Need to lower Triglycerides

cbr600girl started this discussion · 6/3/2009

So I was supposed to start Accutane for my severe cystic acne, but my lab work came back saying my triglyceride level was over 450!?! I re-did the test yesterday and got the results back. I am at 312! They will NOT start me on Accutane until it is under 200. I have 1 month before I can redo my lab tests. All the nurse told me was "low fat" diet. I am about 15 pounds overweight. I walk 1 mile every day and I pole. I must admit I was eating alot of fast food since my fiance was working all night and didn't want to took for myself only. Big mistake! What foods are considered low fat for meals and for snacking during meals? What foods should I stay clear of? I know I need to increase my exercise and would love to jog, but my stupid shin splints keep me from doing anything high impact. I can't afford a gym membership. Any ideas? This was a serioud set back for me. Not only do I not like my body (tummy), but my acne makes me really uncomfortable. Besides the fact they are extremely painful, they make me not want to socialize. I was looking forward to a great summer, but it looks like it may not happen until I can get the cholesterol under control. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11 replies

staceyanne28 · 6/3/2009
I'm supposed to be studying, so I'm gonna make this short and to the point 😬 I'm a biology major and we were just talking about this in class today. Fat is ESSENTIAL for your body to function, so you don't want to go on a low fat diet. You have too much of the 'bad' kinds of fat in your diet which is why your triglycerides are too high. You just want to replace the bad kinds, and if you start eating 'good' fats and raise it to a healthy level in your body, this will help lower your level of bad fats. Eat a hand full of raw almonds every day (has 'good' fat), drink skim milk, butter instead of margarine, and cook with olive oil. No pop, sweets, fast food, or processed foods...this means no white bread products, buy 100% whole wheat and brown rice. No red meat, eat chicken and salmon. Salmon has a lot of 'good' fat in it also. Drinks tons of water and 100% real juice. Eat tons of fruits and veggies. Make sure you are getting enough healthy proteins and carbs, which are also essential for your body. Beans such as kidney beans are a good way to get a healthy dose of protein. I'm sorry you have to wait another month...that sucks!!! Hopefully this helps 🙂 Let us know how it goes!
Former member · 6/3/2009
i wish i had some good advice honey, but i dont even know what a triglyceride is...im so sorry that you're so uncomfortable and have this setback, keep us posted on your progress though, we love you and want to make sure you're alright!
FreeTheSun · 6/4/2009
Staceyanne is on the right track. You should also make sure you eat a little something every 2-3 hrs. Not like a meal, but like a small handful of almonds, or an apple, or some carrots or cherry tomatoes with hummos. Something to keep the metabolism running at peak. Exercising in the morning helps as well since it jump starts it for the day, so long as you eat a small thing (1/2 to a whole banana before to get the system started and then within a few hours of finishing too). The reason keeping the metablosim up is good is because as you exercise, drink more water (herbal tea is good too since it doesn't dehydrate like black tea or coffee), and eat better, it will ensure that the triglycerides are metabolised sooner rather than later speeding up your progress. I might be biased because I'm a swimmer but swimming is an excellent full body workout especially if you have shin splints or any other thing that makes gravity-based things a little more difficult. Swimming is really hard at first but the more you stick at it the better it goes so don't be discouraged when you first start and be sure to vary up your workout between freestyle and other strokes, just arm drills or just kicking drills, that way you don't get super bored and give up. Plus swimming is really reliant on your core, and depending on the stroke arms or legs so it works great for pole too. 🙂 Good luck with everything!
SissyBuns · 6/4/2009
You've already gotten great advice here! I was already to chime in with my nursing knowledge but most of it has been covered. Research good fats and bad fats. Eliminate the bad ones from your diet. No more fried and processed foods. I take a daily 3-6-9 fatty acid vitamin that contains fish, borage and flax seed oil. These are good fats. Almonds are great as is oatmeal!
SissyBuns · 6/4/2009
So I was supposed to start Accutane for my severe cystic acne, but my lab work came back saying my triglyceride level was over 450!?! I re-did the test yesterday and got the results back. I am at 312! They will NOT start me on Accutane until it is under 200. I have 1 month before I can redo my lab tests. All the nurse told me was "low fat" diet. I am about 15 pounds overweight. I walk 1 mile every day and I pole. I must admit I was eating alot of fast food since my fiance was working all night and didn't want to took for myself only. Big mistake! What foods are considered low fat for meals and for snacking during meals? What foods should I stay clear of? I know I need to increase my exercise and would love to jog, but my stupid shin splints keep me from doing anything high impact. I can't afford a gym membership. Any ideas? This was a serioud set back for me. Not only do I not like my body (tummy), but my acne makes me really uncomfortable. Besides the fact they are extremely painful, they make me not want to socialize. I was looking forward to a great summer, but it looks like it may not happen until I can get the cholesterol under control. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm bummed to hear about your accutane setback. You can still have a good summer, it's just gonna be a tad delayed.
yogabeachbabe · 6/4/2009
My father-in-law swears by fish oil supplements for lowering triglyceride levels. They really are amazing. And if you can live without it, try cutting out dairy from your diet. By the way, I just want to double check on something: did you fast for 12 hours before taking the 2nd test? Good luck. Keep us posted.
cbr600girl · 6/5/2009
My father-in-law swears by fish oil supplements for lowering triglyceride levels. They really are amazing. And if you can live without it, try cutting out dairy from your diet. By the way, I just want to double check on something: did you fast for 12 hours before taking the 2nd test? Good luck. Keep us posted. I too have heard from my co-workers that fish oil works awesome. I will be heading to the store this weekend for sure. I did fast for more that 12 hours actually.
ducky · 6/5/2009
I'm sorry that you have high triglyceride's, but your Dr.'s office is doing their job because accutane reacts with the liver to raise cholesterol. How's your LDL versus HDL levels? Trigylceride's are formed in the liver when you eat more food than your body needs. Google the "DASH" diet. This diet is for the obese to quickly reduce high blood pressure, and is also perfect for those with fatty liver disease. ( I lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks on this menu) but you will have a fantastic reduction in your cholesterol. Eat complex carbs. No processed food! Eat oatmeal with no sugar for breakfast, and have salads at lunch and dinner. It's no necessary to count calories while you eat veg. If you want to eat fruit, or root vegetables such as potatoes or beets for example, you need to eat these with a grain because the grain will slow the body's absorption of the fruit/root vegetable. The menu won't be boring, and it has so many alternatives for you. Good luck!
StellaBella · 6/7/2009
Glad that you are concerned about ur body. You need to clean up your diet. Breakfast should be Old-fashioned Quaker oat 1 minute oatmeal (not flavored), a pinch of brown sugar and 4 raisins and any type of berry u like. Have 1 Activia yogurt at some point during the day. or cheerios with non fat milk and berries is good too. egg whites are okay also, u can buy the kind in the carton. use pam not oil or butter, don't eat your eggs with bread. snack on carrots, celery, broccoli, apple throughout the day. Lunch, have as much lettuce (any kind) as you like with veggies and canned white tuna in water, ( i love kirkland brand at costco) check the fat content to make sure u are getting white tuna. dressing, make your own, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon. or buy non fat sprinkle salt and pepper. If you dont like tuna you can have chicken breast the size of your palm instead. low fat lean ground turkey breast is really good. roll it into patties like a burger and you can eat it with ketchup, mustard and even a low fat cheese slice melted on it for dinner or lunch with a salad or veggies. crystal light is good to put in your water. drink lots of water!!!! NO soda, no juice check calories on every beverage you will be surprised. some are a meal!!! stay away from white foods like rice, potatoes, and white bread!!! Dinner chicken or meat the size of your palm. steamed veggies (broccoli, spinach, asparagus) squeeze lemon and a bit of olive oil if necessary. snacks. if you are craving a carb buy the 100 calorie low fat microwavable popcorn and eat one bag ONLY!!! or 100 calorie bags of oreo or other cookie if you need a dessert and just eat one bag. or buy low sodium turkey cold cuts from the supermarket and have a couple slices with mustard. for lunch you can make a sandwich with low sodium turkey and wheat bread. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! YOU'RE ACNE WILL GET BETTER WHEN YOU CUT OUT THE BAD STUFF!!! ask me any questions. hope this helps. put your scale in front of you fridge if you have too!!! it sounds psychotic but who cares. get in shape and feel good, girl!!! let me know if this helps
cbr600girl · 6/8/2009
I'm sorry that you have high triglyceride's, but your Dr.'s office is doing their job because accutane reacts with the liver to raise cholesterol. How's your LDL versus HDL levels? Trigylceride's are formed in the liver when you eat more food than your body needs. Google the "DASH" diet. This diet is for the obese to quickly reduce high blood pressure, and is also perfect for those with fatty liver disease. ( I lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks on this menu) but you will have a fantastic reduction in your cholesterol. Eat complex carbs. No processed food! Eat oatmeal with no sugar for breakfast, and have salads at lunch and dinner. It's no necessary to count calories while you eat veg. If you want to eat fruit, or root vegetables such as potatoes or beets for example, you need to eat these with a grain because the grain will slow the body's absorption of the fruit/root vegetable. The menu won't be boring, and it has so many alternatives for you. Good luck! THanks I will defiantely check out that diet. I had no idea about the grain slowing the absorption process.
cbr600girl · 6/8/2009
Glad that you are concerned about ur body. You need to clean up your diet. Breakfast should be Old-fashioned Quaker oat 1 minute oatmeal (not flavored), a pinch of brown sugar and 4 raisins and any type of berry u like. Have 1 Activia yogurt at some point during the day. or cheerios with non fat milk and berries is good too. egg whites are okay also, u can buy the kind in the carton. use pam not oil or butter, don't eat your eggs with bread. snack on carrots, celery, broccoli, apple throughout the day. Lunch, have as much lettuce (any kind) as you like with veggies and canned white tuna in water, ( i love kirkland brand at costco) check the fat content to make sure u are getting white tuna. dressing, make your own, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon. or buy non fat sprinkle salt and pepper. If you dont like tuna you can have chicken breast the size of your palm instead. low fat lean ground turkey breast is really good. roll it into patties like a burger and you can eat it with ketchup, mustard and even a low fat cheese slice melted on it for dinner or lunch with a salad or veggies. crystal light is good to put in your water. drink lots of water!!!! NO soda, no juice check calories on every beverage you will be surprised. some are a meal!!! stay away from white foods like rice, potatoes, and white bread!!! Dinner chicken or meat the size of your palm. steamed veggies (broccoli, spinach, asparagus) squeeze lemon and a bit of olive oil if necessary. snacks. if you are craving a carb buy the 100 calorie low fat microwavable popcorn and eat one bag ONLY!!! or 100 calorie bags of oreo or other cookie if you need a dessert and just eat one bag. or buy low sodium turkey cold cuts from the supermarket and have a couple slices with mustard. for lunch you can make a sandwich with low sodium turkey and wheat bread. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! YOU'RE ACNE WILL GET BETTER WHEN YOU CUT OUT THE BAD STUFF!!! ask me any questions. hope this helps. put your scale in front of you fridge if you have too!!! it sounds psychotic but who cares. get in shape and feel good, girl!!! let me know if this helps Awesome info you rock!