Just an update

Since January my BMI has droppped to 23.2 and I weigh in at about 67kg. I've been ill for the past few weeks so I've not really done much exercise and have probably not eaten quite as I should. Before that I was up to 9 pullups. I'll need to do a bit of work to get there again, but I'm having no trouble slowly shedding the last bit of weight.

I'm dancing 2 or 3 times a week now, depending on socials on Fridays and I'm about to start playing a weekly game of Volleyball (Primal Law 6 - Play).

Vibram sprints

There's something about running uphill as fast as you can. I did some weekly sprints last year, but this was the first one I did this year so far. It was AWESOME. I bought myself some Vibram Five Fingers at the end of 2011 and I must admit I had some misgivings as they didn't fit perfectly to start with. My feet are really square and my small toe was really tight, however after a few walks they seem like a perfect fit now.

I was a bit ambivalent about using them today, but I'm glad I did. My previous sprints were done on flat ground, which is probably less safe than running uphill even if it takes more effort. I'll do hill sprints next week again.

I'm vaguely following the Primal Blueprint exercise program, but as encouraged, I'm not being very strict about it. It's been the most natural way to keep fit I've ever tried, I don't feel bad if I skip a workout. I only workout when I feel like it. I don't go to gym, I do pushups, squats, pullups and planks at home. I don't let myself get tired, when I start getting tired I stop. I don't do ANY distance running anymore, which I realise now made me very tired and was probably not suitable for someone with a cardiac history.... or anyone for that matter. I walk lots, and from yesterday, I dance once more. Can't think of any better way to keep fit!!

Different Goals

After my last post, I went for a cadioversion to fix my heart rythm and was put on cordarone again, a nasty rythm modifying drug. However, in conjunction with that a friend pointed me to a website about a different lifestyle idea. It's based on the premise that we should try to live as closely to how we lived before the agricultural revolution. No grains, processed foods or sugars, but copious amounts of organic vegetables, meat, fish, nuts and fruit. Basically, if you can pick it or kill it, it'll be good to eat.

Also ones exercise patterns would have been different, and this way of keeping fit seems to suit me well. Lot's of "slow moving", some heavy lifting, and some occasional sprinting. Guess what, I don't feel tired after workouts/runs anymore. I've been in sinus rythm since (currently with a much lower dose of drugs)

I did a body composition test in January 2010... I know a long time ago, but my weight hadn't varied much until I decided to lose it on purpose. At that stage I had 22.6% body fat, and a BMI of 28 which makes me obese. Currently I have 13.1% body fat and my BMI is 23.8. I'm feeling much stronger and fitter than I have in years as I'm carrying 12kg less weight around.

However I think I'd still like to loose some more fat and put on more muscle, what that means for my weight is difficult to say, but I suspect I'll settle at about 65kg.

Current goal? Have a picture of Mark with a six pack... just once in my life!

Cardiologist visit

I went to the cardiologist yesterday after feeling relatively crap for the passed few weeks. My heartrate went through the roof when I went for a run a few days ago, 200bpm through the roof. I thought that meant that my heartrate monitor was wrong, but yesterday I did a stress ecg on a treadmill and there it was 200bpm.

The doc has changed my meds, I'm now on 4mg coversyl daily, 5mg concor twice daily and 125mg digoxin daily... not to mention the ubiquitous warfarin.

It's such a pity because a month ago I was really feeling very strong, and was losing weight pretty steadily.

June Weight Chart

I thought I'd share my weight loss chart, thanks to the "Hacker's Diet" online tools. I always thought losing weight quickly was a bad idea, but actually, now that I'm busy trying to lose a significant amount of weight, I want to get this over and done with asap. As you can see I'm losing, on average 590g a week, which is significant. There is still a long way to go though.

On the road again

I stopped going to gym when my contract ran out. I didn't do much exercise for a while after that, except for a little walking and running around work. Anyway I'm thinking of training for another 21 with my girlfriend, except this time I'm gonna do it with about 10kg less wait. I've been losing weight for about 6 weeks now and am down by more than 5kg from 79.9 to 74.2, I'm hoping to get to a goal weight of 77.5kg. We are currently doing an 8 week program to running 5km. I'm hoping with new meds and less weight I will actually be able to run for longer at a time. We'll see how I feel, I'm still being very careful, watching my heart rate and listening to my body.

Not quite a mission

Over the passed few months I've gotten really unfit. Gym is really boring, but necessary. It was easier when there were people to talk to. So I've decided once more to cycle to work 3 times a week, it helps that I can now shower at the work gym. I had wanted to do the 94.7 but have a clash so I can't.

I'm also going to go to gym twice a week to do weights. I'll see if I'm alive by the end of the week, but I'd also like to swim once a week, so that would have to be on Saturday morning I guess... a few laps of the pool at gym.

I started the cycling yesterday, to work it took me 32 mins, the return trip was torture as I seem to live quite high up. That took me 45 mins, but I felt pretty good afterward. Of course when I got into bed at 9:30, which is earlier than usual for me, it was lights out. On the brighter side, waking up at 5:45 isn't so hard anymore.

I want to say things like "I hope I can keep it up", but I should be saying things like "I will keep this up". I just need to find another tangible goal to work towards, but losing 8kg is good enough for now. When I ran the Two Oceans I weighed about 74kg's. Now I weigh 82!! When I get back to that weight, I'll think of riding the Argus or doing the 94.7 again. So now it's going to back to boring blogging of exercise sessions I'm afraid.

Yes I did go to gym this morning, and I feel good for it. I only did two sets of my "full body" workout, I'll take that up to three next week, when I feel stronger.

On the road again

So the new drugs seem to have taken effect. I can have a half decent workout session without feeling like I'm going to faint. As for the push-ups... perhaps I should leave that goal for a little while and work on my waistline. I think I'm getting a little tubby, the lack of exercise and winter food has gotten to me. Perhaps if I lose a few pounds those push ups won't be as difficult to do.

New Drugs

I thought drugs were supposed to make you feel better. Today I've been pretty drowsy, and considering I slept for...10 hours...last night, I don't think it's lack of sleep! The doctor has put me on Carvetrend, which has the active ingredient carvedilol in it, which I'm pretty sure I've been on before. Probably when I was in worse shape... this is worrying. I think I took the trade name Dilatrend for some time. It is a beta/alpha blocker... don't ask me what that means, although I'll probably look it up soon anyway.

He's also put me on Vectoryl, which is an ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitor.

Eish

I decided to go to the Cardiologist on Friday...well at least to phone him. He asked me to come in immediately. Did a quick ECG and echo, apparently I am in sinus rythm but have an ectopic. However I know that I definitely have palpitations regularly, when exerting myself.

He said that my heart looks a little more lazy than it had in Feb. He's trying me on some new drugs, I don't know the names off hand, but will add them in my next post. I also had a ProBNP and Magnesium blood test which just came back favourably, but he wants to put me on Amiodarone (Arycor) for the next 6 months. There after there should be a new chronic drug which doesn't have the side effects associated with arycor.

Hopefully this rythm thing can get kicked in the butt this time.

Sigh

If you're wondering why I haven't continued, it's not because I'm lazy or chicken. I think the world cup took its toll on me. Late nights, more drinking that I should do. Anyway, three weeks ago I noticed that I had a lot less capacity and that I was palpitating. Since then I've had a bout of flu too, so I did my first real exercise since then last night, salsa dancing. And it wasn't encouraging. Anyway, I've dealt with this before and I will again. Gym next week to see how everything goes and if there is no improvement then I'll make a cardiologist app.

Week 4 day 1

Ouch... I wrote down what I needed to do and set off to gym this evening, but lost the piece of paper somewhere along the line. So I only did my push ups afterwards again. They started off ok, but towards the end it got really touch again! But I'll keep trying, slowly! I did a total of 63 this evening, the last 16 were terrible and I'm not sure the last 3 of that set were "good form", but I did my best.