Hi Again...HELP PLEASEEE!!

[Sherhic4]

Sherhic4Hello All...so glad to meet everyone again...not exactly new..tried this for a couple of weeks two years ago...got bored...but on 8/4/07 I was finally desperate enough to goive this WOE a full-fledged chance...just turned 55 on 8/05/07 and want to enjoy the second half of my life..
SW---211
CW---202
GW---150
I have been basically not cheating except I can't give up my morning coffee (20 oz) w/heavy cream and 2 packets Splenda.....worry because my weight seems to go up and down an average of 2 lbs........still have nagging health fears with all the controversy regarding how this WOE might affect my health in the long run as I have a history of high cholesterol that is being maintained by a mild drug (Zetia) and has been fine in the past. These are some of the issues I struggle with currently....So wonderful to see how this Board has blossomed into so many caring involved people helping each other with our common goal. Please give me any thoughts or suggeations you have I am determined to be vigilant this time and reach my GW

[fowlergirl]

Welcome Sherhic4. Congrats on your weight loss thus far.

[sillygirl]

Hi Sheric! Welcome to the board. Let me ask you, have you read the DANDR book? I would recommend it because once you understand the science behind this WOE (way of eating) you will understand that you need not fear! There's a news forum on the board, you can go read some articles there if you can!

Everyone's weight fluctuates, as long as you're ticking to the program, drinking your water and exercising, you will lose your weight. Slow and steady is good.

[dreamof145]

Welcome. Glad you've joined us and made the committment to make it happen. We're all here for you....come here often and make lots of friends and join in the numerous challenges, journals and forums. Best wishes.

[sallyseachange]

Welcome Sherhic! Good to have you with us.

I'd ditto what Silly says. Most people's cholesterol levels improve after a few weeks on Atkins. You need to wait at least six weeks though before you get it checked. If the totals don't improve, then the risk ratio usually does.

BP and blood sugar numbers also improve.

If you think about it, by the time you reach maintenance, all you're really doing is taking refined white flour and sugar out of your diet, adding in more vegetables and eating unprocessed foods. Nothing too unhealthy about that.
Many people (doctors too) confuse Atkins with the induction phase. They don't see beyond that... yet the main part of this way of eating comes after induction.

Rest easy... we're all alive and healthy! You will be too.

[Sherhic4]

Thanks for your responses and encouragement...will do exactly what you suggest and keep posting and reading...must start exercising too !

[Sherhic4]

BTW what is the risk ratio?

[sallyseachange]

The risk ratio is the number you get when juxtaposing your HDL figure with your LDL figure. The lower the LDL, the better and the higher the HDL the better. I think you divide one figure into the other, or something.
Someone more expert than I am will explain it better I'm sure. But if you have a low LDL and a high HDL then your risk ratio is a low number which is good. Can't remember the "safe" values, but I think they're somewhere between 2.5 - 4.5

All I remember is that on checking mine after a few months of Atkins, I was horrified to find my total numbers very high... until I showed them to my doctor. He was ecstatic because the risk ratio was in the 2s.
I asked him whether I could carry on eating plenty of eggs, cheese, butter and cream and he said: "Absolutely yesssss!!".
The total cholesterol number means little. There are other factors that raise the totals too... like menopause (that's me) etc. This is quite normal.

Sorry for the not very scientific explanation... I forget details easily!

[Sherhic4]

Thanks for the expaination Sally...will just go on what i believe to be true...that this IS going to work because I am not quitting this time


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