And told me that my bad cholesterol is up to 223!!!!! I have never had high cholesterol - ever! Add this to a high blood pressure (which I have never had either) about two weeks ago, and I'm getting scared!

Dr knows I'm on Atkins and she readily admits that the studies don't bear out what my tests show. But, nevertheless, wants me to cut out the fat and try to lower the number by Fall.

So, how do I do Atkins without eating fat?? I've been eating bacon and eggs every other day for months. I haven't had pasta or bread or beans or any complex carbs for 18 months. I have to cut out cheese, eggs, cream, bacon.....sheesh! This has hit me hard.

Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/172/155
5'8"

Lots of poultry (turkey, chicken) fish, shrimp, sirloin.
When I started Adkins I made a conscious choice to stay at a lower -fat level. Guess I've never acquired a taste for the cream, cheese, and other higher fat foods. It did slow down my loss quite a bit, I think - but it can be done. Not that I had anything against it, just my personal preference.

I hope it works out and your numbers get back down. There are a lot of lean meats and foods still out there without going to the carbs.

Both the SBD and Curves plans seem to focus more on the lower fat foods if you want to look into them.

I'm not one to talk - still got such a long way to go - just trying to offer help.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160

peg, maybe you could start by switching to turkey bacon??
also, i eat reduced fat alpine lace swiss cheese (from the deli) - which still has <1 g carbs per serving.
i keep an eye on the amount of cream i add to coffee (i switched to half & half, actually).
oh, and how bout using egg beaters - just once in a while?

it can be done ... don't worry. you'll find some creative ways ...

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Carrie
SBD since 9/12/2005
Re-started 5/8/2006
My new journal: Just Breathe

I just want to add that getting more monostaurated fats can help. Nuts, olive oil, flax meal will all help. Also if you re-read DANDR, Dr. Atkins did come up with a list of supplements to help reduce cholesterol. I think he goes into more depth with it in Dr. Atkins Vita Nutrients book.

HTH

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

Peg, by "bad cholesterol" is your doctor saying that your LDL is 223? If so, what was your LDL the last time you had your lipids checked? What is your total cholesterol and your HDL? And what are your triglycerides?

That is a pretty alarming number for LDL, so it makes me curious as to the rest of your lipid profile.

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Hi Maggie: Admittedly I was in shock when she said she called to report on my cholesterol. So I didn't get all that she said. I haven't followed all the folderol over the years about it because I don't have it in the family and I have never had to watch it.

I've written down two numbers here on the pad that I wrote when she called. One was 214 and the other was 306. Then I wrote 68 - 223. Under that I wrote 160 which is what it "should" be and 190 which is where it "can" be before thinking about meds. I see her next week and will get a better explanation. She is and has been very supportive of Atkins and my efforts. She has had nothing but praise for the ways that I look and the way that I have lost. She wants me to try to cut down on fat and see. If I can't do that without gaining weight she is willing to give me meds. With everything else I take though, she doesn't want to start there. I can understand that. But, I'm now acclimated to Atkins. Sheesh!

Peg

Ya know, Peg, it might be a simple matter of tweaking. Particulary adding more fiber.

If you total is 223 and your HDL is 68, that's not really bad at all, considering the most recent research. That would be a risk ratio of 3.2 which is well under the "4 or under" guidelines. My total has always been above 200, but my risk ratio is now 2.3 (as opposed to over 5 before I started this WOE) and my triglycerides are low. My dr's are happy as clams with that, although I admit this bunch is much more cutting edge than many.

Let us know when you get the full profile & what else you're taking. PM me if you want.

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Peg

What Maggie Said.

Ask your Doctor to send you a written report of all tests that you took. Then post the results here. If your total cholesterol is 223 and Hdl is 68 that's okay in my book (and my Doctors). My DR. Has told me not to worry until the total gets above 240. My current total is 225.

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my blog

Peg, I agree with Maggie and Rob - you need to get a written report from your doctor. Good luck and keep us posted.

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Jen



179/179/120

peg... i can understand exactly how you were overwhelmed at the news and didnt really "hear" everything they told you... i have had that happen to me when they call with results or come into the hospitol room and give you information... mind seems to go blank and you get that "in shock" mode... you did AWESOME by at least taking notes..*L* i have done that too.. only to glance at my notes after i hang up and think.."WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN"..
I agree with the rest... get the reports so you can have them for future reference and to also get other opinions..
sorry for the bump in the road... i did low fat before i did low carb.. i am sure you can find alot of options when you get over the shock of your news...
best thoughts going out to you!

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Peg, I can certainly understand your concern but we need to understand exactly what all the numbers are. This is a link that Maggie gave me several months ago. It's about all that 'folderol' (where does that word come from anyway?).

http://atkins.com/Archive/2002/5/14-516408.html

Meanwhile check out SouthBeach, more reading, just what you need.

the first time I had my vitals checked they had come down, but the next time they were higher... I had been having sausage AND bacon every day for breakfast, and lots of cheese... I cut out the sausage and ate less cheese... the last time they were checked they were better... they'll never be normal... but my doc gave me some good advice... she knows how hard it was for me to lose weight...( a fall caused me to not be able to excercise properly) she said I was doing wonderful controlling my weight, and I COULD control it, but I couldn't control my cholesterol, and etc, so I was not to worry about that... just let zocor do the job.. I couldn't do both jobs. I am now much happier about the diet... I love being a slimmer me, and wearing smaller clothes. I like atkins because our choices are so numerous... and I don't worry about my vitals... I do leave it up to zocor..Gives me peace of mind.

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In the cookies of life, we are the chocolate chips.

Hey, you guys: Thank you so much!!! I am so grateful for the community here and the information that you can give me (as well as the info that we share that just helps the rest of the community). It gives me such comfort to know that I can post here and expect calmer and more reliable answers that I can get from hours of research on the Internet. Thanks so much!

It helps to know that my numbers are not HUGE! I thought they were.:o It also helps to know that I can stay on Atkins and do this low fat thing. I have lost almost 40 lbs and am so acclimated now to Atkins that I am not sure what I would do if someone said I had to go off! My Dr. doesn't want me to go off. She is awesome! She just want me to do some tweaking. I admit that I panicked!

But, hearing from each of you and your stories really has helped. My office mate is also trying to lose and her cholesterol is high too. She is 20 years younger than me. She is seeing a nutritionist who is pro-Atkins, and gave me some good suggestions.

So tomorrow when we shop we'll buy some goat's milk cheeses; "betterneggs"; more fruits and veggies that I can carry; and some 1% milk instead of cream. I already eat a good deal of fiber, but can add more almonds. I was eating them for snacks every day, but stomach flu last week had me tasting them twice and I have been off them this week. But, really I like them and can moderate my intake.

Thanks so much.
Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/173/155
5'8"

Before Atkins, in 2001, my total cholesterol was 177--well within the "desirable" range. My LDL/HDL ratio was 1.07

Since Atkins, at the most recent test in 2003, my total cholesterol was 240. However, my LDL/HDL ratio was .81.

Which is better?? My doctor hasn't made a peep.

I think the science on this topic is far from conclusive.

I don't overeat "bad" fats, and one of the things I enjoy is regular bottled salad dressing. I say, find an eating plan within the range of the Atkins Pyramid, and you'll be fine.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Hi everyone, I had a heck of a time finding everyone.

Here is a great link to understanding your cholesterol.
You really need to get those ratios and know too that LDL has both good and bad components.
http://www.totalhealthdynamics.com/cholesterol.htm

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Atkins Maintainer 7 years
Originally registered Feb. 2001
5"1"
Start 155/ goal 96/ now 110/ and goal again 100 soon, hopefully