Well hello there!
This should be a short blog as it's only 9 days long....that makes sense to me anyway!
I was recently approached by a lovely couple of chaps, Simon and Andy about Forever Living Products. I had looked into this years ago with Matthew as his Dad was part of it but then we split up and nothing ever came of it.
There was one main product in discussion and it was something that I could possibly promote and sell through my business as a cleansing/fatloss aid for my clients.
This was the C9.
We sat and discussed this and I decided that if I was going to know what it did, and if it had any detrimental effects then I would have to try it myself. So Andy ordered me one and a few days later my shiny box of things arrived all ready for me to start on the Monday.
I weighed and measured myself and spent the first 2 days drinking Aloe Vera juice, it certainly is an acquired taste, but actually after all my moaning on day 1 about it, by day 2 I was already used to it's unique taste and readily downed it as part of the programme.
The first 2 days consist of no meals, just shakes, and I couldn't wait to have that shake, it was the highlight of my day. I was worried about the first 2 days because I have a busy life and burn a lot of energy, but in actual fact, these first 2 days I had the most energy, almost too much!
Come day 3, Wednesday I could have a meal, but I had to have this at lunchtime because of taking Insanity that night, the trouble was though that I had Insanity 7am the next morning too.
Halfway through the 7am class I lost my leg power, I could feel that I was getting some muscle wastage and I was incredibly tired.
The C9 recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise, which is great, this was not what I was doing and I had to actually tweak what I was eating, upping my protein massively to aid recovery of my muscles.
The whole point of me trying the C9 was to what problems people would encounter, and to be honest, I think if you have some weight to lose, then this is the one for you. Someone my size doesn't need it and most probably shouldn't be doing it as it could be detrimental to their health, but I knew this and I also know my body, so I was having more calories than recommended but I wasn't going to damage myself for it. I probably didn't lose as much weight as a lot of people could on it for this reason. Having fat to burn off is to an advantage.
For this reason, I can see that the C9 is a good product, an amazing kickstart to fatloss, the programme is easy to follow, you get to write up your food and exercise notes, all things that I ask my clients to do, so this programme gets you into good healthy habits and a great way of thinking.
However, this product must be followed up straight away with either the FIT2, or a similar plan, like the ones I give to my clients.
The initial weight loss is great, but if left just to get back on as normal after, weight will inevitably go back on almost immediately. It really must be followed up.
I survived the 9 days, but, I did have to tweak it, having my one meal into 2 smaller ones, mainly because I was literally running on empty. And today.......I have had coffee and cake....I don't even eat cake normally, but I could so I did! And this is exactly what I mean about following up the programme, I could easily in a couple of days put back on what I have lost.
My stats are as follows
Weight - total loss 1.4kg - although my last weigh in was today and it's a full moon, so I can't really count it as entirely accurate on account of the massive water retention I have today. Weighing at a different time of the lunar cycle would be better, and maybe this should be taken into account for women in particular, when taking on this.
Chest - total loss 5cm (like I had that to lose) I am guessing this is just a bit of wine-produced back fat!
Biceps - Thankfully no change in the 9 days, this is ont part of my body I could have done without wastage but all is okay.
Waist - 4cm total loss, again it must be wine, or even haribo fat.
Hips - 2cm total loss
Thighs - 2cm total loss - probably a little muscle wastage as it was my legs that felt it the most
Calves - as with biceps, no change, so happy with that
I did cut down my own exercise over the 9 days. I usually do a 5k treadmill run daily before stretching and I cut this, and my resistance work out from my daily routine. I had to save myself for my work and knew I couldn't do it all on so few calories.
I honestly think if you need to lose maybe anything over a stone, this is for you, and it won't harm your health as long as you stick to the guidelines within the programme.
A big thumbs up from me............glad it's over though!
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Sunday, 1 November 2015
GoSober for October raising money for Macmillan
Another blog! Yay! It's been a while again, well, to be honest nothing much has happened except for work and the usual stuff.
So, earlier in the year I had a couple of weeks, voluntarily, not drinking alcohol. I have no idea why I suddenly decided it, but I did and actually it was all good, until I went away with Mum and I was 'on holiday' and it was acceptable. Now, I knew that it would end my good run of sobriety, I don't think Mum realised that it would end it so abruptly.
I am all or nothing, if I don't drink, I don't, simple as that, it's like when I am training, I train hard, I train a lot, it's all, in fact where that is concerned there is no nothing, it's a silly concept, not training.
But I started drinking again, and that was it really.
So, at Mum's suggestion, I signed up for the 'Go Sober for October' Macmillan Cancer charity campaign. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Some of these things go on in January, and I'm sorry, but if I can't have Champagne on my birthday there is little point in getting up in the morning, so October seemed fair, although Halloween falls on the last day of the challenge. Halloween, my most favourite day of the year ever! So....it went like this............
September 27th 2015 - 4 year anniversary of Fighting Fit Devon celebrations at The Rugby Club.
Not many people showed up, very disappointing, but the best people were there and there was wine there, and by the time I left, there was a significant amount less than when I got there.
I guess part of me wanted to drink and get wibbly so that come the next day I would regret drinking and make the start of Go Sober easier?
Day 1 Go Sober - 28th September......
Walked the dogs 6am, went back to bed until 10.30am! That was a wake-up call in itself, what a waste of those hours just because I had a hangover. I guess I only celebrate my business anniversary once a year, but how many other things do I have the excuse to celebrate once a year?
Day one was a breeze, herbal tea was stocked up, in particular of the night time variety.
In fact, the whole of the first week was okay, I amused myself at night chatting on a certain dating site, it filled the time anyway, distraction was the way forward.
The first weekend was productive, I cleaned my whole house from top to bottom (although you wouldn't believe it now) and then prepared to go to the Rugby Club for the England game.
I had 3 cups of tea, was gutted at the result, but very pleased with myself for getting through it. Funny though, as the evening progressed the more I noticed the downward slope of the people around me, from the coherent conversation that was there at 8pm, by 10pm there was slurring, repetition and general bollocks coming out of people's mouths. Now, that is usually me, but I had little to say on this occasion, said my goodbyes and went off home to some herbal tea and my bed.
Now, I mentioned distraction and I probably will a lot, because it seems it's key. Especially to me, everyone knows how short an attention span I have, I need to be constantly entertained and amused.
On the Sunday I was looking through some dating site messages and got one from someone who seemed like the most awesome man ever, on paper anyway.
I replied, I had this little excitable knot in my stomach as I typed, I couldn't wait to get a reply, I felt like a 13 year old girl writing a love letter, it was strange and I had clarity of mind, something that has been lacking for many years, if I'm honest.
I went to bed, read, and wondered what tomorrow would bring.
Week 2 of sobriety.
I awoke and logged on to my emails, I had some 'This Girl Can' things to sort and whilst I was up there I decided that this was fate, an email reply from seemingly the greatest man in the world (for me anyway) asking to meet up at lunch. I didn't need to be asked twice, so I did what work I needed to and headed over to a country pub to meet him.
I just want to add at this point that this blog will probably end up sounding more like some kind of Mills and Boon story rather than a Go Sober campaign, but it seems the two paired up at the right time......
A pint of grapefruit and soda, lunch and great company. I had a couple of longing looks at other people's wine glasses, but I was driving anyway and never drink and drive, not since I moved from Surrey, so it was okay. I told my date about the Go Sober campaign whilst we were chatting, and all went really well.
Tuesday of week 2 I had another date with him, in a pub again, I was driving so all good, more grapefruit and soda, fantastic company, it actually didn't matter that I wasn't drinking alcohol, the conversation and company were way better than any glass of wine I could have had. Maybe this was the way forward? Actually having a life and not just staying in my pixie house thinking that being single and living with just my pets forever may be just what I need. Was this sober clarity kicking in again? Or was he just the best date I could have had?
I had an easy week, the week days have been easy, finish work, drink herbal tea, go to bed, read, sleep really well. The trouble started on Saturday, I had nothing planned, I lit the woodburner for the first time as it had got chilly and as I sat and watched the first flickers of fire start to warm the house I felt a sudden urge to have a glass of red wine as I sat there.
I obviously didn't, I had got rid of all the alcohol from the house at the start of the challenge but I had a sulk and went to bed at 9pm, missing going to the rugby club. I didn't want to be around anyone, certainly not anyone drinking alcohol, this day was the first day I struggled.
The Sunday wasn't much better, I pretty much trained and sulked my way through that day too.
Week 3 and more distraction.
Monday night was date night again for me and I had dinner made for me, drank herbal tea, chatted and spent a wonderful evening in superb company again. It's going to sound weird, but I felt like an actual proper person, one with a life. I had left my house, Totnes, work, everything, to indulge in someone else's world for a few hours and it was utter bliss. I realised at this point, or possibly sooner that I drink when I'm bored or fed up. If I have a distraction or company, then it doesn't matter. I drove home back down the M5 feeling alive again, some random lost part of Debbie had been found, oiled and fitted back into place making me function properly again.
I had more to look forward to that week as another date was set, I was so focused on that, the whole Go Sober thing was just a way of life now, I had things to get excited about again. Another date happened and it was great, no details as this blog isn't about that, but again, I didn't need to drink anything except tea that night (I did make him bring his own beer because I didn't want to get caught in the supermarket buying alcohol, even if it wasn't for me!)
The rest of the week flew by, Saturday I went to the pub for a non-alcoholic beer with Fanny, I couldn't have drank them all night, but just the one and the company was great, I went home, watched shit tv, had an early night so I could get up and train in the morning.
Sunday was awesome, walking on Dartmoor, cream tea at the pub, a meal out and at no point did I feel the need to drink wine, good company is the best thing in the world, I guess I have been on my own and set in my ways for way too long, that includes my relationship with alcohol. Things will be changing once the challenge is over, someone wisely said to me at one of my classes, 'best stay sober for ever then!' meaning that I was having my most successful dates, probably ever and I shouldn't ruin it!
Week 4 and the final stretch.....
My focus at this point is well and truly there, I wrote 5,000 words of my new book, work is picking up, went on another date, last one for a while due to both of us having visitors stay but it seemed like someone was watching over me, pushing me in the right direction.
Wednesday I came down with a head cold, which ran into Thursday and Friday. Anthony came to paint my stairway walls on Friday and by the time he had gone I was on a mission sanding down the woodwork as it looked awful.
I spent Saturday painting, popped out for another non-alcoholic beer with Fanny whilst she drank some amazing smelling Sauvignon Blanc, it was tough, it's my favourite wine! Then back home for some non-alcoholic wine and crap tv.
Sunday I spent painting again and in the evening I picked up Deni and Fanny and we went to the cinema to see the Last Witch Hunter, a very bizarre film. This was a great distraction and awesome company and I went home for some tea and an early night.
The final countdown........
You can just hear Joey Tempest and his lycra-clad, permed- haired friends from Europe playing in the background as I type this (I may actually be playing it at home, you will never know)
I am typing this on Tuesday of the final week, the rest of the blog has been typed up already because Mum is here the weekend and I want to spend time with her, not writing another blog, so I have prepared!
Monday night was easy, I just finished work, showered, drank tea and read, although I am missing my dates with Mr Special, but soon I hope.
Tonight brings a late finish again, it makes it so much easier and tomorrow is possibly, very possibly a very late date night.
Mum arrives Thursday and then it's just days left, the thing is I don't know what to do about Saturday.
I started early because I wanted to have a drink on Halloween, I have even been bought a Golden Ticket by Nigel, which allows me to have a drink on 31st, but I still feel that the challenge was for the whole of October and so I shouldn't drink until Sunday, it's a massive struggle! I am guessing that I won't actually know what I'm going to do until I actually get to Saturday!
Whilst I'm here blogging though, I thought I would share a few interesting facts with you that I have discovered on my 'almost month-long journey'
1. Since starting the Go Sober on 28th September until now I have lost over 2kg in weight from just cutting out alcohol.
2. I struggle to get up in the morning because the quality of sleep has improved so much.
3. I don't need to nap in the afternoon because my quality of sleep at night has improved.
4. My skin is glowing, and a red imperfection that was on my left cheek for around 8 years has vanished within the month.
5. My focus and clarity of thought has improved.
6. I have changed work, put off gym work in favour of going on dates.....I have made time for a life.
Not sure if all the above is related to the month of Go Sober, but it seems like a strange coincidence.
I would encourage all of you who even have a glass of wine or beer a night just to do this for a month to see what benefits it has for you. If nothing else, you can save a few pennies in the process.
I shall continue my update on Sunday 1st November...be right back..........
I'm back, it's 1st November and I am sat on the sofa with a coffee after going to the gym and shopping! Last night at around 6pm I had my first glass of wine in a month. Mum was with me, then Rachael turned up and we had more, I think in total between the 3 of us we must have got through 5 bottles at home and the rugby club, and yet I still made it up at 6am!
So, here's an interesting thing, I was tired yesterday evening and as I drank more, I had more energy. I do believe that the sugar content in wine, as well as being fatty, also gives me the energy I was lacking during the month. This morning I woke up with a spring in my step ready to face the world, and not turn over in bed and go back to sleep, which has been happening.
I think that along with being sensitive to caffeine, I am also sensitive to sugars, they make me hyper!
Today though, on reflection, the last month has been a great experiment and experience, and to be honest, I enjoyed my time sober, I've learnt so much about myself and I don't want to ruin the rest of my life going back to my old, bad, unhealthy habits. Moderation is key, and certainly, unless I am going out for a meal, or have company then I won't be drinking, it's as simple as that. Watch this space.....I like the new Debbie, or should I say....Debbie revisited, because, let's face it, I didn't always drink.
Last thought for you........when did you last have a month off the booze? I can thoroughly recommend it. Go on, November awaits, why not try it this month?
So, earlier in the year I had a couple of weeks, voluntarily, not drinking alcohol. I have no idea why I suddenly decided it, but I did and actually it was all good, until I went away with Mum and I was 'on holiday' and it was acceptable. Now, I knew that it would end my good run of sobriety, I don't think Mum realised that it would end it so abruptly.
I am all or nothing, if I don't drink, I don't, simple as that, it's like when I am training, I train hard, I train a lot, it's all, in fact where that is concerned there is no nothing, it's a silly concept, not training.
But I started drinking again, and that was it really.
So, at Mum's suggestion, I signed up for the 'Go Sober for October' Macmillan Cancer charity campaign. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Some of these things go on in January, and I'm sorry, but if I can't have Champagne on my birthday there is little point in getting up in the morning, so October seemed fair, although Halloween falls on the last day of the challenge. Halloween, my most favourite day of the year ever! So....it went like this............
September 27th 2015 - 4 year anniversary of Fighting Fit Devon celebrations at The Rugby Club.
Not many people showed up, very disappointing, but the best people were there and there was wine there, and by the time I left, there was a significant amount less than when I got there.
I guess part of me wanted to drink and get wibbly so that come the next day I would regret drinking and make the start of Go Sober easier?
Day 1 Go Sober - 28th September......
Walked the dogs 6am, went back to bed until 10.30am! That was a wake-up call in itself, what a waste of those hours just because I had a hangover. I guess I only celebrate my business anniversary once a year, but how many other things do I have the excuse to celebrate once a year?
Day one was a breeze, herbal tea was stocked up, in particular of the night time variety.
In fact, the whole of the first week was okay, I amused myself at night chatting on a certain dating site, it filled the time anyway, distraction was the way forward.
The first weekend was productive, I cleaned my whole house from top to bottom (although you wouldn't believe it now) and then prepared to go to the Rugby Club for the England game.
I had 3 cups of tea, was gutted at the result, but very pleased with myself for getting through it. Funny though, as the evening progressed the more I noticed the downward slope of the people around me, from the coherent conversation that was there at 8pm, by 10pm there was slurring, repetition and general bollocks coming out of people's mouths. Now, that is usually me, but I had little to say on this occasion, said my goodbyes and went off home to some herbal tea and my bed.
Now, I mentioned distraction and I probably will a lot, because it seems it's key. Especially to me, everyone knows how short an attention span I have, I need to be constantly entertained and amused.
On the Sunday I was looking through some dating site messages and got one from someone who seemed like the most awesome man ever, on paper anyway.
I replied, I had this little excitable knot in my stomach as I typed, I couldn't wait to get a reply, I felt like a 13 year old girl writing a love letter, it was strange and I had clarity of mind, something that has been lacking for many years, if I'm honest.
I went to bed, read, and wondered what tomorrow would bring.
Week 2 of sobriety.
I awoke and logged on to my emails, I had some 'This Girl Can' things to sort and whilst I was up there I decided that this was fate, an email reply from seemingly the greatest man in the world (for me anyway) asking to meet up at lunch. I didn't need to be asked twice, so I did what work I needed to and headed over to a country pub to meet him.
I just want to add at this point that this blog will probably end up sounding more like some kind of Mills and Boon story rather than a Go Sober campaign, but it seems the two paired up at the right time......
A pint of grapefruit and soda, lunch and great company. I had a couple of longing looks at other people's wine glasses, but I was driving anyway and never drink and drive, not since I moved from Surrey, so it was okay. I told my date about the Go Sober campaign whilst we were chatting, and all went really well.
Tuesday of week 2 I had another date with him, in a pub again, I was driving so all good, more grapefruit and soda, fantastic company, it actually didn't matter that I wasn't drinking alcohol, the conversation and company were way better than any glass of wine I could have had. Maybe this was the way forward? Actually having a life and not just staying in my pixie house thinking that being single and living with just my pets forever may be just what I need. Was this sober clarity kicking in again? Or was he just the best date I could have had?
I had an easy week, the week days have been easy, finish work, drink herbal tea, go to bed, read, sleep really well. The trouble started on Saturday, I had nothing planned, I lit the woodburner for the first time as it had got chilly and as I sat and watched the first flickers of fire start to warm the house I felt a sudden urge to have a glass of red wine as I sat there.
I obviously didn't, I had got rid of all the alcohol from the house at the start of the challenge but I had a sulk and went to bed at 9pm, missing going to the rugby club. I didn't want to be around anyone, certainly not anyone drinking alcohol, this day was the first day I struggled.
The Sunday wasn't much better, I pretty much trained and sulked my way through that day too.
Week 3 and more distraction.
Monday night was date night again for me and I had dinner made for me, drank herbal tea, chatted and spent a wonderful evening in superb company again. It's going to sound weird, but I felt like an actual proper person, one with a life. I had left my house, Totnes, work, everything, to indulge in someone else's world for a few hours and it was utter bliss. I realised at this point, or possibly sooner that I drink when I'm bored or fed up. If I have a distraction or company, then it doesn't matter. I drove home back down the M5 feeling alive again, some random lost part of Debbie had been found, oiled and fitted back into place making me function properly again.
I had more to look forward to that week as another date was set, I was so focused on that, the whole Go Sober thing was just a way of life now, I had things to get excited about again. Another date happened and it was great, no details as this blog isn't about that, but again, I didn't need to drink anything except tea that night (I did make him bring his own beer because I didn't want to get caught in the supermarket buying alcohol, even if it wasn't for me!)
The rest of the week flew by, Saturday I went to the pub for a non-alcoholic beer with Fanny, I couldn't have drank them all night, but just the one and the company was great, I went home, watched shit tv, had an early night so I could get up and train in the morning.
Sunday was awesome, walking on Dartmoor, cream tea at the pub, a meal out and at no point did I feel the need to drink wine, good company is the best thing in the world, I guess I have been on my own and set in my ways for way too long, that includes my relationship with alcohol. Things will be changing once the challenge is over, someone wisely said to me at one of my classes, 'best stay sober for ever then!' meaning that I was having my most successful dates, probably ever and I shouldn't ruin it!
Week 4 and the final stretch.....
My focus at this point is well and truly there, I wrote 5,000 words of my new book, work is picking up, went on another date, last one for a while due to both of us having visitors stay but it seemed like someone was watching over me, pushing me in the right direction.
Wednesday I came down with a head cold, which ran into Thursday and Friday. Anthony came to paint my stairway walls on Friday and by the time he had gone I was on a mission sanding down the woodwork as it looked awful.
I spent Saturday painting, popped out for another non-alcoholic beer with Fanny whilst she drank some amazing smelling Sauvignon Blanc, it was tough, it's my favourite wine! Then back home for some non-alcoholic wine and crap tv.
Sunday I spent painting again and in the evening I picked up Deni and Fanny and we went to the cinema to see the Last Witch Hunter, a very bizarre film. This was a great distraction and awesome company and I went home for some tea and an early night.
The final countdown........
You can just hear Joey Tempest and his lycra-clad, permed- haired friends from Europe playing in the background as I type this (I may actually be playing it at home, you will never know)
I am typing this on Tuesday of the final week, the rest of the blog has been typed up already because Mum is here the weekend and I want to spend time with her, not writing another blog, so I have prepared!
Monday night was easy, I just finished work, showered, drank tea and read, although I am missing my dates with Mr Special, but soon I hope.
Tonight brings a late finish again, it makes it so much easier and tomorrow is possibly, very possibly a very late date night.
Mum arrives Thursday and then it's just days left, the thing is I don't know what to do about Saturday.
I started early because I wanted to have a drink on Halloween, I have even been bought a Golden Ticket by Nigel, which allows me to have a drink on 31st, but I still feel that the challenge was for the whole of October and so I shouldn't drink until Sunday, it's a massive struggle! I am guessing that I won't actually know what I'm going to do until I actually get to Saturday!
Whilst I'm here blogging though, I thought I would share a few interesting facts with you that I have discovered on my 'almost month-long journey'
1. Since starting the Go Sober on 28th September until now I have lost over 2kg in weight from just cutting out alcohol.
2. I struggle to get up in the morning because the quality of sleep has improved so much.
3. I don't need to nap in the afternoon because my quality of sleep at night has improved.
4. My skin is glowing, and a red imperfection that was on my left cheek for around 8 years has vanished within the month.
5. My focus and clarity of thought has improved.
6. I have changed work, put off gym work in favour of going on dates.....I have made time for a life.
Not sure if all the above is related to the month of Go Sober, but it seems like a strange coincidence.
I would encourage all of you who even have a glass of wine or beer a night just to do this for a month to see what benefits it has for you. If nothing else, you can save a few pennies in the process.
I shall continue my update on Sunday 1st November...be right back..........
I'm back, it's 1st November and I am sat on the sofa with a coffee after going to the gym and shopping! Last night at around 6pm I had my first glass of wine in a month. Mum was with me, then Rachael turned up and we had more, I think in total between the 3 of us we must have got through 5 bottles at home and the rugby club, and yet I still made it up at 6am!
So, here's an interesting thing, I was tired yesterday evening and as I drank more, I had more energy. I do believe that the sugar content in wine, as well as being fatty, also gives me the energy I was lacking during the month. This morning I woke up with a spring in my step ready to face the world, and not turn over in bed and go back to sleep, which has been happening.
I think that along with being sensitive to caffeine, I am also sensitive to sugars, they make me hyper!
Today though, on reflection, the last month has been a great experiment and experience, and to be honest, I enjoyed my time sober, I've learnt so much about myself and I don't want to ruin the rest of my life going back to my old, bad, unhealthy habits. Moderation is key, and certainly, unless I am going out for a meal, or have company then I won't be drinking, it's as simple as that. Watch this space.....I like the new Debbie, or should I say....Debbie revisited, because, let's face it, I didn't always drink.
Last thought for you........when did you last have a month off the booze? I can thoroughly recommend it. Go on, November awaits, why not try it this month?
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