Because I've never "failed" a blood test in my life, I decided to have a full blood workup two days after Christmas. What a mistake. The tests showed that my HDL and fasting blood sugar levels were above the normal range. Given the timing, the results should not have surprised me. They disturbed me, though, enough to start amending my diet.
Lowering the cholesterol is a novice task. There are things I did this Christmas season that no mere mortal should ever do, e.g. have lechon five days in a row. You don't need a blood test to tell you that that is bad, very, very bad. So less lechon in my life, check.
What challenges me is the sugar. I'm not big on sweets to start. I will take the *occasional* cookie, a slice of cake, or piece of chocolate. However, one piece is usually enough. I have students who can wipe out a whole bag of chocnut in one sitting and that's something I cannot do. I couldn't figure out where the sugar was coming from, until Redg said "Carbs!"
That was sad news because I loooovvveee carbs. Rice. Potatoes. Corn. Yum. And to have to reduce the amount of carbs in my life, argh, that for me is harder than giving up lechon.
The suggestion from my doctor was to adjust my diet for about a month and then repeat the blood test. With any luck, my readings will go back to normal by then.
