What’s up Doc? A perfect Checkup!

Let’s go back to May, 2008. The day my Dr. called me fat!




Every spring, around my birthday, I get a checkup. I was 39, a regular at the gym, and feeling OK about myself. Sure I seemed to be a little heavier on the scale, but I had not really noticed a change. Binge drinking once a week, fine. I was fit, right?

So there I was for the ‘08 annual physical. The scale read 185 lbs: Ouch! And although I was taking Lipitor, Doc discussed upping my dosage because my cholesterol level was still borderline high. That is when my Dr. took out a blank sheet of paper and plotted a simple graph. Looking back through my chart over the years, on one axis he listed my weights and across the bottom he plotted dates. You see - each year for the past 6, I had gained 2-3 pounds. Then Doc connected the dots and kept on going.
He looked at me: “Mark – if you keep this up you are going to weigh 200 lbs by the time you are 45.”

I had never hated my Doctor more. I was really pissed. But funny thing was, I was angry at him. Did my Dr. just call me fat? What does he know!

Through that summer and fall, I did nothing about it. But I was still pissed. Slowly but surely, I started to accept the fact that my Dr. was not the problem, it was me. Spin classes and bicep curls were getting be nowhere. That winter I was 185 still or more. And in May I was going to turn 40. I was starting to freak out and I needed to do something.

Feb 1, 2009 - Divine intervention in the form of CrossFit Oldtown opening up 6 blocks from my house. I had been to a personal trainer on that block, and I was intrigued at this new place opening up. What the heck was this Crossfit? So I walked in and put is all out there for one Jerry Hill. “I am turning 40 in 3 months and I am in the worst shape of my life – can you help?” I said.

I remember his response clear as if it were today. He paused, seemed to count the calendar in his head, then “ 12 weeks, yeah – we can really make some progress in 12 weeks”

I joined the next day, and as you all know, the story is much happier of late. I am hooked like crack on Crossfit and it is good for me. I have wildly exceeded my expectations and best of all:

You should have seen my Doctor’s expression today!
*Weight: 162 lbs.
*Blood pressure – 100/60. Pulse 55.
*Prescriptions – none.
*Cholesterol (without Lipitor) just fine!

In fact, Doc asked me to confirm that I was 40, because he thought I was 30. He also asked what I do for exercise; maybe I could give him some pointers.

Best of all, I made him dig though my charts, and find that damn graph from 2 years ago. We have re-plotted! And yeah, now I love going to get a checkup. And Doc is a big fan of Crossfit.