Cholesterol Concerns...HELP

[NeverEnuff]

I recently went to the gynocologist for my yearly check up. Because my cholesterol was so high last year, they decided to redo my bloodwork again this time. I had been doing my diet for about 12 weeks at this time and figured the changes would be awesome..however was confused and dismayed by the returning results...

I fasted before going, and here were my results..

Total Cholesterol...196 (0-200)
Triglycerides...130 (0-150)
HDL (Good) 40 (greater then 40)
LDL (Bad) 130 (less then 130)
Ratio of total to HDL..4.9 (desired is less then 4.0)

I am concerned about the high levels of cholesterol etc. I have been on extended induction for 12 weeks now. I have lost around 30 lbs and feel awesome. However, the high levels of my tests have me questioning what I am doing wrong.

I am still in ketosis, in fact, its almost all the way dark purple every time I test on my strips. I am still losing wieght at the rate of about 1-2 lbs a week. I am drinking more then the required amount of water each day and excercising like a fiend. I have been cheat free for the full 12 weeks of my diet.

Any idea what is happening ?

Thank you for your response, I rely on your experience.. and learn so much from all of you..
Laura

[Laurenfra]

I have lost around 30 lbs and feel awesome. However, the high levels of my tests have me questioning what I am doing wrong.

I am still in ketosis, in fact, its almost all the way dark purple every time I test on my strips. I am still losing wieght at the rate of about 1-2 lbs a week.

Look at the things you have said. First you are doing the WOE right if you are loosing all that weight.

What did your Doctor say about yout levels was he/she concerned?

You can make changes in your diet and still be on Atkins, you can change some of your bad fat choices to good ones ( A smart person will be along shortly for that info)

You can give it a few more weeks

So high levels are due to family history and not diet and no matter what you eat you cant change them.

[2big4mysize]

first of all you have great results there.

your HDL is low and there ate many things you can do to increase it. that in turn will lower your LDL.

First thing I need to ask you is what are you doing for the exercise part of your Atkins you didn't say one word about that. exer5cfise especailly resistance exercise rasies HDL.

there are foods you can eat as part of your OWL Atkins to raise your HDL too nuts and seeds almonds walnuts and flax seeds are very good if you are on rung 3. Soy if you are on rung 6
you can alter your fats to monounsaturated like olive oil too to help lower LDL even more.

What were your hiorrible results last time so you can really see how much better you are doing? your doc should have been very happy with those results you got this time.

you did know that the human body as a response to any weight loss increases LDL levels and then returns thenm to normal so you are doing great really. Keep it up.

[ttdriver]

2BIG is right; your results are really good. Honest!

Cardiovascular exercise will also help raise your HDL while lowering your LDL, so I hope you are doing at least 30 minutes (hopefully more) of it everyday.

Actually, your body produces over 80% of its own cholesterol, which is a vital component to good health, so having too low of cholesterol is actually worse for you.

Betty

[canuck]

Don't know if it’s too late to add info for you however, you should ask your doc to do a lipoprotien( a )on you, that checks the ldl and most low carbers who have hi ldl have large fluffy ldl and it is not dangerous, it is the small sticky ldl that is dangerous.


Your ratio is hi according to ratios we use in Canada but that’s dues to your levels. The trig and ratio are ones to watch.


Am assuming as you go along it will drop. Mine dropped drastically and then about 18 months on program it spiked like heck and doctors figured I was genetically programmed for that to happen and nothing to do with Atkins, so don’t freak, do some follow up and compare it to where you were at.

[2big4mysize]

the small stickie stuff is called VLDL in the tests and shuld be between 20-40 to be normal.

[designinme]

There has been studies that show cholesterol is not a good indicator of risks for heart attack/heart disease. The demon is your TRI levels.

A high quality fish oil loaded with omega 3 fatty acids will really help stabalize cholesterol problems. Check out Carlson's fish oil. The lemon flavor tastes great, and it is a much better solution than eating fish that is loaded with mercury. Everyone should take fish oil, and I think Carlsons is one of the better choices ( I would suggest the liquid form, not the pills )