Fuel: $8.43 per Gallon!

Before you start panic buying, let's just calm down a minute: That's the price that I paid here in the UK last week. So, relax.

But let's just analyse this.

My car's a Ford Fiesta, 1.4 TDCi. Yup, it's a diesel, and yup, it's really economical. But, I put in £20.00 on Saturday - that's the $39.64, which equates to 17.87 litres, or 4.7 gallons. Or $8.43 per Gallon. Which, might I add, is only half a tank.

Now, I spend approximately £20.00 per week on fuel - which means that during the month of April, I will be putting approximately £100.00 (roughly $200.00), and 89.35 litres of fuel, or 23.5 gallons, into the tank of my car. Which is a phenonmenal amount.

When I first started driving, fuel cost approximatly 69.9 pence per litre. Now it averages at around 105.9 pence per litre. That's a massive jump in seven years. My first car (1.1 Ford Fiesta with a petrol engine) would cost me around £32.00 to fill the tank. The last time I filled the tank, I paid £49.00.

So what's the moral of this tale?

Not sure really.

I guess it's that I pay far too much for my fuel.

I guess it's that those in the States that say that they have high fuel prices don't really know what high fuel prices are.

I guess I'm just having a rant.

Maybe I need a hybrid...

The Diet Begins... Again...

Okay, I was going to post this yesterday, but what with it being April Fool's and all that, I thought that you would all think I was joking. When in fact I am serious... deadly serious.

I've kinda let myself go again, and knew that I was eating much more than I should during February and March. Also, I was doing practically zero exercise.
Now, I'm restarting my 'diet', but I've not got any goal in mind - apart from to cut down on rubbish and increase exercise.

Here's how it's going to work:

During the month of April, I will be eating no chocolate, no cakes, no crisps, no rubbish. I will reduce my meal portions. I will only drink water. I will go for a 1.5 mile bike ride twice a week - actually outdoors, on a real bike, and may even use my exercise bike mid-week. That's right, I said I MAY use it - steady as she goes and all that.

So that is my goal.

So on Monday, I tried my bike ride. It's just a short one really, as I said, 1.5 miles. It took me 11 minutes and 29 seconds. My heart rate peaked at 193. I don't know if that's good or bad, but, you know, 193.

So I'll keep you posted on my progress.

After April, I may start allowing treats, but April is the month to kick start my diet.
So far, I've already turned down lots of chocolate, and stopped myself from having treats. I had a banana, an apple and a carrot yesterday, and have got the same today - and I'm determined to eat them today.

So, roll on diet... and roll off... weight...

The Dieting Man