Re: New to groups - Intro, advice request (Really long. You have been warned)

Private wrote:
> >
<snip>
> > I read that many of the FDA approved meds are OK'd by the FAA. Are
> > there any pilots here that have taken or are taking BP meds that can
> > tell me about their experiences getting their medical certificates?
>
> IMHO the best answer is EXERCISE and diet. There is no magic pill for good
> health.
>

Don't get me wrong. I'm not looking for an easy out - just looking at
all of the options.
I don't particularly like taking medication of any kind, I was just
curious about the possibilities of doing what it took to get the
medical first, and then working on my fitness.

>>From other things that I've read, it doesn't sound like it's worth the
hassle. I just wanted to ask. Not to mention, the fact that the AME
cautioned me when I got my last medical, and did I do anything about
it? So no, probably not the route I want to take, considering I'd
probably wind up in the same boat a few years down the road, only there
wouldn't be medication that could help...


> snip
> > My long term plan is to get down to a healthy weight, pass my medical,
> > and finish my PPL, but not necessarily in that order. Any advice until
> > then?
>
> My humble advice. Make good health your #1 priority, it is by far the most
> important goal and is the foundation of everything else we hope to achieve,
> without it all the rest is just smoke.
>
> Most unhealthy people claim that they do not have the time in their busy
> lives to exercise and eat properly, they refuse to understand that the time
> they save by foregoing exercise and over eating of fast food is subtracted
> from their lifespan and detracts from the quality of the remaining shortened
> life. Learning to fly makes significant demands on our time, do not use
> time that is better spent pursuing good health.
>
> The Wrights taught us that the key to flight is control. As pilots we must
> control not only our machines but also our situations and ourselves. We are
> trained to consider and control the human factors that may cause us to lose
> control of our situation or our machines. If you are unable to control
> yourself then you are unlikely to reliably control the rest.
>
> Just my .02, I wish you sincere good luck and happy landings.


Well, I could use time as an excuse for being unhealthy, but it
wouldn't be true. I've learned that if you try to 'find' time for
anything, it'll never get done. If something is really important, you
have to 'make' time for it. I think my main problem has been lack of
motivation. Possibly lack of self-control. But I think it's easier to
build motivation than it is to build self-control, so I'll start there.

I read a post in rec.aviation.piloting that I found very inspiring.
The poster was about to start taking blood pressure medication, and
decided that he "liked flying more than he liked eating". That
resonated. I remembered how much I loved flying. I realized that I
wanted to do whatever it took to start again.

So now I'm back, and I've found the motivation that I believe will get
me through. I know it won't be easy, but I know that in the end it
will be worth it. Ignoring all other reasons (which are each important
in their own right), I'll be able to fly again.

I've started placing pictures of planes in strategic places as
reminders. On the 'fridge, in front of the treadmill, in my drawer at
work in front of my change for the vending machine, in my wallet in
front of the credit card I use to buy meals. So far it has helped.
Every time I've gone to stray from my plan (by habit mostly) I'm
reminded of my primary motivation. With a little luck, and an
occasional reminder of why, I believe I can make it.

Thanks for all of your advice.

Sorry to everyone if this has turned into an episode of Oprah...

Benj

.

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