In this special edition of Positive Living, six people with HIV have shared their stories with us about how they have incorporated healthier lifestyles into their routines, and how they have coped with setbacks.

Eight years ago Deanna was overweight and having trouble with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Becoming pregnant was the impetus for a change in how she approached managing her health. Deanna transformed her body shape and health through exercise. Now she works a personal trainer and runs fitness programs for other people with HIV.

Having overcome discrimination and isolation after being diagnosed with HIV in his native Columbia, moving to Australia with little English and less money, it isn’t surprising that Jorge had the determination to stop smoking by going ‘cold-turkey’. Discovering how gardening helps him stay grounded, he decided to set up a landscaping business.

Over the last eighteen months Scott has stopped smoking and cut his drug use. He’s had to find different ways to fill the weekends. Doing that without getting bored was a struggle at first, but Scott has now managed to get into a groove.

After more than 20 years experience of living with HIV, Ron has worked out how to keep his life balanced. He works at remaining self-aware, and he has developed strategies to help manage competing pressures from work, his relationship and HIV, and to stay in control of his physical and mental health.

Even among long-term survivors, Steven has survived more than most. Steven has been near death a number of times, and has always found the strength to pull through. Despite numerous obstacles, Steven has always been able to find the strength to work out ways to make the best of his situation and develop new strategies to manage his health.

Frocks and footy. Nature and yoga. Cabin fever and isolation. Tobin’s sea change has at times been a tricky mix. Tobin had been living in Sydney for years when he decided on his sea change. As Tobin puts it, ‘Things weren’t going well. Deep down I wanted to make changes.’ ‘HIV was one of the reasons for shifting, but there were other factors – a relationship breakdown, work not coming in, and the stresses of living in a city.

ACON’s Healthy Life + is an intensive fitness and nutrition program for people living with HIV/AIDS. The program provides a free gym membership for the length of the program, a personal trainer to motivate and support participants in their exercise and nutrition program and seminars related to health, HIV treatment and nutrition.

Ian Coutts, who was a health coach with a pilot program with the Melbourne Positive Living Centre in 2006, has some advice for people who want to develop healthier lifestyles, but feel they’re in a bit of a rut.

The Nutrition for Life Project works to ensure that people with HIV get the nutrition they need.

Smoking, by itself, does not make HIV infection worse, but smoking has been linked to increased rates of some HIV-related opportunistic infections and HIV-positive people who smoke may be more likely to suffer smoking-related diseases than HIV-negative smokers.

For most people with HIV, moderate consumption of alcohol is probably harmless, but if you’re drinking more than 1-2 drinks a day or if you also have hepatitis B or C, it makes sense to consider reducing your alcohol intake.

Living with HIV is never straightforward and lots of people with HIV say it’s essential to keep a ‘positive attitude’ about life with the virus. Maintaining a sense of humour and remaining optimistic haven’t been measured in clinical trials, but most people would agree these are good skills to have for anyone with a serious illness like HIV.

Eating a balanced, healthy diet is definitely beneficial for people with HIV. Some studies have shown that people with nutrient deficiencies have more rapid disease progression or respond to treatments less well.

Moderate exercise is beneficial to everyone, regardless of whether they are HIV-positive or negative. Moderate exercise is known to stimulate the immune system and can boost your mood, while keeping fit reduces the risk of a range of illnesses.

A significant number of people with HIV suffer from stress, anxiety or depression. Living with these problems adds to the burden of illness that we all have to bear, reduces quality of life and can have a serious impact on treatments adherence, so it is worthwhile doing what you can to respond to stress and depression if it affects you.

NAPWA’s Treataware Project, a phone line, clinical trials website and booklet giving advice on treatments and living well with HIV, was launched by Dr Jonathan Anderson, President of ASHM on May 19 in Sydney.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for an end to all discrimination against people with HIV, including restrictions on travel for HIV-positive travellers into some countries.

The simple answer is ‘no’ according to Dr Brian Hughes, Infectious Diseases Physician and hepatitis specialist at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

A New Zealand company is working on an antiviral agent that utilises the immune system to fight flu, hepatitis and HIV.

People who adhere closely to a Mediterranean diet — comprising olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables and fish and low in meat and dairy – may have a lower risk of developing diabetes according to a recent study.

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Kevin de Cock caused some controversy with a recent statement that, apart from African countries, “it is very unlikely there will be a heterosexual epidemic in other countries."

A warning has been issued by Tibotec, the manufacturers of Prezista (darunavir) regarding the risk of developing drug- induced hepatitis while taking the treatment.

An encouraging outcome of the DUET studies is that etravirine is effective against HIV mutations resistant to existing NNRTIs, efavirenz and nevirapine.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh will commence a clinical trial on a vaginal microbicide incorporating the antiretroviral drug tenofovir in pregnant women.

People with HIV (and other chronic and complex conditions) once again have access to Medicare funded dental care through private dentists, after the removal of the Enhanced Primary Care Dental program was blocked in the Senate in June.

In a welcome intervention to put HIV on the agenda of federal parliament, Nationals MP for Riverina, Kay Hull, moved a private member’s bill in the House of Representatives on June 23, asking for bipartisan support for a revitalised response to HIV in Australia.

Peter Piot, the Executive Director of UNAIDS for the past 13 years, is stepping down at the end of this year.