A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That

I have various, unrelated things that have been on my mind to share, so here are the bullet points:

1. in regard to my weight loss - I hope you all know that I have maintained a pretty positive attitude about the weight loss thing. Most of you probably know that my weight loss posts are written with humor in mind, and should not be taken otherwise. In light of this, allow me to clarify a point or two:

• I am not weighing myself every day. I DID weigh myself several times last week because I was wanting to see how different activities would affect my weight. I was befuddled when I saw absolutely no change in my weight at all. I have come to realize that my scale measures to the half pound... so while I was expecting to see a differece of 0.2 or 0.3 pounds, my scale was content to report the same weight as before. Now that I know that, I am fine... and I haven't weighed myself in quite some time
• my husband does, generally, eat the fatty foods around here while I, generally, eat the lean ones. But I feel like I should tell you that I love vegetables and he doesn't. I am not a fan of fried foods, he is. I just wanted you to know that my comment about that was in no way meant to be a complaint about the foods he "gets" to eat and the foods that I "get" to eat.
• I am not dieting, so there are no foods that are really off limits for me. I enjoyed my Oreo McFlurry from McDonald's very much last weekend. I am just trying not to eat a LOT, and I am trying to eat more vegetables, fiber, and drink more water.

2. In relation to the weight, I called my doctor last Friday and left a message that I wanted to speak to a nurse about the thyroid test they ran on me in October '05. I told them I realized it was a long time ago, but I just had a question. What I wanted to do was ask which "levels" were low and if that specific aspect of thyroid function would prevent me from losing weight. Well, the nurse called me back on Tuesday to tell me she had a note from my doctor specifically stating that I was to come in for an appointment since it had been so long since they'd seen me. (In fact, I have been to the doctor within the last six months.) But I was trying to determine whether the $20 copay was even worth paying, so I told her that I understood the test was old and that she could not diagnose anything, but I was hoping I could get some general information about that test from her. She mentioned the doctor's "specific instructions" to her and told me that I needed to make an appointment. Does that sound weird to anyone else?

So I went in today for that appointment and, when the doctor asked me why I was here, I told her, "I'm not really sure. I know you tested my thyroid over a year ago and one of my levels was at the low end of the normal range. I don't know if that specific thing will affect my weight, but I am trying to lose weight and I wanted to know more about that."

Her response was: "Well, that was a long time ago, so you need to come in if we are going to test you again."

My response: "Yes, I understand, but I was trying to decide if I should come in again when I called. I wanted some information about the test from the nurse and I don't understand why she could not tell me about it over the phone."

Ignoring me, she said "let me find your test here. Here it is. Your TSH level is on the low end of normal." (Sounds familiar.) "You can have it tested again if you want."

Then she asked me my plan for losing weight and I told her as much as I felt like telling her, adding that I am not a real fan of the "diet."

"Well," says she, "if you are looking for more of a lifestyle change, then you should try Weight Watchers. I joined six weeks ago and I've lost eighteen pounds."

Is that, for real? Did she just FOR REAL tell me that Weight Watchers is a "lifestyle change." I'm going to COUNT POINTS for the rest of my life? I mean no disrespect to those of you who are on weight watchers, but that just didn't cut it for me. As a doctor I thought she would have had some exercise recommendations, and a little advice about proper eating. But, Weight Watchers?

But this is coming from the same woman who, when I came off my depression medication and expressed a desire to start exercising to ward off the depression's return, suggested that I join a health club. Then she told me about her experience working out after a long day. She had no recommendations about how much exercise or how long or anything else. Just "join a health club."

I feel for the folks under her care who don't make what she does and can't afford memberships to health clubs and Weight Watchers.

Is it me, or does any of this sound odd to anyone else.

Anyway, I might be looking for a new doctor. But I did let them take my blood so we can get a good TSH read again.

Well, this turned out to be a lot longer than I thought it was going to so I will post the rest of my thoughts at another time.