Fitness

They made me fast for 6 hours today before the test, is that what you mean? Or longer?

That was what I meant.

I had one without any fasting, then one with 6 hours.

So .... you're fucked. Sorry.

Would appear so. Better or worse than goat AIDS?

They always combine the good and bad cholesterol together which makes it unusually high. Probably an attempt to get you to spend money on statins which generally have worse side effects that having a high cholesterol total. Anyway, if your high (good) cholesterol is good then you really don’t have to worry too much about the so called bad cholesterol. Triglycerides are more a mark of possible future issues. Also the best way to good health is a good night’s sleep on a regular basis. Because of my work schedule I am totally fcuked.

Chicago: Born with a widow maker.

Bad cholesterol is high (4.25), good cholesterol is OK but not super high (1.27), triglycerides are high (2.59). It's not one outlying stat, they're all pointing in not great directions.

Best to know now and do something about it, than find out rather more abruptly.

(I get a solid 8 hours every night.)

I hate you.

Well, it clearly doesn't help, does it?

Why don't you just sleep longer? Never understood why people choose to survive on less sleep.

If only it were as simple as choosing to sleep more.

I go to bed hideously early these days (8.30/9) to negate the side effects of a house full of small people. I normally get 8 hours and it is comfortably the most important factor in keeping me sane.

Yeah, same on the time. I'm in bed by 9:30 most nights. But Little Miss Shady tends to wake 2-3 times in the night still which is a pain in the neck. Plus my bladder isn't what it used to be.

Should probably go in the Mundane Medical thread, but seeing as it's already here - I went to the doctor to get a second and more comprehensive set of tests. All sorts of things are good and reading as they should be, but it also confirmed that my cholesterol, tryglycerides and liver enzymes are in not ideal places. As a result I have to drink less (I already knew that anyway, 3 or 4 beers a night every night of the week is not a healthy way to be so that's easily fixed), and more annoyingly go onto statins as he thinks my cholesterol levels are genetic and not the result of a diet or exercise problem so need drugs to get them back into healthy levels.

Life was much easier when we didn't have to worry about shit breaking down inside us.

Well the drinking certainly doesn't help. Does explain why you are such an argumentative little sod. Statins though can cause Muscle myopathy so just be aware of that when you are hitting the weights. Before you do the statins try some intermittent fasting. It might have the same effect on the body without the side effects. Getting the balance right is difficult but you can use cheats like bulletproof coffee if not ingesting anything for a period of time will make you bolshy.

Just a suggestion as I personal hate all drugs as they always seem to have adverse effects of some kind or another. I have had clients come off statins and reported improvements in lifestyle and performance. Not saying that will work for you but best to try everything you can before being put on the drug cycle.

Chicago: Strangely drug free.

So this could also go under the medical thread but it’s part of my fitness football rehab. I can do weights fine but with four knee surgeries (due to people having a perchance for sticking their studs in my legs over the years), I have arthritis of the right knee. This has changed my running gait, which also affects my back. It’s frustrating as at 53 years old I still think I can play a little. So after research and studying mental cases like Ross edgeley who actually was told after a serious injury that he wouldn’t be able to achieve anything athletic and does incredible things. I have been following the mantra that everything starts from the feet. So I have been running around the back garden in bare feet and also around the house as much as I can grounded. It has improved my ability to run without pain but my feet unfortunately are soft so really only the garden is acceptable right now. Also toe yoga and balancing on the full amount of my feet one foot in front of the other with my eyes closed. (It is harder than you think).

So today threw out a new wrinkle. Snow. But committed to running in the bare feet I did it for five minutes. Running as fast as I can. It wasn’t that bad until I had finished. Bit tough on the balance but okay but definitely Saucy on the skin. I liked it.

Of course I cannot play football in my bare feet. My feet will remain too soft but I am encouraged by being able to sprint and move without pain.

Chicago: On the comeback.

Inspired by Russ and following a couple of red flags (and I didn't like and my parkrun time slipping into the mid 30s) I also took a test and have returned very similar results, particularly concerned at the ALT for the liver being 57 which has shit me up. I've had several easy changes to make so since the 2nd I haven't drank at all, exercised daily, killed takeaways and all fizzy pop and eaten more veg and fruit. Debating to what extent to keep this up over the next 10 days.

I still have the bottle of statins sitting on my desk, untouched. Over the last two months I have made the following changes:

• Almost completely quit drinking, I have on average 1 or 2 drinks a week and since the diagnosis I have had more than 2 drinks in a day on 2 occasions
• Switched to a diet high in fibre and "good" fats, very low in saturated fats; this means no meat or dairy, lots of oily fish, lots of green vegetables, wholegrain everything (oats, brown rice, wholegrain bread and pasta)
• Adjusted my workout regimen to include cardio, which means instead of lifting 4/5 times a week I'm now lifting 3 times a week and running 3

It's actually not been difficult at all to make most of these changes, my wife doesn't eat meat so not cooking it at home is no hardship and the drinking thing has been surprisingly easy. a bunch of other benefits. Hardest thing has been giving up cheese and wings at the pub, but in those two months I've lost 10 pounds, my waist is down to a 31 from a 33, and my max weights are unaffected so the loss is all fat, the majority of which I attribute to beer.

I'm going to have some drinks on Christmas Day and I'll enjoy my turkey, but the dark meat (higher in saturated fat) will probably end up as dog food. The rest of Christmas dinner is fine, it's really just roasted vegetables. Just have to use a good oil instead of butter. For the rest of it, we have a party on the 23rd and a family gathering on the 26th, both of which I'll drive to and thus avoid the heavy drinking, and NYE I haven't cared about for many years.

I have my next set of blood tests mid January, so I'll get to find out then if all this has actually made a difference to the things that matter. If it has, I don't think it will be much of a challenge to make this a long term lifestyle.

If anyone is still interested in all the New Year, New You bobbins and still wants to run the London Marathon, the charity I work for still has a few golden places available (seven just before Christmas I think). Not sure how much cash you need to pledge though...