Day 10

The word or the picture built inside the head of what constitutes a proper diet can be crazy and shit scary. Trust me on that! One shouldn’t sink in the euphoria of a battle half won for the world has its own way of catching with up us like fish caught in the net.  At least, it holds true in my case right now.

Many of you may be aware that I was facing a cholesterol issue since last year where the test verged from hitting 6 and again 5, the borderline rate which greatly increases the risk of heart issues. A doctor friend prescribed statin drug that I took for one whole month and there was a drastic change in lifestyle, right from jogging regularly to flushing out red meat, butter, fritters and removing fat from the body. December end seemed to be a relief where I was successfully able to cut the bad cholesterol by half. It was a big achievement in itself that deserved a Facebook status and rightfully earned likes. I was on cloud 9. After all, the never-say-die attitude paid big time.

The medication was stopped for a long three and a half months but I never ceased doing the regular yoga practice or jogging at the park. But, there is one thing where I perhaps failed, the sweet and good food indulgence.  Remember, I have a sweet tooth. Slowly, the butter and fried stuff like fish fingers made a rare appearance on the table. I again paid a heavy price. This week, the cholesterol test was taken again after fasting for 12 hours and the moment the needle pierced the thumb, I was silently pinning for a miracle to get away from the demon. Lady luck didn’t smile at me this time. The dreaded number six flashed right in front of my eyes. Another gentle reminder to pull the sock. Time to cut the flab.

Resisting to temptation is the biggest challenge for me. A change in lifestyle remains the biggest priority. I met someone in the morning while running errands and the wise uncle told me a true fact, remove the word diet from my mind since it is very intimidating. Better call it, a change in lifestyle. Yes! Lifestyle, I repeat. The right word to alter perception and of course, a close friend told me on WhatsApp how the mind is busy wrecking havoc in driving us to the wall. The physical and psychological are one but not two separate entities. You are the soul that has mind, body, and society, he tells. What a beautiful explanation!

Keep running and walking with focus on the NOW. Another friend tells me.  I shall make the required changes in the lifestyle and items such as butter, fats or oily stuff shall be deleted from the food table. The weekly jogging trip will be increased from twice to thrice and sweetmeats will hit a pause from my life. It’s been a pretty hectic week. Often, we don’t think about health consequences and take life for granted. We have to make the necessary adjustment to benefit our well-being, something that we compromise too often. I wage the battle again for enough is never really enough. After a pause with reading, I am making time for it as well and just started reading, Shashi Kapoor, The Householder, the Star.

Of course, work deserves our topmost priority and this week is critical between meeting deadlines and medicines fiddling with the body. I take the challenge again to cut fat forming through the blood and fighter keeps it going. I shall achieve the target. Tomorrow, there is going to be a bacha party where our young friend in the neighborhood turns two. I shall keep it neat and watch folks munch happily, except a rare taste of pastry,

Cya soon

V