Dr. Anna Virtanen

Vitamiinit ovat elimistölle välttämättömiä ravintoaineita, ja niitä saadaan riittävästi syömällä vihanneksia ja hedelmiä.

🪵 Diary · 16 July 2025 · Hamburg, Germany
Today marks my third day in Hamburg, and honestly—I can hardly believe I’m here.
Just a few months ago, the thought of getting on a plane felt impossible. I barely had the energy to get out of bed most mornings, let alone travel across Europe. For years, I struggled with my weight. My body constantly felt heavy and drained—I was breathless even walking to the corner shop.
But here I am.
I made it from Manchester all the way to see Helen—finally keeping the promise I made:
“Once I lose the weight, I’ll come visit.”
Helen’s back porch looks like something out of a postcard. Sunlight spills across the wooden decking, the air rich with the scent of pine and blooming flowers. She set up a woven swing chair just for me, and the moment I sat down, I realised:
I haven’t felt this light in years.
One of the cushions read: “It’s better by the lake.” And you know what? It really is.
It feels like a new chapter.
Not long ago, I was turning down invites—parties, weekends away, even simple walks in the park—because nothing fit, and even short strolls left my knees aching.
But today, standing here on Helen’s sunny porch, watching the lake glisten between the tall trees, I finally feel… free.
She made us a cuppa—her signature herbal blend—and we sat in the sunshine, reminiscing about those carefree university summers. We laughed, we teared up, and for a moment, it felt like no time had passed at all.
I even found myself saying aloud:
“It’s like I’ve come back to life.”
I’m so proud of the woman who didn’t give up.
But I’m even prouder of the woman I am now—
Someone who can sit on a porch with an old friend, soak in the stillness, and truly, wholeheartedly say:
I’m here. I’m living. I’m me again.

Just me and another salad.
Not gonna lie — I miss warm bread and pie.
But I’m doing this for my heart, my knees… and maybe a walk in the park without needing to sit down every five minutes.
One bite at a time.

🥣 Just a few bites of beef and noodles left.
It wasn’t bad — just… eating alone never really tastes good. The kids aren’t home, and the house is so quiet I can hear the fridge humming.
I thought about frying something comforting, but then I remembered what the doctor said: “You’re not as young as you used to be.”
So I stuck with lean beef and veggies — keeping it in check.
Losing weight isn’t the hardest part.
Feeling alone is.

🐴 Happy 5th Birthday, my sweet Jaxson. Watching you ride today — so brave, so focused — made me prouder than words can say.
🎂 Time really has flown. Seems like just yesterday you were learning to walk. And now here you are, riding tall on that big chestnut horse like a little champion.
But behind my smile today, there’s something I haven’t said out loud…
💔 I wish I could’ve run beside you, helped you brush the horse, maybe even climbed up to ride with you — but my knees can’t handle it anymore. My weight, the blood pressure meds, the shortness of breath… it all keeps me on the sidelines.
🏡 I stayed home this morning, resting on the porch, while the trailer pulled away. I waved and smiled, but inside I felt the ache of missing another moment I should’ve been part of.
This isn’t self-pity. It’s just truth.
Jaxson, if you ever read this one day: know that Grandma loves you more than anything. And I’m trying, baby. I really am — because I don’t want to keep missing these moments.
Love you always,
💚 Grandma

🚙 This morning, I stood at the kitchen window and watched them load up the trailer and head off for a beach trip. The kids were laughing, my husband checked the tires, set the GPS — everything looked so normal… except I wasn’t in the car.
🧍‍♀️A few years ago, I’d be right there with them — walking the trails, stopping at roadside farms, eating ice cream with the grandkids.
But now, the weight, high blood pressure, and a few heart scares later… I can barely get into the car, let alone keep up. Just walking to the mailbox leaves me winded. My legs are swollen, my boots don’t fit, and the doctor says I need to move more — but even small steps feel overwhelming.
🏠 The house is so quiet. I turn on the TV just to fill the silence. I don’t cook much anymore — what’s the point when you’re eating alone?
I’m not jealous of them… I just feel sad for myself.
How did I get to this point, where even sitting in the sun feels out of reach?
🥺 If you’ve ever felt “left behind”… I see you.
It’s not about giving up. It’s about not wanting to miss out anymore.
I don’t know where I’ll be a year from now — but I know this:
I don’t want to lose any more of the life I still have left.

🥄 It’s not that I don’t love the old comfort food… I just don’t dare anymore.
Tonight I forced myself to eat a stir-fry with shrimp, egg, and cabbage — barely any oil.
It might look good, but for me, every bite was a goodbye to late-night fried food and ice cream.
👩‍❤️‍👨 My husband’s already doing so much. I don’t want him to spend his future pushing me in a wheelchair. I want to stay his partner — not become his patient.
🧍‍♀️ These days I need to rest halfway through Costco. I’ve failed so many times… but tonight, I didn’t give in.

🏍️ Jasper.
Feels like a lifetime ago.
That was me — leather jacket, wind in my face, chasing the highway like I had no limits.
Now? Just walking to the mailbox feels like a workout. The weight, the joints, the heart meds… they’ve slowed me down more than I’d like to admit.
Still wild at heart. Just… with a few more miles on the clock. ❤️

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UCLH sleep surgeon Ryan Chin Taw Cheong has given an interview to the producers of the podcast Instant Genius, an offshoot of the BBC’s Science Focus strand. He speaks about snoring and the significant impact it can have on sleep quality and general health.
The episode, part of a four-part Better Sleep miniseries, can be found on Spotify [https://buff.ly/gwupGdS] and Apple podcasts [https://buff.ly/8PVhlkY].