Yesterday, I went to the doctor to check in, as I do every nine months or so. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'm really, really interested in seeing if I can get off of some medications that I've been taking for some years now, and I wanted to get a feel for my doc's thoughts.
About a month ago, I quit taking Lipitor (for high cholesterol) because it seemed to be causing some intense muscle and joint pain. I can say that I feel so much better in that area--but now I'll need to really watch what I'm consuming. You know I love me some butter and cheese!
I also take medication for borderline high blood pressure. I have a lot of risk factors--being overweight, not tremendously active and smoking--though I'm hoping to address each of these issues fully in 2012.
My doctor was quite amazed at the weight I've lost this past year, which made me feel all smug and everything. When I told her that I was interested in losing another 15 or so pounds, she was rather taken aback, telling me that 140 would be a good place to be. However, I think I'll need to lose those additional pounds in order to say goodbye to the blood pressure medication.
I also have a plan in place for the smoking, but I'll talk about it at a later date. Leaving smoking behind will be difficult for me, but it needs to be done.
Overall, I don't think my doctor was thrilled with my decision to try to get off the pills. For example, when I mentioned that I quit taking Lipitor, she suggested alternative medications and other stuff to take in conjunction with Lipitor to ease the muscle/joint pain. I really like my doctor, and her skepticism makes me want to be successful in these efforts. You know . . . the I'll-show-her factor.
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I continue to get about two or three miles of walking in nearly every day, thanks to my dog, Jack. He's a year-old (or so), 60-pound, poorly-socialized, behaviorally-challenged Black Lab/Shepherd mix, who we've been treating for a host of issues--skin condition, intestinal parasites, ear mite infestation, malnutrition, overall neglect, etc. He's full of love and highly destructive, needing constant supervision. It's a real push to keep up with his attention-seeking behavior and play-with-me demands.
Just now, we're out of sync--I'm too old for him and he's too young and big for me--but I hope, as the years pass, that we'll find that perfect place and be able to settle into a comfortable co-existence.
He's looking 100% better than he was six weeks ago.
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Weight-wise, things are finally back in the groove, after the winter holidays. Most of the junk is gone and healthier stuff is making its way back into the rotation. Happily, my loss this week brings me to a total of 25 pounds lost!
Oh, by the way, I'm looking for some good recipes for beans of any kind, especially soups. Anybody?
See you next week!
Vegan chili is excellent and veganism is the way to go for maximum weight loss. I could NEVER do it myself. Love cheese too much. GOOD for you on the weight loss. My husband had the same issue with lipitor(muscle pain in his calves) and stopped taking it. He thinks it was a combo of the BP and lipitor meds. He does more natural stuff now. Now we just have to hope that all the cancer treatment hasn't caused those issues to come back. He doesn't need to be on any more medication!!
Posted by: Margaret | 01/11/2012 at 09:19 PM
You are one IMPRESSIVE woman!
Stick to your guns on the cholesterol reducing drugs. Growing evidence that the lowering it provides is somewhat "cosmetic" and not as honestly valuable to the body as improvement based on intake choices.
Miss you in the other Department.
Posted by: Karenth | 01/13/2012 at 10:06 AM
Doggie is so sweet. And you are saintly for pairing up with him -- he seems like a challenge.
As you know I'm not surprised at all that your doc was taken aback by your 15-pound goal. But you've now convinced me that you can do anything so go for it.
About bean soups: you jogged my memory by your request and I remembered a fabulous African peanut soup recipe I had years ago. I know that peanuts are not nuts but legumes (I love the word "legume" -- I like to stretch out the "uuuuu" sound). But I believe that peanuts are good for helping to raise your HDL (or maybe lower your LDL; or maybe both). I haven't yet found the original recipe (bet it's buried in That Room of mine) but here's a close approximation in case you want to give it a try.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/African-Peanut-Soup/Detail.aspx?prop31=2
But first you should double-check me on the peanuts-cholesterol business.
Looking forward to next week when we invade Old Town Alexandria! And eat Lebanese food (I think you mentioned Lebanese food -- I'm having email issues today and can't open my mail to double-check). Seeing you is more important than the Lebanese food of course. But I do admit that I salivate a bit when I type the words "Lebanese food." Maybe I'm really a dog.
Posted by: Pam J. | 01/13/2012 at 11:52 AM