Memorandum Monday

It hasn't been a good week! I have some 'first times' to tell you about, but mostly it's bad news first times, rather than reasons to celebrate.  Sorry!

It started with a visit to my doctor on Tuesday and the devastating news that, for the first time ever, my cholesterol reading is dangerously high.  It's the one thing about me that has never been a problem but this new reading, combined with other long term health problems, means that I am now in the category with a significant chance of a heart attack/heart problems. My doctor was insistent that it had to be treated, but instead of taking yet more tablets every day, it's going to be the lose weight, eat the correct foods to reduce cholesterol, and exercise route to start with.  In theory this should resolve the high cholesterol reading and I have to go back in three months for a review.  If there is no improvement then I'll have to go down the medication route. 

I managed to lose over three stone about 2 or 3 years ago but lost focus and the weight has gradually crept back on.  I did it by calorie counting so that's what I plan to do this time, using the 'My Fitness Pal' app to record my progress.  For the 'first time' ever I've been looking online to see exactly what foods I need to avoid to reduce the cholesterol reading.  I've found lots of help and plenty of low calorie recipes so am looking at tweaking some of the recipes I fancy trying.  As for daily exercise, I've been alternating between a 30 minute walk (but I really need to get some comfortable walking shoes!), and a combination of step routines using the Wii. 

That was the bad start to the week and from there it went downhill.  I set off to see friends, realised that I'd left my mobile at home but decided not to go back for it.  This proved to be a mistake!  As soon as I was miles from anywhere, the engine warning light came on.  I didn't know whether it was still safe to drive, but I couldn't phone for help, so after an initial panic I was debating on trying to find some help when the cavalry arrived in the form of a farmer driving a massive tractor.  He phoned his son to bring the land rover to tow me back to their yard and that's my next 'first' - I've never been behind the steering wheel when being towed by another vehicle.  They let me phone my friends to cancel my visit and phone my usual mechanic to collect me with the recovery trailer to start the repair.  It's also the 'first time' I've travelled in a recovery vehicle.  

Anyway, I'm back home and the car is still in the garage.  I'm hoping this is because of the Easter break rather than the complexity of the repair.  It does have an expensive feel about it though.  

I'm desperately hoping that this next week is better!  I hope you've all had a lovely Easter break and are looking forward to lots of fun things this week.  

Waving to you all, and linking with Sian @ From High in the Sky.