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Right, as some of you know, it's my birthday tomorrow and I will be turning 19. It seemed right to post this on here instead of on other forums I use as some of the best people I know visit here and I consider you all to be a top bunch


In the last year... I have acchieved diddly squat with my life. And I kind of feel like I've wasted a year whilst idly taking up space and oxygen.


So this year, I feel like really making a change.
I mean really making a change.


So my plan is as follows... it's in 4 easy steps.

1. Quit smoking - despite several failed attempts this year, I am still in fact a smoker, and I really don't want to be. It's expensive, disgusting and makes me smell and makes me unhealthy. So I want to quit.
2. Starting exercising again - I used to go to the gym a bit a few years back, but I kind of gave up on it. But this year I want to make an exercise plan, including running 2 or 3 days a week and weight training for 2 or 3 days a week and then having a day or two off.
3. Eating more healthily - I work at a petrol station so I eat trash every time I'm at work. And because my dad is working night shifts now, I eat trash at home every day. So I want to eat better and more healthily. All 3 of these are leading to one ultimate ambition....

4. Join the police force - Everything I try fails. And my interest has stuck in the police force for so long I don't care to count now. 6, 7 years maybe? And even if I don't like it, at least I'll have grabbed a dream rather than sitting and watching it fly by...




The reason I posted all this, is because, as I mentioned before, you're all a fantastic bunch and you're all helpful.
So if anyone can help me acchieve any of these in the year I will love you forever If anyone knows of any good/typical exercise regimes, or tips/support on quitting smoking or even how to make my diet healthier I'd be most grateful if you could post and let me in on your ideas

And finally, if anyone is in the police force, I'd love to hear what you think about it, and how to fill in that damn application form... (the essays are ridiculously hard ) and whther it's worthing going for it, or just giving up and finding a new dream.



Thanks for the laughs and the tips since I started guys.
You all rock


Ecko

EckoZero wrote:So this year, I feel like really making a change.
I mean really making a change.

Well done, most of us wait until its far too late before doing anything.

1. Quit Smoking: Buy and digest a copy of The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
by Allen Carr, helped me; might help you
2. Starting exercising again: Set simple goals, and achieve them. It sounds like your setting your goals too high. You need to give your body time to recover. I'm off training (six months) at the moment due to injury and have developed a gut again, thanks to overtraining. If your overweight do cardio 3 times a week for 30-60 minutes and you'll be well on your way.
3. Eating more healthily - Food is the most important part of getting healthy and is critical if your weight training. Eat more protein, and eat 6 smaller meals rather than 2-3 big ones. Take a look at www.bodybuilding.com for nutritional and exercise guides. Its free and very useful, even if you don't want to look like Arnie.
4. Join the police force - I'm afraid I don't have any advice on this one.

Good luck!

Eckozero,

You seem like a really nice guy. Congrats on your birthday tomorrow. I have extensive experience in federal law enforcement/intelligence, am currently weight lifiting and working in martial arts. It hasn't been easy, but there are a few things that help keep you on track.

1st. Find out what the physical requirements for the police force.

2nd. Develop a fitness plan that works towards those requirements.

3rd. Develop a diet plan that allows you to snack on healthy foods several times a day. This prevents you from getting too hungry and then chowing down on c*** (not the best). I personally eat a small sandwich or fruit every four hours. Then at meal times I'm not so hungry and can be choosy and have smaller portions.

4th Develop a routine. Routine will keep you in the game. Just like magic if you do it the same way everytime it will work. When you are out of practice or try a different style you are more likely to quit or come up with some excuse. I plan an hour at lunch time to lift weights and one to two hours in the evening for martial arts (whether I want to go or not).

5th See if you can get a partner. This makes it easier to stay motivated. I had a partner for a while and had a running bet. Whoever pussed out of a workout or cheated in the diet had to pay the other $50.00. So when I was "tired" and didn't feel like working out, I still did it to not pay or owe him the $50.00. So I went anyway.

6th. QUIT SMOKING This is actually a sub part of each number. There are plenty of things like patches, gum, etc. A running bet with another smoker to quit might help.

Finally, Don't think you are wasting your life. As your birthday approaches, you may have realized that you missed some opportunities. However, this is good. Let that anger motivate you to not fail or let the next opportunities pass you by. I have learned that my failures teach me much more than my successes.

I'm rooting for you Eckozero. I hope you keep me updated on how you are doing. Never give up, never surrender. Don't let setbacks keep you from your goals, let them make you push harder.

Archimage

Thanks you guys

I'll definitely look into those things you've mentioned. I like the idea also of snacking every so often on fruit and vegetables (I LOVE raw carrots so eating one or 2 of them every few hours would certainly help keep hugner at bay ).

My exercise buddy has unfortunately run off to Uni for a while, so I'll have to start excercising on my own I guess. I am a little overweight (only a stone or so I guess) but I'd like to drop down to a healthier weight so I could look and fell better. I'd also like to build up my upper body strength, as sometimes it has failed me, in rather spectacular ways and I end up feeling quite the fool.

As for quitting smoking, I've tried Paul McKennas Stop Smoking Now but that didn't work. I'll have a look into that book you mentioned!


I know all the physical requirements to get into the police force, I just always end up feeling like there's no way I could reach that level. Maybe a bit more confidence in my own abilities would help me out there.

And Archimage... is it worth getting into the police force? It looks utterly fantastic. Nothing gives me a better feeling than helping people, and I like to be kept on my toes, thinking on my feet etc... I assume the police will do this, but will it keep me challenged AND motivated?


Thanks again for the help guys

Well, that depends.

You may find that police work isn't exactly helping people. For example, you can't "help" anyone until the crime is committed, and then it is too late. You will see the dregs of society day in and day out. You will find no one appreciates you until "they" need you and then try to sue you later. You will get every insult in the book, but people want to be your friend, not for who you are, but "it's always good to have a friend on the force" You get a lot people asking you for favors that you shouldn't do.

Don't get me wrong, police work is honorable. Police work allows you to bring some justice into the world. However, knowing a lot of policemen, most of them entered the force with the same optimistic goal of helping people, and many get very discouraged at the politics as well as the helplessness, not to mention the many rules that restrict you from actually catching the bad guy.

If helping people is your goal, you might want to look into firefighting. Everyone loves and admires firefighters. Women think they're sexy. They definately help people. The requirements are not out of reach. Something to think about.

Archimage

Thanks for that mate

What sort of things do you think I'd be doing on a day to day basis then?
(And yes, the thought had crossed my mind that you can't help until it's too late... but giving people the justice they so desperately need to maybe help piece together their life again... what could be a better job then that?)
Also, I wouldn't want to be an "On the beat" bobby, in fact, I'd rather like to join CID (Criminal Investigation Department) as I like to be mentally stimulated in what I do, and I think outside the box when I need to as well...

The fireman idea doesn't appeal to me too much to be honest lol
I know a fireman and he doesn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as he thought he would, which is a shame because he wanted to be a fireman for as long as I've known him.


Would it be worth joingin the police and sticking around for the probationary period (2 years) to see if I wanted to make my career there? Or is it something that should be thought about even more than I have already? (And believe me, my head hurts with the amount of thought gone into the police force... )

Mmmm - I disagree on some points.

You may find that police work isn't exactly helping people

The emphasis here is on the word - MAY. To some people you may find that you provide a real lifeline whilst to others nothing that you do will matter one jot.

you can't "help" anyone until the crime is committed

Untrue. The best coppers, and there are fewer of them are the proactive ones that concentrate on prevention.

You will see the dregs of society day in and day out

Depends on what you do and where you do it but inevitably you will deal with many people that fit this description.

You will find no one appreciates you until "they" need you and then try to sue you later

This can be true although most will agree that at the present time this is still a minority group that have this outlook.

You will get every insult in the book

Very true, and a lot of the time from kids who you can't do too much about. You need to think of it as if it's water off a ducks back.

but people want to be your friend, not for who you are, but "it's always good to have a friend on the force" You get a lot people asking you for favors that you shouldn't do.

Can't deny that this sometimes happens but most good friends will not bother you with the 'do me a favour' approach. A good way of sorting the good friends from the not so good friends.

Don't get me wrong, police work is honorable

Sort of agree but there are more and more lazy police officers out there, too worried about being politically correct and very ready to shop their colleagues.

Police work allows you to bring some justice into the world

If only - it's the coursts that do the justice bit. The police do the public order bit

knowing a lot of policemen, most of them entered the force with the same optimistic goal of helping people, and many get very discouraged at the politics as well as the helplessness

and of course, the dreaded admin. Not many stay in these days long term.

not to mention the many rules that restrict you from actually catching the bad guy

Don't get me started on this one..... The rules don't stop you from catching people if you stick by them. Unfortunately there are too many rights that favour the criminals. It's the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) who decide if it's worth taking a case to court, not the police.

If helping people is your goal, you might want to look into firefighting. Everyone loves and admires firefighters. Women think they're sexy. They definately help people. The requirements are not out of reach. Something to think about.

Erm, that's changing too! The fire service is changing to become more of an enforcement agency with form filling etc; just like the police. A significant amount of firemen have second jobs as the pay is poor for putting your life on the line. You stand just as much chance of getting abused and pelted with stones, bottles etc. when turning out to some fires than the police do.

My recommendation is - Have a VERY long talk with someone before you make up your mind. If you still decide to join then it can be a very worthwhile career if you put your back into it, particularly if the above hasn't put you off.

Sounds to me like you have given this a lot of thought. Do you have a police ride-along program? This will give you "on-the-ground" experience of what it would be like on a day-to-day basis.

Also if you want to join CID, you have (or should) to get your college degree. I don't know the particular requirements where you are, but certainly here it is mandatory.

The ride along if you do it often enough, you will get to know many of the policemen and get their perspectives, which should help you alot.

In my case, when I was your age, I also wanted very much to be a police officer. I started doing the ride alongs and going out on the beat. I enjoyed the action, but hated a lot of what I saw. It also took its toll on many of the officers who had multiple marriages and drinking problems. I heard you say you don't want to be "on the beat" but that's where everyone starts and you make your bones. If you excell and get higher education you can make it to CID.

There is also another side to what I am telling you. There are many officers who love going to work everyday. Knowing they are helping solve robberies, murders, etc. However, I challenge you to find one officer who will tell you that the job entails 90% boring, mundane, routine tasks, and 10% good stuff. Detectives included. I can't even begin to tell you about the paperwork, reports, court testimony, and lawsuits.

As I said, I also wanted to be a police officer, but changed my mind after getting to know many of the officers and riding in the patrol cars for a few months. I then joined the military and worked in intelligence. From there I can't say much.

Today, I work in the government. There is a retired FBI agent who sits in the desk next to me.

No one knows more what is right for you than you. I just am saying go in with your eyes open.

Archimage

Higher education ALWAYS helps but isn;t always necessary.

The likelihood is that you will do a minimum 2 years probation on the beat, often up to four or five before being eligable to join CID. It them depends on how you've applied yourself during the probation period as to whether you get a detatchment.

You'll then do work in CID and if you get on then there is the likelihood of being offered something permenant.

Not heard of the ride along idea. I might go and ask at my local station though. I have a lot of free time so if they do I could easily join them.

Yeah, we all start on the beat here too. 2 years of it in fact. That looks like a good part of the job. It puts you out there, keeps you on your feet and working in prevention as well as detection and catching. Not sure about needing a college education for CID here... something to ask about I guess

Thanks for the help Archimage. I definitely think that going into it with my eyes open is a good idea. One I hadn't really thought of before. I thought about all the things I mentioned beforebut I guess I shall have to go headfirst, remembering to dispell the misconceptions I may have

Many thanks again mate

And dat... I have to agree with you on some of thosepoints. But they still didn't put me off.

I think now, if it was possible, I'm even more keen to get in and find out what its all about.

I think tomorrow would be a good day to request an application form

Thanks guys

Good. Sounds to me like you know what you want and you are going after it. To me that is the mark of a winner. I hope you don't get me wrong. I still work in those circles and I wouldn't trade my experience for anything.

Again, much luck to you on this endeavor. Also on the phyical exercise part. You body is more resiliant than you think. The hard part is mental. Never quit. Push yourself and you will make it.

Archimage

Thanks man

I've actually bookmakred this link, so if I get to the stage where i fnd myself slinking out again, I can come back here withotu searching and see everyones encouraging words again

Of course, I'll try to keep you all updated on how my year goes... hopefully I can actually make something happen this year.

Thanks for helping me guys, and thanks for not looking and seeing "Fruitcake..." and ignoring me.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... You guys rock


And especially you Archimage

And dat... I have to agree with you on some of thosepoints. But they still didn't put me off.

Well that's certainly a great start.

If you go to your local station they should take some time to speak to you but I would ask for the duty Sgt. or Inspector. You could also enquire about becomming a CSO (Community Support Officer). Many join as a CPO which is part time and then after their grounding they move into the full time force.

Each area also has a training division and recruitment office and they should also put you in touch here. Write and ask to see someone.

Let me know how you get on and if you're not impressed too much with the locals I can put you in touch with some good Senior Officers in some specialist divisions.

dat8962 wrote:

And dat... I have to agree with you on some of thosepoints. But they still didn't put me off.

Well that's certainly a great start.

If you go to your local station they should take some time to speak to you but I would ask for the duty Sgt. or Inspector. You could also enquire about becomming a CSO (Community Support Officer). Many join as a CPO which is part time and then after their grounding they move into the full time force.

Each area also has a training division and recruitment office and they should also put you in touch here. Write and ask to see someone.

Let me know how you get on and if you're not impressed too much with the locals I can put you in touch with some good Senior Officers in some specialist divisions.

Thanks a lot man
I'll definitely let you know how this all turns out. Beginning of next week I'm gonna go to the police station, and find someone helpful to talk to... try and get my head straightened out, and get this ball rolling, once and for all

Dat8962,

I can't disagree on any of your points. None of my perspectives are universal or objective truths. In law enforcement there are many perspectives. I tried to give a viewpoint that is much less optimistic, which generally discourages those who probably shouldn't be there in the first place. Those who are in it for either the excitement or bullying or think it is like television.

However, Eckozero seems to have his stuff together and I agree that if that didn't put him off, he should pursue it.

Achimage