Let Me Tell You About Sweden » Weight Loss and Fitness

Six months off the booze

Shane — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:53:34 +0000

Sweden has improved me in many ways, it and some of its people have made me take a hard look at myself. To see my good and bad sides. I believe the move to Sweden has been very beneficial for me, it has enriched my life thats for sure.

Most of you know I took the decision at Christmas time to stop drinking. Funnily enough I was with bloggkompis Dave the last time I drank. It was Hammarby Bandy and I remember waking up the next day feeling terrible, well he is a Geordie

Seriously though I had had enough. I also figured that if I was really serious about losing weight then I had to give up some things and boozing was one of them.

The thing is for many years I was a poor mans Richard Burton in many ways, I loved Scotch and whilst I could go weeks without it, when I was out for the night I was out for the night and look out. I have the scars to prove it!

Its not just the raucous nights, its the weakness it induces. Have a quiet few pints at the pub watching the game. Ah whats that? The smell of chips, the glint of the kebabs knife and before you know it you have done a 1000 calories and thats without the pints.

So tomorrow its six months off the alcohol. I m impressed that I have lasted so long. I am even more impressed that I dont miss it. I can socialise without it and certainly don’t miss the hangovers. Of course I m not saying I am never going to drink but right now I dont want to. This is the big difference I am choosing not to drink, I dont feel that I am forced not to drink.

So how are things on the health front?

Going very well, I am hovering around the 90kgs mark which is a big improvement on where I was last year, around 103-104 kilos so the juicing, the running and abstaining from alcohol has really paid off.

As I am moving I am finding lots of memories. I found some old photos of me from around 2003-4 – again a real shock. I will post a few below. I cannot believe I was so fat, I cant believe nobody had a word with me.I also cannot believe the difference between then and now. And thats why when mates try and twist my arm for a beer..I smile..knowingly. Nej Tack.

In Iceland at the Blue lagoon

Hammarby's next keeper

Comrade Shane

And some now photos:

Leaving for my first day in the new office in San Francisco

on the Stockholm Archipelago

Hard at work!

Falling in love again

Shane — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:22:58 +0000

We had a tiff right, simple as that and our relationship has been rocky.

Yes I am talking about my running activities.

Basically I messed up after that 13.2 miles run. I should have taken two weeks off and then started running. But no, not me. I was back out there a few days after that run and I was aching.

I packed my running gear for Holland, ran once and still felt a lot of aches and muscle strains. Then with everything else, an intensive course and being stranded in Holland, I didnt run.

I was dreading getting back out there and thats the rub. If you have a really tough run, a run that you know has stretched you too hard or indeed you have overtrained then psychologically its harder to get out there. Some experts say that after a half marathon you should take a day off for every mile run and I will be following that advice next time.

I had a serious word with myself on Sunday and got my ass out there.

True to form though, instead of trotting 5k and taking it easy I decided to go for 10k. I wanted to prove to myself that even though I hadnt run for 7 days or so that I still had it in me.

This change of heart was really brought about because I took a new route. I took the hill up from Årstafältet through the pretty village of Stureby, past Svedmyra, nosed up to Sockerplan and edged my way home.

Stureby was a really nice village. Hard to think it was so close to Stockholm. A really nice place.

My pace wasn’t great but who cares, the main thing is I am back out there pounding the pavement. I am due back out tonight but it will be an easy 30 min or so run. I dont have a distance goal in mind but I would dearly love to get another 5kgs off before I move which could be in 4-6 weeks. That means I will have to get back on the juicing as well as running if I am to hit it. I am around 93kgs and would be delighted to smash that 90kgs mark!

Run for Water Stockholm, my first official race

Shane — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 08:26:36 +0000

I had my number through the post today. Wow I am starting to feel like a real runner now though in truth even those who choose to walk the race get a number

Run for Water Stockholm. My first run.

The Run for Water Stockholm distance is 6kms so it should not be too troubling. The only thing that will get the better of me is nerves. I have never run a ‘real’ race before. Its why I deliberately picked this race as my first. Its not a serious race but it has a serious message. The Run for Stockholm route is 6 kilometers because the organisers claim thats how far on average distance women and children walk to get water each day). The race is on April 18th and takes place in over 150 countries.

The course looks amazing, central Stockholm and Old Town (Gamla Stan). It will be cool to run this.

I am not looking to break any personal records, I will take it nice and easy and try and get used to running in a race situation. Nice practice for Midnattslöppet.

So if you are in town next week and watching the race give a little cheer as you see runner number 300 trundle past.

Running on Juice

Shane — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 02:30:47 +0000

I dont blog much about my juicing lifestyle thesedays mainly because its become a way of life. I dont go on juice fasts as such but I try and get at least one good juice in a day. I have tried my great ones but for simplicity you cant beat juicing carrot and apple with a lump of ginger. All that goodness and natures finest!

Juicing breakfast

Now this juice may not look so appealing. Its been my breakfast for this week. Its action packed with minerals and vitamins.

This is from Jason Vales book.

2 apples
1 celery ( I use the leaves as well!)
Slice of Lemon
Beetroot
Carrot
Cucumber
Quarter of a Yellow Pepper
Broccoli (one floret with stem) – dont worry,like the celery you can hardly taste it.

I then blend it with ice and some Maca Root. Maca Root is alleged to be the ‘superfruit of the Andes’. It has an interesting history and I thought I would give it a blast having read it in Brendan Braziers Thrive book which Nomeatathlete reviewed some time ago.

It tastes delicious and a great way to start the day. You can last until lunch time no problem on this.

And of course juicing is great for your body and fits in very well with a vegetarian lifestyle.

So again, I repeat, it doesnt look the best but this is an awesome way to get some natural goodness into you and it actually tastes very nice.

I am leaving for Amsterdam on business this week. So blogging may be light.

Happiness is a Long Run (very emotional post!)

Shane — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:19:09 +0000

I have written this blog post so many times earlier in my head. I think it will be quite emotional and for that I apologise now. If you know me this may amuse you, if you dont know me then…

Today I went for my usual Sunday long run. I wanted to try and do 7 miles (11kms), so I set off and felt good. I actually decided to run in shorts for the first time, no tights, base layers, just shorts, shirt and tracksuit top. Thats a sign of an added confidence. And here I am before setting out, with some contrasting photos of how I used to look:

Shane April 2010

Sometime in 2000....

Me in December 2009 (before juicing!)

Last week (after no alcohol since Xmas, no coffee, no meat for a month oh and loads of freshly extracted juice with some running thrown in

I had a feeling this was going to be a special one. I made a decision this week which could be a life changing one, I will blog on it if and when the time is right. I have had a lot on my mind this last seven days.

I started trotting around Årstaviken when I had this wicked thought. Should I run to Lilla Essingen and back. Lillan is where Miss P (my ex) lives. I had always wanted to run there and back as its a 12k round run. We dont speak anymore, just one of those things so I wouldn’t dare knock the door or call. I just wanted to run there and back.

When I started running she said I wouldnt not stick with it and that I was good at not finishing things. I think she had a point to be fair and it was her that set me on this fitness journey. In the words of Paul Weller Sarah ‘what a catalyst you turned out to be.’ On another note I might be in Alaska for a few days later this year, wonder if I could have a cup of tea with the other Sarah P?

Lilla Essingen is a funny place for me, its one of the smallest inhabited islands in Stockholm and I have dated three ladies from there! Ok only one was really serious but there is something about that island!

To be honest I was petrified of bumping into any of them but especially Miss Palin. She is a nice girl and I am sure would have said hello but that wasn’t the purpose of my run.

She is the woman who after all this time, was the one I would have married had I worked harder at that relationship., I am not bitter about it. I took the lesson from it and hope to never make that mistake again. Its too costly at my age. Good women do not come along so often.

Västerbron

It was exhilarating to run over Västerbron, this 600m bridge is the major bridge in Stockholm. The views are stunning, the winds are bracing and its a ‘favourite’ place for those who decide to kill themselves. Its also said that this is the hardest part of the Stockholm Marathon.

I used to have trouble walking over this let alone running but I got over it fine, then onto Lillan. It was emotional running through there and it brought back memories of a very happy time in my life. She was a good girl.

Whereas in the past I have felt very low about that break up, now I try and put into a pleasurable context. I was lucky to share almost a year with her and that’s just how I have to view it. Though of course I have struggled to really have a relationship with anyone since but I am sure that will pass in time.

So I had a smile as I ran through the park by her home, I needed to do this and it felt good. I did also chuckle as I had a really random playlist on the Ipod, as I ran through her park it was Pulp and Disco 2000 :

What are you doing Sunday baby.
Would you like to come and meet me maby?
You can even bring your baby.

I dont think she has a baby..yet! I hope she does soon as she would make a great Mum. Sorry I told you this was going to be me opening up which I rarely do here.

I then headed back towards Västerbron.

I was feeling in good shape and had another dastardly thought..’well you have done the Lillan challenge, how about that other one…run around Södermalm!’

It was as if a switch was flicked in my mind and I was off.

Again this was really symbolic for me. I remember starting to run along Söder Malarstrand back in 2008, when I was dating the lovely ‘Fitness Eva’, funny how I remember things by who I was dating. And not so funny that I am with none of them! Again another great lady. I got injured and never went back to running so today I was going to put this challenge to bed.’

Around the 6 mile (10k) mark. My legs were starting to feel tired. I was carrying on though…’I could do 10 miles (16k) today’ I told myself and that was my goal.

I battled to Slussen and then on towards the ferry boats. It was cool to run and see the signs saying ‘Finland’. I ran past a nightclub in Slussen that I had got very drunk in many times in 2008/9. I laughed to myself as I jogged on by, alcohol has not touched my lips since December 26th.

A lot of people had got off one of the Finlandsbåt, people are rarely sober on there and a few looked worse for wear. I got some strange looks, hurtling by in my shorts, it was around 7 degrees. Then there was a group of ladies in their mid to late twenties. One was very pretty and as she looked at me I smiled and gave her the ‘Shane wink’. She went bright red and her mates all laughed. So did I inside, that kept me going for a few more miles with a big smile. Little victories.

Its hard to recall all the emotions and thoughts but soon I was on the south side of Söder on Nörra Hammarbysjöstad, I was feeling it now. It was around the 9 mile mark (14.5kms) not long now I told myself.

I started thinking about my journey, kicking the coffee habit, no longer boozing and of course vegetarianism. I have to take my hat off to NoMeatAthlete here. Through his posts he really convinced me that I could be veggie and run! There are so many people out there that say you cant run long distances and be a veggie. Nomeatathlete has a busy life, he is about to become a dad but he had time to check out my vegetarian food log and gave me tips in my first week, a gent!

Also there is another great blog that I read daily called Beck On the Run, she is a lady who has also shed a lot of weight by running but she posts regularly on the wonderful healthy food she prepares. Healthy eating is not boring. Thanks Matt and Beck! You are an inspiration to me.

I got to the 10 miles mark (16kms) and I was struggling but I had another great thought…

‘Shane, the clock is on 10 miles, this is awesome, but you know what boy…you are only 3.1 miles off running a half marathon distance’.

Oh no!

Thats right, lets have it. I really had to dig deep as I got up to Årstabron and fought the wind. My mind wandered to that classic film and wondered if this was ‘A Bridge Too Far!’

Årsta Bridge

I was in bits at this stage. Bear in mind this was a totally unplanned 13.2 mile runs! I had taken no water, had no energy gels, this was Shane running on his willpower only as certainly my stamina had disappeared.

I knew where I was heading though. I was going to finish this unofficial half marathon on Årstafältet. This is where I first started running back in October last year. It was 5 mins run, 2 mins walk then! I wanted to finish there.

About 11.5 miles in I swear I started hallucinating. This was it, something I had read a lot about..I was hitting the wall.

I had to dig deep, I had to fight off the dizzy spells. I even thought I saw Maggie Thatcher at one point, told you I was hallucinating. I searched my mind for inspirational articles I had read and recalled two very different characters.

Mike Huckabee is a true inspiration for me.

Tony Robbins for sure, The Juice Master Jason Vale he got me started with rapid but safe weight loss through juicing and Governor Mike Huckabee another. I know his politics may not be to your liking but the guy lost so much weight through running. He lost 50 kilos and has run several Marathons.

I had to take a 5 min walk to sort myself out. I felt like cheating but I had to. Then I was better, tears were actually streaming down my cheek as I came to the 13 mile mark.

Årstafältet greeted me like an old friend. And then that was it 13.2 miles or 21.2 kilometres. I had done it!

I walked home, like an old man, I was aching everywhere. I managed a warm down and then got inside where I burst into tears. Its not like me to cry but this was such an emotional release. This has been my goal since November last year and I had delivered 6 months later.

I thought of all the times in my adult life where I made myself the ‘butt’ of fat jokes because I knew if I didn’t then someone else would. Its like Mike Huckabee says..fat people are always called ‘jolly’ but its because they know the above as well.

I remembered being out last summer chatting to a group of women. And one poking my stomach and saying ‘you should sort that stomach out’. I think I was equally callous back, using the Churchillian retort, that I could get slim but she would always be ugly. Ouch!

Now I know I could challenge anyone who has a pop at my size to a 13 mile run. I cant put into words how much more confident that makes me.

2hr 28 min, 13.2 miles, I wont forget Easter Sunday 2010 in a hurry!

There is a lot I could say, but I feel this has gushed on enough as it is. A special thanks to BT who is a sweet and dear friend who rushed over to see me. I was even too knackered to make her a cup of tea!! Thanks though it meant a lot!

Here is the map of my unofficial Stockholm Half Marathon! As generated by Garmin!

Am I a runner now?

Am I still vegetarian?

Shane — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:04:47 +0000

Some of you have written in asking how I am doing on my vegetarian challenge.

Dont worry I am not turning into a militant veggie, each to their own!

In truth I no longer consider it a challenge but a lifestyle, other than a few minor blips I am still eating vegetarian and enjoying it.

It dawned on me that its no longer a ‘challenge’ when I was in Holland on business for 7 days. The first night in the hotel I uttered the words ‘I am a vegetarian’ as a the waiter offered me a complimentary appetizer which was duck.

I am also learning most restaurants can be flexible as he then brought me out another offering which was goats cheese.

Then we stayed at a beautiful castle in rural Holland. It was a gourmet kind of place but I stuck to my guns and in fairness the hotel chef cooked up some phenomenal veggie food! I am surprisingly shy you know so being singled out by the waiters for my dietary preference was a bit embarrassing at first but I soon got used to it.

Then last night at the Tapas restaurant, I kept it veggie.

What I am learning though is thats its easier to eat veggie at home. I have cooked some amazingly delicious meals. My favourite this week is Snobby Joes, this was lush! The first day I had it on some wholemeal bread, the next on a jalapeno tortilla.

Its wierd you know I did have a curry with Annika and I opted for chicken and didnt like it!!! It was as if my palate had changed!!!

I am feeling good, enjoying my fourth month now off alcohol and coffee free, running lots, and eating vegetarian. And ten kilos or so lighter than I was at Christmas. This is one new years resolution I am actually sticking with.

I knew it would happen one day!

Shane — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:28:41 +0000

Last week I went to NK. I have never been one for ‘posh’ dept shops and still have a feeling of being looked down on. Must be something to do with my working class roots.

I needed a new suit. I have a keynote speech to give at a crucial sales conference in Oslo next week and I want to look the business. I need to dredge up every bit of confidence I have and I want to feel good. So I went to NK. Now the last time I was there I saw a lovely jacket very expensive but smart and so me.

Long story short, they didnt have one my size. I am ‘lucky’ to be broad chested but with my then protruding stomach getting good suits was always difficult. I was braced for this kind of disappointment again.

However I was now fitting comfortably into a size 54 and even bought a Hugo Boss suit at size 52! Then I went a bit mad, well I had been saving. I then bought a fantastic coat by Swedish designer Oscar Jacobsson. Unfortunately theirs is a flash site so I cant send you a link to it.

Now think back this was one of my ten reasons to run. Remember that post? When I was out there slugging it last November, struggling to put twenty minute runs together. Well here was reason number 9, they were not listed in priority.

Running means I will lose weight and therefore have a greater selection of nice suits to choose from.

And it worked! I was now where I wanted to be and have greater choice. And if the ‘papers want to know whose shirts I wear’. I can proudly answer Linnea Braun as I can now fit into those as well! They are lovely shirts and she is a local Stockholm designer and its a family business, great quality shirts.

And just when you think I have no money left, today the best surprise of all… I went to buy some jeans as a colleagues wife came into the office last week and said I had lost weight. She then told her husband that my jeans were too big!!

The surprise…I am down a waist size..get in there!

Running and juicing oh and an alcohol ban is working! I still have more work to do, I am still not happy but ten kilos lighter, a waist size smaller and running around 15 miles/24 kms a week this is my best fitness drive ever!

30 day vegetarian challenge update Week 2

Shane — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:39:43 +0000

So that week went by really fast and I have to be honest I have not missed meat at all!

Its interesting to see the world through a vegetarians eyes. Supermarket shopping for lunch and at the local Thai for lunch…both had good veggie options.

Home cooking is easy, thats the beauty of vegetarian cooking its not just lentil soup. There are so many lovely dishes out there to cook. The Veggie Jalfrezi was delicious.

Some of you have written to me asking about Jason Vale aka The Juice Master‘s three day detox juicing plan. I have only ever done the seven day plan. So just for you and because I feel like getting some more fresh fruit and veg inside me I will do the three day plan starting from tomorrow.

I have to give a big shout to the Blueberry Lifestyle shop in Stockholm. They have a few of the Juicemaster’s supplements in stock and lots of other goodies as well. They even have raw hemp powder so it means I do not have to order it in from the UK. Lovely!

Check out their menu, they offer a lot of freshly made juices and smoothies as well as some fantastic wraps and soups.

Everything is hard, until it is easy

Shane — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:48:48 +0000

Today I finally ran Årstaviken. Thats the bay where I live, it is around 5 miles (8k).

You can see my run here

A few things worried me before I set off. A lot of the paths are in the forest so there would be a lot of ice. There was going to be a lot of people out walking as the sun was out and the worst thing of all, at the end of the run in Årsta Forest – Årsta skog its really hilly. Not one long run but up and down up and down. I remember cycling it when I first moved to Årsta and I had to get off the bike.

Still I had to do a long run today and thought it was as good day to cross this one off the list.

When you run, you know in the first 10 mins how your run will be. I was struggling for some reason and knew it was going to be tough. I had to stop in parts as there were so many people, one day I swear I wont stop when people dont move out of the way. I also had to climb a lot of steps to get up to the top of the bridge at Liljeholmen and of course down the steps at Hornstull.

I took a short 3 min walk when I reached Skanstull, I had to change my playlist on my Ipod so I walked over the bridge, otherwise it was running all the way.

But the last segment was a bastard. Up and down, up and down. I was crying inside as I was tackling the steep climbs but I knew I was going to finish. I remembered the words of Göethe:

‘Everything is hard until it is easy’

I told myself that this was likely to be the hardest Årstaviken run because I had never run it or hills ever before. This would be the most pain and eventually I would be flying up and down these inclines. I do a lot of visualisation when I run, its what gets me through it. I took my mind back to last year when I started running and how after 7 mins I was out of breath and feeling sick. I remembered how after a few weeks I passed that and kept improving.

Got to give a big mention of the Garmin Forerunner 305, as you can see from the map above, even though I was under trees in a forest for some of this run yet I was still tracked ok by the GPS. This is a regular complaint about GPS that they dont work so well under cover but the Garmin performed well.

So 5 miles/8kms in 57 mins, I know I can get that to below 50 mins. I have to say this was awesome training and I think this route is going to prep me for the 10k Midnattslöppet.

Veggie Jalfrezi

Shane — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:52:59 +0000

I hope those of you who are interested in my 30 day vegetarian challenge are clicking the tab at the top. I am updating that post each day with my food log. Makes sense to do it that way rather than add a post each day on what I had for breakfast

Tonight I whipped up a Veggie Jalfrezi.

This was action packed with goodness and no animal flesh in sight.

It included: chili, cauliflower, chick peas, tomatoes, onion, garlic, sweet potato, red and green peppers. Lots of spices. I made this moderately spicy, it wasnt too keen. I also knocked up some brown rice to go along with it, very nice!!

Årstaviken

Long run tomorrow, so hope this gives me the energy I need. I am going to try and complete Årstaviken, its not the distance that worries me, more the ice and hills!