How long to reduce cholesterol?

[pasdetrois]

I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol for the first time. If I attempt to reduce it with proper diet and exercise, how soon might I expect results? Is it a matter of weeks or months? I'm trying to decide whether to take the Lipitor my doc prescribed for me. I am eating the recommended amount of oatmeal each day. Thanks!

[AIM]

Originally Posted by pasdetrois

I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol for the first time. If I attempt to reduce it with proper diet and exercise, how soon might I expect results? Is it a matter of weeks or months? I'm trying to decide whether to take the Lipitor my doc prescribed for me. I am eating the recommended amount of oatmeal each day. Thanks!

pasdetrois,

I just received results today that my cholesterol is also high. Mine is 285 and I'm only 32 years old. My doctor said to go on a low fat diet and exercise. I have three months to get it down before I am to see her again.

AIM

[CobaltBlue]

Originally Posted by pasdetrois

I've been diagnosed with high cholesterol for the first time. If I attempt to reduce it with proper diet and exercise, how soon might I expect results? Is it a matter of weeks or months? I'm trying to decide whether to take the Lipitor my doc prescribed for me. I am eating the recommended amount of oatmeal each day. Thanks!

Best that I can tell pasdetrois, from my own experience with changes in diet and lifestyle:

Lowering LDL and total cholesterol, some improvement will be seen within weeks, perhaps days once you start the changes in your diet (particularly reducing all portions, especially fats and carbs). The effect on glucose will be seen within days once you put yourself in a diet that has a calorie deficit. Triglycerides will drop quickly if you reduce the amount of carbs that you take in, and they will slowly continue to decrease as you continue to exercise, maintain the same diet and reduce your body fat composition. My triglycerides stabilized after about 3 months. The HDL takes a little bit longer to build up, with the full effect sometimes taken 8 months to a year to observe. Much of this benefit, in my case, came from maintained exercise over the entire period of time.

I have found that my lipid profiles always have better ratios when I am going through periods of weight reduction (calorie deficits) compared to periods where I am in a slow weight gain.

[jtu91952]

I also have high cholesterol and hbp. I have changed my eating habits and exercise also. My total cholesterol was 335 ldl 225 and tri 53. In 3 months my total has dropped 250. However, I each high fiber low fat diet and exercise 45 minutes a day on my treadmill. Summer and spring I walk five miles seven days a week.

[zip2play]

pasdetrois,

The goals of a low LDL and high HDL often requires a good bit of time to acheive and for some it remains elusive no matter WHAT is done.
Each person must make a hard push with low saturated fats, no trans fats, 2 drinks a day, fish oil supplements, hard and steady excercising, proper weight contol (usually meaning weight loss), lowered fast hit carbs (like sugar), folic acid supplementation, perhaps lecithin, Vitamins E, C and all recommended vitamins.

Then after perhaps 3 months on this regimen a complete lipid panel should tell the tale. If excellent results, continue. If still awful, think hard about drug intervention (statin or high dose niacin.)