Keeping weight on was once important since I played heavy duty sports: football, powerlifting, Scottish Games, basket weaving, etc. During finals in college I’d drop some weight studying then get annoyed at people who said after; “you’ve got thinner.” Telling a power lifter they had stick arms was a direct frontal assault. Alas, in 2021 I lost nearly 50 pounds in 3 months; not because I was trying – my pie hole was plugged up with a tumor. Very humbling to look in the mirror and see a POW from the Hanoi Hilton staring back. Whenever I’d step on the scale and lost weight it ruined my day. It’s funny since Diane would ask me all the time what I weighed. I’d ask her back “what do you weigh?” and the response was, “I feel gross, so I’m not getting on the scale.” Regardless of whether you like it or not, your weight measures your health, you can’t deny it.
There’s a movement these days to stop doctors from weighing you at the office. Apparently, it’s embarrassing to be told in private how much you weigh. A little secret; even though you won’t get on the scale the staff still guesses your weight for the record. Sorry. On the horizon there’s a new effort to stop EKG’s since they might show you have arrhythmia. “I don’t want to hear my ticker is misbehaving.” Pretty soon there won’t be blood sugar testing since it might indicate diabetes. “I don’t want to give up Mountain Dew Big Gulps from 7-11; how will I wash down the pork rinds?” Even smokers are protesting chest x-rays – “What if it shows a spot on my lung, it’s easier to just close my eyes and hope it’ll go away.” I used to do that when I was younger checking the ATM balance before a withdrawal. I’d squint at it hoping there was a positive balance in the checking account. Our vanity is turning doctors into Maytag Repairmen because we don’t want to hear reality. Silly right?
Denial is a serious form of bad health; especially when you see it clearly. An oncologist told me about a patient that had a tumor the size of basketball in her abdomen and did nothing other than pray on it. Trust me, in those moments God hears those prayers and has got to be saying to Herself, “WTF?” The same is true for avoiding annual checkups which can be humiliating. My internal medicine physician in Winter Park was Fran Covelli, an Italian, stocky, jovial, great physician. At my annual physical he’d say to me, “Ok, it’s time for your prostate exam.” I’d look at his fingers which were as big as Dole bananas and say, “No thanks, I’ll pass.” I guess that’s similar to skipping pap smears and breast exams. I get it, understand it, have been through humiliating tests, but avoiding care won’t keep disease at bay. The biggest obstacles standing in the way of your health are you, the mirror, and the scale. The mirror and the scale measure and reflect, but they don’t judge. You’re the one judging yourself and worrying about how people are judging you. Instead start putting your health ahead of your self image; you’ll feel better physically and mentally. And by the way, while your up calling the doctor toss me one of those bananas. Slainte!
Great advice Pete! Yes, another favorite. ❤️
❤️☘️🪳 no matter what you weigh.😘
My Mother once told me not to judge people but if you think you gotta judge, do so by the size of their heart, not the body.. when I was a teenager I was so skinny they used to say I couldn’t cast a good shadow,,,”if my friends could see me now”
At my sickest 5 yrs ago, I dropped 60 lbs in a few months….I got down to 145!! It took almost 2 yrs to put the weight back on….I must have been obsessed because I gained close to 100 lbs in those 2 yrs!! Over the last year, I dropped close to 50 through my job, exercise and diet and I’m now at a comfortable 190 lbs. I feel I need 10 more pounds but I’m comfortable…I feel ya, Pete!
Thes tales of your journey of wellness are an inspiration!
So, so true. I remove my shoes to be weighed! Great perspective , as usual. Keep thinking and sharing!!
Kate, that’s why it’s important to buy lighter shoes. Pete
Even when looking in a mirror these days and see Gollum looking back at me, still thankful the chemo cocktails are doing their job giving me more time on Earth. Sure as hell vanity isn’t going to.
Marianne, vanity is low on the totem pole v. Chemo. I’m 3/4 through my current pace; I’d rather be doing something else, for sure; but I am hanging in there for people I love. Pete
Ditto
I look forward every week it makes my day ANGELS WATCHING OVER YOU AND DIANE
Thanks Beverly, please share it with friends and family who need a lift!
I love it that God is a female Mr. Pete. 😂 You are a wise, wise cockroach! 😂🪳☘️❤️
If God was a man all the toilet seats would be left up permanently
I love it that God is a female Mr. Pete. You are a wise, wise cockroach indeed. 😂☘️🪳❤️
If you wanted to lose weight, does it count if you strip down to your skivvies when getting weighed at the doctors office?🤓
Great post🍀
As long as you do that each time; but if you do it too much you might get a referral for behavioral services
As always, great advice 🇬🇧
Shelly, in England do the scales measure in pounds, kilograms, or pints? Cheers! PFL
Another great one!
Thanks Scott; if it helps share it. Pete
So well said. Great advice on our health and well being.
Paul, being in healthcare I like people using doctors and hospitals, but only if they have to. Pete
Oh everyone should read this. And you are more than welcome to come to my house with wine.
Cyndi, wine is good for the heart and soul; that’s why God invented it. Pete
So they say ignorance is bliss… not when it comes to your health! Look in the mirror, if there’s a problem, get it worked on! (and I don’t mean cosmetic)…You, being in healthcare have certainly seen it, I definitely have, don’t wait when you find a lump… even if you don’t want to deal with it, best addressed ASAP, not 5-10 years later… then much harder to deal with. Speaking of bananas 🍌, my dad picked his family doctor Paul Schmidt, cause he had small hands!!! Funny stuff!!! Stay well!!
Fran, you know better than anyone being a rad / mammo tech; a lot of sad “I should’ves come through your doors. The hand size issue is like finding out you have a crummy neighbor after you buy your house. Pete
So very true…nobody wants t hear something they already know, but don’t want to admit. Changing your lifestyle for the sake of your health is a major inconvenience. I hate getting on the scale after two weeks of you and Diane being home…🤣😂🤣😂
Great blog Pete, I hope it “hits home” for those who NEED to read it!
Jane, blaming Diane and I for you keeping 12 cases of wine at your house is a little unfair. Pete