The upshot of last week’s blood pressure test? The doctor insisted that I immediately get checked for high cholesterol. They usually make you fast before taking a blood test, but my doctor said it would be accurate, since I had only had toast and coffee. Man, I hate needles. Call me a wuss, but I just don’t like em. The last time I had a cholesterol test was a couple of years back …

My total cholesterol level was pretty high back then … in the neighborhood of 290. My doctor wanted me to go on Lipitor at the time, but I passed on the suggestion and decided to cut back a bit on junk food. I didn’t want to get hooked into another prescription.

When my doctor cornered me into taking another cholesterol test last week, I had no choice. He stepped out of the examination room before I could refuse. But quite honestly, I was curious about my cholesterol level.

After turning over a new leaf with the new year, I’ve shed six or seven pounds. I haven’t eaten at a fast food establishment since seeing Supersize Me. And I’ve only eaten red meat a few times. (Well, okay, maybe more than a few times, if you count pepperoni pizza.)

Once again, the nurse was awesome. I never felt the needle. Not whatsoever.

The cholesterol test result call came the next day. My total cholesterol was still high at 270. Twenty points lower than last time, but deja vu all over again, the doctor still wanted me to go on medication to reduce my cholesterol level.

Once again, I passed on the offer.

Here’s what I’m thinking …

I don’t want to singlehandedly support the pharmaceutical industry.

I was able to cut my total cholesterol by twenty points through minuscule weight loss, a bit of exercise, and a slight change in diet. Now I’m going all out.

I’m attacking this with more exercise and a substantial change in diet. I will no longer consume cheese, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, forbidden chocolate doughnuts, triple bacon cheeseburgers (dripping with sauce), french fries … or anything with a considerable amount of cholesterol.

Those monstrous omelettes I used to eat three or four times a week? Forgetaboutit! Those things had three times the recommended daily amount of cholesterol. Death in a frying pan. It’s egg whites and no cheese, from here on in …

But rest assured, if I can’t significanly reduce my cholesterol levels in six to eight weeks without medication, I’ll go for the prescription. And an order of fries.