Leaving UK at 90.5kg, my heaviest in a good while, trousers
tight and uncomfortable, belt 2 holes over from recent normal, and appetite for
sugar almost insatiable. Hopefully 14 days away can sort me out!
1st 3 episodes of Rabbit Hole and some sleep helped speed
the journey. Lucky to have a brother who is a pilot, which tends to make
planned travel more possible.
Arrived in Singapore and enjoyed dinner at the Cricket Club. Salmon tikka, dahl
and a rather nice red wine. Returned to the hotel and caught myself in the
bathroom mirror.
Took a photo as it told the sorry tale and prompted me to
immediately commence my fast a little earlier than planned.
Start time 9pm Sunday 12th April.
Day One
So far this morning has been spent walking around Singapore
stopping for a black iced coffee (allowing myself one a day for now) and a lime
soda at, probably my favourite global venue, Singapore Cricket Club. By 11pm
having walked most of the day, and a good chunk of Singapore, with my brother
clocked 45, 000 steps. Drank plenty and so far feeling pretty good. Day one
done.
Off to bed then Samui tomorrow....
Day two
A night of a thousand pees....no worries about dehydration
as there was clearly sufficient liquid in my system. Despite a disturbed night
I feel quite fresh this morning and at 8:06 am already on MRT to the
airport....very few signs of yesterday's exertion which is welcome news, and so
far none of the fog I have experienced on past fasts. Long may that continue.
10,000 steps completed, mostly around the vast expanse of
Changi Airport and somewhat surprisingly our flight departed 20 minutes
early...unfortunately the taxi driver meeting me at the airport seemed to be
relying on mystic powers he did not possess. Not that the 40 minute wait
mattered and once I decided to call the hotel we were swiftly connected. So far
day two passing well.
Samui has mixed emotions for me. Fasting is sometimes no fun
at all, the infrastructure has not really kept pace with building and, while
the smells of cooking are uplifting, other aromas are far less so. Importantly
though it is the place where I cracked the code and found ketosis, a real life
improving eureka moment if ever there was one. Hoping to renew and refresh,
shed 5kg and find the energy that deep ketosis brings.
First book completed to help keep my mind off food.
Day 3
After a broken night of sleep feeling quite calm and wholly
committed. The hotel has a breakfast buffet at the pool and while it looked
very appetising temptation to break was quite easy to resist. Started the day,
as I plan to every day with some stretches on the mobility board, brought with
me from home, and then 10 lengths of the 25m pool. A good start. Calves are
quite stiff from the last two days of walking so may ease back a little.
Well the swim and mobility board meant I felt sufficiently
loose to manage over 13,000 steps and the smell and sight of food did not tempt
me at all.
I met with Patrick, at Spa Resorts, and have my programme
for the supervised element of my fast. Starting with some testing this evening
of pH levels in saliva and urine. I took a 90-minute massage during the hottest
period or the day, and then thought a buzz cut was appropriate, went a little
further than I had initially intended so I won't be seeing my barber any time
soon.
Stretches in the pool and an exquisite 30 mins in and out of
the steam room completed my pre-testing day. Will test shortly then plan to
read and sleep.
The results are in, very quickly, with messages from Patrick
moments after I submit photos of the strips:
“Clearly in ketosis Andy
Specific gravity is good. Hydration
Saliva pH is good ( alkaline)
Urine pH is acidic is influenced by the fast as it’s already
day 3
For the other parts of the urine pH all good”
Day Four
It's HAPPENING
Another night where I slept in short blocks and was awake
for a good deal of time in between. Left knee troubling me a little but
stiffness now gone.
Awoke at 7am tested and, sure enough, in deeper ketosis.
Headed for the pool and whereas yesterday my 10 lengths were in 2 blocks of 4
and a 3rd of 2, with rest in between, today I reeled off 20, quite easily, with
no stops. As I have not been swimming in a long time this was a surprise. Being
in fairly deep ketosis was not. Supervised fast starts today..
Check in with Patrick and scales show 88.4kg so progress
already, weigh in was mid morning. First cucumber and lime detox drink
with added psyllium husk and bentonite is just the right side of tolerable.
Needed to provide nutrients and help cleansing process. Massage booked for 1pm
so will read and dose until then and save my walking for this evening.
Not sure if its coincidence but feel very lethargic post my
first drink. Test strips did show I was less hydrated than yesterday so will
drink more and try the fasting broth.
Day 5
After a massage and a steam and my first visit to the colema
room I slept, woke briefly, slept, woke briefly on repeat from around 7pm until
I woke for the final time at 5am. At 6am I left my room for a walk 14,000 steps
later back in the room. Felt better than I expected so included a very sweaty
30 minute treadmill session, my 1st in a long time. Managed to jog slowly twice
for 90 seconds. Good to be back trying again.
As day 5 draws to a close I feel good and happy to have
reached half way. My regime is now set with the morning for exercise and
the afternoon at Spa Resorts for a massage, a bucket, and a steam. Evening
relaxing in my room at Poolsawat villas.
Reaching some early conclusions.
- I
needed this fast and will be much better for it.
- Dr
Slonim was 100% right in 2006 when he advised training to get the body to
use ketosis as an energy source.
- Daily
life and exercise are so much easier in ketosis.
- Ketosis
helps weight loss
·
I can and will get back to jogging.
Day 6
Wake at 3am with sleep elusive, finally drift off at 5:30am
for two restful hours. By 7:50am I am in the pool for 40 lengths in 50 minutes.
To the me before 2014 this would have been incredible, swimming without any
muscle pain at all for 1,000 metres is something I would never have dreamed of,
or imagined was possible.
Today I feel a little disappointed that neck and back
stiffness slowed me down. I guess I also need to accept that I'm 64 not 52! A
short walk rest and reading are the order of the day.
Visited Patrick for daily blood pressure check and he
offered a weigh in, which happily showed I have dropped 2 kilos since my 1st
weigh in here so 4 kilos in total at just over half way. I may have a
celebratory coconut juice later! Decided on a treadmill session and managed 3km
in 35 minutes before the machine timed me out. Gradually built speed today to
5.8km and then walked and did 60,90,105 and 120 second jogs at that pace.
Something to build on.
Rather than rest I walked into town for a pedicure and that
coconut juice. 8k steps good enough on top of everything else.
Day 7
Bristol City kept me up late, ultimately delivering
disappointment, despite a very good 1st half performance, which but for the
incompetence of the lino would have seen us 2-0 to the good at the break. 2nd
half collapse unexpected.
Slept undisturbed until 6:30am, my 1st undisturbed sleep
since arriving in Samui.I intend to have a day of exercise and sleep
uninterrupted by detox drinks supplements or buckets. A day of water an iced
lemon tea perhaps, and walking/swimming/resting. Time to push.
11am and relaxing by Spa Resorts pool. 13,000 steps and 10km
covered so far today. Plan another walk later once its cooled down a little.
Blood pressure today 120/80 which is very good for me.
Finish the day on 17,000 steps and am now enjoying the Spa
detox broth. Planning a swim this evening and will then see how long
Gloucestershire can keep me awake.
Day 8
Surprisingly long was the answer. Slept only when the age
defying Sir Jim engineered a collapse. Nevertheless, a decent last day in
prospect, which will keep me entertained this evening. Slept a good 7 hours and
woke around 5:30am. Morning walk 90 minutes 10k steps 7.6km followed by 20
lengths. A little light-headed today but finish line is in sight.
Bp 106/65 so quite low for me. Scale shows a slightly
disappointing 85.5kg but with 3 days to go I am hoping now to be below 84kg
when I finish here, to then target 80kg and below when I get home.
Afternoon on the plan including a steam. 13.5k steps and
10km covered. 2 days to go.
Day 9
BP133/ 76 immediately post exercise.
1pm as I write and I am still a little shocked by today. I
woke early and felt, as I have been these last few days, a little disappointed
that, despite adhering strictly to this fast, I had yet to feel a real change
in energy levels as I had in the past. On reflection I think this was more to
do with expectation than reality.
This fast has so far been quite easy, none of the retching,
headaches and nausea of prior attempts. I've slept well and got into a good
exercise routine but given my prior experience the exercise part was
expected, as I know, without any single iota of doubt, that when my
body is in ketosis I am at my best. I had I think hoped that I'd suddenly
feel a bit extra when in reality 10 days ago doing what I have done would not
have been on the cards or anywhere near them.
In any event, that all changed this morning a 5k brisk walk
at 11mins/km, a stop for lemon tea......and then a thought to jog down my
favourite Samui hill. I started, it felt good, and much like Forest Gump, I
just kept going all the 4.17km back to my hotel. Some of it was slow, slower
than my walk, but two sections were between 7.5min and 8.5mins/km. Incredibly
elated by that and grateful that I had the opportunity to be here.
Rest of the day followed a familiar pattern until I added in
20 lengths in the pool, which was very comfortable.
Day 10
So it’s finally here and I am pretty delighted with the way
this has gone. Urine tests this morning reveal a high level of ketones within,
which means I am producing a lot more than my body is using, even with these
levels of exercise. Currently midway on my morning walk sipping an iced lemon
tea (no sugar) 56 mins for 4.67km.
Subsequently started immediately on a quite steep 400m hill
and at the top repeated my jog of yesterday without any issues, toward the end
I began to feel a little dehydrated so I stopped at 3.7km in 24 minutes and had
another drink. I thought I'd then jog back to the hotel. My thighs immediately
told me otherwise. Will head out no later than 6:30am tomorrow. It was nice
though that google fit titled this as a run and not a walk.
This was scheduled to be my last day fasting but I have now
decided to carry on the fast and review on a day-by-day basis. After all I
have done the heavy lifting. If I am feeling good, then I'll go to Sunday
evening at 9pm to complete 14 days. But I'll be very much listening to my body.
BP126/75
The rest of the day followed the script. I made the
"mistake" of telling Khun Ae, the massage therapist, that my quads
were quite sore. She suggested Thai massage and I thought why not? As she
joyously inflicted pain, with her elbow, and through various contortions
stretching various muscles I certainly felt it a mistake. However, once she
stopped my body felt a whole lot better.
Actually, enjoyed my broth this evening, who would have
predicted that?
By tomorrow morning I will have finished my supervised fast
here. I have done my last bucket so it’s just two probiotic drinks and a
probiotic syringe implant tomorrow. Plus the tale of the tape with Patrick.
Day 11
Awoke early and planned a walk, a stop for the google fit to
reset, and then a jog. Hopefully 5k back to the hotel. In the end google fit
treated the whole thing as one exercise so, only post exercise, could I
calculate the jog at around 4.3km.
Throughout my quads were sore, not M pain as arms, calves,
etc all totally fine but more I think normal muscle soreness from exercise.
Slightly disappointed but not in the context of where I was two weeks ago.
It’s then time for the tape which reveals I have lost an
inch from my waist and now weigh 83.8kg near my lowest of last year. Patrick
guided me through the process of breaking the fast with fruit and then steamed
vegetables and then discussed the importance of the body's pH. I'll get a
printed report later. The contents of a probiotic syringe were duly
implanted and the formal part of my fast is done.
BP was 99/76 and I am still feeling fine so think we'll
carry on. I did sneak a spoonful of curry gravy as they cleared the breakfast
buffet so I have had a taste of Thailand at least. The rest of the day spent
reading and relaxing.
Day 12
This will be my last full day I think. Plan to rest this
morning and then travel back to Singapore, where I am meeting friends this
evening. This has been 10 days of solitude so it will be nice to get back to
being social. I then plan to get on the treadmill at SCC tomorrow and see what
I can achieve before breaking the fast. A little breakfast gravy and a final
broth soup prepare me for the day.
I am feeling full of energy and mentally very sharp. So much
so that I have spent my time at the airport and on the plane editing the above
and writing a substantial summary and conclusion piece, that ultimately will
sit at the top of this blog.
Day 13
Unlucky for some, and as I write at 7:45am at Singapore
Cricket Club I think this may be the last few hours of my fast. I slept
well, though was back to a two hour cycle of sleep and pee so I am clearly
hydrated but I feel a little light headed. Will find a coconut water and then
reassess.
Always love being back in Singapore 20 minutes after landing and I was already
in a taxi headed to The Cricket Club. Lime soda with friends and then a journey
back to stay with them, catch up conversation and then bed Today will be
catching up with lots if people on the Padang, one of the top cricket fields
anywhere in the world. Walked for 90 minutes and then walked with friends
around Fort Canning, something I had not done while living here. This was
interesting as we encountered a long block of steps...ketosis or not I needed a
stop midway up. To me this was the fact that anaerobic exercise where we rely
on muscles in a more explosive way is eased somewhat by ketosis but not fully.
I was better than I would have been unfasted but no as free as I am with
aerobic activity.
Back at there flat the fast was broken with some absolutely delicious pomelo so
it lasted 12 days and 15 hours. Further modest amounts of fruit later in the
day at SCC and plenty of hydration has me feeling less lightheaded after 27,000
steps in 30 degree heat.
Intend plenty of exercise the next two days and indeed when
I am back in UK.
Day 14
A real joy to be able to get up, open the door and go for a 10k walk. No
need to stop, no need to worry about when to turn back, freedom to just walk. A
swim a relax and then an evening meal of dahl and chickpea salad washed down
with a glass of red wine complete my day.
End the day with total steps if 26,000.
Day 15
Slept like a baby, awake refreshed. Breakfast included in my
hotel stay so enjoy fruit, salad, scrambled egg and curry sauce then head for
the 6k walk to see my GP here. BP after an iced black coffee 120/80. Ask for
CK, PSA and a glucose blood tests, apparently ketone blood test not available
in Singapore and head to SCC to see what I can achieve today on the treadmill.
BOOM !!!!!
Strangely I felt this was inevitable today. While I took a little time to
get fully comfortable I managed a 4k jog at around 6 to 6.6kmph without much
trouble at all. Max heart rate was 160 and was mostly between 140 and 155. The
only unfortunate part was I ran too close to the emergency stop and that ended
my session when 5k was comfortably in sight.
As trips go the cake was iced a long time ago, it now has
a cherry tree on top!!! Closed the day with over 20,000 steps in addition to
the jog. Did rather overeat this evening but plan now not to eat on the plane
home and have a very light meal tomorrow evening before a final weigh in on
Wednesday morning on home scales.
After an overnight flight home and a good night's sleep I
weigh in at 85.5kg 5 kilos lower than when I started and more importantly ready
to work hard to get where I want to be. A couple of days now catching up at
home and then come Friday a first attempt at home at 5km jog.
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