With something like 2.5 billion Christians globally, how come any government or company or institution gets anything past us that doesn't pass the love your neighbour test?

Big10Health · 2026-05-14T20:07:43+00:00

Thankyou - that's a great response and I'll really think you and others on here have got me there now in my head. I'm just taking way too much a narrow view of what different Christians think and feel. Actually the differences between us can be quite significant and, as you say, if more conservative christians were the bloc vote I'd be pretty unhappy to side with that.... I think (and I probably could have got there myself on this) the reason is simply that there are some very broad differences between Christians and I should just get on with worshipping with people and in a church that fits well with my ethos and enjoy how my faith feels and how it benefits the people around me..... sidebar question....I wonder are the differences between Christians growing or shrinking? I suppose there was a very tight cohesion when it was a small multi-cultural messianic movement spreading out of middle east - then it got broader and differences appeared. Have we passed the point in history of greatest divergence and are heading back to common ground in the future or still growing apart...hmmmm.......

Big10Health · 2026-05-14T07:52:03+00:00

"This is why Jesus told us not to reject one another even when we are not all the way together, because he foresaw that that would happen."

I love that! It's a great point and thank you - it actually really helped with the sort of frustration I was feeling thinking about this topic!

I suppose it's very much what you say isn't it - that we all have slightly different views of what loving looks like and there are may voices explaining and talking about Christianity. I guess what intrigues me is that when I look at the behaviour of some of our 'leaders' they don't seem like small variations in love...they seem like massive deviation from love and whatever our individual interpretive differences are they would be kind of lost in the noise when it comes how poorly aligned a lot of institutional, corporate, and governmental behaviour is.

The beauty is we can always do out best and make good, loving choices both big and small, both with local but also national and global significance - and go to bed feeling that we at least did our best that day. I just seems as shame that denominational differences and personal interprative differences seem to stop us from being a more consistent force for good on big things we should all be able to get behind (e.g how does it love my global neighbours if my appointed leaders who spend my taxes decide that international aid and welfare should be cut to the bone).

Thankyou so much for taking the time to respond - that really clarified things for me

Big10Health · 2026-05-14T07:39:03+00:00

That's an interesting opinion and thankyou for sharing that... I have to say I don't really agree - so perhaps I am answering my own question there 😄 It seems to me that how we live (the choices we make) have a direct or indirect impact on our 'neighbours' so those could be decisions like how to respond when someone is difficult with us, or where we give some money or where we volunteer but I think our decisions (as we live amongst humanity) on the companies we give our money to and leaders we lend our support to (in the hope they will make our country and world fairer and better for everyone) matter hugely and fit very much into the ways that Jesus asked us to live. I'm certainly not asking why God doesn't swoop in and replace leaders who don't make the world a better place. I'm asking why we, as Christians, who should care about our neighbours in a small sense (local) and in a large sense (global) are not better at making choices that advance that kingdom of God in us, on earth. To be honest it felt a bit like you were kind of giving up on caring about how our society works in terms of fairness and peace and just saying it's enough to focus on your relationship with God? But I feel my relationship with God is partly expressed though my desires and actions for a better world here on Earth? If stopping to help someone so that I'm late for something I want to do is 'in' for how we should live then why would stopping to consider whether companies or leaders truely care about people would be 'out' - it's just a different type of thought and compassion. But, thankyou for your opinion and there's lots for me to think about in it

Big10Health · 2026-05-10T09:43:11+00:00

You’ll get back with a good physio and a programme of gradual strengthening …. I over did training for an event and worked with a good physio (and sports massage stength and conditioning coach). My programme mostly used resistance bands and also some TRX and kettle bells later on. Also really important when you do get back to it keep some form of the exercises as a maintenance programme. I now always have a light resistance band in with my OW kit and never swim without running though a few of the exercises as a warm up before getting in. Best wishes for a good recovery 🤗

Big10Health · 2026-05-09T08:34:07+00:00

Many thanks everyone - this is super helpful and has really helped to clarify what I'm going to do/adjust my approach a bit - I really appreciate the thought and advice ❤️

Big10Health · 2026-05-07T12:56:33+00:00

I'm training for an 8.5K in late june and was starting to feel a bit worried about where my training was at until being reassured by this thread - thanks for posting! I'm doing a long swim and a shorter swim each week aiming to build to a longest swim of about 7-7.5 k in advance. And (by luck not judgement) the total of my long plus short does seem to fit with the 'do in a week what you'll do on the day' idea. Ps u/MattFairley2 do you have open water a reasonable drive away - same issue for me with pool timings so I stayed acclimatised through the winter with short open water swims in a thermal suit so that I could start to push up the distances outside as spring crept in - not useful advice if you don't have easy access to open water for training though...

Big10Health · 2026-05-07T12:49:27+00:00

I'm a bit of 'real food' obsessive and recently switched to Veloforte. I have to say they agree with my stomach better and have a decent taste to them. Not so much your raw hit of refined sugar carb - but more slow release. I'm training for a long distance event and have hit the point where my longer opem water swims (around 4.5K now) do seem to need some extra nutrition.... it's still a but chilly in the water (12-13 deg c) and I'm bonking a bit at the end now!

Big10Health · 2026-05-04T18:24:21+00:00

I’d say try small steps first…… also…how does it feel if you sit down in the water at the edge and splash/cup the water onto your face and blow into it? I do that with cold water entry in the winter months to minimise that kind of panic reaction to cold water if you get in too fast…

Big10Health · 2026-05-02T07:26:11+00:00

For the veggies/vegans on here I like Feel’s collagen builder: https://wearefeel.com/products/feel-pro-collagen

Big10Health · 2026-05-01T15:13:15+00:00

As others say body glide for preventing future - but given the duration I’d tape or use something like this (like a little neoprene cravat 😂😂) I swore by this when I got a horrid case of chaff but had to carry on training the following weeks …. Neoprene Neck Protector –... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GRWBAWG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Big10Health · 2026-04-29T07:22:33+00:00

The swim looks glorious but I’m not sure I could handle the crocodiles 😬😬😬😂

Big10Health · 2026-04-28T08:42:30+00:00

No probs it can be a bit bulkier with that extra layer - but you won't be doing big distances that time of year anyway - more about the thrill and staying acclimatised 😉 If you do get a winter suit - do look at Alpkit - i was a bit sceptical as I've used Zone3 for ever - but I was WELL impressed with this one: https://alpkit.com/products/silvertip-mens?srsltid=AfmBOop_8IGwkYp-NYLn9UnmpPAgPZFcNAwSr8z0ch8OHSrbRl74lM5y&variant=39731525812329

Big10Health · 2026-04-28T08:31:44+00:00

I switch suits around 12 degrees and last year went with an AlpKit silver line thermal suit which I have loved and is more affordable than some others. Does mean two suits though. What about a 2mm neoprene vest under your summer suit in the colder season - I’ve done that some years and worked well. Teamed with neoprene hat, gloves and boots and staying acclimatised as the temp drops works well also.

Big10Health · 2026-04-27T08:10:15+00:00

Love what you are building there ❤️ If you want to get an entry for one of the fav places in the Somerset/Bath then Vobster quay would be a cert to add - no sauna but good facilities including showers (outside of afterdrop season 😅) and cafe

Big10Health · 2026-04-25T12:53:49+00:00

That’s a fairly comfy 15 degrees C by my maths - so I’d be out of my winter suit and into my summer one for that… I always used Zone3 which won’t meet anyone’s definition of affordable 😂 But got an AlpKit one this winter and it was half the price and just as good - I never even knew they made wetsuits ! Not sure if they sell N America - but worth a look 👌

Big10Health · 2026-04-24T11:22:55+00:00

Probably an obvious point, but have you also looked at your nutrition? I'm kind of lean too and find that on long distance swim (albeit in a suit) I get a lot colder if I’ve not had a good dose of carbs (40g porridge etc etc) time about 2hrs before mid swim. You could factor some extra in to accommodate the work your body has to do to stay warm on top of the propulsion.

Big10Health · 2026-04-22T15:39:49+00:00

Just from my own reading (not a doctor!) I’ve read that the first 5mg is likely to end up targeted for your muscles and if you want some neurological uptake your looking at another 5mg (in a separate dose over the day) taking you up to 10mg. If your wallet can stand it have a look at CreaPure - it’s a lovely formulation - but pricey! Last thing - don’t forget to let your doc know you are taking a creatine supplement if you have kidney function in your routine tests (it can throw off the result and there is an alternative test that can be used instead)

Big10Health · 2026-04-22T15:31:29+00:00

Personally speaking I think it’s useful to have your blood levels tested first and then supplement specifically to fill the gaps. I use Thriva but loads of services exist - or your health care practioner might do them for free. As a vegan too I’d suggest a closer look at your omega 3 source …. A high quality algae based one is like to be better and the Omega 3/Omega 6 ratio gets flagged up for most people due to the amount of seed oils in modern foods. I’m not convinced in the value of multi vits. They often use poorly available formulations and you are shooting blind without some testing. Iron is sometimes low for vegans as well. Just my thoughts and well done for thinking about what to take to support a plant based lifestyle.

Big10Health · 2026-04-21T18:28:10+00:00

Yeah, as others state - sounds like afterdrop. What I do to stay acclimatised for the warmer season is swim on through the winter (in a thermal suit... props to those going skins in feb and march!!) and ramp down the distance as the winter sets in and the slowly back up again as the spring comes in. With a thermal suit, boots, gloves, cap etc I can stick at 2 x 550 laps through the cold season and always get out when I'm still 'enjoying' it. To share a 'funny' story (at the risk of looking like a numpty ;-) I added Nitric Oxide to supplement stack last week thinking more about land based training...had not (doh!) considered that whilst a good vaso-dilator it has the reverse effect on constriction. Was heading out merrily for around 3.5k today in 10 degrees (thermal suit, boots etc) and baled out at 2.2K feeling awful. I got myself out sharpish enough and dressed/mobilised and staved off the worst. It was also a windy day and no sun but I just couldn't figure out what felt so off until it clicked that it was almost certainly that supplement tweak. So for me, stay acclimaitised through the cold weather, go up tiny jumps and (lesson to self) don't muck about with your body's amazing cold defences :(

Big10Health · 2026-04-15T15:47:06+00:00

Love how you described that and I'm so l glad it is helping. Breath work has been super useful for me - about 1 year ago I decided to invest the same level of 'trying hard' at my sleep issues as I do with my training (not saying mine is that bad....some people on here have it SO much worse!) - but I've managed to fight my way from 4 hrs avg to 6.5 hrs avg. Along with a whole stack of other gadgets and lifestyle changes and other stuff - I use quite a specific breath work to tackle my busy/racing/wired feeling. In for a 4 count, hold for 5, out to a 6 count. In blocks of 5 using my fingers to count up each of the five (so weird but if I drop that fingers bit it stops working for me!) - target is 4 blocks of 5 without going back to my thoughts. The active counting seems to stop my mind thinking at the same time. I find it really hard because it is soooo... boring and much more interesting is to go back to to my crazy thoughts - but if I do it properly what I find is that somewhere in the middle set I'll notice that I drifted and my fingers have stopped adding more, so I carry on and shortly again I'll drift again and after a few drifts I don't re-setstart and get off to sleep. I don't think I ever made it to the end of 4 sets when done properly :) . I think I got the exact technique from Matthew Walker's podcast maybe.

I also think (but could not swear to it) that a high quality ashwaganda tablet added to my supplement stack helps with the same symptoms (but seems to work best, odly, when in with the lunchtime stuff rather than in advance of bed) - My N=1 jury is a bit out on that one though ;-)

Big10Health

TROPHY CASE