Two stone off

And this photograph truly depressed me! You know when you feel radiant? Full of energy, slim... And then something like this screams "YOU ARE STILL FAT!".

Yummy dinner

I know I don't normally post what I eat. I thought it would give you an idea though of what I do eat now and how my results are effected by food intake.

Week 6

Week 6??? I didn't think I was capable of reaching 6 hours!!
Yes, starting fasting was initially about control I have to admit, but now, there are so many other benefits!


Yesterday, day 1 of week 6, I was a little hungry towards the end of the day, and went to bed feeling hungry, but when I woke this morning I am buzzing and of energy. I feel so invigorated, and want to jump, run, and get lots of fresh air.

2 stone 2 lbs since I started!

This is still very much my life now. If I had any tips for anyone who wants to fast, whether it be 48 hours or less, listen to your body- that's it!! Your body is designed in such a way that it sends signals which you then have the choice to act on. For example, I do feel hungry, and I drink water, this stops hunger in it's tracks. If water was not to work, I would finish the fast early. I would not continue. So looking out for signals is the best tip I could give you!

Week 5 day 2

I shook it up a bit this week. I am still researching the whole exercise/fasted debate, and in the mean time have changed my weekly fasting days to a Saturday and Sunday when I don't exercise the way I do through the week.

This is where I wish I had charted my swimming. Since I started fasting, I seem to have acquired more energy, which is one of the benefits fasters report. I swim 5 days a week between 90 and 100 lengths an hour. On a Tuesday (when my fasting usually finishes) I swim in the evening as well as the afternoon.

Week 6, I may change my days again ...you find something that works well for you!!

Another top tip is find a good group, face to face or on Facebook. I am a member of 'Intermittent Fasting Freaks' on Facebook. The support I have received there has been fabulous! This being a controversial lifestyle, not everybody agrees with it, some may even insist you have an eating disorder!

I understand any eating habit has the potential of becoming an eating disorder to some, though I believe I am psychologically in tune, enough to know if I was taking that path and to stop it occurring.

Helpful links

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2013/01January/Pages/Does-the-5-2-intermittent-fasting-diet-work.aspx

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=da2pc3vMkSc&feature=player_embedded&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Ffeature%3Dplayer_embedded%26v%3Dda2pc3vMkSc

http://homefitnessmanual.com/dieting-for-fat-loss/can-a-leptin-reset-help-you-reach-your-diet-goals/

http://youtu.be/rhObSu7y2_A

http://www.drsarasolomon.com/intermittent-fasting-fasted-training-anabolic-or-catabolic/

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/basics-intermittent-fasting

http://www.drsarasolomon.com/stop-overcomplicating-fat-loss/

http://breakingmuscle.com/nutrition/build-lean-muscle-intermittent-fasting-carb-and-calorie-cycling

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/basics-intermittent-fasting

http://bradpilon.com/weight-loss/can-you-build-muscle-while-doing-intermittent-fasting/

http://nyti.ms/WsA5jZ

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110403090259.htm

Week 5 day 1

Ok, I know you would normally expect to start with week 1, but I really did not think I had the ability to ' hack it' this long. 5 weeks on, and sticking with it is not an issue at all. This is me, for life!

I have started this blog as I want to inspire others like me. At some point I will add some links to the science of this very controversial way of eating, but for now, I wish to share with you the many benefits I have experienced!

Firstly, my starting weight was 20.6. I didn't weigh myself regularly because I really did not feel it would work. How wrong can you be! Now, 5 weeks later, I am 18.4. Now, this is not the ONLY reason I am fasting, there are many more benefits which, once I am at a healthy weight, will become so much more distinctive.

Week 1-3 was definitely a learning process for me. After finishing my fast, I would eat a normal (for me) sized meal. The problem here was that I felt so full I just wanted to go to bed. It seems feeling full, to discomfort had become normal for me. Why would someone WANT to feel this way? So now, I take a leaf out of the amazing Mr Paul Mckennas book, and stop when I am full.

Water is a huge help when it comes fasting. I recall an advert for acid indigestion tablets,  you see the medication pushing the acid back down the throat. This is the best way I can describe the effect water has on hunger. You take a swig . . . And away it goes, albeit temporarily. I have also noticed that on.my none fasting days I drink more as I recognise more the difference between hunger and thirst!

One more major is that I.now find tge possibility I have intollerences to certain food types. My stomach, apart from occasional hunger, feels amazingly peaceful when not fasting, and on feed days I.notice a huge difference in my Errr 'bodily functions'.

This is an introduction, and I hope that my daily posts will encourage those of you who have made the steps to change their lives forever, and those of you who are researching the potential benefits!

Keep fasting!! :-))