Tomorrow marks SIX months...

PBirkett

PBirkett

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SIX months that is, since the day I decided to knock the weed on the head.... so I just thought I'd give y'all an update on how its going.

Basically, looking back, its got to be the BEST thing I ever did, and can now look back on it and see it for what it was and what it did to me. I'd become a fat, lazy, unhealthy and unhappy individual.

OK, confession time. I've actually had a couple of tokes in the last six months. However, instead of soapy bar it was proper stuff, and like I say, just a couple of tokes. The last time was probably around 2 or 3 months ago. You can be assured I have no desire to go back to being a daily smoker. Nevertheless, on rare occaisions, if the occaision calls for it, I wont rule it out. I wont EVER go back to smoking daily, or even weekly or monthly. I am talking about once in a blue moon here. If I never had it again, I doubt it would bother me particularly.

So, whats changed in the last six months. Well I have I think. I am not completely there yet, but since stopping my motivation began to come back.

This has motivated me to try and get into shape a bit more. A couple of months ago I started walking every day.

My diet has improved immeasurably too. Before I would eat hardly any fruit and veg at all, and I was unhealthy and often ill. I now eat at least 5 fruit and veg a day, but more often than not, up to 10.

I've also cut aspartame out of my diet, and now rarely eat sweets and drink pop, just drink water now (or wine or vodka or beer).

As a result, I look healthier, feel happier, and have lost a stone, despite the fact I still drink like a fish.

So I can safely say, giving that **** up has been the best thing I ever did. :)
 
Congrats! I haven't drunk any alcohol for almost a week now. I feel just like I always did. I think I'll start drinking again soon! :D
 
Well done Paul. Not something easy I'm sure, but it's clearly something positive for you. Keep it up!
 
Well done. It must be really hard. I am a coke addict (the coca-cola kind) and I know it would be really hard to stop. Even needing 9 fillings a few months back hasn't stopped me.

I am also unhealthy although my mates have me down as a health freak because I never add salt to my chips and I always eat a banana a day :D
 
Thats really good Paul.

Eating healthily is very important in this context. Its easy now for you to become over enthusiastic and start on a crusade of weight loss. 1 stone over six months is sustainable and good. Your body is adjusting to its new lifestyle and importantly you have not shocked it. People make that mistake and if you go cold turkey on food then basically when you do eat, your body stores more of it just in case. Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a pauper ok?

I colleague of mine went for something entirely more drastic and lost 3 stone since Christmas. I warned her to her face that this was dangerous and she would be back to square one. Alas she is.

Be proud of you achievement and continue eating healthily, and do not concern yourself if weight loss slows up some.

One other tip, when I lost a significant amount of weight was in a time of my life when I did not worry or even think about it for four months.

Unfortunately not so lucky now, I could do with losing the stone you have haha.
 
Thanks Gary. The stone lost is over 2 months rather than 6, but still that represents about 1.5 - 2 lbs a week which still isnt too dramatic.

To be honest I dont look at it as a diet. To look at it that way is to set yourself up for failure I think... because just saying it like that does suggest you may return to your old ways - I dont plan to. This is more a permanent change for me. One day, my weight will level out... that will be my natural weight. Besides, I am a convert to the idea that your diet can affect your overall mood now - still not perfect but loads better than before.

I've not actually given up anything either really. I still have an occaisional can or glass of coke. I still have the odd chocolate biscuit. But I eat a LOT less of it now - only really touching that stuff when I really crave it (sometimes). Giving things up is for me just a way of putting extra and unnecessary pressure on myself.

I hope to lose about another stone to 1.5 stone. Any more than that would be too much to lose i reckon, and I would then be at my ideal weight of around 11.5 stone. Currently at just over 13 st. Was 14-odd when i started.
 
Nice one Paul, really pleased to hear its all going well for you. I think alot of people here felt it was maybe just a flash in the pan after your posts 6 months ago but its great to hear you've made such a big life change and that you're feeling better for it.
 
I gave up smoking (tobacco) for the nth time at around the same time as you made your change. I'm glad to hear you're making excellent progress. I've had the occasional drag like you, but that just reinforces me further when I feel the immediate effect on my body: sweating, jitteriness, elevated pulse rate, etc. and how much more difficult it is to run on that particular day. Mind you, I'd say never try it just to see how strong one's will power is. IME it isn't :)
 
yeah, my girlfriend and I have vowed to give up smoking when she moves in anyway...I don't smoke a great deal - maybe about 4-5 rollies a day...
 
Good one Paul. I have just cracked the 12 months as has my wife. I still get the odd craving but it goes away quickly. However, I have put on 3 stone and unlike you, I have not really made much effort to change my diet and lack of excercise. We have joined a gym but I find it very boring so don't go as often as I should.

Rod
 
rodrat said:
We have joined a gym but I find it very boring so don't go as often as I should.
Click to expand...

For the price of a year's gym membership you could buy a bicycle. Or a decent racquet and a year's worth of badminton or tennis club. There's all sorts of immeasurably more interesting ways to get exercise. Find one that isn't a chore like the gym, but where you're dying to get out there.

And once I've hung my laundry out, I'm going riding.
 
I want to buy a bike, I live very near Chorlton Meadows which is soon to be become an official nature reserve so it would be lovely to go riding there.

The problem is I have no where to store them, last time I had a bike it got knicked from the shed, although crime has fallen a lot round here.
 
23 miles later... I have sunburn. And a hole in my shin from meeting a rock. And I still want to go again.
 
I'd thought about getting a bike maybe eventually. I used to quite enjoy riding around... as for the gym, yeah i agree it does seem like a chore. I used to go swimming too. But thats a chore also - swimming backwards and forwards a load of times isnt my idea of fun!
 

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