Fit for life!

 The restored Forest Hill Pools and fitness centre

 

I have been intending to write this post for some time. Reading Olly Smith's inspirational post on losing four stone and running marathons (http://www.ollysmith.com/losing-it-11210/) provided the necessary impetus.

I can't claim to have lost four stone but I can celebrate losing around 10 kilos and regaining a level of fitness that makes me feel so much better than I did a little over two years ago in September 2012.

There was a time in my early 30s when I was very fit, training regularly for cycling time trials and racing all distances from 10 miles to 24 hours - 412 miles if you ask -  though this was well off the winning distance. I was able to climb reasonably well and chalked off a number of the famous Tour de France ascents including the Tourmalet, L'Alpe d'Huez and the Ventoux.

When in 1988 I changed from teaching English to writing about wine I ceased to ride my bike to work as I was now working from home and it was hardly convenient turning up at tastings lycra clad and trying to find somewhere to secure the bike. Not to speak of the fatigue after tasting and spitting up to a 100 wines at some sessions. Although it has to be said that some writers do cycle to tastings.

Apart from walking around London – mainly walking down to the station and then walking around Central London, I did little exercise with the exception of a few walking holidays. I kept a level of natural fitness but imperceptibly and inevitably I put on weight. A 32-inch waist became 34” and then 36”. Clothes I could once wear went to the charity shop.

At least ten years I ignored a first warning sign when my doctor put me onto a daily blood pressure tablet (Bendroflumethizide). It didn’t help that he was a curt and unsympathetic character. I took the daily tablet and didn’t change my life style.

Starting a blog in August 2008 was a further blow as I then spent further hours in front the laptop. I was becoming paunchy – overweight but not excessively so. An insidious process…! 

In June 2012 I was invited by InterLoire to join a bloggers’ cycling trip to Vouvray and Saumur. I put in a few short training rides in Touraine and found short hills I once wouldn’t have noticed had become a struggle. The cycling legs were still there on the flat but it was a very different matter when the road went uphill.

I enjoyed the two-day bloggers’ trip – the hills remained problematic, especially some steep ascents around Rochecorbon where I had to get off a walk up the last section of at least two hills. I enjoyed being back on the bike and felt good. We rode mountain bikes, which Carole and I had long intended to buy but never got round to it.

Plaque to commemorate the opening of the original baths in 1886

I should have kicked on from there but didn’t. In part this was due to the delayed opening of the renovated Forest Hill Baths. These baths and pool, originally opened in 1886, were closed in 1996 and Lewisham Council planned to demolish them. Fortunately there was a local campaign to save them. Eventually the Mayor and Lewisham Council managed to find the necessary funds – thank goodness for elections! The old Victorian frontage of the baths was retained and two new pools built, one 25-metre and a learners’ pool. In addition a fitness gym and a couple of studios were incorporated on the first floor of the building.

The new pools and gym facility were due to open in June/July but this was delayed until mid-September 2012.

In early September 2012 my annual check up diagnosed me with borderline type 2 diabetes. I weighed over 85 kilos and my blood pressure was often at 135-140 or over. Fortunately I had changed my doctor and got the necessary advice and encouragement. It was time to do something and this coincided with the opening of the Forest Hill Pools and gym. I had never been interested in going to a gym but, having discovered that it is free to Lewisham residents over 60 years old, I started going early every morning. I would do about 30-40 minutes on the cross trainer, the bike and some of the weight machines plus the occasional row. 

Gradually the weight started to come off – 84 kilos – 83 kilos. A dose of Stalin’s revenge at the end of the European Wine Bloggers’ trip to Georgia took me down to 81. Mid-January 2013 I was down to 79 and briefly to 76 by mid-March. At which point I had to go to the shoe mender to get him to put an extra notch in my belt! At the same time my blood pressure dropped to regularly well below 120. 

In January 2013 we bought mountain bikes, which we ride when we are in Scotland or the Loire. I really enjoy the versatility of a mountain bike. They are also an excellent way to look around the vineyards as the Loire has lots of passable tracks through the vines.   

By the time of my annual check up in September 2013 my weight oscillated between 75 and 77 kilos. The results showed that all the figures – blood sugar, cholesterol, etc – had all moved markedly in the right direction. I came off the Bendroflumethizide and the daily dose of statins has been reduced by half.

Now in mid-November 2014, I can look back on cycling 1078 kilometres down the Loire in eight days in mid-September, while climbing 6300 metres in the process.  Most importantly I feel so much better, more alert and I now have to buy some new trousers with a 34-inch waist.

After 1078 kilometres – finish@La Baule

I haven’t changed what I eat as we have always cooked with fresh ingredients and had never bought prepared meals apart from occasional things like ready-made tortellini. The improvement was down to regular exercise with a consequent increased metabolic rate. I have always been doubtful about diets, especially extreme ones that can lead to rapid weight. It is rare that such rapid weight loss can be sustained without increased exercise. I was lucky that, although I was overweight it wasn’t excessive and I still had some residual natural fitness. Had I been grossly overweight I doubt if exercise would have been sufficient.

I’ll be down the gym tomorrow morning ...

  

The Wine Gang – today Croatia tomorrow the world – and three wines from Croatia

The Wine Gang (Tom Cannavan, Jane Parkinson, Joanna Simon, Anthony Rose and David Williams) contemplate corporate world domination at the Wines of Croatia tasting (8th September). 

Founded in 2008 with Gang's undoubted tasting expertise and experience has never been matched by sartorial flair. There was some hope while Olly Smith was a member but he left at the end of last year along with fellow founder member Tim Atkin MW. Tim and Olly + his shirts have now ganged up with Oz Clarke becoming The Three Wine Men. All rather reminiscent of the super-groups of the 70s – Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Blind Faith, Crosby, Stills and Nash et al! 

The Blue Shirts (aka The Wine Gang) have fairs in London (29th October) and Edinburgh (12th November).

2007 Cabernet Franc, Franc Arman

I wasn't able to spend a lot of time at the Wines of Croatia tasting last week but did find some interesting wines, despite the organisation of the event being somewhat of a challenge. Many of the reds that I tasted were surprisingly leafy given that Croatia is in southern Europe. As I have never been to Croatia my impression of the geography is unfortunately rather hazy. In contrast this 2007 Cabernet Franc from Franc Arman was quite floral and attractively softly textured with good length, although with slightly green tannins in the finish.

2007 Milva and 2007 Antica, Roxanich (served in magnum)

These were the last two wines I managed to taste. Both white wines are in an oxidised style, which works adding complexity to the wine. Milva is made from Chardonnay, which spends three or four days on its skins before being pressed off. Antica has much longer on the skins – a remarkable 87 days. Made from Malvazija Istriana, Antica is like a complex dry Sherry.  

See also Robert McIntosh's take on this tasting.

  

The Wine Gang draughts in new blood

 Tom Cannavan: the god-father?
 

I recently received details form Tom Cannavan of changes to The Wine Gang: Jane Parkinson and David Williams joining and Olly Smith and Tim Atkin MW leaving.

'The Wine Gang, the comprehensive wine recommendations web site launched in summer 2008 by wine writers Tom Cannavan, Anthony Rose, Joanna Simon, Olly Smith and Tim Atkin, has announced a new line-up and some exciting new developments for 2011.

Joining the Gang are two of the UK's brightest wine writing talents: David Williams, wine columnist for the Observer newspaper and Deputy Editor of World of Fine Wine magazine, and Jane Parkinson, currently Deputy Editor of The Drinks Business magazine (Jane leaves The Drinks Business at the end of December) and recipient of the Chairman's award at the Louis Roederer Wine Writing Awards last year.

The two new Gangsters will become full members, contributing to the Wine Gang's monthly reports at www.thewinegang.com and participating in other activities such as their successful live events and selection of the London International Wine Fair's 'Top 100' wines.

Commenting on her appointment Jane Parkinson said, "I was hugely honoured when I was asked to join The Wine Gang - which is a brilliant concept. Those already involved in it are people who I have admired and respected for years so I can't wait to be part of the team and to get started on all the exciting plans for next year. If I could actually do cartwheels – I would!" 

David Williams added, "A couple of years back I had a chat with Tom about a plan he'd developed with some friends to launch a new consumer wine website. I can remember thinking what a good idea it was, and so it proved. Needless to say I was delighted when asked to join the Gang, and I'm now really looking forward to working with some of the best wine writers in the business."

The pair join The Wine Gang at an exciting moment in its development: a new mid-month report has just been added to the service to subscribers, a re-designed website will launch in the new year and, building on the success of their Christmas Fair in London, regional events are being added for 2011.

Speaking for The Wine  Gang, founder member Tom Cannavan said, "We are really delighted to have two of the UK's brightest and best young wine writers joining the team, bringing their expert palates and new perspectives to the Gang. This is the most exciting phase of The Wine Gang so far and it does seem like a very natural time to be introducing some new faces to our line up."

Sadly, the arrival of David and Jane sees the departure of Olly Smith and Tim Atkin. Cannavan said, "Olly's burgeoning TV career has made it impossible for him to fulfil his duties for the Gang, whilst Tim is concentrating on his judging commitments and other projects. We would like to thank them both for their invaluable contribution and to wish them every success in the future." 

Olly Smith commented: "I'm so sorry to be leaving The Wine Gang - it's a magnificent project and I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this exciting venture. I'll be signing up for my membership straight away and look forward to working with the Gang on common projects in future."

All seven past and present members of the Gang will be together "for one day only," at the Gang's Christmas Wine Fair at Vinopolis, London on November 6th 2010. The old and new guards will help the 500 consumers in attendance to get the most from the 600 wines available for tasting, masterclasses with world famous winemakers and conduct wine walks around the hall. Tickets cost £20 from www.ticketsoup.com and www.vinopolis.co.uk'