Fit at fifty project – protein shakes

It is my aim, and has been for a while now, to be as fit and healthy as I can possibly be by the time I reach the age of 50 in 2020, hopefully without too many aches and pains.

One of the ways I have been planning to do this is by regularly taking protein shakes along with a healthier diet. From the beginning of 2019 I was drinking the ProMax Lean protein powder, which whilst it tasted great, it turned out to be really expensive just as soon as I added it on my regular subscription with Amazon. It also left me with a bloated stomach which I put down to a slight lactose intolerance.

So I went on the search for an alternative protein shake and lo and behold I came across The Protein Works. This manufacturer has regular discounts on their wide-ranging products which include lactose-free alternatives. In the end I chose the strawberries ‘n’ cream vegan protein powder which not only takes great (you might need to add a little more water and keep the water at a cooler temperature) it is made from pure protein from a variety of plants rather than from Whey which I think should be healthier for me in the long run.

I particularly like their bright orange and black packaging with no images of bulky muscular men or going to the other extreme of looking too clinical as if you were taking a drug from pharmaceutical company. The message which changes from bag to bag on either side of the packaging is also rather inspirational as is the outer packaging when the product is delivered.

colourful, clear and simple packaging without being too complicated, technical or confusing unlike other brands of protein powders

If you are interested in doing the same with regards to getting fit and healthy I couldn’t recommend The Protein Works highly enough. My referral code to use is MT1352733 when you place your first order with them. They are also on the TopCashBack site so you could save further by visiting them first…!

GB badminton funding for the next Olympics

Badminton is a sport very close to my heart and I find it deeply upsetting that the funding for this fantastic and unique racket sport is being cut completely on the run up to the next Olympics. This I find unbelievable when Great Britain managed to get a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics this year with the fantastic performance from Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis in the mens doubles event.

Please sign the petition at the following address…

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175561

So far we have over 15,000 signatures but we need many more!

My free NHS Health Check

So now I have reached the ripe old age of 46 I was asked to attend my first free NHS Health Check.

Apparently, this is currently being offered for people every 5 years between the ages of 40 and 74 to assess the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or diabetes. The QRISK2 assessment took no longer than 20 minutes with the nurse at the local doctor’s surgery and took basic measurements such as age, sex, family history, height, weight and blood pressure along with a blood test to check cholesterol levels.

Thankfully, with adjustments in my lifestyle this year, with daily walking, cutting out the Coke Zero out of my diet and increasing my intake of fruit and vegetables, I think the result was quite favourable. My cholesterol level was low and my BMI appeared to be in the required healthy zone. The only result which seemed to be of concern were the blood pressure readings which appeared to be a little high. The nurse advised me that I would need to cut down on my salt intake to bring my blood pressure down. It is amazing the list of foodstuffs they have provided me with that are typically high in salt and a large proportion are the ones I love! 🙁 I think I need to start preparing my meals from scratch so that I am able to know better how much salt is in my diet.

My results were as follows:

Resting heart rate: 68 beats/min
Blood pressure: 162/98 mmHg
Body mass index: 23.4 kg/m2
Cholesterol:HDL ratio: 2.4
QRISK2 10 year risk score: 2.88%

Kayaking for Cancer

Matt Fullick, a colleague of mine at BradleyDyer has volunteered himself, along with a couple of his chums, to do a charity kayak trip along the River Thames. He has never experienced kayaking before but has had to kit himself out to get ready for the charity event to be held on 28 May 2016. To be honest – rather him than me! They have all been training hard on the water each weekend for several hours to prepare themselves for the big day.

It will be a 45 mile trip from Henley on Thames to Kingston and all donations will be going to Cancer Research UK. They are hoping to raise a total of £2000.

To help them reach that target by making a donation please visit their JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/t-cosford.