Blonde will get you fit 2023

[Doobs]

Just seen the new year update Doobs.

I started the year weighing 15st 2lb, having put on near 5kg over the Xmas period
Plan is to get down to around 13st 7lb

Currently training for 2 half marathons in March, longest run so far 8.3 miles

How are you doing on this?  Think a half marathon is beyond me.  Maybe 10k is feasible in a few months? 

One of my friends is doing a full marathon and was up to 19 miles in the rain.  Can't imagine doing that.  Think this is why I am struggling with running.  I don't mind running when it is spitting, but no interest in spending 3 hours outside when it is chucking it down!

[vegaslover]

Just seen the new year update Doobs.

I started the year weighing 15st 2lb, having put on near 5kg over the Xmas period
Plan is to get down to around 13st 7lb

Currently training for 2 half marathons in March, longest run so far 8.3 miles

How are you doing on this?  Think a half marathon is beyond me.  Maybe 10k is feasible in a few months? 

One of my friends is doing a full marathon and was up to 19 miles in the rain.  Can't imagine doing that.  Think this is why I am struggling with running.  I don't mind running when it is spitting, but no interest in spending 3 hours outside when it is chucking it down!

Just seen this Doobs. Got upto 13 miles 5 weeks ago, then did 14 miles, 10 days ago.
I'm just a slow plodder, too old and too many injuries to run quick anymore. I also avoid running in the rain if I can. It's always heavy rain atm and takes days to dry the shoes out.

Did a proper half marathon on Sunday. Brutal hill between mile 2 and 3. The steep downhill was hard on the quads and feet.
Sore feet from mile 8 slowed me up. In my traing runs my last 3 miles are always the quickest.  Finished in 2hr 21 mins

[Jon MW]

...
Did a proper half marathon on Sunday. Brutal hill between mile 2 and 3. The steep downhill was hard on the quads and feet.
Sore feet from mile 8 slowed me up. In my traing runs my last 3 miles are always the quickest.  Finished in 2hr 21 mins

I've done one half marathon in the past - full of hills, but I was saving myself for a heroic sprint finish along the flat final stretch by the seafront

And just as I got there - there was a hailstorm

It only knocked a minute or so from my time, but shielding my head with my hands from golf ball sized hail was quite different from the image I was planning to project at that point

[Doobs]

Wow.  Didn't realise I hadn't done an update since March.

Starting year at 99kgs.

Still not done a parkrun in some time, but am jogging/running for 20 minutes now. My issues are that my commute is fairly horrendous, and my eldest wrecks my weekends, as she always needs taking somewhere.  She plays for 2 ice hockey teams now, and that is 2 evenings, and 2 games some weeks (like this one).  And hard to get will power when you left the house at 7.30am, got in at 8pm, and it is -2 outside.

I think I have to get at least 3 gym sessions in a week, or my fitness just goes so quickly. 

Aims for year.  Do a damn parkrun again.  Lose some weight.  Sleep more.

Ps poker another bad year, but finished strongly. 

[doubleup]

I think I have to get at least 3 gym sessions in a week, or my fitness just goes so quickly.

You can do some stuff in the house just to keep ticking over.

[vegaslover]

I do 12.5 hr shifts Doobs, so 13.5hr with travel.
Often feel tires but try and do 3 miles/30mins where I can

I need to do a diet..lol currently 15st 5 (excess over xmas)
I'm doing the same half marathon again this year, current training block is 5mins faster than my previous best time for the half. Still slow as fk mind.
Also doing an Ultra the end of March. Slightly easier this one as it is a lap every hour for 10 hours
Have also entered the Beachy Head marathon in October, which is one of the  toughest around

[vegaslover]

I do 12.5 hr shifts Doobs, so 13.5hr with travel.
Often feel tires but try and do 3 miles/30mins where I can

I need to do a diet..lol currently 15st 5 (excess over xmas)
I'm doing the same half marathon again this year, current training block is 5mins faster than my previous best time for the half. Still slow as fk mind.
Also doing an Ultra the end of March. Slightly easier this one as it is a lap every hour for 10 hours
Have also entered the Beachy Head marathon in October, which is one of the  toughest around

Did the February half today, just run it as a training run, due to flying to the stats on hols on Tues.
Actually ran it 5 mins quicker than last year
Longest run this year has been 17.5 miles - knees and feet were sore..lol
Currently 14st 7lb

[Doobs]

Fitness journey has taken a swerve.  Got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year, and as it was getting worse I have been put on a restricted diet.  It is 100% terrible shakes (1 is ok, but when you have had 7 the same it is grim).  On the upside I am now down to 91.5kg (14 1/2 stone), having been over 16 when diagnosed.

My aim is to get below 13, and be no longer overweight for the first time in near 30 years.  If I run good, this will mean the diabetes goes into remission. They have had some pretty solid results with the clinical trial not long ago, and they seem to be continuing.  Don't know if it is better or worse than Ozempic.  Suspect Ozempic is better, but this has less side affects.  I wasn't given a choice, so just going to roll with it.

On the fitness thing, I am too tired to run far, and it is likely not safe anyway (they suggest light exercise).  So might do uphill treadmill for a couple of months.  Strength exercises seem fine so far.

Looking forward, if I lose all this weight, I should be about 10% quicker at running. The downside to that is that I was really slow beforehand.  I think this seems a reasonable aim as I was already losing weight before the diet proper and running felt easier.  There was a stated aim I made here a few months ago that I was going to try and do a 10k in 60 minutes before age 60.  I soon worked out that wasn't realistic (I wasn't really getting any quicker before losing weight).  Now if I can get my 5k down to 30/35 minutes soon after this finishes I think it may well be possible.

[Jon MW]

Well damn, I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well.

So far they haven't mentioned diet, only to take Metformin. They also said my blood pressure and cholesterol were the high end of normal so because of the diabetes diagnosis I've got drugs for those as well.

But this is literally all within the last few weeks, so they still have time to add something about food.

Hopefully everything stabilises out nicely for you, and I, and a new stasis level comes around soon.

[Doobs]

Well damn, I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well.

So far they haven't mentioned diet, only to take Metformin. They also said my blood pressure and cholesterol were the high end of normal so because of the diabetes diagnosis I've got drugs for those as well.

But this is literally all within the last few weeks, so they still have time to add something about food.

Hopefully everything stabilises out nicely for you, and I, and a new stasis level comes around soon.

Ha, got high cholesterol and blood pressure was borderline too.  They offered me statins, but was of the view that restricted diet + Metformin + statins was too much at once.   They gave the impression, statins were up to me, as my readings weren't that bad.

Metformin has been a ball ache as I have a long commute and find I am half way to work before I realise I haven't taken it, but am getting better at remembering.

Going to see how my cholesterol is after the diet and take it from there.  With a bit of luck I won't need any of the drugs in 6 months.  If cholesterol is still high, will probably take the statins.

Weird question, but how much do you test your blood?  Turns out one of the other blokes at work was also diagnosed recently.  He has been told to test his blood twice a day; me once a week.  His sounds more extreme though.  Reading around, different sources say entirely different things, so might just do twice a week or something not too extreme.

[vegaslover]

Well damn, I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well.

So far they haven't mentioned diet, only to take Metformin. They also said my blood pressure and cholesterol were the high end of normal so because of the diabetes diagnosis I've got drugs for those as well.

But this is literally all within the last few weeks, so they still have time to add something about food.

Hopefully everything stabilises out nicely for you, and I, and a new stasis level comes around soon.

Ha, got high cholesterol and blood pressure was borderline too.  They offered me statins, but was of the view that restricted diet + Metformin + statins was too much at once.   They gave the impression, statins were up to me, as my readings weren't that bad.

Metformin has been a ball ache as I have a long commute and find I am half way to work before I realise I haven't taken it, but am getting better at remembering.

Going to see how my cholesterol is after the diet and take it from there.  With a bit of luck I won't need any of the drugs in 6 months.  If cholesterol is still high, will probably take the statins.

Weird question, but how much do you test your blood?  Turns out one of the other blokes at work was also diagnosed recently.  He has been told to test his blood twice a day; me once a week.  His sounds more extreme though.  Reading around, different sources say entirely different things, so might just do twice a week or something not too extreme.

Sorry to hear that Doobs, stick with the diet and exercise where you can, try and minimise the drugs if you can avoid them.
Mind you, my Dr would state I am a nightmare as I refuse to take meds that are prescribed.
I have very high blood pressure, but all other bloods tests are in range and symptom free. While i'm not a tin foil hat merchant, my BP was always normal/low pre covid jab.

On the exercise front, I completed the ultra in March, then took four weeks off running. It was very rocky on the trails and it wrecked my feet. lots of blisters and toes going black. Also messed with my stomach for a week.
Run 61min 10k last week on an easy training run, not sure how as it was 3 mins faster than my typical run for that distance.

[Jon MW]

Well damn, I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well.

So far they haven't mentioned diet, only to take Metformin. They also said my blood pressure and cholesterol were the high end of normal so because of the diabetes diagnosis I've got drugs for those as well.

But this is literally all within the last few weeks, so they still have time to add something about food.

Hopefully everything stabilises out nicely for you, and I, and a new stasis level comes around soon.

Ha, got high cholesterol and blood pressure was borderline too.  They offered me statins, but was of the view that restricted diet + Metformin + statins was too much at once.   They gave the impression, statins were up to me, as my readings weren't that bad.

Metformin has been a ball ache as I have a long commute and find I am half way to work before I realise I haven't taken it, but am getting better at remembering.

Going to see how my cholesterol is after the diet and take it from there.  With a bit of luck I won't need any of the drugs in 6 months.  If cholesterol is still high, will probably take the statins.

Weird question, but how much do you test your blood?  Turns out one of the other blokes at work was also diagnosed recently.  He has been told to test his blood twice a day; me once a week.  His sounds more extreme though.  Reading around, different sources say entirely different things, so might just do twice a week or something not too extreme.

I had a blood pressure and blood test, a month later I had another one - that confirmed the diabetes diagnosis and was when they said to start on the Metformin

 2 weeks after that they had a blood pressure follow up and that's when they suggested the bp medicine and Statins - but they suggested to delay starting the Statins for a couple of weeks afterwards

That is about now - and I have another bloods appointment today

So, I think, that means they're still in the process of deciding what the appropriate framework should be and there's no immediate crisis likely (maybe?).

I use a recurring alarm on my phone to tell me to take the drugs, but also my wife checks at least 4 times a day that I'm going to take the one's coming up and have taken the one's just gone 😄

[Jon MW]

Tiny update: I asked the diabetes nurse about the bloods and she said that people who are treating their diabetes with insulin have to do the blood test every day. That's usually, but not always, type 1 diabetes.

The test they're using for mine is based on blood regenerating every 3 months so from now on they only need to test it every 3 months. I think there's a different test as well - that could be why weekly maybe(?)

Or it could be the same as mine but they're just a bit more concerned perhaps(?)

[Doobs]

Tiny update: I asked the diabetes nurse about the bloods and she said that people who are treating their diabetes with insulin have to do the blood test every day. That's usually, but not always, type 1 diabetes.

The test they're using for mine is based on blood regenerating every 3 months so from now on they only need to test it every 3 months. I think there's a different test as well - that could be why weekly maybe(?)

Or it could be the same as mine but they're just a bit more concerned perhaps(?)

That makes sense.  Thanks.  Think he has developed it late in life, but his readings were v high.  So monitoring more closely.   He was adamant I should he testing more, which seemed excessive.

I think I need to test more than you as the diet is extreme (800 calories a day), so they need to monitor as blood sugar could get low with diet and Metformin.  This is consistent with not testing at all before the diet started.

I have got better over time taking the drugs.  Week 1 I was supposed to be taking 2 a day (morning and evening), but don't think there was a single day I remembered both.  Now I am getting closer.

[Doobs]

Well damn, I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well.

So far they haven't mentioned diet, only to take Metformin. They also said my blood pressure and cholesterol were the high end of normal so because of the diabetes diagnosis I've got drugs for those as well.

But this is literally all within the last few weeks, so they still have time to add something about food.

Hopefully everything stabilises out nicely for you, and I, and a new stasis level comes around soon.

Ha, got high cholesterol and blood pressure was borderline too.  They offered me statins, but was of the view that restricted diet + Metformin + statins was too much at once.   They gave the impression, statins were up to me, as my readings weren't that bad.

Metformin has been a ball ache as I have a long commute and find I am half way to work before I realise I haven't taken it, but am getting better at remembering.

Going to see how my cholesterol is after the diet and take it from there.  With a bit of luck I won't need any of the drugs in 6 months.  If cholesterol is still high, will probably take the statins.

Weird question, but how much do you test your blood?  Turns out one of the other blokes at work was also diagnosed recently.  He has been told to test his blood twice a day; me once a week.  His sounds more extreme though.  Reading around, different sources say entirely different things, so might just do twice a week or something not too extreme.

Sorry to hear that Doobs, stick with the diet and exercise where you can, try and minimise the drugs if you can avoid them.
Mind you, my Dr would state I am a nightmare as I refuse to take meds that are prescribed.
I have very high blood pressure, but all other bloods tests are in range and symptom free. While i'm not a tin foil hat merchant, my BP was always normal/low pre covid jab.

On the exercise front, I completed the ultra in March, then took four weeks off running. It was very rocky on the trails and it wrecked my feet. lots of blisters and toes going black. Also messed with my stomach for a week.
Run 61min 10k last week on an easy training run, not sure how as it was 3 mins faster than my typical run for that distance.

I am cool with the diagnosis.  Have been borderline for years, and should have made more effort to lose weight.

Congrats on the ultra.  Sounds pretty extreme to me.  I am thinking a 10k would be tough.

On the tin foil thing, I am pretty happy taking the drugs, just didn't want to start 3 things at once.  If I get side effects I wouldn't be able to pin it down. My only real side effects are tiredness and hunger, which are pretty much what you'd expect from 800 calories a day, so think I'd have been fine. But will wait until my next peoper bloods in 6 weeks or so before I decide.

On COVID jabs/COVID.  Age adjusted mortality was as low as it has ever been last year in the UK, and this year is another very low year (this is the day job). If either COVID or COVID jabs were causing massive issues anymore this wouldn't be happening.

Think the human mind isn't that great on stuff like this. You want to put the blame on something, but once you are set on something, it is hard to reassess.  I am late 50s, and reality is things are going to start failing at that age and they always did.  Also I am an ex-smoker and was borderline obese.  Think I had it coming, jabs or not.

My mum is the worst.  She was so sick she was in ICU before COVID started and on a 50/50 survival chance and ventilated.  She has been in hospital 3 times with the same issue since.  She has never really got better.  Given her vulnerability and age she got COVID jabs early. 

Every time she feels a bit unwell, she starts off with "I have never felt the same since the COVID jabs", so not the 87 years she has been around, not the 4 operations it caused, not the ventilator and the ICU visit, it is the COVID jabs.  Sure her last words will be, it was those COVID jabs, never should have taken them.  She hasn't even had one for years...