Hi all
Been absent from here for a while - mainly because the few times I've been on the 'pooter upstairs recently the new website format had logged me out and I couldn't find my password to get back in!
But am here now. I've had an up and down few weeks with fasts, having maybe one a week but not being very strict about the 500 cals. But I decided that I was going to give it a bit of a back seat whilst I got into a new exercise routine. I have been very luck to benefit from an extremely good deal through work, and have got 6 months membership of my council-run leisure centre for £60! So I am determined to make the most of it and have given myself the challenge of getting the cost-per-visit to just £1. After a week of not going after my induction (job interview, freelance work, normal work, family birthday celebrations to plan), I threw myself into it with a gym workout, exercise class and swim session all in one week. The next week I just did a gym session and a swim.
I have to say I thought I was relatively fit (walking, cycling, running), but this couple of weeks has been exhausting! After my sessions (which I haven't gone overboard on really, nothing outside of my capabilities and not too long), I have felt great and followed my exercise with a good nutrient-dense, slow-release, protein/fat/wholegrain carb breakfast and had good energy levels throughout the day, it's been the day after that I have crashed and been unable to move, and really wanted sugar, mainly in the form of chocolate - often coming on very suddenly. I have certainly eaten more chocolate than usual during Jan and feb ('listen to your body' - isn't that what they say?!), so, coupled with increased appetite from exercise and possible water retention, as well as skipping my second fast of the week, I have been a bit heavier than usual. 3 weeks in and I feel a bit better and the shock to the system is dying down.
So, I'm still here, still fasting (mostly) and am now a fully-confirmed gym bunny. Although it does seem a bit mad to go and drive 5 mins down the road to run on the spot in a sweaty room, when I could just run round our neighbourhood in the fresh air. Got to get that £1 per visit magic number though!
Missed seeing everyone's posts on here, good to be back, although I do have to go out now!
Been absent from here for a while - mainly because the few times I've been on the 'pooter upstairs recently the new website format had logged me out and I couldn't find my password to get back in!
But am here now. I've had an up and down few weeks with fasts, having maybe one a week but not being very strict about the 500 cals. But I decided that I was going to give it a bit of a back seat whilst I got into a new exercise routine. I have been very luck to benefit from an extremely good deal through work, and have got 6 months membership of my council-run leisure centre for £60! So I am determined to make the most of it and have given myself the challenge of getting the cost-per-visit to just £1. After a week of not going after my induction (job interview, freelance work, normal work, family birthday celebrations to plan), I threw myself into it with a gym workout, exercise class and swim session all in one week. The next week I just did a gym session and a swim.
I have to say I thought I was relatively fit (walking, cycling, running), but this couple of weeks has been exhausting! After my sessions (which I haven't gone overboard on really, nothing outside of my capabilities and not too long), I have felt great and followed my exercise with a good nutrient-dense, slow-release, protein/fat/wholegrain carb breakfast and had good energy levels throughout the day, it's been the day after that I have crashed and been unable to move, and really wanted sugar, mainly in the form of chocolate - often coming on very suddenly. I have certainly eaten more chocolate than usual during Jan and feb ('listen to your body' - isn't that what they say?!), so, coupled with increased appetite from exercise and possible water retention, as well as skipping my second fast of the week, I have been a bit heavier than usual. 3 weeks in and I feel a bit better and the shock to the system is dying down.
So, I'm still here, still fasting (mostly) and am now a fully-confirmed gym bunny. Although it does seem a bit mad to go and drive 5 mins down the road to run on the spot in a sweaty room, when I could just run round our neighbourhood in the fresh air. Got to get that £1 per visit magic number though!
Missed seeing everyone's posts on here, good to be back, although I do have to go out now!
Well done @greenmonster Blimey that is a good deal indeed I'm trying to get back to my walking and did have plans for the gym this year but a the moment I'm to busy with family "stuff" but sometime soon that's for sure glad its working well for you. 
Good Luck. 
but once I'm there it's worth it!
I sometimes put a bit of weight on from hitting the gym - I'm trying to balance out weight training and cardio at the minute instead of doing constant cardio and then switching to constant strength training - more cardio and I lose weight and then I do more weight training and I tone up but put a little weight on - obviously due to building muscle. When people say that 1 lb of muscle weighs more than a lb of fat that's not true - a pound is a pound. But muscle is much more dense than fat, so if you put a few lbs on try to keep this picture in mind and don't be disheartened like I have been before! 
