The results are in. Six months of playing video games, I hit my goal. Granted the last three were due to illness (what was that phrase in that movie – “I’m just one stomach flu away from my goal weight!”), but I did it. I hit 195 – for a grand total of right at 35 pounds lost in six months.
It was with pride that I made my way into the Dr’s office for a checkup. The visit was to get some meds as I was not feeling well, but I figured while I was there I would ask – nay – insist that they do a blood test. I was of course a Wii Fit evangelist when talking to everyone on staff and explaining the recent loss in weight since the last visit. The looks of amazement and envy were worth it. It made it better to tell them how much fun it was. . .
The blood test results came in the other day, and the nurse explained to my wife that it was bad news. Apparently my HDL (the “GOOD” cholesterol) was actually lower, but the BAD cholesterol had made a huge drop. So now the ratio was all screwy and that’s not good as it puts me in some percentile risk for some heart disease or something. Or was it that there was a .4% increased chance I would be struck by lightning? Can’t remember.
In any case, when my wife asked what could be done to remedy this drastic situation, the nurse responded with those words we all fear. “He is going to have to change his diet.”
I have to eat foods that will improve HDL. And thus began the research.
Apparently, I am going to have to force myself to eat more dark chocolate.
Red Wine is a must. At least 1 to 2 drinks a day is a good start.
More flax seed. More Orange Juice. More Walnuts. And I have to start exercising.
My wife calls it… the “are you kidding me !?!” diet. I call it – “suffering, with style.”
And being the over-achiever that I am with regards to the exercise, I am finding that red wine can certainly improve more than just the HDL.
So basically, more video games, more wine, more chocolate.
Life can be so hard.