Middle-aged, vegetarian and natural
Looking crap
The title for this came from my friend Vince Vasilou, who runs Ultrabodies gym in Finedon, Northamptonshire. The photo of this article is of me, and I really had to think hard before putting it on show. I quite like it as a photo, but it is very 'look at me'. I'm well aware of this. Two years ago (the week before Christmas 2009) I went to see Vince and asked him to put me on a weight-training programme that would build my back, chest, arms and shoulders. Although I've trained for 30 years (in martial arts, running and using weights) I'd never built significant size or shape. Vince is a great guy; very opinionated, but very knowledgeable with a terrific sense of humour. His gym is a fantastic place to work out, full of characters and physiques of all shapes and sizes. Vince was the man to ask about building myself up. What troubled me was that I was starting to look decidedly middle-aged. I was 46 years old with a bit of a belly and no upper body development. I looked crap to be honest.
The beginning
What triggered this thought was my girlfriend liked a developed physique and mine was developing into an orange shape; not quite what she had in mind. In other words I started the routine to impress her. My first workout was not impressive at all. Vince put me on a chest and back workout, followed by shoulders after a days rest and arms after the same rest period. As he explained a body develops with stimulation, rest and nutrition, in equal measures. For a long time I'd been going to the gym twice a week, pretending to lift weights. I knew in my heart I was looking for the easiest exercises. My running was intermittent; I was too 'busy'. The result was a 40" chest and a 40" belly, with a 36" waist. That first proper workout showed just how pathetic my routines were. I couldn't do one chin up, my bench press was pitiful. At the end of the workout I told Vince that was the hardest workout I've ever done. He laughed and said when I look back you won't believe what I'd just said. That night I woke around 3am with the feeling that my back had grown wings; it literally felt as if my back muscles were expanding as I lay there. I was in agony for nearly a week, but I went back for every session.
Year one results and diet
That first year was one of weeks of intensity with the odd injury here and there, moving into a new house and other weeks where I didn't go, however, most of the time I trained well. After the first year I'd definitely grown in the chest and back. My arms had improved a little and and my shoulders were stubbornly showing signs of growth. I'd lost some of my belly and a little of my waist. 2011, for all it's faults, has been a great one for training. I learnt more about long distance running in January and that spurred me on. I put more time into longer distances (up to 18 miles) and that affected my strength somewhat. The last few months have been great training months with the running around 3 to 6 miles a session four days a week and weights three days per week. My diet has been mostly very good. As a vegetarian I have to find additional ways of getting protein into my body and I've experimented with various supplements and recipes.
What's it all about?
Here then, I am. After two years of work and diligence I'm pleased with the progress I've made. I've put 3.5 inches on my chest and back; taken 2.5 inches off my belly, 1.5 inches off my waist, half an inch off my thigh and added half an inch to my arm. When I started there was no difference between my belly and my chest, now there is 6 inches difference. I've gone from straight up and down (with a pot belly) to angular. What's the point of all of this narcissism? The point is that looking good makes you feel good, inside; it gives you confidence. It's why fat clubs are busy all year long and why people come to see me about losing weight. One, I know what it's like to be overweight and two, I understand that it's a long term thing. You have to put in the work. The rewards are that you feel good, feel more confident, the opposite sex like it, that makes you feel more confident too. Martial arts is about the mind-body connection. So is running and so is weight-training. I'm going to keep on improving and keep working. No drugs, no meat; just good nutrition, proper hydration, the right amount of sleep and good exercise. I want my belly flat and six packed (I have a 3 pack at the moment!), I want bigger arms, better shoulders and maybe a bit more back and chest. In 2012 I want to be more toned, fitter and in better shape than I am now - already the best I've ever been. This has been achieved because of the help I've received at the gym from Vince and Kieran who works there, plus all my buddies at the gym who contribute to the banter that keeps me sane. I've done the work, but no-one improves alone. At the weekend I showed my son the photo I've posted above. He said 'Who's that?'. I said 'me'. He said 'Really?' I said 'yes'. He said 'Dad, you have to buy tighter t-shirts!' Thanks Noah, I'll pass on that, but I was pleased to be able to surprise you.
Running vs drinking
It's a lifestyle choice
I'm often asked about my lifestyle choices: why don't you drink? Don't you miss meat? Claims then follow of dying for a bacon sandwich. "I couldn't live without caffeine." I hear all these things a lot. They are usually followed by how boring my life must be. Well, here's the thing. My life is neither boring, nor lacking for not eating meat, drinking caffeine, smoking or drinking alcohol. I've done all these things and at certain times in my life I've made the decision to stop doing them. Equal disbelief is often uttered when I mention some of the challenges I've done - especially the long distance running or walking events. I'm sure we all realise that we're all different - I'm just a little more different than others!
How it began and quitting smoking
I began running before I started martial arts - by three months. My first run was in April 1981 on a Friday evening. I went out in jeans and a leather jacket with shoes on so that no-one would actually know what I was doing. I slowed down a couple of times as I went past strangers walking towards me so they wouldn't think I was a 'jogger'. Running wasn't done as much back then. When I had completed my mile 'run' I was exhausted. 'Starsky & Hutch' used to be on tv on a Friday evening - when I collapsed in the chair to watch it, the programme had just started - by the time it had finished 50 minutes later I had just about got my breath back. Undeterred I kept going out, feeling a little better each time. Two turning points were getting onto Ventolin to help my asthma and stopping smoking. Can you believe I was asthmatic and smoked? My god, I've made some stupid decisions in my life. Quitting cigarettes and cigars was one of my best. It wasn't too long before I discovered races and began with half marathons, then marathons - I ran 5 in all, with so many shorter races I can't remember how many I did. I did my last marathon in 1986, but continued to run shorter races, on and off, all the way up to today.
Born to run
This year I learned new things about running; things that amazed me after doing it for such a long time. Things like we are born to run, designed to run with the nuchal ligament (it's in the neck), achilles tendon and muscular buttocks. Animals that don't have these things don't run - like chimpanzees for example, our closest DNA match in the animal kingdom. I've also learnt about Scott Jurek and other ultra distance runners and more importantly I've learnt about the Tarahumara - the running people of Mexico. With members of the tribe who can run 50-60 miles in one go at age 70-80 years old; of the younger members who do 48 hour races and cover, on average, 300 miles at a time. These ideas blew my mind a little and made me think that I can at least do a marathon. As it's turned out work has prevented me from doing the mileage necessary to complete a marathon this year (I did get up to 18 miles in the summer), but I'm still out there 3-4 days per week notching up the miles.
Why running makes you happy
The point about running is what it gives you, other than just muscle tone and good heart and lungs. First of all it raises your serotonin level, this means a gentle feeling that the world is ok; this in turn leads to more positive thoughts so that when you run the ideas that come to you don't tend to be depressing ones. Infact, having just thought about this I have never come back from a run with negative thoughts about a challenge I have been trying to solve. Contrast that with the sadness that can come from a night on the booze, after the initial high. It's not that I'm against drinking, I'm not; it's just not for me. I also feel that when the weekend comes around I get two days of it, not one. How often do I hear, or read Facebook statuses that claim a hangover, or couldn't get up until the afternoon. I thought about this last week when I ran through a park in Antwerp: 8am on a Sunday morning and I found a small castle, complete with moat. It was beautiful and perfect and took me completely by surprise. It's highly unlikely I would ever have seen it if I wasn't a runner; it's just one of the many experiences I've had because of running. I guess then, my thought is, that you live your life how you see fit. For me it's about exercise, health and in particular, running. if your lifestyle choice is Friday and Saturday night out, drinking with your friends, I'm cool with that, I just prefer my way to yours.