All posts in Exercise

I’ve mentioned the Sleek Geek Challenge before, “Other news includes an event called The Sleek Geek Challenge, which sees about 15 of us taking the next 6 weeks incredibly seriously from an exercise and eating correctly point of view. Each of us have chipped in R500, sent in before photographs and measurements, and the person with the most progress after 6 weeks gets all the money in the pool! I was going to do a blogger challenge to the same nature and have the first post drafted, but decided to drop that when I saw this as it would be easier for me to focus on results than running the whole thing. I look forward to the 6 weeks being over where I can look back at the before photograph and hopefully see a lot of progress made”. We’re now half way I think, or at least I have my forth weigh-in this Tuesday.

I started out as most people do, I wrote down my weight and measured it each week, but as I’ve been going I’ve learnt that weight’s really not the important thing to measure, it’s more about how you feel. Sure, I’ve lost a good few kilograms, which is really awesome, but I can feel myself toning more, I can feel myself getting fitter and I definitely look a lot more in shape (note: I’ve still got quite a while to go, so don’t expect a 6 pack pic, haha). What I haven’t done is re-calculate my % body fat, so I’ll do that next to see how that’s going.

I’ve cycled every single evening since the challenge started, excluding weekends and I started doing some simple home resistance training thanks to Brendon’s guidance. In the beginning I was just doing some situps and pushups, I’m now doing situps, pushups, lundges and I’ve got myself a set of 5kg weights to work my arms a bit more. I’ve also introduced the occasional jog before cycling, which absolutely kills me, but it gets the blood flowing and the heart going which I try to maintain afterwards when cycling. I’m also eating about 1000000000000000x better than before ;)

I put out a message on the Sleek Geek Challenge Facebook wall and I really meant it:

Exercise is really hard, creating the routine is even harder and without the support of my fellow challengers I don’t think I would have been able to do it, so I’m truly greatful to all of them and hope that they too are seeing a difference in their bodies and that we’ll all arrive at the end in smiles – if the prize money means nothing at the end, it’ll have been a success!

Oh, and another thing for me, my energy levels are way up, instead of feeling like I’m going to fall over at 22h00 in the evening, I’m still pumped to do things which is really important for me, so that’s an added win.

Are you exercising? Share your experience! :)

Yesterday I took my fiance for a ride through Keurboom Park and we thoroughly enjoyed it, so we decided to go again this afternoon, especially after all the champagne we consumed last night – had to burn off that stuff you know!

Anyway, we took it really slow as we had her puppy with us, it was amazing to see just how busy Keurboom Park gets, literally hundreds of people cycling, walking dogs, playing football, playing rugby, etc. Awesome vibe!

Here’s the ride:

I really want to start cycling more often, but during the week I can’t seem to find the time, so I make an effort every weekend to go for a good cycle, breathe the fresh air and exercise this body, mind and w.

I’ve just returned from a bit of a ride, took my fiance with for the first time and it was great to not being the only one whose butt is stinging and legs burning! We did a bit of a looped ride, in, out and around Keurboom Park and we even went through Rondebosch Boys’ High School, it’s probably been a decade since I was inside, it’s changed so much!

Anyway, here’s today’s ride:

Bit bleak, was meant to go for a decent ride today, Sea Point to Camps Bay, but I had a really big night out with some mates and was not up for much exercise today. Put it this way, got home at 7am in the morning!

Never the less, I forced myself to go for a short ride, to burn some of the rubbish I consumed last night and to keep the momentum going. I often just do 4km, but this time I rode 5km a bit faster than usual and did it in a decent time, in my opinion. Was awesome to get out this evening, the weather’s perfect in Cape Town and the fresh air was lovely.

Here’s the quick route I did:

Right, time to start a fire, a braai is required!

So, I’ve started cycling and this morning was my first mountain ride, which I was in two minds about. One mind was terrified, I’m hugely unfit and I could only imagine how I’d feel and the other side of my mind was ready for the challenge. Needless to say, I went through with it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chris and I set off without a real goal, but I knew he’d push me and he did – we did 12.8km and boy did it hurt! I had a really great time in between my legs burning, my head spinning and my heart pumping 500% more than it probably should! My tracker unfortunately failed, but Chris tracked as well, so I’ve got the stats and so forth for those who are interested.

Take a look:

Click to enlarge

Yesterday I blogged about my new bicycle and gave some feedback on my first ride. I really thought that I would be aching this morning, but to my amazement I wasn’t and my body felt rather good. I then feared this evening that I would be in pain when I started riding, but I didn’t. Ok, I admit, my butt’s a tad, uhm, let’s say fragile, but nothing awful.

I cycled a similar distance this evening, but I stopped off half way for 15 minutes at my folks place, so the trip was split and that was rather enjoyable and I think I might do that sort of thing more often. I covered 4.1km’s this evening, I’d like to get to a point where I’m doing 8.2km’s with a break in between, that’s something I’m going to strive for.

This weekend I’m going for a ride with Chris at Tokai forrest and I’m fearing that! Chris has cycled for a long time and is uber fit and a darn good cyclist, so I’m going to get seriously worked, but then again, what’s life without a challenge!

So, here’s this evening’s ride: