diets suck

[sarea]

I watched two movies last night. And I didn't even get kicked out of a theater. Unlike some people of my acquaintence.

In America - So bloody sentimental, and not in a good way (because God knows I like being sentimental). The kind of movie that tries too hard to be deep. Loved Djimon Hounsou, though. The youngest daughter fluctuated from being really cute and really annoying.

Girl with a Pearl Earring - Loved this. I don't know what it is w/ Scarlett Johansson making movies where she's the Pretty Young Thang attracting older men, but between this and LiT, GwaPE gets my love and thumbs up. Hated the stupid wife. And the stupid kid, who I couldn't even tell whether s/he was a boy or a girl.

I am attempting to be more healthy in my eating choices, mainly because the high cholesterol thing frightens me. I just picture my veins getting all blocked up with fat and it freaks me out. Poor little red blood cells, it's getting harder and harder to navigate through the ever-narrowing passageways, isn't it? *sniff* When I was poor, working on the Hill for a measley $23K/year, I was soooo healthy. I couldn't afford red meat, so I didn't eat it, and I had to walk everywhere because I couldn't afford a car (plus D.C. is v. pedestrian friendly). Now I eat way too much red meat because I lurve it so. It must stop. *weeps* So here is the meal plan:

* Breakfast: Either 1) this instant tomato basil pasta soup that has 0 fat and thus, 0 cholesterol; OR 2) 19 cereal w/ vanilla soy milk, again 0 cholesterol
* Lunch: Salad of spinach, beets, egg whites, cucumber, corn, w/ balsamic vinaigrette dressing (according to many nutritional informatin site, this dressing has 0 cholesterol, but I don't see how that's possible. I mean, it has oil in it, doesn't it?)
* Snack: Fruit, veggies, or dried seaweed (which is yummy but unfortunately not at all filling)
* Dinner: Either 1) a boring chicken breast or something, that will be so dry it will be a chore to chew, and/or a veggie of some kind; OR 2) seafood, either steamed or raw (mmmmsushi)
* Dessert: Single serving of chocolate chip ice cream from Baskin Robbins. (What? You didn't expect me to give up dessert entirely did you? Besides, I have two quarts and can't let them go to waste.) 55mg of cholesterol

So we'll see how this works out in the next 3 months or so, before I have to go back and get my blood cholesterol checked again. Of course, all of this would also be improved if I could get my lazy ass out of the house early in the morning or evening to take a 30-min walk, but everything in due time. Everything will obviously have to be ramped up if there's little to no change in the results.

Gawd, I hate actually being on a health-enforced diet, rather than me just wanting to be skinny. There's so much pressure.

Comments

[gnrationfo.livejournal.com]

You're gonna be healthy with that diet, but man, are you gonna be on the toilet alot too on that diet! Stock up on the magazines!!

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Um, thanks for sharing. I don't even think it's all that weird a diet -- these are pretty normal meals. It's not like I'm mainlining fiber.

[acciopotter.livejournal.com]

Gawd, I hate actually being on a health-enforced diet, rather than me just wanting to be skinny. There's so much pressure.

Yeah, and then you go to the doctor and get all nervous for them to tell you the results. Like this year, my cholesterol went UP despite my efforts to the contrary. Then I feel all kinds of frustration, which ain't great for the old heart health either. Blurgh.

Good luck! Don't forget to vary your veggies, or the healthy eating can get boring quick. :)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Yes, I will be totally beyond frustrated if it goes up. And I so know, re: boring meals ... I think that's the hardest, hardest thing about eating healthy. I need variety! Luckily I live on the West Coast, so eating a more veggie-oriented diet is easier than, say, when I lived on the East Coast. That was my perception, anyway.

[gianfared.livejournal.com]

Did you read Girl with a Pearl Earring? It's a very good book!

My husband and my father have high cholesterol and both are on medication. *sigh* I understand your concerns. My father had three blockages, seventy-five percent blockage each, in his arteries at the age of thirty-eight. He was a walking heart attack about to happen. Luckily, he had an angioplasty and has been living healthily since (diet and exercise).

One thing I seem to remember is that you have to watch out for the bad fats, the saturated fats. Saturated fats are found primarily in animal products, including dairy products, fatty meats and certain vegetable oils.

That means you really can't have ALL seafood. Some is ok, fish definitely, but I believe shell fish is high in saturated fats. When making your vinaigrette use safflower oil, canola oil or olive oil. They don't contain the BAD fats. :D

I will dig out a couple of great chicken recipes for you. I LOVE chicken and eat entirely too much of it. Bawk bawk bawk bawk bawwwwwwwwk

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

I didn't even know it was a book! Will have to look for it.

mynuet has counseled me on the evilness of saturated fats, to use olive oil rather than other oils (because olive oil has no cholesterol and may help reduce it, even...), to avoid margarine, and to consider pork over chicken so I don't turn into one. ;) I would love, love, LOVE to get healthy chicken recipes!!! I love poultry, but I tend to favor fattier cuts like legs and thighs.

Very good to know re: shellfish, though I am heartbroken as I love shrimp and crab and lobster. *weeps*