Can you pinpoint a moment in your life where everything changed?
I can pinpoint loads of moments, but sadly many of them are tragic, and not worth remembering. Our brains are actually more prone to remember traumatic things, to protect us. It's harder to retain really happy, life-changing moments. But one such moment I do recall vividly, is the delivery of my Peloton bike.
It was December 21st, 2019. Long before the world came crashing down with COVID-19, before mortgage rises, energy price hikes, wheat shortages and so many wars. It actually feels like a totally different time.
I had wanted a bike for over a year, at this point, and had decided I would take the plunge. I was using it as a "treat" to give up alcohol for good, and get healthy. I loved outdoor cycling, but I had recently fallen off my bike when I decided to take my classic Dawson bike down a dirt track in Hayling Island, which was more suited to a mountain bike, and I disappeared down a thorny ditch. Bruises everywhere, my dignity in tatters, I picked up my buckled bike and trundled past all the golfers, who amazingly, didn't laugh. At least, not to my face, anyway.
No, a Peloton bike was safer, warmer, more private, and better suited to my love of the indoors. It was a huge chunk of change, but I had saved up for ages, and as I was giving up the booze I would definitely save lots of money in the long run, anyway.
The black Peloton van pulled up to my house, and they hopped out and expertly assembled my bike to my height, and gave me a quick run through. As soon as they left I was in leggings, strapping on the shoes, and bouncing around to one of the beginner sessions. I was hooked! And soon I was adding strength classes, and yoga, and mindfulness teachings to my repertoire, all mainly held by the rather lovely Peloton instructor, Denis, and a lot of rock music and 90s indie tracks. Absolute perfection, I had found my exercise niche!
True to form, I stopped buying wine and expensive gins. I loaded myself up with Quit-Lit books, such as This Naked Mind, One Year No Beer, and the Sober Diaries. My first book was This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace, and I worked through a 28 day break workbook as well. I had completed This Naked Mind by Day Two.
Wow! My mind was blown! The book changed my entire perception of alcohol. I had no idea!
Yes, I suspected alcohol was not good for me, of course. I knew I had to change, to cut back at the very least, but every time I tried I seemed to just drink even more. Was there something wrong with me?
Every day I hopped back on my bike, and even though most of the classes were beginner classes, my strength increased day by day, and I got faster and fitter. My legs toned up, and I started to lose weight. I even started getting the endorphins everyone was talking about, which as a keen computer gamer, had never happened to me before! Every evening I would go to bed reasonably early, and read more books on alcohol, such as Alcohol Explained, and Quit like a Woman.
I could not get enough! I immersed myself in the alcohol-free culture, followed posts and Instagram channels who promoted alcohol free lifestyles, and I bought lots of alcohol-free drinks so I could still enjoy the after-work ritual of a drink in front of the latest Star Wars episode. Cravings were very rare, if any, but if I got one, I would "ride it out" and really focus on how it felt. Did it hurt? No! Not even slightly. Where was I feeling it? In my stomach mainly, but it was not life-threatening, and not scary. It just felt, well, weird. Nothing a quick swig of alcohol-free pale ale couldn't cope with. Before I knew it, I had been alcohol-free for ninety days, and I had earned my little badge of honour.
"Are you going back to drinking again" asked friends.
I shook my head fiercely. Zero alcohol for me! Every time I had decided I could moderate, I just ended up drinking more. By now my skin looked amazing, my hair was thicker, my lips fuller, my eyes brighter. I was sleeping like a baby every night, and the perimenopausal anxiety that had plagued me for years had all but gone. I was also saving an absolute fortune, including gym fees.
Was a crappy glass of wine worth giving up all of these benefits for? Like hell it was.
It was a tiny decision to buy my bike. It was a tiny decision to make a deal with myself, that the bike equalled no more booze, and a bit of a life re-shuffle for healthier habits.
Twelve weeks after it was delivered the country went into lockdown, and we were not allowed outside. But I had my lovely bike, my alcohol free beverages, my fitness subscription, and Denis. When I think about how else it might have been without the events that happened that day, I wonder if I might have just drunk myself to death by now. It's highly likely. It would have been the excuse I needed to drink until I blacked out every night.
Tiny decisions. Massive consequences. Yes, your life really can be changed with a decision to buy a book and a Peloton bike. If I could go back to her right now and thank her, I would give her a massive hug. In fact, I think I'll just give myself a massive hug and a massive well-done anyway.
And now you know how it all started!
Have a great week,
Amanda x
If you want to make the same, amazing change, book a discovery call with me and we can get started on your project. Peloton bike not required, but if you already have one, we can definitely incorporate it for a successful break! I look forward to meeting you. 💕
