Four-plus years ago my father went to see a doctor about reoccurring pains and numbness that he had been having in his arms and hands. The doctors scheduled him for a procedure, I don't think it was an angioplasty, they just wanted to take a look around. But during the course of the procedure he had three arteries collapse and they were forced to put in stints.

My father is not nor has he ever been overweight, had high cholesterol, and all my life he has lead a fairly active lifestyle (running, hiking, camping etc.). I on the other hand have lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle since graduating from college 10 years ago. During that time I've gone from about 140 lbs. to 210 lbs., as well as developing all kinds of problems related or unrelated to gaining the weight.

A while back I went to my physician to get a physical with the exception of my cholesterol which was something like 240, he felt that everything else was "normal" To find out if my cholesterol was hereditary or a product of what I eat, he placed me on a low fat diet, 30 mg or less per day, for one month. For a whole month I watched my fat intake and when I went back to see him my cholesterol dropped to 170, the bad cholesterol was about 40. It convinced him not to put me on a cholesterol drug. That was 3 years ago.

The bad news is that I'm now backup to 200+ pounds. I realize that the low-fat diet was a short term fix. I'd like to change my lifestyle so that in 20 years I'm not the guy on the table getting stints placed in his arteries.

I need help finding a starting point, any help would be appreciated.

The bad news, which you have already apparently deduced, is that you need to change your eating habits for life, not just for a short term. The good news is that strictly "low-fat" is not the latest news in a heart-healthy diet. Instead it is "out with the bad fats, but in with the good ones." A few of the major points: eat fatty fish and include canola oil and olive oil in the diet. Avoid saturated fats and especially, avoid trans fats. So good-bye prime rib, bacon, sausage, fried foods, ice cream and most convenience foods. Lean meat and poultry (without skin) is okay. Eat LOTS of vegetables and fruit, preferably seven or more servings a day. Stick to the lower calorie ones while you are trying to lose weight. And cut out the sugar and to the extent possible, white flour.

You've probably read that the Mediterranean diet has been shown in research to be a heart-healthy one. For a book to read which follows this diet, I'd recommend The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete by Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D. and Jo Robinson. You should be able to look up excerpts from the book on a popular book website to see if it looks like it might be for you.

Exercise is also an important part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. What are your current exercise habits? Will you need to be making any changes there, too?

Also, have you had any recent blood work so that you know your current blood lipid profile?

Uff-Da!

Thank you, I haven't read the Mediterranean diet but will as soon as I can get my hands on it. I'll also look into The Omega Diet as you suggested.

I'm not an execrciser, though I know I must start. I get fustrated rather easily becuase I get worn out quickly, additionally I get bored quickly. Is there a way that I can build up my endurance without getting worn out or bored.

I have a complex about going to the gym, I feel like everyone is staring at the fat guy who can only lift 20 lbs. (I know they are not, it just feels that way). Which doesn't help matter either.

I have not had a blood lipid profile? What is it and what do I do with it once I get the results?

Is the Mediteranian Diet and The Omega Diet safe for children. I have two kids both under the age of 5? I want to model my lifestyle in a way that is also health for them and my wife.

When I spoke of the Mediterranean diet, I was speaking in general of the diets in that area, high in olive oil and vegetables, low in saturated fat, etc., not to a specific book. I know there is a book by that title available, but I've never read it. If you do a Google search on Mediterranean diet, you'll find information on the general components of the diets around that area. This diet, and the suggestions in The Omega Diet which follow it, are designed as a way of eating for life, not just specifically as a weight loss diet. The book Omega Diet has one chapter on weight loss, but what it boils down to is just eat less of the regular diet. No gimmicks, which often fail anyway, because as soon as a person goes off them, they are apt to gain weight again, just like you did before. By starting your children off on a diet like this now, you may help them establish good eating habits, so they'll be less likely to have a problem as adults.

Oh, I know what you mean about not wanting to exercise! That is my downfall. I think I could probably get my blood pressure and cholesterol down to where I might not need to take any meds for them at all if I could just get myself to exercise more regularly. With diet and the little exercise I do, I've been able to get both down to where I have to take only a minimum dose of each med, but I'm still working on trying to get exercise to become a habit, like brushing one's teeth.

Because I hate exercise so, I don't want to take the time to go to a gym or a class somewhere to do it. So I've elected to just buy a few fast dance CDs and do aerobic dance around the house as my exercise. Maybe you could also find something which would work for you to do at home, if you find going to a gym distasteful. If your neighborhood is safe, just walking or jogging in the neighborhood burns calories and gets the blood pumping. If you have the space, you could get an exercise bike or treadmill.

As you can see, I'm no expert on the exercise part! You might want to check out the exercise and fitness board. Maybe some of the people there have had experiences in overcoming some of the problems.

The blood lipid profile is just the blood tests for cholesterol: total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. If you haven't had one recently, it might be interesting to have one done before you start your new program, so you can measure heart-health progress on that basis.

Drink loads of water. I did and countine to do so. It's good for you and easy to keep up.

I agree totaly with the first reply as well as living a Liver friendly diet.With a sluggish or fatty clogged liver you will find it very difficult to lose weight and feel good in every way.Stick to a Dairy,Sugar,Artificial sweetner,Preservative ,Red meat and processed food Free Diet and your liver should be able to clean itself up and start doing the job of the largest organ in the body.It is the largest organ in the body for a reason.Its used in absorbing fats as well as a great fat pump to remove fat when its working at its full potential. If you eat anything fatty always include some fibre to absorb the fats before the are fully digested.