Progress report

Hi guys,

I thought I would give you a quick update on how it is going and how I am feeling about the program. My general feeling is one of success and hungriness. I can clearly see the diet and exercise program is working and I can already feel the results.

Here are the good points:

1)     I have lost weight 5kg in 14 days. I was at 105.4kg at the start and I'm now at 100.4kg. This is a lot, I’m hoping it stabilises over the next few weeks to 1-1.5kg a week. 

2)     I’m fitter, I have recently gone up to 4 rounds of my HIT (High intensity training) cardio program and the cycling is back to easy street.

3)     I’m stronger, getting the gains in terms of strength, although not as fast as the other stuff. This is fine, I’m relatively happy with the progress and the weight loss is the priority.

4)     My back is much better, I knew this would recover with a dedicated stretching and strengthening program but I am amazed at how fast!

5)     I’m eating healthier, which just feels nice inside

6)     I’m sleeping better (most of the time see bad points below), when I hit the hay I’m generally out like a baby.     

The bad points:

1)     I get hungry often. All food smells amazing, walking past Gregs is torture!

2)     I get hungry at night; I have been woken up on occasion by how hungry I am. This happens at about 4am, I get up have some fruit or nuts and a glass of water, stretch or read and go back to bed in 1 hour. It’s annoying but then I get back to sleep pretty quickly.

3)     No booze, whilst generally OK on a day to day basis, can be torture when at a pub with friends or family. So far I have stayed strong, drinking water or OJ in pubs is definitively boring.

4)     Easting out has on occasion been frustrating. When we to Chinese or high end posh restaurants (been to one so far during the program with my parents) I have no problems, food can be high protein, low carb quite easily. The problem is pubs; I basically can’t eat anything on the menu at my local. Italian restaurants that focus on pasta and pizza are also no go zones.   

On balance I’m a very happy chap (but if you steal his food now he gets grumpy XX), so will be sticking to the program! In the next two weeks if I am still shedding the weight at my current rate I will adjust my carb intake slightly, otherwise, full steam ahead!!!

Mark