Running with Jack

Today marks the first day that I am getting off my butt and trying to get back on my diet. For months I have been eating for energy to do my marathon training. For the next 3-4 weeks I am keeping the length of my long runs down, that means prime time to lose some pounds.

Weight on January 1st: 80kg/176lbs
Wake-up weight this morning: 77kg/169lbs
Goal weight by the end of June: 74kg/163lbs
Goal weight by Christmas: 70kg/154lbs

I did my first set of weight training exercises when I came home tonight.

I warmed up, then did a set of 15 push-ups and 25 sit-ups.

Being a total newbie to any weight training I used light dumbbells and did 15 repetitions of the following:

Half-squats
Bench press
Single-arm row
Leg raise & knee-to-chest
Wall push-up
Shoulder press
Bicep curl
Side bend
Tricep kickback
Abdominal curl-up
Abdominal knees-to-chest (ouch!)
Lower-back extension
Reverse lunge
Balancing exercises (almost fell on my face)

I concentrated mostly on learning the correct form, not as easy as you’d thunk! Feeling macho I finished with 2 sets of 10 squats with the barbell and 20kg.

I finished with 15 push-ups and 15 sit-ups.

I biked 7.2K/4.5M as fast as I could pedal my mountain bike (note: strong headwind most of the way).

I jogged 2K/1.3M

I finished with 15 more push-ups and 15 sit-ups.

I cooled down and stretched.

I would appreciate any critic here.