Things have gotten worse since the beginning of this year, when I went to the States, and I suspect the reason could be a combination of factors from another blocked coronary artery to the progression of the heart failure I'd been diagnosed with last year. I went out for a walk last night after a Wednesday during which I'd eaten two salads and three smallish salmon filets. Despite the low carbs, I still didn't make it beyond a single lap of the next-door park before I packed it in (it wasn't out-and-out angina, but I was starting to feel a bit of pressure). So am I still even capable of doing long walks, or have things reached the point where my heart now essentially has a limiter on it?
So, I'm thinking that an experiment is in order. Either tonight (after a day of fasting) or Friday night (after two days of fasting), I'll see whether I can do a 14K walk out to the Jamshil Bridge and back. If yes, then I'm pretty sure I'm still capable of longer walks. If no, then I have two choices for my long walk this fall: either cancel it and admit defeat or do the walk, stopping at frequent intervals instead of chugging along for hours between stops. The second option is the more probable one for me, given my ego, but also the more dangerous option: the likelihood of keeling over during the walk goes up.
So stay tuned as I report back with results. Nights have remained fairly cool, but still warm and humid enough to get me sweating early on. I can't wait for drier, cooler nights to come my way. And the dry coolness might also help with my walking performance.
Just curious: when you say fast, do you mean complete abstinence from all calories, save whatever are in black coffee, green tea and whatever else you are permitted on strict fasts? Because I'm staggered that if you are doing strict fasts this often that the weight isn't falling off. No criticism. Just that overall you are surely in calorie deficit. That means weight loss. The corollary is, however, that you will probably lack whatever is required to engage in much beyond tying your shoelace. At California's most reputed fasting clinic they say "horizontal is your friend" during extended fasts. Don't believe the 10k mid-fast runners on youtube.
ReplyDeleteToo, I'm super concerned about you attempting a long walk. Not trying to be mom but it seems absolutely short of the point of feasibility from everything you've been reporting...
The strictest fast would be to take nothing in, not even water. The next strictest would be a water fast. Personally, I'm using the term "fast" very loosely since it's actually very easy to break a fast: I slurp down diet drinks, artificially sweetened tea, etc., and I might compulsively have a spoonful or two of something keto-friendly, like mayonnaise or a swallow of heavy cream. I've also snuck in a spoonful or two of no-sugar-added peanut butter, so my total caloric intake on "fast" days is probably not more than 100-200. I'm not doing a true fast in the strictest sense. And having two salads plus three small salmon "steaks" yesterday was a feast. Blood sugar was 140 this morning. Not horrible, but not 90, either.
DeleteI'm frustrated about all of this, and part of the problem might be, along with the foods mentioned above, that my metabolism has revved way down because of the long periods with little to no sustenance. And my metabolism was slow to begin with.
As for the long walk, I'll try to be as realistic as I can. It might come down to my having to wait under I get my ultrasound in January: they'll likely find something, schedule me for minor surgery after identifying my blockages and other problems, and I'll be good to go for another year or so.
I've been thinking about going back to the Newcastle Diet for my final month before my next appointment. I lost a lot of weight with that diet (thanks again), but I recall coupling the diet with a lot of walking. I'm no longer sure to what extent I can eat, then walk. We'll see.
I don't want to be a mom, either, but... just be careful. You seem to be paying attention to the signs, so that's good.
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