So I had my medication check-up yesterday. For the past month, I have been taking 500 milligrams of Metformin twice daily to help control my insulin resistance from PCOS. Sadly, I have noted little to no change in my blood glucose or my weight (1 pound down – woot! *eye roll*)…
Quick embarrassing story: While I was waiting for the doc to come into the exam room yesterday, I decided to get my push ups out of the way for Heather’s 100 Push-Up Challenge. Yes, doctor’s offices are germ-laden, but I work in a health clinic…nothing there I’m not already exposed to day-in and day-out. As I was on the floor doing my push-ups, my doc walked in. With a medical student. No knock to warn they were entering.They both had a puzzled look on their face and as I climbed up to my feet, blushing, I explained that I was doing push-ups. They thought I was quite committed to be utilizing my wait time so effectively! 😉
Anyway, my doc doubled my dose and I am now prescribed 1,000 milligrams twice daily. While I’m bummed, I understand that I have to do what it takes…and that also means not giving up on weight loss and giving more attention to my eating habits and exercise regimen. What was a tad VERY depressing was the fact that I will likely be on Metformin for the rest of my life. Did I mention I hate taking pills? 🙁
On that note, I have FINALLY started my page on PCOS and Insulin Resistance. Check it out! After reading A Patient’s Guide to PCOS, I feel assured that I’m doing so much right…and that I am NOT alone. There are so many PCOS sufferers out there, and I feel so much better about the situation when I tackle it head-on versus throwing pity parties for myself. So yep, check out the info on PCOS. I put a lot of thought into it and hope that it can help other women and PCOS sufferers find answers and comfort.
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And in honor of my hosting BSI this week…another recipe featuring PAPRIKA! This one, I swear, was a surprise! Cooking Light and I were on the same page with paprika this week, apparently!
Smoky Spanish-Style Pan Roast from Cooking Light June 2010
1 pound small red new potatoes, halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
3/4 pound unpeeled large shrimp
1/4 pound Spanish chorizo, thinly sliced
1 pound green beans, trimmed
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup pilsner beer
1/2 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika
2 red bell peppers, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Combine potatoes, oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a large roasting pan, tossing well to coat potatoes. Arrange potatoes in a single layer, cut side down, in pan. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.
While potatoes cook, peel shrimp, leaving tails intact. Devein shrimp, if desired. Set shrimp aside.
Stir chorizo, green beans, garlic, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper into pan. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. Add beer, paprika, and bell pepper, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Nestle shrimp into vegetable mixture. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until potatoes and green beans are tender and shrimp are done. Sprinkle with fresh parsley leaves. Serves 4 (approx. 1 1/2 cups per serving).
Nutrition Information (per serving): 392 calories; 15.5 g. fat (3.8 g. saturated, 8.5 g. monounsaturated, 2.4 g. polyunsaturated);
28 g. protein; 36.6 g. carbohydrate; 7.7 g. fiber; 129 mg. cholesterol; 590 mg. sodium
Result: Again, easy and delicious! I planned this recipe to use the leftover chorizo from last night’s Grilled Salmon with Chorizo and Fingerlings. I will definitely be making it again. The dish was light with a huge punch of beer and paprika flavor…right up my alley!
Don’t Forget!!
I’ve already received several paprika recipes for the Blogger Secret Ingredient Contest! You have until Sunday at 5PM Central Time to submit yours!
Random questoin: What’s something you know a lot about, or would consider yourself an “expert” in? What topic do you wish you knew more about? Doesn’t have to be nutrition, fitness, or health-related at all…just curious!
Have a wonderful day!
Hey there! I found your blog through Biz’s Challenge and I think it’s great that you are tying in health issues other than just obesity to your blog. I study ovarian cancer…I’m probably more an expert on that than anything else…so it was cool to see some attention brought to PCOS, a poorly/under diagnosed condition that just wreaks havoc on a lot of women! Thanks for the info and for your great attitude!
Who cares if the doc saw you do push ups?!! Better to make use of your time than waste it waiting for them. Not sure what I’d be an expert on…..poker I think would be the best option for me right now.
Great story — sounds like you impressed the doc and the med student! 🙂 Thanks for the page on PCOS…so many women suffer from it and don’t know where to turn to for help…this is a really great resource…thanks Nicole!
mmm the recipe looks great. I was laughing out loud when I read that your Dr. walked in on you doing push ups. That would happen to me…too funny! This is not really a topic, but I wish I could speak Spanish. I feel like it would come in good use today. Have a great day!
Hahaha that is so funny that you got walked in on! I can just imagine… you rock for being so committed! You put a smile on my face with that story 🙂 Happy wednesday.
I know quite a few women with PCOS and have heard how frustrating it can be. I was even told I had PCOS by my OBGYN, but when I went for a second opinion, I was told I didn’t? Weird, I know. But I try (sometimes more successfully than others) to eat and live accordingly with an insulin resistance diet because I do have issues with blood sugar and maintaining weight loss. I look forward to reading your section on PCOS- thanks!
I would consider myself an expert of the Weight Watchers program. I’ve been on it forever and I work for them part-time, so I have to know my stuff 🙂
Haha I love that you did pushups while you were waiting. So efficient! 🙂
I don’t think I’m an expert in anything. Random facts maybe? I’m an expert rule follower. Does that count?
I love that you did pushups in the exam room! ha ha… not sure what I would have thought either if I had walked in on you like that…
Well, it’s better a doctor see you being active than eating a twinkie or something, yes? 😛
I’d love to try submit a recipe. I don’t have any idea particularly unique coming to mind right now for a recipe, and I’m not sure I’ll have time, but I’ll still try to think of something. Love paprika. 🙂
Ohmigosh…LOL I am seriously giggling about your pushup story!
I’m really impressed that you were doing push-ups! That is dedication!!
Thanks for starting the PCOS/Insulin Resistance page. I’m off to check it out now!!
Okay sorry but I was laughing out loud at your push up story! You are TOO cute! I think I am an expert on running…I have always been a runner and I have done tons and tons of research on it.
I’ve done push-ups, dips, and crunches in an airport while waiting for my flight. I got weird looks. 😛
What a funny story about the push-ups! 🙂
I wish I was an expert on a toddlers behavior 🙂 Some of the things my daughter does just baffles me… but its so darn cute!
LOL…that is totally something that would happen to me too. Too funny.
Mm, that looks good!
Unfortunately, I consider myself an expert in Runner’s knee (patella femoral pain and chondromalacia). I understand it firsthand, and I’ve had it for way too many years. I’m ready to not be such an expert at that.
I also know a lot about diabetes because of my job. I’m not sure I’d call myself an expert since I’m not in the medical field, but I know a great deal.
Wow! How great that you used the time to do push ups!!! I’m sure your doctor doesn’t see that every day… 😉 Sorry that your meds had to be doubled. I love your positive attitude… Hugs!
I see your eye roll and raise you one.
I think it was so cute that you were doing push-ups while waiting for the doctor and, yes, a bit funny too.
Those are interesting questions that you pose and I had to think about it for awhile. Ah, the life of a not know-it-all. Fresh off of jury duty, I would have to say that I know a lot about Ambu bags, oxygenation and respiration…
LOL just died laughing!!! What a funny story! Thanks for sharing!
I love how honest and open you are. Keep it up girl! And keep that smile on your face! You’re doing everything right 🙂 xoxo
That is great about the push ups in the doctor’s office! Usually they knock though 🙂
I love shrimp and paprika, thanks for the great recipe.
Don’t worry – you will get this PCOS thing under control. You are so knowledgeable about so many things and no doubt have done your research. Can’t wait to read the page about it.
That’s hysterical that your doctor walked in on you doing push-ups!! I can totally see that happening to me too… lol…
As far as being an expert goes – I’d have to say I’m an expert on dealing with food addiction issues. And pretty much addiction in general. I studied it in school, and while I’m not a certified therapist or know absolutely everything… I know more than the average bird, and when someone needs advice on the topic they always come to me!
Can we submit recipes that are adapted from somewhere or do we have to make it up?
I had a recipe call for Spanish paprika and forgot to look up the difference. We just used regular paprika. Now I am hungry and I love paprika!
Sorry about the med dose increase, I really hope it works.
LOL about the push-ups!
I was really hoping the meds will help! Hopefully the upage in the dosage does. I am thinking of you!
I need to get on Metformin…I recently found out about it through a friend who is a doctor. I hope it works for you! I currently am just on BC and seem to be doing ok with that…but I am struggling to get the weight off.
Too funny about the Dr. walking in on you doing pushups! I hope you got several in by the time he did.
Pills stink. I hate taking them too! Hmmm..I’ll have to think of something with paprika!
Oh my gosh….I can SO see the push-up thing happening to me, too! On a good note, you probably looked pretty bad ass, huh?
I am sorry to hear they have to double the dose of your meds….and that you have to be on it for life. Hopefully, maybe they will come up with a cure one day? I hope they do, and I do love your outlook on it. I’m sure you are inspiring so many people who suffer from PCOS, and who are in your same boat!
P.S. I have the greatest knowledge in all things celebrity related (i.e. gossip magazine worthy information that will do me no good in every day life). 😉
so love that you were pumping out push-ups! that is dedication girl 🙂 will have to do sometime soon……….. so sorry about the medication……. you will be ok!
You are approaching this with such a healthy mindset. It is very inspiring. I love that you recognize you are doing things right and that you just have to keep doing them to get the results. I hope the new med dosage helps out.
That’s awesome you were doing push-ups in the DR’s office! Talk about dedication!
I wouldn’t really say I’m an “expert” on anything but I’m definitely one of those “jack-of-all-trades” type of people. I read a lot and pick up on things people tell me. I love old-wives tricks and finding new unconventional ways to do things. I’m always full of useless and use-full knowledge. Like how do you keep ants off your humming bird feeder? Put Vaseline around the hook! (Thanks mom!)
HAHA I can’t believe the doctor walked in on you lol that is classic…thank god you were not wearing a hospital gown with the open back…oh were you? haha
hilarious about the doctor’s office push ups!! I can totally picture you doing that 🙂
Your shrimp dish looks amazing!
mmm another wonderful meal!!! so funny about the doctor. I always feel like I wait forever for them to come in but don’t want to do anything in case they surprise me!
Doc’s incident was really funny, i hope the pill does wonders on you nicole…and roast looks awesome as well
I sure do love Cooking Light!! I haven’t made a recipe from the mag that I didn’t love. This looks like another winner!
I’m missing your posts for some reason!! That food looks AMAZING :). When I move home, can it be to Tulsa so you can make food for me too?? 😉
Funny push up story! Something like that would happen to me! Talk about commitment though, good for you!
I’m somewhat of an expert in any and all things gymnastics, pretty random!
Good for you! Don’t be embarrased of your health regimen. I have had great luck lowering blood glucose by eating mostly a raw food diet, as well as exercising every day. In your recipe about, you may want to eliminate the potatoes (too starchy) if you have high blood sugar. Keep up the great work, glad I found your site!