Adding insult to injury

It was a beautiful day here in Oklahoma -- seventy-some degrees, sun shining, spring fever rising . . . and how did I spend a portion of it? In the doctor's office, getting the results from the tests done a few weeks ago. Great, great, everything looks great, the physician's assistant told me, except your blood pressure's a little high.

Well, yeah. Like, every person in my mother's family has high blood pressure. Why should I be an exception? I knew going in that I'd be coming out with new medication.

But first, the PA said, let's talk about adding some physical activity to your daily routine.

Excuse me? I walk 45 minutes a day. Me, the former couch potato, the former huffer-and-puffer. I walk. Fast. Burning calories. Pumping blood.

Okay, the PA said. Let's talk about dietary changes. You could lose ten pounds or so.

Having high blood pressure isn't enough? I have to listen to a kid maybe half my age casually mention that I could stand to lose ten pounds?? (Wonder what my pressure would have been then.) (A nice kid, granted, but still . . .)

Lose ten pounds. I can do that . . . and I'm real good at finding them again. I love chocolate. Snickers. Hershey's Kisses. Peanut M&Ms. An occasional Reese's Cup. Bit O' Honey . . . oh, man, I LOVE Bit O' Honeys! And I'm not one of those who can savor one piece and be satisfied. No, no. One leads to another leads to half a bag.

Have you ever figured how much fast, blood-pumping, calorie-burning walking you have to do to burn off one Snickers? It's waaay depressing.

Good thing warm weather's coming, because one of the few things I love more than chocolate is working outside. I've got a new tomato bed to build, some trees to cut down, some heavy-duty weeds to trim. I'll lose those ten pounds, or raise my blood pressure trying. Rachel9:16 PM