Unweighted Down

So people who struggle with weight flip flop on diets and exercise plans almost like catcher Dottie Hinson and cynical alcoholic Jimmy Dugan did during that dispute over whether to bunt or swing away in the Rockford Peaches baseball classic A League of Their Own. Flip flopping itself is a healthcare past-time, part of the culture for those battling chronic disease, especially obesity. But for some of those who toggle between fluctuating BMI and A1C, the new GLP-1s have become a lifeline. The ripple effect is what’s compelling – one medical director told me they are starting to see improvements in physical health and mental health in a subset they are studying – fewer medical claims and “pain related intervention” – meaning we could have someone with a range of chronic conditions whose success on a GLP-1 solves them all or at least brings some health balance to their life. Flip flopping in my house seems to be a right of passage. The kids have come of age in the era of virtual education and Instagram, switching from in-class to zooms and ups and down in grades, friends, hygiene and at times identity. My bride flip flops outfits pretty much daily and admittedly bounces between health habits like popcorn kernels dance.  I do sometimes miss the older days growing up when you knew where people stood, when things were predictable, comforting. Like my Uncle Richard with that plaid green sports coat and his belly hanging over the Bonanza belt buckle, asking for chicken parm with a side of meatballs whether we were at Auntie Barb’s card table or Mia Carmelita’s Italian restaurant. “What would you like to drink sir,” the waitress would say. “Diet coke ma’am. I’m watching my weight.”