We often measure our results in terms of distance, speed, breathlessness, etc and that's just fine, but yesterday I had the opportunity to get some medical feedback which I thought I would share with you in the hope that it helps inspire others to start, or continue, their running.
Just over a year ago I had a medical checkup with my local doctor which included taking blood samples, blood pressure, etc. I have suffered from Kidney Stones and Gout in the past and, due to the fact that my body finds it difficult to process alcohol, I'd had another attack. This is a genetic disease in my case and is very painful, but the upshot of all this was that I was prescribed tablets for high blood pressure and gout and was told that I would have to take them for the rest of my life. I was obese and very unfit.
In April I started the C25k course and have continued running since and over the last 8 weeks I have also combined that with fasting 2 days out of 7. The results have been dramatic. My doctor was almost dancing with delight as she told me that my blood results were 'significantly better'. She said that she so rarely had the chance to share such good news and that I should tell others what benefits come from such discipline. "You may or may not have a longer life, but you will certainly have a better one". I stopped taking tablets 4 months ago and she confirmed that I did not have to continue with them.
I am delighted of course. I knew I was in much better shape, but it is nice to have that backed up scientifically. In many ways I feel that I have taken back responsibility for my health into my own hands and that has got to be one of the best early Christmas presents anyone could wish for....
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and happy running....
Thanks Rob. I must admit that NHS spending wasn't at the top of the list of motivating factors, but I am glad that it is a win-win for everybody. The last thing I wanted to be was another statistic of an overweight obese society!
That's really good news and I am glad your doctor was so positive about it - I hope she'll spread information about your route too.
Well there you go..you took positive action in the form of starting C25K and positive results have followed. I am so pleased that you have been successful in improving your health and hope this has good consequences for you long term. You sound very focussed so hope it all continues to go well.
What a great and inspiring story. Congratulations on all your hard work and thanks for sharing
Well done! You are an inspiration :0) I hope that has cemented your running habits and you continue to reap the rewards for your hard work and commitment!
You must be feeling so great! I had a similar experience earlier in the year - much improved blood pressure readings and a big tick in the 'active' category which the GP says she is very rarely able to award!
It feels great Ully. A real sense of being back in control of ones own health rather than relying on the state and medical science to take care of you.... Thanks for the post!
That really is fantastic and it is not just the body that benefits but the mind - self-esteem and a more positive attitude are just some of those benefits. It is a great success story - well done - keep at it.
And of course lighter people means aeroplanes use less fuel and therefore c25k is saving the world too (possibly)
Great news Mark. Perhaps your GP should do with you what my practice did showing a picture of me before I lost weight and did c25k and one of me finishing the Callanish marathon. This went along with the posters from the forum.
Well done. I love hearing stories like yours. Do keep spreading the word. So many people could have such better lives and feel so much better about themselves if they are inspired by people like you telling your story. Fantastic.
That's great news! You must be really chuffed! Something magical about this running stuff isn't there. x
Mark, your wonderful story is one told countless times by C25kers, but is no less spectacular for that. As you said you knew that you were healthier, the metrics confirmed it. If only we could communicate this to those in charge of the NHS that by publicising C25k more they could save the nation a load of money and save a load of people having to be drug dependant for the rest of their lives.
Well done ! Just goes to show that all the talk of increase exercise and decreasing food works! It it must be fantastic to have had such a great impact on your health. Thanks so much for sharing as its the third thing this morning that is spurring me on to action - I have been talking about attending to my weight for ages. If I shift a stone I think I will run much easier .... today is the day. Portion size is my planned approach
Well done and thanks for showing such an encouraging and enlightening post I can't wait to go back and see my asthma nurse in January and speak to my doctor about reducing my blood pressure tablets after losing over 3 stone. I'm staving off diabetes without medication so would love to be completely free from pills. I have another three stone to lose but realise it will be a slow process, in it for the long haul. I don't think I could ever fast for two days but would be interested to find out more, especially if it's helping you to lose weight successfully? Well done!
Hi Jenjan, yes it does help me loose weight as well as training my body to realise that it needs to repair itself (repair cells) and not just grow. This is important for a longer / healthier life. Do a Google search on '5:2 diet'. Thanks for your comments.
Hi Jenjan, yes it does help me loose weight as well as training my body to realise that it needs to repair itself (repair cells) and not just grow. This is important for a longer / healthier life. Do a Google search on '5:2 diet'. Thanks for your comments.
Stupendous news! Absolutely brilliant! What a transformatiion! I take my hat off to you, K9f and to so many other C25Kers who have transformed their health with this programme and rethinking their eating habits!!
I remember one of your earlier posts when you stated how much weight you needed to loose and I replied telling you how many hours you would need to run to loose 1kg. Then I thought you had a long way to go. In your subsequent posts you stated your determination to get there.
So now it is fantastic news you achieved so much in such a short time! A big round of applause to you.
Don't know you, will never meet you but your post cheered me up no end. So glad you made it!
Well done Kingy! I am trying to convince my unit husband of all this at the moment, although you'd think it would be glaringly obvious. His doctor told him this week that blood pressure pills etc need not be inevitable and he can get himself off them by his own efforts by lifestyle changes
I was obese and had gout, mostly affecting my big toe and the joints of my hands. I quit boozing but when I switched to drinking fruit juice instead it made it worse! I now don't drink fruit juice either and I'm now absolutely fine. Just a small thing but it made my life a misery.
Now I'm running I'm like a new woman. Yessssssssssssssss!
I didn't have a huge amount of weight to lose and was already on here but combining it with 5:2 really had an effect and that unnecessary 2stones of me was history!
This post and those like it are the reason I keep coming back to this forum, it's so good to hear real life changes that people are experiencing. Well done and happy christmas to everyone!
Great post and your determination is an example to us all. Especially those of us who should have been out there today for an 8k Asics 'easy' run and decided to do it tomorrow instead. I don't want to spend the rest of my life unfit and unhealthy either so, spurred on by your reminder of how it could be and how it needn't be, will blimmin well get out there tomorrow. Thank you for posting King9fisher.
Well done It really is amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it, and don't let your medical issues stop you doing anything. I have a friend who has had a double lung transplant and has another lung issue, yet she does muddy races and running events etc... her doctors are amazed that she is doing these things yet it is helping keep her lungs healthier and improving her puff. You are all inspiring people
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