I’ve been meaning to blog my progress since I started my ‘healthy life-style’ and fitness mission at the start of 2014. I’m 177cm (5’10) and on the 6th of January 2014, I weighed 256lb (18st4lb), drinking far too much red wine, eating far to many take-aways and not moving very much at all. I’ve always been quite active, mainly cycling my bike to work and weekends away, but as this stopped, life took over and before I knew it, I found myself buying 42 inch, waist elasticated trousers at Asda, just not my style… something had to change!
I’m now in my 57th week of my healthy lifestyle and I now weigh 173lb. Ive lost 83lb (5st13lb / 37kg – at time of writing this 3/2/15) through various actives such as running, cycling, insanity, kettlebell and freeletics. The changes I have made to my diet and exercise has been with the aim that everything I do should be sustainable. That I should enjoy the changes and be able to continue to live a healthy lifestyle without depriving myself of anything that I want. Of course, it gets easier with time, but it appears to be working. I am now wearing 30 inch skinny-jeans (there’s a first for everything!) and I’ve never felt better. I’ve found my balance of regular ‘injury-free’ exercise that I enjoy. My diet is a balanced and sustainable diet, with an overall attitude of ‘eat clean’, increase my protein intake (1gram per 1lb) and decreased carbs. I don’t follow a specific diet, but often look to the paleo way of life amongst other sources for inspiration and ideas. I watch my carb intake and try to steer clear of fast-foods and alcohol (although not completely, I’m not that boring!) I’m never hungry anymore!
I will be posting my stories and experiences here (and will try to update as regularly as I can), with a focus on Freeletics. I will post anything that is ‘healthy-lifestyle’ related that I have either done or that I am actively taking part in, with the hope to inspire a few of you to take a similar journey including apps I’ve used, programs I’ve followed, advice I’ve taken and services I’ve used. Even if I give you a few ideas and help you to think twice about whats achievable in such a short space of time, this would make me happy. I know what its like to constantly feel you should be doing something about getting fit, loosing weight, eating the rights things but just don’t have the time. Well, now it’s time to make that change. After all, 2015 is the year of #noexcuses and the saying goes #JustDoIt!
I would like to say a huge thank you to my family and friends who have supported me throughout my fitness goals in 2014 and continue to do so. I hope you enjoy my posts and always remember #noexcuses #trainsmart #nevergiveup!
Freeletics Wiltshire UK 
Wish you all the best with your new blog Mark. Extraordinary example for everyone. Keep pushing 🙂
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Hi Mark, came across your blog via the wordpress freeletics tag. I’m considering giving it a go to see how I handle it. At 54 I’ve got outta shape & put on too many extra kilos. Starting tomorrow
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Hey Tony, thanks for leaving a comment, it’s why I started this blog, to inspire others to do something about their fitness, health and well-being. I had to change, do something about my lack of fitness and weight issue, and in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, it’s never too late, I can change my life around.
I’m a ‘glass-half-full’ kinda guy, very positive and when I set goals, I smash them. Great to hear you’re starting Freeletics tomorrow, the money for coach is great value for money, it’s so much cheaper and more effective than the gym for me, it’s doable (although hard work at first), it gets easier and the results are real. What you put in is what you get out. I started to change my lifestyle at the start of 2014, gave up drinking for 4 months, cut out fast food and coffee (saved me over £200/month!) minimised my carb intake and started to move. Jan-Mar cross-trainer, March started running, 3km-5km. Then Insanity from May, kettlebell July along with my 10k running (about 25k/week) and cycling (100k+ a month) then discovered Freeletics on July 31.
I was sick on my first ever session – APHRODITE, over an hour, but completed it #noexcuses! Then started the coach 15Sept14 and now on week 22, HELLWEEK, smashing PB’s and tweaking my food, nutrition and diet. Loving life to the max and if someone said I would be feeling this great a year down the line, I wouldn’t have believed them, you cannot buy this mate, you have to earn it, want it and I truly believe that we all have it in us to succeed at something like this if we want it bad enough.
So how bad do you want it!? #noexcuses #nevergiveup! Look me up on the app – Mark Kenna, I look forward to seeing you progress and you’ll get great support from the community too #clapclap – may I wish you all the very best and remember, age is just a number, don’t let anything get on your way!
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone – so get comfortable, being uncomfortable” 👍
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