I've mentioned before that one of the things that drew me to this program as the 24/7 health coach available to you to help encourage and guide you through the process. And literally having that person in your pocket has been so valuable to me.
Going beyond the health coach as part of your community, Virta has set up multiple events for the Purdue participants to get together to get to know each other. So I finally went to one.
I have to say, recently I've noticed I have a bit of social anxiety that builds up in new situations. I suspect it's a result of lots of changes over the past couple years... friends moving away, new church, new job, etc. Or maybe I am at the end of my social graces entertaining students and parents so often. I don't know. But friends, this was not an easy choice to go to this event. But I knew I had to. So I went.
The event was a dinner scheduled at Nine Irish Brothers. Dinner. At Nine Irish? Have you seen their menu? Irish food isn't exactly what I'd call low carb. Irish Soda BREAD. Pub CHIPS. Bangers and MASH. Fish (Breaded and Fried) and CHIPS. Shepherds PIE (Pie....ok not exactly what I'd label as pie... but still not low carb :) ) So I went in a skeptic thinking I'd just pick something up later if need be. But it was amazing! Many of the Virta staff were there to greet us and gave us a customized menu. They had highlighted things that were Virta friendly and gave suggested substitutions for things that were not. I ended up with the pan seared fish sandwich... minus the sandwich and subbed a side salad. Good sized portion of fish and a nice salad to round it out! Maybe that doesn't count as eating Irish food... but I survived a social and eating challenge.
Speaking of the social challenge, they had such an overwhelming response to the event, we were in two separate areas of the restaurant. I was a few minutes late getting there and ended up in the area I called the kid section. :) Overflow for sure... but it was nice. Smaller groups at the tables and gave you a chance to get to know people well. I recognized one of the gentlemen at my table but could not place him. I finally asked him where I knew him from.... and turns out he was in the business office at my last job. Oops. How quickly we forget. :) (See ya later TLI!) There were about 8 of us at a table and conversation was easy. Virta staff would make their way around to mingle so that was nice too! And then, it happened.
A gentleman headed our way... and I immediately recognized him. Walter White in the flesh...
Anyway.. it was super amazing to get to meet him in the flesh! He's real! He's not just some contact on my phone anymore. And he's short. Didn't expect that. :) It was so great to connect with him and talk in person about my journey.
And then it happened again..... another gentleman walks in and I know him too. But cannot place him. And then I see his nametag. (Side note...do y'all know how much I despise name tags.... not a fan...but in this case... changed my tune. ) Dr. Jeff Stanley. Holy. Freaking. Crap. (sorry those are my cuss words, hopefully not offending anyone... ) He's my virtual doctor. In the flesh. You seriously would have thought Justin Timberlake just walked in the room and I turned into a blubbering idiot because I was so shell shocked to see my virtual doctor there. Serious fandom happening here.
Time out: Ok, you're probably like... what's the big deal? I occasionally run into my doctor while grocery shopping, etc. Here's the big deal... Rich lives in Connecticut, Dr. Stanley lives in Oregon. They flew in just to have an irish dinner with a bunch of Purdue employees. That's a big deal.
But the even bigger deal was that they had just made a decision to put me back on one of my meds. (sad face. ) No matter how vigilant I was in adhering to the program..my glucose numbers were going up. But here were these two dudes commenting on this change, without me prompting them, telling it would only be temporary, and being overly encouraging. In reality... I just met them. Crazy stuff. So I'm back on a fallback med... it seems to be doing mostly what it's supposed to... controls things well during the day... my body has a mind of its own at night, so it's been a bit odd. But with their encouragement I'm still holding to the hope that it's just temporary!
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