I just ordered decaf. I can’t believe I just ordered decaf coffee. I am officially becoming one of those people I pitied.
I went to see my primary care doc today. My BP was 158 over 98, which sucks considering I’ve been on meds and rest for two-and-a-half days.
The nurse asked me some questions and then I talked to my doc. I talked to my doc more than I talked to the nurse. She offered advice and answered questions, which rare and absolutely lovable in a family physician.
Another reason to love my doc? She encouraged me to call the hospital where I was admitted last week and talk to them about my less-than-compassionate experience.
She gave me a prescription for Klonopin, an anti-anxiety drug. She said my heart and lungs sounded fine, so she is treating me for high blood pressure related to anxiety. But she also referred me to a cardiologist so I can get that stress test and rule out any possible heart damage from this elevated blood pressure.
So I get to take happy pills on top of my blood pressure medication until we get this under control — which sounds like a plan to me.
She also encouraged me to go back to the gym, but not to exert myself too much until I see the cardiologist. And I plan to go to the gym right after I leave this coffee shop, where I am sipping my decaf and researching the DASH diet.
I consider all of this good news. Certainly setting deadlines and promising myself rewards has not been the incentive I needed, so maybe this little kick-in-the-ass will be the catalyst that gets me rolling.
And right after my doctor’s appointment my hubby took me to my favorite Asian restaurant where I enjoyed this heart-healthy serving of delicious sushi:
Yeah, I know that shrimp is fried. But the rest was perfectly heart-healthy, I swear. And I didn’t use soy sauce.
I am making this promise to myself and to anyone who happens to read this blog: I will not become one of those nutrition-crazed evangelists that pontificates non-stop about healthy eating and the joys of exercise, etc.
I hate those people.
Exercise can feel good but it’s hard work and takes time. And I know myself well enough to know I hate to invest time in hard work. I also know that healthy eating can be tasty but there’s no way in hell to convince me that a green salad with no dressing tastes as good as cheesy pizza or tiramasu.
I will indulge in the good stuff because that’s what makes life good. I just have to carve out time and space for the other stuff like the hard work and the boring-but-blood-pressure-lowering dishes.
What have I got to lose besides jean sizes? Compare that to what I could lose if I don’t do better for myself and it’s not even a contest.
And little changes? That I can easily do. Like this decaf. Not so bad actually. Not bad at all.
