Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 63: Do All Doctors Want to Be Food Writers?
Or Is It Just the Ones I See?
Yesterday I was at doctor number six's office in my quest to find out the source of my chest tightness (my worry is that acid reflux is not the only explanation). I was telling Dr. X (I am hiding his identity to protect the hungry), a cardiologist, about what I was experiencing when he interrupted me. "All right, let's see if we can find out why you're feeling this way," he said. "By the way, I must say that you have my dream job. I love to eat."
Dr. X, like five other doctors before him that I've seen in the past year, wanted to talk to me about food and restaurants. In the process of our lengthy discussion we did discuss my possible cardiac problems, but I think like many doctors that have come before him, Dr. X's heart is almost as much into food as medicine. He turned out to be an excellent doctor, one who I would recommend to anyone, but, man, the doc is one serious eater.
What does Dr. X like to eat? Hint: He's not a vegan. And do all serious doctors end up talking to their patients about the pleasures derived from eating? Or is it just me?
Nope, it turns out that Dr. X loves pizza. He grew up in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, and Slice readers probably know where I'm going with this story.
Yup, that's right. In high school Dr. X's go-to slice place was Di Fara. Every day he and his friends would marvel at the way Di Fara owner Dom DeMarco would take out pies with his bare, asbestos-like hands.
We talked about Di Fara at some length, and we talked about Chicago pizza. He had spent some time in Chicago, and he said that he had come to like and appreciate Chicago pizza. I told him what I had said in Slice of Heaven, that at best Chicago pizza is a good casserole. (Needless to say, Chicago pizza lovers are not my biggest fans.) Dr. X said he liked the crust, and I told my new cardiologist that was because they use so much oil. He nodded knowingly at this turn in the conversation.
Dr. X told me to keep playing squash and to keep losing weight. He didn't tell me to keep eating pizza, but then again he didn't tell me not to. So when I left his office I had a slice at nearby Ultimate Pizza, which many serious eaters have raved about. It was a solid, crisp, thin-crust slice that could have used a lot more salt in the dough. I decided that maybe Ultimate Pizza didn't use salt in its dough because of its proximity to so many cardiologists' offices.
That 5 p.m. slice was the last thing I ate last night. I was preparing for my weigh-in and I was trying to stick to my gastroenterologist's advice about not eating after 7:30 at night if possible.
The Weigh-In
Here we go: 221. Down another pound. I consider this one-pound loss a victory for pizza-loving cardiologists everywhere. Thank you, Dr. X., for all your enthusiasms.
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14 Comments:
I, too, have had serious reflux problems and it's definitely been associated with chest pain and shortness of breath. Since I've been taking Prilosec the correct way - one in the morning before breakfast/coffee and one before dinner - the difference is pretty dramatic.
Coffee is clearly the biggest driver of my reflux, but I only have one cup a day, and really need it in the morning, so I can't give it up.
As for weight loss, have you tried any weight training? I've been doing it now for about 2 years - after losing a good bit of weight by just reducing portion size, eating more frequently, and lots of cardio for two years straight - and while I have not developed lots of bulging muscles (which I chock up to part genetics and part that I'm not hammering down lots of protein), I've definitely toned up. I also think it's helped to alter my metabolism, because muscle burns calories far more effectively than fat.
In any case, if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it. I actually enjoy it.
Fillippelli the Cook at 9:12AM on 04/17/09
Ditto for my brother-n-law and he had to give up all alcohol...which brings me to another point...what if a critic or baker gets Diabetes? How would that affect his/her job?
blondee47 at 9:19AM on 04/17/09
Oddly enough I've never had a doctor tell me he's always wanted to be an accountant. Sounds like a relief to find a good doctor you feel comfortable talking to though.
ag3208 at 9:30AM on 04/17/09
Regrettably, no doctor I've ever been to has admitted that he/she likes to eat, as if to justify the view that my excess weight is the result of my character flaw.
Lippy at 10:10AM on 04/17/09
Almost everyone loves to talk about food that is why u r in a dream job.(what does it say about a person if they DON'T like to talk about food)...when I find MYSELF starting to get in a state....I realize that I need to go running and in particular go to yoga...... there are beginner yoga classes out there......I call it breathing and drink a lot of water class. It is amazing how focusing on your breath affects health.....I always feel better....My goal is to have as few pills in my cabinet as possible......
Anyways...congrats on the continued progress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jbout at 10:22AM on 04/17/09
I am about to start medical school. But secretly think I would prefer being a food writer. So, to answer your title . . . yes.
Cebca at 1:56PM on 04/17/09
Nice work, Ed! Hope you are feeling better!
BrooklynBrownie at 4:16PM on 04/17/09
Wait! Are people saying that doctors occasionally (or frequently) engage in unhealthy behaviors? Gasp! Next you're going to say that some doctors are overweight, smoke, and/or drink too much!
HeartofGlass at 6:48PM on 04/17/09
Most physicians are foodies.....
But, a lot of us can do it without being overweight (the SOB's)
Flighterdoc at 8:33PM on 04/17/09
Ed-Congrats on the weight loss. BTW, try the bike at the gym. It tones me up (and ever since I've had a broken leg, been doing it 6 days out of 7 (just grab the NYT and the Washington Post and read them through)). Went from a size 4 to size 0 without even trying. And I am a foodie who loves to eat. Hope everything is well.
esther rebecca at 9:56PM on 04/17/09
I am in medical school and I have about 50 cookbooks on my bookshelf and about 5 medical textbooks thrown on my laundry room floor somewhere. And when I am in class, I am actually looking at serious eats and tastespotting.
ReneeRobinson at 4:05PM on 04/18/09
Med student here about to graduate in 1.5 months--most definitely yes!
blumaroo at 5:28AM on 04/19/09
@ReneeRobinson, you and me both!
I stress bake, but do my very best not to stress eat, and so I bring most of my goods to class the next morning. My advisor just happened to be teaching on a morning in which I brought a dozen muffins and a batch of cookies to class, and her first remark was "I didn't realize this class was catered!"
honeybee413 at 3:07PM on 04/19/09
i was experiencing chest tightness and of course they suggested acid reflux (it seems to be the standard solution nowadays). but it turns out i was starting to develop some sort of allergies and my doctor gave me a nasal spray....now i dont experience chest pain anymore!
girlrobot at 11:42PM on 04/19/09