swagturtlezipperhorse

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Here is me April 24. Trying to establish new routines . 11.8.4 today but I vary, up to 11.2. I seem to keep under 12. My routine is currently settling at: two 4 mile runs a week and a longer one on Sunday, about 6 or 7 miles. I'll aim to increase the Sunday run over next weeks. I'm getting back to the gym, just following one of Dan's old routines but kind of making it up. I may have to make my gym stuff a bit more rigorous. I'll see how April goes. But if I can sustain this kind of programme, I'm OK with that. The last year has been more sporadic, for family reasons. I can focus now. But I have other things to focus on too. So fitness and body shape become just one of the things that make my life good

#cardio #bodybuilding #half marathon #exercise #health & fitness #running #workout #nutrition #gym

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

April 2024. I've had to focus on big family stuff which had meant thaf training (and latterly diet) hasn't been a focus. I've kept a minimum level up, managed some weekly running but have barely got to the gym nor even particularly wanted to.

So this is where I am and this is how I am ageing. I'm around 11.8-11.11. This isn't too bad. My family circumstances have now altered. I can focus on fitness. Of course I may choose to use my new free time to do things other than running and gym work (social, relaxing, pubs, etc). In some ways the restrictions that I've had on my time over recent years have allowed me to establish pretty strict routines and the lifting of those restrictions will mean that I prioritise opportunity over routine and fitness becomes a secondary focus. But I hope I can establish something that works for me, again - given the progress I have documented and how much better i feel when I have body tone. So my idea is that I try and establish new routines over next 10-12 weeks and review where I have got to by July 24.

#cardio #bodybuilding #half marathon #exercise #health & fitness #gym #running

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Some end of Feb 24 snaps.

I'm about 11.8ish. I'm running, three times a week, 4 mile short runs, 7 mile Sunday runs. And getting to the gym when I can. Fitting it all around work and family stuff. Diet is OK-ish. I'm not in bad shape. Was in better shape last year I think but making progress...

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Feb 24. I'm between 11.8 & 11.11.

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

OK. I've not posted since August 23, five months ago.

As you can see, things have slipped a bit. Lost some tone, gained some tummy. However I'm 11.8.4 which is OK after Xmas, I've been heavier. But my routines have been disrupted by family responsibilities, it hasn't been easy to get to the gym and I had to knock seeing my PT weekly because my mortgage went up by £220 a month.

So...I'm still running. Some work outs. I'm active. December had some non-active weeks. I want to shape up again. I've done it before . It's just going to be a bit harder because my routines can't be very settled. I'll get back into weekly reporting and see where I get to by April.

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Me in August. 11.11 currently. More running than gym; but less running than last year. Just up to 9 miles. Also been going out a lot. So...I dunno. Probably need to do more

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Here's me July 23, around the occasion of my birthday which this year is one of those milestone ones (Ha, see I still don't like actually saying it)! I'm 11.7.5..

My training this year has been less than previous - the key thing for me is to establish routines and to stick to them but family issues totally disrupted my routines from Jan on. Then I've had niggling calf and ankle issues that caused me to stop running for weeks. I'm building back but I've paused seeing my PT as I'm not sure I can justify the cost going forward. However, I still look OK which I guess is the legacy of the work I've done. And being a bit less slavish has been a bit liberating too. Like - I can relax, have a drink, have fun. But...I need to start getting a bit more serious about it all again as if I see myself starting to lose all those gains, I'll get a bit down about it. So...over next ten weeks: more running & more gym...because there is a kind of magic about doing stuff consistently week after week and looking in the mirror and saying ...hmm, that's good!

#cardio #bodybuilding #half marathon #gym #running #nutrition #health & fitness #exercise #workout

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

I just need to focus and work on it a bit. It's been a journey - scrolling down to the start of this fitness blog in Nov 21 - 6 months into lockdown. I also posted occasional reminders of my fat, out of shape body from a few years before. I like where I've got to, it has been transformative. But - it's about maintaining it. I'm not sure I can get very much better than this but I'll see what commitment I can summon over the summer.

It was hard at first, but I knew I had to allow for slow progress, hence documenting it. I was 11.11 in Nov 20- I'd been up to 13 stone a few years before- but I had no body tone. Running had got my weight down. And a healthier diet. I went on to lose a lot of weight during lockdown when I did a ten week fast whilst working out every day. I reckon some days I pretty much burned up all the calories I'd consumed. That was quite hard but I was a bit obsessed. I started the diet because I couldn't run because of tendonitis and was a bit freaked I'd put weight on. That diet was very transformative. In the photos from March April 2021 I have lost my tummy fat. I was 10.12. 8 at that point and even went on to lose more. I was super pleased with myself but strangely when I started meeting people as lockdown rules relaxed, my weight loss got commented on less positively. People thought I looked drawn and ill. Looking back they were right but tbh I don't think I would have lost my belly fat without the fasting and that was important to me. A few months later I started working out more seriously and came to terms with weight gain. Infact I'm now pretty much the weight I was when I started this thing. I've put on all the weight I lost! Previously I would have been unhappy about that, but of course now I have body tone and some muscle tone where previously I had neither. So I'm good with my weight and know I look healthier. I can't keep a flat tummy- I like beer and wine - but I feel its not out of control, I just need to maintain routines. I am considering introducing some restriction - but in two minds as obviously restricting your diet whilst also working out kind of cancels the benefits. But flattening my tummy is important to me (if its possible at my age).

I'm 60 in July.

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

MAY : -2023 fitness is a bit all over the place - my established routines got disrupted in January by family circumstances; I got a calf injury as a consequence of increasing running to make up for the disruption; I'd sorted this I thought but it's just happened again. Then this week I picked up a bug which has laid me low and had to stop training - plus pretty much stopped eating. I'm not looking that healthy here. I'll get back into it but I may be changing, getting less obsessive, accepting the fact that I'm older and will look older. Have an older body. Acceptance is good. I don't want to give up though. Maybe it's about being realistic about what you can strive for ...

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

April 2023. Just after Easter (nights out), 11.11.2. I'm keeping the fitness stuff going but had 10 days off running due to calf injury and just did 2 miles on Sunday. Going to keep it light this week too - so I have 21 weeks to build back up (before GNR). I don't feel as fit and I think the alteration to routines has had an impact. I look Ok but ive allowed myself to carry more weight since last year. I'm thinking of having a break from my PT. I don't want to lose my gains though. The shape I got into...

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

So thats the Winter over with. Its April 2023 and this is me. Annoyingly I've had to stop running (giving myself 10 days off) due to a calf strain; and when I start again I'll be doing very short (2 & 3 mile) runs for a couple of weeks. This sets my GNR training back a lot but I have to avoid worse injury. It means I'll work out more though. I worry that I'll start to get a tummy again though so I may have to look at that...Anyway, in not bad shape really...

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

March 23 - 11.5/11.9...sort of doing OK but doing 4/5 mile runs only as have a calf issue. Annoying as last year I was doing 7 mile runs and right now 4 is quite enough. Body is looking OK though it feels more like maintaining where I've got too is the priority as I don't think I've got the time to build

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Feb into March 23, all training disrupted by stuff going on that I need to focus on. 11.11 down to 11.8, keeping up a level of activity. Made great gains last year so I'm in a good place though I need to work on my abs but I'm hoping that as things settle and I re establish routines I'll get back on track and contine to build. Consistency is key but I also understand you can't become a slave to it because other things in life also needs attention

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Me on Christmas Eve 2022. I mean since then I've eaten a ton of Stilton and drank a box if wine so I'll have work to do 😅. But I guess I'm OK with where I am, even with being heavy at 11.11 ( I was 10.4 last year - but people thought I looked ill). So...the next thing is - May 23 is like a staging point before a big birthday in July. So I'm gonna keep on working out and running to see where I get to. I know it'll be hard

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

October 2022 progress. Started on the protein shakes so will prob put on weight, argh. Much reduced running, 40m per month. 4 x gym per week. Thinking about doing 12 hr overnight fasts a couple of times a week. And more abs work . Sorry but I have to post a 'what I looked like before' photo (below) to remind myself why I do this..

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

September 2022 progress. Less running, more gym...

[swagturtlezipperhorse]

Here is me, Sept 22. 11.4 ish. I've kept training all year. It's harder to build when you're older, I don't prioritise nutrition and I've been running about 60-70 miles a month. I did the half marathon the other day - 1.45. Really pleased with that time. 1.41 last year but it was warmer this year and I'd had a cold all week. I beat some rivals too! But I think the focus to the end of the year is to focus on gym work. And abs!

It's always good to be reminded about where I came from and how out of shape I was. I've made loads of progress since whenever this pic was taken (I'm guessing I was 53/54 ish?)...but I'm still on a journey and I want to see if I can shape up just a bit more. See where I can get too in the next 3 months before the inevitable Xmas excess season plays havoc and I have to spend Jan/Feb getting back to where I want to be...