High Chloesterol...What?!?

A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I absolutely despise going to the doctor. I'll put it off and put it off, and just hope whatever symptom I have goes away. I mean, I'd like to think I am a healthy person. I'm fairly active, but not as active as I used to be that is for sure. I danced for almost 7 years growing up, played 'little dribblers' (basketball) as a young child, played softball as a young girl. In Junior High I was a cheerleader, a basketball player, and a volleyball player. In High School I played volleyball, basketball, and softball. In college, I played intramural sports, and now that I'm out in the 'Real World' I work out on occasion depending on my fatigue level at the end of my work day. I rarely drink, and if I do, it's like a margarita or glass of wine at birthday function or fun occasion. I have never smoked a thing in my life, which is something I am VERY proud of.

However, I have had some crazy health problems for a person my age. I've had kidney stones three times. Kidney Stones = DEATH. Not really, but it is one of the worst feelings in the entire world. I hear that if you have had kidney stones, then giving birth will be easy...I guess I will let you know when the time comes. :)

After high school, I experienced a lot of weight gain. At first I thought it was the Freshman 15, but then that turned into the Sophomore 20, and Junior 30. I hated my body. I wasn't huge, but I definitely wasn't small. I went to a doctor and told them what was going on. I ate normal, and exercised and nothing would change. After some tests, it turned out I had a thyroid problem. Now it seems to be better, because in August 2009 I weighed about 157, my biggest being 160. I got down to 130, the healthy way, and now sit at about 135. Not ideal for a lot of women, but I'm happy being me. Life is too short to not enjoy the things in life like a cheeseburger. (Sadly enough, I have to give it up for awhile.) :(

(Okay back to what I was originally talking about...I am SO bad at rambling and going off track. I apologize :))

Anyway, for the last year or so, I've been short of breath, and have had on and off again chest pains. About a month ago I had experienced some of the most intense chest pains I have ever had. O..M...Goodness! I thought I was about to die, no joke. My husband made me go to the Dr. and they ordered some blood work. The Dr. at first thought my thyroid was off, but THANKFULLY, it ended up not being the problem. They tell me my B-12 Vitamin level is extremely low, and my cholesterol level is extremely high. The B-12 level explains why I am always dragging and barely get through the day without falling asleep. I probably yawn about 50 times a day and what puzzles me is that I get plenty of sleep. They think my cholesterol level is genetic, but not only do I have to take cholesterol medicine at 24 years old (that's just nuts), I have to change my diet. I don't eat bad, but then again, I don't eat like a rabbit. Obviously :)

So, this shall be interesting. From this day until my next appointment in September, I am giving up fried foods and red meat. Good bye Jack in the Box tacos, hello healthy green salad. Good bye red meat, and hello turkey meat. The good news is that I actually don't mind turkey meat, salads, or chicken. Ground beef is just SO much cheaper. Healthy food in general is just so expensive, and it doesn't last as long :) It will be interesting to see if I can afford this lifestyle, but for now, I have no choice. I def. don't want to be a candidate for heart disease anymore. This is all just crazy to me.



I am going to keep track of my eating habits, and will share them with you to see what kind of progress I can make. I think having this online diary will help me stay on track, and hopefully make it a lot more fun than it could be. Ideally, I am not a large person. I just have a little fluff here and there :) Hey, it keeps me warm in the winter. ;)