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39 comments

Seahorse

29 Jan 2013

Traci, That is absolutely amazing. What a reduction!

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Patsyblue

30 Jan 2013

That's amazing trac- can I ask what your fat free diet guidelines are - I know that sounds silly I eat fresh salmon and veg or with rice mostly with fresh fruits for pudding
I still don't have any joy with my cholesterol plus I exercise

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jillp358

30 Jan 2013

There are information sheets on the HEART UK website for people with LPLD who have to maintain a very low-fat diet. One of these, Living with LPLD, gives suggestions about how to manage the restrictions and there's also a Handy Guide to Foods. Just type LPLD into the search box, go into one of the subject headings and the list of fact sheets will be on the right. Hope you find them helpful.

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

fat free is as it sounds - as low a fat content as possible. For example salmon is an oily fish so although its health benefits are widely known I can't have it because of my type of lipidaemia.
Until my local pool closed down 2 weeks ago I was swimming 5 days a week. Only for 20 mins a day. I am now joining another pool and my dietician has advised me to swim just 3 days a week which I shall do.

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Withattitude

30 Jan 2013

That is fabulous! Well done to you for all the hard work of sticking to the diet. Really pleased for you

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patch14

30 Jan 2013

Traci, Wonderful!!! Well done!!!! To think that you have been through such a todo with your statins only to find you can do without them!!!!!! All the very best to you and good health!!

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DakCB-UK

30 Jan 2013

Congratulations! Waiting for my test results at the minute, but I expect situation normal...

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

keep us posted DakCB!

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foodblog

30 Jan 2013

Congratulations Traci! That is a really wonderful result. It is great when the body responds to the sorts of changes you have introduced. Sadly it doesn't always. I am also lucky in that having lost a stone from exercise and cooking a low fat diet, my levels came down (although nowhere as high as yours) so I can imagine how great you must feel.

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Aliwally

30 Jan 2013

I have always been sceptical about how diet can affect levels so dramatically, but you are proof that it can be done. It would be great if you could come off the fibrates as well! Keep going...have you found it hard to stick to?

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

At times yes. At first I thought I was going to starve to death! I really relaxed it at Christmas and getting back on track in the New Year was particularly hard. Once I got my numbers back in mid january I really focussed as I could see the benefits. It becomes second nature and its been more about changing my behaviour than anything else. So I am now organised before I go to work and take lunch with me so I dont have to nip out to the chippy or butty shop

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MumwithFH

30 Jan 2013

WOW, well done. Can you give us more info about your diet. Which fats have you given up and what foods have you replaced them with. I always believed I had a good diet ( I do have low triglycerides ) but I wonder if I may need to look at it again.
I am really pleased for you.

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

All fats have gone, and I havent replaced them :/

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jillp358

30 Jan 2013

Fantastic news Traci. Well done.

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

Thanks Jill - and thanks for you support and advice, it has been really valuable!

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Concerned

30 Jan 2013

Congratulations.

I have to ask, presumably in lowering your fat intake you have lowered your processed food intake and consequently refined carbohydrates too?

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

Not really Concerned. I didn't eat much processes food before and I don't discount it now. I merely eat by fat content (ensuring plenty of fruit and veg).
I still eat white bread and pasta if I fancy it and lots of couscous. I do generally have brown alternatives but to be honest a curry doesn't taste the same with brown rice!

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Dragonfly

1 Feb 2013

I'm jealous!! Which recipe book are you using or is it your own ideas? I have always eaten healthily, but found the low Fat Low Sugar recipe book makes a difference in my results but not as dramatic as yours.

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Traci

2 Feb 2013

Hi all, thanks for your lovely comments - I was reeling when I got my results!

For those that have asked I have completely cut out all fats where possible. This means no butter, marg, oils (including olive) or cheese. I only have fat free yogurt and skim milk. I eat nuts rarely.
I have no red meat and chicken is grilled or dry baked. I can have fish but not the oily variety, so no salmon etc.
Low fat sauces, no salad dressings.
No added sugars, so no honey, maple syrup etc no sugar in my coffee!
No alcohol

I eat fruit and veg and lots of salad and baked potatoes (regular and sweet).

A typical day will be porridge or cheerios for breakfast, banana for mid morning snack.
For lunch weight watchers soup with a couple of slices of dry bread, or beans / spaghetti on toast or a salad bowl with low fat cottage cheese.
Dinner may be baked chicken breast (smothered with jerk sauce) with dry roasted veg and cous cous or a homemade curry. If I am feeling lazy or in a rush I will have a weight watchers meal.

I often have rice cakes and weight watchers cake slices for a treat - carrot cake slices are 0.2g of fat per slice, I also have fresh fruit.

I do not calorie count but I track my fat intake using an app I downloaded. I do struggle to reach 1400 calories a day without busting past the 20g of fat mark, but as I don't need to lose much more weight I will need to get creative - I have sneaked the odd chocolate to push up my calories.

Please be aware that I am on this diet under regular medical supervision, and as such I would not recommend it to joe public. Having such a low fat diet does carry other health risks but I have to balance this against cardiac risk - my GP refers to it as the 'no fun' diet, and to be honest he isn't far wrong!

I am now on a 2 week medication free period and will wait to see what my numbers are at the end of this. I am only interested in my triglyceride levels but I have been warned they could rise back up to 14+ if they are under 2 I will stay off the meds, but I don't honestly expect this to happen. I will post my progress.

Thanks

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Concerned

10 Feb 2013

"I do not calorie count but I track my fat intake using an app I downloaded. I do struggle to reach 1400 calories a day without busting past the 20g of fat mark, but as I don't need to lose much more weight I will need to get creative - I have sneaked the odd chocolate to push up my calories".

That is interesting. Optimal protein levels are governed by lean body mass and activity. So presumably you will increase your carbohydrate level, and I would anticipate your triglycerides will go up again.

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Patsyblue

3 Feb 2013

This is brilliant news - I hope you get the results you deserve

I read your diet info with interest and give it a go - I see a bad error I make already I

- I eat lot of steamed salmon with veg salad or rice I thought the oily fish was good for my arthritis --- I'm going to change that now -- let me know how it goes fir you

Well done

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deepblue

4 Feb 2013

Patsyblue, I wouldnt cut out oily fish unless you have a problem with trigs like Traci. Oily fish is supposed to be a healthy form of fats supplying omega 3's and is supposed to be protective against heart disease. We need fats to function properly - it can be dangerous to cut them out of your diet.

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Patsyblue

4 Feb 2013

Hi deepblue- thank you so much for your reply-at times I feel so alone with this cholesterol business and the medication

I have only been on this site for about 4weeks and am learning fast just how many folks have the same problems and worries as myself over statins - it's good to know I'm not on my own with this problem----I stress over it all the time

I think maybe I need to go back to my GP and ask for a referral to a consultant to see if they can help me a bit better( but what type of consultant) a heart consultant mmmm!!! I am just not sure where to turn with it at the mo

I won't be giving up the salmon now-- I eat so much as I think it help my arthritis and skeleton problem- I've stated taking pomegranate juice as I read on the forum that helps kill off the cholestral-- bye now as I could go on for ages as I'm stressed out
Thank you again for taking the time to respond about the salmon ......best wishes Patsyblue

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Penel

23 Feb 2013

Hi Patsyblue
Don't overdo the pomegranate juice, it's got a high sugar content which won't do your health/weight any good and this article says that it affects your cholesterol in a bad way.
www.webmd.com/heart-disease...

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Patsyblue

24 Feb 2013

Thank you Penel - I only have about 10ml a day- but that does mount up at the end of a week or month

I'm so desperate to find a natural way of trying to beat my high chol 9.7 I thought I'd try the Pom juice as in an article on our forum it was suggested that it helped- nothing about sugar levels tho
I'm trying to stay off the statins line a lot of us due to the bad side effects - iv tried several all with the same effect after a few months

My doctor had put me back onto Crestor as that was the one with the least side effects and there is no generic that can be substituted by pharmacies-- I'm on 20 mg daily - but have delayed it and self medicating- only taking three times a week and backing up with foods iv been reading about to help and with exercise - I'm so stressed with it all - and stress adds to high chol -rrrrrrrr!!!!!

Thank you for your helpful comment I will take that on board- the pure Pom juice is pricey as well --- thanks again Patsyblue

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Penel

24 Feb 2013

Hi Patsyblue
How to reduce your cholesterol level seems to vary from person to person. Traci had to reduce fats because of a very specific problem. I do not eat low fat but I have reduced my carbohydrates, and this is OK for me, my cholesterol is below average for a post menopausal woman (not how I usually like to describe myself!). I try to avoid processed food because it often has a high level of sugar in it, such as breakfast cereal and low fat yoghurt. This article has some useful information www.webmd.com/cholesterol-m...

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Krivda

27 Feb 2013

There are generics to substitute it but the effect is not so good.
I tried with Rosucard, with no good result. I also have not had side effects from Crestor.

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Patsyblue

27 Feb 2013

Hi there Krivda-,thanks for that info- I didn't think know Crestor had a generic - I will watch out for that when I get my repeat script
Thank you again - I get so stressed with all the statins I have tried all with bad side effects
Hopefully the Crestor will be good for me with no side effects like yourself -- thanks again

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ChasB

9 May 2013

The article referred to by Penel is very helpful but refers to added sugar as being harmful.
It is!
Pomegranates contain zero added sugar.The last sentence of the article states the great benefits of a diet high in fruits and vegetables. Pomegranates are fruits!
It may be cheaper for you to eat half a pomegranete per day. 50p from Sainsburys. Best wishes, Chas.

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Patsyblue

9 May 2013

Cheers for that chase

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Concerned

10 Feb 2013

I wouldn't cut out oil fish even if you have a problem with trigs. Triglycerides being three fatty acids joined by a glyc (carbohydrate) molecule; control your carbohydrate intake and your body will produce less trigs.
Remember when we used to be told to eat less cholesterol to lower cholesterol? Fish usually contains more cholesterol than pork and beef!

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Traci

4 Feb 2013

I replied to Patsy's comment yesterday but can't see it now? I agree Deepblue, my case is unusual and I wouldn't recommend my diet to anyone as it can be hazardous!

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Patsyblue

4 Feb 2013

Hi traci. - I can't find you reply either im sorry to say-- I will now take on board deepblue comments
I wonder if I need to get a better check done by my GP as I wonder if it could be genetic in which case I need to see a consultant rather than a GP

At the moment I attend a stress and anxiety class, today there was a consultant pharmacist discussing the whys and wherefores of anti depressants, I don't take them but thought I would take advantage of his knowledge to ask about the Aortstatin I have been prescibed recently- he tells me it is one of the most aggressive to lower cholestral but it comes at a price of really aggressive side effects

He suggested going back to my GP and going back to ezetebe and rouvastatin which I tolerated for two years before having very swollen feet- once I get it down to a reasonable level then stay with my exercise low fat diet etc-- I really don't know what to do - I took the Aortstatin as my family nagged me- I took for a week and all the horrible symptoms kicked in so I've stopped it---- I'm so stressed about it all - I have today bought pomegranate juice to try that rrrrrrr!!!!! Help rrrrrrr! It's so hard to decide

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deepblue

5 Feb 2013

HI Patsyblue,
Dont know if you have seen the Portfolio diet or the diet recommended on this website, but they give tips for lowering cholesterol naturally. (Dont know how high yours is, couldnt see it on your profile). Mine is 7.5 down from 8.9 following the portfolio diet to a certain extent and trying to cut out sugar,flour and eating tons of fruit and veggies. I also am eating more fish. I dont eat oats as they seem to cause palpitations for me but I eat quinoa flakes for breakfast with ground flaxseed which is supposed to lower cholesterol. I was on atorvastatin but found it to have major side effects for me so I dont take it anymore much to the disgust of my consultant and some gp's! I get really stressed out too over this whole cholesterol thing, but having high cholesterol is not the whole story when it comes to heart disease - there are many other factors involved, so unless yours is the inherited type or really high I would try not to worry too much. You could also try and keep healthy in other ways by taking regular exercise, eating healthy non processed foods and keeping blood pressure down etc.
Sympathise with the stress - I wish I had never found out about my high levels!
best wishes, (sorry to hijack your post Traci!!)
deepblue

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Traci

5 Feb 2013

Hi Deepblue - hijack away! You take a very sensible approach to your diet and exercise, and like you I (sometimes) wish that I had never found out about my high levels :/

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betabalance

7 Feb 2013

Hi Traci - somehow didn't notice this until today. A phenomenal result, you must be delighted!

A very big well done!

BetaBalance

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Traci

7 Feb 2013

Thanks

just had some crappy results about my dodgy leg though so I am currently indulging in an emergency bacon and mushroom bap. Shouldn't do it, but it will make me feel better!

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Aliwally

8 Feb 2013

Hi Traci,
Sorry to hear about your dodgy leg results. can we give you some sympathy? I had to have an emergency Kit Kat yesterday due to crappy day at work.

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Traci

8 Feb 2013

Sympathy always welcome

Sorry to hear about your emergency kit kat situation, sometimes desperate needs call for desperate measures!
I was hoping another emergency situation might crop up today so I could have a glass of emergency wine, but sadly it hasnt.. Yet....

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