So....How did it all end?

When I launched Challenge 43 in February I had three main objectives.  To lose 43lbs net, and keep it off until at least my 43rd birthday, to improve my overall health and physical fitness, and to raise money for a deserving charity, and also my employer - BUILD.

I knew it was going to be tough, involve sacrifices and be a long haul, but also knew that if the aims could be achieved, there would be benefits to many people.

I had lost weight before, firstly in 1989 ahead of a charity parachute jump, and then again in 2003, with no real incentive, but on both occasions, the weight crept back on, in an upwards direction.

Getting older has seen the metabolism change, losing weight is harder - that's medicaly proven, also proven is the impact carrying extra weight has on the heart and lungs. I felt it most with an old rugby knee injury, and carrying extra weight on two previously broken ankles.

Both these took more strain carrying extra weight, when doing some of the things that I enjoy most.  That and the prospect of raising some money for others unable to change their lives was the incentive.

Over 32 weeks, I have seen mostly losses, with only five weeks of gains and 27 weeks of either losses or holds.  That has taken some sacrifices.

The result - well it is good news and bad news.  The good news is that the target has been achieved, and exceeded. The net loss is 45lbs, 2lbs over target. The total loss is 61lbs if you take into account losing for the second time the gains.

The bad news - the £430 target is still short, so more work is needed there.

In this final blog, I would like to thank many people who have supported, and encouraged me along the way, at home, and away.

I feel better, look better, but am looking forward to just a few things previous seen as bad.

Five Days - work still to be done

With five days to go before the end of Challenge 43, the scales failed to move following last week's 8lb loss, leaving the final three pounds to shift in the final five days.

I have to say that the hard work of the last week to try and get below the target have surprisingly not come good, but the determination is still there to get across the line before next Wednesday morning. 

It would be wrong to say I wasn't disappointed by no movement  in the scales, and it means that I am on for a lean weekend running a training course traditional for its wine and cheese suppers.

Still I've come this far, there are sponsors in the wings to invest as I cross the line, so plenty of water, plenty of fruit and a final push.

12 days to go - to the end of Challenge 43

When any target date or deadline approaches, you often want to get ahead, give yourself some space so you don't have to work so hard in the final stages.  Last week's 4lb gain made the final furlong to lose 11lbs in the last 19 days was going  to be a stiff task.

This week has taken a great deal of effort. The return to a regular exercise regime has seen me clock up around 18 miles on foot or bike, and as a result I have lost the 4lbs put on last week.

Such was the effort that not only have I lost that 4lbs but another 4lbs on top making a total loss this week of 8lbs in seven days.

That brings up the net loss of 40lbs towards the 43lbs target, and taking into account the weight gains that have been lost a second time, I have now lost 56lbs since Valentines Day.

That leaves 3lbs over the next 12 days. Twelve days which will include a weekend away, and a visit to a brewery.

Head down.........

Bad start to final hurdle

Having calculated the way to lose 7lbs in the final few weeks to meet the target imagine my dismay to discover that a weekend away led to a 4lb gain, pushing the target up to 11lbs in 17 days. Still achievable, but likely to need a real effort in the final two weeks.

The only up side is a further penalty donation to BUILD of £8.

Onwards......

The final half stone - Real Ale assisted!

With this week's weigh-in a day early (as I'm away for the weekend), I was really pleased, and surprised, to see another loss this week of 2lbs, leaving 7lbs to lose before the 29th September.

A relaunch of the fundraising campaign amongst BUILD supporters this week will hopefully boost the funds towards the £430 target.

The loss this week, was quite a surprise. A couple of nights "supporting" local breweries over the weekend, fish and chips at Huntingdon racecourse, and a Chinese takeaway shows that a "balanced" diet can be effective.

The final few weeks will be more disciplined, as I resort to the fruit, water, and low fat stuff from Monday to manage the final charge.

Someone asked me if I was looking forward to anything at the end of the programme. My response was a tooth operation on my birthday to have a crown fitted.  No pain - no gain!

Slow, but sure progress

With five weeks to go, I am pleased to report another loss this week, only 1lb but quite an achievement given a weekend in a hotel, and a working hotel lunch this week.

That leaves 9lbs to go by 29th September. I have this week re-launched the fundraising campaign as I try to get to the £430 mark, and hope that an increase in money will see a decrease in weight.

The weight loss though has got me a dilemna as I am struggling between clothes sizes. Trousers are becoming a big issue, as depending on the cut of the cloth, depends greatly on the waist size I buy.  This week I bought a pauir of trousers that fits me fine around the waist but pinch the muscles from walking on my calves.

Shirts are another problem. I need the big size for my chest and shoulders, but they now drown my waist.

I can see that when my body finally agrees on a settled shape, I may have real problems in finding clothes that fit properly!

Forty Days - Ten Pounds

With an expected small gain of 1lb this week I am now in the final countdown of 40 days until the target has to be reached.

Two targets exist - 10lbs needs to go, and £120 needs to be added to the fundraising target to get me up to £430.

The expected gain this week was smaller than I thought having had a week with quite a lot of alcohol and not a lot of exercise.

The effort will no re-focus as next week I will launch the final countdown through BUILD's traditional supporters to bring that last few pounds in to the bank, whilst pushing that last few pounds out of the waistline.

One of the costs of losing this weight is the increase in the wardrobe as I now struggle to find a pair of trousers that will stay up without a belt, and this is now the second time I have had to add more holes to the belts I have.

So here we go, forty days to my birthday, a target of 10lbs to shift and more money to put into the bank.