Saturday.  The gym is closed all weekend.  There are other branches I could go to, but weekend is for cardio and one day of rest, so will skip gyms in the weekend.  So for exercise, that leaves me a few options like walking, Nintendo Wii Sports with friends, the stairs up to my apartment.

So first thing this morning, off I went for a walk around Victoria Park.  Now, this park is the home of homeless people through out the week, but on a Saturday, the homeless are nowhere in sight, instead you get all the soccor moms (ok, cricket) and so on, with a few games of schoolboy cricket going on.  If only they all knew what the park looked like during the week.  Anyway, I digress.

Walking was my main exercise today, as I went for another walk (about 35 – 40 minutes) this evening.  After both walks, I hit the stairs.  They do not get any easier!

Poor Fat Bird!

I imagine walking and stairs are great for weight loss.  I am not sure how much weight I have lost yet, but my target is just under 4kgs a week initially, as my weight loss will decrease as I get nearer my goal weight.  So I have to lose the big amounts in the first few weeks!  .  Everyone tells me this is too much, but I saw people on the biggest loser lose way more than that!  I am pushing myself hard and expect to see results!  Monday will tell all.  My weigh in is at 4pm which is late in the day, and my suspicion is that one gets heavier through out the day.  Not sure, but am looking forward to getting my first weigh in out of the way.

One thing I can say on Day Six – I am feeling much better now than I did before I started this program.  Initally my goal was weight loss, but I realise fitness and wellbeing are also great benefits!

Woke up feeling very ill this morning.  I had been viciously attacked by mosquitoes and had a few big itchy lumps on my arms and hands.  I felt totally flat, slightly feverish, and a little dizzy.  I skipped my walk.

Evil little monsters!

As it neared 12pm, I came very close to postponing my one hour session with Steve, my personal trainer.  I guess I surprised myself with my level of determination, because I went to the gym anyway.  I am not going to let a little dengue fever (eek, I hope not) stop me from achieving my goals!

Steve was great, warmed me up on the cross trainer (it burns over 700 calories an hour!).  Then he ran me through a whole lot of different exercises, I enjoyed the variety.  He seemed to sense when I was near my end and let me rest as needed, but made sure I did every rep he asked for!  Chin ups, pull ups, press ups, squats, lunges, etc etc.  I am pretty sure I had nothing left to give at the end of that workout, except bucket loads of sweat.

phew! tough workout!

Now, an hour later, I am feeling much better, and don’t feel sick like I did this morning!  This shows me how important it is to push through when the going gets a little tough.  I am glad I went today, or I would have missed learning what pushing through a barrier felt like!  Now I know I can do so much more!  Looking forward to week one weigh in!

Thursday = Cardio Day.  Decided to do the bike again (yes, I am a sucker for punishment, my butt still hurt from the SPIN class last night!).  The first few minutes were tough, but I think I found my second wind, because after five minutes, I was into a good rhythm.

Ended up doing about 35 minutes, 11.5km, and burned 213 calories (don’t get disheartened, but that is the amount of calories in a can of coke!)  Once I had my second wind, the heart rate monitor had me at about 80~85%, which is in the zone apparently.  For the first time after a workout or exercise, I actually felt really really good.  During the cooldown, my heart rate dropped back very quickly, unlike the first time I used the bike,  I wish I could describe the experience better.  Perhaps it is the endorphins kicking in.  Regardless, if I feel this good after every workout, then I will be a happy lad!

Day Four and I feel great!

I have also walked for 65 minutes in total today on top of the cardio workout.  I am SO tempted to weight myself but doubt I will have had any significant weight loss by day four, so I will behave, and wait for my weekly weigh in on Monday.  Can’t wait!

Tomorrow, I have a 60 minute session with my personal trainer Steve.  I have a feeling he will push me hard, but ultimately, that is what I need.

Today I slept in a little, but went for a 30 minute walk when I got up.  Walked around Victoria Park in central Auckland, and I was astounded to see up to 30 people in the park drinking.  Homeless Alcoholics.  Wish I knew how to help them.

Did my gym workout in the afternoon.  Took about 50 minutes, managed to do all my reps, although I skipped the side obliques – as my abs were cramping up after rolling around on the squeeze ball!  Finished it off with a 5 minute bike cooldown.

Now, because I am insane, I signed up for a SPIN class, having no idea what it was or how long it went for.  It was this evening, so I arrived a little late and was seated up on a bike.  There were about 9 others including the trainer in the room as well.  OK the trainer said, lets get going…and off we went, slowly upping the resistance, then before I knew it, after sweating and cycling my butt off,  he said “great job folks!”.  Wow, I was stoked, it wasn’t even hard.  And I survived!  But wait, that was just the warm up before the real exercise began!  45 minutes later, I was literally dripping in sweat.  Possibly the biggest cardio workout I have had in the last couple of years!  Resistance was upped then downed as we ‘rode” up and down hills.  We had to stand up on the pedals and push for the uphill, and back down for the grinds and downhills.  It went on and on and on and on and on, I was sure I was going to fall off the bike!  I was still sweating 30 minutes after the workout!

I should mention I walk 10 minutes to the gym, and 10 minutes back, so with my two gym trips today, I also walked another 40 minutes.  Hope I am not overdoing it, but I can tell you, I now have a slight headache (no coffee for three days will do that) and my muscles hurt!  It is like being beaten up by a hurt bunny – they don’t seem painful until well afterward!

HURT BUNNY "I want to hurt you!"

Thankfully, I did not throw up all over their floor today!  As Tuesdays are “cardio days” I decided to try out the exercycles.  I managed 30 minutes and 11 km, working at a heart rate of about 75~80%.  Sweat was pouring off me, but I am determined to be successful!

My muscles are a little sore from yesterdays workout, but surprisingly not as bad as I would have expected.  Feeling it mainly in my arms and chest, plus my quads (upper thighs).

I enrolled for a group spin class, which involves (as described by the Club Manager) a room full of bikes, they darken it, add some cool lighting effects, and crank the music then a trainer takes us for a ride… sounds exhausting, so I am in!!  It is tomorrow at 6.15pm.  As tomorrow is also my workout day, I will have to do my work out earlier so I don’t run out of puff on the bikes!

Managed to do my 30 minute walk after getting up this morning.  On returning, I forced myself up the stairs, and avoided the lift.  A sweaty start to the day.

11am.  The time had come.  This was the start of my 12 week transformation challenge, and I was excited.   The beginning of my weight loss journey.  Arrived at the gym, met up with Steve my trainer.  First step was the tests, and I had to explain I needed the tests as per the challenge so I had a valid entry.  I told him this challenge was important to me, as it gave me a timeframe and focus.  initially, a little awkward – he couldn’t measure my body fat because I was too big? – but another trainer came and sorted it out. I was given my nutrition plan, which I have written up for you here.

However, once we hit the floor to set up a program, I saw Steve in a whole different light – this guy is very good!  He pushed me hard, and gave me an awesome workout program.  You can see my initial program here. Not your typical boring machine circuit.  Thankfully, Steve understood that lots of machines was not for me!  It was during the oblique reps that I knew I had pushed myself pretty hard – the sudden urge to throw up hit me, and despite running, did not make it off the gym floor before an eruption took place.  I had a towel and caught a lot of it (well, it went all over my face and down my front, soaking my shirt).  However, plenty shot out the sides like a fountain and ended up all over the gym floor.  This was in front of everyone! GASP.  So embarrassed.  Mostly just water thankfully, hope it has not left a stain on the floor! Shame!

Not a good look!

After this workout, I felt exhausted and walked the 10 minutes back home with slightly wobbly legs!  However, now, an hour later, I feel great – I am sure my muscles will tell me tomorrow what they really think! Oh, and because Steve was so good, I booked a one hour session with him on Friday.  Just a one off to see how it goes!

Favorite exercise – squeezeball squats (stand with squeezeball between me and wall, go down to sitting position, and back to standing.  Oh the burn, the burn! But feels good now.