25 and High Cholesterol

Hi everybody!

I’m a 25 year old male who used to be fit as fit could be (played football and wrestled in High School…Played Rugby in College). I’ve been married for 3 years and since that time I have gained about 40 lbs…. in three years! I’m not proud of it at all, but at the same time, I earned it. I’ve done little to nothing since then. I work behind a desk all day and sit on the couch with a laptop on my legs at night.

I joined Gyminee about two weeks ago after a Dr’s visit where I had my blood checked (I’m moving overseas in August). The results proved my unfitness in that I had a cholesterol level of 286 (again as a 25 yr old). High blood pressure and high cholesterol run in my family so I’ve decided to do something about it while I’m still alive.

Since joining two weeks ago I’ve lost over 10 lbs and still have another 10 to go before finding a normal BMI. I’d love to meet some new people around here and have someone to share with as I keep on keeping on…

Congratulations on the recent weight loss. What was your LDL reading?

I have recently found out that I have high cholesterol. (211 with high LDL). Doc says that it is attributable to family history as I am in good physical shape, and that I will probably have to start taking meds, which I am opposed.

Hey there! First off, congrats on your progress so far. That’s great! I can relate to your struggle. Thanks to family history and a natural predeliction for high cholesterol my number has hovered between 220 (my best) and 241 since high school (when I first had it checked), even as high as 256 at one point. I have found when I am really diligent about excercise, it does make a difference. As far as nutrition goes, I avoid red meat as much as I can and I eat oatmeal, almonds and OJ with plant sterols every day to keep the numbers down. I have found it really works. My ‘good’ cholesterol and triglycerides are good as a result. My number went down about 7 points in 6 weeks just drinking the OJ with plant sterols (Minute Maid Heartwise) alone. My doctor and all the articles I have read on the subject essentially say that anyone with high cholesterol does best on a Mediterranean diet, avoiding all animal-based fats (esp. red meat, butter and full fat dairy), in favor of nuts, olive oil, lean meats and seafood and of course lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Just take it one step at a time, maybe starting with something that will make the most difference in the short-term, like eating oatmeal every day. Good luck and feel free to add me as a buddy if you’d like. It’s nice to talk to someone in the same boat. :)

I’m 26 and had the same problem. I’m happy to hear you are getting the weight off and hopefully the blood work will show the progress on your next follow up.

I just wanted to share one thing that helped me (which is not part of the standard high cholesterol information packet you might get): cut out unfiltered coffee, i.e. french press, espressos, lattes. I found out that unfiltered coffee has oils in it, called kahweol and cafestol, that elevate you cholesterol. So if you drink tons of Starbucks, I say switch to the daily brew. Paper filters will filter these substances out.

Goo luck and keep up the good work!

Good point! I found the same thing to be true. I used to drink almost a whole pot of french press coffee every day, and after going in for 6-month follow-up bloodwork, I found out my cholesterol was at its most high (256). Ironically about a week later, I read an article in a health mag that said studies were finding french press coffee to elevate cholesterol levels.

You can also try ‘Red Yeast Rice.’ It lowered my cholesterol, however I don’t remember the before/after numbers. Combine that with proper diet and exercise and you should be good to go.

Hello again! Just wanted to give what I hope will be an inspiring update. I just returned from a six-month cholesterol check and my number dropped from 241 to 197! I have been jogging quite a bit and eating as clean as I can — mostly lowfat, whole foods, no fast food and little read meat. With a family history of heart disease my Dr. was going to put me on meds if it didn’t improve, so we’re both very happy. I have had high cholesterol as far back as high school and having a number under 200 was something I thought I’d never see. So I’m living proof it can be done naturally!

Great news! Congratulations on making such a dramatic change! I’m so glad to hear you were able to avoid the statins with a greater focus on diet and exercise.

I can TOTALLY relate! I was 24… 25? when I was first checked, and my cholesterol was through the roof… 290. Ouch. And I was biking 6 miles a day and eating like a rabbit! obviously it’s genetic but I’m going to do what I can to take care of it.

I take statins every day… I’ve gotten rather sedentary in the year or two since I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. I have my numbers down to around 240 (which is great progress, since it was 320 (!!!!) the time I had it tested before that), and hopefully falling further. It’s scary to think if I don’t take care of myself, and take my meds, I could have a heart attack and die before I’m 60 (it happened to my maternal grandfather. scary!)

So here’s to working out and keeping healthy!

Hello I hope your health battle is being won each and ever day.Diet and exercise are great to help you.If you are really being consistent with these two main principles , please be honest with yourself on this.Of course if you are consistant with this I would like to suggest supplementing with Garlic tablets.Kyoloic is the best brand to get you can buy at any health food store.I take four tablets three times a day.Dont worry these are oderless so no smelly breath.I had open heart surgery when I was eight years old.I didnt eat well or take care of myself until about threeyears ago.The brand does matter because of the way the garlic is procesed.Kyolic is cold prosssed and still retains all of the alacin in it.With diet, exercise, and Garlic supplemetation I havent been sick in over ten years.I have no bad cholesterol, and my good cholesterol is very strong.Heart disease, cancer, diabites,high cholesterol and arthritis all run in my family.You can do anything you set your mind to.
good luck!

Exercise coupled with a diet rich in wholefoods and devoid of animal products will drop your cholesterol through the floor.

I used Lipitor for lowering cholesterol and it helped. Check it here http://www.lipisite.com

You’re so young – try to get the cholesterol down without the statins and other drugs – it is TOTALLY doable with proper diet and supplements. Get a copy of “What your Doctor May Not Tell You about Cholesterol” by Dr DeVries – it’s $6 on amazon right now, so you can hardly beat that deal! My husband was diagnosed with high cholesterol a few years ago (age 30 at the time), and he was able to drop his cholesterol 100 points in 6 months by following the advice in this book. Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doctor-Tell-Abo…