Cholesterol went higher--Help!

[Quiltlady]

I am new here and I need help. I have only been on Atkins for a little over 2 months--but I had my Cholesterol checked last week and got back a bad report. All of my numbers were high. My total Cholesterol was over 300 and my Tri were 161. I have been totally legal on Atkins with the exception of Christmas Day and my Mothers Birthday- I had a piece of cake. Otherwise, I have not cheated. Why are my numbers going up??? I am worried. My doctor is not real happy about me going on Atkins-- but since I have lost over 20 pounds now- he does see the favorable results. I do eat eggs several times a week for breakfast. Is this what I am doing wrong? I have also used whipping cream in a dessert I made from the Atkins book. There was no carbs in it-- but would that jump up my cholesterol? Please advise-- I am a little green about all of this. I want to stay legal- but maybe I am doing something wrong. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[Dodger]

What were your numbers before you went on Atkins? What was your HDL before and after?

[Quiltlady]

My LDL was 158 last year and it was 226 this past week

[and22]

I have read that after starting LCing it can go up and then after leveling out goes down and keeps going down. That is what happened to me. Now my good Cholesterol is way up there. Get it checked again in 3 months and see how it is then.

Try not eating so much bacon if you are doing that and see if it helps. Some ppl on LCing just cannot eat like everyone else. I know I had to cut down the ham and bacon and sausage. I eat more low fat meat.

[and22]

Also one more thing QuiltLady, having a journal is one thing you can do to help see what you are eating and so we can come visit you.

[Quiltlady]

Thank you so much for your help. I do tend to eat ham more often than I probably should. I really like Atkins and I want to stay on it---I need to convince the Doctor that I can get my chol numbers down.
And22, you helped me to feel better about forging ahead with the diet. Thanks again!

[Puggy]

HAve you ever had a baseline done on your thyroid function? If you have low thyroid, your cholesterol will be higher. Once treated, the #s will go down. Ask your Doc to do this test if she hasn't already.

[Quiltlady]

Hi Puggy! I had a thyroid function test done last week also ---and it was ok. I used to take Zocor but had to get off because of it causing muscle weakness in my body. The cholesterol stayed in the normal range while I took the meds- but right now I can't take it. I was concerned that Atkins may be making it higher.

[OHGal1415]

Quiltlady,

Without ALL the pieces of the cholesterol puzzle (total, HDL, LDL, tris--all these numbers!), it's impossible to assess what your ratios are. And it's true that Atkins DOES tend to "churn up" the fat and cause the numbers to "spike", initially. Bute evenutally (over several months, or even a few years), they DO go down. My guess would be that the statins are still skewing your results. And unless you have other markers for heart disease (blood pressure, family history, smoking), you really SHOULDN'T be taking statins. The risks and dangers FAR outweigh the benefits.

Also, how do you KNOW you don't have thyroid issues? Did you have a FULL thyroid panel performed (TSH, FT3, FT4), or were you given a "clean bill of health" based solely on your TSH numbers? If your MD has actually been following the research lately on thryoid, he/she would know that TSH ALONE is not a very accurate picture of thyroid health.

[Quiltlady]

I got all of my numbers today on the cholesterol tests.
Total: 321
LDL: 226
Tri: 161
HDL: 62

I did not have a full thyroid function test, but I had the basics. They were ok. Last August I had a full panel of Thyroid function tests-- and they were also ok.
I take high blood pressure medicine--but it is controlled and I never run high while on the meds.
I feel really good, but I want the chol #'s to go down-- as my family has a high rate of heart disease.
I am hoping what some of you have mentioned--- that it will go down after I am on the diet for a while--will work for me also.
Thanks for all of your help.
Any advice will be most appreciated.

[Quiltlady]

I drink about 2 cups of coffee every day. I don't use the De-caf-- just regular in the mornings. Would this be messing up my diet or cholesterol? I know others have said you shouln't have coffee on Atkins-- but I need a little to keep going early in the morning before work.
Any thoughts?

[black57]

I would wait until you have been on the diet for 6 months before having another test. Cholesterol tends to go up for, some individuals, before going down.

[Lisa N]

I would wait until you have been on the diet for 6 months before having another test. Cholesterol tends to go up for, some individuals, before going down.

I can testify to that one. My total and LDL both went up the first 6 months on low carb, then took a nosedive the next 6 months and have continued to stay down over the next two years.

[Quiltlady]

I really appreciate all of your help. I will continue to move forward on Atkins. I will plan to take another cholesterol test in six months. Thanks Lisa for your personal experience--that made me feel better. I think because I have always been taught that we should all eat "low fat" for our hearts sake---that it is hard for me to switch my thinking with Atkins. I know Atkins has helped me lose weight. I just need to stick with it now. It really helps to be able to talk to you all on this board.
Thanks again!

[Nancy LC]

I drink about 2 cups of coffee every day. I don't use the De-caf-- just regular in the mornings. Would this be messing up my diet or cholesterol? I know others have said you shouln't have coffee on Atkins-- but I need a little to keep going early in the morning before work.
Any thoughts?

Is your coffee drip brewed? The French Press type of coffee that doesn't pass through a paper filter has been shown to raise cholesterol. But other than that, it shouldn't hurt anything.

[Quiltlady]

My coffee is just the regular automatic drip coffee maker type- like Mr. Coffee.
I usually use Columbian or Starbucks, but since I only drink 2 cups a day- I was hoping it wouldn't hurt the weightloss.
:thup: I did lose weight this week. I now makes 30 pounds for me.
I just hope and pray this continues.
Thanks for the support.

[Quiltlady]

I have actually only lost 23 pounds on Atkins-- but I had lost 7 pounds the two weeks prior watching calories, and then had the flu. The total would be 30 pounds from the start-- but I guess I should just count 23 since Atkins.

[Enomarb]

Hi Quilt!
My cholesterol also went up, and I was very discouraged. That was in August, and the numbers are going down now. I was also told by people on the site to wait at least 6 months for results in lipids.
I also wonder of going off Zocor resulted in a rebound in your lipids that was blamed on the diet.
One other thing- I also eat eggs daily, but use the "egglands best" which are high in e and fed a veggie diet.
Good luck- don't give up!

[Quiltlady]

Thanks Enomarb,

I am glad to know that other people also experience spikes in cholesterol before the start to come down.
I will continue on Atkins for now and do as some of you advised and have it rechecked in 6 months.
It is hard for me to re-condition my brain into thinking that this way of eating is legal. I was always told to go Low fat, low calorie, low cholesterol. These did not help me to lose weight and keep it off. Sometimes I go to eat something and I have to double-check to be sure it is Atkins friendly-- as it may seem too good to be "diet" food.

I have started to substitute ground turkey instead of ground beef. I like it in my chilli, or when I make "Taco" meat that I serve in the low carb Tortilla's with sour cream, green peppers and cheese. I love those low carb Tortilla's.
I also like to make "Taco" meat and serve over my lettuce and trimmings to make my taco salad.

May I ask you--how long did it take you to get to your goal?
Congrats on your success! :roll: I bet you feel so much better.
Thanks again for your reply -- and to everyone----Good Luck to you all.

[Enomarb]

Hi Quilt:
I got to the 150, which was 30 pounds, after 5 months. I have lost another 5 pounds since, in 2 months, of following CALP but eating more carbs with my Reward Meal.
I felt better eating the LC way even before the weight came off.
There is an amazing amount of information and help on this and other web sites. I guess I beleive the more you know, the better you can advocate for your own health.
Again, you are doing great.
E

[Quiltlady]

I was wondering if you had ever done Atkins before, or have you always been on CALP? Do you like the CALP the best? I was wondering about going on South Beach since they have more options on fruit, etc. I like Atkins, but my doctor suggested I try South Beach. Have you done South Beach before? I don't know why, but I find South Beach to be confusing after I read part of the book. I admit I didn't read it cover to cover, but I thought Atkins sounded easier to keep track of things and it made more sense to me for some reason.
I lost weight on CArb Addicts diet before, but I had a problem with the reward meal in the evening. I seemed to go overboard on my "Reward" meal --rather than stay in control with it as the book suggested. I liked "rewarding" myself a little too much. :eek:
Thanks for your replys--- It is good to get helpful advice since I am new to this way of life.

[Enomarb]

Hi Quilt:
Yes, CALP is the only plan I have been on. I think this is such a personal issue, and the better you know yourself the better you can match up a plan.
For me, I had to cut out the bread/rice/potatoes/sugars, but I hate to measure anything or count anything. CAD/CALP really looked good to me, because I liked the structure of the meals and the freedom of the RM. The whole insulin resistance thing makes sense to me too, and I thought I'd try it. Well, CALP has changed my life.
The RM is not a problem for me most of the time. I would rather have some type of grain or a carby veggie than a sweet, but knowing I can have the sweet helps.
The CALP guidelines of balancing the RM help me too.
There is a lot of great stuff on the CAD/CALP forum. People on this WOL much longer than me. They would be great support.
H

[Quiltlady]

Hi Enomarb,

I may check into the Carb Addicts diet again. I like Atkins--I am just searching right now for the correct balance I may need.
I am glad that you have had such good results with the program. It sounds wonderful to be able to feel in control of your eating. I can't say that I have found that yet. I hope I am on my way to discovering the correct method to continue for life. If my doctor had not protested so much-- I might not even consider anything but Atkins right now. I just need to get my cholesterol down and it concerns me that it has become so high.
I sure do love the support from you all on this web site. It really helps to learn the tips to dieting from others who are using the program.
Thanks for all your good advice.
Quiltlady

[Quiltlady]

I am writing an update to my cholesterol tests. I am so happy to say that it is now 5 months since my last cholesterol tests---and the numbers have decreased drastically.
My first cholesterol test after being on Atkins for 2 months were extremely high. I was so disscouraged. You guys were right. I hung in there and stayed on Atkins very strictly--and now my new lipid panel came back very good.
I now have normal numbers--and on top of that my HDL is 68 which is great.
I don't have to take any cholesterol lowering drugs either.
Thanks for all the encouragement I got from you guys.
It does pay off in the long run.

Just wanted to let you know the good news.
Thanks again!

Quiltlady :agree:

[tagcaver]

Congratulations! It really works, doesn't it!

If nothing else, my main motivation to eat like this for life is my improving cholesterol results. I'm impatient to wait till September to get my next lipid panel!

[Fhyreworks]

That's awesome! I was reading through this thread and wondering what would happen when you got retested :) I am so glad your levels are down.

Debbie

[eddiemcm]

Atkins diet helps cholesterol levels in most but not all
people.You may need to utilize supplements to get your
cholesterol down.i had this problem on Atkins and utilized
the following inexpensive supplements to lower my cholesterol
from 308 to 184 in 3 months:
1."Better cholesterol" from www.getyoungagain.com-2 pills per day
2. "Pantesin pantethine" from www.swansonvitamins.com-3 pills per day
These products work better than statins,are less expensive and don't
have the potential side effects (i.e.liver damage) of statins.
They also jack up your immune system and provide cancer protection.
Good luck!

[treefrog]

Boy, am I relieved to see these posts. I just posted here, since I found out my cholesterol had gone up over the past 4 months in which I have been doing Atkins. I guess I will continue with it, and get my cholesterol checked again in another 6 months.

Did you change anything in the way you were eating? Did you switch to more lean meats, chicken and fish? I'm just wondering if I should try that, or if it would be okay to continue eating the way I have been. I do like to have steaks sometimes, and a burger is just so damn convenient. Plus I tend to get a little tired of chicken if I eat it all the time.

Thanks, and congrats to you. Keep it up.

[Enomarb]

Hi Quilt and Tree-
All I can say is stick with it. When I had my lipids retested in June 04 all my numbers were great, and my HDL was in the 60s- my best ever. My MD calls me his star patient. I needed to give it more than 6 months.
I am not on Atkins, but on CALP. It is not high fat, but I eat all kinds of red meat and chicken and fish. I don't have cream and cream cheese, but I have 2 eggs and hard cheese daily.
Good luck- and use the people here for info and support.
Eno

[Quiltlady]

Treefrog,
I just wanted to say that I was very skeptical about whether my cholesterol numbers would drop to normal during my first few months on Atkins. Well I continued the regular eating plan of Atkins- I had hamburger- chicken- cheese- quite often.
I ate cream cheese maybe once a week--but not too often.
And I always eat eggs. I have eggs every day. I am convinced that eggs have been lied about for many years. If I don't eat eggs, I don't feel satisfied as well as when I do. I also believe they are excellant for hair and skin. Eveyone tells me my hair is so nice and shiney and I know it is from the eggs I eat.
For a while, I tried to eat "lower fat" meats--but I found my weight loss slowed when I did that. I returned to eating as Atikins recommends and did much better.
I will admit that I am losing pounds slowly right now, but I am still sticking true to Atkins--and still losing inches. I think once I hit the 40 pound loss, it did slow down a bit. But considering it came off so fast in the beginning, I am not complaining.
I plan to be on this for life. I have never felt better.
I do believe that you have to get your lipid panel retested after you have been your low carb plan for at least 6 months.
Don't go completely by your first test. If your second six month test is high, I think you should do what your Doctors advise for your health sake. Always consult your doctor. I just want to tell you not to give up---but make sure you are not eating trans fats. I strongly believe that if you stay clear of trans fats you will do better. Eat real butter--not margarine or the fake stuff.
Use real heavy cream and not milk.
Good luck.
Don't lose heart as it will begin to work. We are all different in how long it may take to see results. My metablolism is slower than most--but eventually I will get there. So will you.

Quiltlady

[Quiltlady]

Enomarb,

Congrats on your great results on your cholesterol! :agree:

You are doing so good. I really appreciate all the support you guys give on this board. It is so nice to share the good news.
Just keep doing what your are doing.
We are all different, so we just have to do what works for each of us.
I have experimented with different ways-- some not so good and slowed me way down--some did ok with me.
I will eventually learn the hard way. LOL :lol:

Keep up the good work!
Thanks for your support.
Quiltlady

[OtistheCat]

All I can say is "WOW"! I've been reading all these posts, and when things seem tough, you all stuck together and helped each other out. I am new at low carbing, I am a Diabetic, and have wicked high cholesterol. Actually, I "had" high cholesterol. My cholesterol was 307 the beginning of June, and when I had it tested the latter part of July it went down to 197. All my adult life my cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL was never right. But, I can honestly say that low carbing (along with Zetia & Niaspan) may have saved my life. Hopefully, I will be able to get off the cholesterol lowering medication. However, I just wanted you folks to know that I am grateful for all of you and for this forum. Quilt it is your Journal, and reading what you have been through has definitely inspired me. You all inspire me. Thanks.. :wave:

[treefrog]

Quilt,

Thanks for the reply. My cholesterol numbers were a lot better in my before, and I know I was eating a lot more trans fats then. I think that my body is just adjusting to this new way of eating. I plan to stick with Atkins, and try not to eat as many of the LC "treats" (candy and ice cream) as I have in the past, as someone said they tend to have trans fats.

Thanks again for posting your new numbers, so we can all see that if you stick with it, the numbers will come down in time.

[DavidS]

My LDL was 158 last year and it was 226 this past week

First take a deap breath!!! Your LDL is extremly high but I can help. FIrst of all your fat sensetive. You have to lower your fat intake and saturaed fat intake. You can eat unlimited amounts of meat but It has to be lean!!!! ONLY LEAN MEAT. Stop using whipping cream and use the light kind and start doing heavy excersize!!!!! I recomend at least 30minutes a day for 7 time a week. Your ldl is very high and has to be reduced drasticly!!

[Quiltlady]

David S.,

I appreciate you trying to help--but I don't think you read my posts earlier in this page. My cholesterol is now down to normal numbers and I don't even have to take cholesterol lowering drugs. I am very happy with my new test numbers. I have lower cholesterol now than I have my entire life--thanks to Atkins. I have never been better. I am convinced that Atkins does lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. Thank goodness I have stuck with the Atkins way of life. It is a life saver for me.

Quiltlady

[DavidS]

David S.,

I appreciate you trying to help--but I don't think you read my posts earlier in this page. My cholesterol is now down to normal numbers and I don't even have to take cholesterol lowering drugs. I am very happy with my new test numbers. I have lower cholesterol now than I have my entire life--thanks to Atkins. I have never been better. I am convinced that Atkins does lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. Thank goodness I have stuck with the Atkins way of life. It is a life saver for me.

Quiltlady

OOPS SORRY. IM SO HAPPY FOR U. TELL HOW DID U get your ldl lower. ALso whats ur ldl score

[black57]

Hi Enomarb,

I may check into the Carb Addicts diet again. I like Atkins--I am just searching right now for the correct balance I may need.
I am glad that you have had such good results with the program. It sounds wonderful to be able to feel in control of your eating. I can't say that I have found that yet. I hope I am on my way to discovering the correct method to continue for life. If my doctor had not protested so much-- I might not even consider anything but Atkins right now. I just need to get my cholesterol down and it concerns me that it has become so high.
I sure do love the support from you all on this web site. It really helps to learn the tips to dieting from others who are using the program.
Thanks for all your good advice.
Quiltlady


Congratulations QL. This thread is soooo important to anyone who is doing this way of eating. If I read about anyone with a similar problem I will send them here. If I can't find this thread I will send them to the Quiltlady. So QL, you have to stay with us we need your help.

[black57]

I am writing an update to my cholesterol tests. I am so happy to say that it is now 5 months since my last cholesterol tests---and the numbers have decreased drastically.
My first cholesterol test after being on Atkins for 2 months were extremely high. I was so disscouraged. You guys were right. I hung in there and stayed on Atkins very strictly--and now my new lipid panel came back very good.
I now have normal numbers--and on top of that my HDL is 68 which is great.
I don't have to take any cholesterol lowering drugs either.
Thanks for all the encouragement I got from you guys.
It does pay off in the long run.

Just wanted to let you know the good news.
Thanks again!

Quiltlady :agree:

Sorry, this is the post I meant to quote. I need to go back to bed. Congratulations :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: