The Edward Diet

My weekend part II - Google Calendar Exercise Schedule

2006-06-25T14:28:00.000+01:00

Woke up a bit late today. But I've been productive so far... As you can see I've put my Exercise Schedule online now thanks to Google Calendar.

I planned to go for a run this morning but as it's football soon, so instead I'll be out running after the football!

Then I'm out with a friend afterwards.

My weekend

2006-06-25T14:22:00.000+01:00

Saturday was a good day - I got up at 11ish and went running, then cycled over to Hyde Park for some rollerblading round The Serpentine for about 4 hours in total! It was good. Then cycled back home. I was supposed to be meeting a friend on Saturday evening for a drink but instead knocked back two further invitations and went for a run again!

I know it's bad to do it twice in a day, or even (apparently) two days in a row. But I asked a trainer about this and he said it's to give your muscles a chance to "hurt". But as mine don't hurt after a day or so (they did to start with back in Week 1 though) it's not an issue.

Then sat down in the evening with some Hoegaarden and a couple of episodes of 24! Brilliant day.

Running after work drinks!

2006-06-25T14:15:00.000+01:00

Well i had work drinks on Thursday, only had two pints' worth but decided to go for a run when I got back and frankly it was a great idea! So that was Marathon Base Training Week 3 Day 1! I've also added my calendar. Isn't it cool?

Anyway I've been a bit busy at work and had some personal stuff going on - not had much time to update this but I've hardly eaten. The running's helping though, endorphins are good! They're really helping.

Marathon Base Training Week 3 Day 4

2006-06-25T14:11:00.000+01:00

10 min stretch

10 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min stretch

Marathon Base Training Week 3 Day 3

2006-06-25T14:10:00.001+01:00

10 min stretch

10 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min stretch

Marathon Base Training Week 3 Day 2

2006-06-25T14:10:00.000+01:00

10 min stretch
10 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min stretch

No running!

2006-06-20T16:31:00.000+01:00

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to go out running at the moment - I'm going to need to get up earlier in the mornings and go then I think. I had Ikea last night, football tonight, a dinner tomorrow night and work drinks the night after, then the O2 Wireless Festival on Friday!

On the plus side, my Basic Vegetable Stir Fry last night was fairly amazing, if a little small!

I've still not started my Marathon Base Training Week 3, it's going to have to be Thursday morning before I get started I think, which is potentially a problem as it means I'll have to run Thursday, Friday (am as well!), Saturday, Sunday and then Week 4 starts on Monday!

Not good...

Basic Vegetable Stir Fry

2006-06-19T18:29:00.000+01:00

Ingredients

1 red pepper, chopped into strips
1 small onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup mushrooms, chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Noodles (pre-cooked)

Cooking Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a wok over a medium-high heat until the oil starts to shimmer. Meanwhile mix the balsamic vinegar and sugar together in a small glass.
2. Add the red pepper, onion and mushrooms and stir fry until they begin to brown for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the ginger, garlic and soy sauce and sizzle for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
4. Finally add the noodles and vinegar/sugar mix and cook for 1 minute until the noodles are hot.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Marathon Base Training Week 3 Day 1

2006-06-18T16:34:00.000+01:00

10 min stretch
10 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min jog
12 min walk
5 min stretch

Messed up the weekend again

2006-06-18T16:33:00.000+01:00

Yes, I went out Friday night. Drank too much, then spent Saturday in bed! Well played me! I was so cross. I'm over it now. But today's just not as good as yesterday, and my weekend plans just fell through after a few hours of stupidity.

So Saturday evening I went out for dinner.

Sunday went like this :

Completion of Week 2 Base Training
Gazpacho (Amazing!)

And here I am. I wanted to be out sunning myself but, although it's hot, there's full on cloud cover. I'm off out for a walk instead after pumping some iron quickly!

So coming up, my plans are : pizza tonight (I know, I know, but this isn't the perfect diet!), then tomorrow will consist of starting Marathon Base Training Week 3...

Oh and I didn't go swimming either!

Detox over

2006-06-15T18:24:00.000+01:00

Well I felt a bit unwell eating again. But it's all over now! My appetite is still rather stranger I must admit. But now the detox is gone, I can get on with the training. I have to get to work early tomorrow so the run is planned for Saturday morning.

I also have no food in the flat after trying to finish it all in time for the detox! Now I have a Friday evening and dinner with some friends on Saturday night, I only really have to worry about my Saturday lunch. And if it's nice I won't want to stay inside cooking! I've had a look at the Gazpacho recipe - looks amazing, and won't take long to make. I think that and some french bread should be good.

Marathon Base Training Week 3 commences probably on Sunday evening (I'll go to an outdoor lido swimming pool on Sunday morning, so no running then) - I'm quite looking forward to it because even though I'll have to run more, it takes 90 minutes instead of 120 that weeks 1 and 2 took.

Gazpacho

2006-06-15T18:03:00.000+01:00

Ingredients
4 ripe, red tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 green pepper, cored, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced (set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish)
1/2 medium red onion, finely diced (set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 slice bread
1/4 cup chopped, fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano and/or flatleaf parsley (set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish)
1 cup cold water, or as needed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, or to taste
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper

Cooking instructions
1. Place the tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, onion, garlic, and bread in a food processor and process to a smooth puree. Add the herbs, water, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Correct the seasoning, adding salt or vinegar to taste: the gazpacho should be highly seasoned. The gazpacho should be thick but pourable. Add water as needed.
2. To serve, ladle the gazpacho into chilled bowls. Garnish each with a sprinkling of the reserved cucumber, onion and herbs.

Final day of mono-fruit detox and cleansing!

2006-06-14T12:29:00.000+01:00

Almost there now with the detox - I can't wait! I can taste the husks in my mouth the whole time (no chewing gum for me!), I've not had any cigarettes and every time I smell food, my hunger rages uncontrollably! There was a drinks and canapés thing at work last night, but I resisted. Somehow. Luckily there was mineral water available too.

The big problem I currently have though is my colon appears to have stopped working. Luckily there's not loads of food waiting to get out! Maybe that's the cause.

I didn't make the run this morning either - woke up at 6am and it was still raining... And I want to do tonight but as I'm going to visit my parents, and it's Germany - Poland on the football unfortunately I doubt I'll make it! Tomorrow morning I have the dentist and tomorrow evening is, of course, England - Trinidad & Tobago so... Friday morning it is now! Or Saturday. And then training week 4 starts on Sunday!

Still feeling good! No run today though

2006-06-13T23:35:00.000+01:00

Detox still going strong - I'm feeling much more lively and dealing with the hunger, which has subsided I suppose now my body's getting used to it. Interesting. It'll be weird eating properly again!

But sadly the weather (rain) meant no run tonight. I'll set my alarm for 6am tomorrow and see if I can make it then. But we will see. I prefer the evenings!

I know I'm writing a lot about this detox

2006-06-13T14:55:00.000+01:00

...but it's just bizarre!

I'm feeling so strange - but not in a bad way. I'm not hungry - plenty of apples and nipping home from some more lovely husks has put the hunger to bed. I can really feel my inards churning away (but not in a bad way), my peripheral vision is slightly cloudy but dead centre, my eyesight's better than ever!

I've also got a few spots coming up on my head. Apparently this is to be expected however. I suppose I must be a bit hungry as I feel every so slightly light-headed.

But really I would recommend this to any one! The initial hunger gone, is a fun experience.

The Colonic Cleanse

2006-06-13T11:32:00.000+01:00

Well that was just my first proper evacuation I guess! I didn't study it closely but there was all sort of bits in there, it was a dark colour, and rather sort of bulbous. Must been all the psyllium husks! I certainly feel a lot lighter, and have decided that I will continue to eat the husks after the detox is finished. Only a little over 24 hours to go now though!

I must say I do wonder about its actual effectiveness over such a short time-span though. I guess the problem is that I'm leading an active lifestyle at the moment which just isn't compatiable with eating so little! There much be a high-protein detox which I think is really what I need to keep the activity up, the hunger down, but the detox on!

Any suggestions? I know people are reading this - but why isn't anyone leaving comments? I'll start a competition soon enough!

Marathon Base Training Week 2 Day 4

2006-06-13T10:50:00.000+01:00

10 min stretch
10 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
5 min stretch

Really struggling

2006-06-13T10:49:00.000+01:00

I'm really struggling today - but at least I'm not so hungry. Perhaps my stomach has shrunk! And with the heavy rain last night everything feels a little lighter in general.

The psyllium husks really are amazing though. I've discovered that the trick is to take 2 teaspoons, mix them with about 300ml water and drink immediately. That way they swell inside my stomach and make me feel full without having to drink them in all their nasty glory!

My movements have been interesting too, although I won't go into detail here - they've not been that interesting!

And I've got a run tonight, Marathon Base Training Week 2 Day 4. Hopefully it'll be quite cool by the time I go.

I'm so hungry

2006-06-12T19:54:00.000+01:00

And I couldn't even go swimming tonight - they were closed for classes!

Well I might go and sit in the sun for a bit instead. Although it's rapidly disappearing so I may just go for a walk in the sun instead - amounting to the same thing really.

Must have eaten my 6th apple of the day so far. Another 5 to go for tonight I think. The problem is that they obviously go a lot further when they're not in juice form, thereby making juicing them less efficient on the hunger. I can't wait until Wednesday lunchtime...

The run - almost there!

2006-06-12T12:05:00.000+01:00

Well that's the third day of the Marathon Base Training Week 2 complete. Tonight I'm going for a swim - hopefully about 1km.

Although hunger is beginning to stike... I'll nip home at lunchtime and whip up some nice husks in water and maybe even juice a couple of apples!

It's tonight that'll be the difficulty I think. After swimming. And tomorrow after the final week 2 marathon training! But then I'll only have a few hours to go...

Lapsing

2006-06-11T19:09:00.000+01:00

It's not much fun this - I've already lapsed and had 2 avocados.

Although they did need finishing.

I'm just concerned I'm going to lose lots of weight!

Well I'll still try it. We will see. Enjoying an apple now... At least they taste nice!

Start of the detox

2006-06-11T14:01:00.000+01:00

Well the psyllium husks from eBay turned up yesterday. So this morning I went off to Waitrose to buy some Evian and organic apples. Just started now. Although I will probably have a stir-fry tonight so as not to waste the chicken I bought!

Anyway the psyllium husks are fairly nasty - going to have to try mixing them with fruit juice instead of water I think! But they do make me feel full which is good...

So far I've gone for 2 tablespoons of husks and 200ml of water to mix it with. Not nearly enough! Going to have to try more like a pint next time.

Although I am thinking about the Summer Stir Fry again tonight!

Five Day Detox

2006-06-11T13:41:00.000+01:00

The Five Day Detox Plan
This is a mono-fruit detox. You can only eat one fruit - or it's juice - as long as it's organic and the juice is freshly squeezed. You may not eat anything else but you can have as much of this fruit as you want.

You may also drink as much mineral water as you want but no alcohol, coffee, tea, soft drinks, allowed at all!

This may also my supplemented with psyllium husks 3 times a day to provide fibre and assist in cleansing.

Too hot!

2006-06-11T13:36:00.000+01:00

So I meant to go out this morning to complete Day 3 of the Marathon Base Training but it was too hot and I was out too late last night. So I'll try and do it this evening at about 7ish when it's hopefully a bit cooler.

Marathon Base Training Week 2 Day 3

2006-06-11T13:33:00.001+01:00

10 min stretch
10 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
5 min stretch

Football and beer

2006-06-11T13:33:00.000+01:00

So I did my Marathon Base Training Week 2 Day 2 yesterday morning. Then the afternoon and evening were filled with beer and football and then dancing and spirits. So it was good!

England 1 Paraguay 0 importantly!

Marathon Base Training Week 2 Day 2

2006-06-11T13:31:00.000+01:00

10 min stretch
10 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
5 min stretch

New format for articles

2006-06-11T13:30:00.000+01:00

Okay this isn't actually all that readable. Therefore I will be splitting articles into types, recipes (which will be "pure" recipes), workouts (again just the information on the workout) and then my commentaries.

It will be sort of obvious which is which I hope!

Went out for dinner instead

2006-06-09T10:54:00.000+01:00

Well after my run - which I sucessfully completed (although strangely, to the very metre went the same distance as when the jogging for 3 minutes per cycle - I think I was being careful about my knee, that's a good excuse at least!) - I rang a friend who'd texted me before I went out so we met for a couple of beers and some tapas instead. At least it was good food though!

Could have done without the beers really - 3 of the 33cl bottles of San Miguel left me feeling distinctly dehydrated last night, and no matter how much water I drank it didn't work, and in fact all went straight through me!

Anyway I have the Summer Stir Fry for my supper tomorrow probably. I'll probably have an outdoor (veggie or fish) BBQ for lunch prior to the football - and I'm running tomorrow morning again, so hopefully no hang over!

Then chances are one way or another there'll be beer tomorrow evening followed by detox starting on Sunday. The question for now is, for a mono-fruit detox, do I go for apples or oranges?

On to Base Training Week 2!

2006-06-08T15:02:00.000+01:00

Okay today is momentous - after my tendonitis, Base Training Week 1 turned into about 3 weeks. But now it's better (note: holiday in the Med helps, for anyone else suffering my pain...) and Tuesday's final Week 1 workout, today I am ready to start Base Training Week 2.

Marathon Base Training Week 2
10 min stretch
10 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
5 min stretch

In general, this is 1 minute more walk and 1 minute less jog per cycle. But I suppose I'll go a bit further! We'll see. Just got to be careful on the old knee...

And afterwards I'll be revisiting the Summer Stir Fry. So that's the plan!

Corguette and Tomato salad with Basil Vinaigrette

2006-06-08T09:20:00.001+01:00

Well I've just settled down the salad as in the recipe posted earlier and what can I say? It's amazing! Basically though the squash and corguettes had to be cooked for more like 10 minutes, and the squash had to be cut into 1/4 inch quarters. Therefore I am going to update the recipe now :

Ingredients
1 corguette, cut into half-circles about 1/2 inch thick
1/3 large squash, cut into quarter-circles about 1/3 inch thick
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 finely chopped small onion
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon dried basil
salt to taste
1 large fresh tomato, diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained)
freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions
1. Place about 2 inches of water in a large pot, insert a rack or steamer basket into the pot and bring the water to a boil. Steam the corguette and squash in the basket for about 10-12 minutes, or until their colors turn bright. Remove the basket and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar and lemon juice together. Add the shallots and slowly whisk in the olive oil and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
(The vinaigrette can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, although I find it easier to make it while the corguette's cooking.)

3. Gently toss the corguette and squash in the vinaigrette with the tomatoes and serve at room temperature or chilled.

And frankly, I thoroughly enjoyed that!

The Swim today

2006-06-08T09:20:00.000+01:00

Well I did 30 lengths (of 35m each = just over 1km) in about 35-40 minutes - not my best but it was still pretty good. I feel the better for it. And as importantly, there was a lovely new girl working on the reception desk there!

Yesterday's dog's dinner

2006-06-07T11:04:00.000+01:00

Okay so upon reflection yesterday's dinner could have been infinitely worse... I will be making some changes to the recipe before retrying it tomorrow (Thursday) evening but I'm currently thinking about my plans over the next few days in general. Things will hopefully pan out like this :

Today
Suitably non-healthy lunch - probably a pasta salad thing, some fruit, crisps and milk
Swim for up to 30 minutes tonight - I'd like to do more but don't feel up to it yet
Food - a Zuchinni / Corguette and Tomato salad with Basil vinaigrette - amazing!

Ingredients
1 corguette, cut into half-circles about 1/2 inch thick
1/3 large squash, cut into half-circles about 1/2 inch thick
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 finely chopped small onion
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon dried basil
salt to taste
1 large fresh tomato, diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained)
freshly ground black pepper

I bought all of these at Waitrose yesteday, well the bits I didn't have at least. I'll put the Cooking Instructions up shortly.

Thursday
Hopefully, in the evening, begin the somewhat delayed week 2 of my Marathon Base training, which goes like this :

10 min stretch
10 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
4 min jog
13 min walk
5 min stretch
Good, no? As you may notice, instead of alternating the 14 minute walk, 3 min jog, it's now 13 minute walk, 4 minute jog! Amazing!

Then, Food, a repeat of yesterday's Summer Stir Fry - only with a few adaptations to the cooking method... I'll think about it and put it up later.

Today's workout and food done

2006-06-06T22:54:00.000+01:00

This evening I went to Waitrose and bought the outstanding ingredients required for my Summer Garden Stir Fry.

Ingredients
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon sunflower oil
1/2 onion, sliced
1/2 red pepper, seeded and cut into strips
1/3 large squash, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon basil herbs
1/2 tablespoon rosemary
1 large tomato, juiced and squished

Instructions
1. Cut the chicken into strips and season them with salt and pepper.

2. Heat the oil in a nonstick wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and brown on one side. Turn the chicken, moving it to the sides of the wok, to brown on the other side. Add the onions to the center of the wok and cook for 2 minutes.

3. Push the onions to the sides, add the peppers to the center of the wok and cook for 2 minutes more. Push the chicken, onions and peppers to the sides and add the squash and garlic to the center of the wok. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook until the squash is only slightly tender, about 3 or 4 minutes.

4. Add the herbs and tomato juice, cook for another minute or 2 and adjust the salt and pepper.

5. Serve with rice or pasta.

I had mine with extra-thin noodles which I then added and stir-friend in the last minute of the tomato. I also sliced the squash the wrong way which annoyed me - I should have gone for thin (1/2 - 1 cm) strips but instead I quartered it and sliced it the other way - widthways (if that's a word).

Anyway it burnt a bit because of the stupid cooking methodology. I will try it again with strips of butternut squash instead and see what happens though, mainly because it was nice!

But I forgot to mention that I also completed week 1 of my marathon base training - as follows :

10 min stretch
10 min walk
3 min jog
14 min walk
3 min jog
14 min walk
3 min jog
14 min walk
3 min jog
14 min walk
3 min jog
14 min walk
5 min stretch

I did that between Waitrose and supper so didn't achieve as much this evening as I could have done without a 2 hour session but at least my knee's better! I only just finished my food now and still have to watch Lost...

The Edward Diet will return...

About

2006-06-06T22:34:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to the Edward Diet.

This is a bit of information on it.

Firstly it's not just a diet - it has an integrated workout plan too. Good no?

Secondly I am not a doctor - I'm just trying to wing it. I'm currently in my mid-20s, drink a bit too much, smoke - a bit!

This diet is personalised to my life though! The detox comes when I want it as does the relaxing when I'm on holiday...

Anyway I'll probably add to this entry as a decide I want to write more...