Dear Liver, I feel so betrayed. I have been focused on eating properly and proud of exercising routinely. I was prepared for the doctor to say something like “woo-hoo great job”. Instead we had the talk. Since my doctor is much younger than I am he says things like “it comes with age”. Really little boy? Does it? Child, I am fully age aware every morning as I get out of bed as it sounds like popping bubble wrap and feels like various bones are breaking. Just when one gets used to a new wrinkle, silver starts showing up in the hair. Get used to that and an old knee injury turns chronic on what is now the last ski run one will ever take. So now organs are rebelling? Great. It’s not Dr. Babyface’s fault. He’s only trying to help. As a matter of fact he spent a lot of time investigating happened. Here’s what we found and the reason I feel betrayed.
The past 6 months I eliminated many unhealthy foods. I completely cut out Diet Coke, drink less alcohol, less red meat, cut out processed foods etc. Imagine my shock when I am suddenly in a dangerous range. The young doctor saw the look of horror on my face and started the investigation. “What’s changed in the last 6 months?” It turns out in my quest to be healthy that smoothies made with a low calorie almond milk contain over 2 grams of the worst kind of fat! In another twist, the organic/non GMO/Omega 3 bread also low calorie contained another gram. So my healthy smoothie-a-day was trying to kill me. I don’t like taking prescription drugs so he gave me 3 months to bring it back down on my own. He graciously said “you did it before so maybe you can do it again but the obstacles are genetics and age”. Challenge accepted.
I often wonder if I had a time machine, I would go back and tell my young self to take better care of this body. The answer is no. I wouldn’t miss a minute; not one mogul flying down a mountain, not one wipe-out, not one vodka, not one all night party, not one tamale, not one prime rib… I would tell my young self just do it. It was all worth it. As the jaded young doctor says, “it comes with age” anyway right? Perhaps my attitude is how I ended up here. Truthfully this time products labeled healthy were poisonous. At least now I have more ammunition to fight the inevitable with everything I have. So dear liver, you are on notice for the next 3 months. The great experiment begins.
Note from Dr. Babyface: Look for monounsaturated fats in all nut milks such as Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk- (click on Nutrition facts ) It shows 30 calories, no saturated fats. Great right? Wrong.
Note from Me: Damn it now I have to give up chips and salsa. (Stay tuned for solar cooked sweet potato and beet chips)
shenaniganswithleannagainwebdotme 