Intermittent Fasting

As if giving up clothes for the year wasn't bad enough - now I'm giving up food!

Well, not really...

I've been reading about intermittent fasting for a while and as I have a few more pounds to shift and they are being very stubborn, I've decided to give it a go. The principle is that you incorporate a fast period into your diet - different people advocate different periods but the way I am doing it is to fast from 6pm one day to 6pm the next, twice a week. Essentially, all I am missing is breakfast and lunch (and the post 6pm supper on the first night -  this is what I miss most!)

On the other days, you can pretty much eat as you like but bear in mind, if you want to lose weight, you gotta be a bit sensible. I have also timed it so the days I fast are not the days I run, I think that may be a little much for my body to cope with.

Today is my first day and I feel pretty good, the hardest thing is cooking for other people while I can't eat but as I'm not missing out on the big meal of the day, it's been ok. Poor Rebekah got a few pieces of toast thrown at her for lunch while i tried to not eat the crumbs!

It's not just about losing the weight  - the articles I have read point out the health benefits to your body of taking a break from eating and allowing your body to repair rather that always digest. I don't know how scientifically it has been tested but I reckon it can do no harm.

It also got me thinking about the principle of Biblical fasting - while I was a student, I used to do a biblical fast on a Wednesday. I can't actually recall if I prayed and read the Bible any more during that time than any other day! I think I gave it up because I didn't really understand the whole concept of Biblical fasting and I'm not sure if I do now either but maybe this time of 'secular' fasting will give me time to have another think about it. I do know having this very rare feeling of a completely empty stomach, has made me very grateful for the blessing of food.

On the clothes front, I have been staying well away from temptation and haven't found it a big problem yet. I did rip my running trousers but they aren't too bad and I reckon i can sew them rather than chuck them out and buy new ones, which is what I would have done last year!

So, it's the 3rd January and I am three days into the new year of no new clothes - I have managed two trips into Marks and Spencer without buying anything which is quite an achievement. The real test for me will be my weekly shop in Asda, adding some cheap supermarket clothes to my food shopping had become a bit of a regular occurrence!

Anyway, the reason for todays post is to share a dilemma. Back in October, I ordered 2 things from Boden (actually Johnnie B, Boden's teenage section, so happy I can fit into this section!) One was delivered and the other put on back order....well, today it arrived:

You see, it was a lovely red cable knit cardigan (with a lovely red velvet trim!) which I thought would be perfect for Christmas, but Christmas is over and what do I do - keep or return? Is it in the spirit of no new clothes to keep it?

You know, I'm not even sure why I am asking because I know the answer, it's staying.... it may even keep its labels until next Christmas or I may bring it out in some dark moment when I am feeling particularly in need of a new clothes fix.

It's arrival has also tempted me to sneak a look at the Boden sale website but so far I have resisted - the night is young though! - looking isn't buying :)

Janine
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