Medical day...

[fajrdrako]

I went to my regular doctor today. This appointment was made last winter, a follow-up to check on my blood pressure. Good, good news: my blood pressure was 117/75. I was astounded, though delighted. When I think it's up, it's down. When I think it's down, it isn't. What's with that?

The doctor told me I was in good health (and reassured me on a matter that I'd been worrying about). She told me to lose ten pounds - me, I'm going for twenty!

As I left her office, she stared at my limp. "You've a way to go," she said sympathetically. "It's a long haul."

Yeah. I took the wrong bus to get to her office: I thought the #2 was going along O'Connor, like the #7 does, to bypass the construction on Bank St. Not at all. It's using Lyon St. So I had to walk from Somerset and Lyon to MacLaren and O'Connor... which would be a piece of cake if I had two good feet. As it was: ouch. I was exhausted.

But maaseru turned up in the waiting room, and we had lunch together in the cafeteria there, which was wonderful. I had a hot chicken sandwich and fries. No, not good-diet food, but delicious.

Surprisingly, I ran into Tom (whom I work with) at the doctor's building. He offered to drive me back to work. But I wasn't going back - I took the rest of the afternoon off, and maaseru and I went shopping. Motor Medic, Cotton Ginny, Loblaw's, Lee Valley.... and a necessary cold drink at McDonald's.

I made gazpacho for supper. What joy to be using the kitchen again.

Comments

[laitosto.livejournal.com]

My systolic number is always 20 points higher in the doctor's office. Since my bp is borderline, my doctor "suggested" that I take my bp every other day or so. The variation is interesting.

I've been doing the No S diet (http://www.nosdiet.com/) for the last 4 months. The core of the diet is:

No Snacks
No Sweets
No Seconds
Except (sometimes) on days that start with "S"

It is less a diet and more a way of creating better habits. These are my problem areas. The "S days" give me a safety valve so I'm not inclined to throw the whole thing out the window. I'm within a couple pounds of where I want to be and I hope to continue to eat this way to maintain it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a great system! And a good approach. I'm not good at diets that take a lot of prep time; I liked the South Beach Diet but spent way too much time chopping vegetables.

On the other hand, chopping vegetables can pay off. I made gazpacho last night, and mightily enjoyed it.

Does fruit count as 'sweets'? No, you don't need to answer, I'll check the website...

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Good news on the blood pressure, but yikes about the bus. I still have horrible flashbacks to trying to find the British Academy while on crutches. I finally hailed a cab, and bless him, the cabbie didn't charge me because it turned out I was only about two blocks away, but the Academy is in a cul-de-sac that's not on the flippin' A to Z!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I thought everything was listed in A to Z! I'm sure I was at the British Academy once... but everything is more difficult when on crutches.

I can walk better, but I still can't walk far.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I thought everything was listed in A to Z! I'm sure I was at the British Academy once...

You'd think! Actually, it's not technically a cul-de-sac, but it looks like one, because of the way that the driveway/car park works, and the signage absolutely sucks (one small plaque behind a column). It's a white stone building with square columns out front, set back from the road with parallel lines of car parking cutting across the front of it. It's also kind of run down inside with one tiny little catering elevator, which I had to take up and down because, well, crutches.

I'm going back to London in a couple of weeks, and the first thing I thought was "Yay! No crutches this time!" And one of my friends is playing a gig in town that week, so the timing, though accidental, is perfect!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oooh, congratulations - allow me to be envious on the trip to London. Feels like ages since I've been there.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

It's actually a free accident — I have to go to a conference elsewhere, and they're paying my way. But since I had a layover in London, I just asked them to extend it for a few days, so I get to visit, essentially, for free! I'm not much for flying anymore, really, it's just too much hassle, so at least I can combine trips. I'll be seeing friends from Montreal and Jo'burg...in Norway.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

London - a wonderful place for a layover. I'm sure you'll make the most of it!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I feel for you re the construction on Bank Street. My main semi-direct route from home to work (which is also, badly coincidentally, from Home to work) is under major construction that won't be done for another year. They are making a two- and three-lane road into a four-lane one. Ugh. Interesting, however, to get to watch the construction while we sit waiting in line! Seriously -- I love that stuff.

Your doctor was kind and honest. Yes, I'm sure you do have a way to go. Your body will be able to make progress only at its own rate, and you won't know what that is beforehand, so it may be hard not to get frustrated, discouraged, impatient. But you'll be back to your former abilities, eventually. Remember John, the clown? See. There!

Good for you about the bp. All the good vibes that people have been sending you might have had something to do with that! hee

Umm... what is gazpacho?

I made sausage and onions and potatoes in my slow-cooker overnight. Gad, was that a wonderful scent to wake up to today! Next time, I may add lots more potatoes, and carrots and other veggies too. And cut up the sausage into smaller pieces, first. It made a wonderful lunch. And I have lots left over at home.

Yep, it's a joy to be in the kitchen!

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

Gazpacho is basically salad soup, served ice cold, and perfect for hot and humid weather like we've been having this week in Boston. I made a large bowl of it myself on Wednesday and we've been enjoying it since then (there's still some left!).

Many congratulations to fajrdrako on getting back to the kitchen again. That is great news.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yup, it's great to be doing stuff in the kitchen again.

We all polished off yesterday's gazpacho, but I think I have enough ingredients still to make another batch. Yay! And I've garnered a few other cold soup recipes for further use.

I'm rather fond of avocado-cucumber soup, myself, as a summer delicacy. (If not a staple.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Gazpacho is a cold soup made with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers and green onions (and usually other things) blended together. Very good, very nutritious, highly recommended for hot summer days.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

And thanks to prompting, I remember it now, and... sorry to you both, I remember that I don't care for it! Oops!

I am finding that I am somewhat allergic to tomatoes; that may have something to do with it.

But it does sound lovely. Honest.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I was allergic to tomatoes for a while, too. Which is a shame, because I like tomatoes. They seem to be all right now - most of the time.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

My allergies vary, too. Always taking me by surprise. "Oh, I can't eat bananas today, huh?"

Maybe it has to do with the overall level of "load" of stress on my system. Maybe.

I like tomatoes, too. I have a grape tomato plant, and a pigmy "porch" tomato plant growing right now, and both have fruits on them. Waiting to see if they ripen. Last year I had heirloom yellow pear tomatoes, and sadly none of them came up by themselves in the same bed of ground. I was hoping.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Allergies are strange things. I have been, this year, freer of allergic reactions than usual - which is good. But funny things happen... I had a small reaction to a can of iced tea the other night, for example.

And I can feel seasonal allergies starting. Oh dear. Might have to go back to taking Claritin - though I hope not.