The A2K (virtual) Weight Loss Club !!

Four weeks ago was 77kg (169.4lbs). 2 weeks ago was 75kg(165lbs). Won't be able to weigh myself again until I go to the parents for dinner tomorrow night. (I don't have a set of scales). My biggest problem has been all the sitting around studying. I'm interested to see how I'll be able to go once uni finishes and I can get more active. I'm really tired by this time of the year.

Concentrate on reaching out in front of you. Try to start your stroke from the centreline of your body.

hiama,

Thanks for your kind/motivating words.

Front crawl - I think you'd benefit from a couple of lessons. I did that 2 years ago and it made a huge difference to my speed in the water (which was already OK).

220, a triathlon magazine, often has advice on how to improve your stroke. My problem was twisting my body across the line of travel. It's got to twist around it, but you should try to stay as straight along the pool as possible - not snake about, which is just inefficient.

When your hand enters the water, pull the water towards the middle of your chest and then push it past your hip. Then lead out of the water with a quick raise of the elbow, so that your fingertips leave the water last. The aim your thumb and first finger down at about 45 degrees and push the into the water at full stretch, about in line with your shoulder, which won't slow you down, as it's very small resistance. Turn your hand in and start the pull towards the chest again (at the same time as the other hand leaves the water).

Breathing - do exercises to breathe every stroke on one side, every stroke on the other side, every 3rd stroke (alternate sides) and every 4th stroke (same side, change for each length).

I find that 3 stroke breathing is best for faster swimming and every stroke is best for endurance work - you don't want to be doing anaerobic stuff, just because you don't have enough air!!!

My other tip would be - you sweat while you swim, so go in well hydrated and drink plenty to re-hydrate afterwards.

Go for it!

Thanks Wilso,

Pete, thats fantastic, I have been trawling the web and got quite a lot of advice, this is good stuff you have given me here. Its putting it all together and trying to remember it all , whilst not losing form whilst trying to remember everything - if you see what I mean. I intend to slow everything down to get the technique right first, this is difficult for me as I am very competitive and see all the stars zipping past me, even though I know thye've been at it for ages and I am a real newbie and I will be beating them all this time next year, if not before.

I'll be going tomorrow and Sunday early am so will report back on my ( hopefully) progress.

Thanks again

Quick update: last weigh-in (9 days after first) showed 5 pounds lost...I'm not expecting that kind of progress every week...must be a freak circumstance, but I'm happy it's a move in the right direction.

Signed up with a gym this weekend and swam 1000m yesterday evening.

Personal training to start next week (I've pre-purchased 28 sessions!!!) so I'll keep up this drive until next summer, when I'm planning to do the London Triathlon. Maybe see you there, hiama?

KP

Wiegh-in update: 35 lbs. shed <bows>

Now all my suits need to be altered

KP - what gym did u join ?

Cav - congratulations and happy shopping!

Super G - Holmes Place (I can go to most of them but will probably use the Strand one most).

KP

Yeah Holmes Palace is great - Its at the Waldorf I think (I used to work right opposite it) - I really wanted to change my gym - DL is becoming more and more expensive everyday, unfortunately, the only other "decent" one close to my home is "Fitness First", which 1. Doesnt have parking 2. Is in not a very nice part of town...

Well done Cav !!!!


Pete,

I took your advice and had a personal coaching swim session, I really am a beginner at swimming, he said there were only two things wrong, head position and legs not close enough together. Although I am getting aerobiclly fit for the bike (soleus still prevents running though this is my background-running, so want to make sure properly healed first), swimming is a different sort of fitness.

I have decided the following.

1. I need to learn good technique first and concentrate on technique, balance in the water and drills, maybe fist, catch up and side kicking

2. Only when happy that technique is imbedded start to increase the volume, at the moment doing between 400m and 1000m, though not continuous as have no backgrond only what I have done in the last 2/3 weeks. I have 10 months to my main Tri in September and Pete-when is the London as I might like to include this as a test before the main one in September ?

3. From January hopefully start intervals and endurance work having gradually worked up to it over the next 2 months.

On the bike, happy so far, doing 3 sessions, 2 x 21 miles and a 15 miler each week, mainly spinning, should be capable of around 70 for 25 miles in 10 months, run aiming for around 40 mins, if my injured body lets me start training !!!!!

Swim, would be happy with 25 mins for the 1500k (or to finish not having knackered myself would be good), we'll see.

Glad to see G showing an interest in the gym, Well done on the good example Pete.

I am down to 13 stone something now-I can almost see a six pack hiding behind some of that fat I have left !!!

hiama,

I've yet to set myself specific targets for pace on the tri.

The dates of the London Triathlon are 31 July/1 August.

http://www.thelondontriathlon.com/

Keep it going...I'll try to do the same.

KP

Pete,

That's a great site, downloaded loads of great info, thanks.

Lets keep each other motivated, if you fancy a training weekend by the seaside say in early Spring we could use it as further motivation, you can bring the missus, it might be warm enough for the sea, I must get a wet suit at some stage too.

hiama,

who's missus? - I haven't got one!

Good idea, though - where are you based?

KP

Pete,

About a mile from the sea, in a little place called Seaford, between Brighton and Eastbourne, great hills for running, sea for swimming and hills for riding up and down !

We'll diary a date after Christmas once we know what we are both doing in Spring, should be fun.

So early triathlon schedule progress so far after 3 weeks training.

Averaging 3 bike rides a week, 15 miles, 20 miles and 21 or 27 miles. One to two weight sessions a week, 5 swims a week, its coming folks its coming and no runs yet as still injured-ouch-

Weight is under 200 lbs and still falling, actually its around 195 lbs now, aiming for a first goal of 180 lbs then see how I feel.

Holding my dominion Noddy, how is it going Pete ?

Dags like the Avatar, you look foxy !

And I dont even get an invite

Hey I joined my local (to where I work) gym and it's great, very hi-tech, & I'm getting fitter and stronger, go there 3 times per week.
Couldn't do a triathlon though, and wouldn't want to really, at my age.
If there was a decent, fairly quiet, public baths near me I wouldn't mind doing some swimming. But I don't like crowds, nor noise.

At the gym my coach has given me 8 separate exercises on the machines, to do all the major muscle groups, including some I did not know I had, and I've been very gratified by the results.
Gautam, you would like my coach, too. (Name withheld.)

My doctor has advised me to lay off the gym till the results of my blood test are in ....

Hiama--

Three thousand miles between us and I still find you an exhausting personality! Keep holding.

Gautam--

What blood tests? What are the medical types looking for? Hold your dominion.