winterbadger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
winterbadger) wrote2006-02-01 07:08 pm
winterbadger) wrote2006-02-01 07:08 pm
doctor stuff
Too funny. I had a physical yesterday, and got lots of referrals to different specialists, mostly to deal with minor issues. Well, my doc (who is a sweet woman, gentle but firm and always cheerful) called because she was very concerned about my cholesterol results. Apparently the overall number is only slightly above the desirable level, and the LDL level is within reasonable bounds, but the HDL is low and the triglycerides are way, way high.
"So I want you to cut back red meat intake by 90%, avoid eggs, eat lots more grain and fiber, and take fish oil and Niacin."
Of course, I just started Phase 1 of the South Beach two days ago (and am already down three and a half pounds), and that requires you to ditch all grains and stick to meat, eggs, veg, and low- or no-fat dairy. :-)
I rarely eat eggs except when I'm doing this diet (and in fact haven't ever eaten any of the box I got the other day), but there's no way I'm going to cut back as much as she's suggesting on the amount of beef I eat (which is usually fairly lean). So I said, "I'll be happy to increase the amount of fiber and grain in my diet and I can start taking the pills, but I can't help with the other stuff." She said, "Well, you can cut back, can't you?" To which I replied, "Well, I don't often eat eggs, and I'm not prepared to eliminate most red meat from my diet." She laughed and said, "Oh, so it's not that you can't, it's that you're not prepared to! Well, at least you need to keep workign on losing weight [which we'd already discussed] and come back in three months and see if we need to get you on medication." And I assented to that. :-)
What I find surprising is that she didn't mention cutting back on sugar, alcohol, or saturated fats, which--from a quick survey of sites like the American Heart Association--are commonly recommended responses to high triglycerides. I have to call her back on once I arrange some of the referrals, so I'll ask her abot that then.
I'll readily admit that I need to get more exercise, lose weight, and eat a bit better, but I'm also not going to become one of those people who gives up all the pleasures of live and subsists on lettuce and gruel so as to end up wizened and ninety. We only get once chance at life, and I plan on enjoying it as best I can, within reason.
"So I want you to cut back red meat intake by 90%, avoid eggs, eat lots more grain and fiber, and take fish oil and Niacin."
Of course, I just started Phase 1 of the South Beach two days ago (and am already down three and a half pounds), and that requires you to ditch all grains and stick to meat, eggs, veg, and low- or no-fat dairy. :-)
I rarely eat eggs except when I'm doing this diet (and in fact haven't ever eaten any of the box I got the other day), but there's no way I'm going to cut back as much as she's suggesting on the amount of beef I eat (which is usually fairly lean). So I said, "I'll be happy to increase the amount of fiber and grain in my diet and I can start taking the pills, but I can't help with the other stuff." She said, "Well, you can cut back, can't you?" To which I replied, "Well, I don't often eat eggs, and I'm not prepared to eliminate most red meat from my diet." She laughed and said, "Oh, so it's not that you can't, it's that you're not prepared to! Well, at least you need to keep workign on losing weight [which we'd already discussed] and come back in three months and see if we need to get you on medication." And I assented to that. :-)
What I find surprising is that she didn't mention cutting back on sugar, alcohol, or saturated fats, which--from a quick survey of sites like the American Heart Association--are commonly recommended responses to high triglycerides. I have to call her back on once I arrange some of the referrals, so I'll ask her abot that then.
I'll readily admit that I need to get more exercise, lose weight, and eat a bit better, but I'm also not going to become one of those people who gives up all the pleasures of live and subsists on lettuce and gruel so as to end up wizened and ninety. We only get once chance at life, and I plan on enjoying it as best I can, within reason.
no subject
Eggs are not considered to affect dietary cholesterol as much as were once thought.
Triglycerides are generally a warning sign for diabetes. Cut back on refined sugar and white flour. No need to eliminate all grains--whole ones are fine and even white basmati isn't too bad. The GI tables are a better bet than South Beach but even then, eat the red stuff occasionally, don't become a fanatic. :)
My last numbers: Cholesterol 185, HDL 77, LDL 74, triglycerides 170. I eat dark meat chicken with the skin, whole milk, plenty of eggs, and only use butter, never low-fat spread (I cook with sunflower oil). My endocrinolgist was amazed--I'm way too overweight and I come from a family with an extensive history of heart disease! (Also, I have PCOS and have pre-diabetes; slightly elevated triglycerides are to be expected.)
no subject
Get yourself up to a couple of 10 miles bike rides a week to start. Then work towards 20. Before you know it, 50 miles will seem like a light workout.