No bread is an island

...entire of itself. (With apologies to John Donne!)
I live and breathe breadmaking. I’m an evangelist who would like everyone to make his or her own bread. I want to demystify breadmaking and show it as the easy everyday craft that it is. To this end I endeavour to make my recipes as simple and as foolproof as I possibly can.

I call my blog 'No bread is an island' because every bread is connected to another bread. So a spicy fruit bun with a cross on top is a hot cross bun. This fruit dough will also make a fruit loaf - or Chelsea buns or a Swedish tea ring...
I'm also a vegan, so I have lots of vegan recipes on here - and I'm adding more all the time.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

INTERMITTENT FASTING FOR 18 MONTHS - NOW DISCHARGED BY THE LUNG CLINIC

Around 2 or so years ago I was referred to a consultant as a result of a chronic cough from which I'd suffered for many years. After diagnosing bronchitis - which I'd apparently had for about 20 years - I was given a course of antibiotics over 28 days. Didn't work the first time, but a second course cured the bronchitis and sorted out the cough. It appeared that even though I had given up smoking cigarettes over 40 years ago, my lungs had been damaged, and eventually, this had caught up with me. The damage I'd inflicted to the base of the lungs allowed mucus to gather, which had then become infected.

I was then referred to a 6-monthly lung clinic, which I first attended in February 2012 - coincidentally just as I was dipping my toe in the waters of Intermittent Fasting - where I was given a daily exercise programme designed to keep the mucus moving.

After 6 months, on my second visit to the Lung Clinic, they were very pleased with the progress I'd made - and asked me to return in 12 months, rather than 6. I'd lost about 5kgs.

Today, after maintaining for the past 8 months doing 6:1, I was a further 5kgs down from last year; my blood oxygen level reading was 98% which is just where it should be; my Peak Expiratory Flow Rate was fine - about the same as last year - but I was able to sustain it for longer; and my chest was absolutely clear!

My Senior Respiratory Nurse Specialist was absolutely delighted with these results! I was given the choice between a further appointment in 12 months time - or an open-ended appointment in case I needed it. So I took the second alternative - no point in cluttering up the NHS with healthy people! :-)

These results, along with my blood results from February, confirm that I'm in absolutely tip-top condition. I would probably have been 'OK' without practicing IF, but I'm sure I wouldn't be as fit as I am now without it.

As I've said many times over the past 6 months - I feel like a 40-year-old. A fit 40-year-old! :-)

1 comment:

  1. My wife and I saw this video in late April 2013. We went on the alternate day fast, which has become more of a five-two diet plan rather than the alternate day fast. Results have been a 27 and 17 lb weight loss with significant health benefits as confirmed by blood tests. It has been the easiest, most rewarding results we have ever obtained. To this date, we have not added any additional exercise or diet change, except, we have added three to five weekly servings of a whole grain heirloom barley. Seriously, look at the video and pay attention to the change in the IGF1 result from the different fasting methods. I feel this could revolutionize our way of life and improve the health and well-being of all who find the benefits of fasting.

    Have not been on the IF as long, but seeing much of the same benefits of looking and feeling healthier. The comments of my new look from old friends is worth the effort.

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