Thread: Struggling

Hi Gang. For me, everything about low carb has been hearts and roses. Since I started in September, I lost 30+ pounds. I was never hungry. I was close to my goal weight. Life was good. Then, I went to my yearly Dr. appointment and found out my cholestrol was up 30+ points. How did this happen when everything I've read about low carb said it would go down? I followed the program religiously. Why did everyone else's go down and mine went up? I'm not going to lie. I felt a little betrayed by everything I've read.

I don't know what to do now. I've read up on diets for lowering cholesterol and what I'm supposed to do goes against my low carb rules. I have such a loyalty to low carb because it has changed the way I think about food and helped me realize how addicted to carbs I was. I feel betrayed by my body right now. Why is it that I finally found a WOL that works for my lifestyle and now I see that it's not healthy for me? Why did it make others more healthy but me LESS healhy?

This couldn't have happened at a worse time. It's summer, lake time, more beer, less control. I just don't know what to do.

Cisco (bummed, probably going to have a heart attack any minute...but skinnier) : (

I've heard of this happening in the short term but after a year things usually improve. What were the numbers? Ldl, hdl and total cholesterol? I would suggest that you use more monounsaturated fats like olive oil. Monounsturated fats are known to reduce ldl (bad cholesterol) and increase hdl (good). I'm not saying give up butter!

Jody,
Did you read our response to you in your *Cholesterol Shock* thread?
It may be helpful to you.

best wishes

s

Yes, I did read your reply, Shelly and thanks for that. It's just so confusing to me, though. I read "Protein Power" and it talked a length about cholesterol and how this diet would make it go down. I just don't really understand what to do about fats. If I cut down on fats, like you have, then aren't I re-teaching my body not to burn fat? Doesn't that go against all things low carb?

I've also thought about your advice about going to a dietician, but I'm pretty sure s/he would tell me to dump low carb and go back to low fat.

What I'm trying now is no more than four eggs a week, smaller portions of meat and making myself add veggies to every meal. It doesn't help that I'm off work for the summer so all those nice chef salads in the deli at work aren't available. It doesn't help that I have to wait so long to test again.

Anyway, thanks for being so helpful. I was just having a little pity party that night. I'm better now.

Cisco

If I cut down on fats, like you have, then aren't I re-teaching my body not to burn fat?

Not necessarily. You are decreasing the amount of saturated fats,(whole milk cheeses, sour cream, fatty cuts of red meat) that raise LDL, while increasing the MUFA's(olive oil, nuts, salmon) which help promote HDL formation.
Again, I would reiterate, for myself, due to my risk factors that I can not change, making these substitutions, is working for me.
I would also say that my scenario is a-typical, and Dr Atkins had documented(great) results with his WOE.

And, hey....make your own chef's salad! That's a great way to get *creative* with salad veggies!

Again, I would never tell you to go against what your Physician prescribes, but perhaps you could ask to have another lipid panel drawn after you've had your new dietary changes in place for 6 months or so??? You might be able to see at that point if your labs are trending toward normal. Just a thought.

best wishes to you!

Cisco, I"m so sorry to hear about your disappointing test results! I'd be asking the same questions.

I know you're working on your doc on this (as it should be), and I know I can't add to Shell's fine advice, other than to say hang in there and keep working on finding your own groove. On the plus side, however, eating more veggies overall pretty much is never a bad idea.

Valerie- I think the issue is that Cisco felt she didn't have to worry about it - until her doctor determined there was a problem. While we definitely encourage people to experiment and find what fits them best, at LCE we absolutely do NOT advise folks to go against medical advice.

Originally Posted by Goddess

Cisco, I"m so sorry to hear about your disappointing test results! I'd be asking the same questions.

I know you're working on your doc on this (as it should be), and I know I can't add to Shell's fine advice, other than to say hang in there and keep working on finding your own groove. On the plus side, however, eating more veggies overall pretty much is never a bad idea.

Valerie- I think the issue is that Cisco felt she didn't have to worry about it - until her doctor determined there was a problem. While we definitely encourage people to experiment and find what fits them best, at LCE we absolutely do NOT advise folks to go against medical advice.

Sorry, I thought I was just supporting Shelly's advice, maybe linguistics were lost in computer space but I absolutely did not say, "do not listen to medical advice". I said test it for yourself, meaning get retested in 6 months while finding "your groove" like both you and Shelly said.

In my experience, there are people whose cholesterol goes down when they avoid dairy and limit red meat. I think it has a genetic component. It has not been studied yet. So, I cannot give a rationale.

You can still have 1-2% fat mozzerella sticks...

However, doctors who give this type of advice are not giving it based on a person who is burning ketones for energy. Its completely different than when following a high carb diet. High carb, high fat is a disaster and will absolutely kill.

The issue of low carbers going to doctors who have no clue about the benefits of low carb diets is an issue. Maybe you can find a doctor through the Nutrition and Metabolism society, NMSociety Home Page that will be on the same page. There is a lot of research there maybe you can print it and bring it with you to your doctor so he has a better understanding of the biochemistry.

I am so frustrated at doctors giving nutrition advice...I get a lot of people who are told to avoid eggs yolks. In our preactice we give a supplement called lecithin to bring down cholesterol. It is found in the yolk of an egg. Steak is 1/3 monounsaturated fat....I could go on but I'll spare you all.

I hope I have not offended anyone. I would never tell anyone not to follow doctors advice but I would say, if you are unhappy with your doctor find another who is willing to help.

thanks for the clarification, valerie. and i share your frustration at what some of the docs say. it's just that as a peer support forum, we walk a sometimes fine line when folks are discussing medical issues. even if i think a doc is flat-out wrong, the most i am comfortable suggesting is getting a second opinion. but it's something we're very careful about, as i'm sure you understand.

another thought for cisco- have you looked at the LC specialty products you're eating? i've been reminded recently how these products can really impact folks differently and if the rest of your eating is in order, that's another area to explore.

Might I suggest upping your fiber intake? You can do this by adding WAY more veggies, fruit and perhaps a fiber supplement, along with a tad more water intake.

Thanks everyone, for your suggestions. I'm going to try everything you've suggested. I've decided I shouldn't just throw LC down the crapper. I think I've been doing a few things wrong...mostly the fiber thing and the "eat veggies" thing. Even though I thought it was cool that I could eat a steak and nothing else for a meal (and not be hungry), I guess, even though it helped me lose weight, I was doing it at the expense of my health (sigh). It's the old "there's no free lunch" thing all over again. I'm still trying to figure out what my own personal diet should be to maintain my new "skinny" self.

Cisco

Every time I read about the wonders of avocados I get a little thrill. I ADORE them and would eat 3/day if I could. I usually do pick 2 up whenever I go to the store. And DH doesn't like them, so I get to eat them allllllll to myself!!! YUMMMM! I like them right out of the skin with a sprinkle of lime juice and bit of salt or mashed and made into guacamole.......although I really don't have anything to eat the creamy delight with since most things crunchy and dippable are naughty, carby morsels. So I usually end up just slicing them and topping my salads with them or eating them as a side with my meal. Love, love, love them. I just wish I could grow a tree here in this Illinois habitat.