Preston, have a great holiday, you deserve it so much. Enjoy yourself. Dont go too overboard, and glad to hear you are going to swim.
Dont worry about putting on a 1lb, I'm surprised its taking you this far on your journey to hit that first plataue I mentioned about! If you think you have slackened, great, you know it and whats more you needed a break. Putting on a 1lb is hardly a setback considering how far you've come but I think you already see it that way anyway, I really love your solar strength positivity!
Take that much needed break. Just make sure you get back in proper groove when you return and ideally, try maintain some of that groove whilst on holiday too. I'm sure your caring friends here will see to that you do, hehe.
When you return can I suggest you stick to what has been working for you? Plataueing means your current lifestyle needs a new flavour. Change your exercises and diet from Banana to Vanilla flavour. So for instance, during your cycling, introduce some interval fat burning sessions. Ie alternate normal and high intensity cycling (only on open stretches of course!). Time to give the body a new shock to the system. At this advanced stage, it would be a good idea to lower the complex carbs and sugar levels a little more and increase protein intake. And I still urge you to do some weights exercises. Resistance (weights) exercising is vital for fat burning!
I see you have watched that program about fasting. I saw that too when it was broadcasted.
First of all, I did find the program very interesting and the theories do actually sound quite logical in terms of the health benefits from fasting. I am thinking long and hard about this, as the program goes against much of what I have preached, lectured and learnt from health professionals and nutritionists that I have used during my own fat loss journey and eventual qualification...in fact I started writing this post last night but need a clearer head after a good night sleep...because my first instinct was to passionately slam it down for its irresposnisble way it was presented.
There are so many theories out there that conflict each other. But in the end I will stand by the health theories that have worked for me personally, all of which spurn from my involvement with health and fitness professionals. I have taken blood tests and all my vital levels are at a fairly good healthy range. Knock on virtual wood. Even my mild asthma attacks occur a much less frequently since I started my health and fitness journey. That indicates to me that I've done things mostly right so far, though admittedly with a fair amount of cocky complacency along the way that I hope teaches me a lesson to be not so complacent again.
But I wont be closed minded about what the program lectured, its why I watch and record such programs, to learn more about new ideas and theories...and to investigate further, questioning its validity where neccessary.
BUT remember its all theoritcal. These are not fully approved findings and the program spins the theory into what seems almost like a long product advertisement, throwing an almost complete disregard for the potential side effects and unforgiveable absence of promoting any sort of exercise...In fact the program seems to encourage the opposite thanks to the most lazy and irresponsible presenter you can ever imagine for a health program. Worse at no point, does the presenter show that during fasting you can drink as much water as you feel, which actually combats the hunger pangs. Water is magic. So if anyone is adopting this fasting lifestyle, remember drinking lots of water during your fasting will enhance your experience both mentally and in health.
This fasting is certainly not for everyone and I do strongly suggest if you want to adopt it, to check with your doctor first. At the very least you must be very positive in mind when you fast and while fasting, you must enjoy thinking about the rewards that you know will come from the fasting, otherwise fasting can have an adverse effect on your mentality. One good way to go through a fasting day is to make sure its a busy day. I know, I did it at the beginning of my journey of discovery, and I dont need no damn lab test to tell me that I went bloody mental on quiet days but on busy days it wasnt so bad. I knew though at that point in time, starvation or fasting was not mentally right for me. Now I have said in the past that missing meals sends the brain a nueral signal alert which results in cravings for sweet stuff and if starving for long, the brain switches to preserving fat storage. The program contradicts this knowledge. Now the sweet cravings I can vouch for in practicality, as for the preservation of fat storage...I dont know, its what I learned and so have relayed that knowledge. So I am open to new research on that. But what I do know, is that I didnt lose body fat and achieve healthy levels from blood test results from starving. I did not go on any fad diet. I did not fast. What I did do was exercise at least 4 times a week and eat sensibly. I did not even count calories, I did at the beginning but I soon realised it was unneccessary. I just made sure I ate QUALITY claories and have my sweet treat reward days once a week. That's all. I still maintain that confortably and I enjoy it. That is all anyone needs to achieve a higher level of health and fitness. Now because I love competitive sports, I go further than that and ensure a high protein, low complex carb diet but its still a normal balanced one albeit my ratio is 40% Protein, 30% carbs, 30% fat. I dont measure my food, I am relaxed about it, just cook the food, average the portions and devour. You dont need to be secific in calorie counting etc. Its the quality of food that matters, not the calories. Your stomach will also tell you how much you need. Being too specific with measurments also adds unneccessary stress but for some people measuring gives a peace of mind and a sense of control, if thats how it works for you then great :) I see a lot of you seem very comfortable with measuring, great, in time though it shuld become second nature and dont let measuring food become a stress or rule over you.
A lot of you think counting calories is the key. Its not. Its the QUALITY of the calories that is the key towards your health goals. QUality calories equal unprocessed, organic and natural produce untainted by chemical processing. Its hard to avoid the unprocessed food though, our supermarket shopping system ensures we have a hard time to adopt such a diet but its worth the effort to try and defy that system :)
If the the fasting method appeals greatly to you and you have positive vibes about its theoritical virtues then I support you in your choice if you insist on trying it. But back to you Preston :) I would ask you why? You have achieved so much with methods you have used so far. You've hit the plataue and as I recommended above, you just need to either get back into the groove that you enjoyed or give you body a shock to the system. If you really like the idea of fasting because of the program's claims that it will lessen chances of cancer then by all means you have my blessing but please consider all angles of adopting a method that is not fully researched :)
And if you any of you do, I will fully support and cheer you on! I may not recommend it but it doesnt mean it wont work for you and I will take a keen interest in how it works out for you.
One final thing I want to mention is about the presenter. As I said I've seen many health programs (I have a large folder of health program recordings) and it so happens this very person presented a couple of them in the past. He is actually a very good investigator and entertaining. The problem is, he is a terrible role model. He had presented 2 other health programs in the past few years which in each one, he makes himself the subject of the healthy lifestyle changes he is investigating. In each episode, it ends with him being enlightened and he promises to adopt to the new lifestyle. Sounds familiar? Yet at the beginning of this new documentary, he clearly hadnt adopted to any of the previously covered healthy lifestyles he swore to :) The man doesnt even want to walk much. He is so set on finding a way to a healthy lifestyle that requires little exercise. Not the sort of encouragement I like to see in a health program.
Great to see Anakin's weighty encouragement here. A long time ago, I was pondering with a little hesitancy on changing my career and train to be a health fitness professional, she said if my heart is in it, dont hesitate, go for it, and I did. I would have done so but to have that kind of encouragement which money cant b*y, it just rockets my confidence and positivity :) That was great great advice for Rawr_xoxo btw. Sorry it just triggered my memory of your advice to me once upon a time
Biggins's, I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin. My deepest sympathies. I am impressed with your journey though, its amazing and I like to contragulate your progress, especially in getting your haemoglobin levels down. Awesome!
And you too Clarebarr, dont worry about the dips, its overall journey that counts and your one rocks, well done so far
Valda, how you doing? Last I remembered you were doing the swiss ball classes :)
Diane, you probably already reached your target
Well done, I'm very proud of you!
Hey, it seems everyone is on a well deserved break or have just finished one! You all deserve it. Dont worry about temporary halts on your fat loss or health journey. Its actually healthy to have a short break from it all :) Just make sure you all get back in groove on your return!
As for me, I am have been running a lot in the last couple of weeks with an incentive to raise as much as I can for Childrens charity which Samsung donateds for every full mile I run. So far I raised £36, although I ran about 44 miles but each of my run always seems to end with a half mile which doesnt get any donation
But its been a great incentive and should I be picked to run the London Marathon next April, this is a nice little build up training for it.
Primarily though I am concentrating in improving my squash skills and climb to the top of the local club squash league ladder. There is a monthly "challenge the Manager" where eveyrone is invited once a month to have a game with the manager and if they win, gets 2 months free membership. Problem is the manager is the top player an no one has beaten him yet! But I want to beat him! I havent yet challenged him, though, there is a lot of climbing to do first :)
Have a great weekend everyone! Man its so hot...
She's moaning that apart from Tuesday when I was at work I have made her (asked/bribed her) to join me 
) so I can have my cereal bar later as I can't go to bed hungry.
(82 calories)) I know its virtually the same as yesterday but I have loads left.