Chiswick Fitness – What’s the best diet?
Way back in 2003, the BBC ran a small series called “Diet Trials“. Now, I never saw the program but I was at a Obesity Lecture at Reading University a few weeks ago and the Professor mentioned the research.
It made fascinating listening… especially the graph below.
As you can see from the graph, apart from a faster start from Atkins, most of the diets pretty much delivered the same results over a 6 month period.
So what does this prove? (Apart from the fact that Fat Furnace is a far healthier and effective option!)
Well, the main thing it appears to prove is that with regards to weight loss (ignoring other health factors) it does not really matter WHICH of these 4 diets you did as long as you STUCK to them.
So here is a quick video on what I have learnt about sticking to a diet…!
Top Healthy Snacks For 2012
Here are some ideas for healthier alternatives to toast and a snickers… Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section.
How to get BETTER rest…
What would you sometimes do for just 10 more minutes in bed???
Whilst London life can be great fun, it can also be pretty hectic!
And it isn’t just work is it? At times our social life can be even more demanding! (I am always a little concerned when some bootcampers are more tired on a Monday than a Friday!)
So how do you get quality rest in? And why is rest so important anyway?
This post seeks to help you out if DOWNTIME isn’t your speciality.
A Mars a day...
WORK REST AND PLAY
Whilst “Work” and “Play” get all the headlines it is in fact “Rest” that can play the biggest role in your ability to reach optimum health and get the most out of the urban environment.
After all, three things happen when you are in a truly RESTFUL state.
- We rebuild valuable muscle mass
- We think more clearly and make more creative decisions
- We detoxify the body and burn more fat
As I mentioned before, “Work” and “Play” get all the glory but it is “Rest” where the progress is made.
If your rest is poor, illness, injury, poor decision making and an inabaility to shift stubborn fat can all be the result.
So how do we get the most from our rest and are there any tips to make it easier?
Here are my top tips for getting the most from your downtime.
My Rest Room (Not a toilet...)
Whilst home can be a sanctuary for many of us, for others it is simply a collection of unfinished tasks and daily chores. (This is especially common for Mothers or DIY fanatics)
Now, even if you enjoy putting up shelves (I can’t think of anything worse) this is still not rest.
Replacing your everyday envirnment with something different or unique can be the first step to better quality rest.
Regular holidays or weekend breaks are the obvious way to do this, but if you cannot afford a regular holiday abroad, simply exploring London or the countryside can be the perfect way to REPLACE your environment with something less familiar and faciliatate better rest.
Laura and I are lucky enough to have a basement in our house (see above) that has no TV or internet and is only used for reflection, study music and rest.
Just going into this room calm me down sometimes! I don’t do any daily admin here or even work, just read, study and relax.
For people that are naturally restless a REST room or enforced mini breaks can be the secret to better productivity, more fat loss or better sporting performance!
Whilst this idea may sound far fetched and high maintenance, simply having a room with no TV in it can be a start! (bedrooms don’t count!)
Blatant bribery
REWARD
Another way to facilitate better rest is to simply reward yourself!
After all, for many people, they are so busy STRIVING for progress, that they never stop to appreciate what they have been working for!
Appreciating that rewards are a key part in helping us rest, is a first step to doing this.
Ahhh that smell of diesel...
REFLECT
The final “R’ of effective rest is to reflect on the past. You heard right, look backwards rather than forwards!
In advanced consumer cultures, such as the UK, this happens so rarely and yet can be so powerful. In fact for some people the only time they actually look backwards is the end of the tax year and Christmas.
Keeping a journal, catching up with old friends, looking back through old photographs or simply revisiting old memories in your head (sounds a bit weird…) can be a brilliant way to unwind and relax effectively.
CONCLUSION
So there you are… the three “R’s” of REST.
For optimum rest you will have to look at Meditation, Tai Chi and Restorative Yoga postures but that is not what this article is about.
The three “R’s” of rest can not only make resting easier, but can also facilitate further relaxation techniques at a later stage.
Focus on the three “R’s” and then take it to the next level if you wish, but I hope these ideas help you enjoy better rest and more energy for the other areas of your life.
All the best,
John
