Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

[gonnabskinny]

I just got the results of my physical this week.

The Results:
Resting Heart Rate 66 (which is really low. It represents that I am getting pretty fit)
Blood Pressure 120/80 (pretty good)
Measured High Ketone levels in my urine (which meant that I was in ketosis, when they did the physical. The doctor thought it was because of fasting before the physical, but WE know that it is due to burning more fat with Atkins rather than storing glucose)

Here is the dilema and I am not sure, why this is an issue, but then I am not a doctor.

Triglycerides = 69 (in the optimal range)
LDL (bad cholesterol) = 124 (in the near optimal range)
HDL (good cholesterol) = 85 (in the optimal range)
Total cholesterol = 223 (in the borderline high range)

How do you go from being in the optimal to near optimal range in all categories, but when it is figured together, end up with borderline high cholesterol??? The doctor wants me to cut out red meat, eggs, and saturated fats and come back in three months to have it checked again. Not sure how I can do that on Atkins. I would think that all of the other numbers DO NOT support that. In fact, I would say that it is evident that my body is becoming a fat burning machine and actually operates better with fat in my system. Then again, I am not a doctor! I am just puzzled. Am I missing something???

[mitzimarie]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Hey, Don

I responded to this post in the OWL forum. I'm curious to hear what you decide to do about this.

Good luck!

[gonnabskinny]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Mitzi, I have decided to stop doing Atkins! This diet really doesn't work and it is bad for you! I have only lost 184 lbs on Atkins, have only lowered my resting heart rate to 66, lowered my blood pressure to 120/80, lower my triglycerides to 69, raised my HDL (good cholesterol) to 85, and gone from size 60 pants to a size 38. Also, all my other tests, EKG, prostate, etc. came back fine, but I'm sure all of those numbers would have been much better if I followed the doctors recommendation! LOL Who knows, if I followed her advice, my resting heart rate might even be all the way down to 0!!! LOL Needless to say, I am not going to change a thing, except possibly doctors if it comes down to it!

[mitzimarie]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

ROTFLMAO!!!

I hope that you can find a doctor who is not afraid to think outside of the box. Unfortunately, it isn't that easy.

Good luck, my friend.

[Sherri]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

[QUOTE=gonnabskinny]Mitzi, I have decided to stop doing Atkins! This diet really doesn't work and it is bad for you! I have only lost 184 lbs on Atkins, have only lowered my resting heart rate to 66, lowered my blood pressure to 120/80, lower my triglycerides to 69, raised my HDL (good cholesterol) to 85, and gone from size 60 pants to a size 38. Also, all my other tests, EKG, prostate, etc. came back fine, but I'm sure all of those numbers would have been much better if I followed the doctors recommendation! LOL Who knows, if I followed her advice, my resting heart rate might even be all the way down to 0!!! LOL Needless to say, I am not going to change a thing, except possibly doctors if it comes down to it![/QUOTE
ROTFLMAO!
I love this post Don! You are such a success!, gives me goose bumps!
Sincerely, Sherri

[jimmie 48]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Triglycerides = 69 (in the optimal range)
LDL (bad cholesterol) = 124 (in the near optimal range)
HDL (good cholesterol) = 85 (in the optimal range)
Total cholesterol = 223 (in the borderline high range)

no way would i mess with these numbers. my HDL was 77 and the pharmasict said to keep doing whatever it was i was doing. she said she'd never seen that high of an HDL number without the person being on medication . and your's is higher than mine!
your chol/hdl ratio is 2.62. mine is 3.3. it should be below 4.5 . you are in excellent shape as far as i can see.
yep, you better stop doing atkins before it kills you being so healthy

[Einy]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

That's funny Don..

You look really great, and amazing difference really. Well, for all seriousness though.. why not replacing some of the port/beef red meat with chicken or so? I mean, for example, rather than 4 steaks a week, why not make them 2.5 steaks/week and 1.5 chicken/fish/etc?

I am a meat lover myself, never been in a high cholesterol situation, and sometimes do that when I feel like been eating too much read meat for the whole week. The body works differently from one person to another of course, but I believe no one disagrees here that a beef steak would have way more cholesterol than a chicken breast or a trout.

Just a thought..

[cgdat136]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

foods that are quite good and possibly may help to lower you cholesterol include fish (but not shrimp), brussel sproutes, almonds and.....i think blueberries?! all are atkins friendly .......i think, depending on which rung you are on. i also mix flax seed with many of my meals

[ValidRouge]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

I don't think you should change a THING, Don!

Do some research on the RATIO between HDL and LDL. That number is a much better descriptor of your cholesterol. As Jimmie said, your ration is 2.6 which is FANTASTIC. AND, your triglycerides are low. I think it is very unfortunate that your doctor is just looking at the bottom number and giving out the canned text book advice for the total number. Next time you go, you can go armed with the research that shows how good your cholesterol really is when looking at the DETAILS rather than the cumulative number.

I'm lucky that my doctor doesn't do that. She was very impressed with my numbers (very similar to yours) and is 100% supportive.

[Chicklady]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

So it's been about 3 months. Did you get retested? personally, I would have fired your doctor, but......

[sallyseachange]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

I have to agree with Chicklady... your numbers were (and I'm sure still are) awesome. Personally (just an opinion), I wouldn't worry too much about the sat fats... there's a wealth of evidence to support the fact that sat fats are not the devils they're made out to be. Enjoy your sat fats! They make food taste gooooooooooood!

[gonnabskinny]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Well, here is an update. I am NOT going to get retested. I have read Gary Taubes book, 'Good Calories, Bad Calories' and am thoroughly convinced more than ever that most of the medical profession doesn't have a clue when it comes to "proper" diet. They just keep spewing the same old garbage, without regard to the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

So here is what I have decided to do.

1. I upped my saturated fat intake. I figured it was too low anyway, and unlike Miller Lite, it taste great and is actually MORE filling! LOL

2. I cut back even a little more on the carbs, since I figured that they are really the culprit anyways.

3. Before too long, I am going to start interviewing for a new doctor. I only need to ask the doctors one question to see if they qualify. "What in your opinion constitutes a healthy diet?" If they answer, "one that is low in saturated fats", I hang up and go on to the next one.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Well, here is an update. I am NOT going to get retested. I have read Gary Taubes book, 'Good Calories, Bad Calories' and am thoroughly convinced more than ever that most of the medical profession doesn't have a clue when it comes to "proper" diet. They just keep spewing the same old garbage, without regard to the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

So here is what I have decided to do.

1. I upped my saturated fat intake. I figured it was too low anyway, and unlike Miller Lite, it taste great and is actually MORE filling! LOL

2. I cut back even a little more on the carbs, since I figured that they are really the culprit anyways.

3. Before too long, I am going to start interviewing for a new doctor. I only need to ask the doctors one question to see if they qualify. "What in your opinion constitutes a healthy diet?" If they answer, "one that is low in saturated fats", I hang up and go on to the next one.

Wise man! And... I love your "good doctor" quiz!

[Zarabelle]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Wow! Fabulous results.

Isn't it crazy how people rely on what a computer says instead of actually looking at the results and using their noddle?!

Luckily, my GP is fine with Atkins and was happy with my weightloss. Am waiting for results to my first blood tests which I had three weeks in.

Zx

[Tana]

Re: Am I Missing Something About My Cholesterol?

Don,

I think your numbers are fine, they will get even better. Have the doctor order either the NMR lipoprofile test, or the VAP test.

My last test was total chol over 300. HDL of 84. and Trigs of 58. My LDL was made up of Type A, which is great!!

No statins for me either.


P.S.
You look amazing!!