Well, it’s now time to end this blog. It’s been a fantastic journey, and I have undergone a complete transformation in just over a year. I feel better and have much more energy.
I still eat hamburgers when the opportunity presents itself, but I skip the fries and soft-drink. I now go for a side salad and water instead.
In general, I’m on the move more because it isn’t such hard work. It makes me feel better, so I take more and more frequent walks. Take the stairs instead of the lift. These small differences have turned me into a new man.

I have also started cycling more. Now that I cycle to work, it probably doesn’t matter what I eat. I clocked up 180 km on the bike last week!

A big thank you to everyone who’s supported me - here is one last picture of me in my underpants to keep you going. What a difference a year makes!
 

A new week and a new start, as the saying goes. The kids came down with a cold and fever last week, and it’s now caught up with me. Tonsillitis. I forced myself to do the 30 km yesterday, and did a workout in the morning. Cycling home was hard going, and I felt ready to faint and throw up. Now I know the reason why. I’ve gone down with a fever and a sore throat.

Simply deciding to exercise more isn’t enough if you never get the chance to do so. I’ll never get in shape if I’m constantly sick.
Sometimes even the fates are against you.

Weight 93.6 kg

Surely no-one missed the Olympics? I have never spent so little time watching sport, but I simply haven’t had the time. It is difficult not to become fascinated by people who put everything into a dream, just for that one chance! Just one chance, and if the dream doesn’t come true, the best you can hope for is to wait another four years before you try again.
Everyone’s talking about Ara, but I fell completely for Emma Johansson , the cycling girl. They are two very different people but, at the same time, very alike. They both have that fascinating characteristic: the desire to win. Emma has written a few things on her website which has affected me enormously, and which I will always try to live up to. But I am, after all, only human.

What is your motto?
“a winner is a loser who was willing to fail and get up, fail and get
up, fail and get up, fail and get up and win”

Who do you respect the most?
All people who are hunting their dreams and goals in life. Nothing
happens unless you first have a dream.

I have decided to get fit. To go from slob to hunk. This is what’s happened to me over the past year, or the past 412 days to be more precise. I thought I would have weighed less, but there isn’t much of a difference. I will visit the Lucia Pokalen 2008 bodybuilding event. Perhaps they’ll let me take part, but I’ll probably mess up anyway.

Thumbs up for my diet, but I’ve lost my Max VIP card so haven’t eaten there at all in the past week. Alex, I would love a knew one! Other than that, I’ve eaten sensibly, apart from a bit too much night-time beer. I clocked up 115 km on the bicycle during the week, but only went to the gym twice. I danced all Saturday night at the 2008 garage party, and surely this must have used up SOME calories. These pictures should carry a warning!

This week’s figures:
95.4 kg
23.5 kg fat
54.5 kg water
41.0 kg muscle
  

The summer has come to an end… Although I have the best job in the world, I am really lacking in motivation. There doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel and I would rather stay in bed, hide under the duvet and sleep…
But life’s not like that, and there is no point in having the blues. Fortunately, there are lots of good things to focus on as well.

My workmate, Calle, and his fiancé, Ida, got married last weekend. I’ve been to a few weddings in my time, but this one was way better than the rest! It was outstanding, and lots of fun. Apart from anything else, they had found the best vicar in the world! Good luck for the future, you’re the nicest couple in the world!

Before the wedding, I took a road trip and ended up in Copenhagen, where I spent a few unforgettable days!

Rumour has it that depression and poor eating habits go hand in hand. Not so for me, I drank hard all over the weekend and only went to the gym twice last week. But I’m still here and have started cycling to work again.

My old scales broke down. The new set only show weight, and currently stands at 95.1 kg. But I haven’t been as fit as this for many years! I can almost guarantee that I’ve set new fat-versus-muscle and fluid level records.

Well, we’ve reached the end of the summer, or at least the last week of it… The rain is pouring down, but at least the fish are biting. Then it’s back home again, to drink hot tea and warm up. A typical Swedish summer, the children are happy mainly because the fishing is good and we had a good day out at the flea market. Feeding the crocodiles in a friend’s basement was also exciting. Thanks Marko, you’re a great pal!

Meals have mainly consisted of Nis’ tasty Thai food. It may be the healthy option, but perhaps not when it’s washed down with wine.

I am exercising like a man possessed. A strong mind in a strong body, as some wise person said. Maybe there is some truth in this, so I’ve promised myself to stay fit. I haven’t been cycling as much this week since I have been on holiday, but I’ve been to the gym 4 times and despite some undesirable eating habits, the scales are moving in the right direction. Not the actual weight, but from the point of view of fat. I’ve reached a new personal best in the fat-versus-muscle stakes.

95.2 kg
24.0 fat
55.7 water
42.0 muscle !!!

Hello, all holiday-makers! You’re probably sitting there, nursing a pint of lager in one hand and digesting 1 kg of steak.
I’m not so fortunate - there’s too much to do and I’ve been focusing on one thing and one thing only: exercise. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been really strict with myself. First there was the kitchen refit, and now that this is out of the way, it’s all workouts, workouts and more workouts.
I’m now cycling back and forth to work every day, around 25-30 km, and am doing at least 4 weightlifting sessions a week. I’ll end up looking like the Hulk!  

Joking aside, the scales have not moved downwards, rather the reverse, but my body is undergoing some serious changes. To sum up: less stomach and more chest. The scales are stuck at 94.8 kg. The beard alone probably weighs about 1 kg.

One year has gone by. Or it will have tomorrow, 8 July, to be more precise. I feel nostalgic, happy and sad all at the same time. I’ve always been a bit “edgy”. I must admit that I’ve been more active this year than every before, but it hasn’t made me any happier.

So how have things gone with the kitchen? Obviously, it’s not yet finished. Sigh, I finally got the work surfaces, and everything is in place - and yet, not. As well as the exit for the kitchen fan, connecting the last hotplate on the hob, tiles, edgings and some paint jobs, the spotlights in the living room still haven’t arrived. The electrical goods supplier was certainly the cheapest, but their delivery times are not the best. Will the final 10% take a year to finish? Well, I’ll do some more painting today.

The first week of my holidays has arrived. I’m going to hang out with the kids and just relax. Let’s hope for some nice weather, otherwise I’ll have to come up with some indoor activities. Since I haven’t been working on the kitchen in the evenings, I’ve started to cycle and work out more. 3 visits to the gym last week, and cycle rides up to double figures. The scales are heading upwards, but I’m not worried about it. I simply couldn’t have lived a healthier lifestyle this week.
94.1 kg

93.4 kg… Looking better than I have for a long time and have enjoyed an eventful year, to say the least. I started dieting on 8 July 2007 and now I weigh precisely 34 kg less than at the outset. I have more energy and am much fitter. And I still love hamburgers as much as I ever did!

Last weekend was spent with the lads at my first ever beer orienteering event. It was a great event, even though I was disqualified.  
I hope the winner, Marko, has recovered by now! It was great to see a true master at work - you’re a real fighter.

Wow, what a party! I’ve been to the celebration of the century - well, at least it feels that way. Max celebrated its 40th anniversary, and I want to share the experience with you all.
Has anyone been served a hamburger with caviar and Champagne on the side before? Guaranteed not to be featured in a restaurant near you, but tasty and very inventive.
The queue to say hello to Kurt was longer than the one at Max Hamngatan at lunchtime He’s grown his hair long (future ice hockey style?),  
perhaps to tease his sons who sport the shaved look.
I thought it was most appropriate, since my only other idol next to you, Kurt, is Mats Sundin, the ice hockey player of players.
3 bars, giant barbecue, unlimited hamburgers and drinks, Brolle jr, disc jockey, post-event party and great people all came together to make it an evening to remember! I have the utmost respect for those who lasted the night at Sture. I didn’t exactly bounce out of bed at 05.30 myself, to paint the living room ceiling, but I got up eventually.

The next celebration will probably be the 50th anniversary, but I have no idea how you’re going to top this? Perhaps I’ll be there then as well - I can only hope!:)

The picture shows Britta and myself. She’s been with Max throughout the company’s wonderful journey.

Have had a week’s holiday. This should have meant relaxing and hanging out with the kids, but the kitchen renovation has now entered phase 2. This means we are replacing what we tore out. I’m actually really pleased with the result, and with having a kitchen again. The work surface is missing, and will be delivered later than promised, so we don’t have a hob yet. But hopefully it won’t be long before this is sorted out as well.

For the first time in my life, I’m suffering from sleep problems. I’m too revved up and can’t relax. I should take things more gently, but can’t/won’t do it. This week will be busy. Pia is in Norway, I’m minding the kids and on Thursday I’m going to Max’s huge 40th anniversary celebration. It was great to be invited!

Exercise: One week/7 days of hard labour, filling, painting, sorting out the electricity supply and general work. I fitted in a visit to the gym once last Sunday, although it wasn’t really necessary…
Food: the diet has been so-so, due to lack of time.

Result: -32.4 kg
95.0 kg (127.4 kg) Total weight
25.9 kg (42.0 kg) Fat
53.0 kg (44.0 kg) Water
40.3 kg (34.8 kg) Muscle