banshee
04-04-2007, 10:33 AM
So since I've started PP in December of 2002 my blood tests have been consistently excellent. However, for whatever reason, it's always bugged me that I didn't seem to be able to increase my HDL. Since my first test in October of 2003, my HDL has been 60 and has stayed there. Now, 60 is considered excellent, so why this should bug me I have no idea, but there it is. ;) Recent studies suggest that the Trig/HDL ratio is the best predictor of heart disease, so I like the idea of improving these numbers regardless of the rest of the results. And even though I'm not concerned with the other numbers, it's nice to have the doctors agree that your "controversial" diet is producing favorable results! :p
Last year, when I again had excellent blood tests, but once again my HDL was pegged at 60, I decided I wanted to work toward increasing my HDL. My triglycerides had also gone up quite a bit for some reason, and even if they were still in the "desirable" range, I wanted to see if I could bring them down again. I decided that exercise - specifically weight training - was my plan for making the improvements.
Interestingly, in the past year since I started my training program I've actually been eating slightly higher levels of carbs than usual - in the 80-90 grams per day range rather than the 60 grams per day I used to average.
Here are the results from my last 5 tests, the first pre-low carb, the rest since starting PP:
May 1997: Total - 190, Trig - 219 (HDL, LDL and ratios unknown)
Oct 2003: Total - 179, HDL - 60, LDL - 94, Trig - 127
Ratios: Total/HDL - 2.983, LDL/HDL - 1.567, Trig/HDL - 2.117
Mar 2005: Total - 182, HDL - 60, LDL - 110, Trig - 61
Ratios: Total/HDL - 3.033, LDL/HDL - 1.833, Trig/HDL - 1.017
Mar 2006: Total - 170, HDL - 60, LDL - 85, Trig - 127
Ratios: Total/HDL - 2.833, LDL/HDL - 1.417, Trig/HDL - 2.117
Mar 2007: Total - 171, HDL - 64, LDL - 101, Trig - 28
Ratios: Total/HDL - 2.672, LDL/HDL - 1.578, Trig/HDL - 0.438
So here's the interesting part - eating fewer carbs tends to cause triglyceride levels to plummet. But I've been eating more carbs in the past year since starting my strength training. And yet my triglycerides have plummeted to their lowest level ever! I'm very excited that I finally managed to increase my HDL above 60, giving me a Trig/HDL ratio that is phenomenally low at 0.438! :thumbsup: :D :thumbsup:
I'm very pleased with the results of 6 months of steady strength training. (I had tried doing this on my own prior to September, but had trouble sticking to it until I got a personal trainer in September.) I'm curious to see what an entire year of continued strength training will do! :rolleyes:
Last year, when I again had excellent blood tests, but once again my HDL was pegged at 60, I decided I wanted to work toward increasing my HDL. My triglycerides had also gone up quite a bit for some reason, and even if they were still in the "desirable" range, I wanted to see if I could bring them down again. I decided that exercise - specifically weight training - was my plan for making the improvements.
Interestingly, in the past year since I started my training program I've actually been eating slightly higher levels of carbs than usual - in the 80-90 grams per day range rather than the 60 grams per day I used to average.
Here are the results from my last 5 tests, the first pre-low carb, the rest since starting PP:
May 1997: Total - 190, Trig - 219 (HDL, LDL and ratios unknown)
Oct 2003: Total - 179, HDL - 60, LDL - 94, Trig - 127
Ratios: Total/HDL - 2.983, LDL/HDL - 1.567, Trig/HDL - 2.117
Mar 2005: Total - 182, HDL - 60, LDL - 110, Trig - 61
Ratios: Total/HDL - 3.033, LDL/HDL - 1.833, Trig/HDL - 1.017
Mar 2006: Total - 170, HDL - 60, LDL - 85, Trig - 127
Ratios: Total/HDL - 2.833, LDL/HDL - 1.417, Trig/HDL - 2.117
Mar 2007: Total - 171, HDL - 64, LDL - 101, Trig - 28
Ratios: Total/HDL - 2.672, LDL/HDL - 1.578, Trig/HDL - 0.438
So here's the interesting part - eating fewer carbs tends to cause triglyceride levels to plummet. But I've been eating more carbs in the past year since starting my strength training. And yet my triglycerides have plummeted to their lowest level ever! I'm very excited that I finally managed to increase my HDL above 60, giving me a Trig/HDL ratio that is phenomenally low at 0.438! :thumbsup: :D :thumbsup:
I'm very pleased with the results of 6 months of steady strength training. (I had tried doing this on my own prior to September, but had trouble sticking to it until I got a personal trainer in September.) I'm curious to see what an entire year of continued strength training will do! :rolleyes: