YAY and DOUBLE YAY
Sunday, November 21, 2021
I’m not first; I’ll not be last …
We all do this.
With considerable confidence, I’m not just talking ‘pandemic times’ but at all times – that reality that comes with falling out of my health-focused regime, my routine of exercise-diet-sleep.
I know it is good for me, so why do I get off course?
What I’m curious about, having yet again pulled myself from the clutches of lazy habits to put myself back on track, is what causes others to slip off their health-focused treadmill?
More importantly, what gets them back on board?
I suspect many share this menacing reality, perhaps with common reasons/excuses, maybe better/different solutions. I’m keen to hear about those.
None of my many excuses/reasons is credible …
What got me back on track?
Was it sore lower back from carrying too many pounds? No. Was it recognizing I’ve been eating too many sweet fruits and too few green vegetables? No. Was it getting back into the groove of walking enough – taking those very long walks often enough, or working out hard regularly? No. Was it all that walking in the park early in the morning isn’t safe in the dark, so I needed some LED lights? No.
My new doctor advised that while my PSA test was down (yay!) and my blood pressure is coming well under control (double-yay!), some other tests are – not so good ...
Hearing high cholesterol, you might be pre-diabetic, and hearing those risk stats!
I bought LED headlights (thank you Amazon Prime for fast delivery and best pricing) and the ‘get a grip on my health’ process is underway, yet again, and that light at the end of the tunnel is now me waking up park-dwelling critters early in the morning.
Daily commitments to exercise are more demanding than daily commitments to sit on a couch or chair and stare at a screen. Eating fewer fatty and sugary things is less fun.
Yet living longer would be better!
Underscoring my pressing for better health was a personnel change. I fired/replaced my doctor earlier this year – due in part to a personality clash, but more significantly, philosophical differences.
I went from routinely seeing the same doctor for 20 years since I returned to Calgary, the same doctor who tended to my dad for the last 15 years of his life.
I saw caretaking rather than empowering a healthier life and lifestyle.
So far, I’m incredibly impressed. I realize I’m one of many patients, but every few months – for a few minutes reviewing results, tweaking prescriptions, and getting facts together with thoughtful guidance on improvement – is such a refreshing contrast.
I have had a fresh attitude, renewed focus, and elevated energy levels lately.
There are several reasons/causes – from a better business climate to an exciting new woman in my life and the inspiration from great colleagues, but I attribute a lot of it to my great new young* doctor.
I’m not advocating trading in doctors the way we trade in used cars – but seriously, in every other area we look for alternatives, we listen to arguments about how one professional or strategy is better than other whether it’s financial advice, real estate advice (hint-hint), lawyers, accountants, contractors, etc., so, why not question services/appropriateness of doctors, dentists, etc.?
*my rationale was to find someone focused on aging poorly isn’t a foregone conclusion – someone recently graduated, educated in Calgary, who will likely be practicing for another 30 years. I realize I may have to break in someone new if this one retires when I turn 100, but I’ll cross that bridge then. The way I see it, when I need help from specialists, my doctor will have well-established relationships with classmates who’ve specialized – so in this way, I’ve got new young doctor(s)!
… and, I realized my car-repair guy was more proactive in keeping my car running well than I felt my doctor was in terms of keeping ME running well, which seemed an important distinction. And, my car repair place treats me like a customer they want to keep returning to them. By the way, I have my vehicle booked in for service on Monday. I’ll drop it off at 7:30 AM, and by 9:00 AM, I’ll get a call giving me an assessment of anything they’ve found, what they recommend, and obtaining my approval of the work before going ahead. And, when I pick it up, I’ll get a smile, a 2022 calendar, a thank you – and they’ll put a sticker inside my windshield reminding me of the date/mileage when I should come in for a check-up. And, speaking of customer service, pharmacies and dry cleaners provide speed/courtesy too as a high priority. I wonder if medical clinics and doctors will ever pick up on that? I doubt it will catch on. Meanwhile, I’ve got a new doc, and I’m vewwy vewwy happy.
|