Now that I’m in medical school, I diagnose everybody, including myself.  And I’m pretty sure I have a vitamin deficiency.  I probably don’t, but either way I think I need to start eating healthier.

I have a long history of deciding I need to be healthier and then not following through.  My freshman year of college I decided I was going to start playing racquetball for exercise.  So I went out and bought a new racket and some racquetballs…I only used them once.  Sophomore year I decided I would go rock climbing.  So I ordered some fancy rock climbing shoes on Ebay…I only used them once and have since sold my shoes to some other sucker who thinks he’s going to start rock climbing.  Junior year my best friend and I decided to buy FitPasses from the rec center so we could start taking Turbo Kick classes…we quit after about five classes and made a pact to forget we ever bought them.

I do the same thing with eating healthy.  I am always in the store and think, “I should eat healthier.  I’ll buy some yogurt!”  I have thrown out more yogurt than I care to admit.

Ever since I started med school, it’s really been on my mind to eat healthier, especially after spending two weeks in the clinic and seeing so many overweight people who struggle with diabetes and the myriad of problems that go along with it.  I just feel like I won’t be able to talk to patients about eating healthy if I don’t do it myself.

It’s not that I am a really unhealthy eater, but my diet could definitely use some work.  I made some goals for myself, and I hope to at least accomplish some, if not all, of them.  For instance, my friends will attest that my usual lunch is microwave mac & cheese, which is not exactly rich in vitamins and nutrients.  So I made a goal to stop eating mac & cheese for lunch.  I’ll let you know as soon as I fall off the wagon.  Maybe by telling everyone about it, I’ll stick to it.

My problem with eating healthy has always been motivation.  I have never had to eat right or exercise to look good.  I have always been underweight, and I have always eaten a lot of junk food.  So why eat healthy?

I want to eat healthier because someday I won’t have the metabolism that I do now.  I want to be healthy, not just thin.  And, I hope to someday teach my children how to eat right and be healthy individuals, which I think is really important in today’s society.  And, ultimately, I want to be a good example for my patients.

I’m still planning on eating some junk food, especially when I study for blocks, but I am going to try to eat more fruits and vegetables.  I’m going to start taking my multivitamins again.  And, I’m going to give up the mac & cheese for lunch.  They’re pretty simple goals, but they’re a start.