Post 24

Last week was a positive one, I managed to get to the gym each day and I changed my approach a little to ensure that I was focussing on fat burning rather than weights so each day was focussed on light cardio activity split between rowing, cycling, cross training and running - yes running on the treadmill.

After more then a year of intermittent pain in my knee I have felt more and more confident on the knee over the last few weeks and have increased to duration and intensity of the effort that I have put through it.

This culminated at the weekend with a planned 6.5 mile route during which I ran for about 5 miles and only walked (at a good pace) for the significantly steep up and down hill sections as these are the areas where I put the most weight through the joint and I want to build up to that gently.

I have found 4 loops from home that I will use for different types of running that are 3, 3.5, 5 and 6.5 miles in distance and offer varying levels of difficulty from flat to quite hilly so I can determine what I want to do based on how I am feeling and what I want to achieve (also how much time I have available too).

Food feels like it is no longer an issue. The MonaVie RVL regime is just the norm now and everyone keeps asking whether I am hungry - the simple answer is no! I feel full and satisfied and reaching for an apple or a low fat snack bar is just as easy as the chocolate that it has replaced.

My evening meals don't take much thinking about as they are pretty much the same as before with the exception of a reduction in carbs (potatoes and bread mainly are now off the menu but everything in moderation and I know I can have a small portion if I want).

My craving has been for cheese so I have allowed myself a small amount - this helps me stay on the wagon to be honest as I think if I don't allow myself something I want it will be worse than the impact of having it in small amounts.

Drinking alcohol was never going to be an issue as I'm not much of a drinker but cutting coffee out has given me the biggest boost. I don't crave it now and having a bottle of water on my desk is just as easy and keeps my hydrated where coffee really didn't.

I don't know if I have lost much this week (weigh in tomorrow). 3 lbs will take me to the 2 stone lost milestone, but what I do know is that all of my clothes now fit comfortably and most of by belts have moved up a notch or two so the physical results are starting to show as much as the scales suggest.

lets see what tomorrow brings!