2011 - Blue Pill or The Red?

As 2010 comes to a close and 2011 races towards us like an excited  puppy, it's time to take stock of our lives again and make those New Year Resolutions that will transform us into better, happier people!

I wonder how many times we have made resolutions with the very best of intentions and then not followed through and stuck to them? Quite a few I reckon.

The pressures of work, family, finances, January blues, etc always seem to give us those reasons, or excuses, to cast those Resolutions to the side with a:
"If it wasn't for....., I'd have been fine, BUT"

The magic 'BUT'!
Well, this year, how about we get rid of BUT's altogether?
- Cigarette 'BUT'ts
- Big 'BUT's
- Excuse 'BUT's
 

That's right - I mean it's time to:

"Stop smoking, Get in shape and Stop making excuses!"

BUT - You Can't Say That!!!

Despite being a bit tongue in cheek, I do mean it. It took me 13 years of smoking and getting unfit, unhealthy and overweight before I stopped making excuses and did something about it.

In March 2009, my blood pressure was high and my liver was damaged due to a sedentary lifestyle. Not any more!

I can't tell you how MUCH BETTER I feel for losing weight and stopping smoking.

You may be thinking,

"Yes, BUT I'm not a fitness freak and it's harder than you think to stop smoking, I've tried BUT I can't"

Erm, excuse me? That's what I used to say, to justify smoking and staying obese and getting dangerously unhealthy. I do know what it's like - I was there too, for years.

All it takes is a conscious decision.

One that you make with conviction and belief. One that you can enjoy taking and then seeing results from.

That's partly why I formed two groups for people like me who just needed a little helping hand, especially in the first few days and weeks.

Lose weight together.

I lost 14.5 lbs in 6 days. That's right, 14.5 lbs. After that, I lost another 14 lbs in the following three weeks and another 14 lbs in the following two months. 43 lbs altogether in three months. Since then, I have stayed the same weight and only hover a pound or two up or down. I can now eat what I like, because I am in control, I know when I need to be careful, when I can treat myself. If you've struggled to shift a few pounds, or feel you need a little help, go here and read up and join us for support.

Smoking Smoking Together. 

Aaarrgh! BUT it's impossible to stop....isn't it?!
No. It's not easy, but everyone can stop. You will need to get your head in the right place before you stop and make sure you surround yourself with positive support from those who know what you are going through. Then' you are ready and YOU CAN DO IT! Have a look at our positive support group for yourself. Read our members' experiences, share what's working and what's bothering you. You'll find out, you are not the only one going through it and that gives you strength. Stop smoking together.

For me, I've stopped smoking and lost weight already. My resolution is to help others go through the same journey I went through / am still going through. I can only do this once you've made your mind up about what you want...

So, what's it to be my friend...

BLUE PILL - "BUT I can't...."                RED PILL - "Count me in!"

Happy New Year - Stop Smoking

[SHARE ABOVE PLEASE, THANK YOU!]

Thought I'd drop an update here on my blog about stopping smoking.

I post most days on Stop Smoking Together to record my progress as i find it helps me to diarise the experience and share with others.

KICK THE HABIT!

Day 24 today - Christmas Eve.

I have been smoke free for more of 2010 than not, despite lapsing in August after 5 months of doing really well. A stupid decision to buy a pack on a long car journey and I was addicted again - just shows how powerful the nicotine is and how careful you have to be to guard against any moments of temptation or weakness.

I'm fine now, this time. It took me a while to get the mental side geared up for it, but when I set my date I stuck to it. The first two weeks are the toughest I found. Take each day as it comes and tick off another notch as you get through it smoke free. From Week 3 onwards it gets easier and easier, although you'll still get the odd craving here and there it isn't so tough to get past it.

I hope the website helps others who want to give up smoking, whether for New Year asd a Resolution or just whenever they make the decision. Please share the link if you know someone you'd like to help quit smoking - just send it to them and let them make their own mind up?

All the best everyone, here's to a fantastic 2011! 

STOP SMOKING TOGETHER

Gold and Bronze at the Welsh Champs

Having not been in the best shape recently I simply set out this morning to have a good time, meet my friends and enjoy the fun of the racing. Did that alright and still managed to take home two medals, love it!

2k - plan was to put in a sub-7 and just row by feel. I thought 6:49.9 may be there if I put myself in with a shout. Did the first 5 strokes with eyes shut and hard but not flat out, looked up to see I was up there with Pete Marston and Jon Goodall. Started to let the pace bleed off and it took a few hunndred meters before I settled into a race cruise at around 1:42 ish. Because of the start I was still below 1:40 as I passed 500m which took some pressure off. Relaxed and just stuck it on 1:43 and aimed to hold it until I felt like the end was near. Picked it up again from around 200m out I think. Didn't put in a flat out sprint as I had the 500m on my mind

1:39.8
1:43.2
1:43.2
1:40.2

6:46.8 - 1:41.6 - df99 - happy with that, confidence boost. Reckon sub 6:40 is there again when I want to put the effort in.

500m
Aimed to row a 1:23 which was about where I saw myself. didn't want to overcook it and blow so just settled into a sensible pace that I could manage. Was rating around 35-38 I think after a hardish start down to 1:13 and then gradually bleed back to 1:23-4 when the average pace had got down to 1:20.

250m - 1:21.8
250m - 1:23.8

500m - 1:22.9 - df 146 - Bronze

Happy to break 1:23 on race software again. Could probably have attacked it a bit more but I still wouldn't have had enough today to beat either of the Russians. Just pipped Matthew Vanstone into 4th by 0.2s. Sergei did 1:19.2, Evgeni did 1:20.9.

3000m sprint relay - 8:11 - 1:21.9 - Gold

I got invited to row with Sergie, Evgeni and Jon Goodall for the sprint Relay at the end of the afternoon. I jumped at the chance, despite having done a 2k and a 500m beforehand. We practiced upstairs and got the hang of the changeover with Niall holding the footstraps. By the time we went down to the arena they said that helpers were not allowed so we had to get used to doing the straps ourselves which made it a little harder.

The plan was 10 hard strokes and swap. We should do 11 rotations with around 36 seconds rest each, each time. Jon and I aimed for around 1:16-18 and Sergei and Evgeni did whatever they felt comfortable with. We all managed to keep within 1:14 and 1:19 for the most part and didn't fade too much it's just the changeovers where we lost a little time.

at the end:





Well done to TAF ATTACK for grabbing Silver by about a second ahead of the Bronze team in a nail biting finish - awesome.

Great day - lots of friends caught up with and a few more new ones made, you have to love our sociable sport!