Health priorities

In My Humble Opinion
1

My employer offers every year free blook work. I did it two years ago, skipped last year, and did it again this year. Got results today.

I was expecting high bad cholesterol; had it - got it. But, in the last two years, I appear to finally be showing the effects of some decades of bad habits.

OK, as a almost-53-year-old-male at high risk for a heart attack or stroke (already known, thank you so much), I’ve got to change my ways if I expect to make retirement age and be able to have a reasonably active life. (I don’t so much mind the concept of dying before retirement age–we’ve all got to go sometime–what I fear is that I will make it that long, and not be fairly healthy and active.)

  1. Quit smoking - required for the exercise that is needed for almost everything else.

  2. Exercise - I like walking. I don’t want to be muscle-bound; I want to concentrate on stamina and muscle-tone. Some weight work might be helpful, but that’s not where I want to focus.

  3. Cholesterol and pre-type2-diabetes - Portion control and finding acceptable substitutes for whole butter and 2% milk. Return to making my own food instead of sugar-laden store-bought meals. Exercise.

  4. Reduce alchohol - Not quit, reduce. Considering switching to a glass of wine with dinner, and nothing else.

  5. Find a doctor who is worth a shit. - Best of luck to me on that one.

Advice? Thoughts on the order of my priorities? Suggestions?

2

Yes. I quit Halloween of 2007 and I’m glad I did. No more smoker’s cough and my breath is so much better. Hubby has to quit (doctor’s orders) this year too.

Swimming or other water exercise is good too, I do 2 days a week ‘land’ aerobic excercise and one day a week I do aqua pilates. It helps to change things up.

The single best thing I did for cholesterol was to start eating oatmeal for breakfast. Every day. I also take some fish oil which my doctor prescribes. Regarding the diabetes: my son’s fiancee switched to whole grain pasta and bread; it makes a big difference for her.

A little bit is supposed to be good for you. I quit totally, but that was so I’d quit smoking.

Jeez, I know what you mean. Hubby and I have a great GP but finding other kinds of doctors has been an expensive excercise in futility.

I think these are good ideas. Good luck. :slight_smile: