Me vs. the Cardiologist
I mentioned I was going to this special doctor, and I did earlier this week. They hooked my up to the EKG machine, they looked at my blood test results, they asked me everything about anything I remember happening to my body, and then took my blood pressure for kicks. I’ll be damned if I know all the numbers and stats from those blood tests, but I know this: my cholesterol is low, and the other numbers were high. The doctor told me this puts me at risk for diabetes later in life if I don’t clean it up a bit. To top off all that good stuff, he told me something I didn’t know: I have metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that increase one’s risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It affects a large number of people in a clustered fashion. In some studies, the prevalence in the USA is calculated as being up to 25% of the population. It is known under various other names, such as (metabolic) syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, Reaven’s syndrome or CHAOS (in Australia).
What? Chaos mate!! Right- so he explained that my insulin doesn’t work the way it should, and handles sugars and carbohydrates poorly. Fear not, he told me- this is indeed a common ailment of many, which is easily resolved by watching my diet. In fact, he said rocking the South Beach diet would actually make me drop weight like that guy in Steven King’s Thinner. I bought the book like he done told me to, and I must admit it looks awfully similar to the Atkins diet (which worked well before my wedding). Well, there’s no sense in fighting it - doctor recommended diets and exercise is always a good way to go.
Anxiety? Blood pressure? Oh, I’ve got plenty of that. He explained this is a normal reaction I have to how I handle my stress… and to try and relax. Ironically, stressing your own anxiety causes stress, which causes… And there I thought I would get the good drugs. Drugs, he told me, can be attributed to some of my anxiety attacks. Over the counter antihistamines do nice things for stressed people. Being an allergy sufferer, this was disappointing news. I will be attempting the regiments proposed and stress management recommended this spring and summer. No comments needed here, this was an exercise in sharing; if anything, think warm thoughts so I might maintain the willpower to diet and exercise. Thank you all, for the notes of care and concern.
Filed under: Speak Easy
Mike,
Thanks for the update, glad to hear that you went to the doctors. I think a lot of people (myself included) don’t go to the doctors enough. Telling us things we don’t want to hear is easy to prevent - don’t go. So, it is good to hear that you are keeping up the relationship. Talk to you soon my friend.
Dude, its like that theory “Relativity” eating causes bad things in our bodies I read your post and thought you were in my head I to have been prescribed with Diet and exercise or else by my doctor. Its good to know things are well but when he tells you to make a lifestyle change usually thats met with resistance, Im glad to see your taking it in stride, heres to long life and prosperity for all fat guy’s
Don’t ignore your health . . .it only gets worse if you do. Trust me. And trust me you don’t wan’t to become diabetic because it sucks big time.
i don’t think a lot of people my age take the initiative- and maybe it’s not super important just yet; nevertheless, it can’t really hurt.
as for me, i’ve been taking it one step at a time. stopped drinking mega sugar drinks, stopped eating after 9/10PM. Somewhat working on the South Beach thing.
ok, so I’m a bit late to this party.
I’m insulin resistant as well (pretty sure); which is partly how I ended up trying Atkins some time ago.
SB starts out like Atkins, then they diverge. Both of them put you on 2 weeks+ of purging carbs. We’re all actually addicted to carbs (mildly) and you’ll probably notice the cravings are gone in about 3 days. For Atkins, the goal here is also to induce ketosis. If you stay in phase 1/whatever longer you can continue to lose weight fast, but much of it is muscle and water weight, so a mixed bag.
After phase 1, Atkins tries to maintain ketosis by drastically minimizing carbs while SB just goes for “better nutrition”. SB sounds better, easier, and healthier - which it is, but there’s one more ingredient you’ll need - exercise. Atkins is the diet for people who refuse to work out. I’m currently on another Atkins variant diet, but one with a carb cycle and exercise.
Good luck!
more than true. i lost 20lbs with exercise, and doing ‘my best’ to stick to phase one. on my follow up doctor visit last week, everything was better aside from the wait loss- cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar, you name it… all good times. I am still losing weight and exercising at my speed, without feeling like i’m on a diet at all actually. everyone’s different, but following some guidelines and common sense combined with a little motivation has worked out well.