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Off-Topic High cholesterol questions

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Hey Folks

So, awhile back I failed a cholesterol test. It was unsurprising in retrospect. I was eating like garbage and inhaled half a Costco bag of chocolate almonds the night before.

I passed the next two no problem (as expected). But I was also working out 6 days a week.

We are expecting our 3rd child in a few weeks so I know 6 days a week isn’t going to happen.

So I have a few questions about cholesterol:
1) I’ve been doing a cutting program while doing Dry Fighting Weight (awesome program). I also did light swings and snatches on the off days. I felt like this caught up to me, and I didn’t get the final day results I hoped for. Can I back off and expect results? By back off to 3 days a week and still keep my cholesterol low?

2) I’m reading Quick and Dead. Is cholesterol stay low in the body if you take days off to recover?

3) How is cholesterol used during recovery days?

I’m asking because high cholesterol runsin the family and I’m in my early 40’s, the time when that tends to rise in my family.

Thanks.
 
Although there is abundant controversy regarding cholesterol, if you are concerned from a health perspective then you should seek advice from a medical professional who specializes in this area.
 
offwidth said:
Although there is abundant controversy regarding cholesterol, if you are concerned from a health perspective then you should seek advice from a medical professional who specializes in this area.
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I have. And their advice was a half hour of running everyday. With a torn Achilles that they diagnosed.
 

Cholesterol Archives - Peter Attia

Cholesterol is one of the most important molecules in the human body and is most commonly known for the role it plays in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) — the number one killer in the developed world. Below is a collection of content that goes into great depth about cholesterol...
peterattiamd.com peterattiamd.com
 
Anna C said:

Cholesterol Archives - Peter Attia

Cholesterol is one of the most important molecules in the human body and is most commonly known for the role it plays in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) — the number one killer in the developed world. Below is a collection of content that goes into great depth about cholesterol...
peterattiamd.com peterattiamd.com
Click to expand...
I don’t understand. It’s talks about meds. That’s probably in my future. I want to know how days off work with cholesterol.
 
Sorry I really don't know much about it myself. I haven't actually listened to those 5 podcasts, but having listened to many others with Peter Attia I feel certain they are chock full of knowledge of all things about cholesterol, how to positively affect it with lifestyle, exercise, etc... So I figured the series of 5 podcasts linked on that page would be a good resource to learn from.
 
Anna C said:
Sorry I really don't know much about it myself. I haven't actually listened to those 5 podcasts, but having listened to many others with Peter Attia I feel certain they are chock full of knowledge of all things about cholesterol, how to positively affect it with lifestyle, exercise, etc... So I figured the series of 5 podcasts linked on that page would be a good resource to learn from.
Click to expand...
Ah. Unfortunately since I am primary care for our two kids under 5 until my wife has the baby, I won’t be able to listen to these. Thank you. I’m so frustrated with the lack of information.
 
Anna C said:
Sorry I really don't know much about it myself. I haven't actually listened to those 5 podcasts, but having listened to many others with Peter Attia I feel certain they are chock full of knowledge of all things about cholesterol, how to positively affect it with lifestyle, exercise, etc... So I figured the series of 5 podcasts linked on that page would be a good resource to learn from.
Click to expand...
Hey

Sorry if I came across like a jerk last night. I’m just frustrated because I’m being told to do aerobic which I cannot do yet due to my ankle, and anything I find on Pub Med is either a garbage study or is Resistance Training with Cardio mixed in.

I do as always appreciate your help.
 
Dry fighting weight program is a good one. It is actually one of my favorites. If the barbell wasnt my main modality for strength training, I would do something like this. I'm not sure how high your cholesterol is (and what type) or how your other blood parameters look, but dont forget that testosterone = func(cholesterol).

I'm 40, about your age. Ive never had real bad cholesterol, but I have times when it creeps close to the recommended limits. I used to notice that my cholesterol (and blood test results) were proportional to my body weight. In recent years, I've noticed that it is more proportional to my %bodyfat (because now I'm heavy, 230s, but relatively lean compared to when I weighed this much in my mid 20's). Do you have room to increase your lean body % (via getting strong and eating healthy)?

How is your nutrition and sleep? I think this is more important that your workout changes.

I'm not a medical professional, FYI.
 
william bad butt said:
Dry fighting weight program is a good one. It is actually one of my favorites. If the barbell wasnt my main modality for strength training, I would do something like this. I'm not sure how high your cholesterol is (and what type) or how your other blood parameters look, but dont forget that testosterone = func(cholesterol).

I'm 40, about your age. Ive never had real bad cholesterol, but I have times when it creeps close to the recommended limits. I used to notice that my cholesterol (and blood test results) were proportional to my body weight. In recent years, I've noticed that it is more proportional to my %bodyfat (because now I'm heavy, 230s, but relatively lean compared to when I weighed this much in my mid 20's). Do you have room to increase your lean body % (via getting strong and eating healthy)?

How is your nutrition and sleep? I think this is more important that your workout changes.

I'm not a medical professional, FYI.
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Definitely can reduce the fat. That’s why I have been cutting. It’s been working. I am noticeably leaner in my worse area, my abdomen. Everyone in my family stores their fat their. Super annoying.
Sleep is good. Nutrition could always be better, but I also don’t eat a lot of prepackaged food. We also hardly eat out.

I literally cut a full meal out of my diet and only eat until I am satisfied. Hardly snack either.
 
Mark Kidd said:
Hey

Sorry if I came across like a jerk last night. I’m just frustrated because I’m being told to do aerobic which I cannot do yet due to my ankle, and anything I find on Pub Med is either a garbage study or is Resistance Training with Cardio mixed in.

I do as always appreciate your help.
Click to expand...

No problem, I'm sure it is frustrating, because whenever I have looked into it I am amazed at how hard it is to understand.

I was on a bike riding this morning and asked a friend about it, since he has always had high cholesterol. It runs in his family. He is pretty healthy overall; he does both resistance training and aerobic activity regularly, and keeps his weight in check. He said although his total cholesterol is high (>200), his doctor isn't worried because his HDL is also high (>80). That's just a second-hand anecdote, but maybe an example of how it's a complicated picture and not just one number.

To your original questions though... I really don't think that daily fluctuations are significant. So I wouldn't worry about what it does on recovery days. It's more about your general state of health, and regular exercise helps improve that. So just train regularly in whatever way move you towards health and good body composition. But like I said, I'm definitely not an expert.
 
Anna C said:
No problem, I'm sure it is frustrating, because whenever I have looked into it I am amazed at how hard it is to understand.

I was on a bike riding this morning and asked a friend about it, since he has always had high cholesterol. It runs in his family. He is pretty healthy overall; he does both resistance training and aerobic activity regularly, and keeps his weight in check. He said although his total cholesterol is high (>200), his doctor isn't worried because his HDL is also high (>80). That's just a second-hand anecdote, but maybe an example of how it's a complicated picture and not just one number.

To your original questions though... I really don't think that daily fluctuations are significant. So I wouldn't worry about what it does on recovery days. It's more about your general state of health, and regular exercise helps improve that. So just train regularly in whatever way move you towards health and good body composition. But like I said, I'm definitely not an expert.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it seems like it is about ratios rather than hard numbers.

I found this:

www.futurity.org

Bad cholesterol's good for big muscles

TEXAS A&M (US) — The more LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” you have, the more muscle […]
www.futurity.org www.futurity.org

I’m thinking you are right. If you are still recovering, LDL will be doing something until HDL finishes the job.
 
@Mark Kidd, one man's data point, if you will.

My cholesterol is high because my good kind of cholesterol is twice or three times what they consider good. I believe good cholesterol to be not only "not bad" but, according to things I've read, protective. More of the good cholesterol is _better_ according to me.

I recently had a test for coronary calcium, designed to tell you if you have build-up in your coronary arteries. A lower score is better, and under 100 is considered good. My score was a zero. (Damned straight I'm very happy with my results, and my diet is filled with fatty food because there is no relationship between dietary fat and cholesterol, contrary to what they told me for decades.)

-S-
 
HDL and LDL are not cholesterol, but lipoproteins that transport cholesterol.
"Bad" and "Good" is also misleading, as both LDL and HDL are good (basically, HDL transport cholesterol from arteria to the liver, and LDL do the opposite). Cholesterol itself is a fundamental molecule that does a lot of good things in the body:


The initial cholesterol measurement, that most of us have done with a blood sample, is measuring cholesterol transported by the lipoproteins (HDL, LDL), not the number of lipoproteins themselves.
In many cases, the problem is not that cholesterol in LDL is high, but that LDL itself is high.
The controversy about cholesterol and meds is mostly due to some doctors relying on medication right after the first analysis, while ideally, there should be a complete lipid profile done to confirm that LDL is actually too high (or at least advise to be more active before jumping into meds).

Doctors are not stupid, they are aware of that. But the fact that further analysis will confirm the first one in a very large majority of the cases can make them lazy. The issue with active people is that we might be over-represented in the few cases where a complete lipid profile will infirm the first impression.

In your case, your doctors do not seem too concerned, if they simply advise aerobic activity (that most of them reduce to "running").
Why not then try one of the program you posted above, while keeping a proper diet, and see with your doctor if your next blood analysis is good enough?
 
As a doctor (with high cholesterol), I would say the main thing is to not become fixated on (improving) your cholesterol numbers.

What matters is your cardiovascular disease risk - focus on reducing that. Your cholesterol will likely follow to a certain extent, but it’s of secondary importance.
 
ohnbye said:
As a doctor (with high cholesterol), I would say the main thing is to not become fixated on (improving) your cholesterol numbers.

What matters is your cardiovascular disease risk - focus on reducing that. Your cholesterol will likely follow to a certain extent, but it’s of secondary importance.
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I am very low risk.
What type of doctor are you?
 
I'm not a doctor or an expert, but I believe cholesterol levels are really dictated from diet. The lowest cholesterol levels I've ever had was after a stint on the Atkins diet where I lost 40lbs while eating bacon and eggs every morning. BTW for men, cholesterol is needed for testosterone production. It's a little frustrating that many doctors want to chalk it up to hereditary, that some how your body has a Lipitor deficiency. Part of that blame is also on patients who are looking for an easy button.

I don't expect people to take my word for anything, but I'd encourage anybody to do your research before settling in on a solution.
 
Study the work of Dr. John McDougall Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Follow their protocols, fix the problem, and move on. They have helped thousands of people over decades with the same issue. It is a well trodden and well understood path.

It’s fairly simple, but simple doesn’t always mean easy.
 
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