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#1
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
Hi All,
Have never really posted here before with anything substantial, but have been reading a lot of posts here in the last 3 weeks or so. I got interested because my wife wanted to go on a diet for a vacation 6 months or so from now, and Atkins came up. I read the book quickly, found this NG, and away I went. She is not following seriously enough IMO, but I think I am hooked. Anyways...I am not very overweight...at least by appearance. I am about 5'10", and currently 210 lbs (was about 216-218 a couple weeks ago (thank you Dr. Atkins!)), but have always had a pretty heavy/solid build and been heavier that I look. No one believes I am 210+ lbs. I have been concerned because I starting to get a bit of a belly, and am having to buy some pants in a 36" waist, and some even in a 38"....a 34" I would be more happy with. According to some BMI tables, I am considered obese - WTF is up with that! My main concern with my health at this point are my cholesterol and liver readings etc. I will post the numbers when I get them, but my doctor called to say they were all too high. Since I took the tests about a week into Atkins, I realize they may be a bit artificially high, but I also had the tests long ago (1 year), that also had high readings, am concerned. My father has heart problems from clogged arteries. My mother has high cholesterol problems as well. Anyways....from reading the book, I have seen that after 6 weeks or so, it is a good idea to re-test and usually by then some of the benefits get shown, especially in your blood health. Is this a reasonable amount of time to wait to see if there are positive results? I don't want to find I haven't waited long enough to see postive results. What do you suggest? If I follow Atkins seriously, at what point should I head back for more tests - I really think some postive #'s will be that boost I really need to keep it going strong. Thanks All, GT |
#2
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
I'd say wait 6 months, and then get tested every 6 months after that. Some
numbers will go up and then come back down -- testing too soon will just get you all worked up. Also, reading just total cholesterol numbers is not very meaningful....you should be looking at ratios instead. You might do some work on google to learn what to look out for. GT wrote: :: Hi All, :: :: Have never really posted here before with anything substantial, but :: have been reading a lot of posts here in the last 3 weeks or so. I :: got interested because my wife wanted to go on a diet for a vacation :: 6 months or so from now, and Atkins came up. I read the book :: quickly, found this NG, and away I went. She is not following :: seriously enough IMO, but I think I am hooked. :: :: Anyways...I am not very overweight...at least by appearance. I am :: about 5'10", and currently 210 lbs (was about 216-218 a couple weeks :: ago (thank you Dr. Atkins!)), but have always had a pretty :: heavy/solid build and been heavier that I look. No one believes I :: am 210+ lbs. I have been concerned because I starting to get a bit :: of a belly, and am having to buy some pants in a 36" waist, and some :: even in a 38"....a 34" I would be more happy with. According to some :: BMI tables, I am considered obese - WTF is up with that! :: :: My main concern with my health at this point are my cholesterol and :: liver readings etc. I will post the numbers when I get them, but my :: doctor called to say they were all too high. Since I took the tests :: about a week into Atkins, I realize they may be a bit artificially :: high, but I also had the tests long ago (1 year), that also had high :: readings, am concerned. My father has heart problems from clogged :: arteries. My mother has high cholesterol problems as well. :: :: Anyways....from reading the book, I have seen that after 6 weeks or :: so, it is a good idea to re-test and usually by then some of the :: benefits get shown, especially in your blood health. :: :: Is this a reasonable amount of time to wait to see if there are :: positive results? I don't want to find I haven't waited long :: enough to see postive results. What do you suggest? If I follow :: Atkins seriously, at what point should I head back for more tests - :: I really think some postive #'s will be that boost I really need to :: keep it going strong. :: :: Thanks All, :: :: GT |
#3
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
"GT" wrote in message ...
Hi All, Have never really posted here before with anything substantial, but have been reading a lot of posts here in the last 3 weeks or so. I got interested because my wife wanted to go on a diet for a vacation 6 months or so from now, and Atkins came up. I read the book quickly, found this NG, and away I went. She is not following seriously enough IMO, but I think I am hooked. Anyways...I am not very overweight...at least by appearance. I am about 5'10", and currently 210 lbs (was about 216-218 a couple weeks ago (thank you Dr. Atkins!)), but have always had a pretty heavy/solid build and been heavier that I look. No one believes I am 210+ lbs. I have been concerned because I starting to get a bit of a belly, and am having to buy some pants in a 36" waist, and some even in a 38"....a 34" I would be more happy with. According to some BMI tables, I am considered obese - WTF is up with that! My main concern with my health at this point are my cholesterol and liver readings etc. I will post the numbers when I get them, but my doctor called to say they were all too high. Since I took the tests about a week into Atkins, I realize they may be a bit artificially high, but I also had the tests long ago (1 year), that also had high readings, am concerned. My father has heart problems from clogged arteries. My mother has high cholesterol problems as well. Anyways....from reading the book, I have seen that after 6 weeks or so, it is a good idea to re-test and usually by then some of the benefits get shown, especially in your blood health. Is this a reasonable amount of time to wait to see if there are positive results? I don't want to find I haven't waited long enough to see postive results. What do you suggest? If I follow Atkins seriously, at what point should I head back for more tests - I really think some postive #'s will be that boost I really need to keep it going strong. Thanks All, GT I'd wait at least a few months and ideally I'd wait until several months after you reach your target weight. There was a post on here from a guy a few weeks ago that had high numbers until well after he reached his target weight. For most people, after a few months, total chol is about the same, hdl is improved and trig drop dramatically. For some, like me, total and ldl have gone up, but I'm waiting till I get to my target. Figure then I will have more vegs, less fat, etc which may help. You can also try adding fiber, which has been shown to help lower chol. I use the metamucil that is sugar free. There are also products that have the plant sterols which are supposed to help. This is what they put in benecol margaring, but I get them in pill form. If you want to get an idea of your risk of developing hard CHD in the next 10 years, you can go to the Amer Heart Assoc website or the NIH. They have an online calculator where you can put in your chol, hdl etc and other risk factors and it will give you an estimate. It will likely make you feel better, as factors like your sex, smoking, etc make a bigger difference. |
#4
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
Three months has been mentioned as a good starting point. My take would be
to look at where you are in this way of eating. For example at three months are you still losing weight? Have you settled into low-carb as a way of eating and a way of life? Have you reached a balance between bacon & burgers and fish and vegetables? ... that's when I would get retested. What you want is to get stabilized so when you get test results you know what direction you need to go. I would personally resist statin drugs until your life changes are in place and you get another lipid profile. If indeed you are taking Atkins seriously this will not take long. You may want to explore Atkins a little deeper and see what he has to say about supplements especially since you already know your history and family history. Don't take too long to get things under control either by diet, supplements, or Dr prescribed medications. Roger is correct; you need to know the entire picture with the results. Since you didn't post specifics Roger is assuming you don't have all the tests but your post does seem to indicate that your readings are "all too high." Kevin "GT" wrote in message ... | Hi All, | | Have never really posted here before with anything substantial, but have | been reading a lot of posts here in the last 3 weeks or so. I got interested | because my wife wanted to go on a diet for a vacation 6 months or so from | now, and Atkins came up. I read the book quickly, found this NG, and away I | went. She is not following seriously enough IMO, but I think I am hooked. | | Anyways...I am not very overweight...at least by appearance. I am about | 5'10", and currently 210 lbs (was about 216-218 a couple weeks ago (thank | you Dr. Atkins!)), but have always had a pretty heavy/solid build and been | heavier that I look. No one believes I am 210+ lbs. I have been concerned | because I starting to get a bit of a belly, and am having to buy some pants | in a 36" waist, and some even in a 38"....a 34" I would be more happy with. | According to some BMI tables, I am considered obese - WTF is up with that! | | My main concern with my health at this point are my cholesterol and liver | readings etc. I will post the numbers when I get them, but my doctor called | to say they were all too high. Since I took the tests about a week into | Atkins, I realize they may be a bit artificially high, but I also had the | tests long ago (1 year), that also had high readings, am concerned. My | father has heart problems from clogged arteries. My mother has high | cholesterol problems as well. | | Anyways....from reading the book, I have seen that after 6 weeks or so, it | is a good idea to re-test and usually by then some of the benefits get | shown, especially in your blood health. | | Is this a reasonable amount of time to wait to see if there are positive | results? I don't want to find I haven't waited long enough to see postive | results. What do you suggest? If I follow Atkins seriously, at what point | should I head back for more tests - I really think some postive #'s will be | that boost I really need to keep it going strong. | | Thanks All, | | GT | | |
#5
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
I'm honestly not sure what you mean by your liver numbers -- would
your doctor have put you on a statin such as Lipitor had it not been for your "liver numbers"? (You don't mention any medicines, unless I missed them.) You're going to get all sorts of opinions about how long to wait, but I can give you a personal testimonial on progress. In March I had been on a cholesterol cocktail for about 5 months, with good progrss, not great (I probably should have stopped drinking). My total cholesterol in March was 133... I went on Atkins in late July (I am your height and I weighed 212), and have dropeed 16 pounds since then. I also stopped all alcohol and caffeine (more strict than some people go, but I'd really rather eat my carbs in vegetables or the occasional licorice) My cholesterol numbers were re-measured a week ago (7-8 weeks after Atkins), and my total cholesterol has dropped now to 95. (I'm still on the cholesterol cocktail, and hope that will one day change). Blood pressure has also improved. Make sure you get enough potassium, by the way, that's the hardest part early on. Frank Lynch The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at: http://www.samueljohnson.com/ |
#6
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
"Frank Lynch" wrote in message ... I'm honestly not sure what you mean by your liver numbers -- would your doctor have put you on a statin such as Lipitor had it not been for your "liver numbers"? (You don't mention any medicines, unless I missed them.) I have an appointment next week to go to the doctor and discuss the numbers with him. I'll post them then. The liver tests are something to do with Lever Enzymes and fatty deposits in the liver or something. I'm not really sure what it means yet. GT |
#7
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
Cholesterol is one thing . Abnormal liver enzymes are quite another. If your
liver enzymes are ugly, you most definitely need to talk to the doctor as this is a sign that your liver might be failing or that you have a serious disease like hepatitis. Total cholesterol may go down on a low carb diet, or it may not. Your ratios should improve and your triglicerides most certainly will drop. However, low carbing will not correct liver failure. Talk to your doctor! -- Jenny 168.5/137 Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings * Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats * Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise Starting from Zero * NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work? "GT" wrote in message ... Hi All, Have never really posted here before with anything substantial, but have been reading a lot of posts here in the last 3 weeks or so. I got interested because my wife wanted to go on a diet for a vacation 6 months or so from now, and Atkins came up. I read the book quickly, found this NG, and away I went. She is not following seriously enough IMO, but I think I am hooked. Anyways...I am not very overweight...at least by appearance. I am about 5'10", and currently 210 lbs (was about 216-218 a couple weeks ago (thank you Dr. Atkins!)), but have always had a pretty heavy/solid build and been heavier that I look. No one believes I am 210+ lbs. I have been concerned because I starting to get a bit of a belly, and am having to buy some pants in a 36" waist, and some even in a 38"....a 34" I would be more happy with. According to some BMI tables, I am considered obese - WTF is up with that! My main concern with my health at this point are my cholesterol and liver readings etc. I will post the numbers when I get them, but my doctor called to say they were all too high. Since I took the tests about a week into Atkins, I realize they may be a bit artificially high, but I also had the tests long ago (1 year), that also had high readings, am concerned. My father has heart problems from clogged arteries. My mother has high cholesterol problems as well. Anyways....from reading the book, I have seen that after 6 weeks or so, it is a good idea to re-test and usually by then some of the benefits get shown, especially in your blood health. Is this a reasonable amount of time to wait to see if there are positive results? I don't want to find I haven't waited long enough to see postive results. What do you suggest? If I follow Atkins seriously, at what point should I head back for more tests - I really think some postive #'s will be that boost I really need to keep it going strong. Thanks All, GT |
#8
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
"Jenny" wrote in message ... Cholesterol is one thing . Abnormal liver enzymes are quite another. If your liver enzymes are ugly, you most definitely need to talk to the doctor as this is a sign that your liver might be failing or that you have a serious disease like hepatitis. Total cholesterol may go down on a low carb diet, or it may not. Your ratios should improve and your triglicerides most certainly will drop. However, low carbing will not correct liver failure. Talk to your doctor! Actually, it does mention in the Atkins book that both Liver and Kidney function CAN be corrected (or at least improved, I can't remember the wording in the book), by Low Carbing. Not sure what is going on with the liver, but the doctor didn't seem overly concerned....but I will find out when I meet with him next week. GT |
#9
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
Make sure you get enough potassium, by the way, that's the hardest
part early on. Frank Lynch The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at: http://www.samueljohnson.com/ How do you know if you are NOT getting enough potassium? |
#10
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Moderately High Cholesterol and Liver Readings..but not too overweight
Frank Lynch wrote in message . ..
I'm honestly not sure what you mean by your liver numbers -- would your doctor have put you on a statin such as Lipitor had it not been for your "liver numbers"? (You don't mention any medicines, unless I missed them.) You're going to get all sorts of opinions about how long to wait, but I can give you a personal testimonial on progress. In March I had been on a cholesterol cocktail for about 5 months, with good progrss, not great (I probably should have stopped drinking). My total cholesterol in March was 133... I went on Atkins in late July (I am your height and I weighed 212), and have dropeed 16 pounds since then. I also stopped all alcohol and caffeine (more strict than some people go, but I'd really rather eat my carbs in vegetables or the occasional licorice) My cholesterol numbers were re-measured a week ago (7-8 weeks after Atkins), and my total cholesterol has dropped now to 95. (I'm still on the cholesterol cocktail, and hope that will one day change). Blood pressure has also improved. Make sure you get enough potassium, by the way, that's the hardest part early on. Frank Lynch The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at: http://www.samueljohnson.com/ Total chol of 95 and your taking a chol cocktail? What is a chol cocktail? I've never seen total chol that low. Why would anyone be on chol drugs with a total chol number of 133 or 95? What are your other numbers? There have been some studies done that showed people with chol that is very low have a higher death rate than those with high chol. |
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