RHODY LIFE

From Reese's to apples

Posted 9/22/21

I have lost a lot of weight in the past several months because of a lecture provided by my new cardiologist who boldly, simply said that if my weight did not decrease, I would have a stroke, heart attack, or experience imminent death. Yes, he came right

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RHODY LIFE

From Reese's to apples

Posted

I have lost a lot of weight in the past several months because of a lecture provided by my new cardiologist who boldly, simply said that if my weight did not decrease, I would have a stroke, heart attack, or experience imminent death. Yes, he came right out and said it. He didn’t say I might or that it was possible, he said I WOULD. Of course, these facts have ineffectively rattled around in my brain for years, just like the warnings on the drug commercials that list the side effects of the prescription drugs they are promoting.

Due to truth in advertising laws, any commercial giving the useful effects of a certain prescription drug must also give a disclosure of the side effects. The commercial for a sleep aid gently intones it will provide “a night of restful sleep”, and then rapidly continues on with “side effects might include driving your car while sleep walking, or feel suicidal and committing suicide, or experience an allergic reaction that leads to fatal throat swelling.” Like the possible ramifications of being obese, these side effects are also ignored, sometimes with fatal results.

Somehow the real, scary details of being overweight have eluded me all these years, ignored amongst the other frightening truths. It was a shock to realize that, in my naivety and optimism, a fate worse than death, OR death, awaited my bulky frame.

Where food is involved, there were always reasons why my diet was calorie laden. Being so busy, the drive through at fast food restaurants seemed to be my only option. At home, Hubby is an awesome cook, and even when he stopped eating at one serving, my meal would hold at least one additional plateful. Being under stress, I had a real craving for crunchy things, so sitting at home in the evening watching TV was always accompanied by chips and dip or cheese and crackers. Because bedtime is to be a happy occasion to encourage a good night’s sleep, chocolate candy such as Reese’s peanut butter cups would find their way into their mouth. Also, being the enthusiastic birthday party supporter as I was, eating cake with decadent frosting was a favorite activity, climbing a few notches if ice cream was involved.

My lame excuses for not losing weight include not having the time to exercise, not LIKING exercise, preferring to park my car as close to the entrance of a store rather than park farther out to get more steps in, and not having the poise and balance to exercise. In general, exceptional laziness inhabited my whole being, convincing myself that I was simply too busy to exercise, without realizing that I would have all the time in the world if a stroke came along and disabled my body, or maybe no time left at all if I died.

That sage of a cardiologist relieved my horror of an imminent death by stating one simple fact: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EXERCISE TO LOSE WEIGHT, YOU ONLY NEED TO EAT LESS CALORIES!! What a shocking idea that never occurred to me. My lack of time, or clumsiness, or intense hatred for exercise could be mitigated by one simple lifestyle change; just eat less calories!

I have continued to be very busy with no time, or grace, or affection for exercise, but for the past several months there has been the compensation of less calories entering my gastrointestinal tract. The crunching on potato chips has been replaced by chomping on celery, sometimes with peanut butter. Instead of eating a limited amount of chocolate, I can eat way more luscious black cherries or oranges. Hubby has gone out of his way to make delightful, low-calorie meals. If I desperately need to grab something to eat and drink while out and about, the sliced apples and ice water at McDonalds is sufficient.

Although this type of eating has been a major life change, the alternative would be worse. Give me an apple any day!

reese's, apples, life, matters

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