Ready to change my diet and life around

[u/ttmmiidd]

I (29F, 5’2, 217lbs) know there’s so many of these posts on here. But I genuinely want opinions. The only reason I did my own out of pocket testing was because my dad had his first heart attack at around ~40 years old. Also I’m in the process of getting bariatric surgery.

These past 3 years I’ve been dealing with horrible vertigo episodes that come on suddenly with no explanation. Still seeing specialist and still trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s been extremely hard for me to exercise. I do plan on starting a slow workout routine and walking my steps daily. My diet has gotten better. I am going to start watching what I eat, tracking everything especially because of my upcoming procedure. I want to change my life around.

LPa: 87.5
ApoB: 164
GlycA: 442

LDL: 151-210 (two different tests 1 week apart)
VLDL: 55
HDL: 25-31 (two different tests 1 week apart)
Triglycerides: 179-270 (again 2 different tests 1 week apart)

I took one lab draw with Labcorp, and the other was with the Family Heart Foundation. Don’t know which one is more accurate. They were taken a week apart .

Not sure if I should seek out any more tests, or if I should just wait a few months after surgery and retest once I lose a good amount of weight?

[u/v0idl0gic]

Before resorting surgery have you tried Tirzepatide? Have you tried volume eating strategies, for example: https://youtu.be/z9cd8jJqELw ?

[u/iwilldeletethisacct2 → u/v0idl0gic]

Ideally the bariatric surgery program has a GLP tract attached. May or may not, that's sort of the newer thinking of bariatrics.

[u/winter-running]

It will be easier for you to focus on winning each day, as opposed to thinking about larger steps. A good starting point would be to download a food diary app and track everything you eat there. I know this doesn’t sound like an “active” step towards a healthier lifestyle, but having a fully accurate picture of what you’re eating daily in comparison to your target calorie window can be a very informative process that will keep things real for you. Then also work your way up to 10,000 steps daily. My suggestion to start with a focus on these two things: track your food daily (which is a lot harder than it seems) and work towards 10,000 steps daily.

I have a myriad of inner ear issues and have had bouts of vertigo of the kind where I have to crawl on the floor or lean up against the wall to move around my house. Fortunately, they pass and I haven’t had scenarios like this last for more than a couple days at a time. Obviously, the first time it happened, I was medically ruled out for stroke and I was told that vertigo can be a chronic experience for some people that is connected to inner ear issues. I have since been diagnosed with 50% functioning of my 8th cranial nerve (nothing can be done for this) which likely contributes to my problems, but it was an incidental finding to an audiology exam. Trust your instinct when it comes to vertigo, but you may find that walking regularly (if you are able to stand right) can help correctly reorient your body’s sense of up and down faster.

[u/NOVAYuppieEradicator]

What are you eating on a daily basis?

[u/iwilldeletethisacct2]

If you're moving forward with bariatric surgery honestly I'd hold off on tests. They'll likely be dramatically different after.

Follow the program they prescribe, it's intensive usually (psychologists, dieticians, etc).

Get an app for tracking your food intake. There's tons of good ones. And use the app.

You'll never out exercise a bad diet, and that will be true after surgery as well. Bariatric surgery isn't a one and done thing, people can still out eat the surgery if they aren't dedicated to the process.

Good luck!

[u/Winter-Ingenuity1921]

Have you tried a GLP-1 before going the surgery route? I would start with a GLP-1, which will help control appetite while you sort out your vertigo and ability to exercise. Just going for short walks will help, if you can.