Year One Bloodwork

The final one-year bloodwork results are in. Good news! My numbers are the best they have ever been. Before going over the numbers, let me recap a typical day's nutrition. I used Fitday to calculate these values, which are representative of a typical day in my life food-wise over the past year.

Total calories: 3,242 per day

grams - calories - percentage%

Fat: 251g - 2,263 - 71%
Saturated fat: 105g - 946 - 30%
Carbohydrates: 50g - 141 - 4%
Protein 182g - 730 - 23%
Fiber 16g - 0 - 0%
Alcohol 9g - 64 - 2% (sugar alcohols, my one vice...Atkins Bars)

The careful reader will note that this represents a daily consumption of 251 grams of fat, 105 of which were the deadly saturated variety, which everyone knows will cause your heart to rot and fall out. Combined with the low fiber intake, I should be a walking pat of butter with a heart the size of Rhode Island. Recall that the recommended daily intake of fat and saturated fat is 100 grams and 20 grams, respectively. By the experts.

But let's see.

During the past year, my bloodwork has steadily improved. I threw in numbers from 2006 for comparison. As you can see, my numbers weren't all that bad for someone who weighed 400 pounds compared to many others (I don't have a gall bladder). But the steady improvement is undeniable, and I am anything but svelte at my current 296 pounds and BMI of 40. I am NOT on any cholesterol lowering drug or specific regimen.

October, 2006 (baseline 400 pounds)
Triglycerides: 211
Cholesterol: 206
HDL: 45
LDL: 142

February, 2007 (2 months low carb)
Triglycerides: 117
Cholesterol: 142
HDL: 48
LDL: 71

August 2007 (8 months low carb)
Triglycerides: 95
Cholesterol: 161
HDL: 55
LDL: 87

January, 2008 (12 months low carb, 296 pounds)
Triglycerides: 68
Cholesterol: 139
HDL: 60
LDL: 65
VLDL: 14

So with all that fat intake, and saturated fat off the charts according to the experts, my triglycerides dropped 67% (211 to 68), total cholesterol dropped 33% (206 to 139), HDL cholesterol increased 33% (45 to 60), and LDL cholesterol dropped 54% (142 to 65). My HDL/LDL ratio is .9 (anything above .3 is considered great, but not everyone agrees that this is a good indicator of risk for heart disease).

These numbers and the clinical experiences of thousands of others who eat a low-carbohydrate diet often demonstrate the primary effects are decreased cholesterol and triglycerides and an improved lipid profile overall. Other scientific evidence indicates improved blood sugar profiles for diabetics, reduced appetite and hunger, improved energy levels and, of course, weight loss. An industrious search for these supporting data can be found all over the internet. One could start here. Or here. Or here. Or here. Or here.

I have lost 109 pounds following a fairly strict low carb (<50 grams per day) diet for the past year. But along the way a miracle happened. I stopped dieting and began living. I no longer count and measure food. I don't struggle to turn down high carb foods (today I joyfully picked up a pizza for my wife and daughter and sat with them and laughed while they dug in and I had my low carb meal). It's not an option for me to go back to the rapid heart rate, the sweating, the stuffed feeling, the bingeing...all due to a sugar and carb allergy that I never knew I had. When I was separated from carbohydrates and sugar a year ago my life changed dramatically and permanently. I invite anyone who suffers from obesity, chronic dieting, diabetes, food addiction, or overeating to try this low carb way of life (after consulting your doctor of course, and arguing if he/she disagrees). If you do happen to be food addicted, a 12-step program or therapy may also be indicated. Low carb eating makes a wonderful food plan because it is versatile, portable, and eliminates calorie counting. Salud!