The Plan

So after yesterday's blog about an update on my heart condition, today's blog is a bit of a return to normal. Today I did some exercise.

To be fair I have actually done exercise most days this week, but today I did it in the context of the news I got yesterday. After my appointment with Dr Gary yesterday I had two choices, I could throw up my hands and sit on the couch eating chocolate until I have the chance to see the cardiologist, or I could accept the news for what it is and train as I can within the limits of my body. This morning was about option two.

The session itself was fairly modest, just a spin on the trainer, and only 70 minutes at that, but it was what felt right. I had hoped to do a bit more, but after 70 minutes my body felt like it had had enough and I opted to listen. Whilst I have been instructed to refrain from high intensity work I am keen to see what I can do about base fitness and strength in this time. The sort of thing that doesn't require threshold work. However, I am also conscious of listening to my body.

For the past 3 weeks or so I have been pushing the body pretty hard. I trained at intensity and I didn't explode, so I know I am not that fragile. However, over those three weeks my symptoms got worse and I was pretty uncomfortable, plus I had a few moments where I was probably closer to fainting than I like. So that all tells me that what I was doing over the past three weeks was pushing my body too hard.

So for now, or at least until I can see the cardiologist, my aim is to work, but within my limits. No high intensity stuff as instructed. Focusing on sleep, good nutrition, keeping the stress down etc, everything I can do to minimse symptoms. The biggest thing I will be doing though is listening to my body. If I am training and the symptoms are getting worse then I will be slowing it down. If I am building into training and the symptoms are getting worse then I will be reducing volume. Slow and steady will be the name of the game until I can take those next steps with the cardiologist.

I am hopeful that doing this will allow me to maintain and possibly even build some fitness so that if we manage to rectify this heart condition I will be ready to get back into it. The next little while may look a little different to what I am used to, but it doesn't mean my world has to stop altogether.

The world keeps turning, and I plan to come along for the ride just as long as I can.