About 10 years ago, I went to the doctor. I said, “Doc,
you gotta help me! I have gastric reflux, sleep apnea, chronic backaches, my
knees and ankles ache all the time, I can barely walk to the end of the block
without losing my breath. And did I mention my knees and ankles?”
He said, “Son, I can offer you two options: Option A
is a prescription for Prilosec , hook you up with a CPAP machine, a
prescription for Tylenol 3 for pain and inflammation. We should look at Zestril
for your blood pressure, Zocor for cholesterol, and definitely want to
pre-screen you for Diabetes type II.”
“Yikes! What’s option B?”
“One prescription.”
“Seriously? Hook me up! What is it?”
“Get some exercise.”
“How much is a CPAP machine, Doc?”
Of course I made this whole scenario up, since as
everyone who knows me knows I shun doctors like…well, the plague. But in essence
I chose Option A – Prilosec and CPAP. I have no idea if I needed Zestril and
Zocor, but it would not have surprised me.
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| Fat old man at Erin's wedding. |
Eighteen months ago, tired of the low level (read
non-existent) success of Option A, I chose Option B: combined running,
weightlifting and biking with a healthier diet and now I am 80+ pounds lighter,
free of Prilosec and CPAP, and have a
strong back and knees. I have the energy
of a 20 year-old, I have a long list of plans to accomplish (instead of
resting, watching TV, or waiting to die!), and a few road race medals hanging
on my wall.
I even noticed recently that the occasional arthritis pain in my fingers has disappeared!
I even noticed recently that the occasional arthritis pain in my fingers has disappeared!
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| Ah! Not so fat old man! |
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