Thank you, but I’m not expecting

I was having a great day until 4:30, my last patient of the day — a new patient, a 64-year old, white-haired man — asked me if I am “with child.”

It’s every woman’s nightmare – mortifying! The last thing any woman wants to be mistaken for is pregnant! As if I didn’t know that I still have pregnancy weight to lose — two years later! This guy, who thought he would be congratulating me, was met with evil eyes. He kept the conversation short after that as he could feel the embarrassment he has just cast on us both.

“O.K.,” I thought, “time’s up.” Never again will my day be ruined by that question.

If you’re like me, you sat on the couch for two weeks this summer, in awe of the Olympics. For me, getting my booty motivated to exercise a few times a week is challenge enough. But these athletes train for hours each day, almost every day… for years! I admire their commitment, hard work and their chiseled physiques. If I could use my patient’s comment to motivate me to move, I’d definitely drop some weight, have less pain, more mobility and improved confidence. Granted, I’m not looking to medal here, I would just like to be healthier for myself, and more so for my family. My husband, children and family all need me. And yours need and want you to be around, too.

So, in honor of the athletes who embody physical fitness and attain truly amazing feats of athleticism, and for every woman who was ever mistakenly congratulated on her pregnancy, I joined the Move Your Booty 9:22 Challenge . Twenty-two workouts in the month of September, because it takes 22 times to create a habit. I’m on workout number 17, with 10 days left in the month. We log our workouts and receive motivational emails to keep us going. The blogger who runs MYB, the great Emily Newman, is determined to inspire you and me to find workouts we love so we can get our booties moving.

Since we’re nearing the end of the challenge, I encourage you to create one of your own. This weekend, I challenge you to MOVE YOUR BOOTY in a meaningful but fun way that bumps up your pulse and makes you break a little sweat. Volleyball with the kids, tennis with your spouse, a swim in the Long Island Sound while the water is still warm. Follow MYB on Facebook and feel free to post your workout here so you too can inspire others to get on the right track to health, wellness and maybe even a medal!

I told my patient there were no hard feelings. (Yeh, right.) But as I was not interested in seeing him again anytime soon, I calmly informed him that the co-pay would be $5,000 and that he could schedule his follow-up appointment for five years from now. Maybe by then I’ll have lost the baby weight!

Alexis Hugelmeyer, D.O. is the wife of Michael, mother of Isabella, 5, and Lance, 2, and a family physician whose passion is hands-on manipulation for treatment and healing of any and every type of medical problem. She is administrative director of medical education and internship director at Peconic Bay Medical Center and also a private practitioner in Riverhead. A graduate of Villanova University and New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, she lives in Baiting Hollow.

Look for Dr. Mom every Saturday on Riverheadlocal.com

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