My Lipid Profile

Quoted message said:

"Julianne" [email hidden] Writes:

Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach Diet.
I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self centered, I am
looking for practical advice and research that shows how my
lipid studies may be improved without drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides 156 0
- 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL Cholesterol
calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL Cholesterol calculated
127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

What is the South Beach Diet? I would suggest some form of
aerobic exercise, changing your diet and adding vitamin C
and Niacin. You might consider having some more complete lab
tests such as Apoprotein B LDL-S3GGEâ„¢ (LDL peak particle
size, % distribution) Lipid profile (TG, TC, L-C, HDL-C)
Lipoprotein (a) Homocysteine HDL-S10GGEâ„¢ and C-Reactive
Protein-hs.

Take a look at Berkeley Heart Lab at
www.berkeleyheartlab.com

Julianne said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach Diet.
I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self centered, I
am looking for practical advice and research that shows
how my lipid studies may be improved without drugs.
Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199

Not optimal.

Quoted message said:

Triglycerides 156 0 - 149

Not optimal. If you are overweight (with central obesity)
and have hypertension (or fasting glucose more than 100
mg/dL), you have metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Quoted message said:

HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59

Good.

Quoted message said:

VLDL Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99

Not optimal.

Quoted message said:

LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Not as useful as tChol/HDL ratio which optimally should be
less than 3.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Julianne

If you are overweight which is implied by your dieting,
losing weight definitely improves one's lipid profile.

Would suggest you ask your doctor about the 2PD approach:

heartmdphd.comwtloss.aspOpen ↗

Ime, this has never failed for safe permanent (>5yrs)
weight loss.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

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Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach Diet.
I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self centered, I
am looking for

practical

Quoted message said:

advice and research that shows how my lipid studies may be
improved

without

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides 156 0
- 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL Cholesterol
calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL Cholesterol calculated
127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Testing in initial phases of new diet plan is not a good
idea - numbers are erratic. It is generally recommended to
test after 3 months on new diet plan at least.

Other than that, as SB is low-carb dieting plan, your TG
should almost certainly drop later. That should bring down
your VLDLs and perhaps LDLs too (they are all related - TG
are transported by VLDL and when VLDL is emptied of TG, it
becomes LDL). High fasting TG usually means that your body
is converting excess carbohydrates to fat and storage of
this fat is slowed down by insulin resistance.

Mirek

Thanks, Andrew. I have always been the poster child for
insulin resistance when it comes to central obesity. I am
down to 136 (5'4"😉 which is not technically overweight or
obese but I have the typical Apple body shape. I am
working on that.

j "Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Julianne said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for

practical

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

advice and research that shows how my lipid studies may
be improved

without

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199

Not optimal.

Quoted message said:

Triglycerides 156 0 - 149

Not optimal. If you are overweight (with central obesity)
and have hypertension (or fasting glucose more than 100
mg/dL), you have metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Quoted message said:

HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59

Good.

Quoted message said:

VLDL Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99

Not optimal.

Quoted message said:

LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Not as useful as tChol/HDL ratio which optimally should be
less than 3.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Julianne

If you are overweight which is implied by your dieting,
losing weight definitely improves one's lipid profile.

Would suggest you ask your doctor about the 2PD approach:

heartmdphd.comwtloss.aspOpen ↗

Ime, this has never failed for safe permanent (>5yrs)
weight loss.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

** Who is the humblest person in the universe?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

What is all this about?
makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

Is this spam? makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.comOpen ↗

"Mirek Fidler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for

practical

Quoted message said:

advice and research that shows how my lipid studies may
be improved

without

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides 156
0 - 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL
Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Testing in initial phases of new diet plan is not a good
idea - numbers are erratic. It is generally recommended to
test after 3 months on new diet plan at least.

Other than that, as SB is low-carb dieting plan, your TG
should almost certainly drop later. That should bring down
your VLDLs and perhaps LDLs too (they are all related - TG
are transported by VLDL and when VLDL is emptied of TG, it
becomes LDL). High fasting TG usually means that your body
is converting excess carbohydrates to fat and storage of
this fat is slowed down by insulin resistance.

Mirek

Thanks. I had blood drawn for another reason and they
included the lipids. I definitely plan to retest in three to
six months.

j

Dr. Andrew B. Chung said:

Quoted message said:

Triglycerides 156 0 - 149

Not optimal. If you are overweight (with central obesity)
and have hypertension (or fasting glucose more than 100
mg/dL), you have metabolic syndrome (MetS).

How does one treat the metabolic syndrome (or dysmetabolic
syndrome). Is it possible to have the metablic syndrome with
a really low cholesterol (total cholesterol < 130) ?

Thanks,

Mike

Dr. Andrew B. Chung said:

Julianne said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for practical advice and research
that shows how my lipid studies may be improved without
drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199

Not optimal.

Quoted message said:

Triglycerides 156 0 - 149

Not optimal. If you are overweight (with central obesity)
and have hypertension (or fasting glucose more than 100
mg/dL), you have metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Quoted message said:

HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59

Good.

Quoted message said:

VLDL Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99

Not optimal.

Quoted message said:

LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Not as useful as tChol/HDL ratio which optimally should be
less than 3.

Quoted message said:

Thanks

Julianne

What would be "optimal" for who person who is most
likely a woman?

Consider the following which was posted here several weeks
ago and remains unchallenged:

"benefit to survival with statins or other cholesterol-
lowering agents has never been demonstrated in women "

...in the following context.

========= Start quote ================

There has never been benefit shown for many groups. “However
benefit to survival with statins or other cholesterol-
lowering agents has never been demonstrated in women (even
those at high cardiac risk), in the older elderly, or in men
at lower cardiac risk . . .” [emphasis added] – “Beatrice A.
Golomb, MD, PhD on Statin Drugs” –
coloradohealthsite.orgcoloradohealthsite.orgOpen ↗
========= end quote ================

If quantity `A' does not vary with quantity `B' then,
clearly, there is no optimal `B' with respect to `A.'

If `survival' does not vary with `cholesterol lowering
agents' then, clearly, there is no optimal `cholesterol
lowering' with respect to `survival.'

So, where might "optimal" total cholesterol and "optimal"
LDL cholesterol come from? If not science, then it must be
Madison Avenue, no?

Regards,
A.L.

"Mirek Fidler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for

practical

Quoted message said:

advice and research that shows how my lipid studies may
be improved

without

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides 156
0 - 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL
Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Testing in initial phases of new diet plan is not a good
idea - numbers are erratic. It is generally recommended to
test after 3 months on new diet plan at least.

Other than that, as SB is low-carb dieting plan, your TG
should almost certainly drop later. That should bring down
your VLDLs and perhaps LDLs too (they are all related - TG
are transported by VLDL and when VLDL is emptied of TG, it
becomes LDL). High fasting TG usually means that your body
is converting excess carbohydrates to fat and storage of
this fat is slowed down by insulin resistance.

Mirek

My triglycerides are very low. Always. Much lower than the
above poster. I eat high carb.

But as an experiement beginning in Dec. I added more meat
(and red meat!) to my diet, along with butter, whole milk
and three eggs weekly.

Result? My tris stayed the same, so did my HDL, but my total
cholesterol and LDL both dropped. Total from 12.59 in OCT to
11.33 in Dec to 9.7 in April.

I am a woman.

Anyone want to try explaining this?

Zee

Mike (remove XX's to reply) said:

Dr. Andrew B. Chung said:

Quoted message said:

Triglycerides 156 0 - 149

Not optimal. If you are overweight (with central
obesity) and have hypertension (or fasting glucose more
than 100 mg/dL), you have metabolic syndrome (MetS).

How does one treat the metabolic syndrome (or dysmetabolic
syndrome).

By being mindful of the underlying insulin resistance and
that losing weight permanently is the only known cure.

Quoted message said:

Is it possible to have the metablic syndrome with a really
low cholesterol (total cholesterol < 130) ?

Yes.

Quoted message said:

Thanks,

You are welcome, Mike :-)

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

**
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What is all this about?
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Quoted message said:

How does one treat the metabolic syndrome (or dysmetabolic
syndrome).

Generally, by loosing weight. Dr. Chung will likely say
you that only way how to loose weight is 2PD approach. You
can try it.

Anyway, my opionion is that only possibility is some kind of
low carb plan that brings insulin control. Without that it
will be hard to stay on plan as metabolic syndrome will make
you hungry all the time.

Mirek

J,

Right, 8 days isn't enough time. Your ratio (2.2) is
excellent. What should matter to you is changes from your
normal lipid profile. From the Harvard website the ways to
reduce CHD risk include 1) nix saturated fat and trans fat-
I believe South Beach would agree 2) eat oily fish or take
fish oil capsules (3 g daily) 3) increase exercise
4) drink moderatly. To lower your total chol, consider
eating oatmeal, and/or adding cinnamon to your diet.
Finally consider adding tomato paste/sauce for lycopene.
My opinion, is that when the dust finally settles,
Atkins, South Beach, and other low carb diets will be
proven inferior to higer carb diets that get their carbs
from whole grains, fruits, and veggies (but not white
potatoes). The "Western" diet fails to be healthy because
of the huge intake of refined grains, added sugars, white
potatoes, saturated and trans fats. The healthiest diet
with the most evidence appears to be the high fat
Mediterranean diet.

"Julianne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<mNqmc.44132$NZ4.14552@lakeread05>...

Quoted message said:

"Mirek Fidler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for

practical

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

advice and research that shows how my lipid studies
may be improved

without

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides
156 0 - 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL
Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Testing in initial phases of new diet plan is not a good
idea - numbers are erratic. It is generally recommended
to test after 3 months on new diet plan at least.

Other than that, as SB is low-carb dieting plan, your TG
should almost certainly drop later. That should bring
down your VLDLs and perhaps LDLs too (they are all
related - TG are transported by VLDL and when VLDL is
emptied of TG, it becomes LDL). High fasting TG usually
means that your body is converting excess carbohydrates
to fat and storage of this fat is slowed down by insulin
resistance.

Mirek

Thanks. I had blood drawn for another reason and they
included the lipids. I definitely plan to retest in three
to six months.

j

[email hidden] (fresh~horses) wrote in part:

Quoted message said:

My triglycerides are very low. Always. Much lower than the
above poster. I eat high carb.

But as an experiement beginning in Dec. I added more meat
(and red meat!) to my diet, along with butter, whole milk
and three eggs weekly.

Result? My tris stayed the same, so did my HDL, but my
total cholesterol and LDL both dropped. Total from 12.59 in
OCT to 11.33 in Dec to 9.7 in April.

I am a woman.

Anyone want to try explaining this?

There haven't been many studies that actually compared the
effect on LDL of diet changes such as you mention. In fact,
the only one I can remember ever seeing found that
carbohydrate produced a bigger jump in LDL than an iso-
caloric amount of saturated fat.

I can't get to my files right now, and don't recall the
details. I'll follow up later.

I think that there is a large part of the population that
responds to higher-carbohydrate, lower-fat diets with a rise
in triglycerides and a drop in HDL. Some do; some don't.
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA

Mirek Fidler said:

Quoted message said:

How does one treat the metabolic syndrome (or
dysmetabolic syndrome).

Generally, by loosing weight. Dr. Chung will likely say
you that only way how to loose weight is 2PD approach. You
can try it.

No, the 2PD approach is not the only way to lose weight.
However, ime, it works every time.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, my opionion is that only possibility is some kind
of low carb plan that brings insulin control. Without that
it will be hard to stay on plan as metabolic syndrome will
make you hungry all the time.

There is nothing wrong with being hungry.

Facts: No one has every died from hunger. People do die from
starvation. Ironically, people truly dying from starvation
are not hungry.

Truth is simple.

Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
heartmdphd.comheartmdphd.comOpen ↗

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Quoted message said:

finally settles, Atkins, South Beach, and other low carb
diets will be proven inferior to higer carb diets that get
their carbs from whole grains, fruits, and veggies (but
not white potatoes). The "Western"

Well, Atkins, SB and other low carb plans do get their carbs
from veggies and fruits. Some of them limit whole grains,
some are not. Personally, I believe there are little
benefits in eating whole grains - they are mostly just empty
calories. Anyway, we will see 🙂

Mirek

Jim Chinnis <[email hidden]> wrote in part:

Quoted message said:

There haven't been many studies that actually compared the
effect on LDL of diet changes such as you mention. In fact,
the only one I can remember ever seeing found that
carbohydrate produced a bigger jump in LDL than an iso-
caloric amount of saturated fat.

I can't get to my files right now, and don't recall the
details. I'll follow up later.

I think that there is a large part of the population
that responds to higher-carbohydrate, lower-fat diets
with a rise in triglycerides and a drop in HDL. Some do;
some don't.

This isn't the study I remember, but it gives some insight
into the different ways different people respond to dietary
carbohydrate and fat:

americanheart.orgpresenter.jhtmlOpen ↗
er=3005950
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA

"VCopelan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Julianne" [email hidden] Writes:

Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for practical advice and research
that shows how my lipid studies may be improved

without

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides 156
0 - 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL
Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

What is the South Beach Diet? I would suggest some form
of aerobic

exercise,

Quoted message said:

changing your diet and adding vitamin C and Niacin. You
might consider

having

Quoted message said:

some more complete lab tests such as Apoprotein B LDL-
S3GGET (LDL peak particle size, % distribution) Lipid
profile (TG,

TC,

Quoted message said:

L-C, HDL-C) Lipoprotein (a) Homocysteine HDL-S10GGET and
C-Reactive Protein-hs.

Take a look at Berkeley Heart Lab at
www.berkeleyheartlab.com

Thanks so much for your input. I have been taking 1000 mg of
Vitamin C and a B-complex vitamin daily. Also, I have been
getting about an hour in of walking at a rate of 4 mph most
days each week.

I realize that other lab work could tell me more but am not
willing to have it drawn until I am stable on my diet.

South Beach Diet in my opinion is like a toned down Atkins
or a more defined Sugar Buster's. It has an initial stage
where most carbs are limited but low glyemic carbs such as
yogurt, nuts and vegetables are allowed. Also, it frowns
upon sat fats and emphasizes monounsaturated fats.

Phase two is not as well defined. Basically, one adds back
low glycemic carbs until cravings return. This is okay for
those of us who enjoy reading and studying about health and
nutrition but I find it inadequate for those who just want
to lose weight and be told how to do it.

The advantages of SBD are that it is is very easy to follow
even when eating out which I do alot. Also, it directly
addresses insulin resistance which is a huge problem of
epic proportions. The part of it I really didn't like was
that only one page in the book addressed exercise. There
are so many reasons why a person should exercise including
weight loss, increased sensitivity to insulin, increased
personal confidence, etc. I thought it was only given lip
service in the book.

I plan on having lab drawn again in a few months and will
specifically ask for the tests you recommend.

j

[email hidden] (fresh~horses) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Mirek Fidler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]-
berlin.de>...

Jim and William:

Thanks for the study Jim and will look forward to what else
you have on this. I haven't seen *anything* else like that,
in all the links and studies I have read. And William, no
not Atkins or any other diet. I do not *diet* and frankly
do not consider any I have read to be sound nutrition. I
read and consult the Harvard nutrition site, Nutrition
Action Healthletter, Berkley Wellness Letter and the like,
not diet gurus.

But what happenened over three or four months of my eating
more meat is completely the opposite of the going theories,
don't you think? My diet is still primarily high complex
carb. Always has been, for years and years.

So to repeat: I eat high carb, but have very, very low
triglycerides. I ate animal protein to a greater degree than
I normally do for about four months and my total and LDL
cholesterol levels dropped.

Curiouser and curiouser.

Zee

"fresh~horses" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mirek Fidler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
centered, I am looking for

practical

Quoted message said:

advice and research that shows how my lipid studies
may be improved

without

Quoted message said:

drugs. Results below:

Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides
156 0 - 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL
Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2

Testing in initial phases of new diet plan is not a good
idea - numbers are erratic. It is generally recommended
to test after 3 months on new diet plan at least.

Other than that, as SB is low-carb dieting plan, your TG
should almost certainly drop later. That should bring
down your VLDLs and perhaps LDLs too (they are all
related - TG are transported by VLDL and when VLDL is
emptied of TG, it becomes LDL). High fasting TG usually
means that your body is converting excess carbohydrates
to fat and storage of this fat is slowed down by insulin
resistance.

Mirek

My triglycerides are very low. Always. Much lower than the
above poster. I eat high carb.

But as an experiement beginning in Dec. I added more meat
(and red meat!) to my diet, along with butter, whole milk
and three eggs weekly.

Result? My tris stayed the same, so did my HDL, but my
total cholesterol and LDL both dropped. Total from 12.59
in OCT to 11.33 in Dec to 9.7 in April.

I am a woman.

Anyone want to try explaining this?

Zee

My understanding is very limited but I do believe that
triglycerides are raised in response to sugar. Can someone
clarify or expound on my understanding?

j

Brad:

Thanks for the input. For as long as I can remember, the
lipids stuff has always confused me. I would be a cardiac
nurse by history and still the lipid profiles and the
changes they have undergone in the last two decades is a
challenge to keep up with.

I like South Beach over Atkins. Even on phase one when I log
my calories into fitday, I have far more carbs than I would
with the first phase of Atkins. I have managed to avoid the
awful ketoacidosis and the anxiety that accompanied Atkins
when I did extreme low carb before. Also, maybe it is the
cardiac nurse history that makes eating unlimited sat fats
unappealing to me.

I am proud to say that my weight is down a full ten pounds.
Part of it is pretty unhealthy as I forgot to eat a couple
of days this week. Work has been exceptionally busy as I am
opening six hospices and expect to have them fully
operational, licensed and certified before August 1 when a
new moratorium goes into place in Louisiana. It is a
daunting, stressful task and that is just for one of my
clients. The others have needs, too.

I have a book called the Omega Rx zone and have tried to
make sense out of
it. I decided to buy some fish oil capsules as I am
allergic to fish and the oils should be devoid of the
proteins that cause reactions. I am fairly compliant
with taking them. The other thing I do is buy the
expensive eggs from vegetarian chickens which are
supposed to have omega three fatty acids in them and
increased vitamin E. I have cut down on my consumption
of red meat (which I love) and have begun experimenting
with chicken, etc. Being allergic to fish sort of sucks
as my choices are limited. I do like lean pork loin,
though and am a really good cook so when I take the
time, I can make anything seem really appealing.

I have avoided tomato paste but do eat Roma tomatoes almost
every day in salad. As I move into phase two of SBD, I plan
to add back certain favorites in moderation. I have been
playing with 'pizza' recipes that use either low net carb
tortillas or pizza crust made from whole wheat flour. I
haven't been able to indulge but my tasters (my 18 yr old
and his girlfriend) go for the whole wheat crust. The whole
wheat crust recipe, by the way, calls for two cups of flour.
I use 3.5 and add a half a cup of steel cut oats. My
research rats say it adds texture. I figure if I can make
four individual pizzas using that crust and reduced fat
cheese and eat them with a salad, I will have a healthy meal
with about 20 grams of carbs - all low glycemic.

My goal has been to walk four miles each day. In reality,
I have missed two days over the last two weeks. Six times
a week isn't bad for a busy consultant. Now that my
appetite is under control, I am able to spend less time at
lunch, etc. and spare an hour in the evening or the
morning for exercise.

My fasting bgl, by the way was far higher than I would ever
dreamed - 105. I am looking to get that number down as well.
I have plenty of access to machines to keep tabs on it.

Over all, I am not losing sleep until I have lost another 18
pounds which will put me at 115 at 5'3" or 5'4" (depending
on how tall I stand and if I hold my breath). Then, I will
work on adding five pounds of girl muscles to make cocktail
dresses look really good and improve my posture without
getting all 'bulked up'.

Thanks so very much for your input.

j "Brad Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

J,

Right, 8 days isn't enough time. Your ratio (2.2) is
excellent. What should matter to you is changes from your
normal lipid profile. From the Harvard website the ways to
reduce CHD risk include 1) nix saturated fat and trans fat-
I believe South Beach would agree 2) eat oily fish or take
fish oil capsules (3 g daily) 3) increase exercise
4) drink moderatly. To lower your total chol, consider
eating oatmeal, and/or adding cinnamon to your diet.
Finally consider adding tomato paste/sauce for
lycopene. My opinion, is that when the dust finally
settles, Atkins, South Beach, and other low carb diets
will be proven inferior to higer carb diets that get
their carbs from whole grains, fruits, and veggies (but
not white potatoes). The "Western" diet fails to be
healthy because of the huge intake of refined grains,
added sugars, white potatoes, saturated and trans fats.
The healthiest diet with the most evidence appears to
be the high fat Mediterranean diet.

"Julianne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<mNqmc.44132$NZ4.14552@lakeread05>...

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"Mirek Fidler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

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> I had blood drawn Monday on day eight of South Beach
> Diet. I am not pleased. Although I hate to be self
> centered, I am looking for

practical

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> advice and research that shows how my lipid studies
> may be improved

without

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> drugs. Results below:
>
> Cholesterol, Total 216 100 - 199 Triglycerides
> 156 0 - 149 HDL Cholesterol 58.0 40 - 59 VLDL
> Cholesterol calculated 31.0 5.0 - 40 LDL
> Cholesterol calculated 127 0 - 99
> LDL/HDL Ratio 2.2 0.0 - 3.2
>

Testing in initial phases of new diet plan is not a
good idea -

numbers

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are erratic. It is generally recommended to test after
3 months on new diet plan at least.

Other than that, as SB is low-carb dieting plan, your
TG should almost certainly drop later. That should
bring down your VLDLs and perhaps

LDLs

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too (they are all related - TG are transported by VLDL
and when VLDL

is

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emptied of TG, it becomes LDL). High fasting TG
usually means that

your

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body is converting excess carbohydrates to fat and
storage of this fat is slowed down by insulin
resistance.

Mirek

Thanks. I had blood drawn for another reason and they
included the

lipids.

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I definitely plan to retest in three to six months.

j