Get Fit or Die Trying - The MSN Life & Style Blog

Time again to dive head first into all the feedback you have sent me over the last month. Much of it has to do with my triathlon attempt in August. Mostly you guys have been on hand to offer me some handy tips, and I'm thankful for all the advice you've been able to give me.

Jon in Seattle wrote in to say I should go for a swimming lesson. Jon's on to something here I think - swimming is the weakest discipline for most triathletes and I'm no different. Consider your advice taken, Jon, I'll be going for a lesson and will write about the experience on the Get Fit pages. Hopefully mastering that front crawl will boost my time by a good few minutes.

Lesley, meanwhile, got in touch to tell me to eat peanut butter! "It's great for energy and as it is full of protein you will stay full up until lunch time." Thanks Lesley, though you are preaching to the converted. I couldn't eat more peanut butter if I tried and I actually think it is one of the best foods for people training for an event like a triathlon. Yes it's full of fat but you offset this when you train and it does give you a satisfying energy kick.

I was also delighted to hear from Carrie. In response to our feature on the merits of a full English breakfast, she said: "I have just read your article and thought hooray its about time someone stood up to all these people. I am sick and tired of people telling us this food and that food is bad for us.  Does anyone think about the people that need food like this?  My son has Cystic Fibrosis and i can't tell you how hard it is to buy food for him.  People with Cystic Fibrosis need a very high fat diet, but of course when you go to the supermarket everything is low fat and healthy eating."

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time shopping for your son, Carrie, and you really do raise an interesting point about people who perhaps need high levels of fat.

Jessa meanwhile contacted me to say that I should not be so hasty to slag off The Cabbage Diet (I can't actually remember when I did but I must have done at some point). Concentrating on one food starves your body of vital nutrients, I argued, but Jessa (rightly as it turns out) pointed out that the Cabbage Diet involves "eating a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. The cabbage soup itself is not just cabbage. But a mixture of healthy vegetables."

Okay Jessa, if you say so. I'd still rather we all went for the balanced diet and regular exercise routine, mind you...

Until next time...

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It is just three months now until the London triathlon, and instead of getting fitter, I feel as if my fitness is fading faster than support for the Labour party. Following my ridiculous bout of measles, I had to take more than two weeks off from training.

Yesterday was my first day back and at the end of a normally easy 10k along the Thames, I felt as if I was dead on my feet. I have always been astonished at how quickly fitness recedes the moment you stop training.

I'm also a bit worried about not having done enough swimming or cycling, not to mention how quickly the race is coming about!

But I guess three months is enough time to get in shape for the big race on August 10 - but I'm really going to have to hit the roads and the swimming pool to avoid it all ending in disaster.

But at least you'll get a a good laugh if it does...

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Firstly, why haven't I blogged for so long? The answer is a nasty virus which may or may not have been measles. Obviously, this was not good for my fitness and I feel as if I have been set back two weeks. Still, at least I am no longer covered head to toe in little red spots...

Maybe Wii Fit will ride to my rescue. The long awaited game is released tomorrow and we managed to get hold of a preview copy. My homepage colleague Dom took it home for a week, and tomorrow you will be able to read a fantastic feature on his experience getting to grips with the title. Dom's not in bad shape at all but he has had a nasty back injury so it will be interesting to read what he thought of it. Be sure to check the site tomorrow to find out.

I couldn't resist having a go myself. I'm not a gamer but I love the Wii. If you haven't tried it, it's a ridiculous amount of fun. Wii Fit is no different. I went for a run in the park, did some step aerobics and bounced footballs off my head. Or rather my Mii character did. A truly innovative product.

So what do the experts think of it? Ed Beesley, a personal trainer who is also our fitness expert, thinks it's ace. "It's a great idea. If it gets kids and families moving, then it's fantastic.

"Some people have said to me, 'Is this what it has come to? Sitting crammed into a small space playing games to keep fit?' Maybe, but in the meantime its great."

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...to everyone running in the London Marathon on Sunday. I am truly jealous (I know, that does make me sound mad), especially if this is your first time. You are in for a real treat, one of the most thrilling of your life, even if it doesn't feel like that at the moment!

My top top top last minute tips are:

• write the name on the front of your shirt. Trust me, do it and the crowds will shout your name like you're one of the Beatles.
• don't worry if you don't get a good night's sleep on saturday, the adrenaline will pull you through.
• Eat a hearty plate of pasta at around 5pm the day before the race and a light breakfast three hours before on Sunday morning.
• Make the most of the water stations round the course - even if you don't feel thirsty (fat chance).
• Listen to our essential marathon podcast, part of our 2008 London Marathon special.
• Finally - enjoy yourself!

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The London Marathon is only six days away, and today's papers are full of stories about some of the amazing people taking part. I was struck by one in particular - the superlatively named Bernie Hollywood, who is in the middle of a world record attempt to complete 35 marathons in 22 days.

In total Bernie will run over 926 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End and then complete the London Marathon, with only a camper van as his support vehicle and accommodation.

Bernie will reach Land's End this Friday and hopes to raise £100,000 for Barnardo's. In the past he has raised over three quarters of a million pounds for UK charities by completing other challenges. Anybody wishing to support Bernie can donate via his webpage or read his daily blog.

And then there is the force of nature that is Pierre Jean "Buster" Martin, at 101 the UK's oldest employee (he works for Pimlico Plumbers in London). Buster (pictured below) has already completed a 10k and a half marathon and if he makes it round the 26.2 mile course he will be the oldest marathon participant in the world.

Good luck to both of them, and anyone else who is taking part in the London Marathon this weekend. 

And don't forget to visit our guide to the race and listen to our marathon podcast.

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