Low fat AND low carb?
JennifrClaire
Posts: 141 Member
My doctor wants me on a low fat diet after a lipid test showed I have high cholesterol.
I lived on a low fat diet for a decade trying to keep my gallstones and my weight in check and it failed on both counts.
I lost 50 pounds on low carb and I've kept it off (give or take a couple of pounds). I'm just not giving it up.
Can you do both low fat and low carb?
Has anyone here been in this situation? It would be just protein and vegetables wouldnt it?
I lived on a low fat diet for a decade trying to keep my gallstones and my weight in check and it failed on both counts.
I lost 50 pounds on low carb and I've kept it off (give or take a couple of pounds). I'm just not giving it up.
Can you do both low fat and low carb?
Has anyone here been in this situation? It would be just protein and vegetables wouldnt it?
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Replies
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I cannot see how you could do both - the energy to sustain you needs to come from somewhere. What was your cholesterol like before you lost weight? Has it gone up, or is it already on a downward trend?0
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Low Carb & Low Fat don't really go together at all. You'd be back to hungry-town in a big way. Honestly, I would ignore your doctor's advice and keep on going with low carb.
Some people have found that their cholesterol numbers go up initially while they are losing weight, and then go down to phenomenal levels once their weight stabilizes. @GaleHawkins had a thread about this recently.
Here is another thread about cholesterol that was up in the Launch Pad:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10387874/cholesterol-medication/p15 -
Here's @GaleHawkins 's thread:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10450702/got-new-lchf-lab-results-for-year-2
Also, if you don't mind sharing what your numbers were, some of the more experienced low carbers may have some great insights for you
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You might think about reading Cholesterol Clarity by Jimmy Moore and Dr. Eric Westman. I haven't read it yet, but just finished their Keto Clarity book and found it very helpful. The cholesterol book focuses on the latest research around cholesterol and how, in their opinion, many doctors are giving the wrong advice because they are unaware of the latest findings.3
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JennifrClaire wrote: »My doctor wants me on a low fat diet after a lipid test showed I have high cholesterol.
I lived on a low fat diet for a decade trying to keep my gallstones and my weight in check and it failed on both counts.
I lost 50 pounds on low carb and I've kept it off (give or take a couple of pounds). I'm just not giving it up.
Can you do both low fat and low carb?
Has anyone here been in this situation? It would be just protein and vegetables wouldnt it?
Watch the movie "Fathead". It used to be on YouTube but they took it off. I recently found it free on Vimeo. His cholesterol went up too. His dr was worried until he asked for a PARTICLE SIZE test. I'd insist on it.
Large fluffy particles are not dangerous. Small particles are what block arteries. His particles were large even tho his cholesterol was high on this diet, so the concern was not valid AT ALL. Check it out, the video goes into it in detail. I'll try to find a link.
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I believe that to be antiquated advice but many doctors are still recommending it. Eating fast doesn't give you high cholesterol. Your body will actually make cholesterol and if you don't eat enough it will make more it's essential for you to live. It's very common to have increased cholesterol while losing weight something about triglycerides or something. Many on here have posted their numbers throughout their journey, they all shot up after a large loss and then came back down.
Obviously we aren't drs but I would really question the advice you were given. Going low carb low fat your next post in about three days would be "why am I so tired and starving all the time"6 -
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http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10454848/its-working#latest
Another recent thread ^^ regarding an individual's lipid #s improving with low carb high fat.3 -
[quote="Jo2926;37626022" What was your cholesterol like before you lost weight?[/quote]
I've never had it checked before.
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Thank you, every one for your replies. I was thinking these things but i needed to hear from other people too.
The only reason they were testing me at all was because i said i didn't want to take my levothyroxine -and had not done for about a year. The test showed I am no longer hypothyroid and everything else is good too so its only that one test .
I dont know what my actual numbers are but I feel fine.
Low fat diets, even with a high calorie burn everyday, didn't get my weight down and did nothing for my health generally.
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The Dukan Diet as written is low fat and low carb. This is the diet that Carole and Catherine Middleton used to get ready for the royal wedding.
Dr. Dukan has written a few books. Here is the book I am using:
Dukan Diet: 2 Steps to Lose the Weight, 2 Steps to Keep It Off Forever Hardcover – April 19, 2011 by Pierre Dukan.
Personally, where he has low fat products on his list, I buy regular fat products and have lost 50+ lbs. I also do not do the daily oat bran that he prescribes.2 -
I did the Dukan Diet for a few years (somewhat off and on). It did help me finally lose the last of my twin pregnancy weight and reverse prediabetes. I didn't find it *that* hard to follow but I reached a point last fall (after regaining 20 lbs ... long story but I was on a med that caused stomach problems. So I'd eat more carbs to try to settle my stomach, and if I tried doing Dukan again as the weight crept up, my stomach rebelled) where it wasn't working for me anymore. Even when I managed to stick to it stomach-wise, I was bored of it and had a hard time losing weight.
LCHF had a lot more positive benefits for me (my GI system was much happier in every way, more satisfying ... though at first I missed my nightly oat bran pancake
, reduced joint pain, good rate of weight loss, etc.)
If it helps, I have a blog where I did some chronicling of my Dukan experiences and I've added a wee bit of my LCHF journey, too:
www.amysdukandiary.blogspot.com1 -
@JennifrClaire -
If you're LFLC, then you must be either HP - which can elevate your blood glucose and tax your kidneys - or low-calorie - which would not meet your needs, if you're now in maintenance mode......
Swami sees yummy Macadamia nuts in your future!
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I too tried the Dukan Diet for a few months a couple of years ago and lost weight with it...BUT there were foods recommended that I really could barely tolerate such as oat bran and I could not stick with it. It is alternating days of protein only one day and protein and vegetables the next.
My total cholesterol has gone down since eating keto (early-August) from 197 (mid-May) to 170 (late-August).2 -
I ate low carb (100g/day) and low fat for years to try and manage my diabetes, and I could easily drop 20 lbs, but unfortunately the lack of food satisfaction always led to binges and regains for me. I lived on a 20 lb rollercoaster that didn't end until I reduced my carbs even further (currently 35-40g/day) and upped the fat. I'm now down over 85lbs and don't struggle much with binges anymore and even if I do have an off-diet meal, it doesn't lead to me spiraling out of control anymore. But that's just me, I'm all kinds of broken, you may be more successful 10
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I would insist on a copy of your results! They are yours anyway! Knowing these numbers (any lab results for that matter) are important to know.
Low carb and low fat is a recipe for ultimate failure. One may manage to lose weight, but they'll starve (be hangry!) doing it!
I recommend reading "Cholesterol Clarity" (as recommended above), and "Grain Brain" by David Perlmutter, for recent knowledge on this topic! The medical recommendations for low fat are outdated, and detrimental to one's health! Do you now know someone with Dementia, or Alzheimer's, or know someone who has a family member dealing with this? It used to be a rare thing to see, but not anymore! I completely BELIEVE this increase is because of 50+ years of eating low fat (and 20+ years of statins!)!!4 -
I might modify my fat intske some what. After years of not touching it, I may have gone a bit overboard, in my LCHF zeal. I'd like to lose another 20 pounds , but not if it's going to make me miserable trying.
Moderation is probably the best policy. Im afraid that if I cut back too much i will destabilise my blood sugars and go back to impulse eating. Thats when I make bad decisions about food - quality and quantity.
I should ring tomorrow and ask for my test results.2 -
I did LC and LF to lose the original weight, I was not starving hungry... just felt a bit icky from Ketoflu for the first 3 days or so. If you take proper supplements it can be done in a healthy way, BUT you must realize that there needs to be a gradual transition made to higher fat when you get to maintenance. Some people just get stuck on the idea that this is a permanent WOE, when it is really only a phase of your 'getting healthy' plan. I followed a medical doctor who developed the plan for athletes who needed to lose weight for seasonal competition, and who adapted it for other populations needing to reduce insulin sensitivity and lose a larger amount of fat weight.
His site: info is free, no charge to download his book either. RARE for a diet related site.
trantiendiet.com/site/spip.php?rubrique192 -
I'm trying a compromise. Giving up butter, and replacing full fat yoghurt, cheese, etc with the lower fat types. That sort of thing. Perhaps its not "low fat" but its not high fat, either.0
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JennifrClaire wrote: »I'm trying a compromise. Giving up butter, and replacing full fat yoghurt, cheese, etc with the lower fat types. That sort of thing. Perhaps its not "low fat" but its not high fat, either.
If you're trying to reduce the fat, I'd recommend focusing on leaner cuts of meat instead of saving it on the dairy. The fat in dairy tends to be replaced by carbs, whereas the leaner cuts of meat will just have more protein.
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PaleoInScotland wrote: »JennifrClaire wrote: »I'm trying a compromise. Giving up butter, and replacing full fat yoghurt, cheese, etc with the lower fat types. That sort of thing. Perhaps its not "low fat" but its not high fat, either.
If you're trying to reduce the fat, I'd recommend focusing on leaner cuts of meat instead of saving it on the dairy. The fat in dairy tends to be replaced by carbs, whereas the leaner cuts of meat will just have more protein.
Unfortunately, in my case, not only did I get more carbs per serving when I used to eat fat-free and low-fat dairy products, but I got more servings, too. Dang!
A container of plain, full-fat yogurt now lasts me about twice as long as its LF cousin...
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Im finding this to be true already. Cut back on fat, increase appetite for carbs. Its not sustainable.
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JennifrClaire wrote: »Im finding this to be true already. Cut back on fat, increase appetite for carbs. Its not sustainable.
Welcome back to the dark side 4 -
My cholesterol decreased substantially after going high-fat, low carb.1
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I too am in the same boat. My numbers are really quite good but because my brother has had two heart attacks in his 50's (one after a stress test!), I am in the high risk category and have to drive the LDL down more. Since I am over 60, and the doctor threatened me with medications or diet and I need travel insurance, I have to comply with diet changes, for now.
I have been doing low fat (25% - 30%) and moderate low carb (100g or less daily) for 3 weeks and it is getting easier. I have up the fiber a great deal to keep the net carbs down below 100. Food joy isn't great after high fat but I am gradually getting the hang of less fat with good taste.
I believe the others are correct, your LDL and Total Cholesterol will drop over time. But sometimes we have to do what we have to do.
Good luck! @canadjineh helped me to stop the whining about all the fats I was missing.1 -
ogmomma2012 wrote: »My cholesterol decreased substantially after going high-fat, low carb.
Interesting! Mine did actually go up (along with my HDL). So far still in a healthy range.0 -
Our bodies use cholesterol to make bile, our bodies make cholesterol as well as using what we take in from food. Soluble fiber is what helps really lower cholesterol. It binds with bile and takes it out of the body so it does not recirculate, the body then uses more cholesterol to make more bile. Brussels sprouts are great for soluble fiber, as well as many other vegetables. Try to get as much soluble fiber as possible, a little at each meal. Here is a soluble fiber calculator. I use it all the time. It's a little strange though the way they have it set up. Say you choose broccoli, it has a serving of broccoli set at 1/2 a cup. If you add a cup of broccoli to the calculator you add it as 2 servings. I don't understand the odd serving sizes in the thing but it does help. You could just enter your food either at each meal or at the end of the day to see how much soluble fiber you're getting. globalrph.com/fiber_content_soluble.htm2
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Thanks for the calculator! @ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken2
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You have had lots of advice here, but I didn't see this one... I recommend getting a second opinion. Find a health care provider with experience in the most up to date nutritional information. Many MDs do not have good or recent training on nutrition and are operating from outdated data. I am an integrative/holistic nurse in the US, and I am sure you can find someone with the experience you need to give you a holistic picture of your best strategy for taking care of your body!5
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High cholesterol isn't necessarily bad.
Without knowing the exact break down I personally wouldn't change a thing.3
