Years ago, when I was in my thirties, oh my that was ages ago actually..... Well anyway, I had a mantra that kept me going when I was on a journey with Weight Watchers. I would say to myself, sometimes out loud about the changes in eating, "I can do this, I will do this." To which I would add also, "With God's help." I knew I couldn't do it alone, this way of eating better, portion control, changes in habits. It did work, and with lots of determination, I hit my goal. (Which of course didn't last forever and ever....but that's not what this little story is about.)
Last week I had blood work. With the online wonder of the My Chart app, we are now able to view things about our health long before a doctor gives us a call. We are floundering looking things up sometimes, imagining all sorts of frightening scenarios and planning our demise.
I've been a bit of a basket case lately. There have been several things going on in my little world which have taken a toll on my mental and physical state. I have turned to comfort in a few different ways, but one of them has been eating too many sweets and salties. It's easy when we have a table piled high at work with bags of chips, homemade brownies, boxes of donuts from adoring patients, and worst of all, a container of my true weakness: Helluva Good French Onion Dip. Come on people, don't tell me your mouth isn't watering this very second thinking about that one. There are times I dreamed of polishing off a small container.
Sitting at my computer last night, I typed in the results of my recent blood work. Lots of good numbers and green checkmarks etc. "Hey," I thought. "I'm doing pretty well." Until page two. There it was, the dreaded number which showed high cholesterol. My stomach did a slow flip; my palms began to sweat and my heart speeded up a bit. "No!!! I don't want this!" I like my treats and sweets and eats. I'm going to have to make healthy changes if I want to avoid medication.
Okay, I admit I had a small party of pity. I scrolled and scrolled, reading up on healthy foods. I realized there are things I have to cut out entirely and bring in the crunch of vegetables and fruits, and say goodbye, or at least see you later to pastries, etc.
Mom and Dad had high cholesterol and I know it is often inherited. But I also know that I was running amok in my level of anxiousness with delicious treats to comfort myself. So, I wrote out a plan, I am starting today. My doctor put me on an anti-anxiety/anti-depressant. I want to live a long and healthy life for my loved ones. I want to feel good in mind, body, and spirit. I have to avoid the kitchen at work. I have to say NO to some things right now and make the time for a few extra minutes of exercise as well. I'm not fooling myself, there will be an occasional treat.
This is not a shaming post for me or you. There are times we have to allow ourselves some grace when we've been through a rough patch. But this is something I must do for myself and as I said those many years ago: "I CAN do this, I WILL do this. With God's help."
I am recently in the same situation and working with my doctor to try and avoid prescribed meds due to the other health problems the meds typically bring in. We all need to remind ourselves that our body is not our own but a temple for the Holy Spirit that lives in us. We need to do some maintenance to that temple allowing God to help us just as he helped in the building the physical temple David gathered materials for and Solomon executed construction of.
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Karen, you have the right mind set. And before big pharma lowered the total cholesterol to 100! 300-350 was considered okay. Our brain is mostly fat and over 25% cholesterol. I am at 230ish last check and my doctor keeps pushing the dreaded Statin word... that stops your liver from.making cholesterol and CoQ10, wish every cell in your body needs to convert food to energy. After doing cancer research I will never go on a Statin I don't want to stop my body for making what my brain and my heart and my liver need CoQ10 and cholesterol. I am now consuming moringa and matcha tea. In 3 weeks I'm down 10 lb and only thing I changed was not eating after my supper and eating a lot more salads with boiled or roasted beets. One thing I agree with my doctor he told me quote brian, there's no medicine I can give you that exercising won't take care of". He then told me to get out there and move. You can do this. Take charge of your health with small changes... reach out if you want tobtalk to me. Seriously consider medicines that block good things your body does.
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