How long did you follow PB before seeing a change in your bloodwork? page

[kandis]

i have been struggling in the last year to stick with PB-- for the usual reasons. I'm back on now and am due to visit my cardiologist some time this year and was just looking for a general idea (the more people who feel like sharing, the better!) how long it took other people to see positive changes to their cholesterol and triglyceride numbers.

Thanks in advance!

[SeattleSlim]

I'm curious about this as well. I have a high-deductible policy and labs can be very expensive, so I want to wait to follow up with lipid numbers if it usually takes a while to see a difference. Six months, do you think?

[Urban Forager]

SeattleSlim our local pharmacy does cholesterol tests several times a year and it's very affordable. It may not be very in depth but it gives you an idea where your numbers are.

[EatMoveSleep]

Depends:
Will you be loosing body fat (are over weight and intend to loose weight)?
No (weight is normal): Wait 3 to 4 months (eating primal) then test
Yes (overweight): wait until weight drop stops and the Wait 3 to 4 months (eating primal) then test.

So it could be 3 months or a year depending on how much body fat you have to loose.
In the mean time walk daily.

Since you have a cardiologist then your condition may require special/extra monitoring.

For me it's not a problem and just check it once a year.

[eKatherine]

I'm curious about this as well. I have a high-deductible policy and labs can be very expensive, so I want to wait to follow up with lipid numbers if it usually takes a while to see a difference. Six months, do you think?

The fact is that your numbers are barely related to your actual health, if at all. There is no hurry on that.

[kandis]

My cardiologist is just for a benign murmur, but when you have one (even harmless), cardiologists always like to keep in touch! I do have fat to shed, which is the primary concern, I'd just rather have good progress on the bloodwork than a backslide. Thanks for the input so far-- I'll be checking in with my cardio around October most likely, one way or another, just wanted to be able to look forward to better numbers!

[fiercehunter]

A year almost totally grain free I lost maybe 1% body fat, maybe 2, from 23% to 21%. I also restricted PUFAs (polyunsaturated fats). Get the grains and bad fats out and you will lose a tiny bit of weight.

[EatMoveSleep]

just wanted to be able to look forward to better numbers!

"better numbers" (better health?)

Better health (short and long term) : may in fact mean a higher total cholesterol for you.
Better numbers : your doctor may think lower numbers are better - just because it's the markers they look for.

Then what do you do?
Go with the better numbers, or better health?