Happy New Year to everyone! My best wishes to you all for attaining you goals in the coming year.

And also my most deepest sympathies to all those affected by the disaster in South Asia.

My first blog here at the BTD web site was on January 3rd of last year. I decided to go back and revisit my resolutions to see if I came near to achieving them. Hah! Not even close! The good news is I haven’t taken any steps backward.

So, here is an update on my last years resolutions.

1. Recent blood tests show my cholesterol has risen from 202 to 248 over the past two years.

Well, I did take care of that one. My naturopath and I experimented with Red Yeast Rice. It has brought my cholesterol down to just below 200 now. Unfortunately, diet alone couldn’t bring it down.

2. My glucose count rose from 99 to 113. (A1C is 5.2, so that’s okay.)

Somehow that was taken care of by the Red Yeast Rice, too. My glucose and cholesterol levels seem to go up and down together.

3. I have problems with portion control.

I haven’t completely solved that one yet. After seeing a nutritional therapist, she convinced me to start eating a meal earlier in the day. (I have never been a breakfast eater). So, now I try to have a Membrane Fluidizer cocktail with protein powder before I leave the house for the day. That has added some calories, so I am struggling to cut down my portions at the evening meal.

4. I need to quit that morning cup of coffee and go back to green tea.

I haven’t even gotten close on that one. I often have a green tea in the afternoon, but the morning coffee is still beckoning me.

5. I need more aerobic exercise.

I’m still working on that one. The problem in my S-I joint is still there, so once or twice a week is max for me right now. I’m working with a physical therapist on the problem. But, I have added Yoga to my exercise playbill. I try to do that once or twice a week along with my Pilates sessions two to three times a week.

6. My blood pressure is too high.

That’s been pretty good lately, too. I take a naturopathic supplement with rowolfia in it. It is a CNS suppressant and works well. I’d like not to take it. My blood pressure is always higher at work. So, until I can figure out how not to work and still make a living, I will probably have to take the supplement.

7. I have eight more pounds to lose to get to “wedding weight”.

I still have eight more pounds to lose to get to wedding weight. Guess I’ll have to keep working on that one.



So, all in all, I guess I didn’t do too badly. I didn’t get any worse. I wish I could cure all my problems through diet. Striving for 100% compliance should be my goal for the coming year. I’m not sure I’m ready to make that commitment yet. I’m not ready to lay all those guilt trips on myself. Life is too short.