Originally Posted by SSLance (Post 513403)

Wow, very interesting thread. It is pretty cool to see a bunch of "car guys" talking about eating and living healthy.

My deal started a little over 2 years ago now. I was 45 years old, 6'0" and weighed about 180 pounds, pretty healthy I thought, just a little bit of a spare tire forming. Went for my annual physical, nailed the EKG, Stress test, everything looked good...until the blood work came back.

July 2011
Cholesterol 179
HDL Direct 32
Triglyceride 191
LDL Calculated 109

The Doc was mainly concerned about my Triglyceride levels, wanted to put me on a Statin. I refused and started a workout regimen, 30 minutes on treadmill 5 days a week, started drinking 8 oz of Grape juice a day (to raise good cholesterol) and taking an Omega supplement once a day.


Went back for more blood work in Oct 2011
Cholesterol 218
HDL Direct 29
Non-HDL Cholesterol 199
Triglyceride 195
LDL Calculated 150

This pissed me off enough that I stopped working out (aggravating knee trouble contributed as well), but continued with grape juice and omega supplement.


In Jan 2013 went back for more blood work
Cholesterol 243
HDL Direct 34
Non-HDL Cholesterol 209
Triglyceride 291
LDL Calculated 151

Again, the doc stressed that I need to be on a Statin, diagnosed me as "pre-diabetic". Well, just about everyone in my family has been diagnosed as "pre-diabetic" at one time or another due to Triglyceride levels, yet none of them have developed actual heart disease.

The wife and I sat down and decided to change the way we live, drastically. First although we thought that we ate pretty healthy, we reevaluated everything we consume and took out anything that would be considered "processed food". We committed to a fresh fruit, fresh vegetable and sensible protein diet, morning noon and night. We learned about better fish to eat, not just any fish, we learned about adding almonds to the mix, we learned ways of cooking food in a healthier manner. And the wife quit her high stress job and took some time off to just chill and spend a lot of time running to the grocery store for fresh food and making my lunches for me. I've always packed a lunch, but now my lunches have bags of carrots, cut fresh green peppers, nuts, and a light sammich in them instead of jello pudding, applesauce, and cookies along with a big ol honking sammich in there.

We also researched omegas...and learned a TON. I'm convinced the Omega supplement I was taking was wreaking havoc with my system. We found a supplement that was better fit and I started taking it once a day and I quit the grape juice

It's a life change for sure, but one for the better. I lost close to 10 pounds pretty quickly, lost about an inch off my waist and my spare tire went away...and I was eating MORE than I was before portion size, meaning I wasn't starving myself to do this. After 3 months I went back in for more blood work.

May 2013
Cholesterol 211
HDL Direct 29
Triglyceride 184 (the big one)
LDL Calculated 145

Ir was unbelievable to me that just a strict dietary change could lower my Triglyceride level over 100 points in a 3 month period.

You'll never guess what the doc said... "you still need to start taking a statin..." I just glared at her and she understood.

Anyway, it's 5 or 6 months later now, we are still on the "healthy eating kick", weight has stayed right at 170#s or so, feel great and I haven't been back for any more blood work. I wear a fitbit to track my footsteps per day, and try to keep as active as I can, but I don't see me becoming any sort of a workout warrior. My schedule and sore knees just don't fit into that plan. But I like the healthy living and seriously...it is becoming more and more regular all of the time and hopefully society as a whole will head further down this road which will just give us more and more good choices of food instead of more of the crap that is in the center sections of the grocery stores.

Originally Posted by Tony_SS (Post 513475)

Get your Fats Straight
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.c...-get-it-right/

No, carbs in the form of grains is one of the worst things you can put in your body. Again, most all carbs, like wheat are a modern poisen. They have been genetically modified with a new protein (Gildan) designed to make you fat and sick. Period.

The only good grains are organic fermented grains. Forget everything else.

I'm still rockin' the Paleo diet, 148lbs still, down from 175. Still eathing raw organic meats and veggies as much as I can. I've made great friends with the farmers at the market.

Local REAL honey is antibacterial. Raw milk is a great probiotic. Organic veggies, and something Never mentioned here (I think) homemade SOAP! STOP putting these petro chemicals into your body in the form of shampoo's, bar soap and deodorant.

I've converted my wife, she has lost 44lbs so far too.

Yes we've been lied to.. "Eat low fat," they said. No Butter they said. Use margarine they said". It's all BS. Never trust a doctors word either, lots are pill pushers getting kickbacks. Yes, my pharmacist ratted out some here in town.

Let food be your medicine. Don't trust cheap, rancid supplements either, they are heavily processed (some).

Cheers to good health.

Originally Posted by Twoblackmarks... (Post 513423)

I dont think you should should "bash" carbohydrates that much.

The body need all Three, Fat, Proteins and Carbs.

Carbs are a very good energy Source With the right type, and fast carbs that increase insulin is not that bad always.

Even though insulin increases fat Storage, it also is an anabolic hormone (rebuilding) and increases the bodys way of "digesting" or faster/better use of nutrition. It speeds up the use of other nutrition too

A good example is after training, and some in the breakfast. For those two times the body needs fast nutrition, especially after training of course. But not doughnut type of course :D All other times, slow. Basically

Proteins are a poor energy Source, and fat, while a good energy Source, the body does not have it readily available, since it is in "Storage", the body must go through a process to get it. It does not always have the time to do that. (Like you burn fat when walking, and carbs when sprinting)

While carbs are more readily available, if the the body needs them NOW! :D

I am not saying this is Perfect or more right, but if you are active and such, carbs are good, if you do less and not very active, then you can go very low on carbs. But then you also need less fat.

I like to see it as a house being buildt.

The Protein are the material to build walls and New rooms. Too few will not get stuff done, more than you need is better there.

The Carbohydrates are the workers - To few, slow or ineffective building, to many workers and it gets messy and crowded With most sitting around and getting lazy. :P

The fat are more like the Tools, lubricants and keep the workers happy and is an reserve Source. -Sort of

Insuline is then an sort of boost to the house building, but you cant boost all the time. :) But if planned correctly, boosting Works. (after training or?)

And fatty acids are extremely important, because it Controls and regulate all the hormones in the body, so Liquid omega 2-3 times a day does much, especially to a poor Fish eater, but Fish in Food is still noe enough, in my opinion. That also helps stabilizing for example insulin better. I think it is better to drink much omega 3-6-9 and eat somewhat less fat, good fat in regular diet is not so easy to acomplish, for me atleast.

If you think I am wrong, please say so/discuss, I am not an expert, but think about it, and dont believe blindly/to much of what "Professionals" say, and me for that matter ;) But People are somewhat different, find some sort of middle road that you like that Works for you anyway.

And carbs are a good energy Source! It is like Race Fuel, you can run more compression and more advance on it ;)