I think my habit of doing 100 press-ups (or push-ups) is catching on and becoming a real habit. I’ve noticed the difference and it’s a really easy way to get fit. My days of being exhausted and red in the face have gone. I even got good enough to do proper deep down press-ups which hurt my left shoulder, where muscle was (or could have been) caused me pain. What I did was change my technique and do smaller ones and hit my 100 in one go target. It’s a little bit of a shame that I didn’t grasp the idea years ago, but I don’t think I’m alone there. The reward for 10 minutes most days is much more than I ever imagined. Perhaps this is working smarter, not harder. Although, I do remember the days when it was a real effort to get my 10 x 10 set completed. I remember when writing these short articles seemed the same way, but somehow I can’t see the same return for the effort.

I’m happy that I’m 75KG these days and not 81KG on the scales. That seemed really easy to do. Now the reason is why. There are a couple of reasons:

1.It is something I can control.

2. I was at the top end of the healthy weight for my height. Now I’m closer to the middle.

3. I want to show that work isn’t wearing me down.

4.Ride and run faster.

5. Do enough to stay fit.

6. Look good for my age.

Firstly, I’m surprised that losing 6KG was so easy. Secondly, 1. was the most important, followed by 3.

I know that 1. is the the kind of thing people with eating disorders do, but I can’t see anything wrong with eating more fruit and veg, and less meat. So, really what I’m doing is just eating less, and doing exercise that works. And this more than compensates for the extra alcohol I’m drinking since I’ve been working away. I’m mostly off biscuits, crisps, and pudding after a main course. And I can see a result from what I’m doing. What I really want is a desired result and I never really know what that is. But the metrics are pointing in the right direction.

One thing I’m not ready to do is give up. In a sporting perspective, that’s giving myself a chance by improving my chances without spending a fortune on a new bike. There’s a 90 minute half marathon in there if I really want it. Once I get to 71KG I’ll think about training. It will be much easier when I’m lighter – that’s 1st 8lbs. The amazing thing about weight is that you have no idea your have that much to lose. Thinking about it, it’s all normalized by other people being bigger. These other people haven’t had their feedback yet. I’m constantly monitoring the metrics on my scales, trousers becoming too big around the waist, and sporing performance.

I could have been reading a book instead of doing this. I’m glad I’m not. This has solved the problem of what to do, when I’m on my own in a hotel for an evening when everyone has gone.

Some day I’ll come up for a narrative for these words. Maybe next time.