I’ve said it before. And I’m not the only one to say it. Publicly stating your goals and measuring them makes you more likely to achieve them. If you publish everything you eat on a blog, you are unlikely to eat anything off diet. I did this before in 2012 and went from 86kg down to 76kg. Let’s try again.

I didn’t go to excess this Christmas. I drank some wine, enjoyed some beers and had a bottle of port in the house. I ate too much chocolate and had too many days off the diet. But nothing particularly bad.

In August, I started training at the gym with a trainer. Since September, I’ve been training with him twice a week. We do one session of legs and one of upper body. I could do more of course.

A new year brings a new start… Really, I want to continue but be stricter. So here are the rules of January, starting on the 5th (and not including 1st-4th):

1. No alcohol until February.

I will not be drinking any alcohol in any form whatsoever for the rest of January. I will not be buying any or keeping any in the house. I’m planning to go out once or twice this month, but I will not drink.

In February I will be going dry for Lent. I’m going to follow a stricter diet.

2. Low-carb diet with cheat day. Avoid takeaways.

Usual rules. Low-carb food during the week and Sundays. That means meat, eggs or fish with vegetables. No rice, pasta, potatoes or bread. No fruit and milk. I will drink only black coffee, herbal teas or water.

On days with my personal trainer, I will also have porridge with a banana and honey to prepare for the workout.

On Saturdays (or maybe the odd Sunday, but only one day a week), I will have a cheat day, but I will be careful not to eat too much.

I will have one nice meal out in a restaurant. And I will avoid takeaways, limiting myself to two in January.

3. Gym 3 times a week. Exercise bike 3-4 times a week.

I will go to the gym 3 times a week. I will go twice with my personal trainer and a third time to work on my core.

I walk the dogs regularly, but it isn’t enough. I need to do more cardio work. I will get on the exercise bike 3-4 times a week.

4. No unnecessary purchases.

I have too many books. I have too much stationery. I could probably write 4 books on the stationery I have. Recently I started to collect vinyl records. I already have too many. I need to use and listen to what I have already. And not buy anything in January that I don’t need.

If I need a book for work (unlikely), I will buy it. If all my pens break (unlikely), I will buy a new one.

5. Writing and studying.

Last year I had to put down a writing project for several reasons. I need to start this project up again. I need to finish a new edition of Learning Russian Verbs. I want to have an early draft by the end of the quarter, but that will be hard.

Last year I left getting an Amazon Web Services certification far too late. This year I want to take two further exams. I’ve started studying for one already. But the key here is doing some writing or study every day where possible.

And that’s it. I will measure the diet items on this blog as usual. And hopefully I will keep myself in check.