New Year Resolutions - not started it yet

[Pigmy Pony]

No doubt this has been done before, but...

For many people mid-January is a time for resolutions to be broken, especially with the official 'most depressing day of the year' coming up, but I have yet to start mine :doh:

No point in me choosing to cut down alcohol as I wouldn't feel the benefit - my last drink was a few glasses of wine with Christmas lunch, which was a fine balancing act. Enough to make sitting across from a certain family member bearable, but not enough to result in my hurling abuse at him.

Consumption during the rest of the year doesn't amount to much either, in fact the only time I 'tie one on' is at the annual NEBO, and even then I don't get legless, just enough to feel rough as a badger's arse the next morning. Oh and my annual bike rally in September.

So my resolution this year is to lose a couple of stones to get nearer to my 'fighting weight' (about 12 and a half stones). Thing is though as everyone knows, reducing calorific intake is not enough, there must be exercise too. I find walking so incredibly boring though, and cycling or swimming are two more things I'm never going to stick at.

I suggested to Anita that I might join a gym, and she's less than keen on that idea, telling me that it could be risky with my blood pressure. So I told her I would speak to my doctor before doing anything. Just have to get round to phoning for an appointment...

Anyway, enough about my resolution, has anyone else done one, and how is it going?

[Firebottle]

Not so much as an official resolution but I have made positivity my mantra for 2025.

Also promised myself to fly more.


I hope you find something that suits you, how about trying the 'chair workout', there are plenty of vodeos to follow.

[Barry]

I have never made any New Year Resolutions. If I want to stop any annoying or bad habits, I just do it then and there. Some are easier to do than others.

I try to have a couple of alcohol-free days a week, and I will walk to the local shops, rather than drive. But that's about it.

[Pigmy Pony]

Not so much as an official resolution but I have made positivity my mantra for 2025.

Also promised myself to fly more.


I hope you find something that suits you, how about trying the 'chair workout', there are plenty of vodeos to follow.

My laptop has been plagued with them for months now, I guess the rumours about me being a fat pig have got out. That's what you get for leaving the house I suppose :( I'm waiting for the 'bed workout' videos to come out, I could probably stick with those.

As for your positivity and 'fly more' resolutions, I think one will automatically lead to the other. Even if that does mean hanging off a bedsheet a thousand feet up... Hope that positivity includes keeping in touch with the folk who care about you, there's lots of us you know :)

[Pigmy Pony]

I have never made any New Year Resolutions. If I want to stop any annoying or bad habits, I just do it then and there. Some are easier to do than others.

I try to have a couple of alcohol-free days a week, and I will walk to the local shops, rather than drive. But that's about it.

Ah, but for how long do these annoying or bad habits have to develop before you 'just do it then and there'? 1st January is a significant point in the calendar, which is why so many choose that date.

I'd happily walk to the shops if they'd just bring them a bit nearer :)

[Barry]

Some, such as smoking and nail-biting were long term habits.
I was able to stop or start smoking at will: I would smoke when on holiday and stop when I returned home.

[Alex_UK]

I’m doing “dry January” but also trying to lose weight - had really bad sciatica from June through to November last year so was very inactive, and coupled with Christmas, started 2025 two stone heavier than I did 2024…

I always aim to shed 2lbs a week when losing weight and on track so far, plus no booze, although I was very tempted on Saturday night!

[Macca]

I've never made a New Year resolution.

Did stop drinking in the first lockdown and kept that up except for occasionally have one can on a Saturday night.

Wish I'd done that ten years ago it really did take years off me but took a few months of sobriety for that to kick in.

Walking might be boring but highly recommend doing a couple of miles a day. Only takes half an hour. Anyone can stand to be bored for half an hour.

Been walking 2 mile to work every morning for over 2 years now, all up hill. Used to huff and puff a bit going up the stairs, put it down to age. Nope, I was just terribly unfit despite not being overweight.

That took about a month to kick in but again felt ten years younger from it.

[Pigmy Pony]

Anyone can stand to be bored for half an hour.



An episode of Eastenders is half an hour long. Just sayin'.

I know you're right about the health benefits of walking, but it's harder to stick with if you don't have a destination such as your place of work, or a pub, or you're on a promise (that third incentive hasn't been a thing for more than fifty years).

Maybe if I got an exercise bike and put it in front of the telly, and watched Eastenders whilst cycling I would be close to 'the real thing', but without the dodgy weather.

[Macca]

An episode of Eastenders is half an hour long. Just sayin'.

I know you're right about the health benefits of walking, but it's harder to stick with if you don't have a destination such as your place of work, or a pub, or you're on a promise (that third incentive hasn't been a thing for more than fifty years).

Maybe if I got an exercise bike and put it in front of the telly, and watched Eastenders whilst cycling I would be close to 'the real thing', but without the dodgy weather.

I noticed in one of the alleys by me someone has dumped one of those 'stepper' machines. Their NYR presumably to get rid of all the unused exercise equipment cluttering up their house.

I know what you mean about not having a destination. I did use to walk when I wasn't working, I'd just do a circuit of about a mile or a bit more. I suppose there is probably more to see on a walk round here - the
monkey dusters up to their antics, and that sort of thing.

[Pigmy Pony]

I've never heard that phrase before, what's a monkey duster?

The fields and woods start only a couple of hundred yards away, and there's nowhere I need to be tomorrow. So I might put on me "fell walking" boots, and see if it's not too muddy. Who knows, I might even do a bit of monkey dusting if it's not too vigorous.

If everyone who had an unused exercise bike/step machine/rowing machine were to stick them on gumtree, all the equipment makers would go out of business overnight.

[Mikeandvan]

I go swimming, I admit the thought of it does put me off sometimes, its kinda boring, repetitive, fuckwits get in your way, but once I'm in there, I'm in for the long haul, 60+ lengths in the so called 'fast lane', the slow lane is basically for old people who may die at any moment, the middle lane is for slow swimmers, and the fast lane for sloggers like myself and the odd twat who swims way faster than everyone. I'm not selling it am I? I dunno, how about badminton? Anything that gets you moving, but if you have heart issues then slowly build up your pace.

[Macca]

I've never heard that phrase before, what's a monkey duster?

.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-68275288

[Pigmy Pony]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-68275288

Hmm, though I can see the appeal, and it does seem a very effective way to lose weight, I'm finding the whole throwing yourself off buildings bit offputting. I wonder whether sniffing Gorilla Glue might be something I could stick with.

[Pigmy Pony]

I go swimming, I admit the thought of it does put me off sometimes, its kinda boring, repetitive, fuckwits get in your way, but once I'm in there, I'm in for the long haul, 60+ lengths in the so called 'fast lane', the slow lane is basically for old people who may die at any moment, the middle lane is for slow swimmers, and the fast lane for sloggers like myself and the odd twat who swims way faster than everyone. I'm not selling it am I? I dunno, how about badminton? Anything that gets you moving, but if you have heart issues then slowly build up your pace.

I know swimming is an excellent way to exercise, and by the sound of your post a great way to make friends :lol: but really I'm not much of a swimmer, I could do enough to get myself out of a pool if I fell in, and that's about it. Badminton sounds rather too posh for round here.

[Pigmy Pony]

Doesn't look like many people do New Year resolutions, maybe they're saving it up for Lent.

[Firebottle]

I wonder whether sniffing Gorilla Glue might be something I could stick with.

:lol:

[CageyH]

My resolution for this year will mainly be 5760 x 1080.

To help with walking/jogging, I bought myself a treadmill in 2023. I have progressed from struggling to run for a bus (although I don’t remember the last time I took a bus) , to being able to comfortably run 5km. My need is health related, as I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic just after a dose of Covid in 2023. The exercise allows me to minimise the medication I need to take.

There are also good walking/hiking programmes available as well, but it all depends on the treadmill. I bought one which has good cushioning, and a built in screen etc. It means I cannot use the weather as an excuse to not exercise, and I run a minimum of three times a week. I followed a programme close to the “Couch to 5Km” and it was a struggle at times.

The important thing to note when reading the above is that I hate running.

[Macca]

Hmm, though I can see the appeal, and it does seem a very effective way to lose weight, I'm finding the whole throwing yourself off buildings bit offputting. .

That only happened the one time as far as I know. It was near me, cops closed off the whole road which seemed a bit excessive. Typical crap BBC reporting.

Got a lift home last night, went through duster central, nearly ran a couple of them over as they just wander out into heavy traffic.

[Pigmy Pony]

I can't say I've noticed any up here, though maybe they just blend in with regular Preston folk more easily. Or is it just a Stoke thing?

As for closing the whole street, maybe the police feared he would attempt to glide to freedom. You can't be too careful.

[Macca]

I can't say I've noticed any up here, though maybe they just blend in with regular Preston folk more easily. Or is it just a Stoke thing?

As for closing the whole street, maybe the police feared he would attempt to glide to freedom. You can't be too careful.

Stoke is the duster capital of the UK, according to the press, anyway.

Lots of drug use round here, some say it's on account of it being so grim but rich people living in mansions in the countryside do drugs too, so not sure that's it.

Someone changed the road sign where you come off the A50 to 'toke Upon Trent' by whiting out the 'S'. It was there for a few years but sadly they've replaced it now.

[Cotlake]

Hmmm, Monkey Duster? Slightly different interpretation here.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=monkey%20duster

[Alex_UK]

:lol: Thank goodness I didn't click that link on my work computer!

[Mikeandvan]

I know swimming is an excellent way to exercise, and by the sound of your post a great way to make friends :lol: but really I'm not much of a swimmer, I could do enough to get myself out of a pool if I fell in, and that's about it. Badminton sounds rather too posh for round here.

Badminton or any ball sports, well ones that involve a bit of exertion. More fun than running/swimming/lifting.

[Macca]

Badminton, you could meet Princess Anne.

Sure there are multiple badminton clubs in Chorley. I mean it's known for it.

[Pigmy Pony]

Plenty of folk in Chorley look like Princess Anne, it's a popular look. And the blokes do it better than the women.

There are some badminton clubs in Chorley, but I subscribe to Groucho Marx's view on club membership :)

[CageyH]

Get some good portable audio, and go for a walk. Chorley there are plenty of areas in your neck of the woods?

[CageyH]

Here are a few: https://www.komoot.com/guide/671333/hiking-around-chorley

Or

https://www.visorando.com/en/walk-chorley.html

[Pigmy Pony]

Cheers Kevin, I've been round a few of those places. Used to go with the dog, but we have a cat these days and she's not so keen, the miserable little shite. We are quite lucky living here, and I really have no excuse.

[Pigmy Pony]

It's official, I'm a fat git :(

When changing some glass in a customer's bedroom window yesterday, I found the top of it to be a bit of a stretch, but I was reluctant to kneel on their nice new chest of drawers. So she kindly lent me this small plastic hop up to stand on. That's better.

Until the bloody thing collapsed and shattered into a hundred pieces, sending me arse over tits. That was bad enough, but then I saw that two of my fingers were sliced open and dripping blood onto their new cream carpet which fortunately I had protected with a dust sheet. Good thing I'm not on blood thinners (yet).

Customer was very sympathetic and not in the least bit concerned about her eight quid hop up. A quick investigation reveals that the maximum capacicity for this Amazon special is 90kg, which I am exceeding by a few pounds.

So the diet/exercise starts NOW. Right after I finish this giant bowl of heart healthy porridge :)

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71qQPUf0xAL._AC_SX679_.jpg

Eight quid hop ups - not for fatties

[Alex_UK]

Ouch, hope the fingers aren’t cut too badly.

[Pigmy Pony]

Thanks for asking :) My ring finger, which bleed the most is pretty sore, while my little finger is gaping a bit, but surprisingly pain-free. Lucky I'm right handed, so business as usual :)

[CageyH]

Cheers Kevin, I've been round a few of those places. Used to go with the dog, but we have a cat these days and she's not so keen, the miserable little shite. We are quite lucky living here, and I really have no excuse.

That is one of the things I miss about not living in (de)Preston.
Good access to the lakes and the surrounding areas.

[Macca]

We have the 'Trent Riverside Walk' but the 8 lane highway right next to it takes the shine off a bit.

The canal walk is better and quite picturesque in places, only problem there is the cyclists who seem to think it's a time trial run.

[Pigmy Pony]

We have the 'Trent Riverside Walk' but the 8 lane highway right next to it takes the shine off a bit.

The canal walk is better and quite picturesque in places, only problem there is the cyclists who seem to think it's a time trial run.

How far from your house is it? I wouldn't want to have to walk too far to get to it.

[CageyH]

That is exactly why I bought a treadmill.