For someone such as me (who worries about everything anyway), cancer survivor, smoker, feels like crap most of the time - telling me it is not urgent doesn't mean I am not going to worry myself sick!
I go into the Dr. this afternoon and of course, can't see my regular Dr. but can see another one there. Fine, he looks at the labs, and looks around the rest of my file, goes back to the labs, cocks an eyebrow and then asks if I am a smoker. So, because I haven't had any luck quitting yet, then yes, my cholesterol is high enough to be of some concern. If I weren't a smoker, it wouldn't be worth mentioning. Now, if I remember correctly my labs from 6 months ago were fine all across the board. No concerns, no suggestion that I watch what I am eating or anything like that.
I get a phone call this evening from my friend and she asks if I want to go get coffee with them. As we are sitting drinking coffee (Caramel Corratto - Second Cup - divine!) with a load of whip cream on it and full of calories, it dawns on me, that I have been going for coffee all summer with them at least once a week. Anyone else seeing a connection? I guess I am going to have to cut down on some of the other full fat things I enjoy so I can continue to drink that coffee. Oh, for all my friends down in the States, it beats Starbucks hands down.
On the way home, the moon was racing the sun to set in the west, but I managed to catch this photo. Yes, that is the colour the sky was. Not a cloud around.
Unlike the night before.
I really have to start taking a pad and pencil out with the camera, so I remember what I had it set on in order to repeat the process.
Well, I am off to research cholesterol diets - blah!
Have a good day all!
15 comments:
If you must give something up, why not punt the smokes and keep the full fat?
Yes, I know it's not easy.
P.S. I love that moon pic. Well done. And the moody skies are great.
Sheesh - can't understand why someone with a diet such as yours would have high cholesterol.... :)
As loathe as I am to admit it, cousin Leah probably does have a good point..... sigh *cough*
I'd vote for giving up the smokes too (and yes, you too Baggie!) but failing that, avoid the trans fats first and foremost if you can.
Your Caramel Corratto is not overly awful if you order a small one made with skim milk and skip the whipped cream. That change in creaminess takes some getting used to, but after a while it really will satisfy your fix for that flavour.
Checking Second Cup's nutritional breakdown page, your drink can add anywhere from 6 grams of fat (0.1 Trans) to 15 grams of fat (0.2 Trans) depending on size and kind of milk used. The calories are still pretty high either way (330 to 490). That, unfortunately is without the whipped cream. (This is about where Frank usually accuses me of being a buzz kill. Go ahead if you like, I'm used to it). ;)
Great sky shots.. especially that moon in the pink sky. Beautiful!
Love the pictures, especially the moon photo.
It is hard to give up those yummy coffee drinks - I too had a bit of a problem with cholesteral. Fortunately it's down to normal (well, the high end of normal, but I am still claiming normal!).
Lovely photos!
And, um, I gotta agree that ditching the smoking would probably make a much bigger difference to your health than the coffee drinks.
But switching to nonfat or 1% milk can make coffee drinks reasonably good for you, plus you get all that calcium.
Once you get used to it, nonfat can seem "normal" and 1% can taste really creamy. (Takes a while though!)
My cholesterol isn't so hot either so I can sympathize.
I haven't had my cholesterol checked in a few years. It was just fine back then though. But, I have a bad feeling if I get it checked again it might not be so fine. That's why I don't get it checked. If I don't see the numbers then they don't exist, right? ;-)
Hi Reb,
I am going to suggest that you cut a little fat and increase a little exercise. The combo might lower your numbers.
It is possible that your numbers have not changed dramatically, but that the protocol for treating active smokers has changed.
I never had a problem with cholesterol but I am diabetic. Several years ago the protocol for diabetics began to include meds to lower our cholesterol lower than non diabetics. I think it's supposed to protect our arteries, which are attacked by both diseases. Might be the same now for smokers.
Terrie
Terrie
Leah, I am working on punting the smokes. A few small changes, like 1% milk and low fat cheese and stop with the bacon and my diet is not all that bad. Glad you like the pics.
Sis, whatdayamean? I figure it won't be too hard to give up some more of my bad habits. The smoking though is hard to punt.
Hilary, I'm not a big coffee drinker, the whole point of the caramel corrotto is the whip cream and caramel. ;) Thanks for pointing out that the trans fats are low! I usually call a coffee like that "lunch" and will adjust eating accordingly for the rest of the day or the next if it is in the evening.
Missicat, thanks. I am not really a coffee person, so once a week really isn't bad. I don't think I have to do too much adjusting quitting smoking will make a difference too. Glad you have yours under control.
Crabby, thanks. Yeah, smoking is the hardest. I just have to get back to skim milk on everything - I used it for the longest time and then somehow went back to 2%, but I have to ease my way down...1% first.
Travis, thanks, I knew someone would sympathize.
Jay, you go get that checked, you might be surprised. Then again, you have shown us your suppers a few times. ;) Still better to know now!
Terrie, I am actually exercising more now than in the longest time, but yes, I need to do more in that department too. You could be right about the protocols changing too. I am actually eating a better diet than 6 months ago when it was "fine" and doing more exercise.
It's next to impossible to completely give up something you really enjoy. I find hat cutting back on everything all together and being able to enjoy small amounts of everything I love has been working well for me.
Knight, I hope to be able to do that, well, except the smokes.
whoa, some great pics there!
Thanks Gary.
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