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Today is the first day of the "new" me. I read a lot last night and I thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

At first I told myself that I was going to start after the holidays. That would give me two months before my next blood test, but then I thought why not start now and just know that I will fall off the wagon now and then.

So last night I hard boiled some eggs, made some tuna and packed my lunch for today. I brought eggs (had those for breakfast), salad and tuna I will have for lunch, brought some pickles to snack on and some cottage cheese. Took out chicken for dinner.

I love no carb foods with the exception of my sweet tooth - that will be the tough one especially since I started my Christmas cookies over the weekend and they are sitting there all pretty and begging to be eaten. So I made a pack with myself, until December 26th if I am really really craving a sweet I will eat one cookie. I think if in my mind I know I will allow myself that then I will be good. Actually that is how I quit smoking. I cut down gradually - I allowed myself 10 cigs a day - then 5, then 3, then 1. By the time I got to 1 cig a day I planned carefully when I wanted it. Then one day I forgot to even have my one and that was the end of that. So I am going to do the same with sweets. Everything else I eat will be low/no carb.

Then on December 26th, I will cut the sweets out all together. If my results don't show a significant change then I know it is just my blood and there is not much I can do about it.

I'm sorry. I missed this post earlier. Did you get the numbers for your LDL, HDL and triglycerides?

We don't care about total cholesterol anymore. We just use it now in calculations. [total cholesterol - HDL - triglyceride/5 = LDL]

You want triglycerides of under 150.

You want LDL (bad cholesterol) under 130 (unless you already have a medical problem then we want it under 100)

We want HDL (good cholesterol) over 40 in a woman; 50 in a male.

Generally a fasting versus non fasting LDL and HDL aren't that different but the triglycerides can be off by up to 30%.

Awesome!!

Atkins offers some meal replacements and snack bars that really help H with cravings- and they're not bad!

A few years ago my total cholesterol was 315. My "good" cholesterol numbers were great and my "bad" cholesterol numbers were not terrible....it was the total number that was the real issue.

I went and took a two month free "heart healthy" course at a local hospital. It focused on eating better and exercising more. Which I did. They really promoted getting enough of something called "plant stanols" in the diet. At the time, someone made a smoothie with plant stanols, and you got enough of it in one smoothie a day. They stopped selling those....I have to believe it's because pharmaceutical companies didn't like it.

Anyways, in the two months, I only lost two pounds, but I was in better shape...went down two sizes, felt better. Most importantly, with just eating better (NOT dieting!) and exercise, my total cholesterol went down below 200.

I now take an OTC product called "Cholest-Off" which has plant stanols. My dr did have me try statins back then, but the muscle aches just killed me, and I won't go on them again.

So, try not to stress about the minutae of "dieting"....just eat better...lots of fruits and vegs, and get some exercise in.

I know everyone is different, but I was really shocked that it worked so well for me.

And, just for statistical info, I was in my mid-forties at the time...now enjoying fabulous 50!

Please know that a little of the bad stuff won't hurt you. To be absolute can make It very difficult. Also use caution with eggs they are one thing that can drive up LDLs.

Did you ever find out your HDL?

Have you added fish oil and Niacin?