My Quit Smoking, Lose Weight and Live Well Health Project ...

It all started back in September when I turned another year older and realised that at 43, I was getting a little too old to still be playing Russian Roulette with my health. And more recent events have convinced me that NOW IS THE TIME to make some BIG lifestyle changes.

Twenty-three years ago, when I was ?ten foot high and bullet-proof? (lol), I became a regular smoker. Ten years ago I became a chronic over-eater of junk food and five years ago, I began working from home which means I?m not moving about each day like I use to.

All these events have colluded to make me what I am today: an obese, heavy-smoker who suffers from chronic depression, sleep apnea, incontinence, poor circulation and lower-back pain. I?ve become very uncomfortable in my own skin and I am convinced, now more than ever, if something doesn?t change soon, I won?t make it to 50.

For the past couple of months I?ve been thinking about it. But it wasn?t until I took that first step four weeks ago did God, fate, the universe (or whatever you like to call it), step in to offer some much needed assistance.

That first step was a first session at my local Curves ladies fitness centre.

The very next day I received an invitation to a media event for Weight Watchers. I don?t usually attend media events because often they turn out to be a complete waste of time, offering no more insight than I can gather from reading the press release. I may not have attended this media event either, if the organisers hadn?t arranged for a car service to collect me from my home office. In the five years I?ve been running Australian Women Online, this has never happened before. But I certainly didn?t see this as a sign from God.

But I did find the Weight Watchers media event at Sydney Town Hall to be rather enlightening. Unfortunately, there is a media embargo in place until 2 December, so I can?t tell you anything more until next week. But what I can say is that what I learned that day inspired me to get off my ever-widening arse and do something about my weight problem!

Somebody up there must like me because the very next day I received an email from Weight Watchers offering me a free trial to their weight loss program. Interesting. However, it wasn?t until I spoke to Michelle at Weight Watchers, that I got the first inkling there may be bigger forces at work here.

By this time I had decided to undertake a personal health project and write about my experiences and share them on this website and via social media. So I explained all this and asked her if Weight Watchers Australia were willing to support my efforts with a free membership. All they can do was say ?NO? right?

Well as fortune would have it, she said ?YES? (thanks Michelle).

So now I was attending 3 gym sessions a week and following the Weight Watchers Unlimited program, which includes attendance at meetings and access to Weight Watchers Online. All I needed now to make this health project complete, was an effective quit smoking program and I found it in my email inbox.

I was still trying to figure out how best to tackle my smoking addiction, when a media release from Nick Terrone at QuitwithNick.com.au landed in my inbox.

So I asked Nick: ?If you can help me to quit smoking for FREE I will happily write about the experience and sing your praises at Australian Women Online.?

And guess what? He agreed! Thanks Nick!

So there you have it. This is how my health project came together. With a little help from above and a lot of help from Michelle at Weight Watchers and Nick Terrone from QuitwithNick.com.au

Now all I need is a better title for my health project! TO BE CONTINUED?

I welcome hearing about the lifestyle changes you are making and invite you all to share your experiences with us. Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page. You can also email your stories to me: deborah@australianwomenonline.com

Source: http://www.australianwomenonline.com/my-quit-smoking-lose-weight-and-live-well-health-project/

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