Today was the first day I had confronted my doctor after changing my diet to a plant based, whole food diet. Last July he put me on a Statin to control my cholesterol and I took myself off it less than a month later because of the side effects (legs were sore). Between August and October I went about my daily life, eating pretty much how I had been before being put on the medication. Thankfully a friend recommended FOK and that was the first step.
This appointment today should have happened back in November for my doctor to check my liver for any abnormality due to the Statin he had put me on. Today I wanted to talk to him about my blood work from August, 2011 (my last physical) and my most recent blood test from December, 2011. You can see the
results in this thread. Bottom line, in less than 3 months I dropped 26 pounds and 64 points in my total cholesterol.
We agreed on a few points today during the appointment. First he was proud of me for making changes in my lifestyle to help my cholesterol and health. We also agreed that this was just the beginning, but there was more work to be done. It had been his hope it was the medication that reduced my total cholesterol.
What we didn't see eye to eye on was the "diet" which I tried to explain was a lifestyle change. He understood that part of it, but he believes I will be "out of balance." I told him I gave up all meat, dairy and oils. He called it "extreme". He also said diet has helped you get to this point today, but what will you do in the future? He also asked me where was I going to get my protein from.
I mentioned to him that I had cut my fat back to around 10-12% of my total caloric intake daily. He said that was too low and it needed to be around 25% a day! If I did follow this percentage, he said there would have to be a trade off. If I wasn't eating fats, then chances are it would be more carbs.
While my cholesterol numbers have vastly improved, it still has a way to go. He didn't want me to concentrate solely on the numbers or the weight, but a balance in exercise and diet. One number that was still high was my Tri number (210). Healthy based on the paperwork I am looking at shows a number between 35-149. Good cholesterol (HDL) is linked to your Tris (his words to me). He cited the possibility of my Tris still being high because I am eating too many carbs. All of this I need to go research and read up on.
Finally my Vitamin D. Living in No.Cal he said many people in bay area are deficient in Vitamin D. My number was 23, when 40-60 was considered normal. His answer, a supplement, so he ordered up 50,000 IU, or one pill a week until he tells me to stop.
As I mentioned we both agreed that this is a start to improving my overall healthy. Best I can tell from his comments and gestures, he wasn't impressed with the "diet" calling it "extreme" and said I should start to mix meat back into my diet for protein. That won't happen, nor will dairy or oil. So while I have been pleased with my short term results I look forward to the future and want to build on this start.
The addition of exercise (Power 90) and walking (30 minutes a day) will only better my health from here on out and continuing this WOE. The outlook is positive. He did schedule another blood test in 3 months to see what sort of effect the Vitamin D supplement is having.
Love to hear some some comments...