New regime (2008/2009)

[Colossus]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Today starts a new regime for me. I've decided to chronicle my efforts in here, more for myself as a way to blog my progress, and to remind myself how I was feeling at certain times during the process, and I'll explain why.

Soome of you guys know how I've been feeling recently. I've suffered for over a year with anxiety attacks, heart palpatations and high blood pressure, and over the course of the past week or so, I've become more and more fed up with how I feel and how I look, and I've had enough.

Thankfully cutting out caffeine has seen the anxiety attacks subside. I still get the odd one, and I still get some palpatations (more of that later), but the way I've been feeling of late has just brought me down and this came to a head recently.

I always feel bloated, almost like there's a blockage in my system somewhere. Usually a good fart, or other relieves me of this feeling, but its not good. I feel like theres a football stuck in my stomach. I bought a Jason Vale book, and after reading some of the statistics in there, its made me realise that I need to change my entire lifestyle.

After playing 4 rounds of golf the other week in Donegal I was fecked, completely. I didn't like feeling like that, but I had no problem playing golf those 4 days. It was the drive back to the hotel afterwards, or the drive home on the Friday that I felt wretched.

Also recently my back has been giving me more and more bother. I've been to physio twice the past two weeks, and I'm going to have to go back sometime this week. I wake up inthe morning in agony, half crippled, and at times have to sit on the edge of my bed for 30 minutes before even trying to stand up, such is the pain. Its brought me nearly to tears at times.

Also sitting outside the clubhouse the other day, I happened to look at myself in the window, and hated what I saw staring back at me. I was disgusted.

For a while I've also hated smoking. I mean REALLY hated, but still I do it. God only knows why, cos I certainly don't. I've tried to quit many many times the past year, but still I puff away, and this time I want to quit.

So what have I done about it?

Well. Before I headed to Donegal, I took a day to go around several gyms in town, around the time I'd be interested in going, just to get a feel for the places, see who's there, see what they have, and see how many people are in the place at that time. I eventually settled on one, and got the forms to sign up.

On my return from Donegal I booked in for an induction session, which I attended on Thursday, and was pleasently surprised at how long I lasted on the machines, how few people used the gym at that time of day, and the fact that there is a few people from the golf club who go, and everyone is so helpful and friendly. So I paid my subs.

I had bought Nicoteen gum before Donegal, but have only decided to quit today, and have been quite surprised that as of yet, I haven't used the gum, but its there should I need it.

I have a Doctor's appointment on Monday to get my blood pressure and weight checked, and lately have had both the doctor and the practice nurse on my case, so at least this time I can tell them I have joined a gym.

I then go back to the gym on Tuesday for a fitness and health assessment, they'll take my BP, weight, work out my body mass index, put me on a machine to see how much I can do, and work out a 6 week plan that they want me to stick to, then go back after 6 weeks and do the same thing again to chart my progress and make changes to the plan, if needed. Then on Wednesday the serious work starts.

I also sent Mum shopping this morning to get a juicer, and am going to try and cut out all fizzy drinks and shit foods etc, and drink more water.

While playing golf this morning, I'd forgotten just how wet our course can get during the winter, and its no fun trudging about in the muck and shite, so this year, I'll have two ddays golf/practice, a day at the range probably, and 4 days at the gym, and have given myself almost 8 months to get myself ready for next season. 1st May 2009, and I hope to be ready to attack my handicap.

Tonight in work, I think my body gave me a sign that its ready for this. I get the odd palpatation, the type where the heart beats twice in quick succession, then gives a big beat, making you feel like its missed a beat. Well tonight I had one where the big beat felt like someone had thumped my in the chest. Scared the feck out of me that did. There was no pain, no tightness, so I'm not overly worried about it, but it sent a chill through my whole body, so I'm more determined than ever to do it right this time.

I also have a lot of people to prove wrong this time, and I intend to do so.

I'll weigh in tomorrow morning after I get up, and post the results, but I'm looking at an overall loss of 5 stone. I need to get that much off at least. I'm not hoping to lose it all in 8 months, and I don't really care if it takes 2 years, but it needs to shift.

Plus, it can only be good for my game.

Feel free to reply at any stage, leave feedback if you want, and come in and keep up to date with my progress, but this is more for me to catalogue various thoughts, changes, weight shifts etc, to remind myself of what I went through at various stages.

If you've read this far, thanks for listening. If you're siting there thinking, yeah yeah, I read that last year. Well, I'll be going all out to prove ye wrong this time. :tongue:

[callyman]

Right Col you have to chime in once a week with feedback on how its going and no missing out. If your doing well we'll all support you if you cheat except a hard time.

Can I give you one suggestion as I to would like to loose a little weight (I'm only 11st but only 5'6") I have played a lot of golf with out Jnr section and they are all hitting the gym. I feel that they drag me along and give me the drive i need and have given me lots of enthusiasm, given that i'm 48 I think that i owe them a lot.

PS they hate smokers I gave up some time ago and I would never go back

Good luck Col I'm sure were all behind you

[Colossus]

Right Col you have to chime in once a week with feedback on how its going and no missing out. If your doing well we'll all support you if you cheat except a hard time.

Can I give you one suggestion as I to would like to loose a little weight (I'm only 11st but only 5'6") I have played a lot of golf with out Jnr section and they are all hitting the gym. I feel that they drag me along and give me the drive i need and have given me lots of enthusiasm, given that i'm 48 I think that i owe them a lot.

PS they hate smokers I gave up some time ago and I would never go back

Good luck Col I'm sure were all behind you

Cheers, thanks for that. I intend to update at least once a week, and like I say, any time I have thoughts that I want recorded. I'm hoping when I come back and read what I wrote along the way, it will spur me on to keep at it, and keep going. Its going to take a lot of work, but it'll be worth it.

[Nick Davis]

Its a brave thing to do to face up to the situation and sometimes even braver to actually make the lifestyle changes to do something about it....its very easy to sit back in "denial" and continue as you were before.

I wish you all the very best.

[SBL]

Well done Col, you've faced up to the problems and decided to change it all.
Best of look with it and as Callyman says, give us a weekly update so we know how things are progressing.

[Foxholer]

All the best Col.

Brave way to do it, but sounds like it'll make a huge difference to your life.

Don't expect it to have instant results and there's sure to be times when you'll think it's having the opposite effect to what you want - Monty stuffed up his swing once when he lost a load of weight quickly - and you'll continue to feel as if you have no stamina for a while. Sounds like it's what needs to happen long term though.

Take it 'easy' to start with though.

That first post makes a great 'marker' to remind yourself why you are doing it, if you ever need to have some reinforcement. Keep the log and good luck! Measure your success in the amount you are spending on new clothes!

Ross

[Tin Pot]

If you can apply the same patience and commitment as you have with golf, I see no reason for you fail in this endeavour.

Bon chance.

[M-Grind]

Good luck Col.:)

I'm doing the same, just not as on a major scale. I'm sick and tired of being 'fat' and think now is the right time to make the change!

I've been going to the gym for 2 weeks now. 1st week was tough but i stuck it out and came away 4lbs lighter.:D

This week hasn't been so good, i've drunk far too many fizzy drinks and ate the wrong things. About to do a meal plan with my mum, who's a chef so that will help me and stick to it. Is tempting to just go for the easy stuff though isn't it?

Best advice i can offer regarding gym work is purely, mix it up! It get very tedious doing the same stuff every day. So i now try and mix it around, use different machines and that.

Good luck big fella.

I'll see you around 11/12 stone mark by April. ;)

Mike.

[shanker]

Best of luck Col.
Sounds like you have set achievable targets and a decent timetable. Most of things fail (in my experience anyway) because immediate results are expected.
Stick with it and you'll reap the benefits.

[Colossus]

Cheers guys. Really means a lot to me, and I'll keep you all updated. I weighed in this morning at 19st 6lbs, so thats a half decent starting base. I guess my overall target has to be around the 14st mark, but even getting to 15st will be a major success.

I've set that as my long term goal, but my short term target is a couple of pounds every week/fortnight, and every 7lbs is my aim, so I'm only looking to lose small amounts at a time.

Two years ago at my heaviest, I was 24st 4lbs, and had managed to get to 18st 10lbs by the start of the season, and I kinda lost my way the past year instead of building on that success. The past few months I've gradually got down from just under 21st to where I am now, with little or no exercise, so I hope for big things in the future.

Another reason for doing this, is the fact that I'll be 35 in two weeks time, and if I don't do it now, I probably never will. There is a lot of things in life I still want to do, and I want to live long enough to do these things.

Call it a mid life crisis, or just a realisation, but I can't wait to start this next chapter.

[M-Grind]

A mid life crisis would be buying excessive golf gear... oh, wait a minute.:p

[Colossus]

A mid life crisis would be buying excessive golf gear... oh, wait a minute.:p

:laugh: But what is excessive? :wink:

[Colossus]

Not long back from the Doctors, and my blood pressure has sky rocketed again. Weight has stayed constant since previous check up, but I've been put on another tablet for the BP problem. I'm just really fed up right now. Between this and the course being closed AGAIN (:mad:) it now means that I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and getting into the gym and get my training programme sorted.

I can't see too much golf being played this week, so I reckon I've made the right choice for the Winter period, and opted for the gym instead of trudging round a wet, mucky, sh1t hole of a course and getting miserable about it.

Bring on Summer 2009, its bound to be better than the last two years. :(

[hotbaws]

Col,

I wish you the very best of luck mate! I'll be following your blog with a keen interest, and it'll be more important to postup when your having a hard time as it's them someone maybe offer some advise or even some encouragement that will spur you on.

I'm in the same boat as you at about 19 and a half stone but I'm fortunate (if you can say that) as I'm quite tall at 6'1" and have a large'ish frame so tend to carry the weight off a little better but still it's far too much. With our twins arriving in 4 weeks it really puts things in perspective and I'm trying to lose some weight too and have been following the weight watchers plan for a week know and even completed a Charity cycle yesterday from Glasgow to Edinburgh 58 miles all in, hard but very worth while. Just need to get a battery for our scales so I know exactly what I weight and can see how I get on too.

Again all the best and if you need someone in the same boat to chat to PM me

Cheers
Gary

[Colossus]

Col,

I wish you the very best of luck mate! I'll be following your blog with a keen interest, and it'll be more important to postup when your having a hard time as it's them someone maybe offer some advise or even some encouragement that will spur you on.

I'm in the same boat as you at about 19 and a half stone but I'm fortunate (if you can say that) as I'm quite tall at 6'1" and have a large'ish frame so tend to carry the weight off a little better but still it's far too much. With our twins arriving in 4 weeks it really puts things in perspective and I'm trying to lose some weight too and have been following the weight watchers plan for a week know and even completed a Charity cycle yesterday from Glasgow to Edinburgh 58 miles all in, hard but very worth while. Just need to get a battery for our scales so I know exactly what I weight and can see how I get on too.

Again all the best and if you need someone in the same boat to chat to PM me

Cheers
Gary

Cheers Gary, it really means a lot. I think at the moment, I can't get much lower to be honest, and very few people really understand what it feels like. I'll be 35 in less than 2 weeks, and I really need to make this change. This morning has just made me all the more determined now.

[SBL]

Cheers Gary, it really means a lot. I think at the moment, I can't get much lower to be honest, and very few people really understand what it feels like. I'll be 35 in less than 2 weeks, and I really need to make this change. This morning has just made me all the more determined now.

Col, don't get angry, get even.
It's all one way from here and that's down:eek: in weight and handicap I mean :smile:

You've made the decision to make a change, you've told the World so nowhere to hide now. Time to cheer up as it's only going to get better and good on you. :wink:

[McStumpy]

I like your attitude in the initial post, sounds to me like you've had a lasting epiphany - good luck.

[Colossus]

I like your attitude in the initial post, sounds to me like you've had a lasting epiphany - good luck.

Cheers Al.

[Colossus]

Today I had my fitness assessment at the gym, and had my first program drawn up. We went over what I had done in previous gyms, and decided on a new approach. I won't bore you with the details, but I spend 45 minutes on cardio, and a further 30 minutes on light weights, core strength exercises and stretches. Each day I'll either try to up the amount I do, or up the pace at which I do them, but so far I feel feckin fantastic. I can't wait to get back there tomorrow and get stuck in again.

Plus I had time to get 9 holes in after I'd finished in the gym, and shot 1 under for the 9, 1 birdie and 8 pars, even drove the 1st green leaving me a 10 foot putt for eagle. Happy days. :D

[hotbaws]

Today I had my fitness assessment at the gym, and had my first program drawn up. We went over what I had done in previous gyms, and decided on a new approach. I won't bore you with the details, but I spend 45 minutes on cardio, and a further 30 minutes on light weights, core strength exercises and stretches. Each day I'll either try to up the amount I do, or up the pace at which I do them, but so far I feel feckin fantastic. I can't wait to get back there tomorrow and get stuck in again.

Plus I had time to get 9 holes in after I'd finished in the gym, and shot 1 under for the 9, 1 birdie and 8 pars, even drove the 1st green leaving me a 10 foot putt for eagle. Happy days. :D

Great to hear Col.

And remember the body secrets hormones during and after exercise which will make you happy, so good all round!

[PowerPenguin]

Today I had my fitness assessment at the gym, and had my first program drawn up. We went over what I had done in previous gyms, and decided on a new approach. I won't bore you with the details, but I spend 45 minutes on cardio, and a further 30 minutes on light weights, core strength exercises and stretches. Each day I'll either try to up the amount I do, or up the pace at which I do them, but so far I feel feckin fantastic. I can't wait to get back there tomorrow and get stuck in again.

Plus I had time to get 9 holes in after I'd finished in the gym, and shot 1 under for the 9, 1 birdie and 8 pars, even drove the 1st green leaving me a 10 foot putt for eagle. Happy days. :D

Great news Col, and that last para is just madness! :spinny:

[Colossus]

So first week of the new regime is over, and I've found it easier than I first thought I would. Since quitting the smokes last Saturday, I've had one piece of nicoteen gum last Sunday, and I've managed to stay off both the cigs and the gum since. I struggled a bit on Thursday when I went out to play 18 holes and came off after 9, but I played 18 today and not a craving, so thats good. Although a mate has returned home from a two week cruise and has handed me a present of 200 Silk Cut, only to be disappointed when he heard I'd been off them a week, but I've found a new home for them so temptation is away. Only problem is, I could eat like a horse now.

I've also been to the gym four times this week, and I have to say I am really enjoying it, more so than I thought I would. I've managed to start pushing myself that wee bit more each time I go, and start working up a real sweat, so I'll be working on my fitness more over the winter, than I will my golf. I've decided that I'll play golf Monday, go to the gym Tuesday and Wednesday as well as a bit of practice (weather permitting), play on Thursday, and back to the gym Friday morning with a bit of practice/play (weather permitting) in the afternoon, play Saturday and practice Sunday.

My swing recently has gone to pot as I try to compensate for aches and pains I have in my back, so I also intend to book a series of lessons with a decent pro/coach early in the new year and take my swing back to scratch and work hard on rebuilding it.

Just two more big matches to go this year, Rossmore Cup final, away leg 28th September and home leg 5th October, after that the golf takes a back seat for a while.

Weekly weigh in tomorrow morning, so will update then.

[Gord]

Good luck Col. I think that you're taking on two of the hardest things to do in life. When people say that quitting smoking is harder than getting off smack, I believe them. In my experience it was incredibly difficult! And losing weight is just as hard. Personally I'm getting nowhere on the Challenge Nick Davis front :rolleyes:. It's so difficult to lose a few pounds and keep them off. I really respect you for your honesty and for the effort you're making. The BP thing is concerning - you need to do this for your health, big time. We're all rooting for you! And I think most of us understand how tough the challenge is. Diet and exercise, buddy. Diet and exercise.
I wonder if you've considered the Atkins diet, btw. My brother in law had a weight problem - he was about 120kg - and he had a dramatic result from Atkins. He got down to around 90 within a few months. But I know it's not for everyone and has controversial aspects. But it might be worth at least reading a book on?

Best of luck! :)

[SBL]

If you want to lose weight try the Slimming World one (courtesy of my wife I hasten to add).
So far it's just shy of 3 weeks and I'm down a stone and to be honest, it's not a struggle at all.

[Colossus]

If you want to lose weight try the Slimming World one (courtesy of my wife I hasten to add).
So far it's just shy of 3 weeks and I'm down a stone and to be honest, it's not a struggle at all.

I've heard good things about it Neil. There's a slimming world attached to the gym I'm a member of. Might give it a try.

Weighed in this morning, and down 2lbs. Didn't expect a big movement just yet anyway, so I'm not too worried.

[Yanner]

Good no you Col, it's not easy but it is worth it.

I'm 5-ish stone down from my top weight and running a marathon in 4 weeks time. Its taken 5 years to be at my current 14st and be comfortable at it, I'd loose a couple of stone, put one back on and then yo-yo around a bit. I'm still about a stone away from my target weight but getting the balance right between having the energy for the gym and still loosing weight slowly is quite tricky.

My only advice on eating that worked for me is that if your hungry then eat but make it hard for yourself, no easy quick snacks. Make yourself get the juicer out, peel the carrots, squeeze a proper lemon not something out of a bottle and then juice the carrots. All the extra time that this takes often takes the edge off your hunger.

And don't forget, you'll have days when you fall off the wagon food wise, don't go to the gym etc. Don't worry, just start over again and stick to the life style change, it will become second nature if you keep going back to it enough.

I'm off to run 6 miles now after doing 20 miles yesterday. If you'd said that to me when I was 19st sitting watching Sky all day and eating Indian take-away (student life!) I'd have laughed so hard I would have choked so if I can do it no reason you can't.

[Colossus]

I woke up this morning with the best of intentions to get down the gym and carry on from where I left off last Thursday. I'd struggled through yesterday with muscle tightness and a sore back the past few days, but thought I'd be ok this morning. Boy was I wrong. :(

My alarm went off at 9am, and at 10.15am, with my alarm still going off, Mum stuck her head round the door to see was I not going to get up and turn off my alarm. Only problem was, I couldn't move. At all. My back had near enough seized, and there was NO WAY I was going to go to the gym the way I felt. A scalding hot shower eased my back a bit, and I rang my physio to see if he could take me today, which thankfully he could.

After almost an hour with him this afternoon, he told me there was fair amount of inflammation around the thoracic spine area, and i told him about starting at the gym again. After listening to what all I've been doing, he reckoned that I've been pushing the weights a wee bit, and since not going to the gym since Thursday, everything has started to tighten up, and with rib cage and chest being so close to the thoracic spine, theres not a lot of room, and any inflammation would make that whole area feel tight. To be honest, I'd started to worry, as I was even experiencing discomfort while swallowing. I've had this feeling before, but can't recall exactly when. Maybe its all part of the same thing.

Anyway, I'm sick and tired of getting up in the morning with a sore back, and feeling like shit, so I'm glad I've started this now. If it means a bit of discomfort at the start, so be it. It can only get easier.

In the meantime, I'll be heading to the gym tomorrow, and making up for lost ground, although I think I'll leave off the weights for a while, and I'm back to the physio on Friday to try and get the current problem with my back sorted. Hopefully that will set me up will for the 1st leg of the Rossmore Cup final this Sunday.

[bunkerhill]

You know what Col.. you came very close to getting your hands on the Carlsberg this year. I KNOW that you will get your weight turned around and I know you can play good golf. I know you fitness will play a big part in getting even closer to winning the Carlsberg 2009.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT... So does MR Haribo, The Taxman, Mr Jiggins even Mr Formby I told him about your great shooting and is interested in seeing you play...So NO pressure then..Anyhow get your good lady to drive the VRs around the town while you run along side it..:tongue: see ya later..

[Colossus]

You know what Col.. you came very close to getting your hands on the Carlsberg this year. I KNOW that you will get your weight turned around and I know you can play good golf. I know you fitness will play a big part in getting even closer to winning the Carlsberg 2009.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT... So does MR Haribo, The Taxman, Mr Jiggins even Mr Formby I told him about your great shooting and is interested in seeing you play...So NO pressure then..Anyhow get your good lady to drive the VRs around the town while you run along side it..:tongue: see ya later..

Cheers Paul for making realise that this has seen the skids since getting back in the dating game. :)

To date I have lost a further half a stone, but haven't been to the gym in over a week. Gotta get that sorted again. Back to the gym on Wednesday with me. ;)

[Stuarty1234]

Cheers Paul for making realise that this has seen the skids since getting back in the dating game. :)

To date I have lost a further half a stone, but haven't been to the gym in over a week. Gotta get that sorted again. Back to the gym on Wednesday with me. ;)

Maybe you have lost half a stone because you are doing a bit other exercise (if you know what i mean):tongue::eek::rolleyesw:

[Foxholer]

Maybe you have lost half a stone because you are doing a bit other exercise (if you know what i mean):tongue::eek::rolleyesw:

Good for the lower back too apparently! :rolleyesw:

Ross

[Colossus]

Maybe you have lost half a stone because you are doing a bit other exercise (if you know what i mean):tongue::eek::rolleyesw:

:laugh: The weight had come off before I started seeing her Stu. Maybe I'll lose a lot more in the next few weeks then. :wink: