Cholesterol?

missxchelly

Lately, I have been super worried about my cholesterol. I am so trying to avoid any heart problems. I started out weighing 318 pounds and have been big my entire life. I have no idea what it is like to be thin, and I have been eating like CRAP since I can remember. Sometimes fast food 3 times a day. Will eating right and exercising reduce my cholesterol and break down all the stuff in my arteries or am I doomed and the damage has been done? Help!

dchris99

The sooner you start the better it is, & it is like a double result, you are changing it up PLUS not adding on more bad!!! Good Luck, you can do this!!!

226Muriel

First and foremost, when was your cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure tested....?????

This is a JOURNEY....and I'm afraid that it isn't always ann easy one....

Now is the time to start...Lead a healthier life and you will have results.

If you are SERIOUS at starting this and need help ...just add me as a friend.:flowerforyou:

servilia

It's never too late to start being healthier!! :flowerforyou:

Fatbuster205

If you exercise and follow a well balanced healthy diet you will not only reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure but get healthier. However, take it gently and steadily - that way you are more likely to succeed!

goateelocks

Mine is still higher than i want, but it is trending down and my doctor stated that my ratio is good. But, it only started coming down since i have started charting my food intake and exercising.

missxchelly

I've been serious about this for awhile and have been taking action. I was just wondering if it was possible to break down everything in your arteries. I know it's a journey. I'm not expecting an over night thing, just curious. Also, I have not had my cholesterol or anything tested. I will however in January. But I'm trying to take precautions just in case.

AZKristi

The answer to this question will be different for every person. Cholesterol checks are a simple blood test that your doctor will run as part of an annual physical.

One of the big things doctors look at is your ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol. Lowering bad cholesterol starts by limiting the amount of animal fat in your diet. To increase your good cholesterol, choose healthier fats like avocados, nuts and olive oil!

CnocNaCu

I can really second what the others have said: start now and you will see results.
The cholesterol level will come down, especially when you combine healthy food with regular exercise. My cholesterol was very high and it is significantly lower now. It's what we eat and the exercise we do. Exercise helps to lift the level of the "good" cholesterol, which helps to keep the arteries clean, my doctor told me.
I have also quit smoking after 36 years. I am glad I did it and don't ask, if damage has already been done. It has, I am sure, but I have decided to do something to limit the damage. Look forward to a new you, you can do it:flowerforyou:

cheermom11

You are not doomed! My cholesterol dropped 93 points after a 29 pound loss. This IS possible. Take it slow and steady to make a 'lifestyle' change and you'll create healthy habits that will make your body so happy!

Best wishes! :flowerforyou:

ThePhoenixRose

You are definitely on the right track. There are plenty of natural supplements that can help reduce cholesterol. My husband is on a variety of them for that very thing. Weight loss does help. Cholesterol is also a contributing factor to strokes, not just hear attacks, so it's wise to watch it.

rileysowner

There is not a hard and fast answer to whether plaque in the arteries can be reversed. There is some evidence it can, but it is fairly new research. Basically at this point unless you have a test to show your blood cholesterol is high you really don't know where you are starting. For that matter blood cholesterol has a large genetic component as well. Eating healthy will at the very least reduce your cholesterol and get your blood chemistry back to something healthier.

emmaleigh47

Not every obese person have high cholesterol and high blood pressure -- its a genetic thing. Some people do and some people dont. But, making healthier choices, weight loss, and exercise will benefit you in so many ways not just numbers on a piece of paper.

crudd12

I lost 25 pounds! My cholesterol went from 204 to 180! Good luck to you!

amybell68

I had the same issues when I started my journey!! My cholesterol was so high!! I began by seeing my doctor! then I started eating oatmeal for breakfast!! And taking Fish oil pills everyday, this really helped my numbers go down!! then I decided if I can do this then I can go all the way!! feel free to friend me for support!! good luck with your journey!!!

LabRat529

Edit: Nevermind. I didn't read closely enough. You already answered my question.

gods_gal

I was on a medication for high cholesterol. I have lost over 30 pounds now and am off the medicine and the numbers are in the healthy range now. I eat Cheerios for breakfast almost every day and walk every day but Sunday. You can definitely change your health by eating right and exercise. I only cook with olive oil now, also. Good luck on your journey! :flowerforyou:

guppygirl322

My husband's cholesterol was close to 250. He stopped eating processed meat, reduced his red meat intake DRASTICALLY (to MAYBE once a week), and within a month his cholesterol pretty close to normal.

catwrangler

I have genetically inherited high cholesterol. It went down after a year of no fried food and daily niacin caps.

Then I started eating a lot of eggs, every day, several a day and it went up a little. Maybe it was the eggs or maybe the niacin stopped helping. Anyway, I'm trying to eat less yolks now and more whites.

Last visit he doc said to take fish oil daily and I also take red yeast rice. We'll see what happens in 6 months.

I refuse to go on cholesterol meds. The side effects scare me.

PoohAA

Disclaimer: I'm studying to be a doctor, but I can't say I'm all the way there yet.

The general belief is that, at least with respect to your arteries, what has been building up doesn't go away.
However, cholesterol is constantly in flux, and you can decrease the rate at which plaques grow. What you eat is the biggest factor in controlling your cholesterol. Choose foods that have low or no cholesterol in them. Some foods like oats have even been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels. This is then correlated with lower incidence of heart related problems.

If you're thinking about cholesterol, the bigger issue at hand is heart health. I'm not sure how much, if at all, cholesterol can impact other organ systems, but the most important one is (cardio)vascular. Some of the biggest risk factors for heart disease are age, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, family history, weight, the presence of other diseases like diabetes, etc. If you smoke, stop. If you eat foods high in cholesterol, cut back, or wean them out of your diet altogether. Healthy blood pressure is associated with a healthy weight.

My suggestion would be not to worry about the cholesterol test. A good value could mean your habits are bad but your body's production of cholesterol as dictated by your genetic profile is great, or vice versa. You should make good diet choices regardless. The other suggestions posted thus far are quite good.

The bottom line: eat healthy, stay active

missxchelly

What is a good cholesterol level? I will see what's up with me when I see a doctor next month. My entire life doctors have told I am incredibly healthy for as big as I am but if I don't change things it will turn on me. I just want to take every measure I can to live longer and am hoping for the best when my health results come back. Thanks for the feedback everyone. So what's a good Cholesterol number what is really high?

DawnDawn2011

Get your cholesterol tested, then go from there. Eating oatmeal, and a healthy diet combined with exercise will lower cholesterol, but if I were you I would not even worry about it until I went to the doctor and had some bloodwork done. It is great that you are taking care of your health, but please don't stress over it too much until you know the facts : )

missxchelly

I'll try not too. I can't help it though sometimes. A lot of people around me are like dying..