I started the year by taking part in the 'Weight Loss Challenge Thing' (#wlct) on Twitter but subsequently lapsed and ended up putting weight back on.
Back in 2005 I started an intense diet and walked miles to lose over 4 stone. As I started my career, and then my MA, I found that the huge workload I had meant that exercise and 'proper' eating was sidelined. As a result convenience food crept back into my life and I ended up putting two stone back on over the course of 4 years. However, I am pleased to report that I have lost a stone and a half during my heatlhy eating and exercise 'mindset' I have adopted over the past three months.
I hope to get back to a healthy BMI by the end of the year. It is true... exercise and good food does make you feel better.
I went for a run last night after a month off due to travelling to Australia and starting back at work. It was really hard and I can't actually decide if I enjoy it or not. Maybe I need to get out and about instead of running on a treadmill.
I'm trying to find the fitness best app on my phone (that will track treadmill running without GPS). Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm using Noom for Android/Cardio Trainer at the moment but there is no cloud upload, a feature which I would like.
Okay, so I am determined to get back to this informal blog. Please note it will likely contain typos and have very few links to education. This is a space for me to jot my random thoughts as I follow my quest for The Good Life. If you're after my in-depth critique on education issues then please check out my Changing Horizons blog.
My goal to lead a more productive, healthy and frugal life have taken a bit of a tumble in recent months which have meant that I have not been as active as I would have liked. Couple with the fact that I have sometimes turned to convenience food during times of stress means that I have decided to place myself back on a healthy diet. However, after feeling very inspired by my trip to Australia and armed with a new app on my Desire HD I'm ready to try to make changes. My aim is to start running again tomorrow.
N.B. I did not buy it!
My brother recently returned from a trek across Borneo with Raleigh International and has enjoyed a more relaxed and harmonious way of living over the past three months. He has told me a lot about the Eastern way of life which really got me thinking.
Let's set the context...
In Malaysia you may see a man sitting on the steps or porch of his small house.
From a western point of view this man is poor and lazy. He cannot afford luxuries which are essential to culture such as mobile telephones, televisions and an electric kettle.
From an eastern point of view the man is content and has everything he needs to live a happy life - shelter, food and his health.
This made me realise how in the western world we often forget that we have everything we need to survive and be happy. I am constantly guilty of wanting the latest smartphone etc but have come to realise that this is just a 'want' and not a 'need' - in fact I could survive without a smartphone. The western world way of life can, at times, condition us towards a culture of entitlement and desire, as opposed to contentment.
I'm really lucky to be able to visit Borneo in December. I hope that I learn lots from the people there...
Over the years I've read various books and articles about the way to lose excess weight and have a healthier diet. I first read the Atkins diet when I was fifteen years of age. This approach advocates the need for lots of protein, fat and hardly any carbohydrates and promises outstanding results. I tried the approach for two days, felt ill, and then stopped. Another approach I explored was the low calorie approach which I managed to do for six months - but this was not sustainable in the long term. I'm reading the 4 Hour Body at the moment by Tim Ferris which is pretty much a high protein diet but suggests you eat no white food such as bread, pasta and rice (but cauliflower is okay).
Although many of these approaches suggest different ways of approaching a 'diet' they all seem to suggest one thing - too many carbohydrates (especially refined) is not good for you. This is surprising as our culture seems to suggest that excess saturated fat intake piles on the pounds. However, if you think carefully, it is our culture and way of life in the modern world that leads to an increase in carbohydrates. Cavedwellers did not have pasta, bread or cream cakes - they caught food which was protein and ate vegetables. We are omnivores (i.e. we eat meat and herbs not carbs). When I think about it, most of the meals that I eat have a higher percentage of carbohydrates than protein or fat.
Another thing I have discovered is that fruit is actually not good for you. It contains high levels or fructose which can affect your metabolism. Vegetables are great, just not fruit. As I continue my reading I'm trying to think about lasting changes that I can make as part of the mindset of how I cook and eat. Not 'quick-fixes' that fizzle out after a couple of weeks. So far I have found the following approachs effective:
1. Do not eat any food where you cannot pronounce one or more of the ingredients
2. High levels of refined carbohydrates should be avoided.
3. Avoid processed food at all costs. If you like soup - make your own.
4. Substitute fruit juices and fizzy drinks for water.
5. Substitute extra pasta, rice or bread for additional vegetables.
6. Try to have a decent breakfast which is high in protein - turkey rashers (low in fat) and scrambled eggs for example.
7. Try to avoid 'junk food' such as crisps with healthier options such as nuts or dried fruit.
8. Do not try to force yourself to eat something that you percieve to be healthy if you do not like it. For example I cannot stand tuna - I know it's good for me but I just can't eat it.
Of course, another essential factor is exercise. Which I will explore in another blog post soon.
Recently I have found myself dreaming about a more 'peaceful' and productive way of life. At the moment my life is characterised by deadlines, paperwork, stress and general tiredness. I think this is largely due to me burning the candles at both ends for so long, which has in turn led to a move towards convenience and sometimes laziness in everyday practices such as cooking and exercise (or lack of). I've been watching and reading various things about leading a more frugal (The Edible Garden by Alys Fowler) and productive life (David Allen, Seth Godin etc) and have hoped that I can make changes to lead a more relaxed, productive and healthy life.
Recently I purchased a run-down terraced house which I am currently renovating - I hope to move into it in the autumn. This renovation includes creating an 'edible garden' as well as turning the second living room into a large kitchen. I hope that this leads me towards cooking and eating healthier meals.
Another factor I need to address is the need for a exercise regime as I now know that lack of exercise really affects productivity in a negative way. Throughout my teenage years I was always very overweight (actually classed as obese). In 2005 I decided to address this when I discovered my BMI (Body Mass Index) was so high. For six months I went on a strict diet and exercise regime and subsequently lost nearly 4 stone - evidenced below:
Me in 2004, then in 2005 after losing nearly four stone:
Me in 2011:
As you can see I haven't returned to my previous weight BUT I do feel a lot less healthier than I used to be. There are many reasons for this...
When I started my teaching post and subsequently took on more work I found that my time for exercise was greatly reduced and I began to return to old habits of convenience food. Now in 2011 I have found myself overweight again and in need to get back to my optimum weight (and healthy BMI). I am certain that this has also contributed to my recent tiredress and feelings of being run down. This time I want to make lasting changes in my diet, lifestyle and exercise routine so that they are part of my everyday mindset. The long road starts here. I'm also aiming to be more thrifty after reading books and watching TV programmes such as 'Super Scrimpers' - this includes saving a lot more money than I have previously.
I hope that this blog acts as a way of documenting the changes I am going to make in how I live. It is a sharp contrast from my other blogs and writings which have always been focused around education, so maybe this is a wise move to try and re-address the work/life balance.
I hope that you enjoy following this blog AND get some useful tips along the way!
Martin
