Week 2 on the IF diet

Since my introductory post, I've kept up alternate day fasting, consuming only 500 calories every other day, eating my normal diet in between.   The interesting thing I've found is that on the so called "feed" days, you actually don't feel like eating as much anyway!  The stomach gets used to having less so that when you do try to eat the amount you used to, you find you can't, or at least you feel fuller much quicker.

The other really interesting reaction is that on the "fast" days, I don't feel hungry until after I've eaten something because it seems that eating triggers chemicals which prime your body to expect food.  So I've found I can go longer without thinking about food and longer between meals.

It's better to keep busy while fasting as it takes your mind off it and you realise that eating is often a symptom of habit or boredom.   So don't sit around at home thinking it would be easier to do this while resting.... It isn't !!

I cycled to Colchester in Essex to visit my family on Monday, a fast day..... Cycled around 15 miles and despite the depletion in calorie intake, actually found I had more energy and felt fantastic on the bike, suitably inspired by the great Brad Wiggins.  

My intake that day was.....

Breakfast.... Tiny bowl of muesli
Snack ........... Small banana
Lunch .......... Third of a smoked mackerel, dry salad, half slice granary bread with no spread
Dinner........... Chicken, green beans (from my parents garden!) and small new potato, glass of red wine

As you can see I was a little more flexible as I was visiting my folks but still cut down considerably and had done a lot of exercise to counterbalance the potato and glass of wine!

Yesterday fasting was easy..... Why?   Because I had an operation with general anaesthetic so had to fast beforehand anyway!!  So cheating slightly!!  When I came around from the op, I was offered tea and toast and I can tell you nothing on earth has tasted so good!!!  Maybe because it felt good to be on the other side of the op!!

I had nasal turbinate surgery to try and help me breathe more easily.  It has also had the additional benefit of taking my sense of taste away temporarily as my nose is swollen and totally blocked for a week or so.  Makes you realise quite how important a role your nose plays in tasting food!!  

Results so far after just one week are that I have lost an inch all over, my skin looks more radiant and I've dropped around 3 or 4 pounds In Weight and it really isn't that difficult.  You get used to the hunger pains coming and going.  The hardest part is going to bed feeling hungry but you can convince yourself to love the feeling particularly when you see such fast results!!