> The doc basically said my latest bloods are outstanding
But I am not clear if you've had any lasting damage from the past or is everything is simply reversed. Is there anything that cannot be reversed with any amount of effort?
It's got me more interested in health and biology for sure. The human body is remarkably hackable.
Things like bone density and tendon health definitely change slowly. Superficial organ fat, the most dangerous type, is apparently the first thing to go, and you can get so it won't go on quickly again. That's what the cold swimming is for, something to do with types of fat metabolics. I think being overweight for a considerable time (a few years) may have given me joint damage, knees maybe, but TBH I've not pushed myself into injuries and I think it's all strengthening well. I may move to some light strength training soon, but I prefer bodyweight only. Getting to the state where you can even do bodyweight, like 20 press-ups, is a great target.
If you're thinking about doing this... DO IT. I wish I could be beside you on some long walks. Maybe talk to the doc first and set a reasonable plan. But the fasting is not as hard as you think. After the first couple times it gets old and you start to make friends with hunger.
And what ever you improve, whether it's lasting or not, that's gotta be good right?
And I definitely wouldn't let myself go out of shape like that again thinking it would be an easy ride home. Basically I stomped my A1C almost in half, from 50 (knocking on the door of diabetic) down to 30 (complete remission to decent health) - so totally mullahed it. Doc says that's at the limits of medical science, so I was pretty chuffed. Need to maintain now with IF and regular workout.
What it cost me was:
IF, 12 or 18 hour sessions once (occasionally twice) per week.
Diet change to 80% plant based, more raw veg, nuts, fish
Setting a reminder to drink water
Walking 20 miles twice a week with a full pack (that's where most people will wobble a bit).
Cold water sea swimming (you get used to it)
I added two tricks. One is to walk on sand. Other is replace lost weight by stuffing a modular armour jacket with little sand bags in the plate pockets. When I dropped from 95kg to 90kg I just added 5 kilos of sand and so on. This happens gradually. When you carry around the weight you lost it keeps the calorie burn the same per mile and really motivates you because you can literally feel how much lighter you are when you take the vest off. Also you can just drop weight if you get exhausted on a long yomp.
Yes I am lucky too. I live in a place with opportunity for outdoor activity. Probably good metabolic genetics. Made time to do the health work by dropping some contracts (I consider it an investment in myself like college etc) Also I took the diagnosis seriously and researched an action plan.