Had to brag - rowing and cholesterol

[tbartman]

For anyone out there who isn't 100% convinced of the benefits of hard erging ...

Oct 2006 - before erging - 6'3" - 260 lbs
Total Cholesterol 230, LDL 174, HDL 42

April 2007 - after 4-5 40' workouts a week - 195 lbs
Total Cholesterol 163, LDL 99, HDL 57

Dec 2007 - after 3-4 40' workouts a week - 185 lbs
Total Cholesterol 197, LDL 112, HDL 73

Although the best improvement in total and LDL were before last April (and they've snuck up a bit since then), the HDL continues to climb and the LDL/HDL ratio has gone from 4.1 to 1.5. Accoring to the AHA, "normal" men have HDLs from 40-50.

Gotta love C2

[ehagberg]

Do longer (or more?) rows a week and you'll get even better... or maybe just from continuing to do the same thing.

I wasn't watching my diet at all for the past 39 years and had LDL of 100 and HDL of 94 last I had it checked... after rowing an average of at least an hour a day for the last 5 years, though some months of the year I average 80 or 90 minutes a day.

[RowtheRockies]

Tbartman,

Impressive Improvement in your Cholesterol numbers! Your GP has got to love that.

Rich

[Snail Space]

For anyone out there who isn't 100% convinced of the benefits of hard erging ...

Oct 2006 - before erging - 6'3" - 260 lbs
Total Cholesterol 230, LDL 174, HDL 42

April 2007 - after 4-5 40' workouts a week - 195 lbs
Total Cholesterol 163, LDL 99, HDL 57

Dec 2007 - after 3-4 40' workouts a week - 185 lbs
Total Cholesterol 197, LDL 112, HDL 73
...
Gotta love C2

Nice one, Tom. It's a similar story for me (and I suspect for a lot of others).

Oct 2006 - before erging - 6'5" - 111kg [245 lb]
Diastolic BP 107 - despite atenolol 50mg/day

April 2007 - after 4-5 40' workouts a week - 98kg [215 lb]
Diastolic BP 86 - without atenolol

Dec 2007 - after 4-5 60' workouts a week - 96kg [210 lb]
Diastolic BP 75 - without atenolol

[Rowmate]

Back in 2003, I started to suffer from Plantar Facialitis? in the left foot, which then moved to the right foot. Anyone who has experienced this knows how painful it is paticularly if you are a runner. I used to run up to 40klms a week. I stopped running. One day I when I was deployed in the Sandpit, I gave a C2 rower a go. The Yank gyms are kitted out very well with all the good gear!!
When I got back from my first deployment, I purchased a C2, I haven't looked back. I have just logged 2 million metres and am far fitter now as a result of my balanced rowing training programme at the age of 48 than I would have been if I was still running.
I resolved my plantar condition with a combination of physio, stretching, shoe inserts, and am now free of any pain in my feet. I do a little running but not much. I am very pleased with my strength improvements and overall fitness level, thanks to the C2.
I am three quarters of the way through a training programme on Rowpro which is giving me a lot of variety with my rowing.

[tbartman]

Nice one, Tom. It's a similar story for me (and I suspect for a lot of others).

Oct 2006 - before erging - 6'5" - 111kg [245 lb]
Diastolic BP 107 - despite atenolol 50mg/day

April 2007 - after 4-5 40' workouts a week - 98kg [215 lb]
Diastolic BP 86 - without atenolol

Dec 2007 - after 4-5 60' workouts a week - 96kg [210 lb]
Diastolic BP 75 - without atenolol

Sweet! The pharmaceutical industry (especially the anti-cholesterol and high blood pressure med companies) should be very scared if the word gets out that the erg kept or got the two us off of drugs! Considering an erg costs less than a few months of some of the cholesterol meds, maybe insurance companies should buy them for their clients (like THAT's going to happen).

[rowland]

along with rowing the best way to lower your cholesterol is to go to a plant based diet. Lowering your animal intake is the key. For more info a good book to read is "eat to live" by dr. joel fuhrman. he also has a web site with lots of free info. You can reverse heart disease thew his dietary approach.
He recomends your total cholesterol be below 150 to prevent heart disease. following his diet, not only will you loose weight but your health will greatly improve also. It is a diet that you can eat for the rest of your life.

[Bob S.]

along with rowing the best way to lower your cholesterol is to go to a plant based diet. Lowering your animal intake is the key. For more info a good book to read is "eat to live" by dr. joel fuhrman. he also has a web site with lots of free info. You can reverse heart disease thew his dietary approach.
He recomends your total cholesterol be below 150 to prevent heart disease. following his diet, not only will you loose weight but your health will greatly improve also. It is a diet that you can eat for the rest of your life.

Other excellent sources are the books by Dean Ornish and by Jack Lalanne.

Bob S.

[2whlrcr]

My cholesterol is 260. I'm 5'11" and 180 lbs, so I'm not exactly overweight. I'm going to die soon, but I will be in great shape from rowing.

[Surf Scoter]

WOW, impressive results! I just started rowing about a year ago. Before that I was and still am an avid cyclist. I just took myself off Lipitor due to some mysterious and scary side effects, so I am hoping to control my cholesterol the natural way. It was 229 before Lipitor and 165 on Lipitor. I'm curious to see what I can do. Thing is, I'm already pretty fit and active at 5'7", 122 lbs and already a vegetarian and healthy eater. Still, I'm encouraged by your results!! Thanks for sharing.

[johnlvs2run]

The key is cutting ALL excess fat from your diet.

The calories from fat should be no more than 10 percent of total calories and preferably much less than that.

This is not difficult to do, as 80 percent of the world's population has a total cholesterol below 160.

Anyone serious about lowering total cholesterol should be serious about doing it.

[rowland]

I told a friend of mine about the book I suggested above.
"eat To live". Both him [45lbs] and his wife 35lbs lost weight, his total cholesterol went from 220 down to 120 in about 6 1/2 months following a plant based diet. He didn't take any cholesterol lowering medication! These results are terrific.
Eating low fat like john r suggested is the way to go especially if you are trying to loose weight. The only fats that my friend ate in small amounts were avocados, nuts and seeds, no oils. He also ate a very small amount of fish, once a week, but the bulk of the diet was fruits and vegetables and beans.

I know this type of diet isn't for everybody, most people can't give up eating animal products. If you are happy eating that way, that's fine. the rowing will definitely be very healthy for your heart.
My suggestion is only the very small portion of people that want to make big changes in there health and avoiding harm drugs, you might want to read Eat to live and try a plant based diet.

[2whlrcr]

I'm eating chocolate and cookies, while reading this post. I guess that's why my cholesterol is 260?

[wdhul]

Another option is to look at books by Dr Hyman - Ultrametabolism, Ultra Simple Diet. I have lost 30 lbs so far since Thanksgiving.

I had tests done after about three weeks on this, my Total Cholesteral was 126 - lowest I've ever seen it. I'm still on Lipitor but cut my dose. Triglicerides were also very good.

Get rid off all high fructose corn syrup - its as toxic as trans fat. (its also in many, many items incuding catsup!)

[Snail Space]

I'm eating chocolate and cookies, while reading this post. I guess that's why my cholesterol is 260?

I know you're joking but I lost my weight and lowered my blood pressure without using a diet. I row a lot and continue to eat big meals (but of wholesome food), but I have cut out the biscuits [cookies], crisps [chips], and sweets [candies]. Hmm, bilingual too!

Cheers
Dave