BEP, it's like smoking. You never know which cigarrette will be the one responsible for a large piece of plaque tearing off your artery wall and clogging a vital artery causing either a stroke or heart attack.

 

I used to smoke before my heart attack 9 yrs. ago. I also didn't exercise, had bad genetic's, lot's of stress via work and ate high fat/caloric meals.After i got out of the hospital, In an attempt to save one of my bad habits, I asked my cardio if i could switch to an occassional cigar instead of cigs. His answer to me was it makes no difference what you smoke (smoke has all kinds of carcigons ((sp)), it's a crap shoot as to which puff is the one that causes the plaque to tear away and clog the artery.

 

It's the same with food. certainly eating healthy is better then not, however unless you consistantly maintain a healthy diet (with the exceptional treat) you're not going to lower your cholesterol and eliminate the risk factors of a high fat high cholesterol diet.

 

I will share with you my typical day of eating. I have a rice cake with smuckers natural peanut butter (very low in trans fat calories) on it for breakfast. The peanut butter provides the protein your brain needs and the few carbs in the rice cake gives you some instant energy. I also find that peanut butter staves off hunger and I can go until early afternoon before feeling hungery. For lunch i have the same thing everyday unless I have a lunch meeting. Turkey on whole wheat with lettuce & tomatoe and some kind of fruit. Berries have the best anti-oxidents...any berry with a dimple i.e, strawberries and especially blueberries are great. Dinner is usually grilled chicken, Turkey or fish (palm size portions) along with a salad, veggie (usually brocclli) and some melon (cantalope is better than honeydew but they are both good). If i have a craving for something sweet then I;ll have a no fat no sugar yougart or a skinny cow.

 

I try to exercise 3 times a week (anything is good except for running which destroys the knees) and since I am in my mid 50's I try to stretch for 10-15 minutes a day so that i can maintain my mobility and range of motion as I get into senior citizen territory.

 

I loved steak and hamburgers and will on a special occassion treat myself to one, however it is the exception rather then the rule.

 

I tried the Dean Ornish diet which can actually reverse heart damage however it is extremely diificut (basically vegitarian) and requires a tremendous amount of time to prepare the meals.

 

I have found that after awhile it gets easier to stay on the diet. I'll give you another clue as to how i stopped smoking. I had a friend visit me shortly after my M/I. I was still craving ciggs. he said he used to smoke but noticed that the desire for a cig came and went. If he felt himself getting the urge for one he would distract his mind for 10 seconds and usually by then the urge had passed. I began to recognize the mental urge for a smoke and would distract myself long enough until the urge passed. With every day it got easier and easier however to this day, when i walk out of a restaurant and smell the smoke of a cig, i still get an urge however it passess very quickly.

 

Am i perfect...of course not. Perfect people are 6 ft under, however i have the will to live and have eliminated most of the things that will kill me but are within my control. I still enjoy a glass of fine tequilla on the rocks and certainly drive way too fast. There are others but i think you get the flavor. Please take this in the spirit in which it was written.

 

DD

 

 

Dave, you have your way of trying to be healthy. Nothng wrong with that. My only point was that eating horribly all the time is way worse than eating good and bad combined. Yes i know its not perfect. But i know i lowered my cholesterol, and i dont eat good all the time. Nutritious food is good for you even if you follow it with a chocolate cake.

BEP, it's not. You can eat 1,000 carrots but it's the chocolate cake that's going to get you. I guess something is better than nothing but you're not eliminating the risk food which is the one that will get you.

 

And BTW, it's not my way of trying to be healthy. It's the American Heart Association.... and all the experts way.

 

DD

Dave you have missed my point entirely.  One needs vitamins and minerals and numerous food groups to help their health. You get benefits from the good things you eat even if you also eat bad things. And i never said my way was the way to great health, only that its better than only eating crap all the time.

I don't eat meat. 

 

With me not eating meat, that means fewer cattle to produce methane gas, and less grain and hay needed to feed the cows that I would have consumed in my lifetime.

 

 

Well Ida do you wear leather or eat cheese?

 

Just wondering....

 

Nacho!

Ida, do the hookers in Idaho eat a healthy diet or are they too busy plying their trade  and thus do junk?

 

DD

Dallas, I guess we'd only know if we hung out in a public restroom somewhere.....

Wow...the carnivores in this thread don't just eat steak!  Do you eat all vegetarians who dare to post? 

 

*searches for nearest exit*

Pache...wasn't upset...was attempting (and failing?) at some humour at what appeared a tense room.  Will try a yellow smiley to help out if the humour (like the too lean steak) is too dry...

 

...it's all good...

I love my veggies too. but i still love my steak.

 

I don't eat a lot of vegetables.  I'm a meat, potatoes and beans person.  I don't like green beans at all even though I eat them from time to time.  I don't like carrots at all either but can eat them raw.   Beans, I can eat about any kind of bean there is though.   Tomatoes and cucumbers I enjoy eating in my salad with  onions and thats all I like in my lettuce salads along with cheese, cheese and more cheese..... I can't get enough cheese.      I love cottage cheese also with tomatoes or have it with pineapple.    I like about any kind of meat also.

I eat a lot of veggies. i love green beans cooked or raw. i like cucumbers with onion and tomatoes with a tiny bit of vinegarette. i like salads with all sorts of lettuces except head lettuce.  For a long time the only veggie i really didnt like was beets but now i love them, pickled, or cooked or roasted. I was lucky as a kid we ateveggies with no butter or sauce so i mostly like veggies plain. And i despise when people put cheese on everything including veggies (sorry dee) or ranch dressing on all sorts of food its just gross.

 

I adore cottage cheese, its great for breakfast, it should NEVER have anything sweet in it. only pepper and sometimes diced onion.