health

The Best Doctor Office Visit

/ christinaparisi / Leave a comment

The other day, I went in for my yearly woman’s doctor’s office visit, to a place I’d been going to for nearly a decade.

Once there, I learned I was assigned a new doctor. I’ve had a few over the years, all of whom I liked, but none like this….

She was a truly one-of-a-kind, special doctor that you see in the movies but thought never existed in real life.

I know. I sound like I have a school girl crush. But in all seriousness, she was so rare I want to celebrate and spread the word on how good a doctor’s office visit can actually be, and here’s why:

  1. She entered, shook my hand and spent TEN MINUTES talking to me about myself and my life. She read notes the previous doctors had written and used them to ask about her new patient – me! (And FYI – she didn’t read from the notes; she came it knowing them.)
  2. She explained Every. Single. Thing. she was doing, reviewing and/or touching.
  3. She told me a little about herself, making it so much more personable (and trust me, in the position one is in during these doctor’s visits, this is incredibly appreciated…)
  4. She read my chart and DID NOT ask if my husband and I were going to have children. Every time I go, I have to tell my doctor we are not considering having children and then, we have to go through the song and dance of them trying to make sure I know what that means at my age (after 35, pregnancies are considered “geriatric”.)
  5. She had warm hands and told me when things were going to be cold.
  6. She was chatting with me so much about my book and family traditions that a nurse had to knock on the door to tell her the next patient was waiting…
  7. She then took off her gloves, shook my hand and told me what came next. I told her I was very happy to have her as my new doctor and she smiled, saying she was very happy to have me as her new patient, looking me straight in the eyes.

Pinch me please. Did I die and go to heaven?? To me, it’s rare to have this kind of treatment and doctor/patient relationship.

If you are in the southern Beach Cities area of Los Angeles, feel free to message me to ask for her info. I have no idea if they are taking new patients, but I have never felt better about a doctor’s office experience than I did yesterday.

 

 

Losing 20 pounds – post 11

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My weight loss journey is moving forward smoothly!

I’ve decided to continue not checking the scale right now. A friend of mine told me it’s best to not look initially because my body is changing, as it builds muscle and reduces fat. And since muscle weighs more than fat because of its greater density, the number on that stupid scale can be deceiving and greatly reduce one’s confidence when they need it most so scale, back off!

She also mentioned it’s best to just see how I feel with the changes rather than focus on the number and you know what? She couldn’t be more right!

I truly feel my body become stronger. Bike rides with my husband have never been easier as we navigate the hills along the beach route we take. And at work, I can carry much heavier boxes than I have ever been able too. Also, I feel better after a workout. It takes me through my day in a way little else has before. It provides a boost and right now, as I finish my novel while still working all my other jobs, I need it!

My birthday is on the 14th of this month and right after it, I’m taking two weeks off of all booze and most sugars. I may be grumpy but my body needs the purge to reset and start new and better habits. Stay tuned for that one….

And as always, thank you, dear readers, for your support and encouragement. It means the world to me and helps me move forward in a more positive way.

 

Change Change Change

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I’ve been thinking a lot about change and wrote a piece about it on Hubpages.

Please find the link below…

“Why is change so hard?

 

As I’ve been talking about here on my blog for quite a while, it’s time for me to make some changes, from less wine to more exercise, and though I have definitely started this journey, the time to focus and kick it up a notch is NOW.

Stay tuned…

Losing 20 pounds – post 10

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I haven’t written in a while because I’m sad to report… I haven’t lost weight yet. I’m maintaining, which is nice because this past year my body weight has liked to go up on a weekly basis, but it’s beyond frustrating that I’m not losing.

I’ve drank less wine, I’ve gone to the gym, I’ve eaten more protein and less carbs! What does a girl have to do to shed some weight?!

But no fear, dear supportive readers. Nothing is going to stop me. I am determined, more than ever, to shed these damn 20 pounds from my body.

It’s on, body, it’s on.

Stay tuned….

Losing 20 pounds – post 9

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It’s been two weeks since I became a real gym-goer (meaning i’m using the membership I bought, hehe!)

My goal is 3-4 times a week and I think it’s doable. I have been trying not to look at the scale because I don’t want to become obsessed with that part right out of the gate. First, along with my amazing trainer, I want to learn the ropes and remain encouraged as I do so.

Though I don’t want to know my weight just yet so I can’t share it, I would, however, love to share a few of my observations from the first two weeks of going to the gym:

My posture is the best it’s ever been. Not sure how it happened exactly, but I find myself sitting up much straighter!

Yes, people grunt there, but it’s for a good reason. I was always a bit scared and skeptical of those muscle men/women who grunted as they picked up so much weight that I could feel pain just looking at them. But now that I’ve started weight training, I get it. It’s about breathing. And it’s necessary. And by my third set of ten on most machines, I’m breathing loudly right along with them. (Though I have yet to grunt!)

A lock, water bottle and towel will be your three best friends at the gym. Self explanatory. I use all three every time I go and if I didn’t have one, it would suck.

Soreness does not last. As my husband/trainer told me, “We have to tear the muscle to rebuild it.” Once you do, the soreness goes away and the strength takes over. And that is a pretty damn good feeling.

Mirrors help with form. I admit. I always thought the mirror-lined walls of gyms were for vanity purposes but I now realize, that while some may use them for that, their main purpose is for you to see your form and make sure it’s correct.

Have any gym observations you’d like to share? Please do! And as always, thank you for joining me on this weight loss/fitness journey of mine!

Losing 20 pounds – post 8

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Okay. It was a slow start getting there but I finally made it to the gym.

I’ve been twice now (Sunday and today, Tuesday) and I AM SORE.

SORE. SORE. SORE.

I worked muscles I didn’t know I had. I learned what a tricep was (totally thought it was somewhere else on my body, haha!) and I breathed deeply, going for it.

Now, I’m a lucky girl. My trainer is my husband (he did it professionally many years ago) and he is very good to me. He keeps me on my toes but knows when to back off. Gentle with his gym-virgin wife yet firm. And even though he tries to be serious, his loving nature shines through as he teaches me.

Everything you want in a trainer, right? ;)

But it comes down to me. And I’m determined. Four times a week is the goal, even though I now fully understand what is meant by “no pain, no gain.”

The gym and weight training is no joke. It’s definitely NOT the easy way, which I realize I had been trying to take since I started this journey, eight posts ago. But no, life took that idea and had a good laugh with it.

I haven’t weighed myself on purpose this week. I don’t want to do it daily, but rather weekly, and track it over time to see if I am losing weight.

So, please stay tuned and see along with me if I make it below 141 after my very first week EVER at the gym…

 

 

Losing 20 pounds – post 7

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I did it.

I joined a gym.

This is a first for me and I’m not going to lie. I feel… nervous and apprehensive. I always pictured gyms as large sweaty rooms full of people trying to show each other up. I’m hoping I’m wrong but I guess I won’t know till I’m there.

Fortunately, my husband is a trainer-quality gym-goer so I am in very good hands for my first session, which will likely be tomorrow. If it wasn’t for him,  I’d be struggling far greater. I truly have only been inside a gym maybe three times my whole forty-year life.

I want to slap the 28 year-old me who took for granted a super fast metabolism. I should have been nurturing it and appreciating it.

But yes, hindsight is twenty/twenty.

Now, pictures of myself are becoming harder to look at. Quite simply, I am not happy with the way I look.

I should mention this is extremely personal. It is NOT a statement on how others should feel about themselves at any given weight. It’s about feeling good about oneself and if there is something you want to change to make that greater, then you should, as long as it’s done in a positive way.

For me, this means losing twenty pounds. That’s my truth and what I’ve determined will make me feel better about my body and my health. If I want to be around for a lot longer, I have to take steps to help ensure that, no?

And I’ve tried the past several months and appreciate all of you who have come along with me, but now, still weighing in at 141, I’m pulling out the big guns.

I’m a certified first-time gym member.

Stay tuned…

 

Losing 20 pounds – post 6

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Hello again. It’s me, the same 141-pound woman who is trying to lose weight but keeps failing at it.

I’m still at that above weight mark. Fortunately, I haven’t gained more but I am not losing either and am getting beyond frustrated.

But then, leave it to my loving husband, to bring me to reality and tell me the real reason my weight loss plan is not going as well as I’d hope –

I drink too much wine.

There’s nothing like a glass of wine or two after a long restaurant shift but that’s 300+ empty calories I’m taking in. There’s nothing like a glass of wine as I write my latest article but wouldn’t some green tea be a much healthier pairing? There’s nothing like a fun happy hour on the weekends but really, is three glasses necessary followed by more at dinner?

When I think about how much I involve wine in my life, I realize it’s likely the reason I am struggling with losing weight. As my husband pointed out to me, my eating habits have gotten healthier and are not bad. It’s the extra calories and carbs that come along with this beloved beverage of mine (yet another unhealthy one…)

So, here it is. I need to be honest with myself. I am going to drink much less. I will likely be grumpy about it but I know it will help with my weight loss goals, not to mention it’s just plain healthier living.

Wish me luck. I’m gonna need it.

And thank you all for following along on this journey of mine. Your support means a lot to me.

XO

Quitting Diet Coke – uh oh

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I’ve been dreading writing this post. In fact, a friend of mine just last night asked me about my Diet Coke addiction and I told her the post was coming, knowing full well I should have written it by now… Thankfully, she reminded me I shouldn’t wait any longer.

So here goes…

When I went to Palm Springs March 21-23, I allowed myself a few Diet Cokes. Hey, I was on vacation, so I gave myself a pass.

But then, I returned home and went without them for a bit but then allowed a couple here and there. I have by no means returned to drinking that dark bubbly liquid but I would say I’ve allowed about four or so and I’ve only been back three backs.

See, I opened the door and unfortunately, the timing sucks.  I remembered how helpful it can be for losing weight and if you’ve been following my other series, you can appreciate that a DC is helpful. If you opt for this soda, it has no sugar. And for me, it can tide me over all morning/afternoon, letting me have my first meal in the later afternoon without batting an eye and for intermittent fasting, that is awesome.

I should mention I don’t drink coffee so without it,  intermittent fasting is much more difficult.

BUT NO

I have to stop myself. I’m better off without it, keeping it in very small doses, for traveling and weddings and such :) so I just have to come up with another solution.

FYI I have not gained weight but I haven’t lost either.

The struggle is so real people. And for me, it’s daily.

Still weighing in at 141.

Stay tuned….

I had a Diet Coke

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I admit it. I had a Diet Coke.

But please! Allow me a story before you make judgement…

My husband and I went on a little getaway this past weekend after we both had some big deadlines to hit for our careers. He’s finishing producing/mixing an EP album and I just finished Part 2 of the book I’m writing, which was the big one of it!

Anyway, we went south east to lounge in natural hot springs (nature’s jacuzzi) in the middle of Palm Desert, CA. It was awesome. We got to know each other even better than we do while getting out with nature and just breathing.

BUT

Something I like to do on vacay is have a Diet Coke.

I know, I know. It’s not ideal but I like to splurge while vacaying and well, DC is part of that so….

I allowed myself a few. I have not, however, had one since we’ve been back (Sat) and I’m okay without any.

SO……..

I was thinking. Can I be a limited DC drinker?

Now, I get it. I sound like an alcoholic asking if they can have the occasional drink…

But here’s the thing. What if I can? Is it so bad to have a few DC’s throughout the YEAR?

I quit the daily disgusting habit but a handful throughout the year…. well….

I know it will come down to if this opened the gateway for me to DC destruction. I do not plan to allow it but I will write again about this in a month to either assure you I haven’t touched Diet Coke or to admit I was woefully wrong.

Stay tuned…