack, so called"killer abs", but are you sure you're healthy?
Of course you can measure a person's health on their outside appearance, but there are other ways of measuring how healthy you are aside from basing it on the appearance of your gut.
Weight of course, can tell is a person is healthy or not. But weight is also not the reliable. Doctors use body mass index or BMI to measure or judge a person's size against weight. BMI is a calculation of kilograms/meter squared. A BMI between 18 and 25 is considered healthy. That said, someone who is very fit and muscular could have a BMI greater than 25 yet this would classify them as overweight.
I should point out that BMI is an almost totally useless indicator for people aged under 16. Instead of using the weight and height ratio, what should be factored is the person's age and potential for growth. An example would be if a child was gaining weight to quickly for their age or it they were not gaining enough weight or growing. BMI, while usefull is not the whole story.
Click here to use the BMI Calculator
Body shape can also be an indicator of good health. Doctors are looking at waist measurements because they know that "apple-shape" people carry excess weight around their middle. These people can be at risk of obesity-related conditions such as heart disease. Be sure to measure your waistline.
If your waistline is larger than 35 inches (as mine still is), you may be at an increased risk of health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Paying attention to your waistline helps you to avoid unhealthy eating and increase mobility or exercise.
That's not all keep reading for the full story
Of course you can measure a person's health on their outside appearance, but there are other ways of measuring how healthy you are aside from basing it on the appearance of your gut.
Weight of course, can tell is a person is healthy or not. But weight is also not the reliable. Doctors use body mass index or BMI to measure or judge a person's size against weight. BMI is a calculation of kilograms/meter squared. A BMI between 18 and 25 is considered healthy. That said, someone who is very fit and muscular could have a BMI greater than 25 yet this would classify them as overweight.
I should point out that BMI is an almost totally useless indicator for people aged under 16. Instead of using the weight and height ratio, what should be factored is the person's age and potential for growth. An example would be if a child was gaining weight to quickly for their age or it they were not gaining enough weight or growing. BMI, while usefull is not the whole story.
Click here to use the BMI Calculator
Body shape can also be an indicator of good health. Doctors are looking at waist measurements because they know that "apple-shape" people carry excess weight around their middle. These people can be at risk of obesity-related conditions such as heart disease. Be sure to measure your waistline.
If your waistline is larger than 35 inches (as mine still is), you may be at an increased risk of health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Paying attention to your waistline helps you to avoid unhealthy eating and increase mobility or exercise.
That's not all keep reading for the full story
Well after no updates for ever and a day I have some good news.
(Which is better than nothing)
If you recall (yeah right) when I went to see the doc he said I was at about 20 stone! That was a shock as I had hopped to be a heck of a lot less. Still it showed that I had started to try to fix things none-too-soon.
The week just gone I went for a bike ride with my long suffering exercise partner. We don't go half as often as we used to. Certainly not five days a week any more.
Being single dad 4 days out of four probably has something to do with this.
...any way after the bike ride we stopped back at my exercise partner's place and while his wife put the kettle on we got the scales out.
I'm only a stone (exactly) more then he is. I'm just 18.8 which is near to what I was when I was 18 (I've mostly always been huge).
That's one and a half stone (1.5 stone or 1 stone 8 pounds) since the last weigh in.
I am, frankly, very pleased.
For you Americans that's 260 pounds
For you others not up with the "correct" Brit way of doing things that's 117.9 Kg
(Which is better than nothing)
If you recall (yeah right) when I went to see the doc he said I was at about 20 stone! That was a shock as I had hopped to be a heck of a lot less. Still it showed that I had started to try to fix things none-too-soon.
The week just gone I went for a bike ride with my long suffering exercise partner. We don't go half as often as we used to. Certainly not five days a week any more.
Being single dad 4 days out of four probably has something to do with this.
...any way after the bike ride we stopped back at my exercise partner's place and while his wife put the kettle on we got the scales out.
I'm only a stone (exactly) more then he is. I'm just 18.8 which is near to what I was when I was 18 (I've mostly always been huge).
That's one and a half stone (1.5 stone or 1 stone 8 pounds) since the last weigh in.
I am, frankly, very pleased.
For you Americans that's 260 pounds
For you others not up with the "correct" Brit way of doing things that's 117.9 Kg
