Fat Fighters 2021

[Moder-dye]

I'm must be doing something right...

Non-scale victory today. While I'm doing my
knee-hab (single leg eccentrics on slant board) my wife of 20years says you're looking buff will all this

Maybe I'll be getting extra cardio tonight

Pity I've still got a looooong way to go to the race weight I'd like.

[Richard G]

Nice. I can't remember the last time my better half gave me a compliment. lol

[PaulB2]

I'm just happy when I don't get any insults

[gairym]

I'm happy if the insults don't make me cry!

[Moder-dye]

[PaulB2]

Is this a good time to ponder on the fact that ‘extra cardio’ gives distressingly fewer extra calories back on the budget?

[gairym]

23-04-21 - 114.5kg
09-04-21 - 115kg
19-03-21 - 113.8kg
12-03-21 - 114.4kg
05-03-21 - 114.3kg
26-02-21 - 115kg
05-02-21 - 112.5kg
22-01-21 - 114.3kg
01-01-21 - 115.4kg

Gently undulating between 114-116kg recently.

Was doing lots of riding but my back issues have put me on my ass again for a bit (which is a tad demoralising).

Keeping mostly on top of everything else but clearly only doing enough to maintain weight not lose more so 6/10 - must do better!

[Moder-dye]

26/12/2020: 121.7kg
1/1/2021: 117.7kg
8/1/2021: 116.8kg
15/1/2021: 115.5kg
22/1/2021: 113.6kg
29/1/2021: 113.1kg
5/2/2021:. 112.2kg
12/2/2021: 111.7kg
19/2/2021: 110.5kg
26/2/2021: 110.4kg
5/3/2021: 110.2kg
12/3/2021:108.4kg
19/3/2021: 107.8kg
26/3/2021: 106.6kg
2/4/2021: 106.6kg
9/4/2021: 105.9kg
17/4/2021: 105.5kg
23/4/2021: 104.8kg

Another 0.7kg down still with very limited exercise, so happy with that.

I never did get that 'extra cardio' But it is my birthday tomorrow!

[Loki]

Start 144kg
8/01/21 - 144kg
22/01/21 - 148kg
29/01/21 - 147kg
11/02/21 - 147kg
19/02/21 - 141.5kg
26/02/21 - 146kg
12/03/21 - EEK
19/03/21 - 143.3kg
09/04/21 - 144.5kg
23/04/21 - 145.2kg

A slight rise but expected, I have had a stressy few weeks, I am now almost completely dairy free, no more milk of cheese, swapping to soya milk and dairy free options were possible, the tummy has felt out of sorts from the change and a bit bloaty but everything is settling down, I actually breathe better, less snot (apart from hayfever butt raunching me again) I hope everyone is well, my first bivvy for nearly a year is on the cards this June.

[PaulB2]

9/4/2021 70.6
16/4/2021 70.0
23/4/2021 70.0

Considering my wife inconsiderately had a birthday bbq yesterday and made me a series of coffee cocktails that’s a good result

[Moder-dye]

Good luck with the diet change Loki.

I have bad rhynitis and sinuses all year round depending on dust/stuffiness/chemicals/sprays, but never found any improvement whatsoever with cutting out dairy the few times I've done it. I do get a bit of hayfever if I'm around big rape fields in particular, but up here in Shetland it's never an issue.

Be interested to know if it helps.

Good.look with the bivi too! Sadly I've only camped once since my knee replacement in the last couple of years, but I'm planning it too, especially as I now have a decent insulated mat for a bit more comfort.

[lune ranger]

2.4.21: 82kg
9.2.21: 81.3kg
16.2.21: 79.3kg
23.4.21 79.4kg

Pretty much even, not bad as the week has included a birthday party and my girls Forest school put roasting a roe deer...
Targeting the next two weeks for some good weight loss.

[Loki]

Good luck with the diet change Loki.

I have bad rhynitis and sinuses all year round depending on dust/stuffiness/chemicals/sprays, but never found any improvement whatsoever with cutting out dairy the few times I've done it. I do get a bit of hayfever if I'm around big rape fields in particular, but up here in Shetland it's never an issue.

Be interested to know if it helps.

Good.look with the bivi too! Sadly I've only camped once since my knee replacement in the last couple of years, but I'm planning it too, especially as I now have a decent insulated mat for a bit more comfort.

I have the same problem, I have been low dairy for two weeks now, I have noticed a change, according to the wife I snore less too, must be a good thing.

[Moder-dye]

That's good news Loki. Reporting from the wife is a good gauge too!

[gairym]

I read somewhere that ~70% of people have some sort of negative reaction to dairy!

Doesn't mean it'll ever even be noticed by most but basically weren't not built to consume another animals baby food (strange that).

Other than a bit of cheese on pizzas and pasta I am mostly dairy free (just how I roll as opposed to an active choice).

[redefined_cycles]

85.9kg (Jan 1st) then a midweek weight to spur me on.
84.0kg (Jan 8th)
83.1kg (Jan 15th) the power of not scoffing biscuits & chocs!
84.0kg (Jan 29th)
83.5kg (just... 6th Feb)
83.9kg (12/2/2021)
84.3kg (19/2/2021)
[Edit after yesterdays 85.4] 84.5kg (27/2/2021)
83.6kg (12/3/2021)
85.5kg (23/3/2021) - obviously been a poor few days and looks like my round trip commutes might be connected to the weight-on. I reckon I obviously overeat in the thought that I've lost calories. Must get a grip

--------------
Not reported on here for a few weeks as its only been poor news. Compulsory fasting (inc water) started about 8 days ago, though not for weight loss but to attain Taqwa.

So now, weight is (goes to check)...

83.7kg (23/4/2021) - well, who'd have thought

[Moder-dye]

I know you're fasting for spiritual reasons, bit I'm interested in how you find it and manage it with work etc? Though I guess it's nothing new to you.

Longest I've fasted with just water is just under two days.

[Richard G]

01/01/21: 72.5kg
-------------
09/04/21: 62.0kg (-0.6kg)
16/04/21: 61.5kg (-0.5kg)
23/04/21: 60.6kg (-0.9kg)

Target: 60kg by 12/06/21.
-------------

Happy to bounce around between 59kg and 61kg now until my event.

Added 100kcal to my daily target calories Monday, but to be honest I've had a couple of sh*t days when depression has got the better of me so I can't really tell much from this week. Still planning on adding another 100kcal as of next Monday, definitely want a bit more energy to improve my training (not least because it's mostly VO2max at the moment).

[redefined_cycles]

I know you're fasting for spiritual reasons, bit I'm interested in how you find it and manage it with work etc? Though I guess it's nothing new to you.

Longest I've fasted with just water is just under two days.

I shall try and do a little reflection soon (God Willing) unless the campybacter gets me before then

[redefined_cycles]

I know you're fasting for spiritual reasons, bit I'm interested in how you find it and manage it with work etc? Though I guess it's nothing new to you.

Longest I've fasted with just water is just under two days.

Just some random thoughts/reflections on the topic...

Years ago I probably wouldn't have dreamed that riding with fasting was possible. Our fasts are from a few hours before sunrise until sunset and thats for the month of fasting. Includes abstaining from food, water, and intimacy between them times.

Out of the month of fasting - unless making up for this month (and stuff) - according to the advice from Muhammed (SallallahuAlayhiWasallam/PBUH) we're not allowed to fast consecutively and the best we're allowed is 1 day fasting and the next without. So you'd not usually see people fasting this stubbornly.

Coming back to fasted riding. About 3 years ago I put out a little competition on the Brothers on Bikes club (predominantly muslim, and all male... but I believe there is a female equivalent) as to who could do the longest ride during the month. Gauged it at around 55 miles. So I subsequently went and did a few fasted rides myself of good length.

Before these fasted rides in the month of ramadhan I had been experimenting with glycogen depleted riding, so I kinda knew what I was up against and how to cope. I usually (like always) go out at 'talking pace' so I'm never in the anaerobic zone and thus works well and never really at risk of falling into a coma. I also hydrate properly between the times of not fasting, during which time we'd break fast at sunset and then strongly encouraged (again from the prophetic statements) to take some food before restarting in the morn.

So them fasted rides... I was managing em well and in them days I still hadn't managed to shake the dirty habit (smoking and vaping, which technically is forbidden in Islam as it's causing a slow/faster death). So this one big ride I did, I ended up falling a bit behind schedule and ended up needing to break the fast at sunset midride. Maybe I pushed too hard, but after reaching home and the silly vaping etc, I went to the masjid (some people call it mosque.. but it's a masjid I assure you) for evening prayers.

To cut a long story short, I ended up coming home with chest pain > 999 call > big poo > hard to breath > idiot paramedics that pretended they couldn't see the ecg changes or they was thick and tried to leave me at home > reciting the Quran in the Emergency Dept room for pain management before I was offered some Morphine (it's good stuff I tell you) > heart cell damage indication on the bloods (troponin rise) > self discharge with promise I'll check back in tomorrow > gerting told off by the cardiologist and heart specialist nurse when I returned and Troponin now in line with a medium to massive heart attack > a night or 2 in coronary care unit and then discharged home with diagnosis of viral perimyocarditis. Wasn't allowed to really cycle properly for about 5 months.

Knowning what I know now and finally managing to give up the smoke/vape, which was inevitable as I couldn't breath each time I tried and retried (like you do us idiot nicotine addicts), I'm now much better informed. This year I've gone for that Fasted500 (in KM) challenge, that someone put out there from one of the muslim cycling clubs. I've done it quietly and all the riding has been at steady pace during fasted times. In about 12 days I've managed about 14000 ft of climbing, all mainly road except the odd excursion into a bit of light gravel. I'm now at around 190 miles so only 110ish to go (and still ticking over).

Having said the above, one of the lads on the Brothers on Bikes group (not sure who as he's managed to remain anon) also enrolled on the Fasted500. Must've been a newish cyclist who went out on a 71 miler at pace (17mph) and ended up in A&E with dehydration Hopefully he and most others will learn that most needed lesson of taking it easy and hydrating well aforetime. I'm making sure I drink about 2L per day especially when I know I'll need to ride (commute to work tomorrow) the next day..

NB. I just reread your post about 'with work'... Yeah, that's probably not too hard. But with my line of work I do remember times when the first few fasts have been quite tough when at work. After that it seems the body adapts (all praise God)....

Hope that answers your Q Moder-Eye

[Moder-dye]

Thanks for lengthy response. It's interesting to hear about it all.

You'll have to excuse my ignorance and confusion, as I thought Ramadan had finished, and that you were doing a separate 8 day fast outside/after Ramadan. Shows how little I know, and now I know that fasting outside that isn't allowed other than for one day at a time.

So, I thought you were doing only water (maybe salts) 24/7, where as within Ramadan you eat and drink) after sun set and before sunrise (not that I'm suggesting that's easy!). Riding long distance and working with not even water would not be enjoyable! And obviously has a few health risks.

Ramadan Mubarak.

[redefined_cycles]

fasting outside that isn't allowed other than for one day at a time.
.....

Riding long distance and working with not even water would not be enjoyable! And obviously has a few health risks.
.....


Ramadan Mubarak.

Yes, I don't think I would say forbidden as such but highly discouraged to do consecutive days for voluntary fasts... unless it's certain highlighted days which I believe are a few of 3 days at a time. Every other day would be the recommendation...

Riding long distance/+fasting/+work... You're right about the risky part of it and that's why I never highlight it on my strava feed so as not to encourage others. Obviously those that know it's the month of fasting would know I was doing so (or at least I hope they'd expect I was). For example this eve I will ride to work for the night. Just short of 3 hour commute which I'll take steady. Arrive at about 1850 and start work for 1945 so a big buffer to get ready and put bike away. Then at about 2030 I'll finish the fast and have a right good drink... So, forward planning is always good

(Ramadhan Mubarak)... Thanks very much indeed

As to you thinking it was all over, it usually goes back by about 10 days each year. Which might explain your confusion and I would guesstimate that the last time you spoke to someone during or at the end of the month was probably few years ago

[Richard G]

Interesting discussion. I've done a metric century sans calories, but I can't imagine doing it without water... I doubt it would be a healthy thing to do, even if you were full on pootling. You'd have to be on a pan flat route and your heart rate would need to be barely into zone 2.

[redefined_cycles]

Interesting discussion. I've done a metric century sans calories, but I can't imagine doing it without water... I doubt it would be a healthy thing to do, even if you were full on pootling. You'd have to be on a pan flat route and your heart rate would need to be barely into zone 2.

I will report back on that Rich. My theory is (after working up over the years with the glycogen depletion thing) that it can be done and doesn't need to be pan flat. Dangerous, yes probably if you didn't manage to topple up with water properly pre fasting and/or had to push a bit too much.

I always try to preserve as much water as possible...

[Moder-dye]

Redefined cycles, you do a 3 hour bike commute? Each way?

Wow! that's something pegged onto a working day, never mind fasting during the day