Philip Alexander, MD at Texas A&M College of Medicine did a study showing HDL levels DOUBLED with SuperSlow. Ken Hutchins commented on this in an interview at http://www.superslow.com/features/interview.htm

“Philip Alexander, MD, is collecting data from patients doing SuperSlow® who are showing a doubling of their HDL, a marked lowering of their blood glucose (in those who are diabetic), and a bone density increase of 1% per month. These improvements have never been seen before with exercise or with any kind of medical treatment or pharmacological agent. And this information regarding HDL comes in very timely with respect to the danger slams being made recently against the statin drugs.”

Since starting dieting…. (working with a diet coach, who started me at 225 g pro, 200 g ch and 40 g fat, with one 350 g ch day per week, and now we’ve moved to 225 g pro, 150 g ch and 40 g fat, with one 200 g ch day and another 300g ch day in the same week), I’ve had great results and realize that counting not only all foods and planning, but tracking macros is critical. (in fairness, I’d been dieting for a while but have been working with Diet coach since mid may, and have been losing faster with more calories, than using loose zone guidelines; when I started tracking macros, I realized I was eating a LOT of fat!)

After about 3-4 weeks, I went to my physician to see results of my bloodwork, which I track due to having had heart surgery, etc. in the past. I normally have very good numbers, in terms of ldl and overall cholesterol as well as triglycerides. My achilles heel has always been hdl which is too LOW. Since beginning this diet all my numbers have actually improved EXCEPT hdl, which is even lower.

In fairness, this could be an initial reaction, but my physican claims that aerobic exercise is superior to anaerobic for raising hdl… so I’ve agreed to try something for 3 months… albeit, pretty moderate… I’m strength training twice a week, and on off days I either, walk a brisk km with the greyhounds, or practice my ballroom dancing (since my wife and I are taking private lessons) for 25 minutes. Some would feel this is very moderate and doesn’t even qualify as “cardio” but that’s the 3 month trial. Of course I’m introducing one other variable so I won’t really know. I’ve read that oranges can help raise hdl, and I’m eating 2 or 3 of them most days to be part of my carb “budget”. Any thoughts? from anyone?

Drew there are also people who will claim that they lost huge amounts of weight/fat by reducing calories only or a combination of cardio activities and reducing calories. I personally find that these approaches are based on the “quick type fix approach” where weight/fat can be quickly lost but can also be put back on just as quickly. I feel that if people want to have permenant weight loss than a combination of high intensity strength training, healthy eating and reduced calories are the keys.