I'm going to come right out and admit it, I'm not the most active person in the world and posting this pic doesn't prove I've done anything.
But this is a sign post from my favorite bike trail.
***
I was at the doctor the other day to talk about a script for my terror of the dentist. I need a few fillings done and can barely keep my head together long enough to let the dentist even look at my teeth. I have no idea where this terror came from, I never had a problem at the dentist before, but a few weeks back, I go to the dentist about a broken wisdom tooth and BANG! Panic attack. Weird, right?
At any rate, the dentist says that they don't believe in writing "that kind of prescription" and recommends that I learn some coping techniques and by the way, will you still be at your appointment on Tuesday? So I asked my regular doctor.
Regular doctor says, I don't normally like to prescribe anxiety meds either, but you need your teeth and your teeth need work, so we'll get you through it.
Then she starts talking about how my BMI is very high, and that's a concern for her and should be for me. And I'll apologize in advance to the people who created it, but the BMI chart is total bullshit if you're not of average height and build, which let's face it, is practically nobody.
If you know me personally, you know that I'm kinda chunky. I don't cause earthquakes when I walk or anything, I'm not being overly hard on myself, I'm heavier than I should be and I'm aware of it. According to the BMI chart I'm well into obese territory.
So the doctor and I have a long talk, where I tell her, No, I don't drink much soda, mostly I drink water, unsweetened tea and flavored seltzer. No, not much fatty junk food. I do eat more fast food than I should, but that's largely because I have an incredibly erratic work schedule and it makes it difficult for me to get down any kind of routine.
No, I don't sleep or eat on the same schedule everyday, see above about my work schedule. I might work a closing shift, a day shift, and early morning and a mid-shift (11-7) all in one week. My start time could be anywhere between 5 am and 2 pm. So short of finding another job, routine is going to be a hard one.
So she starts talking to me about being more active. Now, keep in mind, during this whole visit, every time they leave me alone in the exam room, I'm texting with a friend about going hiking that afternoon.
But the point I'm trying to make about BMI is this. I'm short with wide hips and broad shoulders. A few years back, I was walking to work everyday, and working in a pretty physically demanding job (lots of heavy lifting). I was the lightest I've even been in my adult life. The doctor I was seeing at the time, had told me that I shouldn't let myself lose anymore weight because it wouldn't be healthy.
And according to the BMI chart, I was still obese!
How is this an accurate measure of anything?
I get that I'm heavier than I should be, I know I should be in better shape, but what happens when I get there and I'm still obese according to that chart? Will this doctor admit that I'll never be ok according to that chart? Or will I continue to be hounded about where I land on an arbitrary color-coded graph?
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