Disclaimer: I am excited to be working with Eisai Inc. on the My HealthyTM campaign as it’s exactly in line with my own personal journey to lose weight and become a healthier me.
Imagine that you’re sitting at the doctor’s office and the doctor says, “You’re obese and it’s not healthy for you. As your medical doctor, I advise you to lose weight. ” What would be your response? How would you feel? Would you take heed to what your doctor is saying to you?
Well I had a similar experience but it was not as nice as above. It was more like, “Mr. Evans, you’re fat and you need to start walking.” As insulting as that sounds, it made something click in my head that made me say, “I’m not as healthy as I could be and I need to make a change.”
See, before that conversation that turned my world upside down… I worked in commissioned sales, and was usually on my feet 10+ hours a day and ordered take out every day because I was always on the run. Eventually, it caught up with me. One day I walked into work and felt a sharp pain in my hip. Let me tell you, the pain brought tears to my eyes. I went to my primary care doctor and he recommended that I go to physical therapy. However, after 16 weeks of therapy the pain was still there. So I went to an orthopedic specialist and he said to me, “I know why you’re in pain.” I asked why and he said, “Mr. Evans, it’s because you’re fat and you need to start walking.” I responded with, “Whatever man, I’ll run a marathon,” and the rest was history right? Well not so much…
During the car ride home, I thought about the interactions I had with the doctors for my injury. With the exception of the orthopedic specialist, no one else brought up my weight. I weighed 360 lbs., the heaviest I have ever been. In the past, I was nervous to bring up my weight with my doctors because I felt too uncomfortable to discuss it. However, I always knew it was an important conversation that needed to happen and finally decided to take action.
I thought to myself, “something has to change. It’s not just about losing weight but being the healthiest me that I can be.” So I made a promise to myself — to go to my doctor and get a physical (and, to not be afraid to discuss my weight), eat right, and be active.
The point of this story is that sometimes it’s uncomfortable to have a conversation about weight with your doctor, but being in pain and unhealthy because of your weight feels worse. Especially when you can do something about it and your doctor can help you get there…
Recently I found out about the My Healthy™ movement. It’s all about helping people think differently and positively about their weight and health. There is nothing like being a part of a community with people who share the same goals because they understand where you’re coming from and what you are going through. Another reason that I’m really drawn to the My Healthy™ movement is that it resembles the promise that I initially made to myself when I left the orthopedic specialist’s office.
The My Healthy™ Promise is a commitment to talk openly to your doctor about your weight and health, make healthy food choices, and become more active. I really think successful change boils down to these three principles. It is also really refreshing to see that the My Healthy™ community puts the focus on where it belongs: on health.
I’m excited to have joined the My Healthy™ community! It speaks to everything that I’m about. I recommend that you check out myhealthy.com and see if it’s a good fit for you. Be sure to make the My Healthy™ Promise while you’re there! You can upload pictures of the ways you are making the Promise at myhealthy.com.
Until next time, I’m 300 Pounds and Running
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