Christmas Fitness

Don't moan! You all knew this was coming... I don't know one person that hasn't overindulged this Christmas (and I really don't blame you) but I heard this new diet thing on the grapevine about two months ago and thought that it would be a good one to try around Christmas and it is so easy to follow I tested it for three days in October (but I didn't have any scales then and I was going for a run a lot so not sure if it worked for me! but you can always give it a try!).

Its called the 10:14 diet - like the 5:2 but far easier and no calorie counting! yay! 

The idea is that fasting for a certain amount of time is good for us as it burns fat (as does interval training but who has time for that?...). This doesn't mean however it is a good idea to not eat for a whole day because then your body will begin to store everything and you'll put on weight, or it will begin to burn what you have stored and turn it into fats or sugars - there is a process I learnt during Biology but I definitely cannot remember that, anyway, no one wants to fast for 24 hours! 

So you stop eating at 10pm (every night, or at least five days a week to start with), you're still allowed water or herbal tea but then you can't eat until 12pm the next day, a good time to have porridge or eggs or something energy/protein-rich. Then (this is the best part) eat normally for 10 hours (till 10pm again), normally as in relatively healthy however still "normally" - have a biscuit, glass of vino, don't go to the gym (rebel) then begin to fast again for 14 hours from 10pm to 12pm. 

Simples. The best thing about 10:14 is that you can alter it so not eating from 8pm to 10am - just make sure you get 14 hours off and 10 hours of eating normally. 

Fitting this in with a couple of runs a week (when I tried it I got up and went for a run at 10am, had a shower etc then by that time it was time to eat - so that stops you feeling so hungry) and with your 5-aday (a smoothie would be a good snack during the day to get your fruit in, although however many fruits you put in a smoothie it will only ever be a maxim of 2 of your 5 a day because of the fruits being broken down). 

Also as a late Christmas present to yourself get the Nike Training App - use the 15 minute strength exercises after a 30 minute cardio session to tone. 

I hope this helps to fit into your LBD on NYE! 

RHS x