Thread: 1 year - time for celebration and thanks

It’s been a year! 13th October, 2008 a 135kg couch potato called Edward wandered into The Supplement Den (Bodybuilding Supplements, creatine, whey protein, hydroxycut, no explode) and spoke to Kev. Stuck in a slump in life and 1 week short of my 29th (oh my God – 30 is coming) I wanted to try and lose weight again – the umpteenth time.

I went in to buy some Hydroxycut based on a friend’s recommendation and Kev took me through diets, exercise (told me to do some weight training as well as cardio), sold me on adding in some protein, etc.

It only took 3 months to hit around 113kg but I had lost well over 22kg of fat considering the muscle I was gaining. Having started at 135kg with $200 of cheap gym gear, some supps and a simple 3 day weights, 3 days walking routine – I was on my way.

I am throwing all the thanks and recognition in that I can here, so excuse the plugs. Nobody being paid here.

It’s a long story but here I am at the end of 1 full year. This morning I weighed in at 103KG, rode 28kms, ran 10km and then started work. Tonight I will be riding another 28km home – and this is just one training day this week. In 2.5 weeks time I will really celebrate the 1 year in style – completing the Noosa Triathlon with a target of 3 hours 10-15 min (40min for 1500m swim, 1:20 for 40km ride, 1hr for 10km run + Transition times). It will be a challenge but the real goal is to set a time to beat next year.

Over the last year, I have competed in and completed:
• BRW Corporate Sprint Triathlon (400m swim, 10km ride, 4km run)
• Gold Coast, Brisbane and Mooloolaba half marathons (21km runs – PB is 2:17)
• Brisbane to Noosa Imperial Century (100mile = 160km) through the Glasshouse mountains – with a warm-up 25km ride before the event
• Gold Coast Half Ironman - Sprintman event (1km swim, 33km ride, 7km run)

So I have plugged Supplement Den but the purpose of summing up this year is to express the gratitude I have that is so strong it makes me want to tear up like a little girl ;)

My wife and son – How many married men can approach their wife and say
“sweet heart – over the next year, could you please take on more than your fair share of looking after our house and son? I want to start going to bed by 8pm so I can get up at 4am and train. Oh and … can you change your diet to enable me to maintain mine? And if you don’t mind, can I spend 15k on weights gear, bikes, shoes, supps, everything else …” I am a blessed man to have a wife like mine – I didn’t even include the part where I take over half the house for my man cave\gym\bike workshop.

My sister, Jennifer – She trains with me for running and has put up with my slow pace for much of the year – I am starting to gain on her only recently. She also puts up with my recent adoption of narcissism as a conversation technique.

Richard, Stuart, Amanda and Derek – colleagues I train and compete with. Love them or hate them – one thing I know is how passionate I am about trying to beat one of the buggers. At anything. At anytime. Just once! It is a fun rivalry and one that constantly drives me to train harder and I appreciate it – especially since beating them is a goal I won’t meet for a while yet.

My running group. Lead by a coach called Troy Leggett – they are great for company and for speed training.

For information and advice, I got oceans of benefit from:
• The Supplement Den (Bodybuilding Supplements, creatine, whey protein, hydroxycut, no explode)
• Bodybuilding.com - The Future Of Bodybuilding! Huge Bodybuilding Site. (advice but no steroids – promise)
• http://www.SizeMatters.com.au
• Australian Cycling Forums • Index page
• CoolRunning Messageboards (Powered by Invision Power Board)

The benefit of these forums can’t be understated as I am an academic at heart and one of the keys to success in my efforts this time when I have failed before was that I took a learning approach. I have studied and read and learned all year – and used what I learnt.

More recently I have also had assistance from Deon (Pro-Lite) and Paul Hillbrick (Hillbrick Racing Frames) who are helping me to prepare a bike suitable for real racing.

So thanks to everyone for the help, advice, training assistance and support. As a public statement of goals, this time next year I want to be crowing about:
• Being between 90 and 99kg (I doubt I would look healthy at under 90kg)
• Having completed the Gold Coast Half Ironman
• Completing 1 full marathon event
• Completing the Brisbane to Noosa Imperial Cycle 1-1.5 hours faster
• (and please God, Abs would be nice!)

ClownBoy.

Originally Posted by ClownBoy

It’s been a year! 13th October, 2008 a 135kg couch potato called Edward wandered into The Supplement Den .... This morning I weighed in at 103KG, rode 28kms, ran 10km and then started work. Tonight I will be riding another 28km home – and this is just one training day this week. In 2.5 weeks time I will really celebrate the 1 year in style – completing the Noosa Triathlon with a target of 3 hours 10-15 min (40min for 1500m swim, 1:20 for 40km ride, 1hr for 10km run + Transition times). It will be a challenge but the real goal is to set a time to beat next year.

An absolute awesome effort!!! Congrats mate, job well done. All the best with your future goals too.

Again, congrats!!

Truly inspirational mate, well done, and best of luck with achieving your next goals!

Tim

Awesome effort mate, congratulations to you and to your wife.....

Great post Edward... significant gains and a massive turnaround, well done! You have inspired and motivated me, thank you!

Thanks guys.

It was comments from my sister and a friend or 2 that made me write the letter.

I know it is massive for me but they were both saying I should do a write up - get it published somewhere or something. Told me it is something big enough for others to share in.

Plus those I mentioend (including you lot) deserve some praise as well. None of this happened in a vaccuum.

wow Edward. Great write up and one you deserve to write as well. Very inspiring.

greats stuff Edward.

Really glad you took the time to share your results, awesome effort.

Keep up the great work and all the best with you future goals.

Onya Eddie! You're getting there!

Truely outstanding Edward.

Thanks for the comprehensive write up - great stuff !!

Huge effort in one year. Good onya, fella

Congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment for one year, but it just goes to show what is capable when you are truly committed. I'm sure your wife realises that a fit, healthy daddy, who will be around for years and years being active with their child is worth the sacrifices of some space around the house for gym equipment. So congrats to the whole family! Just hopefully your wife is getting to enjoy some exercise too, for the benefits it can give her as a mummy.

Awesome work, you deserve to be proud of what you have achieved!

That post is easily one of the very best I've read here.

Fantastic reflection and equally fantastic results. Outstanding job mate.

T2.

Originally Posted by mandym

Just hopefully your wife is getting to enjoy some exercise too, for the benefits it can give her as a mummy.

She does some exercise - in building my gym I put in a treadmill for her use since she doesn't like jogging on the road. Not alot though - she is one of those naturally thin types who don't put on weight so when she does exercise it is for different reasons. Just glad she quit smoking!

Originally Posted by take2

That post is easily one of the very best I've read here.

Thanks T2 - you never know if something like that wil be appreciated or just look like soap boxing. I like to share though - and why not when all of you guys make the environment so supportive? I will have to step up my efforts on giving it back when you guys post!