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	notjo 2008-01-20 10:58 am UTC (link)
	Have you tried this plan: Couch Potato to 5k. No advice on the medical stuff, but I did that plan when I was in China and by the time I left I was running for 30 minutes every day and feeling great. Then I went to a place filled with snow and stopped. Tsk. I'd recommend talking to your doctor about the medical stuff, though. hug (Reply to this)(Thread)

gun
2008-01-20 11:16 am UTC (link)

THAT IS GOING ON MY BOOKMARKS, LIKE, YESTERDAY!

It looks really good - part of my problem is that I tend to exercise for way longer than that everyday (between 1-2 hours a day), so it's not really fitness that's my problem but damned physiology. But it looks like the sort of program that would make me slow down a little bit and take things incrementally, so it'll probably work a treat.

My doctor says there's little to do about the lymphoedema, given it's hereditary and irreversable-non-pitting, so it's with me for life. I really should have started wearing compression stockings ages ago - it'll be necessary should I ever fly on a plane or get pregnant (oh man I don't even want to think of what pregnancy is going to do to my poor swelly fatty ankles :( :( :( :( :( x1000). I find that exercise helps in the long-term because it encourages the fluid to circulate, but for ever hour of exercise I do, I need to have my feet elevated above my head for about two.

The knee alignment thing is also hereditary, and according to dad unlikely to impact me until the average age of osteoarthritis onset if I keep my weight fairly stable. My dad is occasionally useful for some things.

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	white_serpent 2008-01-21 08:28 am UTC (link)
	What do you normally do for exercise? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

gun
2008-01-21 12:32 pm UTC (link)

We have an exercise bike at home and I swim, though not as frequently as I'd like. I'd use the bike for about 40-60 minutes a day, unless I'm working on my feet, which I haven't done a lot of lately. Swimming is probably once a week, and I like it because there's no weight on my feet and I'm able to keep my feet and ankles at heart-level.

(But work is giving me subsidised pilates sessions during my lunchbreak - bonanza! That might help, I'm thinking.)

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	esclaramonde 2008-01-20 11:00 am UTC (link)
	Oh, BB! And I thought I had it bad with my flat feet. :( Sry2say I have no advice. The trouble with that color is that it makes me think "European middle-aged woman". It would probably look good with your eyes, though. (Reply to this)(Thread)

gun
2008-01-20 11:17 am UTC (link)

Oh no, I have the flat feet as well. Basically, anything below my ass is a write-off. (My ass, of course, is fantastic, especially since I increased the amount of walking I do.)

But on the plus side, at least I don't have a disgusting piece of bone sticking out of my leg and making a big bump on my shin like dad has - thank god being a dumbass and crashing your motorbike into a pub full of amused punters isn't hereditary.

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	gun 2008-01-20 11:39 am UTC (link)
	As for the hair-colour, someone on my lj flist (lj user = "sionnain">?) has the colour I want and about the same complexion I have, and she looks absolutely GORGEOUS. If she has a publicly posted pic, I'll link to it. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	onaga 2008-01-20 02:28 pm UTC (link)
	Can't advise on the leg problems (other than offering loads of tea and sympathy), but I think the purply burgundy red would look fantastic on you. (I use this icon because it is from when my hair was roughly the same color, though it doesn't look like that in the pic.) (Reply to this)(Thread)

	gun 2008-01-21 12:37 pm UTC (link)
	Ooh! The colour I'm thinking is a little darker and more purply, but I like it against the pale skin. (Reply to this)(Parent)

emiweebee
2008-01-20 04:37 pm UTC (link)

I'm fairly pale, but dyed my hair a dark red for a long time and it worked out fine. In fact, I was born with blonde hair, but it's darkening, and when it gets sunbleached it looks horrid on my skin.

If you can, find a wig of that colour and toss it on. I just bought a black wig, and surprise, I can pull off black. :D

Also, we should do a knee comparison sometime. Mine point the wrong way as well.

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	gun 2008-01-21 12:36 pm UTC (link)
	Genu varum (bowleggedness)? I think that would be pretty ass as well if it causes ou problems - I can't put my feet together properly from mine. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	littlebitca 2008-01-20 11:47 pm UTC (link)
	Check out Foot Smart. They have a fair selection of compression and pressure-gradient socks, albeit not cheap. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	gun 2008-01-21 12:34 pm UTC (link)
	That's neat - if they ship to Australia, that'd be good. Otherwise, I can ask my dad and he'd probably be able to find me some good support and strapping. Cheers for that - I'm getting some pressure stockings before my walk tomorrow so they should help a lot. (Reply to this)(Parent)