BWCA i think i need a dietician Boundary Waters Group Forum: Health and Fitness
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Group Forum: Health and Fitness
      i think i need a dietician     

Author

Text

01/15/2014 08:03PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
so, had my annual including cholesterol. :<
wondering if a dietician is the way to go? someone that could help me develop an eating plan that fits me? which foods to eat at what time of day...

Cholesterol 254 (normal is less than 200)
Triglycerides 94 (normal is less than 150)
HDL “good cholesterol” 63 (normal more than 40 or 60)
LDL “bad cholesterol” 195 (goal is 130, ideal is less than 100

if this is TMI, let me know and i'll erase it! :)
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Arkansas Man
Moderator
  
01/15/2014 08:33PM  
Not TMI! The thing I have found with cholesterol is this... To get it low you have to quit eating the stuff that causes you to have it! I do not know what your eating habits are but I can tell you what I did to go from 220 to 150. I simply quit eating fried foods, and other foods that cause it. Instead of eating fried fish and French fries, we would eat baked or pan seared fish with rice pilaf or couscous. We ate a lot of salad. Luckily I never had to take medication, which I do not want to do.
Hope this helps a little! Starting an active exercise program, mainly riding a bicycle or using an eliptical, and paddling also helps.

Good luck!

Bruce
 
01/16/2014 07:21AM  
I'd look at your diet and do you know what you need to change to get the LDL down? If you have no idea then a nutritionist would be helpful. If you know there are some items that are bad, then just make the change.

My doc told me the number one thing you need to do to change the LDL/HDL balance is cardiovascular exercise. You need almost daily sustained 20-30 minutes of cardio. I was active, ate right, lifted weights----but that wasn't enough. The sustained 20 minutes of cardio was all I needed to have great numbers.

Everyone is different I know, but hopefully something helpful.

T
 
01/16/2014 10:13AM  
quote timatkn: "I'd look at your diet and do you know what you need to change to get the LDL down? If you have no idea then a nutritionist would be helpful. If you know there are some items that are bad, then just make the change.


My doc told me the number one thing you need to do to change the LDL/HDL balance is cardiovascular exercise. You need almost daily sustained 20-30 minutes of cardio. I was active, ate right, lifted weights----but that wasn't enough. The sustained 20 minutes of cardio was all I needed to have great numbers.


Everyone is different I know, but hopefully something helpful.


T"


+1 on this. I began a regular running routine 2.5 years ago and have been off Lipitor now for 1.5 years. Planning on staying off too. BTW - I run 3x/week for about 3 miles each time. This works for me.
 
01/16/2014 11:31AM  
you're all right. I hate exercising (gym style), prefer to get out in the woods, but understand I'm not moving fast enough to get my heart rate up.
this cholesterol reading was a shock, my last one was not like this. granted I had a sugar filled 2 week holiday with family.
I have a baseline now, and will work towards a better result by next year.
 
01/16/2014 02:06PM  
A good cardio routine can do a lot of good. Really if you are looking for a good cardio workout you don't need to step foot inside a gym if you don't want to. There are MANY ways to skin that cat.

Running is the simplest and can be done anywhere at any time. I much prefer running outside through a park or wooded trail versus on a treadmill. Running outside in MN does have its challenges but it can be done. I've run outside every day of the year, in snow, rain, sub zero, etc. Just have to plan for the conditions.

If you want to get on a running program and are starting from scratch I'd suggest looking at something like the Couch to 5k program (just google it). I've gone through the program with my wife who was a non runner at the time. Its a very nicely structured program that can be tailored to each person. Essentially you do 20 minutes of cardio by mixing in walking and jogging. At the start you are doing mostly walking with only 30 seconds or so of running at a time. As the weeks go by you decrease your walking and increase your running. The program claims to have a set timeframe in which to complete it but I've found its best if you go at your own pace. If you struggle a little bit one week repeat that weeks program again before moving on. Just make sure you aren't lagging behind in the program because you are afraid to push yourself. You can always back off a little if you aren't ready to move on but you do need to push yourself and at least try the next level up.

Besides running you can also swim, bike, snowshoe or Xcountry ski in the winter. You may need to do more than 20 minutes of some of those activities to get the same benefit however.

The key thing in all of this is that you need to push yourself. When I'm at the gym all too often I see people in there just going through the motions. They lift weight that is way too light, they walk when they can jog, they jog when they can run, they are there for an hour and barely break a sweat. One thing I see a lot of is people hop up on the treadmill and start walking at a snails pace, these same people would walk 5x as fast while walking the aisles at the grocery store. Why they slow down at the gym I have no idea. They'd get a better work out by going to pick up a gallon of milk and it would save the $50/month gym membership.

If you go into each workout with a plan of what you want to accomplish that will help a lot. That's why the couch to 5k program is a good one. You know each day what you have to do. They you can put your mind to accomplishing that days goal.

As far the diet goes that will depend on what you are eating now. In general focusing more on lean protein, complex carbs, and fresh vegetables is a good start.
 
01/16/2014 06:29PM  
when I had gestational diabetes with my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies a dietitian came in very helpful. If your insurance pays for it then I say do it!
 
talusman
distinguished member(1044)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/17/2014 08:54AM  
My brother, sister and I all have high cholesterol (over 220 total). My brother takes a statin which lowers his to 150 and my cardiologist wants mine under 100. The difference is that I've had blockages and 2 stents.
I've a friend who is a farmer, an active person in good shape, not over weight, and eats primarily vegetarian. His cholesterol is about 300 and he does not take any medication.
Some people are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol. Although it helps, you can't move it much with exercise and diet. But it really is just a number. It's not a death certificate.
There are natural methods of controlling high cholesterol but you should find out if they work by having regular check-ups. If you talk with a cardiologist they'll want to put you on statins. Talk to a naturalist and they'll recommend supplements. You have to make the call based on the best information.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next