Taking part in the Race for Life

Committed to Life

It all started a few months ago when I decided to do a ten day fast. Now, considerably lighter and fitter, I seem to have reached another milestone. I have committed to run the 5km Race for life on 14 June at Chester racecourse!

You see, miracles really can happen!

Mind you, I think that I am more out of my depth asking people to sponsor me than I am at training to achieve a goal. If you would like to support me and to help thousands of others to beat cancer please click on the link below to sponsor me .

Thank you for sponsoring me.

Now, if only I could go a full week without a large glass or two of red wine , I might have a chance of completing the 5 kilometres!!

Marie-Claire

It feels good to be alive!

Today a miracle happened!

After years of explaining why I would never run and why I thought that even jogging was really bad for you ( your joints, your bustline etc), I found myself jogging my way to the gym!
This morning was a beautiful sunny morning and I literally felt glad to be alive!

Listening to your hearts desires

Of course, a part of me knew this was going to happen long before my body became aware. A few weeks ago, I was running a Miracle Club evening session and we were doing an exercise on finding your hearts desires. To my uttter astonishment, I had written down that I would like to enjoy running! My head resisted such an idea even as I read it out loud to the group and yet , there I was this morning , running!

Turning back time

Have you ever watched young children in the schoolyard at breaktime? They tear around,running and skipping with each other.They don't sit out from the game of "tick"because they're too tired to run. They are full of life and energy and playfulness. I decided a while ago that I would like to recover some of my youthful energy, and having made that decision , I am progressing one step at a time to a more youthful me .

Race for Life

Last Saturday evening I danced all night and I felt great! This morning I was jogging to the gym! Whatever next? Well, I have decided to maintain the momentum, to follow my hearts desire and to sign up for the Race for Life in Chester.

It's taking place in June and involves a 5km race around Chester racecourse. Now the last time that I ran around that racecourse was when I was about sixteen and madly keen on most sports. I think that was before I discovered boys..! It was a long time ago. To run round that racecourse is going to take some training but thats simply the next step in my journey and my quest to bust through my comfort zones!

Rediscovering the Energy of my Youth

You see,my main intention has now moved on from losing weight. I am happy with my body's weight and am confident that I will reach my optimum weight naturally. My intention now is to rediscover the energy of my youth. The ten day fast kickstarted my metabolism and my faith in me, and I intend doing it every six months to keep me clear. In the meantime, I eat sensibly with occasional treats and I choose to be more active during the day.

Life is for living...and I now choose to wake up and spring to life!
Fancy joining in on the Race for Life?

Marie-Claire

PS In a weeks time, I will be seeing clearly again thanks to the modern technology of laser. According to some of my friends who've had the operation to correct short sightedness, it can make you feel ten years younger !! More on that later....

Becoming more visible

Slim and sexy

It's been a while since my last blog. Please accept my apologies. The thing is, that I don't really think about food much anymore. Mind you, I have been thinking lots about all the clothes that I can now fit into to ...and I am committed to staying slim and sexy!


New Habits

My new habits include visits to the gym every other day for weight training and I include at least 20 minutes physical activity each day ( Doesn't physical activity sound much better than exercise?) For me it could be anything from a power walk into Chester for some shopping, a cycle ride uphill to get my nails done or a day of housework and ironing (not my favourite option but sometimes it just has to be done). Im also committed to eating my evening meal before 6pm where socially possible.

Foodwise, Im sticking to Leskie Kentons X Factor diet of 50% protein, 30% fat and 20% carbohydrate. Its really easy and the meals fill me up. Unlike when I eat carbohydrates and sugars, Im not left wanting more than my three meals a day.


Typical meals would be:

Breakfast: poached egg on a slice of tomato or a bed of buttered spinach, a whey protein shake (great for when Im in a rush) or a mushroom omelette

Lunch: A green salad of lettuce/spinach leaves with spring onions, avocado and black olives, drizzled with a healthy oil or homemade mayonnaise

Supper: Grilled or fried fish with buttered leeks and courgettes, grilled lamb chops(organic) and steamed broccoli, chicken salad or homemade chicken soup.

Of course, all the above meals are interchangeable and I am watching the size of my portions for quite possibly the first time in my life!!


Dining Out

There are times, of course, when I compromise and eat what I am given. Last week I was an honoured guest of Dawn Gibbins and Coutts bank at the Duke of Westminster's Fundraising ball for the Princes Trust. It was a superb evening and a great opportunity for me to dress up as the new slimmer me. I chose to drink some champagne and fine wines, and to enjoy the whole meal including dessert and an after dinner chocolate. Although I didnt over indulge, I most definitely felt the difference the next morning!


Alcohol

There is no alcohol on either the ten day fast or the X Factor Diet. Last week I had three seperate social occasions where I chose to have a glass or three of wine...and boy, did I feel the difference! It could have been so easy to slip back into bad habits again. You see, as soon as those carbohydrates hit home, you find that you want more.

One glass of wine and its OK to have another. A small dessert and the after dinner chocolate slips into your hand almost without noticing. When I found myself indulging in a small glass of red with my steak supper, it was time to remind myself of how much I wish to honour myself and my goals.

These days I just think of the gorgeous clothes that I am now able to wear and that keeps me on track. In fact I have a vision of a book cover with me in three dresses and three completely different sizes...and Im yet to reach my ideal size..


Wardrobe Revamp

Ive just spent most of today washing and ironing clothes that I havent worn for years! These are clothes that I can now fit into. What a way to beat the credit crunch: eat less and be able to wear more! It started with the jeans of course, then the ballgowns and now the summer dresses are making an appearance. Im rediscovering sexy high heels and glitzy accessories. Im rediscovering the designer work suits and I am rediscovering the'me' that was hiding beneath a larger size.


Watch out world Im ready to be more visible!

With my first book "How to be a Money Magnet" coming out in April and the semi finals for Britains Next Top Coach being announced on 9th April, I am ready to become more visible. The timing for the "new me" is perfect.

Mind you, I really need more votes if Im to have a chance of reaching the top twelve semi finalists,
so if you havent yet voted for me, or got your friends to vote for me, please do go to
www.britainsnexttopcoach.tv/Marie-Claire-Carlyle/my-coaching-tip.
Thank you so much.

All the very best to you

Marie-Claire

PS If you've only just joined this blog and you too would like to drop a couple of dress sizes quickly by changing your food habits, do get in touch and I will be happy to help.

Lost nearly two stone in weight!

Surviving on Chicken Soup

Since I finished the official fast, on day 16, I have been living mostly on homemade chicken soup. Yum! I didnt really fancy anything else , and to be honest, even with chicken soup, I did feel a noticeable slump in energy after eating. Now I'm ready to start eating proper food again and I had great fun going food shopping in the last couple of days. I've decided that I love food shopping as much as I love cooking and preparing food.

Low Carb, High Protein

Now that I've decided to follow Leslie Kenton's X Factor regime, I raided my local organic shops for meat and fish as well as my normal raw food selection of veg and salad. My freezer is now full of protein, my cupboards full of tinned fish and my fridge is full of veg. I'm obviously not very good at shopping in small quantities! Maybe I need a fast from shopping? Actually I've recently agreed with myself that I can only go shopping when I've earnt cash in my hand to do so. With that principle in mind, it was probably a good idea to stock up for about three months!! (most people pay by cheque or bank transfer these days!)

Eating Food again

So yesterday I started eating properly again. I enjoyed pureed apple with cinammon for breakfast, followed by a protein shake mid morning. I had a go at making Leslie Kenton's Protein Icecream but I think I need a proper ice cream maker to do it justice! At lunch I made myself one poached egg on a slice of tomato with shredded garlic,ginger and spring onions, and one baked egg on a bed of wilted spinach. Yum!

Saying "No"

The really good news folowing the fast is that I am choosing to eat less. I still have a passion for food but I can say "no" quite easily now. On Friday evening my friend Alan brought home a Chinese banquet from the local takeaway. Now normally I wouldn't have been able to resist the odd prawn cracker, just because it was there. I couldn't ignore the smell of chinese through out the house...although I did light a candle to diffuse it somewhat. But I realised with some amazement, that I had no desire to eat any at all. The soup I'd enjoyed earlier for supper had satisfied me. That was a significant turning point for me, and it made the whole fast experience well worth it.

Joining the gym:"Ive lost nearly two stone!"

Then the next day I went to join the local gym. I stepped on the weighing scales and I found that Id lost nearly two stone from the beginning of the fast!! It felt like another miracle! Apparently the scales that I'd been using were faulty. I was never the original weight that I thought I was! Still, it was good that I'd thought that I was heavier, as that was what had spurred into action in the first place! Since the beginning of the fast, I have actually lost a total of one stone in weight. I have one stone still to lose...

Leslie Kenton called me

Did I tell you that Leslie Kenton herself called me this weekend? She called all the way from Australia. I was able to ask her my question "Since converting me to the Raw Food diet in her book "Raw Energy", why was she now telling me to eat meat and fish in her "X Factor Diet" book?"

Leslie confirmed that a diet of raw food and fish and meat was the ideal, particuliarly for losing weight. In other words, low carb, high protein. In fact she told me how she' just finished a lunch of a gorgeous beef steak, accompanied by a salad of raw spinach.

Mind you, she is also promoting a brand new weight loss diet called Cura Romana which involves a homeopathic remedy. I shall investigate of course although part of me thinks I'm actually doing quite well at the moment listening to my own body! One stone in less than twenty days is not bad. You won't recognise me after a month of small portions and gym workouts!!

Chomping on Cashews!

I've finally cracked!

Its the 16th day of the "fast , otherwise known as the "lemonade" cleanse, and Ive finally cracked! Im sitting here, chomping my way through a jar of raw cashew nuts!!

Follow your instincts

"What happened to your resolve?" I hear you ask, or maybe like most of my friends, you think that its about time that I stopped this fast. To be honest, it felt as though my body was saying "enough is enough!" Last night I felt cold, tired and not at all well. I put it down to a new herbal laxative tea that Id tried and which was having a noticeable effect on my insides! It wasnt funny, I can tell you! So last night I followed my instincts and I treated myself to a hot bath and a couple of small bowls of homemade chicken broth (from the freezer)...and I felt much better.

Comfort Food

This morning, after a good nights sleep, I thought that I was feeling OK. Then I burst into tears at the words of a beautiful email , and have felt exhausted for most of the day. I had my usual "lemonade " for lunch. Then this afternoon I succumbed to chicken stock/soup. Delicious!
And now Ive simply given in to the lure of the raw cashew nut! It will be interesting to see if I feel better or worse as a result. Clearly, I needed some food to "comfort" myself.

Emotional Detox

Of course, Im not really telling the whole story here. Whilst I was clearing the "clutter" in my body, I 've also been exploring my emotional balance. Ive been working with an amazing lady called Josephine Airns. Josephine does Resonance Repatterning. In other words, she looks for the conscious and unconscious blocks to my natural abundant vibration and then we work together to clear them.

It is powerful and emotional work,and I have made amazing and very fast progress, no doubt we reckon to the detox in my body. I have literally cleared the space within for the transformation without. Of course, with any transformation there can be a "wobbly" transition period. Think of the poor caterpillar that becomes liquid before he can transform into a beautiful butterfly! The last couple of days could be described as me "wobbling", as I clear old beliefs and blockages that up to now, have been buried by food.

Benefits of Fasting

This fortnight of fasting has achieved a huge amount in my life. I have been more focused on my goals, had higher levels of concentration and gained greater clarity about what is really important. I have also lost nearly a stone in weight and can fit into my jeans again. And I have learnt how good it feels when my body is happy.

Eating Consciously

I feel that the important thing now is to trust that I am the best person to look after my body and to know what it needs most. I have noticed, even today, that I will go for food if I feel cold and/tired and I will go for food to avoid doing a task. Now I recognise this, I am able to make conscious choices. For example, the cashews had to wait til every item on todays "to do" list was crossed out.

Last night, when I felt tired, I realised that my old choice would have been to treat myself to something like a Thai or a chinese takeaway as a way to distract me from my tiredness. I know now that it is better to recognise the tiredness and to choose an early night and a light supper rather than to "pig out".

Raw Food or High Protein

I am still confused, going forward, about whether to stay on 100% raw food or to follow Leslie Kentons "low carb, high protein" diet. For the moment Im planning to move off my "lemonades" for a while (even the best stuff can get boring) and drink more home made soups, gradually moving back to salads. Ill be a lot more conscious of what I eat, whatever it is, and I confess to enjoying the idea of some meat and fish in my salads. But for the moment Im hooked on Chicken Soup. There must be a reason for the old wives tale about Chicken Soup!

I recommend the Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse

Ill be back to report on how Im progressing and what Im eating once Ive completed my research on both options. For now though, I can definitely recommend the Master Cleanse from Stanley Burroughs as an excellent way to detox.

Go for it!

Further insights...

10lb weight lost!

Today I had a chance to weigh myself and the scales show that I have lost ten pounds in weight. Thats quite impressive for thirteen days of "lemonade", although as my mum succinctly pointed out, it is hardly surprising that I have lost weight when I havent been eating for thirteen days!!

Part of me is feeling that I have tricked my body into going beyond a ten day fast and my body was complaining a little yesterday. I also didnt have quite so much energy on the bike today . Mind you , I think that is partly because Ive started forgetting to take the "lemonade" As thats my only food, its a bit of a silly thing to do.

Carrying on

Im still intending to carry on until the 17th though, for several reasons
-because I said I would
-because Im loving the weightloss and I still have plenty to lose
-because Im too busy to start eating properly again and doing the necessary shopping and preparing of the food
-and because Im still receiving insights.

Fussy Eater

I realised this week that if I chose to adopt the X Factor diet, I would risk becoming one of those nightmare dinner guests who won't eat mashed potato or rice, for example.Horror of horrors, I would overnight become a "fussy eater". We dont "do" fussy eating in our family!! Then I thought a little more about that statement. What is wrong with being fussy about what we put into our bodies? We are what we eat. Is it really OK to let other people decide what we eat ? So often in the past I have eaten what everyone else was eating because it was convenient to do so. It didnt rock the boat. It kept the peace. I learnt as a small girl to eat everything on my plate to keep the hostess happy. Anything less was considered an insult, Maybe it is time to take more responsibility for what actually goes into my body.

Saying "NO"

I walk around the supermarket aisles to find my lemons and maple syrup, and whilst there I check out all the other foods on offer. When I see something tempting, I remind myself that I am committed to my goal and I ENJOY saying "no" to the temptation. One friend that I bumped into in the supermarket recently exclaimed "Oh, I dont know how you can do a fast and still come into the supermarket! I couldnt do that!" But to avoid food all together is a hopeless quest. We have to eat and we will continue to be surrounded by food, particularly unhealthy food. Just think of buying your newspaper or your petrol, and the array of goodies displayed to tempt you. No, the trick is to be focused on what you want and to practise saying "No". Of course, it might get harder when Im actually eating again....

Finding Joy

I have always loved eating food. I eat when Im happy, I eat when Im sad and I even eat when Im ill. Have you not heard the phrase "feed a cold"?! I find joy in the shopping , preparation and eating of food. No wonder that it was an important part of my life. Now that I have not been eating , I am having to find joy elsewhere. In the past when I felt hungry or tired, I would go and cook myself something. Now I run a beautifully scented hot bath and take to it with a good magasine and a cup of tea. Or I grab my bike and go and enjoy some fresh air. Or I have a good chat with a friend over the phone. Or I lose myself in a good book. I might even do some housekeeping or ironing. Occasionally, I might indulge in an hours television if there is a specific programme that I want to see. Thanks to this exercise of going without food, I am finally discovering that food is not always the answer. The phrase "you'll feel better with some food inside you" has lost some of its meaning for me. I feel that I am starting to let go of my addiction to food and in doing so I am discovering so much more joy in my life.

Marie-Claire

In sexy jeans again!

Achieving my goal

One of my main wishes at the beginning of this fast was to be able to wear sexy jeans again. There is nothing like pulling on a pair of jeans that cling in all the right places and hide the bad ones;a pair of jeans that, once on, make you feel sexy and alive; make you feel like you want to strut down the street and take on the world for breakfast! I hadnt worn a pair of jeans for at least a couple of years. There is a point of weight gain where jeans are no longer flattering , no matter what the make. Instead you opt for dresses , skirts and even worse, my favourite, jogging pants.

In sexy jeans again!

Well this morning I dug out my old favourite pair of jeans and to my delight, they fitted perfectly!! I am SO happy! After just eleven days of this fast, I have achieved one of my main goals! The jeans are even so comfortable that I am sitting in them whilst I type this - and they are not stretch jeans either!!

Maintain steady weight loss

My goal now is to maintain this steady weight loss beyond the fast. Remember my friend Rawia who originally inspired me to do this fast? Before she left on holiday this week I have her words ringing in my ear "Of course, your tummy shrinks during the fast but as soon as you come off it,your tummy will go back to the same size" Mind you , she was drinking guiness at the time! That might go some way to explaining the sudden expansion of a tummy after a fast!!

Clearing my "clutter"

Now I believe that nothing happens by coincidence. My original intention was to reach a certain weight by April. Having set the intention , I then heard Rawia talk of the ten day fast and I just knew that was what I needed to do first. Yesterday I picked up a book that I think will take me forward from the fast, helping me to continue to reach my ideal weight. I am on a quest to clear the excess weight from my body, just as someone would clear the clutter in their homes.

Leslie Kenton

Leslie Kenton is my favourite writer on beauty and nutrition. Having written over thirty books , including my personal favourites, "New Raw Energy" and "the Joy of Beauty", Leslie is rightly considered an expert in the field. So when I spotted "The X Factor Diet" by Leslie Kenton, I knew that it was for me . I devoured the book last night...

The X Factor Diet

Essentially Leslie argues , with tons of research behind her, that we should choose the diet of our ancestors. She puts forward an incredibly powerful case for eating less carbohydrates,e xplaining how the release of sugar from carbohydrates has been the principal cause of obesity in our western society. It makes a lot of sense. The promotion of low fat has lined the pockets of food manufacturers, but it has also been gradually making most of us fatter, through what it is termed as Syndrome X, or Insulin Resistance Syndrome. When we flood our cells with too much insulin, they lose their sensitivity to it and we then need to produce more to make it effective. Too much insulin means food is converted to fat and and the body is prevented from releasing fat to act as fuel. Middle age spread is the result of Syndrome X, - and I suspect a lack of regular exercise!

Low Carb Diet

In the quest to shed all my excess weight, I am intending to transfer gently from this fast to the X factor diet ( even though I detest the word diet!). There are two versions of the X factor diet,Ketogenics( for rapid weight loss) and Insulin Balance(for maintenance). Both diets are essentially comprised of well balanced meals containing the following nutritonal mix: 20% low glycaemic carbohydrates, 30% good fats and 50% high quality proteins. What I love about it is that the diet is based on the principles of raw food and contains much of what I already love to eat. The major changes for me will be eating more protein, controlling portion sizes and incorporating some strength building exercises into my weekly routine. All sounds good though. It also sounds a lot more sociable that what Im doing at the moment!!

Anyway for now I am still on this fast , until the 17th March , and I remind myself again of todays result, - I can wear my sexy jeans again!! It was definitely worth eleven days of "lemonade". I feel proud of what I have achieved and excited about the future!

Thank you again for keeping me company,

Marie-Claire