CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE MEDICAL KIND

The oddest thing about me using Close Encounters of the Third Kind as the inspiration for today's blog is that I have never seen this 1977 movie directed by Steven Spielberg.

I have however, seen the actual 'Devil's Tower' in Wyoming where the finale of this movie takes place.

Summer 2011.  A rare photo of myself on vacation.  Vacations were not rare.  That I would want to be in a photo was rare. In 2011, I might easily have still been 30 pounds or more away from my final 'destination' of 309 lbs, three years later in December of 2014. I did not look as horrible back then as I would three years later, but the direction of my weight gain was already wildly out-of-control.  And things only got worse from that point.

After my 'wellness exam' on Thursday,  I received an automated email from my doctor's office detailing my office visit, The email included the specific blood work tests that were ordered as well as parts of my medical history.  The part of this email that I enjoyed the most is reproduced below:

Within 366 days, according to this chart, I had five 'CLOSE' ENCOUNTERS with my doctor.  The most recent encounter is at the top of the chart and the most distant encounter is at the bottom.  As you can see, my beginning weight was listed at 313.8 lbs.  You have seen my write all year that I stated my journey at 309 lbs.  At the doctor's office, the weigh-ins take place while clothed, so I subtracted the weight of the clothes that I was wearing to calculate my original starting weight.  For some reason, my home scale has been consistently wrong.  My scale always shows me about two pounds HEAVIER than the doctor's $2000+ scale.  The funny thing is, the doctor has told me more than once that I am the ONLY patient who 'complains' about this.  He claims that most of his patients complain about his scale showing them to be a bit heavier than their home scales.  I have always been a bit different. This chart is enjoyable to me, as it 'proves' without a doubt that my weight loss journey was real. (I realize that my photographs offered some very solid proof as well)  But here it is in black and white (actually gold and black).  On December 24, 2014 from the perspective of my doctor, I did weigh 313.8 lbs with a morbidly obese BMI of 42.0 and an elevated blood pressure. And there it is too, my readings from the same doctor's office, on the same $2000+ scale, 365 days later: 213 lbs, BMI 28.5 and a solid, healthy blood pressure.  It was while discussing the change in my BMI (body mass index) that my doctor had remarked on Wednesday morning, that I was his hero.  Perhaps 'hero' was a bit much - but I did get the idea that he thought I was some kind of inspiration. I intend to continue to inspire myself. I think there is still some room for a downward direction in my weight. I would like to see what 200 lbs feels like. And perhaps even a smidge lower than that.  There is no rush to get there. My biggest challenge will be to drop some weight or stay where I am. I just cannot allow myself to go backwards!

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, December 27, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Fruit - Medium Apple, 2 Apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
Generic - Chinese Almond Cookie (One Big, 90g Cookie), 2 large cookie	920	104	52	8	180	34
	1,110	154	53	9	184	72
L U N C H
Earthbound Farm - Baby Spinach, Organic, 3 oz	20	3	0	2	65	0
libby's - Sweet Corn, 1.75 cup	210	32	5	7	700	25
Generic - Chinese Almond Cookie (One Big, 90g Cookie), 1 large cookie	460	52	26	4	90	17
	690	87	31	13	855	42
D I N N E R
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH, 85 g (approx 3 oz, two cups)	20	0	0	2	65	0
libby's - Sweet Corn, 0.88 cup	105	16	3	4	350	12
Dyna Sea - Imitation Crab Stick, 2 pieces (85)	90	15	0	7	350	2
	215	31	3	13	765	14
Totals	2,015	271	86	35	1,804	128
Your Daily Goal	3,504	438	116	176	2,300	131
Remaining	1,489	166	29	141	496	3
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,574 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,620
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-46
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	93 / 30	1,574 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1590 / 210	25,357 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2015 calories

total calories (92 minutes elliptical) 1620 calories

total net calories 395 calories

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fitbit day 115

14884 steps

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Although, I did manage a 92 minute session on the elliptical yesterday... Considering how little else I did, it felt like a day off from working out. I am aware that this statement is ludicrous.