In the past, I have dieted to lose a few pounds. Now, I find myself in a different situation.
Like many people, we indulged over the holidays. That continued into the first days of January when we vacationed in San Miguel de Allende. The hotel is home to my favorite brunch of all time, so lots of eating took place.
When we returned home, we embarked on a healthy eating journey in the form of a soup diet. The concept is simple. I have been making a healthy, from scratch soup at the start of each week. My husband and I eat the soup for dinner for five nights. Usually, we have pizza with friends one night and go out another night.
The soups on the menu have included Roasted Tomato, Poblano Corn Chowder with Roasted Chicken (made without cream), Chicken Chili, Lemon Chicken with Rice, and Chicken Soup with Pureed Butternut Squash.
A sign that this healthy reset has been a success? Charles wore jeans that hadn't fit him in years when we went to dinner over the weekend. I have noticed some weight loss as well. I was feeling great when I went to the doctor for a check-up last week.
I was shocked when I received a message from my doctor: my bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) is high. I have been instructed to go on a low-carb, low-fat diet.
The thing is, my eating habits are usually pretty good. I never eat fast food, sodas, or junk food - the first foods you are told to cut back on when you have high cholesterol. Plus, I work out 3-4 times a week. My issue seems to be more rooted in genetics than my diet.
Luckily, my LDL cholesterol isn't very high. I am just a few points over the threshold. The doctor told me to adjust my diet and to retest in two or three months.
So, the soup diet will continue with a focus on including beans, which are rich in fiber and can help lower LDL cholesterol. Pureeing white beans (like butter or cannellini) is my favorite way to thicken a soup and to add creaminess without cream.
Oats are another food that I am adding to my diet since they are loaded with soluble fiber. I found that oats top of the lists of best foods to add to your diet to lower LDL cholesterol. I started to make batches of overnight oats. I also add chia seeds, another food that helps with cholesterol.
For lunch I made a big batch of my favorite salad, a Shopska Salad. Sometimes I eat it as is, and sometimes, I add chopped lettuce, toasted chick peas, and a scoop of tzatziki.
I am hoping that these changes can get my cholesterol in check. My favorite foods are wine, cheese, pasta, and tacos. While I won't be cutting them out completely, I need to focus on eating some healthier (for me) foods. Following a diet 80% of the time is much better than never following one.
I'll share an update after my next checkup at the end of April.