Hey Ya'll - I've been doing Low Carb (Atkins) since Nov '02 and have not had my cholesterol tested before or during until last week. To start off with the last time I did have my cholesterol checked (a couple of years ago) it was 196 and my HDL was 62.

Now for the results:

Total Cholesterol: 254
HDL : 95
LDL : 149
CHOL/HDL Ratio : 2.7
Triglycerides : 51

I am totally in a freak out mode and have stopped doing low-carb for the last two days. I'm totally devastated that I am going to gain back the weight which I have worked so hard to take off. I don't know what to do ... I feel like I'm going to keel over from a heart attack at any second (total hypochondriac) Do I keep going with maintenance low-carb? Do I go to weight watchers point systems with heavy exercise? What do I do? Please advise as I do not want to go back to my fat clothes.

Actually your cholesterol numbers have improved over the 10 months. Most of the total cholesterol increase was due to HDL increasing. HDL is the good cholesterol. All your ratios look good. Ignore the total cholesterol number as it does not correlate with health problems. What is important is to have high HDL and low triglycerides. With your extreemly high HDL all the other numbers are meaningless.

Hi Misstivigirl
I know how discouraging could it be to see our level of cholesterol increasing. Last month I tested mine and the total was at 352!!!HDL 47 LDL 278. I felt absolutely devastated, not only because of the higher level but because of the possibility to quit this WOL that has give me hope in my weight loss. Well, I went to my doctor inmediately and I was very surprised when she said that she likes Atkins and investigated the cause of the increase checking my TSH (thyroid). It was really high (I'm hypo) and probably it will get normal as soon as my TSH does.
What I'm saying is to relax, Learn more about cholesterol and its numbers. This is an excellent thread to start
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=89205
And then see how bad is yours and consult other possible causes and solutions. Some supplements and excercise could help.
isiar

Misstvlgirl: Don't be too alarmed. I had sort of the same thing happen to me and now I am happy to report that with some adjustments to the diet I have been able to bring my chol levels back down.

Prior to starting atkins my numbers were:
(April 1st, 2003)
Total: 228
HDL: 57
LDL: 134
Tri: 184

After 3 months on hard-core atkins, 35 lbs lost and eating a lot of saturated fats (bacon, eggs, etc...), my numbers were:
(July 1st, 2003)
Total: 257
HDL: 53
LDL: 189
Tri: 99

After 2 1/2 months of moderate to light atkins, 40 lbs total weight lost, being more careful with my saturated fat intake, increasing my exercise, taking a cholesterol supplement called cholestatin, eating much more fish and using egg beaters a lot, my numbers are now:
(Sept 12th 2003)
Total: 204
HDL: 68
LDL: 128
Tri: 89

So, I am in a much better frame of mind now. It takes quite a bit more discipline to watch your fats and still try to do atkins, but you can do it.

My doc still asked me to take 1 baby asprin a day and I am ok with that since it beats having to go on medication which I dread. I have a family history of heart disease. I had a thalium stress test/scan done a few weeks ago and it did show mild to moderate blockage in one of my ateries. I think that with the regimen I am on now, things are to continue to improve in terms of my cardio health.

I hope things work out for you.

Eddie.