I had my follow-up appointment with my doctor today for a progress check on my weight loss. Again, she commended me for my efforts and affirmed that they were paying off. She told me she didn't think we needed to do blood work to check on anything; my weight was going down, my vitals were strong, and from our conversation, she knew I was doing everything right. "Your body loves you right now," she told me with a massive smile.
We talked a little bit about what I was doing, how many steps I'm getting these days, and whether I was sticking with my goal weight as my target. She updated my file on the computer and recommended another check-up in another 6 months. I know that in that moment, we were both imagining where I'd be at that point. I said, "I'll be just about done!" She said, "I won't even recognize you!"
When I told her I had lost 100 pounds since starting this madness, I received another high-five and another "I'm proud of you" to go with the ones I collected from her last time I was there. She complemented those with commendations for checking in with her as an accountability measure rather than to ask for diet pills or other prescription shortcuts. As we were wrapping up, she asked me if I had gotten the flu shot this year. I told her I had already been sick with something flu-adjacent this year, and she said something like, "There are several strains this year. It would still be good to get one. It's the only thing I can offer you!" I laughed, decided it was a good idea, and indulged her need to feel like she had helped her patient. And man, for the first time I can remember, the shot actually kinda hurt. Thanks a lot, enormous arm muscles/possibly sadistic nurse.
Talking about this in medical terms, from a purely scientific standpoint, really helps me. My doctor is able to confirm from a whole other angle that what I'm doing is working, and she tells me with amazement in her voice how great I'm doing by not looking for quick fixes. She's proud of me for tackling my problems head on, for not going on crash diets, and for pushing myself physically without endangering my health. I went straight to the gym after seeing her, and I KILLED it from start to finish. That woman always reminds me how powerful I am!
So, once again, my doctor gave me a shot in the arm. And then, she gave me a literal shot in the arm.
This whole little weight-loss gamble? Worth a shot.