Look what fast food & ice cream have done to my cholesterol

bio01979

This may work now, but long term i doubt. Definitely won't work for females. Eat that way if that's what you like but there are other benefits besides weight to consider of eating clean - more balanced energy levels, less temptation/urge to binge, better hair, skin and nails,, tec. I wouldn't advocate this plan for the masses

How long do I have to maintain this weight for it to be long term...? I went from about 210 maximum to 160 in 2004. I haven't been more than 5 lbs above that since. That's like..... 9 years.

And what do you know about my energy levels, hair, skin, or nails?

Because women are a completely different species. Duh.

lol exactly!

there seems to be this stereotype that women are all emotional eaters, binge on chocolate during TOM, are walking hormonal time bombs and are unable to lose or maintain weight easily or without following a strict diet

I am sure this is true for some women, and some men as well lol

but we can't paint everyone with the same brush

Onesnap

I like real maple syrup so the IHOP every week thing would not work for me unless I snuck it in. :: reaches into purse for the local goodness ::

You have to do what works for you.

This diet and lifestyle works for you.

I could never not do any cardio (as the OP said, he does not do cardio). I love things like kayaking, hiking, Centergy (power yoga), Zumba, and kickboxing too much to give them up. I could not survive without my cardio mixed with strength training.



The OP has found his balance.

For me, his balance would have me all off kilter. I try to avoid factory farmed meat as much as possible. I also don't have it in my budget to eat out that much per week.

FYI, I put cardio in quotes in the OP because I don't do "cardio." As I mentioned, I am an active person. I play tennis, mountain bike, hike, or something else for 3-15 hours per week. I don't think "cardio" is necessary, but having fun being active is.

ah, okay. Thanks for the clarification. I think you meant like on a cardio machine: elliptical, treadmill, spin bike etc. Because you are clearly doing cardio just not, you know, tethered to a machine inside.

_noob_

Your post is misleading in its approach, and provides a single result without a control.

I haven't reviewed your posting history, but I hope you go into all the success story threads and tell people about how their results provide a single result with no experimental controls. Cause it would be kinda awesome if you did.

:laugh: :laugh:

bcattoes

But females are SPECIAL.

True story.

Onesnap

Here's the definition of "cardio" for the OP:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/114986-definition-cardio-exercise/

aloranger7708

Bump. Love it!

jonnythan

I like real maple syrup so the IHOP every week thing would not work for me unless I snuck it in. :: reaches into purse for the local goodness ::

You have to do what works for you.

This diet and lifestyle works for you.

I could never not do any cardio (as the OP said, he does not do cardio). I love things like kayaking, hiking, Centergy (power yoga), Zumba, and kickboxing too much to give them up. I could not survive without my cardio mixed with strength training.



The OP has found his balance.

For me, his balance would have me all off kilter. I try to avoid factory farmed meat as much as possible. I also don't have it in my budget to eat out that much per week.

FYI, I put cardio in quotes in the OP because I don't do "cardio." As I mentioned, I am an active person. I play tennis, mountain bike, hike, or something else for 3-15 hours per week. I don't think "cardio" is necessary, but having fun being active is.

ah, okay. Thanks for the clarification. I think you meant like on a cardio machine: elliptical, treadmill, spin bike etc. Because you are clearly doing cardio just not, you know, tethered to a machine inside.

Yes, I am doing things that are cardiovascular exercise, but I do them because they are fun, not because I feel I have to spend time on a machine slaving away for my health. I never pick up a tennis racquet with the intent of "doing cardio." I pick up a tennis racquet with the intent of playing a game.

If you enjoy cardio machines or whatever, then more power to you. Enjoyment is the key. I don't think it does anyone any good to spend hours doing something they dislike for their "health."

lisamarie1780

Saw the doc yesterday for a physical and had a lipid panel done.

My first cholesterol results were from 2006, which was a few months after I lost 45 pounds doing mainly cardio and very large calorie deficits. I had gone from 205 to 160 lbs.
Total = 230
LDL = 171
HDL = 42
HDL/total ratio = 5.75

Had another panel done in 2008, after a couple years of more or less maintaining with relatively low levels of activity. I was 165 lbs then.
Total = 204
LDL = 141
HDL = 46
HDL/Total ratio = 4.43

Again in 2011, which was about 8 months after I started lifting (just as I was starting my first bulk). I was 160 lbs here. I hurt my back a few months after this and took about 18 months off lifting to fully recover.
Total = 213
LDL = 140
HDL = 59
HDL/Total ratio: 3.62

Today's results, which come after 5 months of lifting and going from 165 lbs to 148:
Total = 188
LDL = 104
HDL = 68
HDL/Total ratio: 2.69

My triglycerides have always been pretty low.

So those of you who have seen my posts (and ticker) know that I eat a lot of food that's not "clean." I go to McDonald's, Taco Bell, Subway, IHOP, etc, many times a week. I have ice cream almost every day. I eat a lot of frozen meals. Yet despite all this, my cholesterol has gone from pretty bad to ideal. Having a total cholesterol of 230 at 24 years old was not a good sign.

There's no secret or magic to this. I lift weights, I find fun ways to be active outside [I never 'do cardio' and I hate running], and I hit appropriate macro goals. That's all there is to it. I haven't filled my diet with "health foods" or "clean" food, I haven't even remotely cut out processed food. I haven't avoided sugar; in fact, I eat a ton of it. I average over 60 grams a day, I think. I haven't cut my sodium to low levels; I average around 4000 mg a day (and my blood pressure yesterday was 108/62).

I get 130+ grams of protein a day, 50+ grams of fat a day, 25+ grams of fiber a day, eat a few servings of veggies and fruits every day, and I exercise. That's it. This stuff isn't rocket science, and if your 'diet' forbids certain foods then you're doing it wrong (unless of course you have an actual medical condition such as celiac disease or hypertension).

I'm going to post this picture again. I'm thin and have a spare tire, but I'm improving every day. Behold the power of eating foods you enjoy.

I'm all for eating food you enjoy but I wouldn't choose fast food as my main source of nutrients. I think it's amazing how you have transformed your body but I would be interested to see what your bloods looked like after 20 or 30 years of living off junk.... I'm not saying I know, I would just be interested to find out.

jwdieter

Your post is misleading in its approach, and provides a single result without a control.

I haven't reviewed your posting history, but I hope you go into all the success story threads and tell people about how their results provide a single result with no experimental controls. Cause it would be kinda awesome if you did.

When people want to present a misleading picture of their weight loss, I'll comment.

Thread with this title is at least a little bit trolling.

I could post pictures bacon and bbq and milkshakes, and post a picture of my abs, and it would be a technically true story of what I ate this week and how I look. But I understand why I'm in the shape I'm in. It's not because I like to eat food in an amount that would lead to obesity in some folks - it's because I'm eating an appropriate amount of food for my body, doing HIIT, and lifting.

krc99080

Excellent job! I'm a huge fan of not cutting anything out unless you are allergic to the food. I'd be miserable if I said I could never eat ice cream or chocolate cake again. Fast food I can live without and have to be careful what I pick there because the grease can disagree with me.

professorRAT

In for the ice cream!

Nice work my ice cream loving friend. :flowerforyou: ::flowerforyou: [Pretend the flowers are bowls of your favorite gelato.]

jonnythan

I'm all for eating food you enjoy but I wouldn't choose fast food as my main source of nutrients. I think it's amazing how you have transformed your body but I would be interested to see what your bloods looked like after 20 or 30 years of living off junk.... I'm not saying I know, I would just be interested to find out.

Well I've been eating fast food regularly for 30 years. Growing up in the south, dinner was almost always fried something or other and loaded with butter. Breakfast every day was either cinnamon rolls, sugary cereal, or biscuits loaded with butter.

I've had regular CBC, CMP, and lipid panels done in 06, 08, 11, and 13 and everything besides cholesterol has been completely normal. All health markers are now optimal.

I'll keep posting the panel results as long as I'm on MFP.

I'm actually curious what components of the fast food, or my overall diet, are the components you think will cause ill health in the future.

fitacct

Even though I'm old enough to be your mother (I have a 26-year-old son), your story and mine are similar. Two years ago next month, I had an Executive Panel done during a routine doctor's visit. I received a call the next week that my triglyceride level was above normal and my cholesterol was elevated. I had never had problems with either before...BUT, I was also 30 pounds overweight and not exercising. The doctor suggested I try bringing those numbers down with an adjusted meal plan and exercise. My family doc, however, wanted to immediately start me on statin drugs. NO WAY! He agreed to my idea of trying the other doc's suggestion for three months. I joined MFP the very next day and, well, the rest is history, as they say. Within three months time, with watching what I ate and regular exercise, both my triglyceride and cholesterol levels were normal...and, I was losing weight. I ate what I wanted, within moderation, but kept a close watch of my fat and cholesterol levels here on MFP (such an invaluable tool!). Subsequent testing last year showed both levels still normal. I go for another Executive Panel next month.

I have not given up the foods I like, I just eat in moderation now and exercise almost daily. I cook dinner during the week, but my husband and I eat out about three times Friday - Sunday, with a couple of those meals often being fast food. I eat low-fat, slow-churned ice-cream (Edy's is GREAT) as a treat and have a piece of dark chocolate almost daily. My lunches are, more often than not, a Lean Cuisine meal rounded out with a veggie or salad and a serving or two of fruit. I eat fruit with my breakfast and at dinner time, too. Chips are not off limits, I just count what I eat....same as everything else. MODERATION, is the key. To deny oneself of foods you like is a sure recipe for failure, in my opinion.

Congrats on your progress and thanks for sharing your story. Best wishes!

ninerbuff

I'm actually curious what components of the fast food, or my overall diet, are the components you think will cause ill health in the future.

Just one Jon..................................don't go through the drive thru..........................this "component" of sitting behind a car blowing carbon monoxide into yours will kill you.:laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

DVaughan1975

Um.....where is this spare tire you speak of? Are you hiding it in your toe? Behind your ear perhaps?

bpotts44

John, congrats on the sustained weight loss and clean bill of health. Was reading recently that as people eat in caloric excess and convert glucose from carb intake into saturated fat that it is the main cause of blood lipids being out of line which is what is causing massive heart disease. So it would seem that caloric and carb intake is a primary driver of blood lipids which is why fat people have high cholesterol even if they have a low fat diet. Your results would indicate that by being in long term caloric deficient and turning off the carb to fat mechanism yields proper blood lipid profiles. Wondering how you determined to go low fat versus low carb in setting your macros? I've recent converted over to high fat low carb.

jonnythan

John, congrats on the sustained weight loss and clean bill of health. Was reading recently that as people eat in caloric excess and convert glucose from carb intake into saturated fat that it is the main cause of blood lipids being out of line which is what is causing massive heart disease. So it would seem that caloric and carb intake is a primary driver of blood lipids which is why fat people have high cholesterol even if they have a low fat diet. Your results would indicate that by being in long term caloric deficient and turning off the carb to fat mechanism yields proper blood lipid profiles. Wondering how you determined to go low fat versus low carb in setting your macros? I've recent converted over to high fat low carb.

Low fat? I didn't think I was going low fat.

jonnythan

Anyway, I set protein intake at 1 gram per lb of LBM. I set fat at around 0.35 times bodyweight in lbs. Then carbs are the rest.

Iknewyouweretrouble

clean eating is SUCH a separate issue.
I'm happy to see I am not the only one who understands the responsibility of two factors in hyperlipidemia: carbohydrates and excess calories.
note the trifecta: diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (mediated sometimes by OBESITY)

bpotts44

Is the fat a lower limit or high limit and is your caloric intake from carbs typically higher or lower than fat?

lisamarie1780

I'm all for eating food you enjoy but I wouldn't choose fast food as my main source of nutrients. I think it's amazing how you have transformed your body but I would be interested to see what your bloods looked like after 20 or 30 years of living off junk.... I'm not saying I know, I would just be interested to find out.

Well I've been eating fast food regularly for 30 years. Growing up in the south, dinner was almost always fried something or other and loaded with butter. Breakfast every day was either cinnamon rolls, sugary cereal, or biscuits loaded with butter.

I've had regular CBC, CMP, and lipid panels done in 06, 08, 11, and 13 and everything besides cholesterol has been completely normal. All health markers are now optimal.

I'll keep posting the panel results as long as I'm on MFP.

I'm actually curious what components of the fast food, or my overall diet, are the components you think will cause ill health in the future.

I didn't say you WOULD suffer ill health, I was simply saying it would be interesting to see what your internal health was like after a lifetime of fast food ... I don't know, nobody does, I was just raising the point/question in response to your post

You're pretty young now, I was just wondering whether this kind of lifestyle will serve you as well as your body gets older, that's all

bcattoes

John, congrats on the sustained weight loss and clean bill of health. Was reading recently that as people eat in caloric excess and convert glucose from carb intake into saturated fat that it is the main cause of blood lipids being out of line which is what is causing massive heart disease.

"people eat in caloric excess and convert glucose from carb intake into saturated fat "??

jonnythan

Is the fat a lower limit or high limit and is your caloric intake from carbs typically higher or lower than fat?

I treat protein and fat as minimums. Higher intake is fine.

Relative intake of carbs versus fat varies, mostly according to how active I am. On days I'm super active and therefore eating a lot more calories, most of the extra usually comes from carbs.

Looking at a ballpark average by reviewing carb and fat intake reports, I'd say my average calories from fat are around 675 and average calories from carbs 800. Protein is around 560.

Chrisinho

You mean I can eat Pizza and burgers again? Dear Lord the world makes sense again

WendyTerry420

<snip>
The main driver behind demonizing "junk" food is the additives that are added that drive you to want more of said food. <snip>

*eye roll*

5ftnFun

This may work now, but long term i doubt. Definitely won't work for females. Eat that way if that's what you like but there are other benefits besides weight to consider of eating clean - more balanced energy levels, less temptation/urge to binge, better hair, skin and nails,, tec. I wouldn't advocate this plan for the masses

In 1981-1982, at 20 yrs old and overweight, I decided to stop dieting; I quit the "good" food vs "bad" food mentality. I had tried all kinds of "diets" throughout my teens and failed miserably each and every time. So. I decided to copy how my slender college room mates ate. They didn't seem to care about "good" or "bad" food either. They ate pretty much anything. The key was portion control and being active. I lost 30-40 lbs (I'm not sure of my exact start weight) that year. I've kept it off and have maintained at 115 lbs, give or take a few. My BP is low and my blood work is excellent including my cholesterol. I feel good, sleep good, and my hair, skin &nails look good. I was out the other day helping my husband take down a fence and the fence posts. Hard work! Not bad for a 52 yr female.

I eat a fair amount of lean meat, produce, yogurt, etc. now, but I also eat fast food several times per week. I eat Chips Ahoy cookies almost every day. Donuts on the weekend.,The key is watching my portions. I get that others may not have the kind of health I have due to genetics or because they have some kind of health issue (lactose intolerance, IBS, food allergies etc)

Everyone needs to find a eating style they can live with. If you want to eat clean, be a vegetarian, or whatever, go for it. Personally, I like this one. I cannot tell you how relieved I was when I learned that I didn't have to eat carrot sticks by the bucket full to lose weight and/or be healthy.

Hendrix7

I'm all for eating food you enjoy but I wouldn't choose fast food as my main source of nutrients.

I don't think the OP has stated or is intending to recommend people get their MAIN source of nutrients from fast food..just that he hasn't eliminated them from his diet.

OP is getting leaner and healthier while enjoying food and eating a varied diet, this is winning.

Onesnap

I'm actually curious what components of the fast food, or my overall diet, are the components you think will cause ill health in the future.

I try to avoid foods made up of a chemical stew and as I stated earlier we typically buy only non factory farmed meat in my house. So fast food, in general, does not fit in to what rules we follow in my house. For the OP's health, yes they do work. For my husband (he has an auto immune disease) and for me (working on everything I can do to prevent cancer since I'm at high risk from my Mom's side) eating a ton of fast food just does not "work".

For the OP, it works.

Everyone has their own goals and they have to do what makes them happy and healthy.

I volunteer at a farm and I'd feel weird about eating fast food all of the time. There is fast food that supports small family farms (Chipotle) but a good majority of it does not.

It depends on your food goals, health goals, and what you believe in. Me, I enjoy going to the farmer's market and talking to the guy that just caught the seafood that morning. I enjoy getting eggs and meat there too.

It also depends on how you grew up (I grew up 10 minutes from a farm).

It also depends how comfortable you are in constantly supporting large corporations and Fast Food Nation. I'm not.

It also depends what you spend your cash on (we spend ours on travel and a vacation home).

No one is better than the next person. And my examples are not "better" per se, it's just what we do in my house. We are happy and healthy as a result. We do what we can to keep my husband in remission--that first and foremost is what we decided is the most important and we've been living that way our whole lives.

If fast food makes the OP happy and healthy it's a good thing. It's not for everyone.

:drinker:

bcattoes

<snip>
The main driver behind demonizing "junk" food is the additives that are added that drive you to want more of said food. <snip>

If one thinks they have to live on mainly salads, steamed vegetables and baked meats, or one simply doesn't know how or doesn't like to cook, I can see the draw of the convenience. But taste? I'm just not sure I believe it.

No way fast food tastes better than a home prepared meal by a good cook.

jonnythan

<snip>
The main driver behind demonizing "junk" food is the additives that are added that drive you to want more of said food. <snip>

If one thinks they have to live on mainly salads, steamed vegetables and baked meats, or one simply doesn't know how or doesn't like to cook, I can see the draw of the convenience. But taste? I'm just not sure I believe it.

No way fast food tastes better than a home prepared meal by a good cook.

This is how your post sounds.