While I’m on this fitness burst I’ve been looking at the food I eat. First thing was to use the smaller plates we have and reduce portions. I’ve banned myself from biscuits and crisps which I’m far too partial too but the one thing that really shocked me was measuring out the sugar in full fat coke. I’ve always railed against Diet Coke because I don’t like the taste but three heaped tablespoons of sugar per can has to get your attention.

With being diabetic I'm a bit obsessed with avoiding sugars and the most pointless ones of all are the ones in soft drinks. No real nutritonal benefits just shots of refined sugar that are basically addictive. not like crack but they alter your mood and you end up depending on them. Go cold turkey, as in just cut them out not eat lots of refrigerated poultry. After a few days you're fine, way easier than giving up tabs and you'll lose weight even if you keep eating off proper plates.

Why anyone drinks fizzy stuff other than beer i don’t understand it’s awful and I never have anything sweet not that I am a health but I just don’t like it and I hate chocolate

get as much exercise as possible and eat what you normally do but less of it.

Apart from soda water (for mixers), I skip fizzy drinks too. I absolutely cannot stand the taste of cola regardless of brand or sugar level.

Download the my fitness pal app.

Scan yer barcodes on foods and you'll think twice about eating whats in certain things when you see calorie contents and sugar/fat levels.

Start small with your food changes, especially during these times when people who are bored tend to end.

Switch from full fat coke to pepsi max.

Can easy trim 200 calories a day by doing that, it all adds up.

I had a client who would eat 5 bourbons everytime she had a cup of tea, i showed her on myfitnesspal that 5 bourbons is around the same amount of calories as her lunch. So you can have them but they wont fill you and then you cant really have lunch and you'll be starvin and fall off the wagon.

She made a change to just have 1.

I think she lost about 1 and a half stone in January and around 17 inches from her body just from small changes.

Knowledge is power.

Anyone drinking fizzy beer should be locked up surely?

Fizzy drinks should be 5 quid a go, might put some of the idiots off drinking them, it would be good for their health and there would be less litter, the amount of cans I see walking around where I live , crushed by cars, is unreal, 99% fizzy drinks or alcopops

Losing weight isn't rocket science, you just burn off more calories than you take on board. All about desire and willpower, no need for anyone to incur any cost whilst doing it. Of course not everyone wants to look like David Beckham, I like the odd bar of chocolate, biscuits and a packet of crisps, we only pass this way once , and I would rather carry a few pounds extra than be constantly depriving myself , the sad thing I find is that some people after losing weight lose their personality and become self obsessed. Of course that's their choice , each to their own , but its not for me, I believe in just doing everything in moderation and whilst still having some sort of life.

Fizzy drinks are the devil's work.

Don't like them but I absolutley fucking love crisps and chocolate. Haribo and Randoms as well.

I also like making a complete pig of meself at all-you-can-eat buffets. That's one thing I haven't done for a while though.

In a perfect world losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight your happy with would be something you could do on your own but sometimes people need a little nudge or accountability (thats where i come in)

I try to teach people good habits so they don't need me forever.

I did some nutrition talks with students last year and i don't think the knowledge is really there at the moment, convenience food is king and so easily accessable.

How did you get into the fitness business? It wasn't your primary vocation was it?

Been in this industry about 2 years now, got to about 31/32 and i'd had enough of the 9-5 office work so wanted to do something i loved, enjoyed and that i could be my own boss.

Doesnt feel like a job most days.

Bit frustrating at the moment mind.

Your fan club is growing on Pools fb page

[quote="Yubep"]Been in this industry about 2 years now, got to about 31/32 and i'd had enough of the 9-5 office work so wanted to do something i loved, enjoyed and that i could be my own boss.

Doesnt feel like a job most days.

thats something we should all strive to do if possible. how many of us work or have worked in jobs they really hated all their lives. worked most of my life on the buses and hated every single shift once that one man driver thing came in.

Some great jobs in the past, the buses must've been okay when you had a conductor on. I would've loved to have worked on the railways back in the day , a signalman etc. Most jobs now are meaningless , telling lies over the phone , stacking shelves , pressing buttons on a checkout or sitting in front of a computer, fair play to anyone who manages to find a job they love , and has the guts and drive to turn a dream into reality. I have the guts but not the drive unfortunately , haven't a big ego and not motivated by money presents problems as well , running a micro pub or brewery would suit the modern day Mr Horden. I've had some shit jobs , so bad I don't even want to mention them , luckily I always got out within weeks or months , don't do suffering at work. Working 13 years at the Royal Mail was my happiest time , camaraderie , unionised , variety of jobs and shifts , full of characters, no they have ruined that job and no doubt that job not as good as it was.

Railways are still a good career. A fully qualified train driver is on circa 60k

I agree, and an industry probably making a comeback. I would've liked my son to have become a train driver , but like a lot of young people these days, if it doesn't involve sitting in front of a computer he's not interested.

I did just over a year as a postman. Best job I ever had, but unfortunately the worst pay.

Yeah the pay wasn't the best, however I worked in a busy southern mail centre and the overtime was more or less unlimited , so you could make up the shortfall. most jobs were timed , so if you knew your stuff and do a 4 hour job in 3, you could work 60 hours a week and get paid for 80 etc etc.

Was looking about for a bit of work during this lockdown to tide me over n quiet fancied being a postman.

Cant see any jobs in hartlepool i'm afraid.

I did just under two years as a bus driver and loved it but the pay was atrocious and with the advent of one man operating, conductors disappeared and we had to do their job as well. Some passengers were great and some were unbelievably nasty. I remember once when I got out from behind the wheel to help an elderly lady disembark, taking what seemed like forever, some people clapped and said well done. At the next stop I was late due to helping her and a guy threw dog's abuse at me. The next thing this big lad came to the front and threw him off. He turned to me and said carry on driver and i wasn't gonna say no to him. Second row forward was the only way I could describe him. The upshot to this was the guy who had abused me complained to the depot manager and I was hauled in. Fortunately the chap who intervened had given me his address and phone number, so when I was asked what happened I handed the address and phone number to the gaffer and said ask him. No action was taken against me.

[quote="derwent"]I did just under two years as a bus driver and loved it but the pay was atrocious and with the advent of one man operating, conductors disappeared and we had to do their job as well. Some passengers were great and some were unbelievably nasty.
did 35 years but the first 15 were brilliant with a conductor, especially a young lass, working with you. made some of the exploits that the on the buses lot look tame. the job was not really taken that seriously and it was all about the laughs which a lot of passengers also enjoyed. once one man operation came compulsory it got serious with more and more passenger reporting complaints as well as assaults on drivers. drivers were unhappy and this spilled over to passengers. then we lost our canteens and made a lonely job more loanly.