Blood test results

[Jodes]

I had to have blood taken again last week and the doctor just called to say she was worried about:

Cholesterol up from 4.1 to 6.0

Blood glucose level was up to 6.6 after 12 hours fasting

She asked what I have changed since my last blood work back in January and I told her that I started Atkins around late Feb/ eraly March.

She was not against Atkins at all and said that it is expected that these two figures go up in the first month or so of following Atkins but they should also come back down and mine have not.

Question for those that have had blood work done:

How long were you using this WOE before your numbers came back down again?

I am worried about these figures because I have been doing ATkins for a few months now and weight loss has stalled (still) and now so have the cm's lost - I have not really had any movement in weeks.

[chinadoll]

Are you exercising vigorously? Frankly, I believe the exercise has had far more effect on my cholesterol dropping that anything I am eating. I am not convinced that people drop cholesterol on Atkins because of the sugar regulation so much as the increased exercise they get as they become healthier. Also it sometimes takes as much as three months for numbers to come back down. If your blood sugar was still high then Atkins is still the WOE for you on that count. I would cut out sweeteners and sweet things though since your body may still be issuing a false response.

[Jodes]

Yes I am. I do 3 minutes of step every second day and the other days I am doing the couch 2 5K running program + I walk the dog every day for half an hour.

Not to mention how busy I am anyway - always running around for work and I am the only one who cleans, cooks, shops and washes at home.

I am worried about this because it should have gone down, not up by now. I have been doing this for a few months now

[chinadoll]

OK, has she done your cholesterol differential? Total cholesterol is only part of the story so if the HDL is up and the LDL is down that is good news even if the total is higher. I would definitely give it another full month before freaking out and changing things. Then rather than abandon the plan, choose fats that will lower cholesterol, eat an extra white instead of an extra whole egg (since that is where the cholesterol is) lay off any high chol seafood a week or so before going to the doc. Don't know what else to tell you. I think another month may do the trick if you are exercising and all. I would also give up as many sweeteners as you can if possible. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

[Jodes]

THanks Jill,
Oh by the way, I won't be abandoning this WOL - I will modify and take out some higher cholesterol foods if I have to.

[chinadoll]

That's the spirit!

[theredhead]

I wouldn't change a thing. Check Chapter 10 in DANDR for Dr. Atkins' explanation about cholesterol in relation to the diet. I would type it out for you, but it's rather long.

[Elizellen]

You might fnd this article interesting to read.
Have we been conned about cholesterol? | Mail Online

[FLdoodette]

Originally Posted by Elizellen

You might fnd this article interesting to read.
Have we been conned about cholesterol? | Mail Online

Thanx for that link ... very interesting indeed!

[shelly808]

This is an interesting thread. But sorry to hear about your frustration Jodes!

What I have read a bout cholesterol is that cholesterol is just fine and and dandy - not a problem for the human bod. I mean look at the eskimos! they are some of the healthies people on earth and they eat tons of fat....straight up!

The health risks associated with high cholesterol is when it gets stuck on the walls of veins and arteries.

What causes this scarring which traps the oils??? Partially Hydrogenated oils!!!! Trans fatty acids weaken the walls and causes lesions/scarring. They have been selling us this dangerous oil for decades and its was in EVERYTHING, because it was super cheap and it prolongs shelf life...like forever!!! Remember that ol joke about the twinkie lasting 100 years!?

You could not find a packaged food ie, rice-a-roni, mac & cheese, hamburger helper etc., all cracker, all chips and all cookies, all doughnuts and all margarine's and all candy bars that it was not in.

There has been a growing awareness that its "bad for you", therefore manufactures are using palm oil these days.

What irks the heck out of me is that they have known about this scarring effect from partially hydrogenated oils for many many years, but only changed their practices once there was critical mass awareness...(even thou most people don't know about the scarring they just know its "bad".)

I guess the bottom line is most of us have eaten soooo much of this that we do have to be careful...I can't remember, but I think there are some things you can take that helps it not "stick"...was it garlic - like lots - garlic supplements??? Hmmmm I can't remember!

I was totally into learning all this stuff and then slowed a bit when I was smoking a pk+ a day getting drunk almost every night for about 8 years! But I still took my high quality vitamins! I was such a hypocrite!