Debt Dumpers 2025

[disney-inspired]

I got blood work done Friday to check my cholesterol per my cardiologists order. My overall cholesterol was good. However, my bad was pretty high. By good was at the very low end of good. So looks like I'll be changing my diet up. I don't like chicken or seafood (and DW doesn't want seafood cooked in the house because it smells up the house for days). Right now, we're doing a lot of tuna, a lot of canned chicken. Doc took me off of cereals all together. I used to eat a bowl of cereal for supper. She said the absolute worst thing you cant. She said no more, effective immediately. So it's more nuts (pecans, cashews, peanuts, peanut butter), more fruits and veggies (I already eat quite a few, but DW doesn't like them at all) and more exercise (again, DW doesn't like it when I exercise because it makes me smell nasty and it means I have to shower more and waste more water). But I will continue to do so. Test again in 6 months.

I just need to say showering more because of exercise is not wasting water. I would hope your DW would be more supportive for improving your overall health.
I'm not sure why cereal is bad for cholesterol - thought it was good if it's high in fiber? Scholarly journals agree too https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10509768/

 

[Sheree]

I just need to say showering more because of exercise is not wasting water. I would hope your DW would be more supportive for improving your overall health.
I'm not sure why cereal is bad for cholesterol - thought it was good if it's high in fiber? Scholarly journals agree too https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10509768/

depends on kind of cereal? cheerios is good.
is water not included in your rent? even iff not, ...

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

depends on kind of cereal? cheerios is good.
is water not included in your rent? even iff not, ...

No, the only thing covered is actual rent. We pay water, electric and anything else. If our fridge goes out, we replace it. Etc.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I got blood work done Friday to check my cholesterol per my cardiologists order. My overall cholesterol was good. However, my bad was pretty high. By good was at the very low end of good. So looks like I'll be changing my diet up. I don't like chicken or seafood (and DW doesn't want seafood cooked in the house because it smells up the house for days). Right now, we're doing a lot of tuna, a lot of canned chicken. Doc took me off of cereals all together. I used to eat a bowl of cereal for supper. She said the absolute worst thing you cant. She said no more, effective immediately. So it's more nuts (pecans, cashews, peanuts, peanut butter), more fruits and veggies (I already eat quite a few, but DW doesn't like them at all) and more exercise (again, DW doesn't like it when I exercise because it makes me smell nasty and it means I have to shower more and waste more water). But I will continue to do so. Test again in 6 months.

Your wife sounds like a very selfish person. Everything is about what she wants. She doesn’t care if you are poor and unhealthy as long as she is happy.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I asked my doctor about that because I eat a lot of cheerios and raisin bran. She said no and no. Highly processed and lots of sugar. That's why she wanted me to stop immediately. Trying to cut back my processed intake.

depends on kind of cereal? cheerios is good.
is water not included in your rent? even iff not, ...

 

[afan]

I asked my doctor about that because I eat a lot of cheerios and raisin bran. She said no and no. Highly processed and lots of sugar. That's why she wanted me to stop immediately. Trying to cut back my processed intake.

As someone that eats cheerios for breakfast daily and stopped adding sugar almost 10 years ago, it's never affected my cholesterol from what I can tell. I have family history so it's always been an issue, though my good being high is what pushed it into the bad total cholesterol. My bad was still high but manageable.

The only thing that has helped has been cutting out most meat. I limit myself to chicken and beef once a week each and some weeks have none. I do eat tuna but no more than once a week because I don't want it more. I do this on vacation as best I can, some places are easier than others. I don't use a trip as a reason to stray from the low meat thing because it's easy to fall back into habits like that.

I eat eggs, use butter and eat the best I can for the foods I like. I'm not big on fruits and veggies, but eat what I do like. But cutting out almost all meat is the only thing that has significantly changed my bad cholesterol.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

As someone that eats cheerios for breakfast daily and stopped adding sugar almost 10 years ago, it's never affected my cholesterol from what I can tell. I have family history so it's always been an issue, though my good being high is what pushed it into the bad total cholesterol. My bad was still high but manageable.

The only thing that has helped has been cutting out most meat. I limit myself to chicken and beef once a week each and some weeks have none. I do eat tuna but no more than once a week because I don't want it more. I do this on vacation as best I can, some places are easier than others. I don't use a trip as a reason to stray from the low meat thing because it's easy to fall back into habits like that.

I eat eggs, use butter and eat the best I can for the foods I like. I'm not big on fruits and veggies, but eat what I do like. But cutting out almost all meat is the only thing that has significantly changed my bad cholesterol.

Thanks for this. So what do you eat for your centerpoint in the meal if there's no meat? I can't imagine not eating meat at a meal. How are you getting your protein? I do eat tuna a couple of times a week for lunch. I usually 2 cans each time (I was at eating one per, but my doctor suggested I up it to 2 in order to get more protein). My big thing is going to be beef and doing away with it. I like beef. Not big on chicken or fish. My coworker eats a roast every meal of the week (he's on the carnivore diet) and never has issues. I like to eat fruits and veggies (had a muffin, some berries and a banana for breakfast this morning as a matter of fact). It's just stuff I have to change. I will change it slowly per my mom's suggestion. She said it will make it easier to stick with it, and my body will adjust better that way.

 

[afan]

Thanks for this. So what do you eat for your centerpoint in the meal if there's no meat? I can't imagine not eating meat at a meal. How are you getting your protein? I do eat tuna a couple of times a week for lunch. I usually 2 cans each time (I was at eating one per, but my doctor suggested I up it to 2 in order to get more protein). My big thing is going to be beef and doing away with it. I like beef. Not big on chicken or fish. My coworker eats a roast every meal of the week (he's on the carnivore diet) and never has issues. I like to eat fruits and veggies (had a muffin, some berries and a banana for breakfast this morning as a matter of fact). It's just stuff I have to change. I will change it slowly per my mom's suggestion. She said it will make it easier to stick with it, and my body will adjust better that way.

It's not just what you it that affects cholesterol, it's genetics, how active you are, weight etc. Some people have really good genes and can eat whatever. Your coworker could be quite active, he may not be going to the doctor or may not be sharing if he is having issues. A carnivore diet, in the end, isn't healthy, we should all be eating some type of plant whether it's fruits, veggies or both.

I don't get enough protein or fiber. I'd imagine most people don't for various reasons. My diet, aside from the low meat thing, isn't something that should be replicated cause it's not good. I eat a lot of carbs which for lots of people isn't helpful. I can't eat things that I don't like either due to taste or texture so beans are out. I go through phases where I'll eat nuts but I get tired of them and move on.

Three to four days.a week I have a salad for dinner but that salad is just iceberg lettuce, some cheddar cheese, a hard boiled egg, croutons and fat free ranch. It's an excuse to eat ranch and it keeps the calories down but aside from the egg really isn't that healthy. I often have just bread and butter for a meal or plain saltines (yes they have flavor on their own )

Greek yogurt is good for protein. Rather than buy it with fruit I buy vanilla and add about a tbsp of strawberry preserves to cut the tartness. Tastes better than the strawberry yogurt.

I still eat m&ms, mostly in moderation, and drink a coke with my cheeze its for a morning snack. I drink water the rest of the time. I've never smoked, very rarely do I drink so coke and m&ms are the two things I won't give up. I have in the past but I always end up craving them. I just need to work on the moderation with chocolate

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

It's not just what you it that affects cholesterol, it's genetics, how active you are, weight etc. Some people have really good genes and can eat whatever. Your coworker could be quite active, he may not be going to the doctor or may not be sharing if he is having issues. A carnivore diet, in the end, isn't healthy, we should all be eating some type of plant whether it's fruits, veggies or both.

I don't get enough protein or fiber. I'd imagine most people don't for various reasons. My diet, aside from the low meat thing, isn't something that should be replicated cause it's not good. I eat a lot of carbs which for lots of people isn't helpful. I can't eat things that I don't like either due to taste or texture so beans are out. I go through phases where I'll eat nuts but I get tired of them and move on.

Three to four days.a week I have a salad for dinner but that salad is just iceberg lettuce, some cheddar cheese, a hard boiled egg, croutons and fat free ranch. It's an excuse to eat ranch and it keeps the calories down but aside from the egg really isn't that healthy. I often have just bread and butter for a meal or plain saltines (yes they have flavor on their own )

Greek yogurt is good for protein. Rather than buy it with fruit I buy vanilla and add about a tbsp of strawberry preserves to cut the tartness. Tastes better than the strawberry yogurt.

I still eat m&ms, mostly in moderation, and drink a coke with my cheeze its for a morning snack. I drink water the rest of the time. I've never smoked, very rarely do I drink so coke and m&ms are the two things I won't give up. I have in the past but I always end up craving them. I just need to work on the moderation with chocolate

Ah ok. It all makes sense.

As far as my self, I am not very active. Exercise is one of the things my doc wants me to do more of, however, I get ridiculed by my SO whenever I do exercise (you smell nasty, you're sweating, you're going to waste water showering a second time a day, I don't want to have to dry my hair every day, yada, yada). So I'll go through spurts of walking for 20 minutes for a few weeks, then I'll fall off. But I want to try and stay on track. With it being dark by the time I get home, I've got to find something else. Last night, I went on YT and searched for easy at home workout no equipment. I was sweating, and my heart was pumping by the end. I really liked it even though it was a little much.

As far as my coworker, he's an old military guy. He runs miles and miles a day/week and carries a 40 pound weighted vest when he runs. He said he usually does 10 miles on Sundays. He's lost like 225 pounds since he started it 2-1/2 years ago. Crazy amount.

I'm trying to find ways to adjust my diet. For instance, I had a small side salad with tomatoes (never get tomatoes on it) with honey mustard, a can of tuna and some raisins. I also got some dark chocolate hershey nuggets that have almonds in the middle as well as a jar of peanuts. So those will be snacks going forward. Not sure what we'll do for suppers. Might keep on doing canned chicken because doc said that'd be okay. But got to cut other stuff. And my SO doesn't like veggies or fruits at all. I had a muffin and fruit for breakfast, and I'll have some veggies for supper too. All the while SO will eat whatever she wants. I do still want to drink a sweet tea for lunch every day. But that's the only sweet tea I drink. Rest of the time, it's water, and I don't drink sodas. So I figured a Chickfila sweet tea a day isn't going to hurt. Finally, I've never smoked, never done drugs, never drank alcohol.

As you said, it's all about moderation. Even with the bad stuff, it's all about moderation.

 

[piglet1979]

Thanks for this. So what do you eat for your centerpoint in the meal if there's no meat? I can't imagine not eating meat at a meal. How are you getting your protein? I do eat tuna a couple of times a week for lunch. I usually 2 cans each time (I was at eating one per, but my doctor suggested I up it to 2 in order to get more protein). My big thing is going to be beef and doing away with it. I like beef. Not big on chicken or fish. My coworker eats a roast every meal of the week (he's on the carnivore diet) and never has issues. I like to eat fruits and veggies (had a muffin, some berries and a banana for breakfast this morning as a matter of fact). It's just stuff I have to change. I will change it slowly per my mom's suggestion. She said it will make it easier to stick with it, and my body will adjust better that way.

Ah ok. It all makes sense.

As far as my self, I am not very active. Exercise is one of the things my doc wants me to do more of, however, I get ridiculed by my SO whenever I do exercise (you smell nasty, you're sweating, you're going to waste water showering a second time a day, I don't want to have to dry my hair every day, yada, yada). So I'll go through spurts of walking for 20 minutes for a few weeks, then I'll fall off. But I want to try and stay on track. With it being dark by the time I get home, I've got to find something else. Last night, I went on YT and searched for easy at home workout no equipment. I was sweating, and my heart was pumping by the end. I really liked it even though it was a little much.

As far as my coworker, he's an old military guy. He runs miles and miles a day/week and carries a 40 pound weighted vest when he runs. He said he usually does 10 miles on Sundays. He's lost like 225 pounds since he started it 2-1/2 years ago. Crazy amount.

I'm trying to find ways to adjust my diet. For instance, I had a small side salad with tomatoes (never get tomatoes on it) with honey mustard, a can of tuna and some raisins. I also got some dark chocolate hershey nuggets that have almonds in the middle as well as a jar of peanuts. So those will be snacks going forward. Not sure what we'll do for suppers. Might keep on doing canned chicken because doc said that'd be okay. But got to cut other stuff. And my SO doesn't like veggies or fruits at all. I had a muffin and fruit for breakfast, and I'll have some veggies for supper too. All the while SO will eat whatever she wants. I do still want to drink a sweet tea for lunch every day. But that's the only sweet tea I drink. Rest of the time, it's water, and I don't drink sodas. So I figured a Chickfila sweet tea a day isn't going to hurt. Finally, I've never smoked, never done drugs, never drank alcohol.

As you said, it's all about moderation. Even with the bad stuff, it's all about moderation.

I had high cholesterol for awhile. I was told to cut out processed foods. I am not great at this but we stopped buying things we can make from scratch and started cooking from scratch instead. So instead of buying a box of scalloped potatoes we made them home made. I also started walking a lot more. I try to get 30-60 minutes of walking a day. Some days are better than others but I try to keep with it. Each year after, my cholesterol came down some and this past year was the first year since sometime before 2020 that it was back in the normal range. We will see in the spring what mine is now. It has been an extremely rough year emotionally and I didn't make great choices with food.

You also need to do what is best for you. If you want to work out to make yourself healthier then you should do it.

 

[barkley]

I can't eat things that I don't like either due to taste or texture so beans are out.

my youngest is very similar to you re. taste/texture. have you ever tried lentils in place of beans? the madras brand of lentils is very creamy and my youngest uses them as a means to increase his protean intake.

For instance, I had a small side salad with tomatoes (never get tomatoes on it) with honey mustard,

I also got some dark chocolate hershey nuggets that have almonds in the middle as well as a jar of peanuts

if you eat salads one way to increase your nut consumption w/ one that both lowers your cholesterol and blocks the body from absorbing as much from other sources is to add a sprinkling of sunflower seeds. I buy and keep them fresh in the freezer (they last for months)-just sprinkle them on as you would croutons.

 

[disney-inspired]

I asked my doctor about that because I eat a lot of cheerios and raisin bran. She said no and no. Highly processed and lots of sugar. That's why she wanted me to stop immediately. Trying to cut back my processed intake.

There is wholegrain cheerios w/o the sugar - so that one should be ok. I think they're called heart healthy.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

There is wholegrain cheerios w/o the sugar - so that one should be ok. I think they're called heart healthy.

Thank you. I will check them out and see if they're processed. That's the main thing she's wanting me to cut out.

 

[FreeTime]

Thank you. I will check them out and see if they're processed. That's the main thing she's wanting me to cut out.

They are processed.

 

[FreeTime]

@WDW_fan_in_TX Be sure to check the sodium content on the canned chicken or you could be opening yourself to a new problem. Concerning your SO maybe suggest you do healthy things together, perhaps in disguise. Like, “let’s walk around the park for a date today.” You both benefit from together time and a healthy choice.

I have to say though he being unsupportive of you sweating, etc. is worrisome. Do you know the root cause of this? Does she have issues with her weight, for example, and doesn’t want you to do well as a result? Also, I would cut down on the fun money budget that you mentioned you each have and use it to pay for good life style choices (supportive walking shoes, increase in water bill, etc).

 

[Bellex917]

@WDW_fan_in_TX

I have to say though he being unsupportive of you sweating, etc. is worrisome. Do you know the root cause of this? Does she have issues with her weight, for example, and doesn’t want you to do well as a result? Also, I would cut down on the fun money budget that you mentioned you each have and use it to pay for good life style choices (supportive walking shoes, increase in water bill, etc).

This has to be it. I know that when we (anyone) aren't doing something "right" it can be hard to watch others succeed in those areas. I feel like it has to be she is concerned with her own weight and doesn't want to do the work, so doesn't want you to either. It's the ONLY thing that makes sense to me.

You're going to do what you're going to do, but a partner should be a support. Someone who doesn't want to save money, stop spending, get on track with your finances, let you workout, let you eat healthier, or let you... shower?!?!?! That's not a supportive partner.

 

[Tygerlilly]

I'm going to be very direct here: your wife is an AH. She's literally sabotaging EVERYTHING you keep working towards to better your life. It's literally emotional manipulation and abuse. I've been there and you'll never achieve what you're working on unless you either go to counseling together or split. Refusing to try and get financially stable? Red flag. Refusing to let you make meals because "the house will smell"? Open a window and light a candle. Using too much water because you need a shower after "sweating and smelling"? Get the eff out of here with that. Your water bill isn't going to increase THAT much by taking another shower.

I just can't handle seeing how awful you're allowing her to treat you and STRONGLY look into some kind of counseling.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I must admit that when my time for annual mammograms ends, I will be paying privately to have annual ones in between. They cost the equivalent of about $300 and it feels like money well spent!

The last radiographer I saw (one morning I looked down at my boob and I had a massive dimple. I was seeing my oncologist that day, he agreed it didn't look right and booked me in for a mammogram the following day) was able to do both mammograms and ultrasounds and he decided to do both to make sure he was really happy. It was just surgery settlement basically. The needle biopsy I had in the inital ultrasound was quite painful - I can't imagine that being done whilst I was being squashed in a mammogram machine. I am really quite well endowed, I always marvel at how mammograms are done on the more flat chested among us.

I agree it is money well spent. Of all the silly things in life we spend money on, the things for our health and peace of mind are well worth it. Our dental insurance only covers 2 cleanings/exams per year but by 6 months later, my teeth feel gross, despite brushing 2x/day, flossing every night and using a fluoride rinse as my last step before bed. So several years ago I started going every 4 months and pay about $120 for the 3rd visit. My teeth need to last a lifetime so it's worth it to me. Also they never really get bad so she doen't have to pick and scrape so much. I got the idea from our previous, now retired dentist, when our kids were in braces and not doing such a great job of cleaning their teeth. Sure beats having to have braces temporarily removed to fill cavities then put back on.

I always joke with my patients, "In here, size doesn't matter."
Some are like not much more than the skin I can pull on the back of my hand and others spill over both sides. It's all good. We get good pictures on everyone, and we do men too. Never feel self concious about size. All we care about is getting good quality pictures with as minimal discomfort as possible, and people getting happy news. That last part is beyond our control.

May I ask, do you have red hair? Many people with red hair are very resistant to local anesthetic and often need much more than others do with different hair colors. We didn't learn this in school but more than one of my patients with red hair have told me this. The human body is amazing.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I debated the preventative double mastectomy, and if I had had the BRCA gene it would have definitely been done, but I would have still needed chemo and radio to make sure any random dregs were mopped up so it seemed sensible to keep the surgery as small as possible. Especially as I have very bleedy blood (not a medical term but you get what I mean) and nearly bled out during my hysterectomy and don't react well to anaesthetics so they don't really want me under for longer than needed.

I’ve had to have 2 stereotactic breast biopsies

That will be money well spent for peace of mind. I had a preventative mastectomy on the good side and it was completely worth it for me. I do not want to go through chemo and radiation again unless absolutely necessary.

My sister opted for a double though she didn't have to and didn't have the gene but she has a lot of anxiety. It's a lifetime of follow up so you have to do what works for you. For my sister, it was a good decision.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you. I will check them out and see if they're processed. That's the main thing she's wanting me to cut out.

Anything that comes in a box is processed.