Introduction.

[Morena66]

Hi here to get support to improve my liver.

[Sunnyskies33]

Welcome! This is the place! The British Liver Trust has lots of good info and in my few months here I have found so many knowledgeable people who will help with their experience.

[Morena66 in reply to Sunnyskies33]

Thank you I got a scan and I have an enlarged liver with bright bits in it

[Readlots]

Welcome to the group!

[Morena66 in reply to Readlots]

Thank you

[QuietButBold]

Welcome Morena66.

In the UK the weather this coming week looks more friendly towards experiencing the outdoors (than the temperatures etc. we experienced last week). Have you got the opportunity to walk somewhere for a while this week in your area?

I have noticed that, around England, the Ramblers Association have free "Wellbeing Walks" of about 90 minutes (at least 1 a week in each region). Some are weekdays, others are at the weekend.

I have not tried one of these walks before, however, I have decided to give one a go this week. The group I have identified seems to end their walk over a cup of coffee - so I might stay on for that too - I shall see how I feel on that front on the day.

In preparation, a couple of weeks ago, I walked around the town centre on errands and the supermarket for the same length of time - to get a bit of an idea whether I felt up to one of those Wellbeing Walks.

I got myself one of those 2-wheeled shopping bags / trolleys which stands up by itself with a tall handle (at the moment - 13/01/25 - I see that e.g. Argos have a plain black one in their sale for half price at £12.50 - so, I might get another one for a friend's Birthday gift).

That shopping wheeled bag / trolley: easily toted my errand items, my groceries, plus my healthy packed lunch and a flask of coffee. It made lighter work of walking around town. It goes on a park and ride bus OK and in the car; I put it's wheels down in the passengers front footwell and plug it in securely via the seatbelt through the handle. Back home, my one has a lower frame assembly which sort of folds up flatter for stowing away - until the next adventure.

As the wheeled shopping bag / trolley stands up by itself - even when laden; in town, I found a bench and parked the trolley next to me - as I ate my lunch in the town centre park - I hadn't visited there before - quite a pleasant discovery.

Over the weekend, I packed a cross-body bag - ready for my Wellbeing Walk participation later this week. I'll see how I get on. (I have a rucksack on standby for subsequent walk weeks - in case of more inclement weather - when it might be prudent to be accompanied by a choice of more clothing layers / waterproof trousers and a spare pair of socks!).

Good luck with your liver health endeavours this week too.

[Morena66 in reply to QuietButBold]

Thank you so much for your reply. I am trying to keep myself busy in the house. I have mobility issues but working on that alongside being more healthy.. I think I abused alcohol socially so time to make the change

[QuietButBold in reply to Morena66]

Being more physically busy around the house is my other strand "in progress".

I recently attended a local online NHS 1 hour liver health course where, in addition to the more obvious national moderate exercise suggestions etc., they also recommended - twice a week - the merit of undertaking muscle toning activity / strength and balance activities at home etc.

Their suggestions included things like: incorporating stretch exercises while watching TV and using household objects - like a full tin of beans as impromptu light weights to add to your stretch repetitions. I was not personally keen on the tin weight idea - but thought dried beans in sewn fabric bags might be more achievable and tactile.

I also plan to obtain some resistance bands and have a go at some of these strengthening routines in the leaflet; "The Resistance Band Exercise Guide" - which was part of the initiative for over 50's called "Living Well For Longer" published by Worcestershire County Council:

google.com/url?sa=t&source=...

When I am genuinely unenthusiastic about something physically active - I will admit; that I have to get even more creative with my own particular brand of procrastination / myth-busting / problem-solving.

So much creativity wasted on - potentially ducking the deceptively simple "get moving" - I need to keep chipping away at conquering that habit.

The vacuum cleaner ...is my current nemesis (I find our particular model is SO very noisy, I am sure people would be able to hear it running from outside the house!).

Undeterred, I recently put a pair of ear defenders on my Christmas Wish List. Now, I am the proud owner of some higher decibel suppression (35db) ear defenders ...the carpets just won't know what happened.

Glamorous ...the ear defenders most certainly are not (you need to imagine: large black glossy over-ear cans with a red stripe and a wide headband over the top to complete the ensemble!), and yet reasonably affordable (under £20) comfort while vacuuming ...well, that worked out even better than anticipated. It might all sound a bit daft - but hey; who makes "the rules" anyway?

[Sunnyskies33 in reply to QuietButBold]

Yoga has some good resistance poses and routines. I take classes at home on the tv when I can't get out due to weather. I live in a snowy area this time of year.