Last Thursday week I failed to remember that on Friday we were going to a quiz night. The quiz night was to raise funds for new floodlights for our ailing local football club, to see old friends and enjoy ourselves. Had I remembered, on the Thursday I would have fasted, but I was certainly NOT going to fast on Friday and drink in the evening - that's a sure fire way to get drunk on almost no alcohol at all, and I hate being drunk. So come Friday I had failed.
Thinking about how I would fit two days fasting into a very short week left me puzzled and unwilling to even try. I needn't have worried.
Andy, Jess and Leo have suffered a bug that was almost certainly Norovirus. By Sunday, I was starting to think I had caught it. So much so I was close to not preaching! Some prayer later and I managed it (it was an eventful one, including some technology failures), but by Sunday evening I was struggling again - beginning to feel very cold. I stayed at home Monday and tried to get warm with little success, it was a miserable day until about 4pm when the fever broke and I recovered. On Tuesday I went to work as usual, the late Tuesday evening the 'second half' of the illness hit me. By Wednesday mid-morning my insides were empty, along with my energy reserves, I didn't eat again until Thursday lunchtime, but I didn't do anything except sleep, read and watch TV, nothing close to activity at all.
On Thursday I missed an important (to me) funeral that I had a day's holiday to attend, and in the evening the Agape feast at Christ Church. Today I have managed to exercise the dog and take part in the walk of witness, but that was it - the limit of my abilities, so I missed the service following the walk, and I am missing our innovative service for Good Friday - Eastingle - as I write. My daughter, jokingly, said God would smite me if I missed any more important festivals, I replied, less jokingly, that I thought He already had.
So I have managed two days without food (very nearly) this week, even if I haven't managed anything else.
If you're wondering how we did at the quiz night - we cane 7th of 10. On one round, we scored as full 10/10, but didn't play our joker. The round was words that sound the same and are spelt differently, the clue was 'provoke' and 'understanding'.
The answer: incite and insight - my only unique contribution to the round.
And yes, I did provide unique input to other rounds, but we didn't get a perfect score on any of them.
Showing posts with label Fasting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fasting. Show all posts
Friday, March 29, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Fasting Fridays: Throughput
Now I must discuss the side effects, especially the delicate topic of throughput. Feel free not to read on.
Fasting has side effects, some are desirable, even the aim, for example I am near to my lowest weight for 4 years, although there really hasn't been that much change. I am also near to my lowest waist measurement in the same period, although again, little has really changed. I have targets - 13st and less than 38 inches - and both are a long, long way away. I haven't decided what to do when I get there. There are other less desirable side effects. I'll leave gnawing hunger, as that is really an aim as well, or perhaps you could call it a direct effect.
The main side effect is to do with the throughput of the digestive system. The human digestive system takes its input - we call it food - and processes it through a long tube before discarding the parts that cannot be used. This process takes two to three days from input to output and gets less efficient as we get beyond into middle age. The system works best, at least mine does, when the input is regular and sufficient. If there is too much input there will be too much output and it will not have been so well processed. Similarly, if there is too little input there will be less output and the rate of progress through the system will be reduced. this can make disposal, the last part of the output phase much harder. The type of input also has a bearing on the effectiveness of the system. With this in mind I have now altered the first input after the fast (Saturday morning breakfast) to have a higher content of fibre to see if the throughput can be improved.
More than enough said, results next week.
Fasting has side effects, some are desirable, even the aim, for example I am near to my lowest weight for 4 years, although there really hasn't been that much change. I am also near to my lowest waist measurement in the same period, although again, little has really changed. I have targets - 13st and less than 38 inches - and both are a long, long way away. I haven't decided what to do when I get there. There are other less desirable side effects. I'll leave gnawing hunger, as that is really an aim as well, or perhaps you could call it a direct effect.
The main side effect is to do with the throughput of the digestive system. The human digestive system takes its input - we call it food - and processes it through a long tube before discarding the parts that cannot be used. This process takes two to three days from input to output and gets less efficient as we get beyond into middle age. The system works best, at least mine does, when the input is regular and sufficient. If there is too much input there will be too much output and it will not have been so well processed. Similarly, if there is too little input there will be less output and the rate of progress through the system will be reduced. this can make disposal, the last part of the output phase much harder. The type of input also has a bearing on the effectiveness of the system. With this in mind I have now altered the first input after the fast (Saturday morning breakfast) to have a higher content of fibre to see if the throughput can be improved.
More than enough said, results next week.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Fasting Friday's
There was a program on TV a while ago "Eat Fast, Live Longer", Horizon, I think. It's suggestion was that by not eating for two consecutive days a week that you can not only loose weight (which will benefit your health) but also reset the blood pressure mechanisms and the cholesterol management mechanisms. Thereby avoiding tablets, and having the possibility of a stroke or heart attack reduced. There are all sorts of variations of this idea going around now. I thought I'd try it, but being me, I'd have to ease into it, after all it should be for life!
Following my change in diet 5 years ago my weight reduced by a stone (14 pounds), but has crept up another half a stone and apparently is now stable (at least for the last two years), that still puts me in the obese category.
Fasting Friday 1 - 15 Feb 2013
For the last couple of weeks I have eaten almost no lunch on Friday, and been incredibly hungry by evening, so I was not really looking froward to this. I had 50% more breakfast than usual, that should get me to the 600 calories I need for the day. Then only water, no tea, coffee etc. and certainly no orange juice or squash for the rest of the day.
11:00 is snack time, some nuts, seeds and dried fruit normally, but not today. It being a busy day at work I hardly missed it.
13:00 is Lunch, not today, but no lunch meant no break and that felt strange.
15:00: sometime in this hour I usually eat an apple, not today, but this was the first time I felt really hungry. Fortunately there are no apples in the fridge. I did give in and make a black coffee - I needed a hot drink.
18:00 I had to make sure I was out of the room when Jo ate. This was partly achieved by taking the dog out.
22:00 The last snack of the day: Normally after the dog's walk I have a yoghurt, again not today, but I have had 2 fruit teas and another black decaf coffee. In the kitchen I have to put the food out of site to avoid eating it, I am not feeling hungry, but I want to eat. I am now exhausted, not sleepy, just lacking energy and ready for bed. I also have a head ache.
23:00 Taking my tablets has made me really hungry, but it doesn't last too long, and I slept well.
Fasting Friday 2 - 22 Feb 2013
Today was one of those occasional days when I get hungry about 10:15. I had the same bigger breakfast, so perhaps it was just the anticipation, or perhaps it was the concious effort to drink an extra glass of water, you should know my theory on that. The hunger lasted until about 15:30, when finally I could get on with work without thinking how hungry I was. I had very nearly given up and gone to the fridge for an apple. Again I took the dog out as soon as I arrived home, fearing perhaps that I would not have the energy (or inclination) for it later.
When I got back Jo had cooked tea. That was hard, but I resisted. While Jo was eating I sat and watched TV, and that's where I stayed for most of the evening - I just couldn't be bothered to make the effort. I'm hoping that that was just a one off, but we will see.
Unlike last week, when on Saturday morning we had headed to breakfast at Tawney Green, today I had to cook it myself. Fried egg and tomatoes on toast, or for the first attempt on floor. Our grill pan is missing the screw that holds the handle firmly in place, so while still very hungry I was cleaning the kitchen floor.
Fasting Friday 3, will be on Thursday, on Friday I will be eating, but more of that next week.
Following my change in diet 5 years ago my weight reduced by a stone (14 pounds), but has crept up another half a stone and apparently is now stable (at least for the last two years), that still puts me in the obese category.
Fasting Friday 1 - 15 Feb 2013
For the last couple of weeks I have eaten almost no lunch on Friday, and been incredibly hungry by evening, so I was not really looking froward to this. I had 50% more breakfast than usual, that should get me to the 600 calories I need for the day. Then only water, no tea, coffee etc. and certainly no orange juice or squash for the rest of the day.
11:00 is snack time, some nuts, seeds and dried fruit normally, but not today. It being a busy day at work I hardly missed it.
13:00 is Lunch, not today, but no lunch meant no break and that felt strange.
15:00: sometime in this hour I usually eat an apple, not today, but this was the first time I felt really hungry. Fortunately there are no apples in the fridge. I did give in and make a black coffee - I needed a hot drink.
18:00 I had to make sure I was out of the room when Jo ate. This was partly achieved by taking the dog out.
22:00 The last snack of the day: Normally after the dog's walk I have a yoghurt, again not today, but I have had 2 fruit teas and another black decaf coffee. In the kitchen I have to put the food out of site to avoid eating it, I am not feeling hungry, but I want to eat. I am now exhausted, not sleepy, just lacking energy and ready for bed. I also have a head ache.
23:00 Taking my tablets has made me really hungry, but it doesn't last too long, and I slept well.
Fasting Friday 2 - 22 Feb 2013
Today was one of those occasional days when I get hungry about 10:15. I had the same bigger breakfast, so perhaps it was just the anticipation, or perhaps it was the concious effort to drink an extra glass of water, you should know my theory on that. The hunger lasted until about 15:30, when finally I could get on with work without thinking how hungry I was. I had very nearly given up and gone to the fridge for an apple. Again I took the dog out as soon as I arrived home, fearing perhaps that I would not have the energy (or inclination) for it later.
When I got back Jo had cooked tea. That was hard, but I resisted. While Jo was eating I sat and watched TV, and that's where I stayed for most of the evening - I just couldn't be bothered to make the effort. I'm hoping that that was just a one off, but we will see.
Unlike last week, when on Saturday morning we had headed to breakfast at Tawney Green, today I had to cook it myself. Fried egg and tomatoes on toast, or for the first attempt on floor. Our grill pan is missing the screw that holds the handle firmly in place, so while still very hungry I was cleaning the kitchen floor.
Fasting Friday 3, will be on Thursday, on Friday I will be eating, but more of that next week.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Sausage Saturday
On my only 'lie in' day I was up earlier than usual. I had to be at church for 7.45 for the 30 minute drive to Woodhatch Farm, Tawney Common. 5 men from Christ Church were going to the men's breakfast run by the Nationwide Christian Trust at Mulberry House. There are about 65 men there and no women or children. The speaker for today is Neil Harvey. On arrival I am directed to a car parking space. The driver of the car in front is a friend from years ago, who I haven't seen in ages. We have a lot of catching up to do. There is plenty of time to talk before the morning gets started.
About 9 o'clock breakfast is served. A traditional English breakfast, and I'm really hungry now, having succeeded in my first 'breakfast only Friday'. I have started these in Lent, but that is really just a means of getting started. The purpose is to loose weight, but after Friday I'm sure I'll have other things to report on later. Anyway, the full English is served - Bacon, scrambled egg, sausage, tomato, backed beans, hash browns. I'd been OK with the tea, coffee and orange juice, but the smell of bacon makes me really hungry. I eat the lot, none of my careful removal of fat and avoidance of sausages. It is my first sausage since my cholesterol shock 5 year ago.
There is good chat over breakfast about food, the redefinition of marriage and other assorted topics. After that we worship (3 songs only - nothing else) and then it's the main event.
The room is quiet as Neil starts his story. Some jokes about Wales to get us in the mood are followed by the real story. A boy born to young parents, who split up, brought up by grand parents, never fitting in anywhere and turning to a life of crime. It's a classic story. This one is different though. This one has smatterings of Sunday School and contact with Christians. This one has the power of God. I will not ruin the story for you, in case you get the chance to hear him. Ultimately he becomes a pastor, the details of that are in the link above. It shows God's redemptive power. It shows we can all be saved.
There is little talk about the story on the way home. The drama of it will take time to sink in. Time was a major element of Neil's story. Without time to spend with God there is no hope of building the relationship and trust required to follow Jesus properly.
About 9 o'clock breakfast is served. A traditional English breakfast, and I'm really hungry now, having succeeded in my first 'breakfast only Friday'. I have started these in Lent, but that is really just a means of getting started. The purpose is to loose weight, but after Friday I'm sure I'll have other things to report on later. Anyway, the full English is served - Bacon, scrambled egg, sausage, tomato, backed beans, hash browns. I'd been OK with the tea, coffee and orange juice, but the smell of bacon makes me really hungry. I eat the lot, none of my careful removal of fat and avoidance of sausages. It is my first sausage since my cholesterol shock 5 year ago.
There is good chat over breakfast about food, the redefinition of marriage and other assorted topics. After that we worship (3 songs only - nothing else) and then it's the main event.
The room is quiet as Neil starts his story. Some jokes about Wales to get us in the mood are followed by the real story. A boy born to young parents, who split up, brought up by grand parents, never fitting in anywhere and turning to a life of crime. It's a classic story. This one is different though. This one has smatterings of Sunday School and contact with Christians. This one has the power of God. I will not ruin the story for you, in case you get the chance to hear him. Ultimately he becomes a pastor, the details of that are in the link above. It shows God's redemptive power. It shows we can all be saved.
There is little talk about the story on the way home. The drama of it will take time to sink in. Time was a major element of Neil's story. Without time to spend with God there is no hope of building the relationship and trust required to follow Jesus properly.
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