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apwendell
apwendell Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 53 health is good, I work out (Yoga, Pilates, Weights, Cize, P90X) five days a week for up to 45mins depending on my workout. I like the size I am though my MD would like me to lose more weight. Recent MD visit showed elevated cholesterol and blood pressure. So I'm on water pills and she wants me to go on cholesterol meds. But I think I can get my cholesterol down if I change my diet. So I'm asking for anyone else that has to check their cholesterol for helpful websites that provide meal ideas or if you can please share what has worked for you to reduce your cholesterol. Mine is slightly elevated bordering on being high. Thanks!

Replies

  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
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    Short answer: I didn't use a "diet plan" to lower mine. Just this site/app and weighing & logging what I ate & consistent light to moderate exercise (less than what you are doing).

    I'm younger than you, but loosing weight (and consequently eating more nutritious food + exercise) fixed mine. I see you're doing well with the exercise! How much more did your dr say he wanted you to lose?

    People might be able to help you if you open your diary for us to see what you're eating, or post examples here. You can eat any food you like - You will need to weigh your food portions on a food scale to determine the number of calories you're eating- the site/app will help you determine your caloric goal based on the info you tell it. Pre-planning your menu/shopping and pre-logging are super helpful.

    Your expectations for weight loss might be in the range of 0.5 to 2 lbs per week (2 lbs if you have a lot to lose, less if you are closer to ideal weight/BMI, etc.).
  • HoosierMom2017
    HoosierMom2017 Posts: 8 Member
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    Excellent topic for a post. My mother is a nurse, and we also had this issue in our family. I have a sister who is nearly 6 feet tall and is at her ideal weight. She is 45 At a recent doctor visit, she was also diagnosed with higher cholesterol and was puzzled by this. With first further consultation, tests, and discussions with my mother, it was finally emphasized and understood by her that some cholesterol issues are genetic. She has eaten "clean "all of her life, but yet has much higher cholesterol than I do, and I am the One with a weight issue. Perhaps further discussion with your doctor might clarify this, or if that person is a general practitioner, you might find a specialist, and have the discussion with them. Sometimes general practitioners don't have the time to consult with their patients, as they are rushing through a list of people every day. With your test results, you should be able to walk into any other physicians office, have a consultation, and get a second opinion. You may not wish to add medication, but perhaps in this instance, that will be the only way to lower your cholesterol if it is a genetic issue. Also, the medication will be the only way to lower the cholesterol and not doing so would have disastrous consequences. Before my most recent surgery I had to have a chemically induced heart attack for testing reasons as I am 50 and they wanted to test my blood uptake etc. that crushing chest and arm feeling and barely being able to gasp for breath was not enjoyable. It was all I could do to panic, And could not ever imagine going through that. Best of luck to you and again, I hope you find someone who can explain things to you more fully. Sometimes medication is the only answer, but in that instance, I feel personally it's always best to get an extra second or third opinion about which medicine and what dosage. Good luck
  • apwendell
    apwendell Posts: 9 Member
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    Thank you both so much for your insight. CTcutie I will look into opening up my diary I'm still learning how to navigate this site. I could do better with my eating but I have two autistic sons, both adults now that have specific eating requirements. So most nights I'm cooking three meals. There are times I just don't have the energy to cook that meal for myself...but I'm feeling an urgency to try harder. I do a lot of pre-planning. This week, my pre-planning of meals included meals for myself. HoosierMom2, I will also consider a second opinion and thank you for sharing your experience. I don't want to take medications but I also don't want that decision to make matters worse. I just don't want to be pushed into taking meds like you said some doctors don't take a lot of time with their patients for obvious reasons. I want the medication to be a last resort if nothing else works. In my case, this is a new development so I would rather see if I can get my condition under control and if with what I do it's still high then I will take the medication. Like I said, I certainly don't want to make the condition worse. I started my meal preparations on Saturday, so far so good. It's got me on the path to thinking about my meals instead of popping stuff in my mouth. I already work out and that is consistent..My goal isn't to lose weight it's to get the cholesterol under control and control what my doc says is borderline hypertension. If some weight comes off that's okay but it's not my goal. BTW I'm size 14, 5'4 at 175. My doc says she would like me to weight 140ish...based upon that annoying AMA chart :-)
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    edited June 2017
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    What were your numbers? Including LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. If you don't know them, call the office and write them down. Some doctors are prescription happy. Ex: I don't think total cholesterol of 240 is high as long as your HDL and LDL are a good balance. Some "pill happy" doctors prescribe them at that level even with all the side effects. Seems crazy.
  • Muana1005
    Muana1005 Posts: 172 Member
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    Strongly suggest you don't go on here looking for medical advice. Speak to a qualified dietician/nutritionist and speak to them. You will need to take your meds but diet can be used alongside to control it.
  • apwendell
    apwendell Posts: 9 Member
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    Muana1005 wrote: »
    Strongly suggest you don't go on here looking for medical advice. Speak to a qualified dietician/nutritionist and speak to them. You will need to take your meds but diet can be used alongside to control it.

    Thanks for the advice. I was definitely not looking for medical advice I do have a primary physician. I was looking for tips for what others have done to help them lower their cholesterol. Thanks.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,484 Member
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    I think you should follow the advice of your doctor. At the moment you are obese, 140 lbs will take you to the top on the normal BMI range.

    It may also be a good idea to talk to your doctor about a referral to registered dietitian who can guide you on appropriate food choices. Or what foods you may be better restricting.

    In general one only needs to stay within a calorie deficit to lose weight, no special diet required, so you could work your food in with you 2 sons, paying heed to any restrictions, to cut down on having to make so many meals.

    Losing 35 lbs will take you into those post menopausal years with a lower chance of further medication intervention.

    Losing 1 lbs a week, a 500 calorie deficit a day, logging food accurately, using a food scale, and keeping in touch with your medical team, is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family.

    Sorry, that isn't what you wanted to hear, but as a 63yo woman who lost weight at 54, I am a bit of a nag when it comes to the over 50's taking care of themselves.

    Cheers, h.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 32,558 Member
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    @middlehaitch always gives good advice, as she did above. I'd add this:

    I had been in "negotiations" with my doc about whether I'd take a statin. Total cholesterol in the mid/high 200s, triglycerides anywhere from 200-ish to somewhere in the 400s, HDL 30s, Chol/HDL ratio in the 5s. Blood pressure tended to be borderline to kinda high, 140/80 and up, most of the time. I wanted to try changing my eating.

    Long story short, did a bunch of research, tried a bunch of things, only minor improvements, like total chol maybe low to mid 200s instead of mid to high, HDL closer to 40, tris in the upper 100s to low 200s.

    At this point, I was about where you are now, 5'5", 183 pounds, quite active, age 59. For reasons not entirely the lipid situation, something clicked in my brain and I started losing weight. I didn't intentionally change what I ate, rather how much, though I admit to changing things up a bit over time to improve nutrition & satiation. (I already ate pretty decently, lots of fruit & veg, long term vegetarian, etc.)

    At around 165 pounds, my cholesterol was at 192, triglycerides 126, LDL 128 - all in normal range for that lab. HDL still a bit low at 39.

    At 130 pounds, cholesterol 176, tris 82, HDL 65, LDL 95, ratio 2.7. The only thing out of target range was VLDL . . . and it was low, below the reference range, generally regarded as a good thing. Oh, and my blood pressure was around 110/65.

    Nowadays, my weight's in the 120s (fine for my body type), and the lipids & BP are still just fine at age 61.

    Weight loss alone will not improve lipids for everyone, especially those with a strong genetic predisposition. But for some of us, it does work. Maybe your doctor's not completely crazy? ;)
  • apwendell
    apwendell Posts: 9 Member
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    middlehaitch wrote: »
    I think you should follow the advice of your doctor. At the moment you are obese, 140 lbs will take you to the top on the normal BMI range.

    It may also be a good idea to talk to your doctor about a referral to registered dietitian who can guide you on appropriate food choices. Or what foods you may be better restricting.

    In general one only needs to stay within a calorie deficit to lose weight, no special diet required, so you could work your food in with you 2 sons, paying heed to any restrictions, to cut down on having to make so many meals.

    Losing 35 lbs will take you into those post menopausal years with a lower chance of further medication intervention.

    Losing 1 lbs a week, a 500 calorie deficit a day, logging food accurately, using a food scale, and keeping in touch with your medical team, is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family.

    Sorry, that isn't what you wanted to hear, but as a 63yo woman who lost weight at 54, I am a bit of a nag when it comes to the over 50's taking care of themselves.

    Cheers, h.

    Thanks for the information and the advice. I'm going to invest in a food scale because I really don't eat throughout the day except during meal times but I can't say for certain that I'm eating appropriate portions! I don't mind losing some weight, but again I'm not looking to lose as much weight as my doctor wants as I think I would look sickly. My pressure has been excellent with just the 12.5 g of HCTZ now I have to tackle the high cholesterol...I have an MD appt. coming up so we'll see what me and the doc can come up with. Thanks again for taking the time!
  • apwendell
    apwendell Posts: 9 Member
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    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    @middlehaitch always gives good advice, as she did above. I'd add this:

    I had been in "negotiations" with my doc about whether I'd take a statin. Total cholesterol in the mid/high 200s, triglycerides anywhere from 200-ish to somewhere in the 400s, HDL 30s, Chol/HDL ratio in the 5s. Blood pressure tended to be borderline to kinda high, 140/80 and up, most of the time. I wanted to try changing my eating.

    Long story short, did a bunch of research, tried a bunch of things, only minor improvements, like total chol maybe low to mid 200s instead of mid to high, HDL closer to 40, tris in the upper 100s to low 200s.

    At this point, I was about where you are now, 5'5", 183 pounds, quite active, age 59. For reasons not entirely the lipid situation, something clicked in my brain and I started losing weight. I didn't intentionally change what I ate, rather how much, though I admit to changing things up a bit over time to improve nutrition & satiation. (I already ate pretty decently, lots of fruit & veg, long term vegetarian, etc.)

    At around 165 pounds, my cholesterol was at 192, triglycerides 126, LDL 128 - all in normal range for that lab. HDL still a bit low at 39.

    At 130 pounds, cholesterol 176, tris 82, HDL 65, LDL 95, ratio 2.7. The only thing out of target range was VLDL . . . and it was low, below the reference range, generally regarded as a good thing. Oh, and my blood pressure was around 110/65.

    Nowadays, my weight's in the 120s (fine for my body type), and the lipids & BP are still just fine at age 61.

    Weight loss alone will not improve lipids for everyone, especially those with a strong genetic predisposition. But for some of us, it does work. Maybe your doctor's not completely crazy? ;)

    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. The hardest part of focusing on my health was getting active. For three years now working out has been a part of my routine to the point that it's like brushing my teeth. Now the biggest challenge is the eating. I don't consider myself a junk food person but I also could add more veggies to my diet, I often don't not because I don't like them but because it becomes another thing that I have to prepare only for me after I've prepared two other meals. Uggh. So I will be paying closer attention than I have to portion control because on the whole I don't think my diet is very bad. I don't eat a lot of red meats. Mostly we eat chicken and fish/crustaceans. But I do eat carbs so I think I need to make sure I'm eating the right portions for my weight loss goals. We eat fried foods maybe 1x a week most of the time I bake. So I will be reviewing this plan with my doctor and ask her to refer me to a dietitian for some extra tips...Your story gives me hope!

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