It is fair to say that a big part of BMX training is getting the nutrition right, it is also fair to say that over the last few years, that I have not been spot on with my nutrition. To be perfectly honest the photo that was taken of me after the BMX Victoria state titles is a little embarrassing, I have really packed on some weight over the last few years, not that it is an excuse but I have had thyroid problems over the last couple of years, my thyroid has now been destroyed with radiation treatment and I am now on medication for the rest of my life, getting the medication doses right has taken a long time.

The thyroid gland for those that don’t know, produces hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance. Its correct functioning depends on having a good supply of iodine from the diet. basically if your thyroid is underperforming you can experience weight gain which was true in my case, my worst week I gained 7kgs.

That is all in the past now, so I no longer have that excuse to use and now have to put the hard work in to change my lifestyle and lose the weight, which I have done in the past. At 37 years of age I was at my heaviest tipping the scales at over 130kgs, I was also my unhappiest and had not exercised at all for about 10 years, I really wasn’t well, both physically and mentally, I eventually lost the weight when I was 41 and now that I am 45 heading towards 46 that is the plan again.

I could go on about diet and what I plan to eat and so on, but truth be told we all know what healthy options are when it comes to food and what isn’t, my problem is that I am lazy when it comes to food choices and too often go for the quick and easy option, rather than spending time and making the healthy option.

Back in the 80s I remember BMX being about the lightest bike you could make, with the thinking that the less weight you have to push around the track the easier it is and in turn the faster you should go and to be honest this is true, but in my case it is not so much the weight of the bike but the weight of the rider. I figure to improve in BMX I need to drop the weight, not only will I have to push less weight around the track, but my heart and lungs will function better as there is less of me that they have to support, giving me time advantages just there alone. Most importantly though with a change to my weight, it will move my centre of gravity, which should help me with balance and bike control.

I can do all the training in the world, but without the nutrition going hand in hand with the training, I nor anyone else will get full advantage of the training that they are doing, with that in mind, I look forward to see what 2017 brings me and the improvements that I hope to see.