Change, for Health's Sake

Hello my lovelies,

As many of my twitter friends know, last week I had a wee health scare. Without too many details, basically, I had some pain in my chest that I was freaking out about... there is heart disease in my family and I've seen enough cardiac problems in my nursing career to know that what I was feeling was not good. It all turned out OK - I have some digestion issues is all, and I'm fine now.

But....

There's nothing like a little Oh my fucking God I'm having a heart attack. I'm only 31. I'm too young to die! moment to make you think about your priorities in life. And my number one priority is staying on this planet for considerably more years yet, thank you very much.

So, I decided it was time to make some drastic changes to my lifestyle, stat.

First, some history. Back when I was 22, I weighed a little less than what I do now. I decided to make a change for the better and committed to a programme of exercise and controlled nutrition. It took me two years, but I reached my goal of losing more than 30kg (66lbs). At that point I was 24, headed off to the UK on my big adventure... and that's when I got lazy. I decided I could 'take a break' from my plan, ate shit, drank a LOT, and before I knew it, at 27 I was back to the weight I had been at 22. This is the single biggest regret in my life to date.

2002

2004 - this photo is my pride & joy

2006

Now, nearly five years after returning to New Zealand, it is ON. I saw a nutritionist this week, have signed up at a new gym, have a personal trainer appointment for next week, and I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna lose this excess FAT and make a healthy change to my life. No fad diets, no crazy shit, just simple maths - put less in, get more out, get healthier. Well, that makes it sound really easy, but you know what I mean.

August 2011

My all-round BFF, Twi-mate and general partner in crime, @SparklyJulNZ, is also embarking on a challenge of her own. While I won't describe her history without her permission, what I will say is that we are hitting the gym together and using each other as motivation. Accountability is a great motivator, and she's a hard task master... "I'll be there to pick you up at 6.30am and if you're not ready I'm going without you".... I love you, sister.

September 2011

We have been tweeting about this stuff in the last couple of weeks, and I feel the hashtag we have been using deserves some explanation. #LoseKristen came about because we both realised we needed to lose a shitload of weight... like, say, the weight of a small person. Such as KStew. I reckon my left leg probably weighs more than she does at the moment. So, #LoseKristen has NOTHING to do with Robsten. We loves a bit of KStew action and would never wish ill of her. It's all relative, mkay?

So, while I'm not going to turn this in to a diet blog *rolls eyes* I just wanted to let you all know what's happening in my life. This is going to be a pretty big focus for me for quite some time to come, and I welcome any questions, comments, tips etc.

And just think, when I hit that Hawaiian beach in 2013... I will be in great shape. BRING IT ON!