Not sure if there is even such a thing or person or condition - but it could be connected to the deep feelings we have with things we know are not good for us, yet still devour on occasion. This is where the confession part comes in, and geez, it's out there for all the world to know. I have eaten some things I know are not good for me but can't help myself - every once in awhile I get cravings, okay blind urges to indulge: that croissant with coffee the other day, the chocolate bar from the last stand before the check-out counter with groceries, the piece of dessert with lunch the other day at work, and that scrumptious piece of homemade pie after supper on the weekend... I know we need to allow ourselves that little bit of leeway because if we don't it just nags at us until we really cave.
I also wonder if I am really trying as hard as I can. Sometimes I think wow, victory and other times I feel like I am not really giving this the chance it deserves. I deserve. I am wondering how many little bad things eliminate all the good things you are attempting, achieving, and succeeding at. There have been changes for the better, and yet, there is so much more to do.
Tomorrow I go for the results of my cholesterol re-testing that the doctor ordered. The delay was to allow me to try and bring the numbers down myself with changes to diet, etc. I am not sure how it will go but I will place my prediction here and will compare once I get my results in the morning: I was at 4.0 LDL (bad) which is twice what it should be, although, overall I was told that I was only moderately high. I will predict I managed to bring it to a 3.6. I will also get myself weighed in and will predict that I lost 6 1bs. since my last doctor's appointment on June 23rd. It's not so much that I feel I was trying extremely hard to bring my numbers down, but I did make changes and ensure that some things become habits.
The Mayo Clinic rates the following 5 food categories or items to be the best in an attempt to lower bad cholesterol, while actually leaving good cholesterol alone or even raising it:
1. Eat foods high in fiber, such as oatmeal, oat bran or others - kidney beans, apples, pears, barley, and prunes are very good sources. *Kelsey and I have been watching the labels and trying to up our fiber intake. I believe a previous posting pondered the predicament of making precious pals with fiber packed food. We have bought a cereal that has 14g of fiber in 1/2 c.
2. It is recommended that you have two servings a week of fish and/or omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, sardines, Albacore tuna and halibut are great examples - but remember to bake or grill them so as to not add unwanted fat to the fish. A supplement is good for some of the daily recommended allowances but fish is a better source due to the selenium content. *Although, we have had salmon recently we have not picked up the pace to twice a week yet. We have, however, been taking a daily flax oil supplement which is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. One of her clients recommended it to my daughter - this lady and her mother are living a very healthy life at 80 and 100.
3. Although high in calories, nuts - without salt or sugar coatings - are an excellent choice. Just a handful of walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, and some pine nuts will do the trick. *We don't have them handy all the time, but I love nuts! Glad they are on the list but I do have to remember "only a handful" ... it's easy to get carried away.
4. Olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil. Use 2 tablespoons per day in place of other fats - saute vegetables, use as a marinade or a salad dressing. The warning is the same as nuts - it's high in calories so keep it to the minimum. *I use olive oil for cooking but must remember its other uses for vegetables and salads. I have a history with olive oil - when I was having problems with gall stones when I was younger, 2 tablespoons per day (right off the spoon!) helped soften stones enough to pass them. It finally got to me - the stones not the oil - and it seems that organ has no real use as I didn't have to be on a special diet in any way. Pity!
5. Foods with added plant sterols or stanols... this is confusing because it seems that common sterols are cholesterol (??? - maybe the good kind) and stanols are naturally occurring substances that block the absorption of sterols (??? - okay, that means they are the bad kind) - if anyone can comment and straighten this out for me - great - otherwise we'll let it be. Anyway, some margarine, orange juice, and yogurt drinks contain these components. *We use Becel (free advertising here, hope someone from Becel is reading this... :) and have tried a few different "blends" including: olive oil, low calorie, vegan, and regular. We prefer anything but the low calorie as that one just leaves your bread surface mushy - what's up with that? The others are great, almost tasting too good.
If we take all things above into consideration, there has been significant movement towards eating healthier. The best insurance is, of course, to cut back on total fat consumption especially saturated or trans fats. Reading those labels can be enlightening and trying to juggle all meals and snacks around what's needed and what's not is sometimes quite an act. But we are managing.
Well, time for the pursuit of another thing that does a body good - sleep. Good night and good cholesterol.
I also wonder if I am really trying as hard as I can. Sometimes I think wow, victory and other times I feel like I am not really giving this the chance it deserves. I deserve. I am wondering how many little bad things eliminate all the good things you are attempting, achieving, and succeeding at. There have been changes for the better, and yet, there is so much more to do.
Tomorrow I go for the results of my cholesterol re-testing that the doctor ordered. The delay was to allow me to try and bring the numbers down myself with changes to diet, etc. I am not sure how it will go but I will place my prediction here and will compare once I get my results in the morning: I was at 4.0 LDL (bad) which is twice what it should be, although, overall I was told that I was only moderately high. I will predict I managed to bring it to a 3.6. I will also get myself weighed in and will predict that I lost 6 1bs. since my last doctor's appointment on June 23rd. It's not so much that I feel I was trying extremely hard to bring my numbers down, but I did make changes and ensure that some things become habits.
The Mayo Clinic rates the following 5 food categories or items to be the best in an attempt to lower bad cholesterol, while actually leaving good cholesterol alone or even raising it:
1. Eat foods high in fiber, such as oatmeal, oat bran or others - kidney beans, apples, pears, barley, and prunes are very good sources. *Kelsey and I have been watching the labels and trying to up our fiber intake. I believe a previous posting pondered the predicament of making precious pals with fiber packed food. We have bought a cereal that has 14g of fiber in 1/2 c.
2. It is recommended that you have two servings a week of fish and/or omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, sardines, Albacore tuna and halibut are great examples - but remember to bake or grill them so as to not add unwanted fat to the fish. A supplement is good for some of the daily recommended allowances but fish is a better source due to the selenium content. *Although, we have had salmon recently we have not picked up the pace to twice a week yet. We have, however, been taking a daily flax oil supplement which is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. One of her clients recommended it to my daughter - this lady and her mother are living a very healthy life at 80 and 100.
3. Although high in calories, nuts - without salt or sugar coatings - are an excellent choice. Just a handful of walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, and some pine nuts will do the trick. *We don't have them handy all the time, but I love nuts! Glad they are on the list but I do have to remember "only a handful" ... it's easy to get carried away.
4. Olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil. Use 2 tablespoons per day in place of other fats - saute vegetables, use as a marinade or a salad dressing. The warning is the same as nuts - it's high in calories so keep it to the minimum. *I use olive oil for cooking but must remember its other uses for vegetables and salads. I have a history with olive oil - when I was having problems with gall stones when I was younger, 2 tablespoons per day (right off the spoon!) helped soften stones enough to pass them. It finally got to me - the stones not the oil - and it seems that organ has no real use as I didn't have to be on a special diet in any way. Pity!
5. Foods with added plant sterols or stanols... this is confusing because it seems that common sterols are cholesterol (??? - maybe the good kind) and stanols are naturally occurring substances that block the absorption of sterols (??? - okay, that means they are the bad kind) - if anyone can comment and straighten this out for me - great - otherwise we'll let it be. Anyway, some margarine, orange juice, and yogurt drinks contain these components. *We use Becel (free advertising here, hope someone from Becel is reading this... :) and have tried a few different "blends" including: olive oil, low calorie, vegan, and regular. We prefer anything but the low calorie as that one just leaves your bread surface mushy - what's up with that? The others are great, almost tasting too good.
If we take all things above into consideration, there has been significant movement towards eating healthier. The best insurance is, of course, to cut back on total fat consumption especially saturated or trans fats. Reading those labels can be enlightening and trying to juggle all meals and snacks around what's needed and what's not is sometimes quite an act. But we are managing.
Well, time for the pursuit of another thing that does a body good - sleep. Good night and good cholesterol.
"Nuts" to nuts without salt! Yuck! lol I love Pecans! Good thing my hands are large - ha! Keep at it, Linda. I completely understand the 'push-and -pull' hold that food can have on a person as I AM one of those persons. I, too, struggle (and, unfortunately, fail a lot of the time) with this same issue. POWER TO THE PASTA!! Er-uhm, I mean... POWER TO THE FIBER?
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmm.....I dunno...doesn't really carry as big a punch. Maybe that's why it's less in calories? Luv ya