A New Year, A New Me

A New Year, A New Me - how often have you heard that or seen it written online?

This would be true for me though. After maintaining peak weight for 6 months last year, things went pear-shaped when I quit smoking.

So time for a change.

After maintaining peak weight for 6 months last year, things went pear-shaped when I quit smoking.

So time for a change.



To say "a new me" may be a bit unrealistic. For example I started the initial 20 week weight loss program back in 2015 and set these goals and lost 15kg.

Then there was the start of 2016 where I was about the weight I am now and decided to really knuckle down and try to shed more weight. I ended up losing about 7kg and maintaining it for the rest of the year and into 2017 too.

However, I knew that it would be a constant fight, so the real battle begins again. Here are a few of the steps I'm taking to get my weight back down.

Ramping Up the Life Changing Habits

1. Eating (better & less)
2. Moving (more)
3. Breathing (harder)

I probably sound like a broken record, but these are the main factors I believe have contributed to my weight gain. I have been eating more partially due to the removal of the appetite suppressor (cigarettes) and lack of exercise due to motivate and not even walking that much any more.

New Me - Vegetarian

As part of the transition away from the over indulgences (especially at Christmas) I decided to cut meat from my diet. I am toying with the idea of going the "whole hog", so to speak, and trying veganism but for now I'm just no meat.

With the experimentation of new recipes the first 2 weeks of January haven't been that successful with the weight loss - only about 1,5 kg. But I am sure over time the gentle 0,5 kg target will be achievable.

New Me - Dry January

But only January.

I hate it. I really miss the odd glass of red wine. I think the initial weight loss was due primarily to this however I hope that the continued dry period and more wet meals (i.e. soups) the weight should continue to drop off.

I will also try to fill up with some of these 15 food that you can eat without a conscience. (more on this coming on 22nd January).

New Me - Exercise Daily

Weight loss is perhaps not the main factor this time around. I have made a concerted effort to exercise. Last time around, I focused mainly on reaching 10 000 steps per day. So walking was really my only movement.

I did dabble with the home gym back in 2016 but I was lazy and unmotivated. But further research into diet, and especially the mathematics of weight loss, I decided that in 2018 I would incorporate exercise into the whole diet / lifestyle thing.

Now I've started again to do my "core" exercises every other day as before but on the off days I have added a warm-up and some gentle abs work-out. This requires no equipment and I definitely feel the burn ... it makes me breath hard!!!

I have also set myself the target of getting to 100 push ups by the end of the diet period. Let's see. I'm aiming to add 10 on to my best every week.

So if I don't actually get to my weight target but lose a couple of notches on my belt buckle I will be happy.

A New Year - A New You?

So, partly a new year's resolution, partly the grim realisation that I was approaching the reasons why I tried to lose weight in the first place (albeit at 10 kg lighter starting point) my lifestyle is changing again - hopefully for the better!

How has your year been so far? Any resolutions or habit changes?