Dieting and Healthcare Adventures

Six months ago I went to a new endocrinologist.  This was after running around to several doctor's who's response to a hormone deficiency was, "You have a low hormone.  Here's a pill."  No questions as to why, no further tests on the specific hormone.  I don't know that the pill popping phenomenon any different here than, say Canada, England or America.  I probably should have just left that list to America as I have never been to England (although this week I've been asked twice if I'm English) and I've merely driven through and visited Canada more times than I have ever cared to count

(I do love Canada, just in case you were wondering).

My doctor's response, following a series of labs that I'm quite sure tested every hormone in my body, was to take pills for five days and to loose weight over the course of six months.  

The diet conversation went something like this:

He asked me what I did for exercise.  At the time I was doing BeachBody RevAbs.  Its a six month work out series that runs you through a lot of strength and interval training.  You end up exercising anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour every day, six days per week.  A few sentences into my description he stopped me and said I was probably getting more exercise than he does.

We moved on to the food list.  No bread.  No pizza.  (I eat pizza maybe three times per year.)  No pide - a pizza-like food.  No sweets.  No chocolate.  No burgers.  No fried foods.  No pastries/food found at any tea in any neighborhood on any afternoon of the week.  Eat fish once per week.  Eat lots of vegetables.  Eat winter fruits, they have less sugar.

I took the pills.

I gained weight.

The weight gain was a combination of lack of self control, eating all the fun things my visiting friends were eating, and well...Christmas cookies.

Of course the exercise also changed.  I started running again.  I waffled around with weights and Pilates.  I went skiing once.  I started climbing at a bouldering gym off and on.  I ran a 10k.  And now I'm training for another 10k.

Last weekend I went to my endocrinologist again, cringing as the kilometres ticked by.  Same tests.  This time after the tests I was to see a dietician.  Okay, this would be new.  I've never seen one of those in my entire life.  That is, unless you count the owners of my favorite coffee shop who happen to be dieticians.  I have seen them.  With my eyes.  I've even talked to them.  About...studying grammar, reading the newspaper, or the funny thing they found on YouTube.  So I suppose that doesn't exactly count.

Last time I had my tests at a private lab for the tune of over 500 TL.  This time I had them done at the teaching hospital my doctor is connected with to the tune of less than 100 TL.  Thank you SGK!  Slightly less personal care and I did get to carry my pee-in-a-cup with me all over the hospital.

After all the tests were said and done it was time to see the dietician.  Not knowing what to expect I had asked a friend to come with me.  I don't think she had the chance to say much of anything in the appointment, but I was glad for her presence.

He weighed and measured me, asked me why I was there, asked what diagnosis I'd been given.  All the usual.  Then he asked me if I exercise.  I told him I run.  Got as far as saying how far I had run on Tuesday and how far I'm running on Saturday (8 and 10k respectively, the race is in two weeks!).  Didn't get to tell him about lifting, my total weekly kilometers, rock climbing, or the race.  He came to the conclusion that my weight gain was the result of...food.

The conversation then turned to food.  Yes, I eat too much sugar.  He described a normal meal - soup, salad, main dish.  How many pieces of bread would I eat with it.  I said maybe one.  Really, only one?  Yes, really, only one.  (I think the average person might eat four or more, but I can't be positive.)  The conversation went on.  He printed off his list and instructions for me.  I'm to loose 8 kilos in 4 months.  Okay, I'm okay with that.  By eating the way he wants me to.  Okay with that, too.

Then I got home and I looked at the list.  He only wants me to consume 1400 calories.  Not too okay with that (see training for 10k above).  And there's not that much protein on the list (30 grams of meat, twice per day, 30 grams of cheese twice per day and 2 cups of yogurt or a serving of milk).  The diet will need some...tweaking.

The things present on the list...only relate to national foods.  This fits very well with my experience up to now.  In general, national foods are the preferred and international foods are to be avoided.  If the food is not recognizable and familiar, it is not attempted.  So sushi?  Nope, not on the list.  Curry?  Nope.  Fish is fortunately on the list.  But oatmeal?  Nope.  Pancakes?  Again, not present.  Tweaking....

I go back to the hospital today to pick up my labs.  I'm pretty sure they will say that I'm still alive.  (5 vials of blood later...or was it 4?)  Tomorrow I go back to the doctor for follow-up.  We will be having a conversation about 1400 daily calorie consumption while running 15 - 18 miles per week.  And then?  Who knows.  I'll keep you posted on the community's reaction to dieting.  It's going to be a fun ride.  Minus sushi not being on the list.