Starting ADF

Having seen the BBC Horizon documentary, "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" and watching a couple of friends enjoy the process, I decided to have a go at Alternate Day Fasting (or ADF). It's not just a weight loss programme, it's (allegedly) a way to prolong life expectancy, give more energy, lower the risk of certain cancers and other age-related illnesses and be generally much better for overall health and energy levels. One friend in particular has found the increase in her energy levels to be quite noticeable.

Not really fasting in the true sense of the word, the ADF plan allows for an intake of up to 500 calories (700 for men) on alternate days, then whatever you wish to eat on the others. On my first "fasting" day, I consumed a few pieces of fruit around midday, a bowl of salad late afternoon and some steamed vegetables in the evening. I also had a cup of low-calorie soup and a drop of skimmed milk in a coffee around bedtime. I found it easy and hardly had any hunger pangs.

Today was my second "fasting" day and I decided to make my few calories as delicious as they could be! My first meal of the day was this gorgeous bowlful of fruit salad, which amounted to less than 200 calories; I didn't eat it until 1.30pm, as I wasn't particularly hungry until then.

Then, this evening, I cooked a huge wok-ful of stir-fried vegetables, in a little olive oil and flavoured with black pepper and a few shakes of soya sauce. My husband had a pork chop and a few baby new potatoes with his, but I just had a big bowlful of veg at a little under 300 calories (would have been much less without 120 calories worth of olive oil).

(Sorry about the steam - but it was very tasty and filling!) At the moment, I'm finding this "diet" very easy to maintain and most enjoyable; if, on a "fasting" day, I suddenly feel like I simply must have a cream cake, or cheese on toast, or a bar of chocolate ... I just think, "Ok, I'll have that tomorrow"! Chances are, I probably won't, but at least I know I can if I wan't to, so there's no feeling of deprivation like there is with most conventional diets. And I do already feel healthier!