The Doctor Says "Just Eat Less!"

About two weeks ago I went along with my husband to see his cardiologist, follow up appointment after his heart experience in March. On the good side, the doctor told him that the medicines that he is taking for the fast pulse and the afib are working. He is to go back the beginning of next month to have pictures taken of his heart to see if the damage that was done has been reversed due to medication. Now, what the Dr. wasn’t happy about, was his weight. He has lost weight over the last two years, due to his exercising, and both of us do not feel that he is overweight. But, according to the Dr. he is. He wants him to lose 30 – 35 lb. He asked him what he weighed when he graduated from high school…. and said that should be his goal! Oh my gosh, he was SKINNY when he graduated high school. I’ve been told by others who have heart problems, that the cardiologists want you to be skinny.

I was disappointed when I asked the Dr. to refer Bob for nutrition counseling. Bob, unlike me, has never really had to worry about weight until recently, and he is not educated as I am about calories, fat grams, cholesterol, portions. I have spent the last 30 years getting educated. Unlike me, once he is educated he WILL do exactly as he is told, because he is very disciplined. The Dr.’s response was this: “He doesn’t need that, he should know what to eat and what not to eat, all he needs to do is EAT LESS, practice portion control! Well, I know that Bob eats too much, but don’t most of us, unless we really focus. I am hoping that “just eating less” will do it for Bob,
maybe it will, men always lose weight faster than women. I know it sure hasn’t worked for me this past year. I’ve been trying to eat less, and think for the most part I do, and I practice “portion control”. When I try to tell him his portions are too big, he gets cross at me… he needs to hear this stuff from someone other than his wife. I think I may talk to his GP about referring nutrition counseling if he doesn’t lose. Since his appointment, he has stayed the same… but at least he hasn’t gained. Maybe in June if the Doctor doesn’t like his weight loss progress, he will know why I made the nutrition suggestion.

Bob needs to lose as much weight, as I would be so happy to lose. Realistically I know that I will never be able to get back down to the weight I was when I was married, or even when my last child was born, but gee, if I could lose 30 pounds I would be darn happy. SO, Bob and I will be dieting (No, I’m not going to call it dieting), we will be changing our life styles when it comes to food, TOGETHER! So, the other day I purchased a book that one of my co/workers brought to the lunch table, we spent a lot of time looking it over. It’s called “Eat This, Don’t Eat That" This weekend Bob and I have both been studying it. We even looked it over again before he went to the grocery store yesterday. It’s amazing, some things you think would be good for you are terrible, and vise versa! It is very interesting, and easy to read, since it has pictures of all the foods it talks about. It tells about foods at your favorite restaurants too. It’s a good book to have around and refer to. Bob and I will be referring to it often!