In my typical fashion (i.e. later than originally planned, and after multiple false-starts) I have decided to start my “all things health and fitness / all about my own training” blog.

Whilst I’m aware that I may have missed the blogging boat…I haven’t got the gift of the gab for a podcast, and whilst I absolutely love making videos, I don’t have the time to get the perfect shots and edit them in a way that I’d be satisfied with.

So…welcome to the musings of this 40-something, newly qualified Personal Trainer, avid runner, lifter and jiujiteiro. I will do my best to make all future posts if not enlightening, then at least entertaining.

2024 Health and Fitness Goals – Part 1

As a freshly promoted purple belt, it will be some time before I’m skilled enough to compete with others at the same level, so I need some other health and fitness goals for the first half of this year.

• Dry January and Lent without alcohol: I’m tempted not to have the break in between the two…which might even lead to going all the way through to Sober October, at which point, going a whole year without alcohol will be within reach. Not done that since being legally allowed to drink.
• Lose 12kg (of mostly fat) over 24 weeks: I’m currently hovering around 86kg after a holiday high of 87kg, so 12kg away from my fighting weight (lightweights fight at 76kg in the gi, so I need to be about 74kg). I want the loss to be mostly fat, so I’m going to need to focus on keeping my protein intake high and lifting as well as doing cardio.
• Conquer my sugar addiction (homemade treats, at the weekend only): This is genuinely a problem for me – even though I could still get slim without addressing this habit, I know it will eventually catch up with me. Dental health, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s…they’re all linked to excess sugar. I can go all day without, but it takes superhuman will power for me not to binge at night. I have a 19:00 STOP EATING TIME which I’m pretty good at sticking to, but you should see the crap I can cram in between dinner and “stop stuffing o’clock”.

Other fitness and miscellaneous (and not yet SMART) goals

• Reduce screen time – especially on social media (Spotify 2hrs – when I should be on Audible, Instagram/Facebook 1hr – when I should be connecting with the family)
• Reach a running VO2Max of 53ml/kg/min (currently 48)
• Deadhang for 2 minutes (about a minute)
• Farmers carry 40kg each hand for 2 minutes (about 90 seconds)
• 68 push ups max (56 just before Christmas)
• 25 pull ups max (15 just before Christmas)
• Build my own private gym – more about that in later posts!
• Cook one meal a week each weekend (learn to cook)
• Procrastinate less (on cooking, DIY, admin tasks…grrrr I hate paperwork)

Right, that’s enough waffle…approaching my new PHONE CUT OFF TIME (eye roll, sigh)…I’ll press “Publish” now and keep you posted on a weekly basis.