My doctor, the sadist.

Around the time I was 24 I was diagnosed with hypertension. That's high blood pressure for those of you under 65. Since that moment I've been taking medication to lower said blood pressure to the regular 120 over 80 that you all walk around with.

At the time, though, I was fairly healthy so it seemed abnormal for me have high blood pressure so they put me through all the rigorous tests, threw scary terms like graves' disease at me, put me through kidney ultrasounds and retinal scans, all to come back with the cause being nothing more than genes. At the time I wasn't really physically active having settled into my desk job. I mean it was a lot more fun to hang out w/ friends after work and eat and drink beer than workout (imagine that).  So the doctor noticed I might've had a tiny pooch, at roughly 135 pounds, and suggested that I lose about 10 pounds.  He said "even 2 pounds is an added burden to your heart".  Well seeing as how he had the medical degree, and I didn't, I said that I'd see what I could do and promptly enrolled myself in a running program to help lose a few extra pounds. Several months later of what turned into a marathon training program I was able to whittle my way down to a whopping 130 pounds and decided I didn't care so much for running afterall and quit after crossing that finish line, of course.  And so began my never ending battle with those blasted 10 pounds.

After the marathon, it took me about a year to find the 5 pounds I had lost.  Then my next training program began, to obtain my Professional Engineer's license.  What was supposed to be a six month endeavor took the better part of 2 years and in that time I didn't make time to workout and proceeded to put on another 10 pounds.  Who has time to workout after a 9 hour workday, then either review class or studying, then actually taking the exam, and then sitting (and gaining more weight) for another 3 months in mental recovery while waiting for the results, only to start the process over again. Well once I did pass the exam, of course it was all about celebrating... and celebrate I did with more food / drink into yet another 5 pounds!  I know you're thinking 'ehhh... it happens to us all,' and I have to say I was one happy camper, until the day that I wasn't.

I remember that day too... sitting at work through the "biometrics" exam where the medical assistants come to the office and test our blood glucose and cholesterol levels, weigh us and print out our results including our Body Mass Index and tell you whether you're healthy or should see your doctor to improve.  In my case, my BMI came back "borderline overweight".  Ouch.  Nothing like cold hard numbers as if the ones on the scale or on the tag of my size 10 slacks weren't enough.  Now I had a physical flesh and blood person telling me that I was borderline overweight. How depressing!

Well you can believe the first thing I did (after setting down the bagel, naturally) was jump on a diet and exercise routine. So as to not shock my system I gradually eased myself into 2x a week at the gym, then 3, and then a strict low carb diet for 2 weeks, then a moderate low carb/high protein diet and a personal trainer.  Surprisingly it took only about 5 months to reverse 3 years of this battle.  20 pounds and 3 pant sizes later, I have been able to easily maintain by only somewhat watching what I eat while I keep my activity level up. Without the personal trainer I've found a new love for power yoga and zumba which I alternate throughout the week with weight training and a fun sport like soccer or softball.

So earlier today I stroll into my doctor's office in my slim little size 4 self, the thinnest I've been in many years and the healthiest too I might add.  First thing my doctor says without trying to sound creepy is "well you look really...uhh nice" (thanks!) and so we start on the subject of the blood pressure medication. Four years later and I tell him I'm seriously tired of taking prescription meds. I'm over it! Going to the pharmacy every month and battling the old lady to the front of the line because she may need her psoriasis cream but I have places to be seen in this new body and standing in line at the pharmacy isn't one of them!  At this point in my life I'm looking at a long road ahead (Lord willing) and I would love to be medication-free along the way until I'm just plain old, then medicare HAD BETTER BE THERE for my ailments.

He put back on his doctorly tone and said well, let's see what your blood pressure looks like now and I'd really like to see (and he pointed) "a little more off the midsection".  Ummm excuse me?!  No.  I laughed first, and second I told him NO.  Sorry buddy, but that just can't be done.  I'm not going to kill myself 6 days a week at the gym and go on a strict diet to get to 125 pounds! And sorry to tell you, I just don't want to be any skinnier than I am now.  That's just unhealthy.  My heart, and my doctor, are just going to have to deal with it. I mean really... this coming from the 6 foot tall super slim asian MALE doctor.  Yes. I wasn't aware doctors were prescribing eating disorders these days.

So here we are, at a healthy-ish blood pressure and a newly charged goal of keeping the weight off right at 130 pounds where I happily (and healthily) belong.