Weight, Cigars, Doctors!

It's very interesting since I'm in practically the same situation.
3 months ago prior to my whole "cigar hobby", I was 172 to 175lbs (at 5' 6", that's a bit on the overweight side) with my blood pressure going north of 140/90, along with "abby normal" liver enzymes.

Fast forward 3 months: I'm at 153 to 155lbs (I want to drop another 5lbs), my bloodpressure's back to 120/75 and my liver enzymes, while not yet in the normal range, is getting better.

The only change: Instead of snacking between meals (more precisely after dinner), I just light up a cigar and grab a glass of port or glass of single malt. I changed virtually nothing else in my lifestyle.

My doctor initially wasn't happy with me smoking cigars, but given the results, he's more then delighted that my weight and blood pressure (which he admitted was much, MUCH more concerning to him than a cigar or two a day--he still isn't happy with my cigar habit, but he sees it as a lesser of two evils) are back down to the "ideal" range.

My cholestrol level is still too high (again improving, but not there yet--I don't think it's possible to drop it that much in just 3 months) and there are still other more liver related issues, but overall I'm feeling better and my doctor's impressed (and happy) with the turn around.

My wife's absolutely delighted with the change in my attitude (no longer as stressed out) and improvements in my health. There would have been no way in hell she would have agreed to letting me slide down the slope as fast otherwise (although, she still won't let me get an ashtray for the treadmill...).
 
Doctors dont get money back/paid for the medicines they/we prescribe..not one red cent, no perks either, not like the old days when you could go to the beach on a pharm rep's tab.

The only way a MD gets paid for "what" he does is if he owns the equipment, such as bone scans, xrays, ultrasound, etc.....at least in my line thats the way it is.
 
bige610 said:
what program did you use to loose the weight. congrats. im trying to loose weight myself but with a pregnant wife we have so much crap in the house
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I started out at 210lbs at 5'10" and generally feeling like crap. I lost 30 lbs over 2 months and have kept it off with a normal diet although I do work out 5 days a week. I didn't have a 'program' per se, basically I cut the carbs completely out for about 3 weeks and dropped about 15lbs. Then I went to a very low carb diet, cheating about once a week on a big bowl of pasta. Then I went back to eating like I always have, which isn't very good. I gained 5lbs, went back to low carb and I've already lost that. I'm trying to lose another 10lbs.

My workout is essentially walking, a lot. I watch an HBO show on dvd for one hour while walking the treadmill at 4.3mph at 3 degree incline. As the credits roll (about 50 minutes in), I run the last 10 minutes at 6.3mph. I typically burn 700+ calories, according to the treadmill anyway. I would then eat a light, carb free breakfast and walk the dog for about 40 minutes at a moderate pace while enjoying a cigar.

I think I'm moving to a South Beach diet type of food. That is, not just 'low carb' but 'smart carb'. This is more of a lifestyle change than a diet. Eating almost no carbs really isn't sustainable. One thing I can't stress enough is to get enough rest and cut stress out of your life if you're able to. I really protect my sleep now and I feel that I can handle stresses that do come up a lot better.

If you have more questions, hit me up on PM.
 
I'm 62 ,,,6'3 280 lbs blood pressure 120/80 no real problems except a bad hip,,tell my doctor I smoke 7 cigars a week and pretty much drink like a fish and he just nods his head and tells me to take my pants down and spread my cheeks for the procto exam...


Jerry (I spread my cheeks so far apart my tongue fell out) in Minnesota.
 
Nice work to all those who lost weight.. Tough to do.

I lost about 25-30 pounds 10 years ago and have managed to keep most of it off so far.
 
congrats on the weight loss & improvement of your health!-i had high BP & high cholesterol not long ago, the first things the doc said were to quit smoking (cigs/pipe/cigars) & to drink decaf coffee-told her i'd do some checking & get back to her-decaf is worse than sex w/a condom & no way i was giving up the pipe/cigars-after some research, it turned out some meds i'm on (prescribed by the same doc) have high BP as a side effect, go figure-i stopped adding salt to my food & quit smoking cigs, also told the doc what i found out & that she needed to prescribe different meds as i wasn't going to take the ones i was on-a couple months later my BP was normal, cholesterol was only 2 points high instead of 20, & i still had my coffee & pipe/cigars-i think docs in general use any excuse they can to tell us we should quit-i've started telling them that i already know the facts about smoking & i'm not paying to hear it again, thank you very much
 
My Cardiologist knows I smoke cigars and never said a word, even my normal every day doc knows and he didn't get on my case. When I was in the emergency room for a panic attack "though i was having a heart attack" the
doc on call told me I should stop smoking cigars it was the only diagnosis on the discharge sheet.. LOL
 
Congratulations on the weight loss and improvement in health. It's always good to see someone decide to better themselves.

I am 5'6" and I weighed 170 in March. I decided to start running, so I did. I ran 2 miles a day, occasionally 5 (2.5 miles, break, then 2.5 miles back). I did stairs. Lots of stairs. God, the stairs. I stopped eating so much bad food. It was intense, but now I'm camping out at 145 because I haven't exercised in 3 months, but I'm getting back to the running. I have maintained 145 for 3 months, so I want to lose some more weight now that I know I can maintain it.

It makes you feel good.
 
Snake Hips said:
Congratulations on the weight loss and improvement in health. It's always good to see someone decide to better themselves.

I am 5'6" and I weighed 170 in March. I decided to start running, so I did. I ran 2 miles a day, occasionally 5 (2.5 miles, break, then 2.5 miles back). I did stairs. Lots of stairs. God, the stairs. I stopped eating so much bad food. It was intense, but now I'm camping out at 145 because I haven't exercised in 3 months, but I'm getting back to the running. I have maintained 145 for 3 months, so I want to lose some more weight now that I know I can maintain it.

It makes you feel good.
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That's an impressive drop! 25 lbs is tough on anyone, and you were not heavy to begin with. Congrats!

I did the same thing, but used a bike instead (my feet will not let me run anymore). Went from 240 to 195 in about 10 months. Feel much better now.
 
I'm all about improving one's health and lifestyle, and feel that the couple of cigars I smoke a day isn't overly detrimental to my health. I also feel that the stress I release and time alone to reflect are beneficial due to the condition I am in most nights after a day on the sales floor.

My doctor pretty much said that as long as I stop smoking cigarretes, the risk of mouth cancer isn't that great. This was a week ago at my full physical. He did mention I am a type A timebomb though.

I'm listening to him and doing well one day at a time although I came close to slipping on the cigarrettes last night over a pint of Guiness on the outside patio at my favorite English pub. Thank God I had a Parti Short in my wife's pocketbook.
 
floydpink said:
I'm all about improving one's health and lifestyle, and feel that the couple of cigars I smoke a day isn't overly detrimental to my health. I also feel that the stress I release and time alone to reflect are beneficial due to the condition I am in most nights after a day on the sales floor.

My doctor pretty much said that as long as I stop smoking cigarretes, the risk of mouth cancer isn't that great. This was a week ago at my full physical. He did mention I am a type A timebomb though.

I'm listening to him and doing well one day at a time although I came close to slipping on the cigarrettes last night over a pint of Guiness on the outside patio at my favorite English pub. Thank God I had a Parti Short in my wife's pocketbook.
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I am a physician and the link between smoking and cancer is VERY proven for lung cancer, bladder cancer and others.

I am also moonlighted at a weight loss center and have seen many men/women shed their medicines for hypertension and diabetes just as fast as their weight.

I think both are VERY important. I would say the complications I see from obesity outweigh what I see for smoking. Smoking causes cancer which is the most dramatic because it causes DEATH.

Obesity causes many other issues that are not as advertised:

1. sleep apnea: silent killer
2. Joint issues: Lead to joint replacements
3. Diabetes: many long term complications
4. hypertension: silent killer

I also focus more on smoking because I feel it is a habit that is more easily borken.

Obesity involves many other issues such as genetics, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle. Many of the issues are not easily addressed later in life. Eating health is not cheap! Fruits and vegetables are very expensive and american lifestyle does not lend itself to health eating. Most patients are struggling to get by in life.I also feel that it is a more difficult thing to to talk to patients about. They know their fat and I am reluctant to make them feel worse about themselves. It sometime hurts patient/physician relationships. Most patients readily accept criticism about their smoking.

It is a very complicated issue!

FYI: I smoke 2-3 cigars a week and also exercise 3-4x/week.(I usually smoke after a good work out!!!)

Ideally I would prefer to smoke only 1X per week but I enjoy way too much in the summer months. In the winter I smoke 1 cigar every 2 weeks or so.

I am much less judgmental about patients smoking and weight.
I had one patient invite me to his cigar club for the night. He was dying from end stage emphysema. I drew the line at that point and could not do it!!
 
Sorry, I was out of town yesterday and today. Thanks for all the feedback!

What bothers me is having to pay for the weight loss which now saves the insurance company a bundle in drugs and supplies. Also had to go through the third degree last year when I had my neck surgery since I made the mistake of telling them I smoked cigars (no inhaling). They even offered me a patch in the recovery room. I asked what that was for and they said they did not want me to be uncomfortable not being able to smoke.

Crap, I go for weeks in the winter without a cigar.

Anyway maybe they will all prove me wrong and I will die skinny of a smoke related disease. Otherwise, I win! :D
 
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