Being Healthy?

Our Human Resources organised our Human Resource Open Day, where they invited various organisations and agency to encourage healthy living. I wasn't supposed to be here. But when they saw me, the HR GM and my Boss, "coaxed me" to do series of tests. Some good news, some bad news and some news.

First the bad news. I've been advised to lose weight and only eat about a quarter of portion for rice! I'll start that, very soon. Ramadan is coming and I need to be careful what I eat. And I need to do a little shopping, but my car is still in the workshop, it's been a while now and I am afraid what the bill will be. I am a little tight and extra mouth to feed will not help matters. There's almost nothing in my apartment in Kota Bharu. Maybe canned sardines will do for breaking of fast, I guess, in addition to quarter portions. I need to shed about 20 kg pronto.

Next some news. Needless to say, my blood pressure was high and same goes for my cholesterol. I really need to be more disciplined with my medication. I've been taking medication for my hypertension and my cholesterol. That needs to continue. While I target to lose weight. As an added pressure, my Boss has even introduced a company Biggest Loser competition, to see who sheds the kilos and pounds. Now my weight will be public knowledge! Gasp! Also, I need to resume exercising. I've been depending on my steps for a few months now and stopped planking as I injured my arm. Finally, it feels much better now. So, that's another thing on my to do list.

The good news? My sugar is healthy and same goes for my ECG. But still the weight needs to be shed. Target? Some kilos by June....

Not so good news? I need to go through a sleep study for sleep apnea. Apparently, the quality of our sleep plays a very important role in our life. From being lethargic, sleepy, added body weight, mood swings etc.

I am sharing an article from the Mayo Clinic about sleep apnea. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631#:~:text=Sleep%20apnea%20is%20a%20potentially,you%20might%20have%20sleep%20apnea.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you might have sleep apnea.

The main types of sleep apnea are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs

• Central sleep apnea (CSA), which occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing

• Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, also known as complex sleep apnea, which happens when someone has OSA — diagnosed with a sleep study — that converts to CSA when receiving therapy for OSA

I am preparing for the worst where I need to sleep with this for the rest of my life. What is this?

CPAP Machine

The ENT specialist has already told me to expect to get this in the future. I'm going to say no no if any surgery is suggested. I am a firm believer that when we cut something, something else just as important will be cut and it will spiral out of control, if not now, later. Do they have a smaller size? Something more portable? Don't tell me I need to buy one for Kota Bharu and one for KL

As a rule, I would do an annual executive health screening. I did one last year. Time to do one this year. What did they discover last year? Same as what they discovered in the compressed study I did. I wanted to lose by pudginess, I lost it and piled it on again. So let's see if I can keep off, 10 kg during Ramadan and Syawal. Not all that easy when I've already received breaking of fast events in Kota Bharu.

Anyway, the doctors said I should just continue with what I am doing, I have a mug of oats, half boiled eggs and 2 toasted brown bread. They said that's good, except for the lunch and dinner portions. Quarter, they reminded me a few more times and as I was walking away. So, my weight is a major cause for concern. I have this dream of wearing my college clothes....

I'll be happiest if I am able to shed and maintain losing 20kg. And with that Biggest Loser hovering and with the sleep apnea being tackled? I really might shed a few kilos and maintain it. We shall see.