Weighty matters

MIKE Noble had always been on the heavy side and, despite being self-conscious about his weight, he had convinced himself there was nothing he could do about it.

Disc problems in his back since being a teenager meant he was restricted in the amount of exercise he could manage. Combine that with a hectic work life, two operations and a bad diet – and the result was a bulging waistline and aching back.

“I had tried to lose weight in the past by jogging and dieting, but I always rewarded any good work with a weekend takeaway and a bottle of wine or two during the week,” he says.

Then, a year of momentous life changes prompted Mike, a television and film production co-ordinator, to take his health more seriously. Over the space of 12 months he became a dad, his marriage broke down and his father died. All of which triggered a massive change to his lifestyle.

“I had my daughter at weekends and found myself constantly out of breath trying to keep up with the demands of this little ball of fun,” he says. “I was working on the TV programme The Royal, in Leeds, and began to use a local gym about three times a week. The results were instant.

It wasn’t long after that I noticed I was moving my belt holes the right way.”

By taking up running, cycling and regular workouts at the gym, the 36- year-old, from Stockton, has already lost four stone and about six inches from his waist.

“I feel healthier, fitter, have more self confidence and can keep up with my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Ava,” he says.

“My weight loss isn’t solely down to exercise, I have also cut out takeaways as I figured by the time you ordered it and got it delivered, you could have made something tasty for yourself. I also think about diet more and about what goes into the food I eat.

No more parmos, kebabs or pizzas, then? “Well, only very occasionally...”

Mike has now set himself the challenge of cycling the Coast to Coast bike ride with friends this summer.

“It is something I am really looking forward to and something I feel I now have the energy for.

“I only wish I had taken care of myself more from a younger age as I feel the best I have done in years.”

Quitting at 65 – smoker who lit up aged seven

It’s No Smoking Day on Wednesday, with almost half of all smokers in England resolved to give up smoking this year. Former addict Bryan Dales recounts how he finally managed to kick the habit.

"I WAS just seven years old when I had my first puff of a cigarette,” says Bryan, 65, a retired dustman who smoked for 58 years until he quit last month. I’d smoke dog-ends I’d find on the pavement, or pinch my dad’s. I used my pocket money to buy packets of five cigarettes at a time and I smoked whatever chance I could get. At my worst, I was smoking 60 a day.

“I tried to give up once about 20 years ago – but didn’t manage very long.

“But since my sister died last year of lung cancer, I thought I’d give it a go again. I got some patches from the doctor, have been using the NHS services at smokefree.nhs.uk, and am amazed at how great I feel. I can actually taste food for the first time – like jacket potatoes, which I’d always thought were flavourless. When I do the washing, I can smell the powder.

“I calculated that I was spending about £340 a month on cigarettes, so I’ve used the money instead on a treadmill. I used to puff and pant just getting up the stairs of my house, but plan on training to run soon.

“I’d say to anyone thinking about quitting to just do it – you’ll feel a lot better and save a lot of money too.”

As no one method works for everyone, smokers may have to try a few different treatments until they find one that works for them.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), in the form of patches, gum or tablets or an inhalator, are the most popular and most successful, with research showing that they can double the chances of quitting successfully.

Counselling, medication and alternative therapies have also been shown to be useful.

■ If you’re thinking about quitting smoking, call the NHS’s free Stop Smoking Service on 0800-0665-826 or visit smokefree.nhs.uk

Alternatives: Easing those aches and pains

My arthritis is always more painful during the colder months. What do you recommend?

ALTHOUGH there is no concrete evidence to suggest joint pain is directly affected by cold weather, many people say their arthritis seems worse during the colder months.

What is clear is that the colder you are, the more your pain threshold tends to drop – and with all the snow we’ve had recently, it’s not surprising your poor joints are feeling more painful than normal.

Warmth relaxes muscle tension and can help with most pains, so make sure you’re wrapped up well and your home is nice and warm. A warm bath can work wonders.

Anti-inflammatories can also help.

Devil’s Claw, for example, a plant native to South Africa, has been used for many years to help reduce pain and improve mobility.

Another long-standing but perhaps lesser-known remedy is Knotgrass. It appears as a weed in many warmer countries, but can be very helpful in the management of arthritis, probably due to its silica content, which helps to improve the elasticity and strength of connective tissues in joints.

An equally unlikely ally is Urtica or stinging nettle. Not nice if it catches your bare skin but, taken internally, its diuretic action helps the body to expel acidic waste such as uric acid, a substance which is often implicated in arthritic conditions, especially gout. It also contains silica. For topical relief from inflammation, you may wish to try an Arnica-containing gel.

Arnica is well-known for its homeopathic use for bumps and bruises, but fresh Arnica herb can also be very effective when applied topically. It can inhibit one of the main triggers of inflammation, helping to relieve muscular aches, pain and stiffness, sprains and swelling after injury. Arnica can also help with osteoarthritis of the knee, rheumatism, fibromyalgia and RSI.

If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, consult your GP.

■Mike Barker,The Health Warehouse, Post House Wynd, Darlington.