Earlier this week, I had to take a blood test, and I called for the results on Thursday. It turns out that my cholesterol is borderline high, and my doctor is thinking of putting me on medication . . . except that she will give me four months to bring it down through diet and exercise first.
At first, I was stunned. We eat hardly any red meat at all and we use only skim milk and Smart Balance. Even though I do eat eggs and cheese, I don't go overboard with either one.
After reflection, I think I have a pretty good idea what is causing it. First, I'm right on the cusp of menopause, so I no longer have the same protection by estrogen that I once did. Second, during the last few months when we've had scarcely enough work, I've been doing a lot of comfort eating. Occasional mochas and muffins from the coffee shop, low fat cookies before bed, and corn chips (a major vice) every day. One thing my doctor said is that if I want to try the dietary changes, I need to cut down on carbohydrates.
So I'm going to start counting my calories and my carbs, and I'm going to try to significantly cut down things made with white flour and sugar and corn meal. I'll try to make most of the carbs I consume be complex carbohydrates. We already use whole grain bread and cereals; it's just those darn comfort foods that are the culprits.
So where does the good news come into this?
I'm going to turn 50 in just a little over three months. One goal for 2008 was to lose 12 to 15 pounds before I hit that milestone, but after 5 pounds, I hit a plateau and lost interest. This news is a kick in the butt to get moving on that goal again.
Second, both my mother and older brother have adult-onset diabetes. I've known for some time that I should stop consuming so much sugar and foods that convert easily to sugar in the bloodstream, but again, I haven't been motivated to do it. This scare will help me to make those lifestyle changes.
I do not want to take statins unless I have to. So wish me luck and say a prayer that I can develop some new disciplines by the time I have to take another blood test in October.
Oh, and there is one more way that I'm fortunate. Heart-healthy Cheerios are already my favorite breakfast food.
22 comments:
Sounds like you have a good plan. There's a lot of things about getting older that are just no fun. I know. Best of luck on your quest to better health.
Good plan! Red Yeast Rice can be found at a good health food store. Statins are made from it, actually.
I have taken it for years with lots of high quality FISH OIl and now my good cholestrol is so high they don't worry about the bad.
Check it out, Ruth...
xoxoxo
You go, girl! Cecilia (over at Closeted Pastor) is in this, too--as am I.
Works!
:-)
Oh - I am overdue for my dr. appt and know I must make some changes.
Thanks for the inspiration.
(Speaking of which - Cecilia is major inspiration!)
Good luck! You can do it! I'm overdue for doctor check-ups, but at least I am starting (again) to try to live healthier. Together we go!
Oh Ruth...I know just what this is all about...my quest in my last remaining 49th year was to get back to a healthy lifestyle...not just weight. But the weight was truly affecting my stess, my aches and pains and my high blood pressure. Even just 10 lbs over can do it...I did not want to admit it but I was more than that over what I should be. So now that I have lost 12 (yee haw - weigh in today said so!) I truly already feel miles better. When we reach OUR age, it is not about the looks anymore...it is about the health n'est pa?
Best wishes on this journey! Fibre Fibre Fibre!....plus a TON of fresh veggies or steamed! Sigh....yep. Those mochas might be the cincher! ha...how to give them up is the question...I have seriously cut back my coffee...
Good for you for thinking positively on all this! Yep, it can be useful to be kickstarted into something you know you should do. I need to get back on track myself...
Did you know managing cholesterol levels isn't as simple as cutting back on bad fats? You may need to increase your consumption of good fats at the same time - nuts and seeds, and olive oil or fish oil is good! So they tell me. I'm not an expert.
Would you like a buddy to accompany you on that journey, dear? I need to lose some weight and now I've conquered the caffeine addiction, lol, this should also be possible.
I am proud of you for doing your durndest to fix yourself without pills!!
Other good things:
Wild Atlantic salmon
And the Master Cleanser (two tablespoons of real lemon juice, two tablespoons of pure maple syrup, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, mixed in 10 oz. water. Twice a day., or an every two week fast if the doc says OK)
and my personal breakfast: Oatmeal (though those Cheerios are close. The uncut oats are better though)
I've always been a chubbette and yet my cholesterol has always been good. I think a lot of it is inherited. Sounds like you have a good plan to fix the problem. Cherrios rock!!!
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.
Alas, I am allergic to all fish, especially salmon. Sigh.
My husband eats oatmeal everyday, and i eat it once or twice a week. I really need to look for uncut or steel-cut oats.
Truthfully I thought you had added strawberries to a bowl of maggots for a minute but I realise my error now and am relieved.
Ax
Hope that your journey to the 50's go well. May you be careful not to eat cheerios out of the box which is how most of them get ingested by me. And may all go well for you in His kingdom.
In His grace, scott
I'm sorry about your cholesterol report, but it is good that you are aware and are working towards getting that down. I used to work for cardiac surgeons and heart disease is one of the top killers of women, we need to take charge and get our hearts healthy. You are so wise to make these good healthy choices!
Hugs, Sharon
I'm so proud of you for taking on the challenge of working to deal with this without meds. I'm always so impressed by your positive outlook on life.
My doc put me on Crestor and I've stopped it because I have some unexplained muscle weakness. My "good" cholesterol is in the 80s but my total is around 200 so he still wants me on meds. Ugh. I'm not going back for awhile. Part of the stiffness has gone away. I thought I might have had carotid artery problems but that has gone away too since I stopped the Crestor.
Like you, fish is not in my diet. I really don't like it - from childhood - and I live too far inland to get fresh fish which makes it worse.
I also eat Cheerios but, evilly, with just enough half and half to wet the o's. At a month before 68, I am unwilling to deny myself some pleasures. Oatmeal in winter is ok and I alternate.
Good luck!
Firm resolve for you! I eat some organic oat-e-oh type cereal too. Not cheerios but very similar. Like a good little black dress you can dress them up with berries and nuts, or just eat them plain. Either way you can hardly go wrong. Good luck to you Ruth.
I have high cholesterol too, it runs in my family, but it has gotten worse since getting married. It's really hard as my husband is really into hamburger-type food.
Still, I was stunned. I was trying to get it down with diet, and I have some good low-cholesterol cookbooks, but my cooking schedule is uneven due to my work.
My husband won't eat cold cereal, but we ARE eating a lot of oatmeal.
Well, you have made some excellent decisions. Much as it pains me to say it I am 51 now ... so about 18 months ago, coming up on 50, I started "eating right" ... which for me means no (or nearly no) processed foods. If I could I would subsist on bread and sweets, but that was no longer an option because I know I have to get old but I can't face being old AND fat AND sick ... bleh.
Anyway, now I eat copious amounts of fruits and vegetables (99.9 percent raw), and augment with nuts, legumes, eggs, chicken, fish, a small amount of cheese ... and I did lose 38 pounds and got a new lease on life, and I look and feel better than I did ten years ago. I also walk two miles a day. I read somewhere that the best thing you can do for your heart is to break a sweat each day, and hot flashes don't count.
I fell off the wagon for a time since Christmas but I'm back at it with a vengeance and I am intent on regaining my girlish figure by my 30th wedding anniversary in June of '09. So good luck to you, Ruth!
Good luck to you, Ruth! I need to lose weight and get in shape too, as I'm already 54...
By the way, try taking flax seed oil capsules; my husband's cholesterol was creeping up and he started taking them and it went down fairly noticeably - without him doing anything else!
Ugh, I feel for you. I too have the evil triade, high sugar, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. And those pills make my hands fall asleep - avoid them if you can! If you like cheerios, try the version Kashi has. Similar, but so much tastier! and better for you too. They are called Heart to Heart I think. Also exercise works amazing wonders. Especially something like Body Electric (PBS) that uses weight training. You can do this!
I still haven't started yet! I know I should, but I haven't. I felt I should check in and admit it though.
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