Putting My Plan into Action

_Three months seemed like forever and yet right around the corner. I already had a plan and I knew it was going to work (right?). After some research my findings provided me with some simple lifestyle changes. Now, I’m the kind of person who enjoys change and a challenge so this was right up my alley. If you are one who just can’t bear not drinking milk or give up necessary foods, then this blog may not be for you. But since you're here mayb you can pick up a few things you can do to help lower your cholesterol.

First, some websites that encouraged me and fed my insane desire to try new recipes:

• Cooking for lower cholesterol
• Low cholesterol recipes
• The American Heart Association website

In an effort to add more vegetables to my diet, I found I could easily give up meat (most of the time), and was lucky enough to find Vegetarian Times magazine and online and Heart Healthy magazine and online. Both offered me a ton of ideas and recipes that even my carnivore husband enjoys! I am especially pleased that my almost five year-old grandson also loves my new recipes!

Then, I continued to search for other options and found a site that showed me how to lower my cholesterol naturally, such as this site — Lower Cholesterol Naturally.

Keeping in mind that the Internet offers a wealth of information, I read through each site thoroughly and decided just what I would do:

1. Get off the couch
2. Add oatmeal to my daily foods (instant packets make a quick snack if you can find hot water).
3. Remove all saturated fats (at least at first)
4. Add the following supplements to my daily routine: 500 mg niacin and fish oil capsules. (Research told me to take my supplements at night.)

I found an article in the first Heart Healthy Living magazine called “Cholesterol Myths ... Busted” that was great! It told of another miracle supplement ... red yeast rice that had similar results to the typically prescribed statins. I figured I didn't have anything to lose so I found some at WalMart of all places!

So, there you have it–my plan. Get moving, add oatmeal to my diet, add niacin, fish oil, and red yeast rice and go low fat.

Stay tuned for the next doctor’s visit ...