I was waiting to post this "news" until I had something definite to say. I went to the doctor because I kept having weird chest pains and I figured it was either stress (divorce, move, lack of Hatrack connectivity for a few days...) or I was heading for angioplasty or a bypass!!!
Turns out I do have high blood pressure and high cholesterol (although the readings didn't impress me much, the doctor wants to medicate). The important thing is that my chest pains were just nothing (probably stress). Echocardiogram looked "great!"
So, I'm going to start an exercise routine "programme" (that's a classier thing than just putting on sweats and rolling around in front of the TV) and maybe that'll lower the blood pressure and cholesterol too.
Yippee...
I guess.
I think I'll start with walking and bike riding.
Any other thoughts?
I'm already doing the oatmeal thing for breakfast.
I hate low sodium diets, so try not to mention anything so impractical... 'kay?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Almost missed this post because it dropped down in the list so fast....
Bob -- congrats on it being nothing serious, and on your decision to start some kind of regimen to keep you alive.
Personally, I prefer walking (but I live in the country). I also make myself take the stairs at work, etc. Just little things.
However, if you ever want to raise that blood pressure back up -- just come see me!
Farmgirl
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Glad it wasn't serious.
For exercise, I'd recommend Pole-Bo--it's sweaping the nation!
As for diet, my father has been searching for years for a "heart healthy" diet that's actually tasty enough to stay on, and has finally found one. It's very high in omega-3s. I'll talk to him and find out the name of the book he got it from, if you're interested.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'm glad you're okay, Bob. That's scary. Congratulations on the internal cavity search.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Bob, thanks for taking care of yourself. Congratulations on the good news.
Had you thought about swimming? For generous-sized persons, the water offers support, there's no ick of sweat in the enclosed areas, and time can fly when you are having fun.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I knew you were a hearty soul.
As for stress, do you know how many calories you burn typing new thing in Hatrack?
Me either.
But it sure kills the stress.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Wow, Bob. I'm glad it's not more serious -- and glad that, despite your joking tone, you're ALSO taking it seriously.
You know what? I need to lose some weight, myself. Maybe you can be an inspiration to the rest of us.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
If you jog from your car to KFC you burn off all the extra calories. Really, you do.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
My father has lost a lot of weight by following this diet, and his cholesterol levels have dropped to a point where they're staggeringly low (the "bad" cholesterol--"good" cholesterol levels are at a relatively high levels. I'm afraid I don't remember the most recent numbers off the top of my head. He's been on this for a little more than a year, and is having no trouble staying on it (which is a first for him--historically he's been the classic "if-my-wife-doesn't-see-me-sneaking-off-to-McDonalds-the-calories-and-cholesterol-won't-count" type dieter.
Posted by Grasshopper (Member # 1055) on :
Bob,
I highly recommend the Body for Life method. I lost 25 pounds in 3 months on this program (and have kept it off for about a year) and found it very practical.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
No! Use my recommended method! ::tackles Grasshopper, knocking him out of frame::
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I don't think I can do anything with the initials BFL...
Sorry. Big Fat Loser just leaps to mind.
Just bought the Cretan diet book. What the heck, I love Mediterranean cooking, so even if the diet sucks, that'll work.
By the way, Icarus' Weight Loss Encouragement thread is already out there for tracking weight loss.
he's my hero!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Glad you're ok, Bob. Good luck with the cholesterol and BP. The book Noemon recommended looks good -- let us know how it tastes. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Well the first chapter was a little dry, but some Retsina to wash it down and I was fine.
By the way, do they HAVE to shave your chest to stick those things on you for the EKG?
And what's with the glue on those things? Some brands it's like a Post-It and they waste half of them because they wont stick. Other brands its like Superglue and you need a trip to the emergency room after they rip them off of you. Plus for several days after, you look like you've been attacked by a giant squid.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Bob, you can hike and run and weight life with ME!
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Glad you ticker's okay, Bob!
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
Bob, glad you're somewhat okay.
My advise: yoga can be fun.
Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
Glad to hear you're not in need of a major overhaul, Bob. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Yeah, me too.
Thanks y'all.
I have an idea. I'll measure my circumference once per week for the next 9 months and Christy will measure hers and we'll see if I can decrease an inch for every inch she grows!!!
Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :
I'd suggest signing up for some activity- I've never been able to motivate myself to excersise for any amount of time without some annoying people around telling me what to do or that I "need" to go today...
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Bob! Hang in there with the exercise and diet. It's tough. (If it makes you feel any better, I'm working on quitting smoking . . . which of course leaves me cranky and gaining weight . . . sigh . . . )
I'm glad that things look relatively okay - here's a hug!
[ December 09, 2003, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: Shan ]
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Well, quitting smoking hasn't been that hard for me. The dieting and exercise though...yuck!
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
*giggle* You'll even get a month to work up to it, because even though I've got a little pouch, the nausea has killed any attempt at weight gain. 29" I'm little, and that's +3 inches!
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
At some point, maybe you'll pass each other.
Bob, something that you might want to consider, when your doctor recommends medication, is that there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that statins, the class of drugs used in lowering cholesterol, can cause amnesiac episodes. There has been a fair amount of anecdotal evidence to this effect for some time, but the medical community has generally dismissed the idea. Now, however, there has been a study that suggests that it's true. I came across an article about this last night in the latest issue of New Scientist. Unfortunately, the article isn't available in the online edition of the magazine, so I can't link to it, but it might be worth googling for. I'm going to be bringing the article in to work and transcribing it for my dad tomorrow; when I do so I'll post a copy of it here if you're interested.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Noemon,
Sure, if you remember.
Um...
What was this thread about anyway?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Was this what you had in mind?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
That looks about right. I'll have to take a look at the article tonight and see if its referencing this study.
Posted by tabithecat (Member # 5228) on :
3 words Bob cool green moss repeate ad infinitum as needed Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Bob, when are you hiking with me?
Posted by tabithecat (Member # 5228) on :
ya, I want to go too! where are we hiking?
Posted by asQmh (Member # 4590) on :
Yay Bob!
I don't have any health tips or anything. So don't ask me. It's kind of a dead end street.
Just so you know.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
hiking...yeah, that's what I need.
I'll meet you at the top of the hill. If I'm not there in 3 weeks, you go on without me.
Green moss. I'll order that. Thanks!
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
*thwap*
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Just cutting out fat and sugar can make a big difference in your calorie intake. And if you decrease salt a little at a time over a fairly long period, you actually get used to less salty food - I know, cause it happened to me, without my really realizing it. I just started adding slightly less salt to dishes, and when I went back to the amount I used to use, it was too salty.
Walking is a great form of exercise, if you have a good place to walk. I am sort of like Jaiden, though - I need something organized to motivate me to do it on a regular basis.
Glad you are ok, Bob, and taking care of yourself.
**Ela**
Posted by Tullaan (Member # 5515) on :
The recommendations on when to start treating high cholesterol are in flux at the moment. The data keeps suggesting that even more benefit can still be gained by treating earlier and earlier.
For example; It used to be that if you cholesterol was over 200, they began treating you. Now there starting to break it down into what your HDL or your LDL are. Some doctors are even looking at homocysteine.
If you were born to a mother who had gestational diabetes, some studies are recomending treatment, even if you do not have high cholesterol.
The new drugs that are treating cholesterol in the past few years (so called STATINS)are making a HUGE impact on the health of this country. We will look back on this in 50 years and be astounded at the impact they have made.
If you don't want to use prescription cholesterol medications, you can always try over the counter niacin. Niacin is probably one of the best cholesterol med's we have. There is a down side. At the doses you need it can cause very uncomfortable hot flashes, flushing and itching. It can also affect your liver. If you choose this route, you still MUST be monitored by your doctor. Just because it is an over the counter medication does not mean it is always safe.
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which of course leaves me cranky and gaining weight . . . sigh . . . )![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
29" I'm little, and that's +3 inches!