I Need Health Advice!
This morning I get my mail, and I received my blood results from a physical I got from the doctor. (Refer to “What’s Up Doc” post) Turns out, everything is fine. Clean bill of health, with the exception that my cholesterol level is “mildly elevated”…222.
“222?????" I said out loud. That's not mildly elevated to me!
Now, if you know me personally, you know my diet is #1. meager, #2. full of vegetables, fish, chicken, and tons of salads. Where am I going wrong here folks? Of course, on the weekend I will have that occasional steak or burger, but once a week. At the age of thirty-one, my cholesterol is rising and so is my weight. This scares me. I was actually hoping it was a thyroid problem. Quick fix, right? Take pills, lose weight and tone down the LDL (bad cholesterol).
I went online, and this is what it said:
Tips for a heart-healthy diet
*Eat less fat (especially butter, coconut and palm oil, saturated or hydrogenated vegetable fats such as Crisco, animal fats in meats and fats in dairy products).
First of all, I never use butter, never use any sort of oil except for olive oil, and I use Pam cooking spray if I make something on a pan.
*Use nonstick vegetable oil cooking sprays instead of oils.
Done. Did that.
*Buy lean cuts of meat, and eat fish, skinless chicken and turkey instead of beef.
Super! What next? This is something I have been doing all along!
*Try low-fat snacks that have been baked instead of fried, such as pretzels.
Low fat snacks to me, are carrots, grapes and yogurts. I do that all the time.
*Choose low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk, and low-fat cheese, yogurt and margarine. Done. Nothing I haven’t been doing for years.
*Try to limit how many sweets you eat.
Hmm…okay, well on the weekend I will grab one of this Dixie cup ice-creams (those small baby cups) so I can limit my intake. I don’t want to deprive myself, but come on!
*Eat no more than 4 egg yolks a week (use egg whites oregg substitutes).
I eat egg whites if anything…one full egg per week.
*Bake, broil, steam or grill foods instead of frying them.I never fry.
Eat fewer "fast foods" (burgers, fried foods), which are high in fat. Instead, eat more fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates (rice, pasta, breads, grains).
Never do I eat fast foods, it makes me sick. Rice, pasta, breads, grains, I’ve been told to stay away from carbs, but I do occasionally have my pasta. Grains, forget it- I am an oatmeal fanatic.
*Drink low-calorie beverages, such as unsweetened tea or diet soda pop.
I drink coffee—no sugar or cream. No soda, just water and Gatorade.
Where am I going wrong here??? If it has anything to do with having a few beers or wine on the weekend, then just shoot me please. Millions of people are able to go on drinking beer, drinking wine, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. (all in moderation of courses)
Another thing that really bugs me, is that I run/jog 3-4 miles per day, and do weights for one hour at the gym, and at my home. Even when I’m on the stairmaster, I’m on there for one full hour sweating my butt off. I drink more than eight glasses of water per day and make sure that I take my vitamins.
Any advice you can give me, I’d appreciate it greatly. I need help here people!
“222?????" I said out loud. That's not mildly elevated to me!
Now, if you know me personally, you know my diet is #1. meager, #2. full of vegetables, fish, chicken, and tons of salads. Where am I going wrong here folks? Of course, on the weekend I will have that occasional steak or burger, but once a week. At the age of thirty-one, my cholesterol is rising and so is my weight. This scares me. I was actually hoping it was a thyroid problem. Quick fix, right? Take pills, lose weight and tone down the LDL (bad cholesterol).
I went online, and this is what it said:
Tips for a heart-healthy diet
*Eat less fat (especially butter, coconut and palm oil, saturated or hydrogenated vegetable fats such as Crisco, animal fats in meats and fats in dairy products).
First of all, I never use butter, never use any sort of oil except for olive oil, and I use Pam cooking spray if I make something on a pan.
*Use nonstick vegetable oil cooking sprays instead of oils.
Done. Did that.
*Buy lean cuts of meat, and eat fish, skinless chicken and turkey instead of beef.
Super! What next? This is something I have been doing all along!
*Try low-fat snacks that have been baked instead of fried, such as pretzels.
Low fat snacks to me, are carrots, grapes and yogurts. I do that all the time.
*Choose low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk, and low-fat cheese, yogurt and margarine. Done. Nothing I haven’t been doing for years.
*Try to limit how many sweets you eat.
Hmm…okay, well on the weekend I will grab one of this Dixie cup ice-creams (those small baby cups) so I can limit my intake. I don’t want to deprive myself, but come on!
*Eat no more than 4 egg yolks a week (use egg whites oregg substitutes).
I eat egg whites if anything…one full egg per week.
*Bake, broil, steam or grill foods instead of frying them.I never fry.
Eat fewer "fast foods" (burgers, fried foods), which are high in fat. Instead, eat more fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates (rice, pasta, breads, grains).
Never do I eat fast foods, it makes me sick. Rice, pasta, breads, grains, I’ve been told to stay away from carbs, but I do occasionally have my pasta. Grains, forget it- I am an oatmeal fanatic.
*Drink low-calorie beverages, such as unsweetened tea or diet soda pop.
I drink coffee—no sugar or cream. No soda, just water and Gatorade.
Where am I going wrong here??? If it has anything to do with having a few beers or wine on the weekend, then just shoot me please. Millions of people are able to go on drinking beer, drinking wine, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. (all in moderation of courses)
Another thing that really bugs me, is that I run/jog 3-4 miles per day, and do weights for one hour at the gym, and at my home. Even when I’m on the stairmaster, I’m on there for one full hour sweating my butt off. I drink more than eight glasses of water per day and make sure that I take my vitamins.
Any advice you can give me, I’d appreciate it greatly. I need help here people!