Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but of course, this mom has been busy with 2 little ones. Weight wise, things have been going pretty well, just over 84lbs lost, and I've started using the My Fitness Pal app on my IPhone. Who knew I wasn't eating enough??? I guess that can easily happen when you switch to a diet that is mostly made up of veggies and lean proteins. So, quick tip, if you are at a plateau, check your caloric intake....
I decided to post tonight about something that's been on my mind for a while now, especially after watching The Weight of the Nation (HBO Documentary which can be viewed online here.)
Let me first say, that I really do LOVE my doctors. I am very very very happy, in general, with both my OBGYN and my PCP; however, the more I think about it, the more upset... concerned... (can't quite find the right word...) over the fact that throughout my life I have been told VERY LITTLE in regards to my weight and my need to lose. Since being diagnosed with PCOS, the ONLY thing I was ever really told about my weight and the process of losing weight was, "Since you have PCOS, it'll be very hard for you to lose weight." That's it.
When I went in for a blood pressure check in Aug of 2008 and was subsequently diagnosed with hypertension (you don't want to know how high my BP was), it didn't even come up in discussion. Not at all.
When I had my 10lb 10.5 oz baby girl (induced at 37 weeks 5 days), and watched her, in the NICU, have trouble with blood sugar issues in her first days of life, all that was mentioned was that I must have had Gestational Diabetes and the test (which had came out normal) missed it. Of course, as I am losing more weight and more importantly, learning more about sugar, insulin, etc, I KNOW that I may not have had GD, but I am POSITIVE that I had insulin resistance (which leads to an increase of insulin in the bloodstream. Insulin= growth, weight gain etc). One sign of insulin resistance is dark patches of skin on different places on the body, especially on the back of the neck. I had these (emphasize HAD). Since I have been losing it... the dark patches have disappeared- an outward sign that my body chemistry is changing. Again, NONE of this was mentioned or suggested by any of the doctors I saw (including a few MFMs-high risk pregnancy OBs.)
I am again stating, just in case this gets to any of them or their relatives etc.., I really do like my doctors, and I don't at all think that their skirting around the weight issue is unusual (unfortunately). I can't quite figure out why some doctors are afraid to be frank with patients about how much harm extra weight does to the body and organs. Maybe they don't know the extent of the damage??? Maybe they don't want to offend??? Maybe it's a conversation too wrought with emotion, anger??? Maybe it hits too close to home for them (especially the ones who have themselves, struggled with weight)??? I don't have the answer. I wish I did. I wish that we all would just "get" it one day and the struggle would be over.
Talking to someone about their need to lose weight is such a hard thing to do. No one wants to admit the number on the scale has gotten out of control, that they've lost control, that they've allowed it to go that far (good opportunity to do something I have been avoiding. 295, that's my number. That's where I started in March of 2011-. There I said it.). No one wants to be that person who is getting "reprimanded" by anyone. BUT SOMEONE has to start that discussion. This cycle of obesity is getting worse with every generation. I would think that our doctors would be a great place to start. So, if you are in the medical field, I have a suggestion and a plea. PLEASE TRY to communicate just how serious this is. Do so in a way that is respectful and mindful of how hard this struggle is. Do so with compassion, love, and genuine concern. Don't mention looks, clothes, sizes. Talk about health. Talk about their children. Talk about their future. Talk about solutions (NOT JUST MEDICATION). Offer support. Just start the conversation. Too many people who are obese are going around with the false assumption that they are "healthy" because their doctors don't mention their weight and their blood work is coming back OK. It'll catch up with them eventually, and I can't imagine being a doctor and thinking, "What if I would have just said something...."
