Sweet tea and apathy . . .
Ha! Just discovered I can't add to an entry I've already published. I also failed to spell check that last one so the errors will remain forevermore!
Where was I? Ah, yes, my 5 year plan. The answer to which vice would kill me first is . . . fat! Being overweight was more likely to kill me, statistically, than smoking or drinking. Followed by smoking, followed by drinking. This beingth case, I mapped out my plan:
YEAR 1: Diet. Choose a low fat diet that llows for plenty of treats (I chose WeightWatchers - a client of mine goes there so I accompany him weekly).
After 2 months, establish an exercise regieme that doesn't scare the hell out of you, kill you or expect too much of your time. (I decided to do regular exercise every weekday in my own home - streches, push-ups, sit-ups, running on the spot, star-jumps - primary school stuff, you know? (Understand, I haven't 'exercised' for a good 15 years) The BEST thing I did is get my two young kids to exercise with me. They love it, so now, even if I have had an awful day and am absolutely knackered, one of the first things my kids do when I get home is 'Daddy, Daddy! Exercises, Daddy!!!'. Wow, that helps!)
YEAR 2: Aim to reach chosen weight (12.5st, still above the BMI 'ideal' weight - but I'd look plainly absurd at 11st 9lbs) by June, July and then . . . CONSOLIDATE!!!!! Keep to that weight, preparing yourself for the next big one . . .
YEAR 3: Give up smoking. (I think I'll do it properly this time - Doctor's, patches, yadda yadda. I Have been smoking for 17 of my 30 years, save for three months when I gave up a few years ago.)
Ensure I maintain my weight loss while giving up smoking - do this by attending WeightWatchers regularly - even if only to remind myself to keep off the crisps!!
YEAR 4: Take up a sport. (This is great one this. Me? Doing something sporty? Hmmm. I mulled over the idea of Snooker or Bar Billiards. I'm pretty good at Poker. But, just around the corner from me there is a thriving Rugby club - I've got friends there, attend the annual ball, do the quizzes, I just don;t do that 'playing' thing. It was the only sport I tollerated at school - I even made it onto the School Team for a couple of matches (There were six teams, I was in the sixth - and they were desperate) - so, Rugby Union it is. Ah, imagine it, halcyon days of mud-splattered faces, broken bones and a thriving drinking culture . . . which leads me onto . . . )
YEAR 5: Cut down my alcohol intake by half. (Recommended maximum in 20/21 units a week for men. I consume roughly 35 units a week, so if I aim for, say, 18 units a week, that's alright, isn't it? I like a drink. I think there were times when I was younger that I could have easily become an alcoholic, but those days are past. I don't drink beer, in fact I pretty much only drink Vodka and Soda. I think if I establish an appreciated of fine wine, that might be my get-out clause on this one. However, ordering a glass of Pinot Grigiot in the bar after a game of Rugby might lool a little odd? Ah well, plenty of time to think on it . . . .
So - there it is - my 5 year plan to add 30 years to my life. It doesn't sound such a huge undertaking when broken down like this. And I've made considerable progress so far. I started my diet on Jan 1st when I weighed in at 18st 4lbs. I am now 16st 3lbs - a loss of 29lbs. I am 3lbs off being my lowest adult weight (since 18). I have cut out almost all caffiene and I feel so damn good. I'm discovering bones and muscles where I didn; know they existed and I am NOT constantly hungry. Though there are days, my word there are days. Days when you need sweet tea and sympathy (not forthcoming from any quarter -should I be suprised) and days when you just don;t care less - rare, so far.
I have to remind myself, this isn't some masochistic, caustic diversion. Nor is it a flash in the pan. This is about my family, my work - most of all, me.
JUST SO YOU KNOW . . . this isn't going to be some self-obsessed blog about my five year plan. I can't think of many things more mind-numbingly boring than that. This is just where my blog went today . . . where it goes next time, I have no idea . . .