Looking back - wow

Thursday

What a difference just one month can make!  

I was just reading some of my oldest posts, and I can't believe how differently I feel now compared with how lost I felt then.  I'm so happy I discovered the Choose to Lose book by Chris Powell!  What makes me even happier is that my husband, my mother, and my sister have all been not just supportive, but are "on board" with me.  2 out of the 3 have read at least part of the book and are starting their very own transformations.  My sister lost 6lbs in her first few days and my mom lost 5 in her first week I believe.  I'm so happy for them.

I am on day 4 of my third week of the 7 day carb cycle solution and I can't believe how much better I feel in such a short time.  I feel focused, satisfied and in control, something I can't remember ever feeling.  To feel this good with pms is nothing short of amazing :)


My life doesn't always feel organized and often chaotic, but lately it doesn't seem to overwhelm me as it has in the past.  

I finish my bowel detox tomorrow, yeah! (you really wanted to hear about that right? - lol)
I have to believe that this (and the liver detox to come) probably contributes greatly to how much better I'm feeling now, and will be feeling when I'm finished with both.  Originally I decided to detox because of my recent surgery and wanting to get all the residual drugs out of my system, but making sure everything is running at optimum performance is also important when trying to transform your body right?  So I'm glad I'm doing that.

So one of the things I did at the beginning of all of this was get a lipid panel to see where my cholesterol was as well.  Things don't look so great.  

Triglycerides:    257       should be:   below 150 
LDL: (bad)         167        should be:   below 130
HDL: (good)        42        should be:   above  46

Overall Cholesterol:  256 (aaaahhhh!)               shoule be:        below 200
Ratio of cholesterol/HDL:  6.1                                   should be:           below      5

UPDATE - WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT CHOLESTEROL:  Prompted by a comment in response to a request by me for suggestions on a good no/low cholesterol protein powder option, I was determined to educate myself about the difference between cholesterol and saturated fat.  You see I always thought they were the same, but I was wrong.  So I wondered how many people out there thought the same way I did.  It doesn't change the fact that my Dr. wants my cholesterol intake to stay below 200mg a day, but knowing the difference and how one effects the other helps me be more conscious of the choices I make.  If you want to learn more I found this response very helpful.  (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Nutrition-Dieting-939/Saturated-Fat-vs-Cholesterol.htm)  Also liked this info:  (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/CL00002/NSECTIONGROUP=2)  My favorite article was at the following site:  http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/#cholesterol

So I know some cholesterol problems can be hereditary, I just remember that my grandmother who was this petite little thing, decided to control her high cholesterol by diet, and SHE DID.  If grandma can do it, I can do it.  I don't want to be on medication for this if I don't HAVE to be, so I'm determined to keep my cholesterol intake as low as possible.  If my cholesterol does not improve sufficiently, well, I'll cross that bridge when I get there. 
Let's just say I'm hoping that my cholesterol levels will improve substantially.

More than anything I want to be the physical woman at 40 (coming up fast) that I haven't been brave enough to be for the past 16 years.