ShoutYourHeadOff

Tag: Health

  • Where I Am Now — A Health Update

    Where I Am Now — A Health Update

    Some of you have been with me since the very beginning of this blog. You followed my New Beginnings diary in early 2022, when I set out to reverse my diabetes and lose weight following Dr Mosley’s 8-week blood sugar diet. You cheered me on through the 1 Million Steps Challenge for Diabetes UK. You read about the Covid isolation ward, the breathlessness, the slow walk back to fitness.

    And then I went quiet.

    So I think you deserve an honest update. Here’s where things stand.

    The diabetes

    I have been a diabetic since 1992 — over thirty years now. When I started the New Beginnings diary, my blood sugar levels were not where they needed to be and my weight had crept up to 95kg. I set myself the goal of getting to 85kg and bringing those numbers under control.

    I successfully maintained my weight, achieving a level of 90 kgs that my doctor deems acceptable. While my blood sugar levels initially fluctuated, I established a routine that stabilized them. My HbA1c readings are now within the range that doctors consider to be in acceptable control. I’m pleased with this progress, and I consistently work to keep my glucose levels in check. Adopting a healthy, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet has been a key factor in my success. I also commit to exercising daily, even if it’s just for thirty minutes. These health challenges certainly keep me proactive and engaged in my well-being.

    The walking

    Walking became my medicine after Covid. What started as circuits around the living room — genuinely, just walking from the lounge to the kitchen and back — became 10,000 steps a day, then a million steps for Diabetes UK, then regular outings with the Windsor and District Ramblers through the most beautiful corners of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire.

    I left the Ramblers about two years ago to go on my adventure abroad, but I kept up with my daily walks and soaked in all the nature around me. My favourite walks happen in the gorgeous Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and I can’t help but feel so happy every time I’m there. Whenever I visit my sister, I make sure to take in those stunning views because Canada is just so beautiful and clean. The walking trails and paths that zigzag through the estates and beyond are like a dream for any nature fan. Recently, I had an awesome time doing a circular walk from Cooper’s Hill in Englefield Green, taking in the amazing Runnymede meadows, the beautiful River Thames, and checking out three incredible memorials: the John F. Kennedy Memorial, the Magna Carta Memorial, and the Air Forces Memorial. When I need some alone time to think, I love wandering around the peaceful Runnymede meadows, where every step makes me feel more relaxed.

    The general health picture

    Overall I am in a better place than I have been for many years. The combination of walking, eating well and staying active has made a real difference. I still manage my diabetes daily — it never fully goes away — but it no longer runs my life the way it once did.

    What’s next

    I’m back to writing regularly — or at least, that’s the intention! I have stories to tell, walks to share, and plenty more to say about the ongoing business of keeping body and mind in reasonable working order as the years tick by.

    If you’ve been here from the start, thank you for sticking around. If you’re new — welcome. Pull up a chair and stay a while.

    — Anil

  • Walking Back to Fitness..Part 1

    Walking Back to Fitness..Part 1

    My journey to walk back to fitness started in September 2021. I am on a mission to get my life back, enjoy every moment along the way and never give up. When a person becomes so ill, he or she may give up thinking they can’t carry on anymore. I probably felt the same in the beginning but I’m not for quitting. I always make an attempt at completing any task I take on and walking back to fitness to regain my life after getting Covid 19 was number one on my list.

    Here I will tell you about my challenges and walks since September 2021 and then I will write about the first major challenge I took on in March 2022. I will share some pictures of some of the wonderful trails and walks that I have already completed. And then in part 2, I will write about my new challenge for Diabetes.co.uk where I will attempt to reach a goal of half a million steps between 1st July 2022 and 30 September 2022. The challenge is for a million steps, but I have chosen a realistic half a million steps. Anything I achieve over my target will be a bonus.

    My first walk to get fit took place inside my house! Yes, I was able to walk from the lounge through in dining room and back via the kitchen into the lounge. I went round in circles walking as fast as possible and started with a five-thousand steps goal. It was difficult but I managed it and slowly moved into the garden where I did the same thing, creating a trail of circles on the lawn! This had to change so I started visiting the local Pippins Park where there was already a track laid out for walking or running. There is an outside gym which I also started to use. It was not long before I was achieving over five thousand steps during my walks. Somedays, when it was cold during the winter months, I found it difficult but not impossible, and I always had the house to fall back on.

    My walking challenge took me to various National Trust sites and Runneymead and the Magna Carta park were my favourites. The paths are well laid out and walking beside the River Thames is always a great bonus. I visited Claremont Gardens in Esher and Bookham Common in Maidenhead. The one I enjoyed immensely was Cliveden House. This place has great gardens but the house and Thames Path behind the big house is a beautiful place to visit. There are 45-minute boat trips taking in some spectacular scenery of the tower on top of Cliveden House, which has a golden glow when the sun shines on it. I visited many places of beauty and interest. And during the final week of March 2022, I visited FAro in Portugal where I completed my 31-day challenge. Phew!

    I have already mentioned my first challenge for Marie Curie Cance Care. That started on 1st March 2022 with 10k steps a day.

    This is in Laleham near Staines where I walked along the Thames path towards Ashford Middlesex, where some of the views are really beautiful as well as the Riverfront properties which have some spectacular views.

    The above photos are a sample of some of the places I visited. Walking not only improved my health with a significant weight loss but my mental health improved as I had the time for a lot of self-reflection and it gave me the opportunity to assess my then state of mind and where my life was headed. I would recommend walking to anyone that has the physical ability to do so. Although I started my walks alone with a good Audible book or some music, I found that joining a group called the Windsor and District Ramblers, which are part of the Ramblers.org site, gave me the chance to interact with like-minded people and have discussions along the way on many a varied subject. This made my walks interesting, and enjoyable. They recently celebrated 27 years as a local Ramling group.

    Some more photos from Faro in Portugal.

    From Tomorrow 1st of July 2022, I am starting my million-step challenge for Diabetes UK. I hope that my followers and new ones will support and encourage me along the way. See you all in the next chapter.