Went to the doc on 12/29/2009 for my "please re-fill my meds" visit. It'll be nice when I'm down to "I'm feeling great, let's keep me that way" visits and not needing medication. When I was there, he checked a bunch of things, mostly blood glucose (it was close to normal), potassium to see if I could stay on the Lasix (it was fine, so I'm set) and cholesterol.
Yeah, about that... My LDL is the worst it has ever been. I'm not sure if it's because I've been eating gluten again or what. My total cholesterol is high, my triglycerides are high... just about the only number associated with cholesterol that's OK is my HDL, so I'll take that tarnished silver lining, thanks. So, at the ripe old age of 36, I'm on a statin. It is my understanding that once you are on a statin, there's pretty much no turning back, which sucks. I suppose it's possible for me to get off of it when I'm at my goal weight as long as I'm exercising like a crazy person. I dunno. So I'm now taking my meds as prescribed, I'm walking - even for 15 minutes, I'm trying to clean up my diet and will get better with that once we get to payday and I can restock the pantry... I have to be prepared for the fact that I may not be able to get my cholesterol to perfectly normal levels without medication, even at my thinnest and otherwise healthiest. My daddy had high cholesterol until the day he died and he was of normal weight. One of my co-workers has high cholesterol and she's a size 8. Proof that it's not all about what you eat or what you weigh, J. got his checked the same time and his numbers are GREAT - without medication. He eats worse food than I do because he's stuck at the mall most of the day. I really have no idea what a good goal for me to set for my 6-week recheck. I'm shooting for having lost at least 10 pounds, but I don't know what to even expect from my blood work. Is 10 points off my total too much? I dunno. Right now, I think it's "whatever I can get, so long as the numbers that need to go down go down and the HDL stays the same or goes up". It would be lovely if I could end up with J.'s numbers when it's all said and done, and it would be great if that were without medication, but I'm not sure that's realistic. I guess we'll see.
A couple of bouts with food poisoning has me eating a LOT less meat, so that's helping. I just need to start cutting back on my processed carbs and my sodium. I need to find a fitness swimming suit so I can start working out in the pool because I'm at a weight where my feet and hips aren't going to be very welcoming of walking of any duration. I could try the recumbent bike. I'd like to do water aerobics if I can find a suit and a class that fits my schedule. Once I get some weight off, I can go back to walking, because I do want to participate in the Race for the Cure again this year. I was unable to last year because I was so out of shape. :-(
I hope everyone is having a great 2010 so far! Let's make it our best year ever!
