h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

one year on today.... 365 Growth Hormone injections later as of this evening Its the one drug that's made the biggest difference, and actually, in the last few days, I've just noticed some more improvements, in various health and feelings, etc., that I assume are still down to the growth hormone working deep into the tissues and cells - not to mention with the gym, calorie restricted diet, etc., I've now lost nearly 4 stone (56 LB (yes, a sack of potatos worth)) err... quite a few KG.... 20 KG something...

Now. --

"Ball chalange"

This is why I really like my personal trainer. He's almost as mad as me.

OK; you know those exercise balls, the big inflated ones, used a lot in yoga, pilatez etc.

one of those.

there is one at the gym, probably several. nethertheless I've just gone out this morning, and bought one - its orange, and sitting on the sofa, It needed a name, so I'm going to call it 'Willson'

Anyhow.

the challenge, is to see if my personal trainer, or I will be able to achieve this first; we're both starting at the same time, (don't tell him I'm cheating by practising at home).

Eventually.

after a lot* of practise, a lot of improving our 'core', and getting our balance really good, what we're going to do is;

Stand on the ball, and do squat thrusts with the 20 KG bar (or a heavier weight) <zen<>

Seriously.

it may take some time, at the moment, we're both at the stage of balancing on it with our hands and knees... - I can get up to about 70 seconds with no contact of my body to the floor...

this may take some practise but... its so gonha be worth it, when I manage to do this, before* the personal trainer does

in otter news, was at gym yesterday, did various core exercises on the inflated ball, plus an hour and a half weight lifting, and some other bits. In the evening was ten pin bowling

Now that is what I call a challenge! Good luck to you. Will follow this with interest!

I must say that sounds like a very bad idea.

There are tons of videos online (and on America's Funniest Home Videos) of people trying to stand on those balls and falling off them spectacularly.

A fall of just 3 feet can be deadly.



But I'm sure it can be done, with slow and careful practice. I once saw a juggler standing on a board... on a cylinder.... on a second, perpendicular cylinder.

Slowely slowely is the key... hence we're doing it in stages

so far I've practised it the once at the gym, with the personal trainer, - most I could manage was about 70 seconds, balancing on knees and both hands; then I bought the ball to try at home.

First time practising at home I got up to 4 minutes.

then, practising again last night, I got nearly 9 minutes

practising today, a few times, first this morning, in the horrible horrible half an hour space between taking levothyroxine - before I can have coffee;;; 7 minutes, 8 minutes, and a 9 minutes (plus a few shorter ones of course)

did several 7 - 9 minute one's on it, this evening, whilst cooking dinner

after practising on the ball this morning, had coffee... then waited the horrible half an hour before I can take the steorids and eat food - so practised with the ball some more.

Then went to gym

did the cross trainer/elyptical trainer for a while, then abdominal crunches at 28 KG and 35 KG, then lat pull down and seated rowing at 28 KG then went into the weights room, and did an hour and a half bench pressing, squats, deadlifts, curls, reverse grip curls, presses, shoulder shrugs, and played about in the 'climbing frame' doing kicks, dips, and leg lifts and raises etc < plus a ton of stretching and winding up my personal trainer (wasn't working with him today, but he was their, training himself) - I think he's given up all hope now of managing to do the squats whilst standing on the ball before I can

oh, and already started doing some 'three poinhts' on the ball; balancing with both knees, but only one hand.... - at the current time just reducing that by one point, to just knees... is... a good way to fall off - in otter news, some of my yoga positions like tree are now just so easy and my 'high kicks' in the 'climbing frame', are faster and higher - including doing a set of them, without touching the ground inbetween,, so just hanging supported on the dip'handles'

breakfast was porridge, with strawberry janm.
lunch was 100 Grams grilled chicken, four slices wholemeal bread, and mustard, with some pickles.
Dinner was grilled rosemary/herb crusted wild salmon, with basmati rice and long green beans, and plain yoguart, with a banannannnannna and apple for dessert

no gym tomorrow, going to brave the isles and go get some food in for over Christmas

Weighed myself last night, lost 4 Lb since the 20th November - even though I know I must have put on equally as much in muscle mass over the same period

shower time in a moment then may* risk popping to a pub for an hour this evening, although we are out tomorrow night, at this drag act thing in a local pub - still not decided what to wear... has to be even more drag... or glam... or just over the top... than the drag act I'm sure my leather corset and knee high leather boots may feature in it, whatever the rest may be... - I'll see what the weather is like tomorrow night right... a few minutes before I shower, so its back to balancing on the ball