revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I've been diagnosed with axiol spondyloarthritis in my spine and hips. Have been prescribed some exotic drug at 90mg a day for the rest of my life. At the moment I am 6ft5, weigh in at 121kgs, have a heart rate of 130/80, a pulse rate of around 60/m and no cholesterol issues. So my BMI is way high in the 30's. I'm 55 1/2 years old. The target weight is apparently 95kg's. I have no diabetes (although it is in my family and both my brothers are on medication for it).

I've started running on the cross trainer each morning at around 5.30am for at least 25 minutes. I put it on 9/15 for resistance and listen to Morning Prayers and worship music while I sweat my way into a healthy shape.

Going to try to keep a record for accountability of my progress here.

Yes, I enjoy a beer (singular) or a glass of wine. I also enjoy a dram of good single malt. I tend to eat quite well, I cook from scratch and we don't have many "instant" meals. The meals are balanced with protein (chicken/beef/fish/eggs and rice/pasta/potatoes and various veggies). Being a vicar means I get offered cake/biscuits with tea/coffee. Guess I have to start turning them down or ask for a carrot instead.

You can put all of that into chat gpt and ask it to recommend an exercise program taking into account your equipment available, diagnosis and time available.
You can use it as a personal trainer to tailor each session eg- I'm feeling stiff and sore after yesterday's session, what should I do today instead of the plan?

It's really quite useful if you don't want to pay a human to do the same.

Thanks for that Taff, I've put together a simple routine that I'll give a whirl next week once I've got my cardio into a better shape.

Still alive, still running, not really losing much weight at the moment, averaging about 20-25 minutes on the cross trainer. Not moved onto other exercises yet, but am sleeping better and moving a bit better. I have more stamina for the day, but often feel like I need at nap at around 3pm (I am up at 5am most mornings). My waist is a bit trimmer though, perhaps because I did a big poo!!

the_priest wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2026 6:37 am not really losing much weight ... My waist is a bit trimmer

Replacing fat with muscle?

Personally I found that losing weight isn't about exercise. Yes, it's necessary and a good thing, but as a weight loss tool it doesn't make a huge difference as the calorie burn isn't enough to offset calorie intake.

It's all about what you eat/drink and calories in vs calories out.

wheelnut wrote: Fri Jul 03, 2026 10:55 am Personally I found that losing weight isn't about exercise. Yes, it's necessary and a good thing, but as a weight loss tool it doesn't make a huge difference as the calorie burn isn't enough to offset calorie intake.

It's all about what you eat/drink and calories in vs calories out.

My missus says 'diet for weight, exercise for shape'.

Mentioned the of realising just how much exercise you need to burn off a few calories a while ago. Iirc Gremlin added a comment about an hour long 'burn 500' exercise class or something like that. Sweat your guts out for an hour and then match it (nearly) with 2 pints of beer.

My usual routine is 7 or 8 miles walk every day

Swim a mile once a month

Cycle 9 miles as often as the wind allows - usually once a week

Enduro ride twice a week

Lots of jobs around the villa

Different people respond in different ways to different diets!

Try a low, but not a no, carb diet. There is a lot of (hidden) sugars in our foods already, and carbs eventually turn to sugar and if your burning that, you won't be burning fat.

Try a varied program on the treadmill rather than a fixed rate and incline. Increasing and decreasing heart rate is more effective at your age than endurance stuff.

Grab some 5-10kg dumbbells and follow a basic resistance workout. This guys stuff is what i'm starting with and you can follow along with him.

I do variable resistance and I eat very healthy food, mostly cooked from scratch. Very little sugars in my diet. I'm inclined to diabetes at my age/genetic disposition and am so careful about what I eat. I did have 1/2 a bottle of Bishop's Finger this evening, but I drink sparingly and seldom. Saying that, I have a friend who is going through cancer treatment staying with me next weekend and I have a superb bottle of red wine waiting for him.... ah well. My legs are definitely more defined, I can see my quads shaping up and I am moving more easily. The dumbells are the next step, but I am taking it easy at the moment, I don't want 50cm biceps (again).