3 months on LCHF, need help

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

Hi,
in november 2015 I started a LCHF Ketonic diet to lose weight, get a grip on my bloodsugar and see how my cholesterol would react. I have to add that at the same time I stoped the statins my doctor prescribed me because I was experiencing side effects: fatigue, muscular cramps.

So I set my macros like this: Fat: 75%, Protein: 20%, Carbs: 5%.

My diet consisted of bacon, eggs, butter, meat, nuts and seeds, vedgetables etc... I supplemented with fish oil.

I got my blood analyse results yesterday: YIKES!!!!

Have a look at the results above. Note that the 2015 values are on statin.

I would love to do LCHF further because my weight went from about 75Kg down to 69 in three months. My bodyfat % went from 24 to 18 %. My Hb1A1C went from 6.7 in 2015 to 6.2 now. I don't understand why my cholesterol is going crazy. My thyroid values are normal, like all the rest. My Triglycerides are on their way down.

My take is I should go for more olive oil, fish and advocado instead of butter, coconut oil and bacon.

I would have your thaughts and hear from you if you experienced the same,

Thanks!!

zand · Mar 19, 2016

I expect someone more knowledgeable will be along to help you shortly. In the meantime I'll just say that I have heard of others whose cholesterol levels went up whilst they were losing weight via LCHF, they then began to fall when the weight was stable. The trigs are the main thing and they are better now than they were when you were on statins.

AtkinsMo · Mar 19, 2016

When you are on the weight loss phase your Cholesterol can go up, just because there is fat actually circulating in your blood from your fat cells being used up as energy. As you get down to target weight, your LDL should reduce back in line. You can add more 'healthy fats' like avocados, but I wouldn't over worry, personally.
The Women's Health Initiative Research, in the USA, a huge trial checking out diet and health markers, actually discovered that the women with the highest cholesterol levels had the lowest mortality rates, there has never been an research on women that has shown any benefit for taking statins. Remaining on Statins with fatigue and muscular cramps will have a negative impact on your overall health, because you will move less, and statins usually raise your HbA1c also, making you more at risk for all the diabetic complications. Instead of taking a Statin, take a 2 mile walk every day, preferably in the sunshine, to create lots of Vitamin D. That will confer more health benefits than a Statin ever could. Visit Malcolm Kendrick's blog, watch 'Statin Nation'. Good luck.

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

AtkinsMo said:
When you are on the weight loss phase your Cholesterol can go up, just because there is fat actually circulating in your blood from your fat cells being used up as energy. As you get down to target weight, your LDL should reduce back in line. You can add more 'healthy fats' like avocados, but I wouldn't over worry, personally.
The Women's Health Initiative Research, in the USA, a huge trial checking out diet and health markers, actually discovered that the women with the highest cholesterol levels had the lowest mortality rates, there has never been an research on women that has shown any benefit for taking statins. Remaining on Statins with fatigue and muscular cramps will have a negative impact on your overall health, because you will move less, and statins usually raise your HbA1c also, making you more at risk for all the diabetic complications. Instead of taking a Statin, take a 2 mile walk every day, preferably in the sunshine, to create lots of Vitamin D. That will confer more health benefits than a Statin ever could. Visit Malcolm Kendrick's blog, watch 'Statin Nation'. Good luck.

As I was on statins and didn't suspect they were causing these effects I felt sooooo depressed and tired. My normal mood being rather on the sunny side. I love the idea of taking a walk. I thank you so much for your input!

Thanks!

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

zand said:
I expect someone more knowledgeable will be along to help you shortly. In the meantime I'll just say that I have heard of others whose cholesterol levels went up whilst they were losing weight via LCHF, they then began to fall when the weight was stable. The trigs are the main thing and they are better now than they were when you were on statins.

The first thing I noted was the much better HbA1c and the triglycerides. I just am a bit worry about the HDL though. Thanks for your help!!

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

AtkinsMo said:
When you are on the weight loss phase your Cholesterol can go up, just because there is fat actually circulating in your blood from your fat cells being used up as energy. As you get down to target weight, your LDL should reduce back in line. You can add more 'healthy fats' like avocados, but I wouldn't over worry, personally.
The Women's Health Initiative Research, in the USA, a huge trial checking out diet and health markers, actually discovered that the women with the highest cholesterol levels had the lowest mortality rates, there has never been an research on women that has shown any benefit for taking statins. Remaining on Statins with fatigue and muscular cramps will have a negative impact on your overall health, because you will move less, and statins usually raise your HbA1c also, making you more at risk for all the diabetic complications. Instead of taking a Statin, take a 2 mile walk every day, preferably in the sunshine, to create lots of Vitamin D. That will confer more health benefits than a Statin ever could. Visit Malcolm Kendrick's blog, watch 'Statin Nation'. Good luck.

I forgot to mention: I am producing an insane quantity of Ketones which is great

Totto · Mar 19, 2016

Do you know how normal your normal thyroid test results were? The range is incredibly wide and not very reliable.

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

Hi Totto, here the results, I apreciate your insight, thanks!

Totto · Mar 19, 2016

Hard to say but your free hormones are surprisingly low while TSH looks good. Do you have any older tests for FT4 and FT3?
More to the point, do you have any symptoms of low thyroid?

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

I don't have older tests to my knowledge or I may ask my GP. I sometimes feel tired, I also have noticed that I have some small memory issues mostly forgetting words and feel a bit fluffy in my head but I thought this was due to my LCHF diet. I sometimes wake up with sore hands.

Totto · Mar 19, 2016

Read up on hypothyroidism. As diabetics we are for some reason more likely to get it, regardless of T1 or T2. I had hypothyroidism first though.

I'm not saying you are hypothyroid but you might be heading that way. Keep a check on your thyroid results and see that you get the free hormones tested now and then.

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

Thank you Totto, I will certainly do that, thank you so much for your help!

AtkinsMo · Mar 19, 2016

This is a bit of a controversial posting, so I am putting it with an advanced 'health warning'. I do quite a lot of supplements - and a couple of years ago was quite convinced by Dr David Brownstein's work with Iodine. I now include an Iodine supplement in my daily routine. Iodine is an essential element for the health of thyroid, breasts, ovaries, prostate. I am very happy with the results, but this one is a controversial one, many doctors think Iodine is basically a poison. There are some good Dr Brownstein videos on You Tube, and his book is worth a read.

Funnily enough, this just popped up on a facebook forum I follow, save you searching for it, if you are interested.

Totto · Mar 19, 2016

As @AtkinsMo points out, iodine is essential and if you do low salt you will miss out on iodine. Upping salt may help, adding some kelp might too. But iodine shouldnt be overdosed either.

dbr10 · Mar 19, 2016

Fran6 said:
View attachment 18227 Hi,
in november 2015 I started a LCHF Ketonic diet to lose weight, get a grip on my bloodsugar and see how my cholesterol would react. I have to add that at the same time I stoped the statins my doctor prescribed me because I was experiencing side effects: fatigue, muscular cramps.

So I set my macros like this: Fat: 75%, Protein: 20%, Carbs: 5%.

My diet consisted of bacon, eggs, butter, meat, nuts and seeds, vedgetables etc... I supplemented with fish oil.

I got my blood analyse results yesterday: YIKES!!!!

Have a look at the results above. Note that the 2015 values are on statin.

I would love to do LCHF further because my weight went from about 75Kg down to 69 in three months. My bodyfat % went from 24 to 18 %. My Hb1A1C went from 6.7 in 2015 to 6.2 now. I don't understand why my cholesterol is going crazy. My thyroid values are normal, like all the rest. My Triglycerides are on their way down.

My take is I should go for more olive oil, fish and advocado instead of butter, coconut oil and bacon.

I would have your thaughts and hear from you if you experienced the same,

Thanks!!

I am having a similar problem with cholesterol on LCHF. Figures have shot up dramatically since I changed diet in May last year. I have tried the alternative vegetable fats too. Too early to see results. Most people report a slight increase in total cholesterol but higher HDL and lower TG. A few people seem to have an exaggerated cholesterol response. My doctor has increased my statin and may refer me to a lipid specialist. We discussed Familial hypercholesterolemia but there is no incidence in the family and levels were always fine

dbr10 · Mar 19, 2016

AtkinsMo said:
Instead of taking a Statin, take a 2 mile walk every day, preferably in the sunshine, to create lots of Vitamin D. That will confer more health benefits than a Statin ever could.

Must admit I've let the walking slide a bit recently. Must get back to it.

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

AtkinsMo said:
This is a bit of a controversial posting, so I am putting it with an advanced 'health warning'. I do quite a lot of supplements - and a couple of years ago was quite convinced by Dr David Brownstein's work with Iodine. I now include an Iodine supplement in my daily routine. Iodine is an essential element for the health of thyroid, breasts, ovaries, prostate. I am very happy with the results, but this one is a controversial one, many doctors think Iodine is basically a poison. There are some good Dr Brownstein videos on You Tube, and his book is worth a read.

Funnily enough, this just popped up on a facebook forum I follow, save you searching for it, if you are interested.

I'm actually reading Malcom Kendrick's book "the Great Cholesterol Con", very good! I'm planning to go further with my LCHF. At most I could get off keto mode by eating a bit more carbs. I would have to experiment to find the threshold. That way I would have less fat floating arround but for now I'll keep up with my actual macros.

Fran6 · Mar 19, 2016

dbr10 said:
I am having a similar problem with cholesterol on LCHF. Figures have shot up dramatically since I changed diet in May last year. I have tried the alternative vegetable fats too. Too early to see results. Most people report a slight increase in total cholesterol but higher HDL and lower TG. A few people seem to have an exaggerated cholesterol response. My doctor has increased my statin and may refer me to a lipid specialist. We discussed Familial hypercholesterolemia but there is no incidence in the family and levels were always fine

Are you on ketones?

Brunneria · Mar 19, 2016

Are you losing weight?
If so (as mentioned above) your cholesterol may well rise significantly and stay there until a few months after your weight loss ends.

If that is what is happening, then i would be delighted. All that fat being reseased from fat deposits and circulating to be used as fuel in ketosis. Lovely.

The fact you have ketones suggest that you are definitely burning fat as fuel, but is it from weight loss or dietary fat?

dbr10 · Mar 19, 2016

Fran6 said:
Are you on ketones?

Haven't checked recently, but there were ketones last time I did a test.

3 months on LCHF, need help

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