Need to lower my cholesterol, but facing limitations

litlfrog

Shockingly, years of neglecting my health are now coming back to bite me. My blood pressure is great, no trouble with diabetes/blood sugar, but my cholesterol got too high over the last couple of years. I have already started and stuck with a commitment to a high protein, high fiber, low fat breakfast every day. I've been having less saturated fats than I used to, and less processed food. The big problem is exercise.

I had shoulder surgery that never healed properly a while back. Chronic pain is mostly managed, but every night is still a challenge to some extent. What's more, I used to love walking but I have an unexplained problem in one leg. (Hospital tests are scheduled in a few weeks; they've ruled out anything immediately dangerous already.) I know one of the biggest ways to lower cholesterol is "lose weight, dummy" but I feel largely stuck being sedentary. Anyone else been in this situation, or think they might have some advice?

jenilla1

I've got nothing, but I'd like to listen in to see what others say. Most normal people should see an improvement in their cholesterol with weight loss. You can lose weight without exercise by simply controlling calorie intake, although exercise is so good for your health beyond just weight control. Being sedentary might make it more challenging, but it's still very doable.

I've had terrible cholesterol since the first time it was checked in my late 20's. But I've never been overweight and for the past several years have been maintaining at my ideal weight. I'm very fit (and enjoy exercising well over an hour daily, many days strenuously.) I've eaten a healthy, high-fiber diet for as long as I can remember. All my other tests come out awesome for my age - athletic resting heart rate, perfect blood pressure and blood sugar, etc. Doctor says I just hit the genetic jackpot on this cholesterol thing. Oh, well. High cholesterol is my one and only risk factor, so she's not too worried about me. I don't take meds or anything because aside from the cholesterol, I'm otherwise low risk. It might be interesting to note, that even without any changes in diet and exercise, the one thing that most influences my cholesterol seems to be my weight. If my BMI goes above 22, it skyrockets. I'm at 21 currently and my cholesterol is high, but not as scary high as it has been in the past, when my BMI was almost 24. A weight that is healthy for most people apparently wrecks my cholesterol. I guess I have one of those genetic makeups that doesn't just want me to be within the healthy weight range, it's wants me on the lower side of it?

Hopefully, it will be easier for you to get your cholesterol under control; it seems near impossible for me!

livingleanlivingclean

The only limitation is your mindset - don't think you're in a hopeless position, you're not! You can make a massive difference to your health by losing weight, and this is possible just through diet. Yes, exercising helps increase your deficit, or enables you to eat more, but it is not necessary for weight loss.

Keep doing what you're doing, make sure you're in a deficit and when you can introduce exercise, do so!