The title might have gotten your attention!  Went to the Life Center in Simpsonville this morning and worked out with person trainer Renee King.  The workout lasted right about 1 hour and at about the 40 minute mark….I fell apart!  I was whooped to the point where I asked her to stop so that I could catch my breath and get my head straight.  I got light headed.  She brought me a powerade and gave me a few minutes to take a breather.  That has honestly not happened to me since high school!  I go to the gym.  I always work hard! (at least I thought I did).  Oh course, not having ANYTHING to eat in over 12 hours might have done me in on this one too.  Who knows!  What I do know is that this is not going to be a cakewalk!  Not saying I bit off more than I can chew….just saying that there will be a a lot of “work” in my work-out.  Oh yeah, I only meet with Renee on Tuesday and Thursdays….the other days of the week I’m going to be doing cardio on my own!  The alarm is not permanently set to 5:30am….lucky me!

Next week I meet the nutritionist!   

It’s not the easiest thing to say.

I found out for sure on Thursday.  It wasn’t the news I wanted to hear, but we kind of saw it coming on the first run of tests.  We took another blood test at my checkup on Thursday to make sure.  Thursday night, after finding out the results, I came home- felt sorry for myself for a few hours- and then got over it.   According to Dr. Messer at Riverside Family Practice, it should be manageable with diet and exercise.   Going to the gym, staying active and working out have always been a part of my life.  I live an active lifestyle and being a husband/dad keeps me SUPER busy, so the exercise part should not be a problem.  The diet seems to be what has brought me to this…  Right now I need to keep my consumption to no more than 1500 calories.  Saturday was my first day of being an active diabetic (I can say it…doesn’t bother me as much).   We went to Carowinds and took my blood sugar monitor with us.  I have to do the whole drawing blood-sugar checkin’ things on Wednesday and Saturdays before meals.  Something about making yourself bleed on purpose just feels strange to me, but it has to happen. 

1500 calories a day is getting easier.  It’s amazing how much CRAP we put in our bodies!  Did you know that you can eat you ENTIRE recommended calorie allotment in just on sitting?  It’s crazy!  For example….I love Aussie cheese fries at Outback steakhouse.  When Christal was pregnant, we ate those at least once every 10 days!  2600 calories!!!  What the hell?!?  Sure they are good, but not worth not eating for 2 days! Lol  There are so many more examples.  I’m slowly becoming obsessed with counting the calories.  I’m like Jim Carrey in the #23 movie.  The way I figure it, if I keep my major meals to less than 400 calories (it hasn’t been that difficult) that would give me some room for a few snacks throughout the day.  We’re having dinner with some friends tonight, so I’ve been sand bagging a few extra calories today so that I can possibly eat a steak!  It’s like a checking account for calories! Ha!

The days of gluttony are over I guess…My goal is 15 lbs in 90 days.  Dr. Messer said that my blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol should adjust to more normal levels if I can do that.  Wish me luck!  Tomorrow I meet my trainer at the Life Center. 

As you might have read in my previous blog, I finally went to the doctor.  The folks from GHS hooked me up with Dr. Messer from Riverside Family Practice on Halton rd.  I filled out the info about my family history and turned it in at the front desk.  I was having flashbacks of writing an essay and handing it in to my 5th grade teacher.  I don’t know why I felt that way-I just did.

The first person I met was a nurse by the name of Claudia.  Nice lady- spoke with an accent.  A doctor’s office is the only place where within 2 minutes of meeting someone, they ask you for a urine sample.  Imaging doing that at any other place of business or even on a date…”Can I get your number and a urine sample”.  They asked me not to drink or eat after 9pm the night before, so I didn’t have much pee to work with!  I did the best I could.  Do you know how stressful it is to give a urine sample?  I was afraid the whole time that I was going to overflow the little cup…and what if I spilled it?  That’s all I had!

We then went on to take my weight, blood pressure, etc…  Typical doctor office stuff.  I was hooked up to a diagnostic machine…it’s where they stick those sticky circles all over your body and then connect wires to them.  I felt like I was in some kind of movie where they were planning on making me stronger or a better superhero or something….in a way, I guess they are.

After giving blood, I met up with Dr. Messer.  Nice fella.  Local guy from Liberty.  We have similar upbringings since we are both small town boys (I grew up in a Tx town with about 900 people).  He went through the rest of the physical with me.  Yes, including the “turn your head and cough” stuff.  Don’t know if anyone could ever get used to that? lol

I will be going back on Thursday of next week to get the results from all my tests and blood work.  For the most part, Dr Messer said I’m not too banged up.  He did mention that my blood pressure was a little high, but he chalked that up to “Dr’s office anxiety” and that I have a few pounds that should not be on my body! :)  Hence the reason I started doing this!

In short:

Dr. Messer from Riverside Family Practice is cool.

Peeing in a cup can be stressful.

It’s always gonna be odd to turn my head and cough.

My blood pressure is a little high.

Feel free to post something too! 

I was trying to think back of the last time I went to the doctor for a physical?  I went every year from age 11-18 for little league-jr. high and high school sports.  I went again when I was 19 and 20 for when I played minor league baseball….and then….I think that was it.  I’m now 33.  I’ve been to the doc for other things in the past, like allergies and such, but it’s honestly been 13 years since I got all my stuff checked out.  uggg…

I don’t know exactly what to expect from the upcoming visit.  I am sure they will check my weight, pulse, etc….  They say they are going to do “blood work”.  I’m assuming that is to check to see my cholesterol score and some other stuff?  Wait till they put the needle in and pull out the gravy that I had with my country fried steak the other day at Cracker barrel!  lol  Look, I’m nervous, concerned as well as excited to get this doctor visit over with.  It’s been looming over my head for a few weeks (in a way years) now and it needs to get done if I am going to be serious about getting healthy. 

Also, once we have the results from the doctors visit, we can then start putting together my workout and nutrition schedule.  Perhaps you are looking to get healthy too?  I will share my workout and diet info with you on this website.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to post a message or two!

Chase