Birthday Cake

[Comfycousin1]

Silly I know... seeking reassurance.

Since my NSTEMI (and stent fitting) in December I have eaten ultra healthily and have lost 1.5 stone without even trying. I take 30 minute brisk walks daily and am feeling much much better.

My cholesterol has dropped from 4.3 to 1.1.

Yesterday I ate two pieces of cake (it was my friends birthday) and now my health anxiety has kicked in. I'm an "all or nothing" type of personality and I'm afraid I'll have increased my cholesterol or done some damage....

Any thoughts?

C

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Cholesterol levels are a reflection of your general lifestyle and genetic make up, modified by any medication you take, and small blips are unlikely to make any difference overall. So the occasional piece of cake or other naughty food will not make any difference overall in my opinion. And if it did it would only be temporary and extremely unlikely to alter your overall heart health risk. Although we are constrained by heart disease it doesn't mean we can't enjoy small pleasures from time to time, for if we didn't have them, life would become miserable. Moving on I noticed you said your cholesterol had dropped to 1.1. Is that total cholesterol? If so is your GP happy with that? My understanding is that you need some cholesterol in all its forms for the body to function properly, and 1.1 does seem exceptionally low compared to some of the minimum cholesterol requirements I have seen in the past.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

No 1.1 is the bad cholesterol. Thank you for your advice.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Comfycousin1]

Good for you. I am envious 😄

[Blackcatsooty]

don’t beat yourself up. Just Remember to have one slice next time not two. And try to be moderate not stop/go.

Your choleststerol will not change for just two slices of cake.

I can’t believe your weight loss. Magic. Well done. Fabulous.

Sooty

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

It's the first "naughty thing" I've had since December. I don't make a habit of it. No fear there.

[Blackcatsooty in reply to Comfycousin1]

Keep up the good work

Sooty

[Happyrosie]

well don’t on your weight loss, and as has already been said the odd bit of naughtiness won’t make any inference.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you

[BeKind28-]

Hello

Well done making all those changes and getting such good results that is a great cholesterol reading

I am like you my anxiety takes over at the slightest thing but have two pieces of Birthday cake as a treat will not harm you

Sometimes it is good to have a little treat now and again as long as we do not start doing it all the time it will be fine

I hope you enjoyed the cake and your friends Birthday to x

[Comfycousin1]

Thank you x

[andrew290171]

Forget about yesterday just start again today. Having a slip is ok. Don't give up giving up

[Comfycousin1 in reply to andrew290171]

Certainly not giving up. Just trying to silence my worry brain. Thank you for your reassurance.

[Still_Breathing]

Haha how big was the cake and how big was the slices 🤣I am currently in Italy and shall we say not eating what I normally would especially in the sweet department. But I am on holiday, normal service will resume next week ...

A little treat will do you good 😃

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Still_Breathing]

Yes, I understand that. It's just the tricky balance I have with Health Anxiety.... thanks for your comment. Its reassuring. Enjoy your holiday.

[peterjones105]

Since my hypertensive crisis in 2020 I have waged war on my condition but having consumed a couple of Easter eggs I am not at all concerned as I feel they are a mere blip on my health chart

[Comfycousin1]

Thank you

[DWizza]

Yes, I think you will spontaneously combust anytime now !!! 🤦🏼🤣🤣🤣.. You will be fine . ❤️❤️❤️ I’m out for my mum’s 84th birthday tonight and will have a beer , maybe two. I’ve chosen soup of the day and a Nepalese curry ( cauliflower, I’m not veggie, love curry ) with flat bread. I may even have a dessert if I have room. I am good police since having Nstemi and quadruple bypass last July and eat as healthily as possible. I make my own breads and cook meals from scratch , no bacon, ham, sausages , factory made meals , charcuterie , keep an eye on salt & sugar etc. had cholesterol readings all well below the required readings on secondary help from statin (Calculated LDL 0.7) Nutritionists at rehab said occasionally it’s absolutely fine to relax for a special occasion. I was surprised to hear that we could still eat 30g of cheese (day! ) I asked if it could be saved up and eaten in one go for the week 🤣. Not recommended apparently.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to DWizza]

Enjoy 😉

[Larneybuds]

I don't think two pieces of cake is going to be a life changer. Though obviously fantastic for all of us hearties to make the necessary lifestyle changes, life without a few naughty or indulgent moments would be pretty mundane. I wouldn't beat yourself up about it....perhaps one slice next time and you won't feel so anxious 👍😁x

[Comfycousin1]

You're right. Thank you

[Nelson71]

the odd treat won’t hurt you. It’s when you have cake every week that’s the problem. If you’re exercising every day you’ll burn that off.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Nelson71]

Thanks

[The_Voice]

life is all about moderation for us now. You didn’t eat the entire cake (hopefully). You’ll be fine.

[Comfycousin1]

Thank you.. no definitely not the whole cake.

[wischo]

No worries, I eat cake and biscuits most days and my weight is normal and LDL is 1.6. The anxiety is much worse than the diet so try and relax.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to wischo]

Health Anxiety is the worst I find. Thank you

[Qualipop]

Absolutely not; everyone needs a treat now and then. I did exactly the same as you; HA lost 2 stone without trying, just by altering my diet; cholesterol right down. It's your general lifestyle that matters not an occasional slip up. Just don't let he piece of cake become a regular thing.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Qualipop]

Definitely not.

[Shabana1974]

Hi a once in a blue moon eating something from the luxury category won't affect your health. Yes if you were doing it on a regular basis it would not be good. That's why I categories it as luxury item.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Shabana1974]

Thank you

[andrew290171]

Done really well getting cholesterol down to 1.1. couple of cakes won't make a difference

[Comfycousin1]

Thank you

[PecanSandie]

Enjoying an occasional slice of birthday cake is also very important for your health!

[Comfycousin1 in reply to PecanSandie]

Most definitely

[Oscarpebbles2021]

Very doubtful that 2 pieces of cake will change anything or should I say impossible. Well done on your healthy eating and weight loss. A little bit of a treat very seldom won't hurt you. Keeps life worth living if kept to a minimum. Don't beat yourself up

[Comfycousin1 in reply to Oscarpebbles2021]

Thank you

[valeriep]

Even my nurse at the Lipid Clinic tells me I'm allowed a treat now and again, as long as it doesn't become a regular (ie daily!) occurrence.

[Comfycousin1 in reply to valeriep]

Definitely not a regular occurrence. Thank you