Lowering My Cholesterol!

I was super anxious about finding out what my cholesterol totals were this morning.  I had my blood drawn last month and I’ve been nervous about actually going in.


But I prayed a lot and I knew that whatever the results were, it would be ok.


You see, when I was 25, I was placed on Zocor for my high cholesterol.  I just knew that it was something I would have to live with.  And if you’ve ever read the side effects of medicine like that, you know that it’s something you will most definitely avoid if possible!

When Matt and I decided to start a family, I clearly had to get off of it.  I quit about a year before I got pregnant with Henry and stayed off of it through my pregnancies.  After I finish nursing Milo I knew it was time to get back to reality and really start focusing on my health.  The numbers on the left, below, are that first reality check.  If you have cholesterol issues, you know those numbers are not good.  Especially for a 32 year old who runs a lot and is not overweight.

High cholesterol is hereditary in mine and Matt’s family.  I was bummed and certain of a future on statins to control it.


But I truly believe that I began to gain weight for a reason in the winter of 2014.   I Had NEVER had difficulties losing weight in the past, and then BAM!!! All of a sudden, I just couldn’t stop the scales from rising.  Which led me to research and find the 21 day fix.


I wasn’t looking for a guide to clean eating or even a permanent fix for my cholesterol.  I wanted the weight OFF!!! And I knew my portions had to be worked on.


Little did I realize that I would actually learn to love clean eating and how it would affect my body.  When my coach asked me to join a challenge group, I thought Why Not!  It can’t hurt.


I learned to meal plan and really put some thought into what I was putting into my body.  I used the nifty little color coded portion control containers and I took it one day at a time.  And the weight definitely came off.


But I didn’t want to stop there.  Was there a magic pill that took away all my cravings and desires to binge eat?  No.  I knew if I was gonna stick with this I had to really make a commitment.


Next, I began incorportating Shakeology…which I did NOT buy at first.  I told myself there was NO WAY I was spending that kind of money on a back of protein powder.  I HATED protein shakes.  I had tried them, and it just wasn’t for me.  The texture was weird.  The taste was strange…NOT a fan!


And honestly, I had to get used to Shakeolgoy just because it was a shake.  It tasted REALLY good, but I still had to get past my own mental aversion to shakes.  And I’m SO glad I did!!!

I noticed that as I progressed, things got a little smoother.  


I will always struggle with temptations like fried chicken and my mom’s chocolate cake, but I great stronger.  I was spending more time actually praying over my decisions.  And making more consistent choices.  


In case you’re not familiar, this builds what is known as “Momentum.”  


The stronger I got, the more healthy decisions I made, the easier it was to continue with them. 


And I Felt better!  I even decided to get off my birth control to see if my PMDD had improved.  And I was shocked to realize that I could go without it!  PMDD was the biggest reason I took birth control.  It controlled my “crazy.”  But it also affected my physical relationship with my husband.  We were both so relieved to find that I no longer needed it!

I was rolling along and building that momentum in so many areas.  It is exciting to look back now and see God leading me down this path.


All that to say that my cholesterol has most definitely improved!  I had it checked again in December, and I got my results today.  Hold onto your hats….

Hammer and Chisel Meal Plan

xoxo, 
Rachel Mitchell