So . . . as you know, I enjoy the outdoors. I like to run, bike and am developing a like/enjoyment for swimming. All of these things I seem to be disciplined about especially when I am training for something. As I mentioned earlier, I am in training for the New Orleans 70.3 that will take place April 13th. In my last update, I mentioned what I have been up to but I did not give full disclosure.
Back in mid-December I had my annual physical and went in feeling very smug about being a 50-year-old dude (whom AARP still has not caught up with) in pretty good shape. All of my prior tests, etc had come back pretty good and in fact, really good with the exception of this blasted cholesterol that I cannot seem to overcome. For years, my doctor, Ken Demerjian, whom I really like and respect, has been telling me that heredity is not my friend and that I am just prone to high cholesterol. I would take fish oil, eat oatmeal, blah, blah, blah . . . but every year it would hover around the high side. Until this year. No more hovering. It was over the top (220) and he thought it best I go on a statin. I understood, but said no. I thought maybe I could change some eating behavior and see if I could reduce my cholesterol count more naturally.
A week later I went to visit my chiropractor, Don Mynster (who I affectionately refer to as my witch doctor) who also does nutrition and explained to him my predicament. He gave me a new eating plan that focuses on eating meat, vegetables and fruit. It eliminates pretty much all bread and sugars other than sugar from fruit. I told him I would try and he said in 3 weeks my cholesterol and triglycerides would be much better. So . . . for three weeks I stuck to the plan. This past week I went in for another blood test and my cholesterol dropped from 220 to 161. I really could not believe it. My triglycerides dropped significantly and I actually increased my good cholesterol (HDL) by 2 points. Too say the least, I was excited and I lost 7 lbs. to boot. Most of that weight came from my belly and love handles.
It is not a crazy strict diet but it requires discipline and moderation. I feel much better too.
So . . . just like golf, the lower my score and the lower the number on my cholesterol count the better. Both take a lot of discipline. Needless to say, I have done a much better job on reducing my cholesterol number than I have my golf score, but there's time to work on that!
Back in mid-December I had my annual physical and went in feeling very smug about being a 50-year-old dude (whom AARP still has not caught up with) in pretty good shape. All of my prior tests, etc had come back pretty good and in fact, really good with the exception of this blasted cholesterol that I cannot seem to overcome. For years, my doctor, Ken Demerjian, whom I really like and respect, has been telling me that heredity is not my friend and that I am just prone to high cholesterol. I would take fish oil, eat oatmeal, blah, blah, blah . . . but every year it would hover around the high side. Until this year. No more hovering. It was over the top (220) and he thought it best I go on a statin. I understood, but said no. I thought maybe I could change some eating behavior and see if I could reduce my cholesterol count more naturally.
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| #17 TPC Sawgrass |
It is not a crazy strict diet but it requires discipline and moderation. I feel much better too.
So . . . just like golf, the lower my score and the lower the number on my cholesterol count the better. Both take a lot of discipline. Needless to say, I have done a much better job on reducing my cholesterol number than I have my golf score, but there's time to work on that!
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