Make Mine Double Cheese For Life

[Brenngun]

Some background. I'll admit to being a little over the AMA weight to height ratio thingy. I've always loved good food. Some of which may not necessarily be on the low fat list. Every year after my annual physical which always reflected normal blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels my doc would ask the inevitable question. "Do you think you could lose a little weight this year"? To which I always respond that it's the wrong question.

Of course I can. More importantly will I.

Fast forward to a few months ago. After 38 years of marriage my wife expresses concern about me being a little out of breath after some light physical exersion. Under protest I agree to a stress test. From there it was on to the cardiologist, a coronary angiography and follow up appointment with my wife present.

Drum roll .......... "all clear". After 63 years of trying ..... nothing, nada, zip.

The rest of the conversation with the doc goes like this.
Me: Any reason why I should be concerned about having a heart attack or stroking out?
Doc: Very unlikely.
Me: Do we need to have a follow up appointment?
Doc: No.
Me: See you.

As we walk out of the building I notice my wife is smiling with relief so I give her a big hug and ......

Me: Make mine double ........

Her: heavy sigh ....

[superdog]

Yolo.

And glad to hear you are well.

[BristolCavendish]

In places such as Italy and France where much of the population has been drinking wine since childhood, I've been told that AA meetings are practically non-existent. Now whether this is based on culturally-based denial or responsible drinking habits, who's to say?

It's also interesting note that in America (with its Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem programs et al) countless individuals (mostly women) seem to be preoccupied with and on an eternal quest to lose weight. Now try conveying that to someone in a 3rd World or developing country where starvation is a seasonal occurrence. In the United States, I would suspect that bad eating habits and a certain lack of physical activity are major contributing factors. The "I've got big bones" or "My metabolism is slow" excuses can only carry one so far until it becomes utter BS.

In poorer countries, where one is often struggling just to survive, you generally don't have an opportunity to get fat or obese. In America, it's relatively easy regardless of one's socio-economic background

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by BristolCavendish

In places such as Italy and France where much of the population has been drinking wine since childhood, I've been told that AA meetings are practically non-existent. Now whether this is based on culturally-based denial or responsible drinking habits, who's to say?

It's also interesting note that in America (with its Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem programs et al) countless individuals (mostly women) seem to be preoccupied with and on an eternal quest to lose weight. Now try conveying that to someone in a 3rd World or developing country where starvation is a seasonal occurrence. In the United States, I would suspect that bad eating habits and a certain lack of physical activity are major contributing factors. The "I've got big bones" or "My metabolism is slow" excuses can only carry one so far until it becomes utter BS.

In poorer countries, where one is often struggling just to survive, you generally don't have an opportunity to get fat or obese. In America, it's relatively easy regardless of one's socio-economic background

It's because the typical American diet is awful and full of sugar and fat. Food quality gets worse when you get to poorer neighborhoods. I recently moved up to Harlem and I refuse to eat anything in my own neighborhood. It's all processed food, fried food, or ridiculously fatty foods

Even if you watch what you eat, our food source(s) are laden with GMO and Glyphosate. Unless you source your food yourself or buy strictly non-GMO and organic, you're eating that crap. I hope the day comes soon that Glyphosate is banned from crops for consumption

When I travel. I typically eat everything in sight. I don't exercise at all and walk less than I typically do in NYC (4+miles per day). At the end of every extended trip, I've found I lost weight

[Thatguy]

Yea, my dr says I'm a little too short for my weight too.


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[Canefan1]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Yea, my dr says I'm a little too short for my weight too.


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[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Yea, my dr says I'm a little too short for my weight too.


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Lol

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Yea, my dr says I'm a little too short for my weight too.


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X2

[GerardoG]

Rick: you deserve double!!!!

[Brenngun]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

Rick: you deserve double!!!!

gracias mi amigo

[Dan Pierce]

Good on ya, Rick! Throw another rack on the grill.

My cholesterol was so high the Dr. wouldnt even stand in the same room with me. But after some experimentation, a couple drugs and copious consumption of eggs has those numbers in check. Yes, eggs have lowered my cholesterol. My BP? Like a teenager.
dP

[Alexwwjd]

Let's celebrate great health!


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[Lawman77]

Congrats, Rick. Cheers to good health! Nothing wrong with occasional affirmation!!

[ejvette]

Originally Posted by Thatguy

Yea, my dr says I'm a little too short for my weight too.


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Wayne we must have the same Dr

[SearChart]

That is good news!
Enjoy that cheese burger

[Rock]

Rick, you are a lucky man to have such good Coronary Artery health in your '60s.
I have had an obsessively healthy diet all my life and yet my Cholesterol is still high.
Cholesterol is only marginally impacted by diet (in the absence of serious misbehaviour) I have a CT Coronary Angiogram every 3 years to keep an eye on this as I refuse to take Statins. IMHO the whole Cholesterol equation is far from well understood.
(My 102 yo Mum has had high Cholesterol all her life and doesn't take Statins. My Father had low Cholesterol and died of a Stroke at age 78yrs.)

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Rock

Rick, you are a lucky man to have such good Coronary Artery health in your '60s.
I have had an obsessively healthy diet all my life and yet my Cholesterol is still high.
Cholesterol is only marginally impacted by diet (in the absence of serious misbehaviour) I have a CT Coronary Angiogram every 3 years to keep an eye on this as I refuse to take Statins. IMHO the whole Cholesterol equation is far from well understood.
(My 102 yo Mum has had high Cholesterol all her life and doesn't take Statins. My Father had low Cholesterol and died of a Stroke at age 78yrs.)

You could try a small spoon of cinnamon powder every day, my dad uses it to control his cholesterol level and it works just as good as statins, but without the nasty muscle cramps that he gets from statins.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Good on ya, Rick! Throw another rack on the grill.

My cholesterol was so high the Dr. wouldnt even stand in the same room with me. But after some experimentation, a couple drugs and copious consumption of eggs has those numbers in check. Yes, eggs have lowered my cholesterol. My BP? Like a teenager.
dP

How does that work dan? I eat a lot of egg whites for breakfast and my mom is trying to convince me I can eat whole eggs and not worry about the cholesterol. I always figured I was doing myself a favor eating whites only, seeing as breakfast is the easiest meal of the day to control.

Originally Posted by SearChart

You could try a small spoon of cinnamon powder every day, my dad uses it to control his cholesterol level and it works just as good as statins, but without the nasty muscle cramps that he gets from statins.

That's good news seeing as I eat a ton of cinnamon I often make a shake with a banana, peanut butter, ice, almond milk, cinnamon and currants. It's delicious!

I'm not yet 30 but seeing my grandfather deal with cardiovascular health makes me paranoid. To be honest I need to drink less as that's where all my garbage calories come from

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by SearChart

You could try a small spoon of cinnamon powder every day, my dad uses it to control his cholesterol level and it works just as good as statins, but without the nasty muscle cramps that he gets from statins.

Worst advice ever. There is no statistically significant evidence that shows cinnamon has any effect on cholesterol.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Worst advice ever. There is no statistically significant evidence that shows cinnamon has any effect on cholesterol.

Could have left the first part out...

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Worst advice ever. There is no statistically significant evidence that shows cinnamon has any effect on cholesterol.

It was our doctors advice.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by GB-man

How does that work dan? I eat a lot of egg whites for breakfast and my mom is trying to convince me I can eat whole eggs and not worry about the cholesterol. I always figured I was doing myself a favor eating whites only, seeing as breakfast is the easiest meal of the day to control.

Tom,
Not sure, but it works for me. I had a long defined baseline w/ my Dr. about cholesterol. A statin and another drug that works in the digestion did a good job at lowering my numbers. For years I stayed away from eggs. While traveling I read in an inflight mag (a good place for med advice) that not only do eggs not raise cholesterol but actually lower it. So I decided to give it a shot and damned if it didn't work. In fact, I asked my doc if I could remove one med, and he agreed. The result was my numbers went up again. The theory is if you consume foods w/ cholesterol you body doesn't need to produce it.

So for me, and we are all individuals, 2 specific meds and a couple eggs a day (when available) work best. And I love eggs!
dP

[Valenciawatchrepair]

My great uncle out lived 3 doctors telling him to "cut back." He loved life and food. I don't think the trade off would've been worth it for him.

[Njtster]

I take red yeast rice for cholesterol control. It's a natural statin. It's worked great for me.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by SearChart

It was our doctors advice.

Was your dads cholesterol borderline high where lifestyle changes would suffice? I can't imagine a licensed, practicing physician telling a patient to try an unproven remedy for cholesterol in favor of a statin if he met the ACC/AHA guidelines for treating high cholesterol

[wantonebad]

Rick, CONGRATS!!!

I'm 10 years younger than you and perhaps a few LBS lighter, but I'd kill for your numbers. I'm no longer overweight but my BP is still high (hereditary), my triglycerides are through the roof and my bad cholesterol is out of whack, overall cholesterol isn't horrible as a count but the percentages are bad! You'll most likely outlive me sir!

[BristolCavendish]

Originally Posted by Rock

IMHO the whole Cholesterol equation is far from well understood.

That pretty much sums it up making any standardized treatment for high cholesterol levels a tricky one at best. Factors such as family genetics/predispositions and individual physiologies/metabolic rates/body chemistries all come into play.

Medical researchers are continually redefining 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol sources which pretty much validates your IMHO.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Was your dads cholesterol borderline high where lifestyle changes would suffice? I can't imagine a licensed, practicing physician telling a patient to try an unproven remedy for cholesterol in favor of a statin if he met the ACC/AHA guidelines for treating high cholesterol

Lifestyle changes were not needed. It wasn't dangerously high but higher than what it should be for his age.
Statins got his level down to (very) acceptable but he got cramps from them, that is why the doc recommended cinnamon. Now off statins and taking cinnamon and it is still at a good level.

[gtnator]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

My great uncle out lived 3 doctors telling him to "cut back." He loved life and food. I don't think the trade off would've been worth it for him.

I think stress vs happiness/satisfaction with life are a strong input into overall health. The fact that your uncle "loved life" probably played a huge roll in his good health.


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[Brenngun]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Good on ya, Rick! Throw another rack on the grill.

My cholesterol was so high the Dr. wouldnt even stand in the same room with me. But after some experimentation, a couple drugs and copious consumption of eggs has those numbers in check. Yes, eggs have lowered my cholesterol. My BP? Like a teenager.
dP

Dan. Ribs are in the smoker as I write this. BTW I love them eggs as well. Glad they're helping you.

Originally Posted by Lawman77

Congrats, Rick. Cheers to good health! Nothing wrong with occasional affirmation!!

Originally Posted by SearChart

That is good news!
Enjoy that cheese burger

Thanks Bas I will.

Originally Posted by Rock

Rick, you are a lucky man to have such good Coronary Artery health in your '60s.
I have had an obsessively healthy diet all my life and yet my Cholesterol is still high.
Cholesterol is only marginally impacted by diet (in the absence of serious misbehaviour) I have a CT Coronary Angiogram every 3 years to keep an eye on this as I refuse to take Statins. IMHO the whole Cholesterol equation is far from well understood.
(My 102 yo Mum has had high Cholesterol all her life and doesn't take Statins. My Father had low Cholesterol and died of a Stroke at age 78yrs.)

I feel lucky Rocky. Frankly even I didn't expect this result. I guess my DNA's helping this time.

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Rick, CONGRATS!!!

I'm 10 years younger than you and perhaps a few LBS lighter, but I'd kill for your numbers. I'm no longer overweight but my BP is still high (hereditary), my triglycerides are through the roof and my bad cholesterol is out of whack, overall cholesterol isn't horrible as a count but the percentages are bad! You'll most likely outlive me sir!

Thanks Marc. Just lucky. Not so fast about me outliving you. In my warped mind all this means is something else is going to jump up to get me but one thing is for sure. I'm not going to worry about it.