1. More visits to the doctor than the rest of my life combined
2. More pain than I’ve ever felt before
3. The biggest weight loss and me weighing less than I did when I was 16!

My symptoms were really simple yet excruciatingly painful. My stomach was swollen 24 hours a day, the lower half of my stomach was in constant pain and the lowest part of my spine felt like it had somebody kicking it from the inside! This all god worse within minutes of me eating ANYTHING. The worst part was there was no esacpe from this pain and every trip to the doctors resulting in more painkillers and more blank looks. Even dispite some more sinister symptoms that I’ll not go into here everybody wanted to label it as IBS and “tough luck”. This isn’t ideal when you’re working for yourself. I’ll never trust the NHS again.

Then just to make life even more miserable I started developing upper abdomen pains centred around my actual stomach, when this flared up it felt like my whole chest had stopped working and getting any sleep was totally impossible. Whenever I ate I was either sick straight away or within an hour had the runs, this despite feeling constantly blocked and bloated. I lived like this for 2 months with almost no sleep and very little food. I wasted away rapidly losing almost 2 stone in weight, there were plenty of times when I was “sleeping” on the sofa because I hated the thought of my wife having to wake next to a corpse.

Eventually though I got fed up with hearing the same old rubbish from the doctors (to this day they’ve never run any real tests for anything in order to be able to diagnose IBS). I was hugely fortunate to have a client that knew of a specialist centre out in Thailand. Two emails later and I’d discovered that 1. They couldn’t treat me because of ulcer complications but much more importantly 2. A big list of supplements and diet changes to go through. I can’t thank them enough for their help.

I started on these within 2 days and in less than 2 weeks it has transformed my life. I’d say that at the moment I’m about 80% back to normal and getting better each day. My stomach is no longer bloated at all, I’m eating normally, going to the toilet normal and I’ve finally started to put on a little of that lost weight. I still need to get a few things checked out for the nastier symptoms just to make sure there’s nothing deadly lurking but in terms of a day to day life I’ve gone from being crippled on the sofa 24 hours a day to being back at work.

If what I had for 2 months was IBS then it’s a new one on me, I’ve never suffered from anything like that before and to be honest I never want to again. More amazingly though I can’t get over how simple a fix it was for people who know what they are doing when all the western doctors I’d spoke to were very much resigned to “It’s IBS, tough you just have to live with it”.

IBS For 2 Months is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

When it comes to exercise I tend to measure everything by the week, I use weekly cycles to set out my program as well as measure any goals I’m looking to achieve. My overall program for a week will usually involve a mix of weight and cardio sessions. Obviously how you mix this up depends on what your goals are. Most people new to exercise will tend to start with more cardio that weights and change the balance as they get fitter.

Once I have a weekly program I’m happy with I stick to it for 4 weeks. During this time I am always looking to improve on everything I do. Can I push out that third set? Is it time to add another 5 kilos? Can I take 5 seconds of my 500m rowing time? I use that 4 week mark as a time to stop and think. For that 1 week I concentrate entirely on technique and see IF I’ve made any significant improvement. If I can still perform at a higher level with the same (or improved) technique then I carry on that same program for another 2-4 weeks. What I’ve found is that at around 8-9 weeks I hit a serious plateux, I’ve heard some people drag out an exercise program for 10 weeks but for me 8 is always about the upper limit.

What I then do is alter at least 50% of what I’m doing. So if I’m doing 3 weight sessions and 2 cardio days I’ll mix up the excercises on 2 of my weights sessions and try something totally different on 1 cardio day. This allows me to keep things fresh as far as my body is concerned but also gives me some continuity. You don’t have to do it like that, for example if you are only exercising 2-3 times a week then there’s nothing wrong with starting a whole new program once you reach that plateux.

The important thing is to always be striving for improvement, it’s far too easy to get yourself comfortable in the gym doing the same exercises with the same wights for years on end if you’re not careful. You have to remember that it’s when you throw your body a curve ball that you see the biggest improvements and changing your program is a great way of doing just that.

How Often Should I Change My Gym Program? is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

The second thing is what you drink. With so many bars and waiting staff at easy reach you will be temtped to either go for alcohol or soft drinks. It doesn’t matter if you usually drink mostly water at home, as soon as you’re on a cruise you’ll opt for what’s at hand. Don’t do it, or at the least make sure to alternate whatever other drinks you have with water. Not only will it help keep a healthy complexion but it also aids massively in the digestion of all that rich food. It’s the combination of fat food and fat drinks on a cruise that pile on the real pounds.

The final tip involves the lifts. Or should that be avoiding them. Give yourself a rule where if you are only going 4 floors or less that you take the stairs, they are always much quicker than waiting for the lift on a cruise ship anyway.

In order to just maintain a weight there really isn’t any need to go to the gym onboard, just using the stairs that little bit and eating sensibly is enough. If you really can’t resist what is offered up then thing about only having 2 meals a day instead of 3 (breakfast and dinner). It’s a rule we’ve always stuck to and the very worst we’ve ever done on a cruise if put on a couple of pounds. Compared to some of the fatties we’ve seen who have managed to put on 17 pound on a 2 week cruise that’s not bad is it?

Staying Slim On A Cruise is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

Regular exercise could boost the body’s natural production of human growth hormone. Athletes and bodybuilders alike, however, believe that their needed boost for human growth hormone could be best achieved by using bodybuilding human growth hormone supplements. The ability of human growth hormone to reduce fat and build muscles makes it an ideal body building supplement. More importantly, supplementing the body with bodybuilding human growth hormone generate quicker results than exercise.

How Bodybuilding Human Growth Hormone Convey its Benefits

Human growth hormone helps build muscles, which in turn increases muscle strength and tone and enhances metabolism of fat. The increased metabolism of fat also increases energy levels since fats are readily converted into energy and it also aids in weight loss. The main purpose of taking bodybuilding human growth hormone is to increase metabolism and energy, which are needed in sports and bodybuilding activities.

L-arginine is one of the important components of bodybuilding human growth hormone supplements primarily because arginine is one of the bodybuilding amino acids, which has influence on hormone function. L-arginine has been shown to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce human growth hormone. Bodybuilders normally take L-arginine supplement along with human growth hormone supplement to further enhance the bodybuilding effects of human growth hormone.

Advantage of Using Natural Source of Bodybuilding Human Growth Hormone

Bodybuilding human growth hormone can be acquired through injections or by taking supplements. Injections, however, contain synthetic human growth hormone, which can cause adverse side effects to health. Injections may, in the long run, shutdown natural human growth hormone production and turn the user dependent on the synthetic hormone. The best alternative is to find an all-natural source of bodybuilding human growth hormone.

Sytropin oral spray is the leading human growth hormone that conveys its bodybuilding benefits to its users. The bodybuilding effects could be achieved with Sytropin because it serves as a human growth hormone booster. The all-natural ingredients in Sytropin stimulate the pituitary gland so that it would produce more human growth hormone. In addition, bodybuilders may not necessarily take arginine just to get maximum bodybuilding benefits since

Sytropin contains arginine and other important amino acids. Taking Sytropin, therefore, could be compared to the best workout a bodybuilder had in his life.

Benefits of Bodybuilding Human Growth Hormone is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

As I get older this is becoming more and more frustrating. It seems to only take a week of reduced calorie intake before the natural flow of things starts to grind to a halt. The other side affect of constantly feeling bunged up is that it zaps your energy and getting out and exercising is a serious struggle. The irony of this situation is that when I’m in dieting mode I tend to eat far more healthily and much more of the types of food that should have the opposite effect on your stomach. My fruit and associated fibre intake goes through the roof but to no avail.

If this sounds familiar to you and you’ve found a solution to it I’d love to know what you’ve have found that works? Losing weight is about burning more than you put in but if reducing what you put in has serious implications on your stomach what are you supposed to do?

Is Your Stomach Stopping You Losing Weight? is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

The problem is that most calorie control diets give you advice like “you can eat as much fruit and veg and you like”. I’m sorry but I think this is wrong. The trouble with eating huge amounts of salad and veg is that it still takes your body a lot of effort to digest these, which in turn have little nutritional value. This has to have an effect on how effectively you are turning calories into energy? I’ve noticed it time and time again that people who switch from eating “normally” to piling a plate with veg suddenly run out of energy and develop flab pads. It’s almost as if their body goes into some form of energy conservation mode. Try it yourself, try totally changing your diet to only eat low calorie foods and see what effect it has on your body.

Now I know that I have always said losing weight is a simple maths equation, more goes out than what goes in. The trouble with calorie counting is WHAT goes in can have a big impact on how much goes out.

What this all comes down to is common sense, losing weight should be a bout moderation. A little of what you like does you no harm, eat less and do more exercise. If you think you can reach your weight loss goals by gorging yourself on lettuce then I think you’re in for a rough old time.

It’s About More Than Calorie Counting is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

First of all let me tell you how I go about losing some weight when I’m feeling a little portly. I have a mantra and it goes a little bit like this:- Move More – Eat Less. It’s no more complicated than that. When I want to lose some weight I start going to the gym more, I start walking everywhere that I possibly can (this means not getting a car or bus if I can help it) and I also cut down on some of my meal sizes. That is all I do. In fact it is all I’ve ever done. The other interesting fact is that it’s always worked for me, I’ve been able to lose a stone in 2 months using this technique without any troubles or ill effects.

My wife on the other hand has a totally different approach. With a holiday fast approaching and desperately feeling like she needs to shed a few pounds she has adopted what I would call the “Planet Female – Mental Diet“. Instead of eating a healthy breakfast, have a milkshake instead! Lunch, what is lunch? Lunch certainly isn’t a meal that is needed for people on the mental diet. What you need to do instead is pick at whatever you can find in the kitchen and convince yourself that eating lots of small things is healthier then just having a balanced meal. When it comes to exercise rather than just trying to move a bit like walking to her mothers instead of taking the car there’s no need, all it takes is 30 minutes on the Wii-Fit a couple times a week.

Where do the Mayonnaise Sandwiches come into this equation, that’s the fabourite snack at the moment to have between 7pm and 9pm when she actually realises that she’s been starving herself all day. What a cracking diet I think you’ll agree.

Seriously people, ALL it takes is to burn more calories than what you’re eating and the healthiest way to do that is to move more and eat a bit less.

Are Mayonnaise Sandwiches Really Healthy? is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet

If you're one of those lucky chaps who look sexy with a one day beard growth, plan ahead and shave the day before a special occasion -- preferably not a business meeting! To find out how quick it grows, do some testing.

Write down when you shave and the growth results several hours later to find out what suits you best. If your beard is graying and you’re not happy with it, there are many do-it-yourself products available specifically to color beards, moustaches and sideburns.

Electric shavers

Electric shavers are still men’s #1 choice for the quickest and easiest shave, but they can be harsh on sensitive skin. If you use an electric razor , you will see better results on a dry face and if you pull your skin as tight as possible. If you’re prone to blemishes, ensure you stick with an electric razor. Shaving with a blade will certainly increase irritation and will make you more prone to break-outs. Do not shave over a sink full of water! You know electricity and water are a dangerous mix, but if you dropped your razor in the water, you may reach in to grab it by reflex. Maintain and oil your electric razor according to the manual and/or instructions. This will keep it in top shape and help you avoid any wear and tear on your face. At sites like Norelco Philips Central you’ll find Norelco Philips information, raves and reviews and links to the many stores that stock these best-selling shavers.

Traditional and Disposable Razors

Men favor traditional razors in the hot summer months as they appear to be more effective. The best razors on the market now come with pivotal heads and this simplifies the shaving process around curves and will probably produce less nicks. Remember to keep your blades sharp to reduce irritation. Before you shave with a traditional razor, take a shower or apply a warm washcloth to your face to soften your beard. Apply shaving cream to your face when it is still wet. Pull your skin tight and always shave with the grain of your hair growth. Throughout the process, dip your razor in hot water to rinse and when you’re finished. Always moisturize your face with a soothing lotion specifically designed for after shaving. Read the ingredients before you make a purchase. Some aftershave lotions still contain alcohol, will sting your face and result in a drying affect.

Comparing shaving is a post from: Too Much Drinking, Now I Need To Diet