My 'diet' plan

[fergui]

I thought I'd throw my $.02 in here. Sorry it's so long!! lol

My cholesterol has been dangerously high for about 10 years (I'm only 35 now) and I when the doc told me to lose weight and start this stupid diet, I refused! Every part of my chol. was high...my triglycerides, total chol, HDL, LDL...all of it! But there was a different diet for each part. The things I COULD eat in one, I could NOT eat in the other. I was basically down to eating celery and carrots. I actually told my doc that I wasn't a danged rabbit and I couldn't do it! LOL So, he sat down with me and just worked out a plan of moderation.

I have found that this was the best diet I had ever been on. I could still eat whatever, but just not super-sized helpings of it. I, like you Connie, refuse to eat the low-fat/no-fat stuff. It DOES taste different no matter what anyone else says. I think they have just got used to it, so it is fine to them. I just can't seem to get used to the taste. AND I LIKE the taste of the reg stuff just fine! LOL Not to mention that it is expensive to eat only the healthy-for-you stuff. So...I don't fry anything, I only eat pork a couple times a year, I only buy 80/20 burger, ground chuck (I'd buy the leaner stuff if I could afford it), I only eat eggs a couple times a year, I have slowly reduced the amount of sugar I put in my coffee and iced tea, I have switched my midnight snack from candy to celery and pb or fruit...things like that. I was able to lose about 20 lbs in about 4 months from it.

Oh, and he also told me a little secret about moderation because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to know when enough was enough. Your body has a natural signal for you to tell you when you are full or it has had enough every time you eat. No matter what you eat. You will sigh... everyone does it. It may only be a small sigh and you probably won't even notice it if you aren't paying attention and looking for it. But you will sigh every time you eat. That means...YOU ARE DONE! Now I push my plate away every time I do. Even if my plate's not empty. I also try to drink a full 8 oz of water just before dinner is ready. That will also help you not to eat too much.


My chol hadn't lowered enough and I had stopped watching the moderation as closely and I gained back most of the weight. About a year and 1/2 ago, I started a walking program with a girlfriend of mine. It took about 2 months but we both started dropping a dress size every 3-4 weeks after that and about 3-5 lbs a week. When we started noticing it was leveling off, we added more time and walked faster. We both lost about 30 lbs and 4 dress sizes in total. We started out so slow, her 2 year old grandson was walking with us. LMAO And we were only able to walk for 15 min. But we just kept at it until we were walking faster and longer. We now walk 2-3 miles a day and we're still slow at a 15 min mile, but we try. We have set-backs and just go as much as we can at times, but it gets worked back into the pace we were at faster and faster each time. For instance, she had walking pnumonia (sp?) this winter and we didn't walk for about 6 weeks. But we have been back at it for the last month and are back up to the 2-3 miles. Having a partner REALLY helps. We keep each other accountable. We know that we HAVE to be there because the other is expecting us to be. Otherwise we both would find an excuse not to do it and just stay home and lounge on the couch. lol

Now, I was just at the doc for my 6 month checkup on my chol and it is better than it EVER has been and is normal. This is a first for me...I was pretty excited!! #woohoo-022# I'd still like to lose about 30 more lbs, so we'll probably be kicking it up a notch this summer. Oh, and we do swim aerobics in the summer too. That always helps... ;D

[Connie]

That's a great story Fergui! Congrats on getting your Cholestrol down and not having to live off carrots and celery... haha. I plan to start walking as soon as we have a day when it isn't freezing..

[fergui]

That's great connie. Do you have a walking partner? I used to go to Katherine Albertson park and walk there when I lived up there. I love that park. I was actually married there!

[Connie]

HA! I was married there too! LOL... It's an awesome park and that's a good idea.. I usually just walk around the neighborhood.. my partner is my dog.. but I COULD load him up and take him to the park to walk. I could walk with my friend who is also dieting but we both have such hectic schedules it's hard to do it on a set time.

I have to ask why you only eat pork a couple of times a year? It doesn't seem to be much different calorie wise and in fact I thought it was a leaner choice than beef. Im asking because I have a freezer full of pork!

[fergui]

Cholesterol....it is very fatty, saturated fat that is. It is actually worse in that department than beef. But it is possible to find lean cuts as well. ;D I just put 'pork' because it was easier than labelling bacon, ham, pork chops, etc. Again, moderation with those is what it takes. I haven't stopped eating them, I just don't eat as much or as often. And the cuts I do eat are lean. Calorie wise, I wouldn't know. I don't watch calories at all. You also have to remember that pork is a red meat as well. I know they say "the other white meat", but that's a misnomer. It is a red meat and usually marbelled with saturated fat just like beef.

Dogs are good walking partners. But they don't help keep you on track as well. LOL My friend and I had the same schedule issues, but we just made it a point to find a time that worked. We were both so tired of being overweight and unhealthy that we forced ourselves to find the time. Now it is just known that we will be walking at 5 pm EVERY day. Everything else works around THAT schedule. We made it a priority and everything else fell in place behind it.

[Connie]

I have no idea what my cholesterol level is so have never given it much thought. We eat pork at least once a week though. The rest of the time is usually chicken, tuna, or beef so I think we are spreading it out okay.. (hope)

Took the dog for a walk this morning... he is actually a good partner in that he sets a pretty brisk pace AND gives my arms a good workout too..

[fergui]

I wouldn't have known about my cholesterol if it wasn't for another minor surgery I had at the time. They checked it for some reason and told me it was very high. They were concerned about the levels themselves, but also because I was only 25 at the time. I mean they were dangerously high....1421 Triglycerides (should be below 150), total chol 876 (below 200), HDL 3 (above 40), LDL 364 (below 100). My doctor told me that he was surprised I hadn't had a stroke or heartattack all ready. It's taken a long time and a lot of work, but I've finally got it straight. I have to take 2 dif meds as well as the diet and excersise. They offer free screenings at the heath dept sometimes, Connie. It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to check it out. It scared the crap out me when I found out!

[Connie]

Those numbers are scary.. I can understand!

[fergui]

Suppose I should tell you all before you are thinking that I was just eating the margarine by the spoonfuls right out of the tub that my numbers were mostly genetic. My mother has the same issues. Which was another reason for my fears when she was so sick last month. Her numbers were almost exactly the same as mine when she had hers checked. It was only because of mine that she did in the first place. She wasn't even thinking about it before then. But my doc said that I was way too young to have cholesterol that high unless I WAS binging on the butter or it was in my family.

[Connie]

I never really thought you were eating the butter out of the tub but those numbers really are crazy high. From your story though I think you have proven that even things like cholesterol can be brought down with excersise and we can all benefit from know how important it is.