Fasting Diet : Part 7

After the last disappointing weigh ins I have been much more focused this week, I stuck to my exercise goals and kept an eye on my calories on both fasting and normal days so I was quite excited (yeah I don't get out much) to see how I'd done.

Well it has definitely been worth it as I have lost 2 and a half pounds this week bringing my total to 17 and a quarter pounds!

This also means I've only got 4 pounds and three quarters to go to reach my next target.

I've not tweaked my fasting days yet as I haven't felt the need to but I am planning on going to the gym tomorrow (a fast day) so I might have to add a yoghurt just to make sure I can get some sleep. Also as I'm breastfeeding I need to make sure my supply doesn't decrease otherwise I will have a grumpy boy on my hands!

I must say I have really enjoyed the gym this week, a bit of time to myself just to clear my head has done wonders and although H has been clingy I think it's good for both of us to have a bit of time apart. I've mainly been working on the treadmill, interchanging fast walking and running, the bike, the cross trainer and a few minutes on the rowing machine - I'm trying to change the order I do things to stop it getting boring. 

My workouts tend to last an hour and I'm thinking of maybe going to Zumba this week rather than one of my gym sessions.

I am also on track with the crunch and squat challenges - I can definitely feel my stomach muscles when I'm doing my crunches and my legs shake after the squats so all in all I'm feeling like I'm getting a good bonus workout from them.

This week I'll be sticking to my exercise plan and see if I can replicate the weight loss - fingers crossed!

Fasting Diet : Part 6

I didn't get a chance to blog last week but it was a disappointing weigh in.

After a very boozy day and night on Saturday, topped off with all manner of deep fried beauties, I put on 2 pounds.

Although I was expecting it I was still pretty disappointed - breastfeeding has been my saving grace as I can't drink too much so days like this are thankfully few and far between.

This week I lost 1 pound and three quarters so I'm not quite back to where I was but I'm getting there.

The weight gain also gave me a real push to get a bit more serious about dieting and boost the exercise side, one thing I've been putting off but that (fingers crossed) will make a big difference.

I even took the big step, for me anyway, of joining the local gym. I have never been a massive fan of the gym but this way I also get 3 baby free hours a week and working out at home isn't the easiest with a dog and baby using me as a climbing frame while I struggle to do a push up!

So since Tuesday morning (weigh in day) I've stuck to my new exercise plan and although I feel tired and hungry, I'm determined to keep going.

A quick outline of my exercise plan is -

Gym three times a week for an hour

One 3 mile walk

Four 2 mile walks

30 day crunch and squat challenge (I'm starting these from the beginning).

This gives me an average of over an hour of exercise a day which I'm pleased with and praying I can stick with it.

I am planning to look at my fasting though, last night I couldn't sleep due to hunger pains so ended up eating a yoghurt at half 2 - suffice to say once I'd attacked the Munch Bunch pot I fell into a well deserved slumber! My workout this morning was also impeded because I was so hungry so the plan is to eat an extra 100 calories before bedtime on a fast day but only if I'm planning a workout the morning after - I'll see what this does to the weight loss and if needed tweak it again.

Fasting Diet - Part 5

So 5 posts in and I'm still on track with the fasting diet which is quite an achievement for me.

Last week I stayed the same which was a disappointment but this week the scales say that I've lost.... A pound!

That brings my total weight loss to 15 pounds.

The fast days this week have been harder than usual, Little H has a virus AND he's teething so there have been a few days where he's foregone food and just filled up on breastmilk. This in turn has bumped up my hunger but I've stuck to the 500 calories, even though I went to bed planning the next day's meals with military precision.

OH has also got serious about doing the 5:2 diet which makes it easier and we've been able to keep each other on track.

Exercise wise I'm still walking a lot and I'm now on day 17 of the squat challenge - it's getting much harder but I'm still managing to do them as well as the same number of bridges and twists and a move called good and plenty (not its actual name but I saw it on the goddess workout once and it works the abs!) you basically start with you bum and stomach pushed out then tilt your pelvis to contract them both and squeeze your abs.

I've been getting more comments this week as people are beginning to notice my weight loss - this is a good boost, especially if they come on a fast day! My clothes are also fitting much better and my belts are nearly all too big.

Here's hoping for another good week!

Fasting Diet - Part 4

Last week was not a good week diet-wise.

I ate like a horse and didn't do as much exercise as I wanted, partly due to the crap weather and partly due to being too busy (ok maybe too lazy...)

So what do the scales say... No change.

I'm happy not to have gained anything but I am disappointed in myself, I'm trying to use this as a push to get back on track and reach my next goal.

I've walked 9 miles so far this week* and I'm on day 9 of the squat challenge, alongside this I'm doing the same number of bridges and twists - I'm not too concerned about arm based exercises as carrying a 24 pound toddler seems to be doing the trick!

So here's hoping I can stay on track this week and report on some more lost pounds next week!

* I should say that my fasting weeks run from Tuesday to Monday.

Fasting Diet - Part 3

Another week down and I'm still committed to the fasting diet.

I wouldn't say I enjoy the fast days but if I feel like I've overindulged I do look forward to a fast day to clear my system out. I have noticed that since starting this diet I haven't suffered from any bloating or stomach aches like I used. I also have more energy and I'm a lot more motivated to exercise, even if its just going for a quick walk.

In fact if I have planned to go for a walk and it doesn't happen I feel like a coiled spring that needs to be stretched out! This has happened today so I plan to do some indoor exercises instead.

So how is the weight loss going?.... Well as of this morning I have lost A STONE!!

I'm really thrilled and getting to a nice round amount has given me a boost - I've also had a few people telling me I look slimmer which is always nice!

I should also say that although the fasting days aren't easy, I haven't felt stressed or like I'm struggling with this diet. I also don't feel deprived of anything and if I know I'm going out I can just move my fast day.

So now I've reached my first goal I have my eyes on the next one which is to lose another 8 pounds.

I am splitting up my weight loss for two reasons, firstly I think it can be too daunting to say, for example, I want to lose 2 stone. This is because, from past experience, I've found that even after a few weeks of weight loss the end goal can seem so far from reach that you lose focus and inevitably (for me anyway) you give up.

Secondly I don't have a fixed end goal, so I'm taking it one target a time. I might find that if/when I lose 8 pounds I'm happy with my weight and decide to stop there. Or I might feel I have a bit more to lose. If I have myself a definite goal though I wouldn't be fully happy until I reached it even if I find that it is unattainable or I really had to punish myself to get there I would feel have a part of me that would feel like I've given up to soon.

So here's to my next target, and keeping my focus and motivation on track!

5:2 Fasting Diet - Part 2

I've been continuing the fasting diet and its definitely getting a lot easier as the weeks go by.

That's not to say that I don't still get hungry on fasting days, right now I'm trying to drown my hunger pangs with copious amounts of water, but I've got myself into a routine which helps.

So how much have I lost doing this diet?... 12 pounds!!

That's only 2 pounds off a stone and that is helping keep me motivated and spur me on for another week. I'm hoping this time next week I will have reached the stone mark but we'll see.

I am doing light exercise alongside this to help move the weight loss along and also to tone up but although I could do more I struggle to find the time.

A week's worth of exercise usually includes 2 or 3 2.5 mile walks and doing 15 mins of toning exercises 4 or 5 times a week.

Although this doesn't sound like much this is also coupled with running around after a toddler and walks around the village, to classes etc. and I know exercise is one thing I can push forward with once the weight loss slows down.

I'm really hoping for a 2 pound loss this week just to bring it up to a nice even stone but we shall see!

5:2 Fasting Diet

Mr B and I have been doing the diet of the moment for a few weeks now and as diets go it isn't too bad.

The first few weeks were hard and it took a lot of willpower to carry on but now we've got into a routine with it every week is getting easier (fingers crossed).

If you haven't heard about the diet then the premise is to choose 2 days a week, which mustn't be consecutive, I imagine its because you'd pass out from hunger if they were, and you eat only 500 calories on these days (600 for men). On the other 5 days you eat normally and keep the calorie intake under 2000 (men get 2500 - lucky b******s).

On the fasting days I personally prefer to have cups of tea for breakfast and lunch, maybe a rice cake if I'm getting hungry, and then have a filling dinner. I've found carb based meals are best - baked potatoes, risottos, and couscous fill you up but they do need weighing out so I don't exceed the limit. I also save 31 calories to have 1 chocolate (kinder schokobon) at around 9pm when Little H is asleep and I can have a bit of me time.

There are times when I could quite happily and easily eat the whole contents of my fridge, including the very questionable condiments I keep pushing to the back. But I just think well I'll eat so and so tomorrow and it keeps me on track, and by the time tomorrow comes I've forgotten about it.

Surprisingly on non-fast days I now don't eat as much as I did in the first few weeks, I think I'm getting used an empty stomach and I no longer need a biscuit with my cup of tea.

Others who have reportedly tried this diet include Miranda Kerr (probably the only thing we have in common) Philip Schofield and Chris Evans.

So, how much weight have I lost? After all that's the true testament of a diet...

10 pounds!!

I'm really chuffed with this as after getting to my pre-pregnancy weight I've really struggled to shift anymore but this diet seems to be doing the trick!