5:2 Diet

So I've made a snap decision to embark on the 5:2 diet. Some stats I am 45; 163cm when standing tall (rarely) and 14 1/2 stone (or 93 kg) (or 205 pounds).  When I felt good I weighed 70 kg or 154 pounds or 11 stone. So I want to lose (AT LEAST) 23 kg, 51 pounds or 3 1/2 stone. I think. Maths is not one of my strong points. So not a lot. Eminently doable. But I've been here many times and still the scales go up and up and still my girth goes out and out.

Health Issues: Sleep apnea, insomnia, anxiety, stress, mood swings, depression, extreme tiredness, varicose veins, heel spurs. I'm hoping that most of these will reduce or disappear with better diet and reduced weight.

Day 1: Monday 29/04/2013
Fasting day to kick off. I am not working today (hence the blog) so can loll around and do a rapid clean up prior to the family coming home (as usual). Apparently when fasting women can consume 500 kj and men 600. Lucky men. Bastards! Fight you for that piece of bread! These kjs can be consumed as one meal or as several over the day. I NEED SOMETHING for breakfast so I thought I'd have some miso soup. Easy, something, and healthy. Until I read the packet. My Hikari Instant Miso Soup Wakame ingredient list is: Soybean paste, Water, Alcohol (!), Salt, Sugar, Mineral Salt (508), Flavour Enhancers (621, 627, 631) Wakame Seaweed, Dried Bonito Powder. The Flavour Enhancers turn out to be MSG (of course) Disodium Guanylate and Disodium Inosinate. None are recommended for children or those suffering gout, heart or breathing issues. So I had my Miso, survived, and will now go in search of a less additive laden miso if possible. (My face is itchy - goddam MSG!)

What I haven't mentioned is the exercise component. I know that I need to move, but really don't relish exercise. What I tolerate is swimming with my kickboard occasionally at the local pool, a sedate walk very occasionally, a 15 minute stint on the exercise bike occasionally (after sweeping off the cobwebs), housework occasionally. I have a pedometer, and usually average 6000 steps when working, bugger all when not. I know I should try to get up to 10 000 steps but my heel spurs start to pain something severe - at least that's my excuse - so will need to sweep the goddam bike off or fork out $5 + for a pool venture.

What I also haven't mentioned is that I will also try to stop drinking alcohol for a time. I enjoy a few glasses of red wine while cooking dinner and throughout the evening, and I know that I use it to destress. Apparently red wine can interfere with sleep which I don't need; and I know that it is NOT a diet food. Or drink. So tata red wine - this will be difficult. And hello green tea. Wish me luck!