pianoker

Not that hard really.

First I had learned about my high cholesterol.
Then I started a healthier diet.
Most significantly, I started eating breakfast every day:
Oatmeal.
And also started eating salads, for lunch and dinner, and reduce intake of meat, cheese, etc.
And one day going to the convenience store to buy cigs after work, I suddenly decided to get chewing tobacco instead.
And a couple of month later I was off chewing tobacco as well.

I had been smoking for 20 years.
It is not that hard.

First, change your diet.
It is not hard to do.
I recommend the book “The Healthy Heart miracle” for that. Can gt it pennies used on amazon.
You will lose some weight.
Then quit smoking. Don’t make a big deal of it.
It is just one small step in your big plan of getting healthy.
You will gain most of the weight back.
Then start exercising. Even brisk walking helps.
Try the couch to 5k running program.
If you think you’re out of shape, you’ll be amazed at how fast you can get back into shape.
A few weeks and you turn into a hardass fitness monster.
Start a new hobby, such as playing an instrument, to fill out some of the time you normally would be smoking.
Cut down on partying for a while, since drinking makes you really want to have a cig. So no parties, for at least one month.

Nicotin is a hunger suppressant. If you crave, you’re really just thirsty or hungry. Keep low calory snacks around. Celery. Lots of Celery.
Bring celery to work, eat it night and day if necessary.
Don’t use dip. Dip is a calory bomb.

I finished my race on much better time than I had hoped for.

Last month before the race I was traveling and didn’t get to run much, ate too much, and drank way too much vodka and beer. Had only 3-4 days to get in shape and give the liver a short rest.

Just over half way through I thought I spotted a dunkin donuts, which meant that there is only some 5-600 yards to go, and I started my finishing kick. Flew by a bunch of people, but as I came closer, it turns out it was a convenience store, and I had no idea how much longer to goal. So I had to let all those folks pass me again.

I recovered and managed a decent finish, and my end time was 25 frikkin minutes and 45 wee seconds. Far out.

My friend who was shooting for closer to 20 minutes came it at 21 minutes and change, but he must have lost at least 30 seconds because they bungled the start. They race announcer said 3 minutes to start, but only 1 minute later the starter said ready steady go, so my friend who was not at the start line yet, had to bob and weave his way through the slow part of the field the first quarter mile or so.

It was a fun race, several hundred turkey trotters of all ages and sizes. I think I was one of the faster Clydesdales, and finished on 25:45.

Clydesdale is jargon for a heavy runner 190 pounds and above.