1066 All Stars

Weight and measurements

Ideally I would start with a set of measurements to baseline the plan but with three little maniacs running around the house, I ran out of time. Overnight changes are unlikely so I will measure up this evening.

A day one weigh in puts me at 10st 8lbs. That is 1lb over my recent best but 4lbs down on my post-C9 weight. A good starting point then.

Smile For The Camera

Here I am on day one;

A fine specimen to be sure. But let's remind ourselves where I started back in January, then after the C9, compared to today.

And here's another look;

There isn't much difference between my post C9 and current shape, despite the extra pounds lost but there is a clear change from where I started.

Exercise

For some time now I have been incorporating a lunchtime walk into my daily routine so exercise is not a foreign concept to me. However I very rarely engage in toning or stretching which are a fundamental part of the 30 day plan.

I won’t go into detail on the specifics as it changes each day but I found the day one exercise brutal! A combination including press ups, crunches, bicycle kicks and more worked on areas that my daily hike simply doesn’t touch. As the cliché goes, I have aches in places I never realised I had places. It's certainly a hell of an introduction to the plan.

And this was only from one set, you need to repeat them twice more! They should really be done together but I ran out of time so I had to try and squeeze another couple of sets in around dinner.

It feels good though. Changing your lifestyle is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something different. You must become the change you want to see.

Food Diary

Breakfast – 120ml Aloe Gel, Therm tab, shake

Lunch – Salad with chicken breast and wholemeal roll

Dinner – Chicken breast with veg and pasta

Dessert – yogurt with blueberries

Snacks – 2x satsumas, 1x apple, grapes, Pro X2 bar

Thoughts

* Day one and not a million miles away from my pre-FIT1 routine. The main difference is the absence of processed snacks as I steer clear of snack-a-jacks or Go Ahead bars and instead rely on the ‘free food’ list from the Clean 9.

* The My Fitness Pal app is a handy little tool. Not only does it help you to track your calorie intake but it gives you an idea of calories used through exercise, giving you a clearer picture of your net calorie ‘spend’

* In my ruminations over weight targets and cost benefit, there is perhaps one thing I overlooked. My 10st 6lb target is arbitrary, plucked from my mind based on a vague idea of my ideal weight. Actually according to various online charts, my ideal weight is nearer 9st 6lbs. I am not targeting this by any means, indeed I’m not sure that weight would be appropriate for my frame. But it acts as reminder that, as long as it is done healthily and sustainably, there is no reason why my weight cannot reduce beyond my initial target.

* Still, the more important target is how I look and feel. Should I feel the benefit of toning or muscle building, this will likely cause my weight to increase, even as my waist slims. It is important then to keep everything in perspective.

* Some snack urges mid-morning and afternoon. I really wanted to reach for something unhealthy so it will be interesting to see if this desire fades.