Yea, I think she is very enlightened, so much so that now both my DD18 and my mom are also patients of this internist.
I also liked that when she laid it out that if I did not lower my cholesterol, I was going to have to start taking meds. Further she was very specific that if I lost weight, it might be possible for me to lower the cholesterol naturally, without meds. She said I could use any diet, but suggested Ideal Protein, and described in detail how much better she and her husband and I thin her BIL felt after losing weight and then spacing out the carbs. She even related a story about a trip she and her DH took to San Francisco to the wineries. After eating and drinking, they would return to their hotel room day after day feeling exhausted with no energy. It finally dawned on them that the change in their diet was the culprit.
I found that story fascinating and worth going on the same diet. It helped that the "coach" she recommended has an office about 5 minutes from mine and she was willing to schedule my weekly visits mid morning so I could avoid traffic and drop in. She is organized, you email your order before hand so your foods are bagged up. She weighs and measures you, checks your food diary, answers questions, all in 1 15 minute period. If you have more questions between visits, you email her and she responds right away.
I found it convenient. Also, even though I took several trips during the early phase of the diet, I was able to keep my momentum going. I think it is designed more for people who have 20 pounds or more to lose, not for smaller amounts. It also was pricey, but I decided it was a an investment in my health. The most expensive part was having to buy all new clothes! That part was also the most fun part!
It has also inspired my DH to try and and keep his weight down. He is not a veggie fan so this diet does not work for him but he is more savvy about watching the carbs.
I find the pale diet very interesting as well. I think I could do that.
I have had a lot of comments from people saying i will not be able to maintain my weight loss. They may be right in the long run, who knows. But I think the crux of it is that I feel less achy and have more energy when I control the carbs. It is the silver lining and a real motivator.
I also work out with a trainer twice a week and walk the dogs whenever possible. My doctor said I really needed to keep that up too. I imagine she will say even more so now that I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis (the endocrinologist that follows me for hypothyroidism scheduled me for the bone density test in February and my bone density had slipped a good bit since 2010). He said the Tamoxifen I took for 5 years likely preserved bone density but once I went off of it, the protection faded and I caught up with where I would have been if I had not been on the Tamoxifen. I found it interesting that Tamoxifen provided that, I had not remembered that when I researched that drug back in 2004.
I am doing a lot of weight training at the gym, even though the weights I use are not very heavy. I think as my mom becomes more independent, and after our Snappy leaves this world, I will try and increase the number of times I go to the gym, I used to be self-conscious about being one of the older ladies at the gym. Not any more, there seems to be more and more senior types like me, especially men. The senior ladies seem to do the classes which I have tried and did not care for.
Give me the weight machines and free weights any old day. I say that now anyway, two years ago, not so much.
I may be aging, but I am trying to do it as gracefully as possible.
GAGWTA!
. I wish he would be more responsible. I am hoping that no news is good news as the dr. has not called the house or his cell phone yet and we havent gotten a letter from her either. 
