Not losing weight/high cholesterol

Hi (Sorry. You don't seem to have a username, so this is what popped up when I replied.) A weight of 168 at your height isn't bad, but I understand why you want to bring both your weight and your cholesterol down, especially if you are talking about the "bad" cholesterol, the low-density lipoprotein level. My numbers also tend to be somewhat high no matter what I eat. My doctor is convinced it's genetic, since my cholesterol was somewhat high even when I was at my thinnest. The only thing that seems to bring my levels down is hard cardio at least 4 days a week. It is possible you are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol as well?
Another common cause of high LDL is restaurant food. Many chefs cook with butter to keep meats moist and juicy and to make veggies more tasty. Butter can bring up the calorie and cholesterol counts of foods that might normally be considered healthy choices.
Have you talked with your doctor about your inabilty to lose weight? If you haven't had a thyroid test recently, it might be wise to ask for one. It's a simple blood test and it can tell you whether a hormone disorder is preventing you from losing weight. You could also try keeping a food journal for a few weeks to see how many calories you are actually eating each day and when you tend to snack. A food scale can help you get more accurate calorie counts for the meals and snacks you eat at home. You can then take that journal to a nutritionalist for recommendations about changes that might help.
There are so many factors that can go into weight gain or the inability to lose weight. It's important to explore them all. I wish I had more answers, but we are not medical experts. Please know we're here for you whenever you need us.
Warmly, Lori (Team Member)