January came and went in a flash! February already, wow! I wonder how everyone's New Years resolutions have held out. My made up stat of the month is that 99% have already been broken. I didn't make any resolutions really; I just had plans for the year, goals, intentions or whatever you chose to call them.

One of my intentions was to compete in the English IRC in January. This didn't happen for me and I was really disappointed in myself for not making it happen. I have no BS story to tell for not doing it, it was down to me and me alone to make it happen and I just didn't. My time just wasn't anywhere near what I wanted it to be. I have been working hard on my 500m sprints and getting great times there but struggling with my 2000m time, my current PB is 7:28, as it turns out I would have come last in my category. I mainly work on doing intervals, either time or distance based, rather than steady state cardio work, I prefer this because I feel I get a great work out in a lot less time, you just have to be efficient in your time spent exercising when you have a busy life, that's a big lesson I have learnt in recent months, no time to monkey around!

Not fulfilling this challenge and intention has been somewhat of a kick up the backside for me. I'm not one for giving up easily and will crack on and up my level of use on my Concept2 Rower; I have also registered for Concept2 Challenge Series. This month's challenge is to row 2500m in the best time possible, that will be tough but I am up for it! Next month I intend to have a new PB, as I strive towards getting a sub 7 minute 2000m time, I don't expect to achieve that in next month's challenge but I am confident I can improve my current time.

Weight loss wise, well like most people I over indulged a bit over Christmas, maybe a bit more than some, this was my first Christmas since 2010, the previous Christmas I was still taking part in Biggest Loser so was still 100% on plan at all times. The problem I find is that I put 2 stone on just looking at a piece of cake! I smell fresh bread being baked and my jeans tighten! 90% of the time I avoid anything processed, wheat based products and dairy, I rarely have a drink. It's been 11 months since I won Biggest Loser, and I am happy to say my weight is below what it was on that day, despite my over indulgences at Christmas, around my wedding and maybe a couple of times on trips away. This is a massive achievement for me, the first time I have lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off for a significant amount of time plus more besides! I do of coarse owe some of this success to my fantastic Concept2 rower and ski erg machines, they are the best bit of kit I could hope for, and I have them right here in my home! I'm happy with my weight but not ecstatic, I know where I have gone wrong at times, I know where old habits have refused to die at times and I know what I need to do to make improvement, in the past I have known these things and done nothing with it, this time it has been different. I intend to get more weight off and be where I want to be physically and mentally within the next 12 weeks, watch this space, I will update each month with my progress.