sassygrrl32

And was actually surprised. 9 months ago I had a cholesterol test done. And again a couple of weeks ago.

My test 9 mos ago:
TC=204
HDL=44
LDL=138
Trigs=111
Ratio was 4.5 I think or something like that.

Test now:
TC=172
HDL=44
LDL=117
Trigs=56
Ratio=3.9

Okay my new numbers are pretty good and I'm not at all dissatisfied although I would like to bring my HDL up to over 50 at least. They said my HDL needed to be over 60 and LDL under 100. I don't know how anyone would get those numbers without statins.

The funny thing I didn't really make any changes. Not to speak of. As far my diet goes the only thing I really did was cut out peanut butter for the most part, popcorn and the occasional eating of candy. And have actually been eating more meat than the last time out. Before the 204 test I was eating a vegetarian diet and have been pretty much for the past couple of years and my cholesterol has been steadily going up.
My dr had put me on a strict no meat, dairy, oils, butter/margarine, fish, low saturated fat, no cholesterol with meatless alternatives diet. Aside from being a pretty tough diet to stick to because I love junk food my candy, cookie, sweets cravings had gotten so out of hand by my last TC test that I could have inhaled the candy and cookies.

I walk 4 to 8 miles a day(except sometimes in the winter I get lax due to the cold and I get alot of infections, most days it's 4 to 5) and have for the past 7 yrs or so and when I walk alot I start noticing that I'm just dragging, don't feel too good and I don't know if it's because I'm not getting enough protein. I've tried eating the meatless stuff and I like it but don't like it well enough to eat it 3 or 4 times a week. And I just couldn't seem to eat enough beans, nuts, etc. to make me feel better. I don't like eating peanut butter every day either.

Anyway, before the 204 test I hadn't been exercising that much because of the cold. I wonder if it could have made that much of a difference in my cholesterol levels. Always get it checked in the winter.

The past nine months I decided I needed to find a balance for me that worked because no meat as much as I liked it wasn't. I was craving too many sweets. NOw that I eat some meat the sweets cravings are completely gone.

I started eating alot more fish although overall I don't eat alot of it, do eat some tuna. I don't eat chicken at all although do occasionally eat fast food burgers. My weakness has become subway. I eat a fair amount of their turkey, ham and tuna subs. Eat their veggie ones too though. I didn't cut potato chips out, those bakery cookies I like so well(eat them 2 or 3 times a month, maybe).
Don't eat beef except very occasionally, no chicken, peanut butter only once in a while now and no other sweets besides the cookies.
Also eat more beans. Nutritional yeast every day but no other supplements. Eat out no more than once a week. Was eating out more than that before the 204 test. Drink fewer blended iced coffees(they have 6 saturated fat grams, not the worst but not the best either)
Have actually starting eating eggs although not all the time. LOve egg salad.

I walk almost every day weather permitting in the winter. Every day in the summer. I have tachycardia and I didn't think my heart rate was getting up enough when I walked so I have added a little running into my routine on some days.

I really don't think I've improved my diet that much although was walking alot before the 172 test. There is still room for quite a bit of improvement really. I just can't figure out how to get enough protein without eating any meat and don't want meatless alternatives 3 or 4 times a week. I've found that if I don't consume a good bit of protein I don't feel very well especially when I'm walking this much and running.

I definitely still want to bring that HDL up. And if my LDL comes down even more in the process I won't be dissapointed.

My cholesterol is actually better now than it's ever been although that 204 was the highest it's ever been. I was very worried before my 172 test because my Mom died of heart disease and Dad just had a heart attack a few weeks ago. THe only thing I do differently from them is I don't eat hamburgers(very often), sausage, hot dogs, shortening, I don't even eat oils and I've tried to cut out hydrogenated oils(fats) as much as possible. I walk every day alot.
It's funny but about 5 yrs ago I was tested(I think it was 176 then) and I was eating hamburgers every day and subway and potato chips but did walk 5 miles a day. I didn't understand it then and I still don't. Although I can lose weight eating bad food(as I like to call it) but gain eating good food. Don't understand that either.

Now I guess my question is trying to understand it. I haven't really improved my diet that much although my numbers sure did.
One last thing: I keep my total fat intake below 30 to 35 grams of fat most days(that's with subway) and on no subway days I can keep it below 10 to 15 grams a day. My dr said to keep it below 30 grams a day but 25 grams a day would be better. And zero cholesterol. Or no more than what's in skim milk.

Overall I'm pretty satisfied.

Question: Anyone else improved their numbers on exercise alone? Oh yeah what is the best way to bring up good cholesterol without completely cutting out meat? My DR said soy was good.