1610.01 AUDIOHYPNO

Before I start I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words regarding my last couple of posts. I am feeling much better now, I know I've a long way to go and this isn't the last time I go to that dark place. For now I must get on with life and that's what I intend to do.

A couple of weeks ago Morticia visited a hypnotist with some friends with a view to losing a few pounds. She came away with a recording to play at night. I'm not an expert in such things but I've heard of these subliminal suggestion techniques but never had any experience of such things.

She started playing the recording before sleeping and of course this was the last thing I heard before sleeping. It was a woman telling her (and I guess me) to breath and relax, I'd be asleep before I heard anymore. I've no idea of the exact content of the recording.

On the days that followed I noticed I was snacking less and generally keeping within my calorie intake goals. I'm not actually on any sort of diet, I just like to monitor my food intake. Snacking has always been my biggest problem.

Then I had my 'blip' and Morticia didn't play the recording for a few days. I'm not sure if it's my mental well being or the absence of the recording but I've started to hit the Doritos pretty hard.

My Nemesis

There are too many variables to understand whether the hypnosis recording is having an effect or not but I do think it's worth more study. Morticia resumed playing the recording last night.

1601.23 CHUNKY MONKEY

Since Christmas I've pretty much let myself go, eating pretty much whatever is not good for me. Add the fact that Morticia and I have been getting out together more (which is wonderful) it all adds up. My cycling commute is a considerably shorter since I moved workplace last August so the opportunity to burn off the excess just isn't there like it was. 

So I find myself looking down at a bit of a developing gut which has to go... 

1401.13 RECOVERY TIME

Since my accident back in November the only thing on my mind has been my recovery which is plodding along steadily.

I'm back at work on restricted duties playing it by ear. I've started physio at Rotherham General Hospital which is quite painful but I know to be necessary. I have quite a lot of exercises to complete.

Obviously there is no cycling. This coupled with the excesses of the previous season means that I feel that I'm banging on a bit of weight. I'm considering dusting off our old exercise bike that serves as a clothes horse (before anyone suggests it I can't afford a turbo trainer) to get through some virtual miles.

1204.28 TURNING POINT

I've hinted before about some of the dark times we as a family have been through over the last few years. Recently I find it has been hitting me hard, although I've done my best to hide the effects I can no longer afford to keep kidding myself. Comfort eating, laziness and general apathy cannot continue. Even my cycling has dropped off to bare minimum. My weight has increased although I'm not near my heaviest if things don't change then it won't be long. Also my family history means I have to watch myself, weight gain could be fatal and I need to take that more seriously instead of putting it off until 'tomorrow'. Today needs to be my turning point. I've done it before, I can do it again... 

1001.31 PLOT? WHAT PLOT?

Ok, anyone reading the last entry might be forgiven in thinking what the picture has to do with the text. This, my friends illustrates my point exactly. I was supposed to go on about how I'd indulged over the Christmas period and now because of all the stress I am under I am comfort eating, topping that the bad weather (and time off work to look after Morticia) mean less cycling, I am worried about gaining weight. I'm not fat, never have been (although I started to get chunky on the latter years of my bus driving) but it does seem to run in my family.

I also wanted to mention that my downfall as most people know are crisps, especially chilli flavoured Doritos. I can't help myself, they are just so handy and flavourful.

I have to some extent managed to replace the snack with another less fattening one; Rivita crispbreads and Marmite. Mmmmmmm! The cycling seems to have started to get back into full swing again so maybe I shouldn't worry. *Sigh!* Don't think I will though.

0901.10 CHRISTMAS FALLOUT

The festive season is well behind us now. It's time we deal with the damage. There are the bills to pay and of course most of us (me included) will be carrying a little bit of extra weight. Luckily I'm not up too much but the podge is there and must be removed.

My best solution is some extra mileage on the bike, all well and good but it's bloody freezing at the moment and the conditions are a little dodgy to say the least. My mileage is going to be up on December's (I believe) but they'll be no real major rides this month. I'm back on the Push-ups programme and I've just joined a similar sit ups programme too.

A lot of people join gyms at this time of year, I'm not keen on the places and think you can achieve the same (or even better) results at home.

You can follow my fitness progress at Dailymile.com.