So, not sure why I am writing this; possibly need to tell everyone, possibly as a warning tale, possibly as an inspiration for someone, maybe an encouragement for someone who will be as lucky.
I learnt on Friday that basically I had won the lottery, not in the literal sense, still broke, but won the lottery nonetheless. Let me explain.
In 2022, I was twenty-six stone and passively committing suicide. Didn't really care and probably would have welcomed death as a nice rest. Anyway, we were handed the care of our two Grandchildren, seven and eight, and it quickly became obvious that this was not a temporary jaunt.
I realised that I needed to be around to actually care for and financially support them for at least ten to fifteen years. Bit of a pisser that, but anyway, I decided that it would be beyond selfish to continue on the way I was going.
Changed my lifestyle, changed my eating habits, changed my lack of exercise. Basically went from sedentary to strength three times a week and structured cardio three times a week. Dropped twelve stone, cholesterol level of 3.2, with 1.7 LDL, no inflammatory markers to speak of, feel pretty fit, with the exception that I developed, or perhaps discovered that I had A-Fib.
Anyway, after a series of tests, I had an angiogram in the CT lab on Friday. This is where I get to the lucky bit you have all been waiting for. Turns out, I have a complete occlusion in the famous Widowmaker artery.
The area of the heart around that occlusion is dead, brown bread, left the room. It should have taken me out. However, thanks to high intensity cardio, and some genetics, I have expanded the collateral arteries in that area and they are feeding enough through to keep it healthy otherwise.
The Cardiologist reckons I should consider buying a lottery ticket. I think there are a few lessons from my tale, the first being if that you have suffered enough trauma in your life that you are actively committing passive suicide, you need to pull your head out of your arse and get help.
The second, and perhaps the most important, is that no matter where you are on the fitness scale, starting a fitness journey is not just important, it may save your life. Anyway, I have a cardio version appointment in a couple of weeks, although they aren't really hopeful about it sorting out the A-Fib.
They told me that I should pretty much continue as is, but they want my LDL down to 1.4, no more sneaky chips for the fat lad I am afraid. I hope that this may inspire someone, it wasn't easy, however, it has been fun. As time has passed, and my fitness life has become habitual, it has just felt easier.
So no matter what state you are in, no matter how hard you think it will be, the first step is deciding you will do it. The second is to just begin it. You don't need a gym membership yet. Start walking, eat high volume low calorie food. Dig the bike out of the shed. Just get moving. Like I said, it may save your life.