A New Year, A New Start!

So 2010 is finally upon us. My New Year’s resolution is to finally get myself fit again. For 11-years I’ve been sat on my arse working morning, noon and night, 7-days-a-week and as a result I’ve piled the weight on.

I used to do the gym 5-days-a-week and who’d have thought that I was once in the army, albeit briefly as I was medically discharged due to a problem with my hip. My plan was to do several years in the army and then come out and follow my dream of becoming a police officer. The hip problem changed everything. My career, where I lived and so on. However I really do believe that things happen in life for a reason and there’s no way I’d change any of it. I love where I live, I love the work I choose to do and I’m happy. But the weight is an issue.

People tell you to exercise but when your work is news-based you can’t afford to spend long away from the internet and the iphone incase something breaks. To make it even more difficult, when you work 12 to 18 hours every day, you’re too tired at the end of the day to even consider anything other than bed.

I have seen a gradual decline in my health over the years. I have developed sleep apnea, I have to control my blood pressure via medication and within the last few months I am now testing my sugar levels to try and prevent diabetes. This is all caused as a result of finding little time to take care of yourself. Throw in a divorce and the normal pressures of life that everyone has to endure and it leaves you with little motivation… until now!

Just because you’re overweight doesn’t mean you eat like a pig. My downfall has been Pepsi, eating irregular and at my desk but more significantly, no exercise. The gym has gone and I no longer play football. I like a pint like any other bloke but I don’t drink that often so I can knock the cider on the head with ease. But I don’t think I need to.

I’m not going on a diet, I’m changing my lifestyle. And it’s not the only aspect of my life I am changing in this new year. I’m dumping all negativity that is around me and surrounding myself only by people who make me happy. I have made 2010 the year of no moaning bastards, so if you have nothing good to say, do us both a favour and f*ck off. I’m not interested in anyone’s gossip or drama and I’m certainly not interested in anyone who feels sorry for themselves when I have a cousin parlaysed from the chest down.

To help get myself in shape I’ve purchased a Nike+ sensor that works with the iPhone. Basically this little sensor fits in your trainer and records your walking/running activity. The iPhone records the data and then transmits it to Nike when you sync with iTunes. I suppose it’s aimed at runners but the reality is you’ve got to start somewhere and Nike know  this so they have walk to run programmes that you can participate in and it’s all free.

Now I could run if I had to but it wouldn’t be for long and it would be dangerous. Gone of the days are running the 3000 and 1500 metres when I was a teenager! These days I only run when I see an ice cream van!

At the moment I’m just going on short walks around the block with the dog. Nothing spectacular to someone who is fit but when you’ve sat on your arse for 11 years and get bored at walking across the living room, this is quite a big step for me.

I decided to make my efforts public knowing that people who don’t like me will poke fun at me and be nasty etc. Now I can handle those muppets so that doesn’t concern me. What I thought is it would make me more determined to show an increase (hopefully) over the year.

Anyway, friend or foe, you can monitor my progress here:

http://my.nike.com/DuncanOldham

I really have a good year about 2010 and not just because I hope to get msyelf back in shape. I dread every year as it’s usually the same shit with just different digits in the date but this year I firmly believe it’s gonna be the best year ever for me. Having said that I will probably keel over dead tomorrow!

2010 for me is about going back to my roots and re-discovering the real Duncan. I’m very, very happy right now, the happiest I’ve been for a long time. That’s because I’m focused on something that I want very much and if you know me, you’ll know that I always get what I want.