Go vegan?

I have a lot of ailments - asthma, eczema, allergies (all part of being atopic - hypersensitivity I). The most worrying of the last few years is the development of food allergies. The immunology department at Manchester Royal confirmed my allergy to shellfish a few years ago, and more recently in 2013 confirmed my allergy to Quorn products. Last year I had two full blown anaphylactic shocks, one while I was out running and one immediately after running. Pretty shitty really. Thankfully I was road running and not out on the fells or I'd have been pretty screwed. The consultant defined it as "Quorn-dependant exercise-induced anaphylaxis", as said he'd not come across it before.

While having my blood tests at the immunology department most recently they picked up that my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels were slightly elevated, indicating the possibly of hypothyroidism. Linking with urticaria (hives) I get round my neck area, there's a possibly that it's Hashimoto's hypothyroidism (where your immune system attacks your own thyroid gland). Your thyroid is essential to controlling your metabolism, so if it's screwed up then you can feel lethargic & cold, put on weight, to name a few symptoms.

I have a pharmacology exam in 2 days, as part of my nursing degree. I've been looking at monoclonal antibodies such as Ritixumab & Omalizumab (these are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis + cancer & asthma). Antibodies usually tag onto specific targets to identify them to the body or neutralise them. Which got me thinking....

Surely all the milk / yoghurts / all the other dairy products I consume will contain bovine antibodies? And what are they doing to my body? Are they causing my hypersensitivity to allergens? Are they destroying my thyroid?

I must admit I've not looked very far into this. But it makes me think, I wonder whether I should go vegan. Or just try to cut down on as much dairy as possible and see if it has a positive effect, if any effect at all. I understand people go vegan for all sorts of reasons like animal cruelty and all that, but my decision would be purely selfish. I'd have to think long and hard, I wonder where I'd get my protein from. I know you get certain amino acids from certain things so I'd have to balance it all out... especially as I can't have Quorn.

Through my uni I get access to loads of academic journals so I will have to have a proper look into this all after my exams.

In the meantime, I'm off for a cup of tea. With milk in it. 

Resolutions - 9 days in.

Thought I'd have a little review of how my new years resolutions are going (http://skeltopotato.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/new-years-resos.html)

• Running 100 miles a month - Only done 24 so far in January, mainly due to being injured. Might just be able to scrape this one as my leg isn't a bad as it's been.

• Fell running - Still not been on the hills! Maybe I'll go after my first exam on the 13th...

• Gym - Done this one, been going 4 times a week. Can feel myself getting stronger which is great for motivation. Sorted myself some basic home gym type stuff (sit up bench, mats & weights) so I can still do a bit on the days I don't go t'gym.

• Bike riding - mountain biked on Sunday just gone, when I went an took photos of Hit The Trail race in Reddish Vale. Still not lycra'ed up though. Shitty weather at the moment, but I fully intend to get out there.

• Fasting! - Did this on Sunday (5th).... and did it all wrong. Managed to get the bike ride and a run in on the same day, so was prrroper naffed. Ended up eating 550 kcals (but I'd burnt off 800kcal). It got me thinking what actually counts as a fast? No food or just a low calorie intake? If I exercise can I eat what I burnt off? Hmm. Today is another fast day and all I've had so far is a black tea & I'm planning a gym session tonight.

• Keeping off the sweeties - Moderate success. I've not abstained completely, I must admit I had a couple of Milky Way snack size bars...

• Not had any booze. No since boxing day (I think). Easy done though.

• Calorie counting - Been doing this to make sure I've been on track with not eating too much shit, writing done everything I eat or drink defo helps. Managed to drop a few pounds too.

Over all done pretty ok. The stuff I've not stuck to can be done and just because I've had a crappy start doesn't mean I can't keep trying. It very frustrating being injured, I want to be running 50+ miles a week like I was but I know I'll be straight back to square one if I do. Had a hip X-ray this week and get results back next week. Hopefully nothing major causing my pain...

Stupid Fupping Leg.

Left leg's still naffed.

Wanted to do Belle Vue's Hit The Trail race on Sunday (5th), for the 3rd year running but that ain't gonna happen. I've also got a refund on the way for Trigger (Marsden - Edale) fell race which is on the 12th. I don't think it'd be good to run twenty odd miles even if my leg comes right.
Very good of the organisers offering a refund to those who decide to drop out. It's a brill race, and I'm saying that after one of my worst runs ever on the inaugural race. Wanted to prove myself on that race now I'm fitter, it'll have to wait until 2015.

Just keeping going with the 3 mile round trip running to the gym. Hopefully it'll come right in a week or so. In the meantime I'm working my core and arms.

It's probably good timing to be injured as I can't skive too much from revising for my pharmacology and pathology exams in the coming weeks.

Stupid fecking leg.

Blah. I think I may be injured from running.

It all started after doing one of my fave races. The Famous Grouse fell race. The finish is down a track, just the right gradient to full on bomb it down, which I did. Slapping my feet down to gain an extra place. After that my leg problems started. Probably didn't help doing another fell race the week after.

Famous Grouse 22nd/94 http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/temples-bin/hc.pl?a=list&d=hc&f=famous-grouse-2013
Gravy Pud 44th/228  http://www.nblg.co.uk/?page_id=226

After various consultations / chatting to medical people i know / looking stuff up on t'internet I think I've figured out what's up with my left leg.

Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) with a bit of bursitis.

These sum it all up pretty well:
http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/hips
http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/itbs-iliotibial-band-syndrome

I did cut my mileage down from about 50 miles a week to 20ish and my hip / leg pain pretty much went. But after doing a Park Run yesterday in Wythenshawe it's become a little painful again.

7th/122 http://www.parkrun.org.uk/wythenshawe/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=120

My plan is to stretch & use my foam roller for self massage of the area, but keep on running & keeping the mileage low. Also, use the gym to cross train, using the rower and stuff like that.

Stupid fecking leg.

New Years Reso's

Here's a self indulgent blog post for you (though most blogs are, aren't they?).

My new years resolutions are mainly to do with exercise or food/drink. Maybe they should be called new years targets. Anyway, here goes:

Fitness

Run a minimum of 100 miles a month (Easy enough, just a baseline really. Was doing 200 p/m before my hip/leg started playing up).

Fell run at least fortnightly (I've been a right slacker with the hills lately, probably should do more hill reps or something like that).

Attend the gym at least 3 times a week (Joined the gym last month, and have been doing this anyway. I'll probably quit at some point in the spring to save on cash)

Do a proper bike ride once a week (I commute on my push bike all the time, probably cover about 50 mile+ a week, I just haven't donned the lycra in a while)

Belly fat

Fast once a week (I saw this on that vizzle box, I thought I'd give it a try. Heard good things about doing it)

Keep off the mono/disaccharides (In other words, no more sugars/sweets/cakeygoodness. Unless I'm doing running stuff....)

No more booze (Alcohol is badbadbad. Need to cut it out for a while. Maybe for a few months or something).

Count those calories (I'm a proper gannet when it comes to food. Calorie counting should stop me eating too much, and make sure I don't eat too much shit food)

Other stuff

There's more, but I'm bored of writing this. I think I'm going to go outside.