So when I recently had my baseline physical marking my 60th birthday, it was great to see my physician ask what the heck I had been doing to get better test results on all counts than I had at 50.  We actually were able to reduce some of my meds for hypertension.  And I now am back to no cholesterol problems at all, which is good, as I had resisted -- based on reports -- going on those meds.  Etc.

I attribute most of the good results to weight loss, which in turn is attributable in part to better nutrition -- really learning how to balance protein vs. calories (not just counting calories).  And a tip from the nutritionist:  That, in turn, is accomplished not just by better eating but first by better food shopping.  We eat what we have in the house, so her tips on better brands to buy, better stores stocking better brands, all have made major changes here.

Diet = Pretty much no processed food (unless I process it!) etc. Mostly fresh and local aside from the local meats in my freezer. Rarely eat out anymore. I've added a lot more nutritionally packed foods to my diet over the past couple years. Use kosher salt, which is lower in sodium. No refined sugars, whitened flours etc . . .

His cholesterol stayed high, his HDL (good cholesterol) stayed low.

The one thing that works?  He's replaced a large portion of his meat with vegetable protein, mostly lentils.  We make a concoction of lentils, golden split peas, in a broth of pulverized carrots, garlic and celery and a no-salt 25 spice mixture from Costco.  He loves this concoction and therefore doesn't miss meat.

Now his total cholesterol has dropped significantly and his HDL (good cholesterol) is creeping up.  The increasing HDL is practically unheard of for him.  He has never been able to increase it, even prior to his knee surgeries when he was running 60-70 miles/week.  

I really don't think humans were designed to eat animal meat..although most of us love it.  I suspect something in it -- and it may not be just saturated fat -- blocks chemical pathways used to formulate HDL.

Me, I was a size 4-6 in my 20's.  Since my -- in the too much information dept, but I don't care --> surgical menopause, I can't stand food.  Prior to it, I was a veggie fiend!  I craved things that were good for me.  Now foods that are actually good for me sound disgusting.  The thought of eating anything at all sometimes makes me sick. It is amazing to think what certain hormones do to the brain. So I eat what sounds good because eating nothing isn't a good idea, and I typically choose things that are horrible for me.  Lots of red meat, lots of potatoes, lots of fat, hardly any veggies.  And no I won't get my cholesterol tested.  I honestly don't think I can change my eating habits and testing is unnecessary if you don't plan to do anything with the results.  

I try and stay with an exercise program, but it's pretty liberal. I think the key to sticking with exercise is to forgive yourself if you fall off your schedule, so I just do it when I can and forgive myself when I can't.  I also have labradors as "personal trainers.  Those beautiful Hollywood faces, coupled with the pleading liquid brown eyes ensures that I'll walk at least as much as their arthritis can stand.

A bit sad really, but you shouldn't feel bad about eating them - that's what they were bred for!

I wasn't much overweight when I moved here three years ago from the soft suburbs, but I'm now literally in the best physical condition of my life at 60, and the clothes I brought with me from my other life are too loose.  The main thing, I think, is that my metabolism rate has been kicked back up to near what it was before menopause.

No "virtue" involved at all, just pure necessity.  Voluntary exercise has always bored me to tears and I've never been able to stick with it.  But when the choices are between going out and hauling in more firewood or turning on the oil burner and listening to the dollar bills burning up, I go out and haul firewood!

I don't eat as wisely as I might, but since I've never much liked any prepared or processed foods, at least most of what I eat is stuff I cook for myself, and a lot of it is from my own garden (even if I do throw more butter on the veggies than I should...)

Horribly unhealthy, but I sure feel great for as bad as it all is.

Of course, I'm usually such a fuss-budget about how I eat that I can afford to go wild and eat [undistinguishable] ounces of full fat blue cheese and over half a pound of figs every once in a while.

Blogging less these days...check in but comment less, read less.  Guess I care less since I became an Independent and moved to the political sidelines.  Somehow it feels as if nothing that happens has anything to do with me...any more...seems odd but the passion for politics (55 years worth!) is pretty much gone.  I'm either disgusted or annoyed but that's about it.  No longer do I expect anything good to happen by design...perhaps by default, but that's not really politics, is it!?

Gorgeous Indian Summer day here on the peninsula.  Hate the idea of winter and short, dreary, dark days coming on fast.  All the flu stories are scaring the spit out of me...not a good patient and living alone makes it worse.