One Month on and here we go!

OK, for those just wanting results I’ll post them first. I will also write a bit of waffle and if you are interested in that then continue reading but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Previous Weight= 88.00kgs                  
Current Weight=86.4kgs
Difference= -1.4kgs.
Month difference= -5.44kgs.

Want to know see what 5kgs of Nutella looks like? Yea, that's the amount of fat loss I've had so far.

The secret this week is HOT SAUCE! Besides making most food taste better, the advantage of good quality Hot Sauce is the added benefit of capsaicin, the ingredient that gives chillies its heat. Good news and bad news; capsaicin does indeed ramp out the metabolism for a few hours when consumed but it only has limited effect. Once you can tolerate the Hot Sauce and stomach it without pain then you are in trouble. You either step up to a new hotter sauce or accept your fate with a tasty sauce that will bring flavour but no flab fighting benefits. For those wanting to ascend the spice ladder, it truly is a rewarding journey. (this site gets my personal recommendation http://www.tonguehammerfood.co.nz/death-sauce.html). Chillies indeed taste great but are part of the wider world of thermogenics. The basics are that it induces thermogenesis in which your metabolism (the conversion of oxygen and food into energy) ramps up causing higher conversion of food into energy and fat oxidation.  The same can be seen in caffeine and certain types of tea. If it works that is fantastic (there is some science behind it http://www.shs.brookes.ac.uk/images/pdfs/research/functional-food/conference/presentations/dulloo.pdf) but if not then I still enjoy spicy food!



Well it has been about a month since I started this experiment and in the time from starting till now, I must admit, the changes have come in leaps and bounds. Firstly, I must tell people that this is not a diet. There is no set of rules of I am following, just making substitutes of small things. White carbs are now switched with brown carbs, sauces are now homemade rather than store bought and cravings are managed with the super cheat day. Since having a higher nutrient dense intake (please see Week 1 and the green smoothie), I’ve not really had any huge cravings for ‘junk food’ (my friends know how much of a fiend I was for Maltesers) but in this month…nothing. No pizza, ice-cream, chocolate (until fatday) but I am using these things as a reward and not a comforter as previously seen. I’ll admit that I was a comfort eater and study was done with Maltesers and OJ (with the possibility of Squiggles if it was an all-nighter (in the absence of sleep your body needs calories…thanks Deadliest Catch). Of course as any student will know when an essay or project is due and you have yet to start it everything goes out the window and all attention and focus goes towards study. With this mind-set, a few sleepless nights, you can go from a few grams to a few kilos very quickly and it doesn’t help living at a hostel that caters (All those who went to HLH will remember the fantastic oily mess that was weekend meals). But as stated, a nutrient dense intake of food makes a huge difference and you will notice it in just a month. I have and I feel better for it in all aspects of my life; I feel more energetic, less hungry throughout the days and also feel better as a whole person. Combining this with the solid exercise regime, a decent sleeping pattern and mentally I feel like a much better person; more humble, clean, focused and open. I feel like a better person and that translates to being a better friend, better brother and better son and so on. I think that more people would benefit from this but living in a chaotic world with work deadlines and social pressures that is easier said than done. But without getting some sort of exercise, they have their inner chimp locked up and rattling the cage causing issues and problems. Have you ever come across someone who is just unpleasant to be around, snappy and short tempered? Yea, I like to believe their inner chimp is going bananas inside the cage and possibly flinging poop! But go for a run, lift some weights…anything physical and I think you will feel much better for it. I certainly do. And it could work for you! Just a thought after a decent workout from a sweaty, sore Richard. One month down and another 3 to go!