Better diets can be just as satisfying as our old habits
fred-da-trog said:
I have to admit my "diet" changes were to elimnate some cheeseburgers and a some extra red meat and little else. I figured all the biking should compensate for my poor diet. I'm thankful to those of you that saw through that and called me on it.. I've sat down and done some research for a serious diet that I can stick to. I've called the doc for a med change and have stopped taking Lipitor since Sunday. I starting to feel "normal"(?) already. Off I go to the grocer's produce section. Thanks again. -fdt
As you have noted, most people's initial dietary changes are nothing short of "wimpy"....
Most Americans could cut their intake of meats, "full fat" dairy, eggs (whites OK), and oils in half and never even miss the stuff or lack any needed protein...
What I did was cut all those....animal products and oils in half (or more) and filled my stomach by tripling my veggies, and increasing my whole grains......pasta, rice, oatmeal etc.
I get enough protein, and my stomach is filled to full, yet my weight dropped and my cholesterol numbers got better.
BTW, if you can, find a good produce store. Usually they have fresher veggies, and more selection than the supermarket.. Start trying new kinds of veggies. After living in Asia I discovered so many new veggies and many of them are now available in a good produce store. The usual American veggies can become very boring.
I now look forward to the veggies and salads as much or more then my shrinking meat portion. I probably eat about 1/3 the portion of meat and still have all the energy for biking.
I'd bet......that without meds......you can easily get your cholesterol under 200 without eating a diet that is too weird..
In fact you mention family history......genetics. Actually the biggest factor in family history is the family tradition of eating the typical American diet.
I am positive that if your family had somehow grown up in rural China, your family "history" or genetics, would have your cholesterol under 175.....
You don't have to become a vegetarian......just slowly head in that direction until you reach your comfort level. If you slowly shift to smaller and smaller portions of meat and full fat dairy, you won't even miss the larger portions. Five or six fork fulls of meat become just as enjoyable as fifteen used to be. Same with ice cream.
Slow steady steps will give you great long term results in the same way that slow steady progress in cycling fitness yields amazing results over a few years.