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Hi All,
I tried Atkins 2 years ago and just plain failed. I gave up. No excuses, no explanations. I just let it slip away.
Last week when I saw my doctor who is a very plain-spoken, no BS kind of guy, he pointed out that the combination of weight, BP issues, cholesterol issues and swollen ankles (which I went to see him for) are in total indicative of looming trouble and a shortened life if I don't make some drastic changes soon.
That leaves me the choice: Change my lifestyle or change doctors.
Changing doctors may not be a bad idea. When I was in my 20s and early 30s, I always thought the key to good health was to find a doctor who smoked and drank more than me ..... It worked! I found an old broken down doctor who smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish. My visits were always pleasant and a testimony to my good health. The conversation went something like this:
Doc: How much are you smoking these days? (cough, cough, cough)
Me: About 12 a pack of Pall Mall no filters per day.
Doc: Good choice! (hack hack hack) Nobody will bum one of those things off you. (big wheeze) And besides, 1/2 pack a day.. That's not bad at all. How much do you drink? (cough, cough)
Me: About 6 beers a day, more on weekends.
Doc: ****, that's nothing. (gasp, wheeze, choke). You're in great shape.
Needless to say, that theory of good health did not hold up for long. Everything was fine but when I quit smoking for good (1995) the weight started creeping up. The only thing that kept it under control was lots of racquetball, skiing (snow and water) tennis and golf.
When my knees went, the sports pretty much went too. That's when the pounds really packed on. BP and cholesterol climbed pretty quickly too.
I've already had one major scare. Six years ago, I found my carotid arteries almost 100% clogged. Two unpleasant surgeries later, I have what look like dueling scars on each side of my throat. Very attractive!
So I guess changing doctors is not an option, and I'd better get myself back in shape.
My goal now is to shed the pounds, get in better shape, get off the BP and cholesterol meds and, hopefully, be able to play racquet sports and ski again.
I'm looking forward to meeting folks going through the same experience and making a few friends along the way.
-John
I tried Atkins 2 years ago and just plain failed. I gave up. No excuses, no explanations. I just let it slip away.
Last week when I saw my doctor who is a very plain-spoken, no BS kind of guy, he pointed out that the combination of weight, BP issues, cholesterol issues and swollen ankles (which I went to see him for) are in total indicative of looming trouble and a shortened life if I don't make some drastic changes soon.
That leaves me the choice: Change my lifestyle or change doctors.
Changing doctors may not be a bad idea. When I was in my 20s and early 30s, I always thought the key to good health was to find a doctor who smoked and drank more than me ..... It worked! I found an old broken down doctor who smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish. My visits were always pleasant and a testimony to my good health. The conversation went something like this:
Doc: How much are you smoking these days? (cough, cough, cough)
Me: About 12 a pack of Pall Mall no filters per day.
Doc: Good choice! (hack hack hack) Nobody will bum one of those things off you. (big wheeze) And besides, 1/2 pack a day.. That's not bad at all. How much do you drink? (cough, cough)
Me: About 6 beers a day, more on weekends.
Doc: ****, that's nothing. (gasp, wheeze, choke). You're in great shape.
Needless to say, that theory of good health did not hold up for long. Everything was fine but when I quit smoking for good (1995) the weight started creeping up. The only thing that kept it under control was lots of racquetball, skiing (snow and water) tennis and golf.
When my knees went, the sports pretty much went too. That's when the pounds really packed on. BP and cholesterol climbed pretty quickly too.
I've already had one major scare. Six years ago, I found my carotid arteries almost 100% clogged. Two unpleasant surgeries later, I have what look like dueling scars on each side of my throat. Very attractive!
So I guess changing doctors is not an option, and I'd better get myself back in shape.
My goal now is to shed the pounds, get in better shape, get off the BP and cholesterol meds and, hopefully, be able to play racquet sports and ski again.
I'm looking forward to meeting folks going through the same experience and making a few friends along the way.
-John
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