Thread: Cholesterol Shock

Well, after eight months LC, I'm not the poster child of health. I was really looking forward to getting my blood levels because I've read about so many others whose levels got so much better. Well my cholesterol rose significantly. Damn!!!! I was getting comfortable with this WOL.

Here's my numbers:

Cholesterol: 257
Cholestrol last year: 237 (gulp)

HDL Good Cholesterol: 69
HDL Good Cholesterol last year: 66 (so that's better)
LDL Bad Cholesterol: 180
LDL Bad Cholesterol last year: 147 (gulp)
Triglycerides 108
Triglycerides last year: 118 (so that's better)

So my doctor said I need to go on a low cholesterol diet and I'm trying to figure out how that works with low carb. Here's a few things I know I have to change.

Eggs... I was having 2-3 eggs every morning. That has to stop.
Cream cheese. Can't have that any more so there goes all my nummy cakes and cheese cakes.
Meat....no more than 5 ounces a meat a day.That's way less than I was having.

I'm really reeling right now. I was so sure this was THE answer for me.

I'm starting to read up on how to lower your cholesterol and it all sounds like I have to throw low carb out the window. Oats? Whole grains? Yea right. That's a million carbs right there.

I wonder if should try doing the low carb with sugar,but adding whole grain breads and beans.

Any advice? I'm feeling blue. I like my new body,and want to keep it. But I'm afraid I got it at the expense of my arteries.

Cisco (bummed)

Hi Jody!
Sorry your lab values weren't "normal". Mine didn't come in line with what my Dr wanted either, but overall, is much better.
There are some risk factors you can NOT change...genetics and age.
There are some you CAN change; diet and exercise(and smoking cessation if you are a smoker) are among the most important ones you can change.
Personally, I cut fat where I can by: using olive oil only, making my own salad dressings with OO, limiting my intake of nuts and cheese, using lower fat cheese...like 2% milkfat, and reduced fat cream cheese(neufchatel),2% cottage cheese, by using egg whites or egg beaters in recipes, rarely deep frying meats or veggies, and as much as I love a good rib-eye steak, I try to only have 3 beef meals a week, otherwise, it's chicken breast, fish, or turkey, and occasional extra lean pork loin chops, grilled or broiled. I was never a big egg eater, so I eat Maggie's cereal for breakfast or make a LC muffin of some sort. I avoid most grains, and of course, sugar, flour, rice, etc.
It's hard to argue protein(poultry, fish, lean meats), and veggies aren't good for you! LOL!
Again, these are things I do, and my physician is on board with this and we monitor my labs yearly. My incentive to eat healthy is to avoid cholesterol reducing meds and BP meds.

We can not give medical advice, nor tell you to go against your physician's orders. You should discuss your diet with your doctor and perhaps ask for a nutrition consult with an RD.

Hang in there, and best wishes to you!

s

My cholesterol levels went up after 3 months of low carbing. but after 4 years my numbers had improved quite a bit.

started Atkins/protein power 2/14/2003 - Total cholesterol in may 2003 - 218
hdl - 40
ldl (plus vldl)- 178
triglycerides - unknown

May 2007
Total - 200
ldl -116
vldl - 9
hdl - 75
triglycerides - 45

Not a bad idea to cut back on things like eggs and cheese but you don't have to give them up entirely. I eat eggs on average every other day. it's a rare day that i don't eat some cheese.
Don't let your test results discourage you. I didn't and am so happy about that.