Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise
I got some bad news yesterday. Early this year my cholesterol was up to 269. I dieted and exercised and 3 months later I had gotten it down to 207. I lost some weight and was getting close to a healthy BMI. I looked okay for my son's wedding in July. At least I don't think he was embarrassed by his mama. People I hadn't seen for some time commented on my relatively svelte appearance. Then I just totally slacked off. No excuses. I did get some kind of flu of the non-avian type and I was out of whack for two full weeks. That doesn't explain all the other slacker weeks though. My exercise program has been intermittent at best for some time. Publix and Winn-Dixie keep putting ice cream on sale at ridiculously low prices. I stopped eating Weight Watcher bars and started eating low fat Edys.....lots of it.
Bottom line, I went for another physical and my cholesterol is back up to 266. The doctor is letting me try diet/exercise one last time. I have gained 7 pounds since my last visit a few months ago. That is a lot for me because I am only 5'1" if that. So I am back on old tried-and-true Weight Watchers, riding my new bike, and using the new treadmill. I can go 2 miles without getting too rubbery-legged. My plan is to do weight training on M-W-F and cardio every day. I get my blood tested again in January. If the cholesterol is not down significantly, I will have to get on Lipitor or one of those other meds. I really don't want to do that.
I am also taking part in something called YFL at work. We have a YMCA on premises. YFL lasts for 6 weeks. 5-person teams compete each week. We earn yards for exercising. For example, a 20 minute walk is worth 5 yards. At the end there is a Superbowl between the top two teams. It starts next Monday and I am looking forward to it. I did it a couple of years ago and enjoyed some success. It's just that I keep gaining and losing the same 15 pounds. Still, it's better than gaining 15 and then another 15 and then another 15.............
Bottom line, I went for another physical and my cholesterol is back up to 266. The doctor is letting me try diet/exercise one last time. I have gained 7 pounds since my last visit a few months ago. That is a lot for me because I am only 5'1" if that. So I am back on old tried-and-true Weight Watchers, riding my new bike, and using the new treadmill. I can go 2 miles without getting too rubbery-legged. My plan is to do weight training on M-W-F and cardio every day. I get my blood tested again in January. If the cholesterol is not down significantly, I will have to get on Lipitor or one of those other meds. I really don't want to do that.
I am also taking part in something called YFL at work. We have a YMCA on premises. YFL lasts for 6 weeks. 5-person teams compete each week. We earn yards for exercising. For example, a 20 minute walk is worth 5 yards. At the end there is a Superbowl between the top two teams. It starts next Monday and I am looking forward to it. I did it a couple of years ago and enjoyed some success. It's just that I keep gaining and losing the same 15 pounds. Still, it's better than gaining 15 and then another 15 and then another 15.............
# posted by Ginny @ 4:20 PM 
