By Jamie

I had my physical this week and it was good news all around.  Apparently I am perfectly healthy.  He found nothing to complain about.  My blood tests came back perfect, save for one, I’ve got low Vitamin D, which I can easily remedy by taking a supplement (which I already have because my husband is taking it).  I suppose you can’t absorb Vitamin D when you’re caked in sunscreen wearing a floppy hat.

My biggest concern was my cholesterol, and it turns out I had nothing to worry about.  It’s 172.  Perfect.  He had told me that he expected my number to be a little high because I’m still breastfeeding my 9 month old son, but nope, I’m all good.  Whew!

We talked about my weight and the first thing he said was “You just had a baby and you have to realize that pregnancy and childbirth can change your body.”  He also confirmed my theory that not everyone drops weight easily while breastfeeding.  He told me that yes, some women’s bodies just hold on to that fat until the baby is weaned at which point they find it easier to loose weight.

I weighed in at 220 on the doctor’s scale (a full five pounds LESS than my home scale reads).  He told me my goal of 180 would be a very reasonable and healthy weight for me.  In fact his suggestion was for me to lose just 25 pounds, putting me at 195.  Apparently that would kick me out of the “obese” category and put me in just “overweight” thus significantly reducing my risk for diabetes.

Overall I was very surprised at how positive the visit was.  I expected long winded lectures about the dangers of being overweight. I expected my cholesterol to be through the roof.  I expected to be told that I’m going to keel over any day now from a heart attack or that I’m on the road to adult onset Diabetes.  Instead I get a mini lecture about how I can’t expect my body to be supermodel thin, I’m not built that way, besides I just had a baby AND I’m still breastfeeding.  I’m told that I’m healthy and to keep up the good work.  Instead of telling me that I need to lose 100 pounds, he told me I should lose a reasonable 25. 

He suggested a couple of dieting books:  Sugar-busters and South Beach Diet, both of which I already have (of course I have them, 20 years of dieting folks, I’ve got pretty much every diet book that’s been written or revised since 1990).  I’ve had success on the South Beach Diet in the past, so my husband and I have decided to go ahead and start phase one this weekend (no jelly beans for us!).

I’m excited.  It’s a great relief to know that I’m not as unhealthy as I thought (not even as unhealthy as I might look).  I may be fat, but I’m also healthy.  Even better, I can get even healthier!

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