May 20

So we are more than half way through May.  This year has really gone fast.It's hard to believe sometimes how fast time flies by.  Just a quick update on things before I head into work.

The life style changes are all going pretty well.  Have been fasting on Mon, Wed, and Fri with Michael, though so far we pretty much only manage a 24 hour fast.  Eat dinner Sun night, then nothing til dinner Monday...not bad, though the plan is to eventually get where we eat Sun dinner, then nothing til Tues am.  It's a slow process though.  My weight is down a bit and seems to be pretty stable.  I'm happy for that, but wish it would just keep going down.

I can't complain about the scale not moving down though because I've really had to cut back on the exercise because of my back.  I'm still going to the chiropractor but this weekend it didn't seem to have helped at all.  Chronic pain in the lower back and right hip.  Sits at about a 5 or 6/10 on the pain scale and movement really causes it to flair up.  Not taking anything for it but some ibuprofen from time it time, but I'm starting to think that's just not going to cut it.  Going to try to get out of work early today and see my regular md.

Things with the job are settling into a routine.  I still have trouble getting everything done sometimes but it's better and I'm not so stressed about it.  If I can hang in long enough to make it through my review I might actually be okay.

Things with Michael are great, but he's a great kind of guy so I can't complain on that front.  Xandra is sweet and my Kel is doing well with her job and in school.  I guess over all, other than the back pain life is good.

One day at a time...

I've mentioned before I've been doing intermittent fasting for the last couple months. Basically it breaks down to 8 hours a day I'm allowed to eat and 16 that I'm fasting.  It's really not as horrible as it sounds.  Part of the time I'm fasting is when I'm asleep.  I really didn't eat after dinner before, so really all I changed is not eating so early in the day.  Generally I eat sometime between 11am and noon and I finish dinner no later than 8pm.  I'm usually not hungry in the morning anyway.  I used to make myself eat because the old school of thinking is that you need to eat breakfast, most important meal of the day and all that.  

So far it seems to be working well as a diet tool.  I've lost 25 pounds since I started dieting with the if.  I don't really get hungry with it and I haven't really changed much of what I'm eating.  I've cut back on dairy, I don't eat it at home at all due to Michael's allergy and rarely when we are out.  I've cut back on carbs a little bit, but I still enjoy them. Not so much on the white bread, but I do eat whole wheat, potatoes and beans.  

I've done a little more research and so has Michael, into the benefits of fasting on a more long term basis.  According to what I've read, fasting 2 days a week is supposed to be one of the healthiest things you can do. It supposedly will lower blood pressure, regulate your blood sugar and in studies with lab mice it has increased their life span by about 70%.  It also is supposed to stabilize your weight.  The studies I've read say if you fast 2 days a week you can eat anything you want the other 5 days and you still get all the benefits to your blood sugar and blood pressure.  

So, starting in May, I decided to fast for 48 hours a week.  Nothing I've read really seems to say whether the 2 days have to be consecutive or not.  I fasted for 48 hours this week, continuing to exercise like normal.  My plan is to fast 2 days and continue the intermittent fasting the other 5.  My weight is down by 3 pounds and my blood pressure and blood sugars have been good.  I'm still taking my blood pressure meds though.  The edema in my legs is better.  Overall I feel good.  

I'll likely update this weekly as I go.  I'm sure fasting isn't for everyone but it seems to be a good fit for me.