I hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday so far:) I can tell you that I have been so stressed out as I am moving to Chicago in a few weeks. I will be in Lakeview East with Lincoln Park literally down my street! I think Potato is going to enjoy his long walks around his new neighborhood! With some mandatory tests done at the doctor's office, and everything so far so good, I'm happy to report that I'm relatively healthy:) Although I don't boast the picture-perfect diet, and I do have the biggest sweet tooth on Earth, I guess everything in moderation has saved me so far! And incorporating diabetic recipes into my diet too (No, not pre-diabetic or diabetic, but a lot of studies have shown that following a diabetic diet is very healthy!) Anything to ward off Type II! Oh, and maybe the jogging in place while watching TV and doing my at-home exercise videos that all my friends make fun of me for doing have done something good for my heart all these years! Afterall, it's about consistency! On a bad week it's 3 days, on a good week it's 6 days of cardio, and sometimes doubles ... not that I'm bragging;) Although to look at me as one nice Russian classmate put it in her thick accent, "You workout a lot... but I cannot tell." Okay, maybe not so nice... The big BUT is that I'm in good health! Sooooo happy! I have ducked any form of blood pressure and cholesterol medication this time thank goodness! I must say I'm proud that my blood pressure reading is 117/70... Woot-woot! Now I just have to work on these jiggly parts...
I learned that my former doctor retired, and I would be seeing a new one today. I must say that I was somewhat anxious, but when I met her, she was just as sweet and encouraging as my last physician! Might I add I was intimidated by all her Ivy League diplomas, but she was so genuine and supportive. When she found out I was in medical school, she understood what I was going through and had just the right things to say and told me my rotations would fly by and quick.
She told me all sorts of funny stories while she was doing her rotations too. How one time she was in surgery and it was around the 6th hour helping the surgeon with keeping the stomach open during a Whipple procedure and her head dropped right onto the sterile pan... her take home message was to not fall asleep! I think she told me the story because I gained 10 pounds since my last visit (I emphasize relatively good health!), but she told me to not fret as I would be lucky to eat sometimes. During her surgery rotations she had to force herself to eat a muffin in the morning because her surgeon wouldn't let anyone leave the operating room - and that could be like hours. She told me once she was in surgery for 15 hours!
If anything I took away from this visit was that you can be both a strong woman and be so kind, sweet, funny and non-pretentious. Usually it's one or the other, picking a corner and staying there. You know the type, strong woman, bossy, abrasive edge - a witch with a capital B. Or the other side is the fragile flower so sweet and kind and DOCILE. Or the funny girl just completely way too kick back to bother taking anything seriously. This juxtaposition was something I have never experienced. It's something I want to be someday, what an inspiration!
Anyways, whenever I visit my doctor's office, I have to visit the Asian market that is in the same town. I was able to get some of my favorite treats! Vitasoy is so delicious and of course aloe water! I was able to find aloe water that is sugar-free! Yum! With the move and studies it's been tough to keep cooking. Of course I couldn't leave without my steamed vegetable buns - microwaveable in a minute and a half!
Until next time...
XoX,
Marikym
