The Body Shop

I've run 25 kilometers this week. I intend to run more. I've attended an exercise class today and am attending another tomorrow. Before you think I've actually lost my mind and am on some kind of guilt-ridden body-hating exercise-binge, I must confess that I'm currently sitting on the sofa munching Reese's Pieces. Hopefully that's shattered any image you have of me morphing into some kind of rabbit-food munching gym-bunny. 

Recently I heard on the radio that "you can't outrun a bad diet". Eating what you want (e.g. chocolate and peanut butter) and burning off the calories is still not good for you. Plus, let's face it, you're probably just not going to bother. 

Weight loss is important - it'll help you to stay healthy longer. Blah blah blah. It's just, staying healthy for longer doesn't seem to be a good enough reason to exercise when you're young and things are going okay and you feel like a heart-attack is several lifetimes away. Let's face it, most of us are better with the here and now. 

I sat in on a few clinics this week and last week at work and several of the patients who were seen were advised that losing a bit of weight may significantly affect their health. In some cases, the risk was an increased chance of pregnancy-related problems; in other cases it was women's health issues that were likely to improve with weight loss. Of the women who were approached about this subject, the majority were really offended. Which I found a bit weird. I mean, they were sitting in front of a doctor and doctors are supposed to advise them about health. Obesity is irrefutably unhealthy (I just snarfed another handful of Reese's Pieces - oh, the irony!) to the point that there's no argument about it. 

As a lady who could certainly described as "plenty curvy" herself, I have to say that I had a good long look at myself in the mirror when I got home after listening to these women be offended to be told they need to lose a few pounds. Looking at my own pounds I would like to lose, I realised that the strange thing about their offence is that they probably say that to themselves in the mirror everyday which is why it's so hard when that's reflected back at them through a stranger. But, hey, this is not a pity party! 

I have a theory that we would all treat our bodies better, exercise more, even eat better (with the occasional cheeky Reese's) if we would look at our bodies as they really are. 

Even our feet! (It's okay all your foot-phobia people, no pictures of naked feet are contained in this blog). 

 

I didn't start running and exercising to lose weight, and I wouldn't encourage others to do that unless we first all have a change in our mentality. Would we all love to have a little run and drop a dress-size overnight? Of course. But exercise should be about more than just weight. 

I think if we start to consider our bodies by what they can do rather than what they look like, we'll use them for what they're made for and our bodies will become strong and purposeful. 

The aesthetic is so unimportant in the scheme of things - but ironically will probably improve with use! 

When children are growing up we praise the tiniest things they learn to do with their growing bodies. Clapping, waving, hopping, running, skipping... even rolling over. This absolutely wonder over what bodies can do needs to be retained. It's miraculous that our bodies function, even if that functioning itself varies from person to person. 

Over the last few days I've realised that my body can run 6km at 6am in the morning. And I don't even die. My lungs and heart keep up with the requirements for that level of exercise. My feet are capable of taking the steps and pushing me forward. The muscles surrounding my spine support me. My eyes show me the route. My ears provide stimulation through music and warn of danger (unless the music is too loud). 

To my knowledge, I haven't lost any weight at all. But I'm already seeing myself a different way. Aesthetically flawed me has given way to the figure of a woman who CAN. And that is the here and now that is going to get me out of bed, into my running gear and exercising on a morning. 

How To Save A Life

Things in life don't always go the way we would like them to. No one expects to be presented with a crisis where a loved one's life is in danger. However, it does happen. If it did, would you know how to save a life? 

Nearly a year ago now I woke up to a nightmarish situation. My husband was having a seizure. He was lying on his back making the most terrifying noise and his face was grey. When I look back at it, I know that there was nothing remotely 'planned' about the way in which I responded. How can you expect to think clearly when someone you love is in danger? I responded intuitively and, somehow, Ben's airway was cleared and he ended up on his side in the recovery position. Before I really felt I had got a grip on what was happening my mother had arrived and the paramedics were on their way. Ben was still unresponsive until the moment the ambulance crew arrived, but I could hear him breathing and the immediate heart-wrenching fear was alleviated.

Since that time, Ben has been on medication and has been completely well. He's had no more trouble with seizures and it looks likely to stay that way. I've seen for myself now the vital importance of everyone learning skills for basic life support.

Of course, this is reinforced by my carer. Recently I took an Advanced Life Support course which I'm required to do as a doctor (we repeat the course every 4 years). One of the things that really stood out to me is the vital importance of bystander CPR. Let me explain what that means.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not what you see in the movies when an attractive woman is underwater for one minute and a hunky lifeguard pulls her out of the water and gives her "the kiss of life". It's not often that someone wakes up spluttering and looks around with tears of appreciation in their eyes. A vague rub around the chest area doesn't help either. 

However, if your loved one has a cardiac arrest you do not want to be standing there looking around and waiting for the ambulance. When that paramedic arrives, your relative could already have had no blood pumping around his body for ten or more minutes. Which means his tissues will not be receiving oxygen and will die. Some of those tissues include the brain. 

So, what do you do? 

It can be as easy as ABC. 

Airway  Why do we do airway first?

It's not just because it conveniently starts with an "A". 

It's because a blocked airway can kill you quickest. 

Managing someone's airway can be as simple as holding it open by lifting their chin. No one is asking you to do a tracheotomy! When you check the airway, you can check if they are... 

Breathing Traditionally we think of "mouth-to-mouth" when talking about resuscitation because breathing is important and we need oxygen, right? But, the only reason we can breathe into and for someone else is that we don't use all of our oxygen. Which has led to some interesting changes in Basic Life Support. The most important think of all seems to be...

Circulation We have all of that oxygen already in our blood, it's just that it's not being delivered when the heart isn't pumping. Which is where CPR comes in. 

To be effective CPR should be 5-6cm deep and a speed of 100 beats per minute. Grab a cushion as your dummy and try out doing that for a few minutes on a springy mattress. It hurts. If you're doing it right, you probably won't be able to maintain it for more than 2 minutes. You need other people around to call for help, take over when you're tired and look after the airway. 

BUT - if you can do only one thing after you've called for help, check the pulse and if you can't feel it do CPR. 

Learn There are many great resources out there to help you learn Basic Life Support skills:

• There are great apps. I've recently been looking at one called "Lifesaver". I thoroughly recommend it. 
• Read this Basic Life Support guide from the Resuscitation Council. 
• Learn as a family by attending a course - learning for yourself is brilliant, of course, but what if you aren't present? What if you're the one on the floor? Husbands, wives, children... learn how to save a life.