I am feeling a bit brighter in myself since I wrote the piece on symptoms and side effects a few weeks ago; although I am still battling with the issues of bones and bowels! I am not due to get my next blood results until mid April so I have no sense of what my numbers might be doing. At the last count in December my t-cells were at 391 and viral load was undetectable. I have missed a handful of doses of meds in the last 3 months but I’m hoping that won’t have a negative impact on the numbers.

 

As Spring is just around the corner I am thinking more seriously about getting back into a regular exercise regime. I walk a great deal but I don’t’ do anything more strenuous than that and think it’s about time to try and get my body into better shape. I am by no means overweight, my BMI (Body Mass Index) is in the normal healthy range and I have remained roughly the same weight for nearly 15 years but I am in need of toning up. I used to go to a local gym but the monthly costs became too much to justify once I lost interest in going three times a week.

 

Over the years I have acquired various bits of keep-fit equipment at home – exercise videos, dumb bells, Swiss ball, yoga mat, ab-curler but have never really had the motivation to get a regular routine going with them. Though the Swiss ball makes a very comfortable seat for when I am working at my desk! Periodically I’ll start with every good intention of doing 15-20 minutes when I get up in the morning but it rarely lasts more than a week or so.

 

Exercise doesn’t fight HIV but it can provide both physical and mental benefits for people living with HIV. I know from past experience that I feel a lot better within myself when I am exercising regularly. Last year when I lived in Copenhagen for 3 weeks I was cycling daily and I really noticed how much better I felt physically and emotionally when I returned to the UK. Unfortunately London is nowhere near as safe to cycle in as Copenhagen so my bike has rarely been used since.

 

Loss of muscle mass and strength is often seen in people with untreated HIV, and exercise can help prevent or delay this. Exercise can also lower levels of blood fats and sugars. Many people who take HIV treatment have increased levels of blood fats and sugars, and this can increase the risk of some serious long-term health problems such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Low levels of HDL cholesterol (often called ‘good’ cholesterol) have been linked to faster HIV disease progression and muscle wasting. Exercise can increase levels of HDL cholesterol, whilst reducing levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.

Some anti-HIV drugs can cause changes in body fat called lipodystrophy. These changes include the accumulation of fat around the waist and breasts, as well as loss of fat on the limbs. I am pretty certain I am experiencing signs of lipodystrophy as I’ve become more aware of how skinny my arms and legs have become while an ever increasing belly develops – it’s depressing to look in the mirror as I see the ‘AIDS drugs baby’ growing bigger – thankfully no one has asked if I am pregnant yet! Regular exercise has been shown to reduce fat accumulation in people with lipodystrophy, whilst helping to build muscle in the areas where fat has been lost.

Here in London there is a specialist fitness program for people with HIV run by the YMCA (Positive Health) and I think I am going to ask my doctor to refer me for an assessment at my next check up so that I can be properly advised about which particular exercise regime will work best for me. Then all I have to do is stick to it!!