1066 All Stars

It's been just about a month since I finished the FIT1, which seems an appropriate time to check in on how things stand.

As a reminder, at the end of the FIT1, I weighed in at 10st 4lbs, which brought me 2lbs under my long term weight target.

I had not quite managed to get the clarity of mind and mental energy levels I was seeking but was conscious that this may be a consequence of the anti-depressants I was also taking.

My skin meanwhile remained troublesome with no sign of clearing up.

So, how do things look now?

Body

Not only have I maintained my weight at 10st 4lbs, I have dipped down to 10st 3lbs. My weight fluctuates between these two values but I have yet to go higher.

Weight aside, I can still see the benefit of toning and weight loss. Whilst I have eased off somewhat, I have broadly attempted to maintain the FIT1 schedule, at least in spirit, so that I continue a 5 days on, 2 days off approach to exercise whilst alternating cardio and resistance work. Without the structure of the FIT1, I am free to pick and choose the exercises I want and so I make my own routines with a combination of squats, crunches, push ups etc.

There are occasions when I wonder if I am pushing too hard, in which case I ease off, perhaps give myself an extra days rest. I do not feel an obligation to follow a fixed, rigid plan, rather I am happy to have adopted the principles of the FIT1 and embedded them into my daily routine. It was easier than I ever thought possible.

It means making some sacrifices of course. Life is full of choices. How often do we exclaim that we don’t have time for something, only to spend that very time doing something else instead? That game I want to play, that book I want to read, that programme I want to watch; each must be slotted in around my exercise regime.

Of course exercise is always good for you but perhaps the most important aspect is diet. Again, I have relaxed my dietary rules whilst still trying to stay broadly in line with FIT1 principles. What this means is that I allow myself treats (a McDonald's, a big bag of crisps, a fizzy drink) but I ensure that they are ‘paid’ for. What I mean by that is that I plan and count my calories. Want a dirty great, 1,000 calorie pizza for dinner? No problem, just save some calories from somewhere else in the day. I view my calorie count like a bank account; it’s fine to go overdrawn every so often but I try to live within my means. I still get some occasional food guilt, half expecting the scales to show an 8lb gain every time I so much as look at a packet of crisps but I'm slowly learning to let go of this irrational thought process.

The shakes remain an important part of my diet, either for breakfast or, more usually, for lunch. I don’t use them every day to try and avoid boredom through over familiarity but they are enjoyable, convenient, filling and tasty and so I see no reason to exclude them just because the plan is over.

Mind

I have continued to struggle with tiredness and I need to understand the weighting of factors that sit behind this. I am perhaps over exercising, perhaps under stimulated and perhaps affected by anxiety and depression. There may also be underlying issues, which I will explore with a doctor.

During the period I have tried using the Therm tablets and bee pollen, settling on the latter for now. Towards the end of the month, I feel noticeably more refreshed but this is something I will continue to monitor.

I have also been taking the Royal Jelly tablets to address anxiety. I remain far from cured but I am aware of a general balancing of my mood recently and so will continue with a combination of both these Forever tablets and my prescribed medication.

Skin

No major breakthroughs but no major flare ups either. I may simply just have that type of skin but I am persevering with the Aloe Gel with a view to improving myself from the inside out.

Thoughts

I have been absolutely thrilled with my C9 and FIT11 journeys. 14lbs lost in 3 months and looking and feeling better than I can ever remember is more than I could have hoped for.

Healthy living is not a burden. It is a lifestyle choice that takes commitment and self-discipline. I choose to eat the salad rather than the chips. I choose the protein bar rather than the curry. And I choose the exercise mat rather than the pub. I am healthy and I am happy.

Find out more about the C9, FIT1 and the full range of Forever supplements and products by searching for Aloe Vera Dreams on Facebook or on Twitter, @Aloeveradreams