Life's Personal Trainers, part 1

A two-part blog entry
(yes two parts, because I poured my heart and soul into this and had a little too much to say
and because it was a journey most people would've wanted to take but usually aren't able to, so I wanted to share my on-going journey.)


A little early this year, I had started this whole “must-get-fit!” mantra. I’ve always meant to take it seriously, but after high school, healthy eating habits, self-control and exercise take the backseat to studies, philosophizing, studies, theologizing, studies, socializing and even more studies – it just didn't seem to be as important as other priorities.

When I entered med school, the priority list piled up even further, and the fitness goal was pushed further back to the trunk (car analogies, hihi). It wasn’t until during the endocrine module, when we discussed diabetes mellitus in detail, that health, in my life, was suddenly put into perspective.

My mother had been diagnosed with diabetes and has been (or atleast appeared to be) okay with it. Her reaction to her disease was basically surrendering to it; she felt she was past trying to do anything about it (her weight, her health and her unhealthy lifestyle), besides she had her insulin and enough meds to mask any symptoms or manifestations of the disease. I always thought, since it made her happy to live her lifestyle and because she is my mother (and therefore ALWAYS right and all-knowing), I didn’t think I could do anything about it.

Studying in the ASMPH however, I was bombarded with the idea of family systems, holistic therapy, and the broader perspective of health complemented with highly scientific clinical training and further details on the disease – specifically diabetes (as it was the cause of the most common diseases for almost every module).

Suddenly, I was empowered to do something about MY health. No, not JUST to become SCHMEXY, as most of my batch mates might think, but to somehow try to inspire my family to do the same.

Being the poster child for an unhealthy med student – I spent all my time in front of the computer, studying her trans, eating junk food, drinking caffeine (oodles and oooodles of coke!), and lazy as a bum, the change was not the least bit comfortable or easy. What kept me motivated was the idea that if I could show my family that it can be done – a real lifestyle change – they would be inspired to join me.

And so began my journey.