I thought that maybe I'd give up this blog…….

"I'll do it tomorrow".  Do you know how many times I've said that?  Or thought that?  Summers are lazy around here.  I tend to let things go.  During the day it's just so dang hot outside no one wants to go out.  Things get neglected.  This blog gets neglected.

But I've been thinking lately that maybe just maybe I should pay attention.  So much has happened and it's nice and therapeutic to be able to type it all out right here.  It doesn't matter if anyone ever reads it.
But it's fun if somebody does!

This blog can be all over the map.  Just like my life!  Sometimes I get on a cooking binge.  Other times I'm into organizing and cleaning.  Then there's the redecorating, rearranging furniture, sorting and purging.  Yep all that happens.

And there's always the wondering.  And the dreaming.  I know I'm definitely an observer.  I'd rather listen than "tell".  In fact, I get so bored when I'm listening to someone else go on and on and on about blah blah blah.  I don't care!  So I pretend.  The life of an introvert.

Lately I've been wondering about what I should do with my life.  I'm 53.  I quit my job one year ago.  Gosh I was miserable.  MISERABLE.  Will I just be miserable in another job at another place?  I haven't always been miserable as a teacher.  I've been exhausted, but not miserable.

But I don't think that's what I should do with this blog.  About 6 months ago I went to the doctor because I  had the FLC syndrome.  FEEL LIKE CRAP syndrome.  I visited my OB/GYN who I've gone to for 25 years.  I sat and asked him specifically about my struggle to lose weight, about the daily headaches, about my anxiety and frustration over it all.  His answer:  "It is extremely hard to lose weight.  You have to exercise 45 minutes to 1 hour every single day.  And then that may not even help."  I just stared at him.  That's your answer?  I left disappointed.  By the time I got to the car I was FURIOUS.  What kind of answer was that?  BULLCRAP.  Before I went to this particular doctor, I had already gone to a GP with the same complaints and the same questions.  His answer was, "I'm not sure I know what you want to do,"  Uh……… I want your guidance, Sir.  That's what I want to do.  Ugh.  That was the same visit where the nurse was so rude to me I announced to her that I would NEVER return so don't bother checking my insurance.  I'd do it myself.  Which I did.

I walked into my house FURIOUS and feeling like that whole GYN appointment was a waste of time. Sure I had the PAP and all that…….. but all my other questions were met with disinterest.  I turned on the television and tossed the remote control onto the couch as I headed to grab the advil.  Stupid headaches.  It was just about noon and the local mid day news was on location at a nearby shopping center.  (My middle daughter calls this particular shopping center "Grandma Shopping Mall" because of the stores located there:  JJill, Coldwater Creek, Talbots, Etc.  It's a nice outdoor mall, though.  But back to my story.)  The mall was having a breast cancer screening awareness weekend.  The mobile cancer screening van was there.  It was decorated in pink:  pink balloons, pink ribbons, give aways, door prizes, gift cards, etc.  The doctor they interviewed looked familiar.  Oh yes, I had gone to that doctor several years ago for a preemployment physical.  I had only gone that one time.  But you know what?  Let me look up her phone number……. oh, here it is.  Right that second I called and made an appointment with her for the next week.

That was the first good decision I made.

I listed my complaints.  Told her a little bit of my frustration with other doctors.  She listened, she took notes, she was pleasant and easy to talk to.  We started with my blood pressure.  WAY TOO HIGH.  I told her I'd been on Rx for that condition before but I broke out in a itchy rash, had headaches, couldn't sleep, just plain miserable.  And the doctor who prescribed it to me last year did not think it was the new medicine causing those side effects.  So I just quit on my own and the side effects disappeared.  Not good for the HBP though.  She prescribed a different medication that "won't make you so sick"

Wow.  That was easy.

Then she ordered blood work.  I went back the next day (had to fast) and nervously awaited the results.  When they came back in a few days they were not good.  My glucose was way high. (126)  My Ac1 was way high (15).  My weight was way high.  (Can't bear to type that info………  you understand.)

But you know what?  She looked at those results and we formed a plan.  A guide.  Tools to use.  I left feeling GREAT!  That's what I wanted.  That's all I needed.  A PLAN!.  Step one, step two, step three.  I can do that.

And so I did.

Since that appointment I've lost 26 pounds.  My AC1 is 5.5  My glucose is 9.  My weight is down.  And the doctor says when my BMI is in the 25-26 range she will take me off the Bp Rx.  WOOP!!

So if you are not getting the answers you want from your doctor, GO TO SOMEONE ELSE.

I told you all that to say that for the time being, that's what this blog is going to feature.  My journey to good health.  Sure, there are a lot of blogs out there doing that.  But this blog is for me.

Keep watching.  Because starting tomorrow I"m going back on the 10 day detox by Dr. Mark Hyman, a functional physical.  His eating plan is doable, not expensive, practical, common sense, and the best thing:  IT WORKS.

Here are the basic plans and I"ll feature more starting tomorrow.

1.  EAT REAL FOOD
2.  NO FAST FOOD
3. NO PACKAGED FOOD
4. NO JUNK FOOD
5.  NO SODAS
6.  NO DAIRY - okay this one thing made a huge difference in my complexion.  And I didn't really have problems with it.  But now with no dairy……. WOW
7.  Buy a scale and weigh every day.  And get ready.  Because you will lose so quick you'll be excited to get up every morning.

Tonight's supper - Detox Eve

Roasted broccoli and shrimp
Zucchini spaghetti and tomatos

Toodles People.