d13phe, Sir Stan Mathews often mentioned in interviews when he was alive that he always fasted one day a week, for health purposes.

He was still playing football at the age of 73 - and played his last League one game (Premiership, as would be now) when he was 50.

http://bit.ly/xkwhZW

Very good Roy!

I think there's probably a lot of variation between different people's physiologies which means a one-size-fits-all plan doesn't exist for weight loss/fitness.

Personally, I could never fast for a day or two a week, and when I'm dieting I really need to eat some carbohydrates before doing any exercise more intensive than a fast walk. A couple of years ago I was training for a 10k and if I didn't eat enough beforehand I could really feel the wall (running out of glycogen) hit me hard. Through trial and error, I worked out that for me the optimum was eating 125g of pasta 3 hours before a (10k) run and 4-5 bananas 2 hours before.

Yet I spoke to a marathon runner who claimed that he felt he was more "in the zone", running smoother than ever, after hitting the wall, as well as many people who preferred running on a totally empty stomach.

Interesting thread.
Started going to a liveability gym( over 50's) run by NHS over 2 years ago. Gradually gained some fitness but didn't lose weight. Generally felt better and was able to get round 18 holes with less effort and hit the ball further.
About 2yrs ago was diagnosed with a leaking heart valve and some blockage in a non-main artery. No real symptoms but nonetheless a bit of a worry. Specialist advise a change of medication blood pressure/ cholesterol etc. Went for follow up ultrasound xray in June 2011 and as a result they dont want to see me for 2 yrs. Despite this I felt there was more I could do to help myself so in Sept 2011 I decided to stop eating red meat which seemed to constitute about 75% of main meals and lunchtime sarnies.
Found it difficult at first because the Mrs still eats red meat but stuck with it( fish/chicken) being my main source of protein. I was really put to the test after 3 weeks when went on holiday to Florida with family. Had to sit opposite the brother-in-law every night in restaurants watching him eating massive T bone steaks but got through it okay having eaten well on a variety of fish dishes. chicken and salads. unbelievably got weighed after the 2 week holiday and had lost 4lb.

I have now lost a total of 14lbs and feel really good. Got into 34" waist trousers which I hopefully bought 12mths ago. Joined DW Fitness on an over sixties tariff of £22 per month in Jan. Been going 3 times a week and do a session on treadmill/rowing machine/mat exercises and light weight circuit, followed by swimming mixed with steam room and jacuzzi. Can honestly say I feel fitter than I was 15yrs ago and am definitely playing better golf.

With regard to red meat, don't even feel tempted now despite cooking steak/pork chops etc for the Mrs. Still like an occasional session on the ale and bottle of wine once or twice a week.
Forgot to add that I also stopped having milk in tea and coffee and use soya milk on branflakes for breakfast. Did all this for health reason and never actually expected to lose weight. I'd like to think that when I go back to see the heart specialist in 2013, he wont want to see me for another 2yrs.
Godd luck to all who are making the effort - you know it makes sense

Good points, PatraTheCat and crystalhunt.

I think staying healthy/weight loss/being fit very much depends on your own physiology.

From a very early age, I realised certain foods (milk, butter and cheese in particular) made me feel quite unwell, and I felt much better if I didn't eat them - but I still did.
Subsequently, I had  a terribly bad bronchial condition from when I was born until I almost packed dairy produce up for good when I was about 22 years old - when I then got a stomach ulcer and for about 13-14 years afterwards lived mainly on a diet of dry bread with fresh tomatoes on top, and soup - as they were mainly the only things I could mange without me being in great pain/physically sick.

When I finally cured myself (by taking Propolis - a bee product that protects the body like a natural antibiotic), I then experimented over a time about what were and what were not the best foods I could eat to remain pain-free and 'feeling good'.

For me, it's fish, vegetables and salads that comprise almost all of my daily intake.

I still eat the occasional bit of dairy/ high fat stuff, but have to keep it to  minimum, otherwise it makes me feel very ill.  Likewise; carbs, such as bread, potatoes and so on - for, as much as I like them, they really disagree with me.

You really have to 'listen' to your body and take note of how you feel after eating stuff. It saves a load of mither.

Having a look at what suits your blood type is very interesting - as, for me (type O) it categorises what suits me and what doesn't to a tee - long after I discovered it by experimentation for myself:

http://www.drlam.com/blood_type_diet/

Okay, so you don't agree with it, Monkey Boy. Others may have a different opinion if they try it for themselves.

I'd never even heard of it until a couple of years ago - long after I'd found, by trial and error, what suited me - and then found it was almost exactly the same as described as 'the blood type diet'.

Ellsjohn

I don't fancy red meat at all now - just cooked rump steak for Mrs C and actually felt put off by it especially seeing the fat in the tray. I had pan fried sea bass with boiled rice mixed with chopped peppers and red onion. Yummy. Don't feel bloated at all.

Had a fantastic meal in proper Thai restaurant the other week so I'm looking up some Thai recipes. Notice the staff in there were all slim and healthy looking

I'll have the occasional cake as a treat or if I'm at a function. Usually wish I hadn't afterwards.

There is an excellent book by Ranulph Fiennes called Fit For Life, with interesting section on diet .

Have you given up yet? Just do it now and save the effort. Be fat, be merry, you know it makes sense.

If you refused to listen to my wise words of wisdom, watch Horizon EP8. The Truth About Exercise (on iplayer) for a 3 min work out that actually works!

yesterday intended to try the 2000 m in sub 8 mins, did a 1000 m in 3 min. 35 secs couldnt carry on, might have managed another 100/200m at most, but was shattered

that pb is excellent,

watch out for Gyms

just in case you are stupid enough to fall ill,or brain dead enough to become redundant

they will charge you 90 days cancellation fee ,wether you need it or not .

my advice is

cancel from the start ,and renew/cancel each time every 3 months


these are premier league ****s only slightly below the banks ,lawyers etc

5km in 22 mins 11 secs tonight.

Want to be sub 20 mins again in 2 months.....

So close tonight on the rower, 8m 0s for 2000m, although I noticed after the attempt, the intensity had been reduced to 8 (from 10)

Can anyone advise best way to utilise the strength machines, I tend to do something like 15 reps at 40kg, then 12 reps at 45kg, 10 at 50kg finishing off with 8 at 55kg.

the weights you mention, that sets ok, but change it around sometimes, start with say 60/65 kg do as many as poss, then drop weights each time.and every so often go for massive weights and do 2 or 3, just to shock the muscle,

ah , howie thats the good thing, that youre 1 notch down, maybe in 3 months with the weight training youre actual weight might be something similar but you might be 3 or 4 notches down on the belt, thats how body builders work to get fine physique

26 lbs in 4 weeks take me hat off to yer elisjohn.
That takes some doing around 90,000 calories burnt off/reduced intake

ps done my sums wrong should be from 20 stone , 30 lbs isnt it. not the best week this one, bit too much wine, still drinking around 1.5 bottles red a week, and had 2 meals of smoked salmon bit too much salt , and overdid the bread . feel much better though, im 5 ft 10 inch and was 20st, but did carry it well, might be the fact that my body is producing too much muscle, re the cretinnine problem with kidneys, as mentioned before.

Well Cheltenhams over not ridden for 4 days so out for a 45/50 mile ride in the morning

didnt excercise sat/ sun yet dieted lost approx 2 lbs, trained monday lost zero , lazy day yesterday lost .6 kg, seems i definetly lose more when i dont excercise, ps what im getting at, is for those people that go to gym etc every day and hoping to lose weight then maybe just go 3/4 times a week, im now down to 112 5 kg this morning, going for power walking on treadmill this morning 40 mins, i hate the bike bloody hurts my bum