I can’t believe it is the 10th January already, where is the month going? I’ve been back in work for a week and it feels like I have never had a break! It certainly made me think, following my weight loss and diet goals post, it is time I made some small but real changes to be the best person I can be. And for me that goes beyond diet and weight loss because as we all know, getting to our goal weights does not guarantee happiness.
2014 saw me do some things that were totally out of my comfort zone. I ran a 5km and got covered in paint, I drove in America and I embarked on another course to develop my professional skills. Running this blog has allowed me to do some of the most amazing things that I would never normally have the chance to do but there are things I have declined due to fear. I am the biggest wuss you will possibly ever meet – I didn’t ride a rollercoaster until I was 21 because I was scared.
My lovely friend Anoushka set us a challenge… we are having a ‘year of yes’. For one year we will say yes to everything, other commitments permitting obviously. For me this has started with saying yes to running the 10km in Manchester for Forever Manchester, offering to volunteer at a homeless shelter and I’m even looking at going scuba diving in Australia. Now scuba diving combines two of my biggest fears – the sea and being in a confined space.
I am actually surprised at how much I am looking forward to my year of yes. It is all about making small changes that can have a massive impact on lifestyle, confidence and choices. For some of you that may mean looking at making changes to some bad habits that have been formed. Smoking is one of these habits and Intellicig is a potential way of finding a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes. I have never been a smoker but most of my family are regular smokers so I can appreciate how difficult a habit it is to break.
I was sceptical of replacing a nicotine product with another product that contains nicotine but was surprised at the replies I had from friends when I asked them how they felt about replacing cigarettes with an e cigarette. One friend decided she needed to cut down on regular cigarettes so purchased an e cigarette to save money during the week. A few months on she no longer smokes either and even said she can’t stand the smell of regular cigarettes anymore! Another friend replaced regular cigarettes with an e cigarette which has eased her chronic asthma symptoms so much that she no longer needs an inhaler. If you want to read more Intellicig have more information available here.
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If your changes are fitness related you will love this week’s giveaway! You could win a Fitbit One wireless activity and sleep tracker worth £79.99. The Fitbit One never rests, It tracks your steps, distance, calories burned and stairs climbed during the day before tracking your sleep at night then waking you up gently in the morning. It automatically syncs your stats to your PC/laptop and phone. It is also compatible with other health apps including MyFitnessPal, Endomondo and MapMyFtness to name just a few. This is something that will certainly help me with my 10km goal! To enter you need to complete the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
This giveaway is open to UK residents only. The prize will be honoured by Intellicig. The winner will be notified by email and on social media accounts.





187 Comments
I plan to change my eating habits
I plan to save an extra £100 a month by cutting down on food waste and using up my leftovers!
Exercise more and eat healthier
Its the year for organisation & movement instead of the same old status quo!
I’m going to try and be more optimistic. I don’t want to turn in to a grumpy grouch!
im going to try d save more money !!
xx
I would love to finally complete the couch to5k program and get to run a full 5k without stopping – i managed to get to week5 and run for a full 5 mins without stopping last year
im planning to lose weight, im hoping for at least two stone by the end of the year.
I’ve Started a diet, that’s actually working, and I’m exercising daily, so big changes for me 🙂
Drink more water and meal plan.
I’m planning on trying hypnotherapy to help me to lose weight
I plan on eating and exercising better.
To be more active and eat more healthy meals
I plan to drink more green smoothies, smile more and take up yoga.
To drink more water.
I plan to concentrate on quality of excercise rather than quantity. Have also given up diet coke!
By having a healthier lifestyle.
i want to try & grow our own fruit & veg
Cut out buying junk food in our weekly food shops
to be more active
Just to do something extra every day, whether that be walking to work, making a healthy lunch rather than buying it, making sure I get to go to bed at a reasonable time!
Relax more
Ditch the car where possible and get walking more to get fitter!
I plan to get a new job. Two interviews down but as yet no job!
I plan to care less about what others think and have more confidence and belief in myself
Im going to have amassive upheavel of my finances
I plan to do regular exercise to try to get fit!
I plan to eat less junk food and walk more.
I want to try and make sure I improve my diet by eating my 5 fruit and veg every day
I plan to spend less time working and more time on me.
Walk more do more exercise
I started exercising 5-6 times a week in November and I’d like to keep that going through 2015 🙂
Corinne x
I’m changing my eating habits using my fitness pal, and a fitbit would motivate me to get moving more. I need to lose about 2 stone after the birth of my second child 8 months ago 🙂
To treat myself more as I’m always putting others first. Jan- completed. Brought a new, more powerful hairdryer!
I’ve started going for a walk each day before breakfast – only 10 to 15 minutes round the block a couple of times Then I have a good half hour power walk later on. I’ll be proud of myself if I can keep this up till the end of the month at least!
Find Love.
I plan to worry less and live life to the full!
Definitely more salad.
I want to lose some weight so I fit into my bridesmaid dress in June!
I plan to cut out sugar and start running.
I would like to lose some weight
I plan to focus on myself and be more disciplined x
I’m starting 5:2 intermittent fasting
I’m going to spend less, eat less and move more, need to lose the lbs and save £s!!
I’m cutting way down on sugar
To stop procrastinating and do all the jobs I keep putting off!
by getting off my backside more and keeping active!
I have joined WW to try and kick start me back into eating a healthy diet they highly recommend the fitbit and this would help me with my diet
To not eat as much junk and walk more, not doing too well so far though x
I’ve had to move back to a parent’s house this new year so I’m being forced to change and it’s all going to be for the better! Better diet, better sleeping pattern, better motivation! 🙂
I want to loose weight and get healthy, so more exercising and a better diet.
Exercise more and eat healthier
I’m going to ditch my dreary, dark clothes and embrace the light!
We’ve removed processed junk from the cupboards!
Spend more time in the gym
I plan to change the way I eat and generally take care of myself x
To get fit and healthy ready for my upcoming major surgery 🙂
Smiling more and walking instead of jumping in the car
Increase the amount of time I spend jogging in order to run the 5k Race for Life
I want to do things that scare me!
To remember to take my multivitamins on a regular basis and complete the Three Peaks Challenge.x
I am trying to become more fit and healthy by making small lifestyle changes.
Beginning with spending more time with the family x
I plan to walk more!
I am walking everywhere,doing 20 minutes of strength training daily,eating more veg and using up leftovers instead of wasting food.The whole family have also started having smoothies daily so i am happy my two boys are getting an extra lot of fruit into them.
To be a better husband
i am going to start a quilting course and my daughter is about to have a new baby so i think my time will be taken up and i am so excited
be happy and worry less 🙂
to lose weight and be a bit more healthier
TO live more and make the most of each weekend
I need to stop eating chocolate and go to the gym more
To enjoy life even more than i do already
to be more creative with my cooking
I’m going to try to stress less and to have more fun.
Going to train for a sponsored walk for charity nd get fit along the way
I intend to get fitter, do my first 5k race and visit a new country!
I intend to cycle more and walk at least 10,000 steps a day.
Going to bed sooner and getting more sleep, eating health and walking instead of taking the car.
cut down on sugar , walk more, get back to being the me that i want to be
Exercise more
I have started by trying to get back into running regularly, it’s been hard but I’m hoping by the end of Jan the habit will be back. Once I reach the end of Jan I will try and add changing little bits of my diet too, but I don’t want to change everything in one go as I usually always fail that way!!!
I’m also doing the Forever MCR 10k!!! Yay 😀 x
Stop “secret eating”. My fitness pal tracking is back.
I want to build my confidence this year and try new things I never expected to try.
Save more money,waste too much
Id like to lose a stone and spend more time with hubby xx
I joined Slimming World and I’m joining the local gym in February!
I’m saying ‘Yes’ to everything too – new experiences, new opportunities.
I aim to write things down that matter helps me achieve my goals for the year.
We are getting an extension built this year, and once it is finished we can get a dog, so i am looking forward to being outdoors roaming the countryside with a new pooch.
I am planning on getting out walking more.
exercising regularly and getting portions sizes down!
Well I’m trying to learn to cook from scratch which I’m hoping will mean I make some great healthy food!
Jen xx
http://www.kitsch-n-sync.com
Thanks for writing about this Keely – I always need things to make me do something, I don’t have much will power and being a food blogger is always a downfall!
have a shopping list at the supermarket. Better for my pocket and waistline!
I plan to lose weight, struggling at the moment, but I will get there!
I always hated running but this year decided to get myself a pair of running shoes and just start doing it. I haven’t run (although I barely ran at school either) in at least a decade and I am actually really enjoying it. Only been on two runs so far – about to head out in the sleet for another. Actually can’t wait for the nicer weather so I’m already thinking ahead to running in a few month time! Tracking all my distances so going from not being able to run for more than a minute to hopefully running 5k non-stop in 8 weeks.
trying to get fit and shift some weight
Good luck with your year of yes! I’m trying to say to more things that I would usually decline so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the both of us 🙂
Louise x
Confessions of a Secret Shopper
to get out cycling every day
I need to get off my bum this year!!
Eat less is general; I don’t eat particularly badly, I just eat too much and at the wrong time!
I am making more effort to get outdoors and walk more, doing Yoga to combat stress and making more of an effort to smile and appreciate all the good things in my life.
I love the idea of your ‘year of yes’ it’s very much like my #30things – a desire to fulfil 2015 with a shed load of fun stuff to celebrate turning 30! Good luck with your quest!! 🙂
I plan to be more productive, and procrastinate less which I am breaking being on here and entering this comp. Would be more productive if I won though!
Writing to do lists and making sure I tick a couple of things off a day is getting me there.
I would love to improve my fitness level
eat healthier, cut out wheat and drink a lot more water!
Exercise more.
I have started Yoga.
I am currently on a healthy eating diet, I am walking more and trying to gain some confidence for a happier me in 2015
I have started the 10,000 steps a day challenge. On track at the moment. Not easy when you have a desk job but I`ve got brilliant at counting out loud 🙂
I actually really want a fitbit so I can monitor my activity and set small goals every day to make a change x
I’m trying to do positive thinking (often) and positive chanting (at least twice a day). I hope the neighbours can’t hear me …
I plan to cut back on sugar.
i have quit smoking and i am on day 14!
I am making headway with eating a healthier diet to help both my mind and body
Move more & eat less
Eat healthier
drink more water and sleep more
Work to live not live to work
Walk more
Eat less cake and do more exercise! … Easier said than done! We love cake.
im going to try and save more money
I am going to be more determined to get what I want from life
planning to change my activity times with my baby
There is a gym just around the corner from where I live with a pool. I plan on going swimming at least once a week to start off with, gradually building to two. I also bought a zumba exercise DVD, so going to have a go with that for half an hour each morning.
I plan on being more spontaneous and seizing opportunities as they present themselves.
Make the effort to go out for a walk every day.
We’re decluttering – six bags to charity bin last week along with three bag to charity shop – attic next
To try and live a healthier lifestyle
Be more positive
Eat less red meat and have at least 2 veggie meals a week
I plan to enter another ultramarathon this year
Worry Less and Smile More!
Eat more fruits and vegetables and go on walks!
Give up sugar
Transition from walking to running!
I plan on making changes by eating healthily and doing more exercise. The Fitbit would help so much when I’ve got over 5st to lose
To always take the stairs!
I get up an hour early to do 1 hour of exercise as this was my new years resolution and i need to stick with it.
lose weight and get fitter
getting much more sleep! faye.
I’m changing my eating habits to help me get back to my pre-baby weight
just going to move more and eat less
spending more time doing what I want to do!
I plan to surround myself with positive people.
I am planning on exercising more. Hopefully I actually will as well!
I AM A BIT OF AN IMSONIAC TO HAVE STARTED 2015 BY GOING OUT WALKING IN THE EVENINGS. sO FAR SO GOOD, I FEEL BETTER AND I AM SLEEPING BETTER TOO.
I plan to try and drink more water and eat less sugary things
Drink more water.
to generally lead a healthier lifestyle. I am now making all my meals from scratch, my children are on bored with meal planning and choosing healthier alternative and I have started doing 2 fitness classes a week. Now need to get myself motviated to do a few walks/runs in the week also
I have now started new eating habits to lose weight in time for my op in May and I would like to finally have some savings behind me
To get more sleep!
I plan to be more organised
I plan to meal plan better and concentrate on nutritional food, not just low calorie.
I plan to get a more toned tummy!
I have started walking 10,000 steps a day
I plan to make changes to my eating baits and exercise more
I plan on being more organised so I have the time to eat more healthily and incorporated more exercise into my daily routine.
I’m not going to drink wine through the week and will make sure I attend at least 3 exercise classes a week
I’m hoping to run my first marathon in 2015, despite the fact that at the moment I can’t run more than a mile!
Be disciplined and eat more healthier
I PLAN TO JOIN THE GYM AND TRY TO GET FIT
I will continue the changes I made in 2014 in reducing portion sizes. I have lost 20 lbs so far but need to lose another 10lbs to get to a healthy BMI 🙂
I hope to start walking as well as eating healthier as I need to lose 5 n half stone xxx
lose weight 🙂
Eat more homecooked meals.
Join a gym and get in shape!
I have bought a juicer and blender this week so I can have plenty of fresh vegetable and fruit juices.
get fitter and lose some weight
Eat Healthy and get fit
Run more and get fit
Get out and start walking to work
To replace alot of the junk food i eat with more healthier food
eat less chocolate and try to be more active
Healthier eating and a better sleep regime
Spend more time with the kids. That should keep me fit.
lots more organisation and also more healthy home cooking.
Less procrastination!
Start exercising more.
Have started walking more instead of using car
do more outdoors with my little boy
I plan to stop smoking !
I plan on getting fitter by training for a marathon
Exercise more
Walk more, eat less
I plan to learn something new doing what I havent figured it out yet
Be healthier