What an epic training session!!! Even if it did end with five minutes of death (coach’s fitness session right at the end of a tough class). I haven’t trained much in two weeks with work chaos and reaction to the stupid flu vaccine so it was great to get a good hard session in today. Ate well and well under goal too.

Weekend was ok. No logging and apart from Saturday and a few to many pieces of my friend’s birthday cake I ate reasonably. Run on Friday, Jiu Jitsu on Saturday and a walk on the beach on Sunday covered my exercise requirements at least.

Planning a bit of a trip for early May. Parents are going to spend two weeks with my brother and I have to go fetch them, so I might take a few extra days and have some fun in Cape Town too.

Apr 12:

✔️ EXERCISE: Yes. 40 minutes. A 20 minute walk while hubby made/ate supper, and 20 minutes dancing.
✔️ CALORIES: Yes. 498/1900 (Altho today was a fasting day, I did have my supplements and a cup of decaf in the morning and a protein smoothie this afternoon).
✔️ TRACK: Yes.

PASSES USED: 1/3 (10Apr)

"It’s all about self-honesty & knowing why you want to lose or maintain.."

In the past I've (jokingly) told people that I'm pretty good at taking the weight off, but not-so-good at KEEPING it off, and I have been thinking about maintenance for the last couple of months just because of that fact. I'm now within 16 lbs of my goal weight, and feel like I have begun to develop a "maintenance plan" thanks to the advice of some of the members of this group. I feel so much more confident that I'll be able to keep the weight off this time, and appreciate all of those in the group that are in maintenance and continue to share their wisdom/insights.

April is proving to be a good "test" of what maintenance might look like for me as I injured my knee at the end of March and have had to cut back on the exercise. I've increased my daily calorie goal to 1900 (my first "guess-timate" at what maintenance might look like for me - with the intention of tweaking it as time goes on). But I'm very happy with how April is going thus far. I'm also NOT eating back any of my exercise calories. 1900 means 1900.

As far as fasting goes, I've fasted throughout my entire adult life. Although in the past it has always been for religious reasons - never for weight loss. I've done extended fasts of 21 days a couple of times and even a 40-day "no chew" fast where we were allowed to have protein smoothies, and/or our own version of V8 juice in the blender. In the book THE OBESITY CODE that I recently finished, the author (a MD) talks about how/why fasting works and the science and scientific studies to back up his claims. I know that fasting is not for everyone, and always tell people that they should be sure to check with their doctor before attempting a fast, but it is working for me. I've been fasting 2 days/week this month and have lost almost 9 lbs already in April. Another "key" that goes hand in hand with the fasting is that on the days that I am eating (1900 calories/day), I have cut out all processed food, am eating more whole foods, organic veggies/fruits, and reading labels (to find that sugar is in almost everything)! I do agree with SummerSkier that fasting is not for someone that has or had any kind of issues with binge eating, or any kind of eating disorder.

Three yeses here. Exercise was 15 mins yoga, 25 mins exercise bike and an hour of walking. A trip to the chiropractor has tired me out today.

It’s been a big day in the UK, lockdown has started to lift a little more. Haircuts are allowed again, and we can eat and drink outside pubs and restaurants. I couldn’t actually face going out for a drink tonight to celebrate though - too tired and too cold! I’m also worried that going out and having a social life is going to derail my weight loss efforts! @SummerSkier i appreciate the advice re maintenance, I feel like I need two future plans, one for weight loss with socialising and then maintaining with socialising. One thing lockdown can help with is consistently and planning, I feel like they may be harder to rely on soon!