Since most of us aren't teenagers any more, I'm pretty sure a large masters population is having to overcome all kinds of health issues on order to getin shape, and go as far as competing.
I was starting to get pretty competetive 4-5 years ago and setting a lot of PB's, when in my mid to late 30's I got slammed with a lot of health issues, couple of which (ick) caused a lot of rapid heart rate even at rest, and made me very exercise intolerant. Some of this is getting under control, other things I just have to live with, and accept I can't push as hard as I used to :(
I have a genetic blood disorder, thallasemia, which manifests itself in my case an untreatable chronic anemia, fast thyroid causing heartbeat irregularities (and other things), and one of arthritic conditions, scleroderma. In last couple years I'm just starting to figure out how to handle my newly dysfunctional body, and still keep active. It's been a very disheartening struggle, since at 40, I'm supposedly too young to be falling apart. Eh!
I'd like to hear from people who are having to manage their health issues, so they can keep swimming, and even competing... I'm hoping this can be motivating to a *few* people.
Parents
Former Member
Sounds very troublesome with all the diagnoses and stuff ...
I guess some of you have tried everything to get better, including changing your diet. Optimising your diet may not heel all your health issues on day one, but it will make you feel much better, now and in the future.
If you haven't tried optimising your diet yet, try two weeks where you:
- Drink ½ liter of freshly squeezed* vegetable juice every day.
- Avoid dairy products
- Avoid (or drastically cut down) your intake of sugar, alcohol, caffeine, white bread, red meat and industry processed food.
- Eat lots and lots of vegetables (the greener the better) and fruit, the less processed the better.
- Eat a small handful of nuts or almonds every day**
You may experience headache and dizzyness or feel a bit lightheaded the first few days, particularly if you cut down from a very high caffeine intake. Don't worry, it will get better!
If you feel better after two weeks on a diet like this: Keep going!
Some people get better if they avoid gluten. This is a bit more difficult, as cutting down is not enough, you must do it 100% for about 4 weeks to feel any effect. For most people gluten-free diet is not worth the effort. However, if you still have "digestive issues" after trying the other tips, you may want to try a gluten-free diet for 4 weeks.
If you find my suggestions too drastic, take one step at a time.
I suggest you start with the living juice*. It makes you feel sooooo much better. Your body will love you for giving it so much delicious nutrition ;)
Once juicing is a part of your daily routines, start cutting down on all the "bad things", one thing at a time. DOn't overdo it, old habits are hard to change, and new habits take time to establish.
*Using a centrifugal juicer is better than not juicing at all, but the best gift you can give yourself and your health is a juicer delivering "living juice" i.e. a single auger or a twin gear juicer.
You can juice fruit along with the vegetables, if you don't like the taste of 100% veggie juice. Juice vegetables like beets, carrots, kale, any green vegetable you can think of. Add ginger, lemon, lime, mint, parsley or other fresh herb for taste.
** nuts and almonds taste better and are more nutritious if soaked in cold water for some hours.
Sounds very troublesome with all the diagnoses and stuff ...
I guess some of you have tried everything to get better, including changing your diet. Optimising your diet may not heel all your health issues on day one, but it will make you feel much better, now and in the future.
If you haven't tried optimising your diet yet, try two weeks where you:
- Drink ½ liter of freshly squeezed* vegetable juice every day.
- Avoid dairy products
- Avoid (or drastically cut down) your intake of sugar, alcohol, caffeine, white bread, red meat and industry processed food.
- Eat lots and lots of vegetables (the greener the better) and fruit, the less processed the better.
- Eat a small handful of nuts or almonds every day**
You may experience headache and dizzyness or feel a bit lightheaded the first few days, particularly if you cut down from a very high caffeine intake. Don't worry, it will get better!
If you feel better after two weeks on a diet like this: Keep going!
Some people get better if they avoid gluten. This is a bit more difficult, as cutting down is not enough, you must do it 100% for about 4 weeks to feel any effect. For most people gluten-free diet is not worth the effort. However, if you still have "digestive issues" after trying the other tips, you may want to try a gluten-free diet for 4 weeks.
If you find my suggestions too drastic, take one step at a time.
I suggest you start with the living juice*. It makes you feel sooooo much better. Your body will love you for giving it so much delicious nutrition ;)
Once juicing is a part of your daily routines, start cutting down on all the "bad things", one thing at a time. DOn't overdo it, old habits are hard to change, and new habits take time to establish.
*Using a centrifugal juicer is better than not juicing at all, but the best gift you can give yourself and your health is a juicer delivering "living juice" i.e. a single auger or a twin gear juicer.
You can juice fruit along with the vegetables, if you don't like the taste of 100% veggie juice. Juice vegetables like beets, carrots, kale, any green vegetable you can think of. Add ginger, lemon, lime, mint, parsley or other fresh herb for taste.
** nuts and almonds taste better and are more nutritious if soaked in cold water for some hours.
