Oh how time FIYLES...

I cannot believe it's nearly 1 month, it certainly has blown by.

Still enjoying it and still keen to succeed.

The new exercises are good, it's nice to add some more variation, although the hockey steps and the frog jumps are absolute killers. Hopefully they'll get easier...
Jump rope (skipping) is coming along nicely, smashing out 1150 in no time at all and starting to get some skills. Switching feet, hoping about, trying to get off the toes.

The weight has certainly been dropping off me, Kevin says that is mostly water. I can see things starting to retract and come in, very encouraging.

Not much to report from the weekend, a took my non FIYL food in form of a small curry and rice, we were at a friends birthday meal, so I thought a good opportunity to fit in. Of course, I had 2 glasses of red wine too. I get what Kevin meant by that exercise, I don't think I did it in the right way.
Still, from now on I am going to be uber strict. I kind of feel like time is running out a little and I want to see more results.

Happy Monday gang and good luck for the week.

Over & out.

Or this...

Inspirational figure

It might as well be Bond...



Not sure I'll be putting a picture of him up anywhere, let alone the gym...

Energy levels.

For the 1st time last night, I felt low on energy, this was in the gym around 6.30pm. I felt tired and low but also was getting angry, there was a slight feeling of emptiness in me (physically) and my mood was definitely weird. I could have quite easily GBH'd a fellow gym goer, if provoked...

I managed to not veer from the path and was okay after eating and taking a wee rest. Had my fruit pretty early last night, and that did see me through till this morning.

No huge drama, just wondering if anyone else experienced this?

Picture of a hot male to follow  #wierdthingsyousayonfiyl

Over & Out.

Today's lunch.

Lovely stuff, last nights steamed veg, sweet potato, asparagus and some beetroot salad with salmon. Cheeky little wholemeal pitta and some bugler wheat.

Yum.

80% full.

Back on top...

Feeling great and hungry for more.

I had a massive whitey on Monday, mostly to do with the new business I am starting, but I felt pressure from all areas of my life, including FIYL.

It was completely natural and I think there would be something wrong if I didn't have some fears. However, I am back on top of things and feeling great. I have lost over half a stone...(7 lbs) and I am really enjoying the program now. Doing my exercises in the gym makes a big difference, it's a lot more motivating than my back garden and I can enjoy the ceremony of the steam & sauna etc.

Thanks Swee, It's dropping off me, but I am sure that'll slow down? When you have more to lose, it'll show quicker.

I am pretty sure I can sustain this and I am prepared for an increase in activity and decrease in food. I am slightly amazed at how I am not hungry in the evenings. After a workout, that amount of food really does see me till the next day.
That was one of my biggest problems, eating crap food late at night and not just when drunk!

Right, I am inspired to pick a human-man-body to aspire to, I will have a good think and get back to you.

Over & Out.

Ps - I'd go gay for Matthew McConaughey

Wandering from the path...

So, I messed up slightly... Not really sure why it happened, but I'll tell you this much, the guilt is unbearable.

I told James, aka SWEE, about my little mess-up and said I wasn't going to blog about it, was going to sweep it under the carpet and start over. I think that would be a mistake, and dishonest.

I ate some food that wasn't on the menu. Not much and not that bad, but enough to seriously de-rail my head. It really pissed me off and put a bit of unwanted stress on my fragile mind.

I am back on track now, perhaps I needed that little mistake, to prove to myself that I want to achieve this. That is though, no more messing around. I thought about the end result and if I keep having lots of secret little snacks, seeing James, aka SWEE's results next to mine... Unbearable.

Right, enough of that. Correct food done, exercises done. Onwards and upwards.

FIML

Over & Out.

Day 16.

I went to see the Descendants last night, very good film. Sad but good.

The film finished at 8pm, so I didn't get home till 9pm. I was really hungry and really felt like cheating. I managed to conquer that feeling pretty quickly and moved onto talking myself out of my exercises... Remembering the words 'It's 80% diet, 20% work-outs' thinking, I'll just miss this and it won't hurt too much.
I didn't fail, I managed to pursued myself, quite quickly, that I was going to do them, so I did. Then ate according to the new measurements. This was an achievement, my 1st major wave, and I rode it home.

This is going to happen again, maybe stronger, maybe more powerful. It's important not to put yourself in those situations, because it'll get harder to say no.

I have done abstinence diets in the past, eating packet soups 4 times a day, that was extreme and very tough. Constantly thinking of real food and seeing it everywhere. You have to play tricks on yourself, set yourself targets then exceed them. Eg - I would say, if I can last till the weekend, I'll have a sandwich, or a pint, or whatever the hell it is that I was craving. Of course, by the time I get to the weekend, I am feeling completely different and am not about to ruin what I have just worked so hard for. And so on, next time I am craving something or want to cheat, I set a goal and wait till I get there, chances are I won't when I do. It might be a dangerous option as it gets you in that mind frame for cheating, but on FIYL I haven't had to do that yet, as this is a sustainable diet and I am thinking far more long term now. Perhaps it can help in the future, who knows...

I am eating a shed load of fish at the moment, not been near meat in at least 4/5 days... I have noticed a change in my gut! I feel like my body is running a lot smoother, like an engine that has just been cleaned, oiled and tuned(i'm not a car guy, sorry for the simile)...

So, still feeling good, noticing changes in my body, physically and internally and hoping it's all sticking mentally. I have also bought a new bike.

Smiles all round, hope everyone else is getting on well.

Sri - I can't see your blog for some reason.

Swee - You hate chicken -- chicken hates you...

Tony/Terry - Where are you guys? Hope you're still on board!?

Over & Out.

Day 14 continued...

New menus and exercises in, here we go again. More movement, less consumption.

I haven't really been feeling that hungry, the fruit is a massive help in the mid morning, afternoon and evening. Even when I am not doing FIYL, I drink a lot of water. However, my consumption has gone up to about 4liters a day (usually), which really helps with the hunger.

After exercise is when I am most hungry, I have been doing mine after work, before dinner, perhaps I should try it in the morning?

I did get held up the other day and had to eat later than I would have liked (dinner), it really made me want to cheat, that is a key trigger - massive hunger pangs. If you can manage to not get too hungry, you have a much better chance of sticking to the programme.

Seeing a small difference is great, it's a real motivator, as are fat people in pubs... Seriously, take a good look around, they are everywhere. It's such a shame we're turning 'American'. Men, women, kids... everyone is getting fat, morbidly obese and it's not just that they look uncomfortable and are clearly self-conciuos, I am wondering how long before they get some chronic disease?

I am not meaning to judge and don't want to be harsh, I don't think I am better than them, but they are really motivating me to be healthy. Not just on FIYL, but forever...

I hope you've all seen some change to and are feeling good and ready to continue.

Over & Out

2 weeks done.

Good work everyone. Only 76 days to go... Still sounds quite a bit really.

Good to get that solid amount done though, skipping tonight and then we'll get the new programe in. More exercise and less food is probably on the menu.

I am going to add this weeks pic to fliker now, always best to take these in the morning...

Over & Out

DAY 10 -11

I managed to delete my day 10 & 11 blog!

Needless to say, it was funny, interesting and chock full of inspirational nuggets of information.  I would write it again, but I have forgotten it all.

Day 13 blog to follow...

Over & Out

Just found this in Drafts... Oops. DAY 9

Good morning all,

Another fine breakfast, same as yesterday but added some grilled tomatoes into the bargain. Completely forgot about the morning veg!

Dinner last night was great, a small fillet of salmon, two small potatoes and the rest in green beans and broccoli. The biggest change though, was the speed that I consumed it. I really took my time, tasted each morsel and put my knife and fork down between bites. It really does make the experience much more satisfying, I tasted more of the food and noticed and the end that I wasn't looking around for more to consume. 80% full, that is my new rule.

I really enjoyed the 'Unhappy Meals' article, it really struck a chord. If you haven't read, get it done.

The exercises are going well. Although, I found the pull ups hard, as I really don't have the equipment for it at home. I think I may have to do those in the gym, which isn't a huge deal. Also, I am slightly worried that my poky wee flat won't be big enough for the door anchor work, again if not, I'll just do it in the gym.

Right, I better go and do some work, enjoy Day 9.

Over & Out.

So far so good...

Breakfast was awesome - so tasty.

Lunch, as you can seem there was a lot of it and wasn't too bad. A little dry, but okay.

Dinner, I'm thinking Salmon, so won't be painful.

A small tip from previous programes, drink  lots of water. It is good for you and will fill you up, obviuosly not a dangerous amount, but I doubt that'll be an issue. Of course you'll be up and down like whore's nickers but it geniunly helps if you are having hunger pangs.

Bring on the skipping - I definitely turned a corner with it and am on the road to actually being good.

Over & Out

Week 2

It's been a roller-coaster of emotions today!!

Firstly, very excited to finally get down to it. I was full of joy reading through the program and the dietary aspects and I felt good about the new exercises. However, that didn't last... I was overcome by the sheer unknown, kind of confused about what I was going to cook/make and then felt wrapped with fear, thinking, I'm not gonna manage this etc.
After a few conversations with parents, girlfriend and friends, I started to relax and get to grips with it. I guess I felt a bit pressured with the fact that I have to start planning this stuff now. I am so used to eating on the hop or going out for dinner (and drinks) that I am just not used to this amount of preparation and planning.

I have a few meal plans and ideas from my loved ones and that has really helped me back to my original feelings, of excitement and happiness. We will learn on the job, it doesn't all have to be worked out now. I hope you're all feeling good about it too.

So, I am off to bed, I have made my salad, piece of chicken, wholemeal pitta and fruit snaks and packed them all for tomorrow. I will get up slightly earlier than normal and really enjoy my toast (wholemeal and rye) and 2 eggs, probably scrambled. I have to say, with a cup of good coffee, that is a pretty nice little breakfast right there. Not looking forward to losing the egg yolks.

Good luck everyone, here we go...

Day 5 and beyond.

Well what can I say, I certainly did drown my sorrows after our defeat to the 'auld enemy'...

I am glad that is it with the drinking. It's not nice doing the exercises on a massive hanger and it's obviously massively counter productive.

So, we begin properly. Like J-swee I am slightly nervous but mostly keen to get cracking. I will certainly prefer and get more out of the fact that it's pretty much mapped out for me, take away the element of choice and remove most of the temptation to bend the rules.

Almost bought a door anchor and band online but they wanted to much for delivery, I'm thinking of Sports Warehouse will have both.

500 skips tomorrow... Wowzers...

Day 3 & 4

Epic fail...

Evening 2 involved a lot of drinking... And day 3 suffered heavily for it. I was entertaining a client, so kind of had to do it.

If we had been on the no drinking rule, I wouldn't have slipped. So, I kind of allowed myself to do it and am not going to beat myself up. Back on the horse, onwards and upwards.

Day 4

I have just done the exercises in my back garden, it was peaceful, I enjoyed it.

Very interesting about the fat storage and optimum training levels etc. Does this mean that extra curricular work outs are actually going to hinder the re training of our bodies. Are we going to keep them burning emergency carbs rather than fat?? I guess soon there will be very few carbs in our diet!?

Scotland play England today in the 2nd opening match ofthe 6 nations tournament. It will be very hard not to drink too much, especially of Scotland win... Which is not as unlikely as you may first think. As we are still allowed to drink at this stage, I will again, be allowing myself the pleasure. I will try control myself, only drink half and perhaps drink a gin and slim rather than lager. But I am not going to worry if I slip slightly. It is a big day for us here.

If you give me a little, I'll try and take a bit more. Once I am not allowed t drink at all, I don't think I'll have a problem sticking to it.

Sadly, it's one of the corner stones of our culture in modern Britain... Sad really.

Over & Out.

Jumprope

I feel like a 3 legged donky while skipping!

I hear you, 'it'll take time' I wanna look like Floyd Mayweather NOW!

Day 2

Woke up feeling pretty much normal! I think I should be doing my exercises in the morning, but just didn't have time today. I think that's probably the best plan though.

I have to meet a possible client for my new business venture this evening. It will be in the pub! Obviously I will only be drinking a limited amount and half of what I'd normally consume at this type of meeting, but I am going to be slightly healthier and have gin and slim, rather than beer. I won't be out late (I hope), so the morning workout should be fine.

Still feeling very positive about the program and intrigued as to where it is heading.

Over & out. Good luck FIYLers

Day 1.

Not too shabby.

Half portions done

Exercise done... Skipping is hard!

I think I have been lulled into a false sense of security... We'll see.