Looking for a nutritionist recommendations?

So, you're saying if I switch back to a clean diet, my cholesterol levels might actually drop in just a week? Okay... I had bloodwork done yesterday, so I'm planning to stick to the diet starting next week and then head back to the lab for another round. Thanks for the tip, Sarah Gomez52!!!

But if stress is the actual culprit here, I'm pretty much screwed, right? Like, how am I supposed to "fix" whatever is causing the stress? That sounds... complicated...
Should I be looking into supplements, herbal teas, or anything like that?

Melissa Cruz2 said:So you're saying cholesterol levels can actually drop after just one week of dietary changes? Got it. I had my blood drawn yesterday, so I'll stick to the diet next week and then head back to the lab. Thanks, Sarah Gomez52!!!

But if stress is the real culprit, I'm pretty much screwed, right? Does that mean I have to fix the underlying stress? That's a much harder problem to solve...
Should I be looking into supplements, herbal teas, or anything like that?

Check your PM

Zoe said:Oh boy!
.... 🤣

I’m telling you, it’s all just a big joke.
Don't take everything you read online so literally!

Melissa Cruz2, doctors rarely actually jump straight to a diet just because of ONE cholesterol reading. Those numbers can swing wildly—like, if you grabbed a handful of peanuts the night before your blood work, you could easily end up with a false high reading... It’s not always the real deal. Maybe try getting your blood drawn again in a little while? Just don't go making massive changes to what you eat—just watch out the day before so nothing crazy happens—and if your LDL is still showing up high then, maybe look into a diet plan.

And honestly, the stress from being told your cholesterol is high is a health issue in itself 😉

Rachel Brooks63 said:And honestly, the anxiety you feel when a doctor tells you your cholesterol is through the roof is its own kind of stress. 😉

It’s pretty much the same thing as white coat hypertension. 😉

Rachel Brooks63 said:Melissa Cruz2, doctors almost never jump straight to a diet or start worrying just because of a single cholesterol reading. Those numbers fluctuate like crazy... if you snacked on a handful of peanuts the night before your blood draw, you could easily trigger a fake spike. Try getting your blood checked again in a little while—don't go making massive lifestyle changes yet, just make sure you don't overdo it the day before—and if your LDL is still high then, maybe consider a diet.

And honestly, the stress from being told your cholesterol is high is a health issue in itself... 😉

My LDL has been creeping up year after year, so we've been monitoring it closely for about three months now. I'm actually going to try tweaking my diet for the first time to see what happens. If things don't improve... well, then it's statins and everything else...

Melissa Cruz2 said:My K levels just keep climbing year after year—we've actually been monitoring it super closely for about three months now.

Ah, gotcha. My bad, I honestly thought you meant it was just from a single checkup.

Well, if that's the case, don't sweat it too much... just try not to let it get in your head...

Melissa Cruz2 said:K's weight is climbing year after year, and we've been monitoring him closely for three months now. I'm going to try adjusting his diet for the first time to see if it makes a difference. If things don't improve... then we'll look into more serious options like veal or other proteins.

"adjusting his diet for the first time" 😕

Look, I hate to be blunt, but based on what you wrote, you aren't even feeding him anything at all.

Hey, Betty Rivera14, maybe you should ditch the mozzarella 😢 hot dogs.
And honestly, I might have let things slide a little lately... 😁

It’s not like I have tons to lose—I’m pretty careful about what I eat—but clearly something is off. Despite running and keeping my diet fairly tight, I've actually put on a few pounds. 😢
Life’s just been a lot right now. I've been under massive amounts of stress for about two years straight.

You really need to work on yourself "from the inside"... and I don't mean your diet. I am giving you this advice in good faith.

I’m guessing you probably have a pretty good idea of what I'm struggling with right now, especially given how things are going...

Melissa Cruz2 said:and hey Betty Rivera14, you might wanna ditch the mozzarella 😢 and those hot dogs.
maybe I’ve been a little too "relaxed" lately... 😁

not that I have tons to cut out—I actually watch what I eat—but clearly something's off because even with running and keeping my carbs pretty tight, the scale is still creeping up. 😢
plus, life's just been a total grind... I've been under insane pressure for like two years straight now.

It feels weird to me that it's all just diet, especially when we're talking a bit of cheese and some hot dogs. I mean, I check every single box for high cholesterol—living with another metabolic issue for ages—and I eat way, WAY heavier than you do, yet my cholesterol stays perfectly, absolutely normal.

(I'm knocking back half a liter of yogurt every day, eating meat daily, haven't quit pork, and yeah, I grab bacon every now and then)

Melissa Cruz2 said:That sounds like a total red flag!

Here’s what I’m eating: watermelon for breakfast, then soup and a mozzarella salad for lunch. Dinner is usually fresh cheese and light yogurt instead of sour cream. My breakfast and lunch stay pretty much the same every single day, while dinners vary—sometimes it's chicken, hot dogs, a little pancake, tuna, or salads... plus the occasional sweet treat. Honestly, I don't even think my diet is why my cholesterol hit 6.2. I work out quite a bit, too!

If stress could cause this, I'd be the prime suspect!
magriz, please give me some tips on a "plant-based" diet!

To be honest, that menu isn't exactly a health food dream. You really need more variety.
Hot dogs and tuna can actually be pretty high in fat. And cheese is loaded with fats too, regardless of what the label claims.
What about some whole grains? Maybe a little pasta?
Working out won't save you here. It's great, but hitting the gym doesn't automatically make your diet healthy.
Plus, if you're dealing with thyroid issues (since you mentioned having surgery), you might actually want to take it easy on the intense workouts. A few brisk walks with the dogs should be plenty without all the heavy running.

Look, I’m glad I don't have to be the one constantly labeled as "the problem" here.😉

It’s obvious others are seeing the same thing I am. On one hand, you’ve got this strict diet and a relentless workout routine, but then on the other, you’re looking at terrible lab results—now we're even talking about critically low iron levels—plus anxiety and insomnia.🙄 It isn't exactly a pretty picture.

Forgot to mention, I’m definitely a tuna girl myself—sometimes I toss in some cream, or even the thickest, greasiest mayo you can find on the shelf 😁 (honestly, that "light" crap is just depressing), though I try to steer clear of hard cheeses... well, maybe not entirely.

If Bill Clinton’s health issues are what happens when you eat "wrong," then I’m basically a walking corpse at this point.

God, I really am the undisputed queen of junk food...

I wouldn't call it fast food, per se, but the stuff I do eat is loaded with everything. I try to watch my portions, but let's be real—even my "small" servings are bigger than a meal at Burger King.

MaxB said:I hope we aren't splitting hairs here—when people talk about carbs, they usually mean the "bad" kind, like sugar and starch. That’s why things like potatoes, pasta, or bread get lumped into the carb category, while a salad isn't even considered one since it's mostly cellulose that our bodies can't even process.

I'm just throwing this out there as a side note regarding jadesailor14, who was eating peas—which, newsflash, contain both starch and sugar—yet claims she wasn't eating any carbs because, in her mind, carbs only count if they're potatoes or pasta.
Honestly, this whole crusade against carbohydrates is getting on my nerves.
Anyway, back to the point: high cholesterol runs in my family. My aunts are thin and barely eat anything, yet their levels just keep climbing as they get older.

I mean, you don't eat that all the time, right? Surely you find room for some pasta or rice and a side of veggies, whether they're cooked or raw.
I definitely have my moments where I just stuff myself with junk food too.
Plus, I can't stand those "light" products. They feel so mindless, and when you actually check the nutrition label, they aren't even that low-calorie anyway!

jadesailor14 said:I mean, you don't eat that stuff 24/7, right? Surely you make room for some pasta or rice and maybe some veggies—cooked or raw...
Look, I shove all kinds of junk down my throat too... honestly...
And don't even get me started on those "light" products. They’re such a joke—totally mindless marketing, and if you actually bother to read the label, half the time they aren't even that low-cal anyway.

I hit all six food groups every single day. Just staying away from the sweets.

I also 🙂

I’m 43 years old. I don't hit the gym, I don't go for runs, and I don't bother with fitness classes. Yet, I maintain a healthy weight, feel great, and sleep like a baby.

As for stress? I carry enough for three people. 🙂

The bottom line is this: you can't put everything under 'control.' 😉

violent_femmes9 said:I eat from all six food groups every single day. I don't really do sweets.

That’s my philosophy!
A little bit of everything. Enough to stay fueled, but never overdoing it—just staying moderate.
Others might enjoy some treats, but they aren't mindlessly polishing off a whole box of Thin Mints while watching Netflix like I used to!