Danged Cholesterol!!

[Perrster]

Got tested last week after a year and a half of taking Lipitor (10mg a day). Danged if it didn't go UP! Total came in at 212. Good HDL went up a little, but so did the bad and the ugly Triglycerides.

Was told to watch the Carbs so I guess I'm on a diet.

The actual test was pretty cool as my Cardio PA used a new finger prick machine so my Protime and Cholesterol were tested with one simple finger prick. She just had to squeeze my finger harder to get enough blood for two little tubes the size of an ink refill and have enough left over to drop onto the Coaguchek. Protime was fine, but I suck at Cholesterol tests!

Anybody got any diet ideas? Starting to substitute low-carb breads for lunch sandwiches now and not having any more dang ice cream. I've been away from the gym for a few months too due to kitchen rehab project. Back at it in a few more weeks. Retesting in 6 months.

My Cholesterol is NOT looking forward to the upcoming Holidays!

Regards,

 

[Christina]

Perry,

My husband eats a low carb diet (proteins, vegetables and fruits and low carb energy bars and the good fats like flax oils etc.) and his cholesterol went up again to 279, HDL 55, LDL 199, Triglycerides 125.
Once a week he eats a baked potato or something to replenish the glycogen, otherwise it is nearly impossible to maintain a low carb diet. He gets harranged by the doctor about every 6 months to go on Lipitor or Zocor, one of the statin drugs that gets advertized to death. Last year he went on the Atkins diet not to lose weight but to get the numbers down and to get the doctor of his back but instead of going down it went up to 300+. So what to do now? My husband is not a big guy at all. He's 5'9 1/2" inches tall and weighs maybe 160 lbs. Feels terrific, and looks great for being almost 60.

Perry you might want to check out www.jayrobb.com.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[Karlynn]

Perry,
I've been a low-carber for over 3 years. High cholesterol is just a genetic fact that I can't ignore. Lots and Lots of heart disease in my family, not to mention adult onset diabetes. I also take Lipitor and I find that low-carbing is helping keep my numbers good. I "slipped up" for about 6 mo. and then had my blood taken. My # was back up to 215. Back on the low carb again and now it's 154. With my HDL going up.

I used the book Protein Power by the Drs. Eades when I started. There is really really good low-carb bread in Jewel now by Ovens of Manatowauk. And I find I can eat lots of stuff I love. You can even have potato skins with all the cheese and bacon - if you make sure you scrape most of the "meat" off the skins. When I go out for dinner - say at Chili's, I'll get a burger w/ all the trimmings, take off the bun and cut and eat the burger and guts and then have a salad instead of fries.

There is lots and lots of info on the web. I had a friend that just cut out bread and pasta and lost 20 pounds (don't know her cholesterol issue). More and more doctors are starting to realize that our food pyramid is really upside down. That base of bread and grains really isn't a good thing.

Another book that's a quick read w/ lots of info on many of the low-carb "ways of eating" and lots of the science surrounding it is "How I Gave Up My Low Fat Diet And Lost 40 Pounds" by Dana Carpender. Personal opinion - I wouldn't do the Atkins Diet, it's a pretty hard start and you aren't a heavy person that needs to lose a lot of weight.

I don't find that low carbing has done anything to mess with my INR either.

Some people can tollerate a higher carb diet. I just can't and have a family history that has helped point that out.

Karlynn

PS - the holidays are a sure fire sabotage. Try and be good, but don't kick yourself for indulging. Just start being good again January 1.

PPS - you also need to make sure you drink lots of water. A minimum of 8 glasses a day.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hooooooooo Boy!

Hooooooooo Boy!

Hear you! All of my issues started upon starting Inderal (beta blocker) slowed my metabolism way way down.

Like Karlynn...high cholesterol runs in the family. At one point I was a vegetarian..about 5 years. Numbers were still running in the high 180's!

Genetics has delt us a faulty card sure. Did the "ditch the carbs for 2 months and lost a total of 6 lbs. That was the wall. Went no further. Thing is Perry, if you think about. Avoiding most high Vit. K foods like you/we tend to do...what's left?

Just plainly can't be consistent with the amount of vegetables I eat. Or shall I say...they amounts of K I eat. Green veggies hit my dinner table more so than not. Cook very healthy for my family. Second they grow tired...we are on to potatoes or corn, etc. We all need variety.

Can't wait until we can sit down with Karlynn after the holidays in Chicago. You have some great suggestions! Just wanna know how you keep your INR in check?!