July 5, 2010
Inspired by my two days on the Ile de Ré (see previous post) I planned to break up my day with a cycle ride at lunchtime. As it turned out, however, my beloved clients kept me at my desk until 7.30pm. But, as it was still light, I reckoned I should still jump on my underused pushbike and see how long it takes me to cycle to the Tesco superstore on the Old Kent Road.Normally, I'd take the bus and it can take anything from 15 to 25 minutes, depending on whether I have to wait.Turns out, it takes the same amount of time - I was locking up my bike outside Tesco bang on a quarter of an hour after I started.
Now that might not sound impressive, but, in between stops at traffic lights (interesting to note how many cyclists shoot the lights, even on the notoriously dangerous Elephant and Castle) I was cycling quite hard... for me. Even now, an hour or so on, I can feel that I've exercised my thighs and quads, so that can't be a bad thing, can it?If I carry on, perhaps I should sign up for the World Naked Bike Ride next year (too late for 2010)?
.jpg)
Thanks for the pic, Dan Lurie.
The only downside to cycling is the need for a shower once I arrive at my destination...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
General fitness programme
July 4, 2010
but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything.
For the past month I've been visiting a physio - Zoe - who is sorting out my shoulders, as they have been giving me grief for years and are preventing me from getting the maximum from my pilates sessions.
I've been going to pilates twice a week - only interrupted by a visit to France for a friend's wedding. I didn't try to alter my diet much until I returned from France, as I knew there was no way I would 'be good' on that trip and if I slipp... Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
General fitness programme
May 23, 2010
Well, nine actually, because I stupidly booked on for the morning after the recent general election, then stayed up half the night to see who won - ironically, I didn't stay up long enough and woke to learn that nobody had won outright...
I can feel the results more than see them. I'm not convinced that I'm fitting my clothes any better yet, which is one of my goals - just before I started pilates, I visited three branches of the same clothes chain trying to find a pair of jeans that fit me. ... Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
General fitness programme
May 11, 2010
As part of my drive to get fit and lose weight (in that order) I have just poached myself a chicken breast while boiling/steaming some healthy veg (a courgette, a small bunch of asparagus and a celery stick in the steamer, a sliced carrot in the poaching water with some chilli flakes and a lemongrass stick).
The result is jolly healthy - Livestrong.com tells me the chicken has the following make up: Calories: 31, Total Fat: .4g, Carbs: 0g, Protein: 6.6g
Hooray!
I'm going to have to work on sp... Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell
May 1, 2010
I'm over halfway through my pilates course with Nickolove now, having just finished my sixth of the ten sessions that I paid for.
I'm impressed and can feel some improvements: I'm definitely more flexible, particularly in my legs and I notice that my abs are stronger. Nickolove reckons she can see improvements, but she's probably just being nice!
I still struggle and have a long way to go before I'm anywhere near the standard of this chap over at the Pilates Blog.
I need to step up to the mark ...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
General fitness programme
April 20, 2010
I've had two pilates sessions with Nickolove now and it seems to be going well.
It's quite shocking how poor my flexibility is, which combined with my short hamstrings, means I'm not very good at some of the exercises, but I'm doing my best.
Nickolove is pretty positive and feels sure that I should see some results over the coming weeks/months. I'm sure she's right - I can already feel my stomach is firmer, even though it's way too soon for any visible results.
Of course, in order to make real p... Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
General fitness programme
April 7, 2010
Well that didn't work, did it?
I never made it back into the gym after November. I completely overdid it and couldn't walk properly for a full week. Then I did a fair bit of travelling. In short, I paid for three months gym membership and didn't really use it.
I realised that I don't have the self-motivation to go and train.
So, I'm trying a different tack. Yesterday I met Nickolove and she's going to put together a pilates course for me. On her recommendation, I also went back to the gym again ... Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
Motivation
November 13, 2009
Boy, I can feel it today - mainly my calves and my abs. I
stumbled around all morning, before taking a hot bath and applying some Deep
Heat, both of which helped.
Unfortunately I was sitting for much of the day - typing and checking emails
mostly. This meant that my calves... Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
General fitness programme
November 13, 2009
I finally had a session in the gym. It was hard.
I have dug out my exercise programme from a few years ago when I did manage to get considerably fitter over several weeks. I'm not sure why I packed it in, but I think it was a combination of too much work and being a member of a truly awful gym (Fusion at the Elephant and Castle). Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
Gym
November 9, 2009
I had run out of excuses and finished my day at my client's offices in Soho, which meant that on my way home I was passing the gym I'd selected to join. So I put on my MBTs, waddled up and paid my money.
I had narrowed the choice down to three possible gyms, each with plus points:
- The Kinetic Fitness Club - belongs to UCL and is quite well-equipped, but inexpensive. It's on the way to my client, so I can go training on the way to work and have a 20 minute walk in which to cool down. Close enoug...
Continue reading...
Posted by Dominic Pannell. Posted In :
Gym
|
About Me
| Dom Pannell |
| London, United Kingdom |
I'm a generally happy-go-lucky British guy who has travelled quite a bit and lived in couple of European countries before moving back to London ten years ago.
All of a sudden I find that I weigh over 18 stone and that running for the bus has become an effort.
It's time to fix that.
|
|
