Comfort Eating, the Fast Diet and Peanut Butter Sandwiches.

I know I go on about this a bit, and some of you may not actually be that interested ... but this Fast Diet is teaching me a lot. Since I have been on it I haven't cheated on my fast days at all.Its been 8 weeks now. However, I do have times when I really fancy food. It has taught me that a lot of my eating is pure boredom eating. I wouldn't even say it was comfort eating. I find myself heading for the fridge or the larder purely because its something to do. The fact that I don't eat anything when I get there is good, but finding myself there at all shows me that I eat because I want the flavour, the texture, rather than because I need it.

Today has been a dull, dull day ... a combination of brain numbing work ( not usually the case at all) and then a series of cooking, transporting, waiting, arguing, ferrying, waiting ...  And there is nothing I would like more than to make myself a big peanut butter sandwich on white, buttered bread. I would like to bite into soft loaf and salty, creamy, claggy peanut ...

Why does boredom and annoyance make me want to eat? I don't think I realised before because I would just do it ... just eat. The Fast Diet has made me see the pattern and, because I only have to cope with one day of restricted eating at a time, I have the will power to remain strong. I can tell myself that tomorrow will be a peanut butter day. Of course it probably won't, but by then it won't matter and I won't need to be "good" so the chances are that I won't be that bothered about food. The restrictions and need for healthy eating do tend to remain in the system though so I won't be indulging in a feast of naughtiness, food wise.

Today my colleagues tucked into macaroni cheese and garlic bread for lunch while I ate my banana and drank water. It didn't bother me at all, although they probably thought me very dull. At least I'm not dull every day though ... just twice a week.

I really feel that I am getting healthier. I feel different. Last night I went to zumba and felt fine, even though I haven't been doing much exercise at all recently. Tomorrow morning I shall weigh myself and see my fat, water, muscle and bone percentages again, as well as my BMI. It feels a bit odd being as open as this about something that is, essentially, private, but I think its important for me to see the changes over the weeks and if my blog posts and stats are interesting to anyone else, perhaps people just starting out on the Fast Diet, then that's good.

You never know, maybe this time next year I shall be gorgeously lean and fetchingly healthy, sporting a slim tummy and glowing cheeks. Someone asked me today, as they were tucking into their macaroni cheese, followed by chocolate brownie and custard ... how long I planned to be on the Fast Diet. The answer came quickly to my lips ... forever.

The Fast Diet continues and the BiBs voting closes ... how exciting!!

Well ... how nice is this?? Its 6.30 on Thursday evening and I am sprawled sitting on my sofa with my laptop - dinner in the oven, son #1 in the kitchen with his maths tutor, son #2 at football with my husband and all is well with the world!! Its very rare to find me able to do this sort of thing - luxury!!

I can now trawl the web to my heart's content, safe in the knowledge that there is a scrumptious chilli in the oven and I am up to date with everything that is important. Obviously I could be, at this very minute, hoovering or dusting or maybe tidying something ... but, for goodness sake!! I'm not Anthea Turner and it will still be there for me to do tomorrow ... or the next day.

Interesting news on the Fast Diet front. I had a bit of a naughty week as far as food went ( although I stayed true to my fast days ) because I had friends over for lunch one day and probably ate my body weight in Boursin, but ... my stats were really rather intriguing. Well ... when I say intriguing they are probably quite dull to anyone not on the Fast Diet, but  I thought I would share them anyway.

Although I put on just under a kilo in weight ( just under 2 pounds) my percentages were very different. My fat percentage went down from 44.9% to 41.7% and my muscle and bone percentages increased. I have definitely lost fat around my middle and I am hoping I have lost internal fat too.

The whole fasting thing has eased into a steady routine and I am able to manage my fast days well. I feel hungry, but it is not unpleasant. I tend to have a cup of tea when I get up, then I don't eat until about 1pm when I have a piece of fruit. I then wait until early evening to eat my 300 to 400 calories. I have bought myself a nice water bottle and am drinking way more water than I have done in years.

I feel so much more alert than I did before. My mind is clear and I can articulate my ideas far better than I did before. This of course sounds ridiculous and it may be purely my imagination, but this is how I feel! I am sleeping better, don't feel bloated and ( probably too much information this ... ) I have started having periods again for the first time in nearly a year. I can see this being a long term way of life.

Its strange that when you mention you are on a fasting diet some people have the reaction that you are mad, its not safe, its a fad. My brother in law, when I suggested he go on it rather than struggle to diet, said that he wanted something sustainable. For me, being on this plan seems far more sustainable than the " being on a diet" plan where you spend your whole time thinking about what you can't eat and what you are going to have for your next meal.. Each to their own though.

This week I have no plans to gorge myself on cheese and my hormones will be back to normal so hopefully next week my weight will be lower again.

On other matters the voting closed in the BiBs Awards. I still can't really believe that I was nominated for a national award. I don't know who nominated me, but if you are reading this ... Thank You!!!! Last year I reached the short shortlist for the video section of the BiBs and I don't think it really hit home how amazing it was to be up there. This year we will all find out who has made it to the top 6 on the 22nd May and I am so excited!! If I make it to the last 6 this time it will mean so much! To have my writing, my blog, recognised by a national award would be incredible. I am not, however, counting any eggs or chickens yet as I am up against some very good blogs. Cross your fingers for me??

The Fast Diet ... week 5 and life is feeling fine!

Its a lovely sunny day and my mood is sunny too. Not only did I spend all yesterday afternoon planning my lessons for this week, leaving me feeling rather satisfied and smug, but I have lost weight and lowered my BMI. Woohoo!!

Since I have been on Dr Michael Mosley's 5:2 Fast Diet it has been, as they say on the telly, a journey! I have just about got myself to the the right place with the whole thing, after a month of experimentation. And, at last, the weight is starting to come off. Not only that, I feel so much better in myself. I have lost that bloated, fat feeling and feel so much more alert in myself too.

The interesting thing about eating a reduced calorie intake twice a week is that I don't feel the need to overeat the other 5 days. In fact it has made me more aware of what I am eating and I am enjoying a far healthier diet purely because that's what I fancy.

Yesterday I made flapjacks ( blinking delicious I am told!!) for my Book Club. I didn't eat any as it was my fast day, but had thought that I would have one this morning with my coffee for breakfast. But, actually, I'm not bothered. I've given them to my boys as part of their packed lunch and I had a bowl of porridge instead.

I have read interesting reviews on the Fast Diet which are scathing, but for me the diet is working. It fits in with my lifestyle, is flexible, does not deny me the enjoyment of food and has resulted in me feeling a lot healthier, cleaner ( if you know what I mean?) and generally happier.I don't think being hungry twice a week is a killer and you'd be amazed at how filling a big bowl of salad can be at only 50 calories.

I have put my stats on my Fast Diet page on the tabs above, but over all I have lost a couple of pounds and 2 inches off my waist. All good. I am looking at this as a way to live my life forever - not as a quick fix fad.

If you are just starting or about to start? Good Luck!! Experiment to see what suits you and keep going if you don't lose weight immediately. Its not all about weight loss, its about a healthy life!! And as I said at the start, my life today is looking decidedly sunny. Woohoo!!!

     I am so thrilled to be on the shortlist for the Lifestyle Category of the BiBs. If you could take the time to vote for me by clicking on the badge to your left I would be really grateful!! Voting closes on 12th May. Thank you!!!