My first post ~ I need encouragement

[Frank Hagan]

Originally Posted by Conniems

I started taking Niacin 250mg. twice a day. I mistakenly got the flush-free kind but, so far, no flushing. I hope it helps to bring down some numbers.

The studies I've read say that the "therapeutic dose" for niacin to lower triglycerides is between 1,000 and 1,500 mg per day. Until 10/15, I was on 1,500 mg per day. My triglycerides did fall from 344 to 106, but that was 6 weeks after starting eating LC, so I'm not sure what contribution the niacin had. I ran out on 10/15, so I am waiting to see the results of my next blood test in December to see if LC alone can keep my triglycerides down.

Anyway, for me the best technique to avoid *most* of the flushing is this: Use Slo-Niacin brand in 500 mg tablets (available at Costco here in the US). If you can tolerate aspirin, take a regular adult aspirin 30 minutes before the niacin. Take the 2 or 3 niacin tablets with at least 16 ounces of water. If you get any flushing, drink another 16 ounces of water.

Dr. Davis of The Heart Scan Blog wrote an article for Life Extension on the benefits of niacin for cardiovascular health. He's a cardiologist who is a convert to LC as a way to improve health, and also emphasizes vitamin D and other non-statin approaches for most people.

[Conniems]

Hi,

So, here I am again after many weeks on the 6 Week Cure. I got blood work done yesterday and I need to be talked down, again.
My cholesterol went from 273 to 289
LDL went from 203 to 216 ~ direct LDL was 218
And the chol/hdl ratio stayed the same at 5.3

My triglycerides and LDL remain normal. I know Dr. Mike and you all say those are the 2 most important numbers.

My FBS was 112. My weight loss is stalled at 189.

Does anyone have any thoughts? One negative change has been a lack of exercising. I had been walking at work daily for 1/2 hr. and have recently gotten so busy, I've stopped that. I just need to start doing it again, busy or not.

Thanks,

[Frank Hagan]

Originally Posted by Conniems

Hi,

So, here I am again after many weeks on the 6 Week Cure. I got blood work done yesterday and I need to be talked down, again.
My cholesterol went from 273 to 289
LDL went from 203 to 216 ~ direct LDL was 218
And the chol/hdl ratio stayed the same at 5.3

My triglycerides and LDL remain normal. I know Dr. Mike and you all say those are the 2 most important numbers.

My FBS was 112. My weight loss is stalled at 189.

Does anyone have any thoughts? One negative change has been a lack of exercising. I had been walking at work daily for 1/2 hr. and have recently gotten so busy, I've stopped that. I just need to start doing it again, busy or not.

Have you transitioned into the maintenance level of 6W? Or are you repeating the shake weeks and "mostly meat" weeks?

IMHO, the 6W program is a short term program that shouldn't last longer than, say, six weeks. I would recommend getting Protein Power Life Plan and calculating your minimum protein requirement and eat that, plus no more than 10g carbs per meal. If you can, get away from the shakes for a while.

What are you eating for protein?

[Conniems]

Hi Frank,

Yes, I have been going back and forth between a week of shakes and a week of mostly protein. I have their confetti eggs and bacon for breakfast, various things for lunch ~ beef stew, today it was a hotdog w/ cheese and bacon (and a salad), roast beef for dinner w/ a salad. That kind of thing. However, I've been hungrier recently and having things off plan ~ not allot and no sugar, of course.

I'll get the PPLP book and do that. I also forgot to mention that I'm taking Niacin now. 500mg. bid and plan to increase to tid.

Thanks,

[S Bear]

Originally Posted by Conniems

I just read an article that says there is now strong evidence that statins do lower the incidenc of CVD ~ heart attacks, stroke, and there were fewer deaths. This per an interview w/ a dr. who is the director of women and heart disease at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital in NY. Hmmmmmm? However, I plan to stick to the niacin.

Statins DO appear to lower the risk of CVD problems, but all of the indications now are that they do this by some other means that lowering cholesterol. There are now non-statin drugs that lower cholesterol by a wholly different mechanism--and they have no effect on CVD whatsoever!

Current speculations are that statins have an anti-inflammatory effect, or increase levels of Vitamin D.

Here's the first page of an editorial in a medical journal on the topic. It contains the memorable opening "The diet-heart-cholestrol hypothesis...continues in popular folklore and government dietary policy but it seems to have been quietly dropped by most cholesterol-heart researchers."

It continues on to say "Statins have turned out to be enigmatic. They were mroe successful than anticipate and it is clear from the WOSCOPS study that the clinical benefit bore no relationship to cholesterol lowering."

Read that agina, carefully. Then read it to your doctor. Statins do appear to have some benefits, but whatever benefit they have bears no relationship to cholesterol lowering.

So maybe they are antiinflammatories. Maybe they increase Vitamin D levels. In the first instance, there are safer anti-inflammatories; in the second case, well, why not take Vitamin D? (Dr Mike has posted on this.)

As to niacin--well, some of the B vitamins, of which niacin is one, cut down on homocysteine. Maybe that's why niacin scrubs your arteries clean?

[Frank Hagan]

Originally Posted by Conniems

Yes, I have been going back and forth between a week of shakes and a week of mostly protein. I have their confetti eggs and bacon for breakfast, various things for lunch ~ beef stew, today it was a hotdog w/ cheese and bacon (and a salad), roast beef for dinner w/ a salad. That kind of thing. However, I've been hungrier recently and having things off plan ~ not allot and no sugar, of course.

I'll get the PPLP book and do that. I also forgot to mention that I'm taking Niacin now. 500mg. bid and plan to increase to tid.

Thanks,

If you want to lose weight on PP, stay in the first phase where you keep carbs down to 30 - 40 grams per day. A lot of people have an occasional shake for an easy meal, but real food is the main stay.

You do have high LDL cholesterol, so you have some choices to make regarding following either the low carb devotees (us) or your doctor, who will want to prescribe statins or a low fat diet. I'm not a big fan of statins because of the people I've known who have had side effects from it (mostly muscle aches, considered "minor" by their doctors but was miserable for them). An alternative might be to try eating oatmeal and taking fish oil supplements to try and reduce cholesterol levels; it works with some people.

I'm hesitant to tell someone with normal triglycerides and normal blood sugar levels who has high cholesterol that they should ignore their doctor. That should be a decision you come to after doing research and finding the diet that works for you.

[Conniems]

Hi Frank,

I've already made my decision ~ to follow the advice here. I "gave in," a few months ago, to my dr. and cholesterol lowering meds. First I tried non-statin drugs and then, finally, a statin. I had terrible side effects from all of them so have decided they are not for me. I"m now taking Nicacin 500mg. three times a day and I DO take fish oil, as well ~ have for years. I know that getting weight off will also make a difference and I'm going to be making a much greater push in that area. I ordred PPLP and look forward to seeing what that says. I'd LOVE to consider adding oatmeal ~ but what about the carbs?

Thanks,

[Frank Hagan]

Originally Posted by Conniems

Hi Frank,

I've already made my decision ~ to follow the advice here. I "gave in," a few months ago, to my dr. and cholesterol lowering meds. First I tried non-statin drugs and then, finally, a statin. I had terrible side effects from all of them so have decided they are not for me. I"m now taking Nicacin 500mg. three times a day and I DO take fish oil, as well ~ have for years. I know that getting weight off will also make a difference and I'm going to be making a much greater push in that area. I ordred PPLP and look forward to seeing what that says. I'd LOVE to consider adding oatmeal ~ but what about the carbs?

Thanks,

1/3 cup of oatmeal has about 16g effective carbs, so its pretty high in carbs if you are on the initial stage of PP. That amount only has 4g of protein so it is probably not a good choice for breakfast; you'll have to do the math in the book, but I need about 30 grams of protein at every meal. The carby stuff rarely gives you high levels of protein.

Dr. Davis had an article in Life Extension Magazine (link is here) where he recommends niacin for lowering LDL, at doses of 1000 to 5000 mg per day, but the higher doses only under a doctor's supervision. He says it takes about three months for any effect to come along. I had always thought that niacin, to be effective, had to be taken all at once. He doesn't say that at the link, so I may be wrong on that (I'm sure I read it *somewhere*). I suspect that your doctor would want to check liver function via blood test if you are on higher doses or for an extended period of time.

Niacin does spike blood sugar a few points, so that may be a concern.

[Conniems]

Frank, Thanks so much for the link to the article. I learned some things I didn't know. And, I've been taking the no flusg form so I need to start over on this stuff. My dr. has been doing LFT's and has another one ordered for my next blood work in 4-6 months. I ordered PPLP so it should arrive this week.

Thanks again,

[laughingW]

Originally Posted by Conniems

I'd LOVE to consider adding oatmeal ~ but what about the carbs?

If you LOVE oatmeal, my Fitday says 1/2 cup cooked is only 11g net carbs which I'd say is okay for a meal. Dr. Mike in his blog says up to 12g net carbs per meal - but then I don't do snacks so I am not that strict about 10g per meal. I had oatcakes for a while for breakfast and was that ever good. I had 2 of Nairn's Fine with loads of butter. I only quit doing that because I overdid it and got tired of them.

On your food - where are the added fats like butter? If I have extra protein and not enough fat I get hungry like you describe. If it's the same kind of hungry.