Greetings everyone, I hope I can get good advice from experienced people here. I never was overweight, but I am seeking advice about poor blood tests in the past and also how to go about continuing a low carb lifestyle.

Currently I exercise twice a week (soccer and swimming), plus several walks/bike rides a week (I move without a car in the city I live). Regrettably I have a long commute 3 times a week, and my job is in front of a computer all day. I have a large vegetable garden.

This late spring/summer, using the fact that my wife was away for work often, I was able to experiment with a real low carb diet, with great results, losing 13-14 lbs with increased well being. With my increased sensitivity now, I can thank a bumper crop of turnips and chicory greens in the garden, which have lower glicemic indices than other vegetables, for sending me fortuitously in the right direction. I eat butter, lard that I made from a pastured pig two years ago, and olive oil, but I have trouble finding good avocadoes in summer, so this was done on essentially those fats (and meat, eggs and those vegetables).

My first question regards food restrictions. I have a hard time accepting to lose cabbage, carrots, and beets, but if the numbers are correct, a real low-carb diet should be without those foods. I have an even harder time giving up natto, which really fixed my teeth. These four foods played a crucial role in fixing my gut, which was not great either. I would like to hear from people what they have done with these borderline foods.

The second question regards blood testing. Do you have any experience with blood testing via internet? do they send you to a local lab or do you have to draw blood yourself?
My results from 2013 show a TG/HDL over 4, and Nov. 2015 about 2.6. These are not great numbers, since a good ratio should be 1. My 2013 blood glucose was 103, which is high, although the doctor stated that it is within the norm, and my CRP was 2.8, on the upper part of the normal range too. I plan to take new tests on my own this Fall, I was thinking TG, HDL, HG1ABC, and fasting insulin. Any advice/addition to this list will be appreciated.

Incidentally in 2013 I was eating what I thought was a healthy diet. Grass fed meat, huge amounts of fruit, vegetables, rice. It is clear to me that the rice and the fruits were too much for my system.

Welcome glib,

What is "Low Carb" for you truly depends on your tolerance for carbs (the we are all snow-flakes theory of LC ) There is no one answer.
Mark Sisson explains it as a curve, and puts the sweet spot for weight loss at 50-100g. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-...rate-continuum/ [but he is an athlete]

DietDoctor splits his program into three carb levels https://www.dietdoctor.com/how-low-carb-is-low-carb , Strict under 20g, Moderate 20-50g, Liberal 50-100g.

Cabbage is OK at every level..or we are in big trouble! Use it as a pasta substitute, make crack-slaw, and try these cabbage recipes: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/recipes/cabbage

Carrots and beets are dicey for a person who is very carb intolerant..you do NOT appear to be one of them. You exercise and have never been overweight. Enjoy them! I snack on carrots with hummus and like beet salads
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...lad-recipe.html, but personally am limited how often I add them to my diet.

I am a BIG fan of the internet labs, they send you to a local lab, do not expect you to be your own vampire! , here you go: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...01&page=1&pp=15

and for which tests: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=464239

I agree with your last sentence..drop the rice, and any fruit other than berries for now. Think about yams (sweet potatoes) your turnips, and other home-grown root vegetables (envious of your garden) instead of those.

Carbs per se are not the enemy, it is the processing into potato chips that makes potatoes an issue.

Very valuable reply, Jey. I appreciate it.