SEVENTY push ups.

When I first cashed in that old unhealthy lifestyle for a somewhat better version, all I could muster was one and a, well, half push ups would probably be stretching it.

So it's with a touch of pride I can report on Friday night I chugged my way through 70 - albeit in lots of 10.

Yep, 70 is hardly worth boasting about when you consider former Richmond footballer Jake 'The Push Up' King once belted out a tidy 303 in a session.

Okay, it's fair to say these weren't the most pristine, technically correct and established push ups ever produced in a training session.

Yes, maybe some of them were a little short in the drop down, push yourself back up stakes, but, hey, it was 70 all the same and that's a mighty improvement on one and a dodgy half.

It was also after five minutes on the rowing machine and some solid boxing on the big bag as well.

I guess my arms have to lift 30 kilograms less these days and that's got to help a bit.

But I'd certainly like to think while they are well short of what you would call 'guns', the arms might have got a little stronger with all this work.

Another great benefit of a true lifestyle change.

Willpower is another thing that drastically alters when you commit to change.

Sports journalist Nathan Dole put on his traditional birthday spread of Titanic proportions in the Addy office this week - cakes, donuts, jelly slices - the list goes on.

As far as spreads go, it was pretty impressive.

Six months ago I would have chewed through a grand portion of that spread out of nothing more than pure habit. As good as it all looked, this week I didn't touch one.

Later in the week a couple of boxes of Cadbury Little Wishes and more iced donuts arrived which certainly hit the mark with a good portion of the staff. Didn't touch one.

It's amazing how things that were once irresistible no longer register on the 'must have' radar. 

Makes you think why you ever thought you couldn't do without such things.

Having said that, I must admit the festive season did reveal my change in lifestyle kryptonite.

Yep, try as I might, just couldn't resist a good slice of Christmas pudding with a little drenching of brandy custard.

It's one of the great traditions of Christmas.

But that's okay because this is all about moderation, right? No one says you can't have things that perhaps aren't the best for your health, as long as you're sensible about it.

So, does two helpings of Christmas pudding qualify as sensible?

Mmmmm... maybe not.