Ageing well? How do I do it?

[Notsobadstepmum]

Please help me out! 44yo. I've always been fit, healthy etc. Recently ran a half marathon in under 2hrs... Exercise running/boxing/strength several times a week. Pretty okay diet (will eat a takeaway/chocolate bar/pastry without a second thought, but otherwise good). Walk an average of 16k steps a day. Drink under 14 units a week. Good bmi (or weight generally good. Size 13 But...

I have been so ill this winter! Had Covid/flu that lasted best part of 2 weeks before Christmas and I've got an awful throat infection now (GP started me on antibs yesterday) - still cannot eat or open mouth more than a cm or two. Horrid!

So, why?! What can I do/read/listen to/take to help me ensure this isn't where I get to: I've taken 5 days off work this academic year (teacher) and - with the exception of having shingles in 2011 - I don't think I've ever had more than a day or two off in an academic year before!

Is it age? Or just random?!
Please and thank you.

I am 45 and had that two years ago. Last summer I started daily high strength Vit D, B12, Zinc and magnesium.

Plus HRT. Plus got my iron levels from 13 to 75.

Ive been ill once since September. Touch wood it stays that way!

I think my ferritin was so low from all the exercising and the flooding periods and my immune system was super low.

And when I say high strength, I mean good quality too, not Holland and Barratt.

It has been proven that covid affects your immune response, so a lot of people are now struggling with things they can't shake as easily as they might have pre-covid.

I'm similar age and do similar step count, 5ft 9 and BMI 20.7 but I find vit D, Magnesium and Zinc are supplements really helped when I took them for a month. I'd had about 8 months of terrible sleep and palpitations and generally felt like I'd been hit by a bus - this combo seemed to reset me. I've not needed them since but do take the odd Spatone when I'm on my period but I now get 8hrs every night and the palpitations have gone.

Hope that is helpful!

Thank you both. I'll get me on these I think! Could I ask where you buy them from (if not H&B)? Not sure what constitutes high strength! Thanks again.

Mine are 'new leaf' that I buy from amazon.

The vitamin D is 4000 and the magnesium glycinate has nearly 300mcg elemental magnesium per dose.

Sounds like you're doing all the right things health wise but all the boxing in the world won't stop you from catching a virus such as flu. Sorry!

Covid isn't just a cold ,it affects your immune system. Took me ages to feel right after being ill for most of September. Metatone tonic really helped,went through two bottles.

When was your half marathon in relation to the illness?

I heard that for some people getting over COVID can take time.
My feeling is that you may have ran your half marathon when you still had COVID or shortly after this.

Also I know woman at your age that are peri menopause and their period's are getting more frequent, heavier or they have flooding. At the same time you could be in a stressful job or dealing with kids and elderly parents who need more help. I had friends in this situation and it was physically and mentally hard. They were getting sick more often and at times lacked energy.

Rather than running and trying to get back to your pre covid exercise/'training. I would get your doctor to do blood tests to check out your iron, vit b levels, vit d levels, thyroid and hormones. If your lacking in these get good quality vitamins and iron and eat plenty of fruit and veg. Go for a short walk every day. See how you feel in a few weeks and up your level of exercise gradually once you feel better.

Thanks all. I think it's either perimenopause/getting older/challenges of midlife leading to my immune system being a bit crap (so I'll try the vits) but also could have been post covid/flu doing too much. Probably all lead to the same thing really. But very grateful for vitamin suggestions - I will try. Once I've got rid of this infection.

I’m a GP. So many people have been very ill this winter (as in not well enough to go to work but not so ill they need to go to A and E) with lots of nasty viruses going around including COVID, proper flu and whooping cough etc. I think it’s just been a particularly bad winter for infections and nothing to do with you specifically. I’ve certainly been much more ill myself this winter than I have been since before the pandemic. Don’t panic!

I'm very peri, and of all the wonderful and widely ranging symptoms I've experienced, actually that isn't one of them. My usual strong immune system has kept Covid and every cold and illness DH has bought into the house away from me.

Thank you. That's very reassuring!