Ready, Set, Lower Cholesterol! (page 2 of 2)

Change Text Size

Change Text Size
|
Bookmark

Bookmark

Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
|
Print
|
E-Mail

The Road Ahead

Plan for roadblocks. The holidays, a vacation, or a deadline crunch at work can all stall your progress, so plan ahead. To cope with a work crunch, for instance, bring along a bag of healthy snacks to the office and get your exercise by taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Be flexible. Don't take an all-or-nothing approach. If you miss your daily walk one day, it doesn't mean you've failed or that there's no point in walking the next day. If you couldn't resist the french fries, vow to return to your plan when you finish licking the grease off your fingers. Remember, this is a permanent lifestyle change, not a short-term solution.

Build in rewards. Every time your cholesterol drops treat yourself to something special, like a new golf club or a manicure.

Be patient. Studies show it takes at least three weeks of daily repetition before a change begins to feel natural, and longer before it's automatic.

Also understand that just as people move through various stages when they grieve, they move through stages when they're trying to change habits. The fact that you're reading this means you're past stage one (precontemplation) and have reached stage two (contemplation). Stage three, preparation, means you're getting ready to put this advice into action, such as by purchasing a bottle of olive oil, cholesterol-lowering margarine, or a new pair of walking shoes. In stage four, action, you'll begin following your plans -- and well on your way to your goal.

It won't always be a smooth road. You may backslide (maybe the sausages on the breakfast buffet were just too tempting to pass up) or become frustrated if you don't see quick results. That's okay. Just don't give up. As we've said before, this plan is for life.

Which brings us to stage five: maintenance. You'll know you've reached this stage when you automatically order a salad at Wendy's instead of the Big Bacon classic (or stop going to Wendy's altogether and pack your own lunch instead), or walk to the post office instead of driving. You've found renewed energy, watched your cardiac risk factors -- including your cholesterol -- drop substantially, and perhaps even wangled a muttered "good job" out of your overworked doctor.

From Cut Your Cholesterol

Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story

How to Finish a Basement: Framing and Insulating
How to frame a basement and install insulation.
6 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes
Bake a batch of any of these easy to follow recipes or just drool over the stunning Christmas cookie pictures.
Spinach, Pear, and Shaved Parmesan Salad
A spinach salad, especially one with ripe fall pears, is a welcome addition to the Thanksgiving table. The salad can be served in a large bowl as part of a buffet, or on individual salad plates alongside the main course.
Delicata Squash Soup with Parmesan Croutons
Delicata squash, as its name implies, is a finely flavored, richly sweet winter squash with a nearly fibreless flesh. Cylindrical in shape, with elongated ridges, this squash has yellow to pale orange skin with green striations. Its beautiful yellow flesh and delicate flavor make it perfect for this puréed soup.
Thanksgiving Desserts
It will be difficult to wait until the end of the meal for these gorgeous desserts.