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WHAT IS THE LC WOE? |
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The LC WOE stands for the "low carbohydrate way of eating". Many who eat the low carbohydrate way, affectionately referred as "low carbers" or "LCers", speak of the LC WOL, or "low carbohydrate way of life". After many years of eating SAD (the Standard American Diet), I am now a committed LCer, and this page explains why. |
| In early April, 2000, I knew something had to change. I had high blood pressure, incipient Type II diabetes, high cholesterol, very high triglycerides, and GERD (gastro-esophogeal reflux disease). Additionally, I was carrying 205# on a 5' 4.5" frame. I was a mess! |
| After doing extensive medical research, I decided to change my way of eating from "the USDA food pyramid" to low carbohydrate. Within less than two months my triglyceride level had dropped nearly 500 mg/dl! (See triglyceride table.) |
| I'd also been on medication for hypertension, with varying results. In my opinion, my blood pressures remained too high, usually running around 146/96 on medications. I was taking 20 mg of Vasotec, an ACE inhibitor, but within a month of changing to the LC WOE decreased the dosage to 10 mg, then 5 mg, then discontinued it. My last 'professionally taken' blood pressure was 102/70. (See blood pressure table.) |
| The borderline Type II diabetes was what really stimulated me to "change my evil ways." I'm terrified of diabetes and the adverse sequelae which can result from elevated blood sugars, including renal disease, retinopathy, cardiovascular deterioration, etc. |
| I'm not going to bother to put in a table of blood sugars; suffice it to say that eating the 'Standard American Diet' and the "USDA Food Pyramid" paths had my fasting glucose levels consistently over 130 mg%. Now, eating the LC way, my fasting blood sugars are 67-80 mg%, which is perfectly normal. |
| My cholesterol, which had been in the 260 range, was last tested at 227. Still too high, you might say, as the recommended top level is 220? Well, my HDL (high density lipoproteins, the "good guys,") is now at 80, which is 35% of my total cholesterol. Anything over 28% is considered lowest cardiac risk, so I'm not going to worry about a few 'points' elevation of cholesterol when the cardiac profiles are so great. |
| In just a year eating low carbohydrate, high protein, and high fat, all my labs returned to their best values in many years. Eating the "USDA Food Pyramid", my triglyceride/HDL ratio was over 12:1 - ouch! Now that ratio is 1:1. Pretty dramatic change, right? |
| And what happened the the GERD? Beats me; I just know that now I can eat Buffalo wings with habaņero sauce and ranch dressing without even burping, let alone developing heartburn. Funny thing, it turns out that it isn't the spices or herbs or fats that trigger excess stomach acid, it's carbohydrates that do that. Just think how much bother I could have saved myself discovering the LC WOE a lot sooner! |
| As said above, when I started eating the LC way I was packing around 205#. I've calculated since that I was approximately 48% fat at that time. Now, I'm weighing in at 146#, 24-25% BF (body fat). Since the most recently recommended "Healthy Fat" BF percentages (per the NIH-WHO) for females in my age bracket is 23-34%, I guess I'm doing all right. I know it felt great when an old friend, whom I hadn't seen in a while, came up behind me, threw an arm around my shoulders, and exclaimed "My God, you sure turned into a skinny little b*^ch!" (See NIH-WHO body fat guidelines.) |
| So how do others get onto the LC 'bandwagon'? It's simple! There are numerous WebSites which describe this Way Of Eating, many ListServs devoted to the support of LCers, many Sites with LC recipes and tips, numerous Sites which offer LC products, and oodles of exercise Sites. I'll list a few here, and add to this list as I find others. |
| WebSites which discuss the LC WOE: |
| LC ListServs: |
| LC Recipe Sites: |
| LC Product Sites: |
| Exercise Sites: |
