Well it's been about 5 months since my 3x and stent & I am hoping to get back to work next month.
I still have the painful shoulders and going for an X-ray next week- as these steroid injections didn't really help - otherwise I feel great, out walking everyday and enjoying my new life and appreciating every thing around me more.
But, yeah! there is a but ! - I am still having difficulties with my food - I am trying my best not to eat the chips and the sausages and HP sauce - but it happens & eating the crisps and chocolate - I have stopped smoking, been 5 months now- after smoking for 40 years - and I tend to eat a wee bit more and little snacks at night time -
I have read and read on the internet about the food that isn't good for me- and that is the food I like - it's not easy at all.
Need some help and advice on the food I should be eating and what food I should avoid - plus is there any good cholesterol testing machines out there ?
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Allan007
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Well done in stopping smoking but it is a well known fact that for those that stop smoking we can turn to food for a bit which if you have no heart issues is ok but when you have not so ok but don't beat yourself up over it
I like naughty foods but I have tried to make changes like crisps getting a better option such as French fries or quavers still not perfect but better
If I fancy what I now call a fry up I get those 1% fat turkey rashers not as tasty as bacon but they do the job , poach an egg , baked beans , grilled mushrooms , grilled tomatoes and a slice of toast it still feels like a fry up but not as bad
Sausages are high in fat etc but sometimes if you can take to them the Vegan one's can be better and trying to aim eventually to having sausage just once a month and if you have 2 sausages try and just have one
Smaller portions to I have cut my portion sizes down by half
So sometimes it can be about looking for healthier options on what you like and just having them as a treat
I gave up salt , I never thought I would even though I always had low salt , so I started putting pepper on my food instead and now if I taste salt it is so strong I cannot stand it so eventually it can be hard giving up things but also you soon realise the things you thought you liked were not that nice after all
This is something you can work on and every small change you make is a step closer so maybe pick a couple of things to start with that you will stop and then build on that as time goes on
But you have done so well you should feel so proud
Your Doctor should give you regular cholesterol blood tests and if you are taking Statins then they should be helping to keep it under control
If it has been a while since you have had your cholesterol tested ask your surgery if you can have a blood test done they should let you
Good luck with going back to work and let us know how you get on x
You should be following a Mediterranean diet as recommended by the BHF. Lots online but MichaelJH and others have recommended some good cookery books. I brought one MichaelJH recommended. It's by Robin Ellis (Poldark Version 1). I will post the title when I find it.
"it can be hard giving up things but also you soon realise the things you thought you liked were not that nice after all" I agree with Hidden on this, and there have been studies that have shown this effect.
It's a bit like........long time smoker gives up for a week before giving in to temptation..........that 1st cigarette after a week without tastes different (absolutely foul).
If you've managed to give up the cigarettes, you'll give up the bad food. Well done.
Your problem is very real. It's easy to say "You should eat this and this, and not that and that," but I think we all know it's not that simple. I try not to have snacky foods in the house, but I buy a good dark chocolate, 70% +cocoa, and just have 2 squares at a time.The Mediterranean diet is the best way to eat, can you try to ration chips and sausages to once a week? Adding more veg to your diet, and oily fish will help. The BHF website has lots of good recipes.
Best of luck, and well done for giving up smoking.
Firstly take a minute to congratulate yourself on stopping smoking and starting to exercise more.I started a thread on here a week or so ago asking about the Mediterranean diet as it was recommended by my doctor, there were some excellent suggestions on there.
It isn't easy to stop eating and enjoying food you've been eating for decades but it is possible, if you find a magic method though please let me know.
The one thing I find essential is that you need to be organised and get the food ready.
You are doing a fabulous job so make sure as well as admonishing yourself for what you haven't done take time to give yourself a pat on the back for what you have achieved.
Allan I agree with Heather. The smoking is a massive step. I’m 6 months a non smoker I still miss it but know my HA shocked me into stopping. Food-wise there is some really good advice here from others. Take it a step at a time and don’t beat yourself up. And remember you’re not alone. Take care and good luck. Chris
Well done for giving up the ciggies.I had my bypass 4 years come April and when I went to rehab the nurse was lecturing us about diets.I said it took 60 years for my arteries to clog up eating all this so called crap,now they are fixed.So if it takes another 60 years I'll be very happy.I exercise every day.Sometimes twice a day,don't smoke,but I eat and drink what I like.Quality not quantity.Good luck to you all.x
I had four stent's three years ago and when I went to rehab I asked if I should go on a special diet and the male nurse said why, it took you 59 years to get here, we have corrected your blockage, I'm on meds including stations my cholesterol is 2.9
Congratulations on tbe smoking .. that is the main thing .. eat plenty of veg and stop worrying too much .. enjoy those chips and chocolate::))Good health to you
You have to ask yourself a question, do you place any value your health and do you want to stay alive for long? Or are you going to continue being a slave to your foolish habits? This is a simple question of intelidence. Smart people get away from processed food and start cooking proper food.
Stopping smoking and exercising does show you are not a complete idiot, so now move on to the next stage...or be like the rest of your mates and let your stomach put you back in hospital.
"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me"...I was going to quote George Bush's version...
It does take effort, because there is so much junk food available everywhere, the food industry has us by the groonies and we all have to fight them.
So Mr Bond are you a man or a mouse....?
Dear Allan007
Hello to you,
The main reason why we fail on so many habits is our relationship with that habit.
When and what we eat triggers all sorts of feelings, be that feelings of comfort or guilt.
When I say eat you can replace that with smoking, drinking, exercise or anything else that you feel you should change.
And it has to be about what you feel needs to change, not others telling or advising you.
Having said that who doesn’t need a pat on the back?
I send you a massive ones, one, for being a survivor, one, for stopping the fags { God I still want one } one, getting into the mind set of returning to work.
You sir are a star, and if you need a bag of crisps for now, so what, tomorrow or the day after you won’t.
Good luck with everything, continue living your life, you can tweak it later.
Hi, a couple of points that might help… you do I have to look at diet and exercise… I have lost kilos & look at red amber green traffic lights on food labels. I choose only green or 2 amber 2 greentry m&s chunky chips … 4 greens and also look at vegetarian food eg quorn or Linda mcartney for sausages… it tastes great but don’t get me wrong we still go out for meals and am sensible with the menu. Also takeaways … look at Thai noodles if you like that. Full English … veggie sausages and bacon tastes great. I wasn’t always a veggie and a bacon sarnie smell is still the best in the world! Give it a try
HUGE congratulations on stopping smoking. If you can do that, you can do anything. It's not about cutting things out but about swapping them for healthier options. I had a crisp habit, now changed to one cheesy oatcake when I fancy something savoury; oranges instead of sweets; one piece of very strong dark chocolate instead of a mars bar. I Lost 2 stone after my heart attack without even trying or thinking about it just by choosing low fat meat, quorn instead of mince ( My husband still doesn't know), packing each meal with veg and grilling instead of frying. I also swapped vegetable oil for the best rape seed oil or olive oil. Yes I still have an occasional bag of crisps ( those in the 6 packs are smaller). Yes I had some Christmas cake- just not every day and I keep my hands busy on an evening when I'd be tempted to snack by doing hobbies.
Thank you every one for the positive feedback and the support - and the next time I do my shopping, my shopping basket will be different - giving up the cigarettes' has been easy for me - but a little bit harder to change or stop my eating habits - baby steps are needed !!!
Hi 007, nothing to add to all the great replies here. Only that you have done brilliantly in giving up smoking. Do look at the Vegan section in the supermarket. Some of the ‘free from’ products are also worth a try. Take care, be kind to yourself and as you said baby steps’ and give yourself a pat on the back! Judi
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I am not ungrateful but ......
Decreased appetite since heart attack
Angioplasty at age 28
What to eat
statins and help 
