Have I Changed?
I have spoken at length about working here in the NHS and the changes that I've had to adapt to. The ones I haven't spoken about are going on with my own body.
First off, I've gained at least a stone (14 pounds) in weight since I've been here. Measured by the difficulty putting on my "fat" jeans. I dare not get on a scale!
Back home I walked everywhere and went to the gym two to three times a week. I only used a car on the weekends. Here I drive to and from work and then I'm either driving from patient to patient or working in a small clinic. I still go to the gym two to three times a week, except the past three weeks during prep and finals for school. I've already been back four times since finishing my last final.
Back home I ate fish and salads constantly. Here everything is fried, covered in some sort of cream sauce, or wrapped in some sort of dough. In New York, if I had potatoes twice a year, it was a lot. Potatoes are a staple with every meal here. Back home fresh vegetables were plentiful (expensive, but plentiful); here mushy peas are considered a green vegetable.
Secondly, with the extra weight I'm snoring more... much, much more. It isn't apnea (my spouse is a sleep specialist so I'm sure about that one) but it isn't a restful sleep.
Third, the extra weight and stress (see previous posts re: school) have caused my blood pressure to go up. I've never had a problem with it before.
Lastly, with all that sitting, driving, studying and weight gain, my lower back is chiming in. McKenzie is my friend!
I used to "tsk-tsk-tsk" people who said that their environment helped make them fat. Now I know better.