Cholesterol numbers never change even with weight training

edt844 · #1 10-05-2010, 01:09 PM

I have had cholesterol readings that have been constant over the past 10 years - 230 - 260. I currently do about 40 minutes of weight training and about 30 minutes of elliptical cardio 3 times a week. Nothing seems to knock down the total number or the LDL number. I had these same numbers when I didn't exercise at all.

I don't eat much fat or sugar, no red meat, almost no transfats. When I take statins they mess with my leg muscles and I can't climb steps or do weight training and cardio, and I been on just about all of them. I keep looking for an asnwer other than "it's genetic, you have to take meds". Now the doc wants me on niastat or niaspan.

Anyone know of a program or study or doctors or books that can explain this situation?

EdT

cassanova · #2 10-05-2010, 01:14 PM

I found that by eating things like oatmeal and Cheerios my cholesterol levels have dropped a bit.

spade2you · #3 10-05-2010, 01:32 PM

Niaspan and/or Zetia could help. Are you taking an omega 3 supplement?

Agreed that eating more grains can help. The mechanism is that it makes the body produce more bile, which will help the body naturally use up more cholesterol.

Pilgrim · #4 10-05-2010, 09:05 PM

Although I understand your feelings, you already know the truth - it doesn't matter whether or not we want to hear it, genetics are genetics.

Do what your doctor says...but talk with him and explore options.

My doctor told me that with my family history, I could be living in the middle of Africa and eating nothing but rice and my cholesterol would still be too high. I have no problem with taking a pill once a day...and I've also made some mods to my diet.

In addition to doing what the doc says, try additional diet mods and other measures - but discuss them with him. The answer is not A vs. B, it's "all of the above".

edt844 · #5 10-07-2010, 10:54 AM

Thanks all for the replies. Pilgrim - Yep, I accepted the genetic diagnosis. Just would like more indepth explanation. Not getting that explanation won't stop me from treating the problem.

As you'll see from below, my cholesterol would probably be 500 without this regimen.

Supplements:

Omega 3-6-8 capsules
Rose Hips
CoQ10
Zinc
D3
vegetarian glusosamine

I eat oatmeal for breakfast with "NuTrim" added. Nutrim is made from oats.
Kashi frozen entries for lunch
low fat dinners
No fried foods
Ice cream no more than twice a month
Not a lot of hidden carbs from chips, beer, wine, etc.

Not much to do but take the meds or risk an early demise.

Thanks again, all,

Ed

spade2you · #6 10-07-2010, 12:23 PM

Rose Hips, Zinc, and glucosamine shouldn't do anything for any of that.

Also, I'm not bashing weight lifting, but have you ever noticed how endurance athletes are generally extremely skinny? The endurance pace is generally one of the best for fat burning. The only downside is it's much more time consuming and more gradual than higher intensity workouts.

jimc · #7 10-07-2010, 12:37 PM

3 months ago my triglyceride was 650 (should be below 200). I was given 3 months to change my diet/exercise or I'd be put on pills.

I cut back on alcohol to almost nothing. Did diet food and started walking at least 3 miles a day. Just got my results back and triglyceride is now 132! I also lost 32lbs which I think helped to get my metabolism working better. I guess my genetics weren't the problem, probably my weight was the main culprit. I was 205lbs at 5'9".

How is your weight?

edt844 · #8 10-10-2010, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

Rose Hips, Zinc, and glucosamine shouldn't do anything for any of that.

Also, I'm not bashing weight lifting, but have you ever noticed how endurance athletes are generally extremely skinny? The endurance pace is generally one of the best for fat burning. The only downside is it's much more time consuming and more gradual than higher intensity workouts.

My regime right now is to workout 3 times a week starting with 10 minutes on an ellipical machine, then my resistance/weight work, followed by 15 minutes on a combo of elliptical and recumb bike. I should add 2 -3 cardio days to the week.

edt844 · #9 10-10-2010, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimc

3 months ago my triglyceride was 650 (should be below 200). I was given 3 months to change my diet/exercise or I'd be put on pills.

I cut back on alcohol to almost nothing. Did diet food and started walking at least 3 miles a day. Just got my results back and triglyceride is now 132! I also lost 32lbs which I think helped to get my metabolism working better. I guess my genetics weren't the problem, probably my weight was the main culprit. I was 205lbs at 5'9".

How is your weight?

I'm 215lbs, 5'11". Just about all the extra weight in in my gut. I've lost about 75% of the belly fat but weight has not changed much. I have to have hidden fat and carbs somewhere in my diet.

**yodedude2** · #10 10-10-2010, 06:10 AM

i have/had some family members with genetically-induced high cholesterol. i don't believe the biomechanics of it are understood well, but the effects certainly are. good luck on your search...afaik, there's no understood explanation other than genetics. later, ron

spade2you · #11 10-11-2010, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edt844

My regime right now is to workout 3 times a week starting with 10 minutes on an ellipical machine, then my resistance/weight work, followed by 15 minutes on a combo of elliptical and recumb bike. I should add 2 -3 cardio days to the week.

I think if you want results, you're going to need to do about an hour of solid cardio and perhaps increase that to 1.5-2 hours, staying in the fat burning zone. Correct me if I'm wrong, but switching what you're doing every 15 min suggests that you're not a fan of cardio.

Anthbass · #12 10-11-2010, 08:59 AM

Like the OP, I have high cholesterol, and it runs in my family; both parents are on (and have been for years) medication. I had always been active and a fairly picky eater, so I was shocked to receive the news that my levels were very high at the age of 30. I, too, wanted to see if changing diet and increasing exercise could achieve what a prescription could. Several months of hard work and self denial resulted in lower levels, but not significantly. I was discouraged, but came across Campbell's book, The China Study. In it, the author (an MD) explores data that suggests that diseases of civlization, such as diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and hypertension, have been (until recently) uncommon in China, largely as a result of diet/work style. I followed a number of the guidelines set out in the book and have managed to return to normal numbers in terms of levels. The doctors I've seen have been mostly incredulous, but it works for me. You might want to peruse the book and see if you can live with the dietary recommendations (and lots of cardiovascular exercise). Good luck.
www.thechinastudy.com

iamlowsound · #13 10-11-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

I think if you want results, you're going to need to do about an hour of solid cardio and perhaps increase that to 1.5-2 hours, staying in the fat burning zone. Correct me if I'm wrong, but switching what you're doing every 15 min suggests that you're not a fan of cardio.

Yep, you need to do more cardio. Lots of it. Try and get your body fat percentage in the 10-13% range. To do this, you need to eat right and do lots of cardio.

lowsound

i_got_a_mohawk · #14 10-11-2010, 09:39 AM

Pick up a sport, preferably one with some running about! If you have the time you could join a local team, training a few times a week would help quite a bit

Infidelity · #15 10-11-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Yep, you need to do more cardio. Lots of it. Try and get your body fat percentage in the 10-13% range. To do this, you need to eat right and do lots of cardio.

lowsound

I agree..

spade2you · #16 10-11-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Pick up a sport, preferably one with some running about! If you have the time you could join a local team, training a few times a week would help quite a bit

Running isn't bad inherently, but 215lbs is a lot of weight on the kneees. Cycling would be better in this regard, although I think a big key is to stay at a specific heart rate/percieved effort range. The fat burning or endurance zone is VERY effective because it doesn't burn too many simple sugars. High intensity burns mostly glycogen, minimal fat, AND makes you much more hungry afterwards.

i_got_a_mohawk · #17 10-11-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

Running isn't bad inherently, but 215lbs is a lot of weight on the kneees. Cycling would be better in this regard, although I think a big key is to stay at a specific heart rate/percieved effort range. The fat burning or endurance zone is VERY effective because it doesn't burn too many simple sugars. High intensity burns mostly glycogen, minimal fat, AND makes you much more hungry afterwards.

Oh I agree, I HATE running (on most surfaces anyway). Running on grass (rugby training) is about the only surface I can run on without my joints being totally hammered (6ft4 ~270lbs right now).

I'm just meaning more about getting involved with something. I do like going to the gym, but at times it can get to feeling more like a chore. Who wants to do 2 hours CV at the gym when you can be doing just as much but with a group of people and have some goals outside of just loosing weight & getting fitter

Munjibunga · #18 10-11-2010, 10:01 AM

Need legal or medical advice? You're in the right place!

spade2you · #19 10-11-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I'm just meaning more about getting involved with something. I do like going to the gym, but at times it can get to feeling more like a chore. Who wants to do 2 hours CV at the gym when you can be doing just as much but with a group of people and have some goals outside of just loosing weight & getting fitter

Stimulation is a must, although it's hard to get the benefits of a focused workout. During my endurance phase of my training, I spend as much as 15 hours on the bike per week at a fairly mundane pace. I'm not thrilled about it, but it needs to be done.