Doctor' Suggestion: More Cardio + Eat Healthier

[stlrick]

51 Yr old Male
5 10
218 lbs

After 10 weeks of training, just switched from basic A/B to the longer program that includes chin-ups and back extensions.

Just had some bloodwork done at the doctors. Everything is in pretty good shape except I my liver is storing fat aka fatty liver. He didn't seem too concerned, but he recommended more cardio and try to follow american heart association food guidelines.

I'm assuming (which could be wrong) that I could do some bike sprints up the hill in front of my house after workouts. I haven't delved into the AMH recommendations yet - but I doubt eating large is what they suggest.

Has anyone else tried to eat healthier while maintaining growth/progress?

Thanks

[vanslix]

American Heart Association diet is useless. When compared head to head against other things like Mediterranean, Asian, even low carb, etc, it fails miserably for heart disease biomarkers. Start perusing Jordan's forum. Lots of useful diet stuff on there.

Yes, sprints will help. And I'd start with just adding one episode of sprints a week for at least a month until you're recovery capacity improves. If you want more, I'd just add in walking, walking on an inclined treadmill (or hills), or even with a weighted vest.

[Mark E. Hurling]

You mean AST/ASL? I get that from time to time on my bloodwork too. I've had two ultrasounds of my liver in the last 12 months and they come back fine. Another guy here on SS had a link to a scholarly article that said that such high readings can occur from vigorous activity like lifting and take as long as 10 days to clear. The gastroenterologist my general practitioner referred me too had never heard of this so I printed the article and gave it to him.

[MBasic]

51 Yr old Male
5 10
218 lbs

After 10 weeks of training, just switched from basic A/B to the longer program that includes chin-ups and back extensions.

Just had some bloodwork done at the doctors. Everything is in pretty good shape except I my liver is storing fat aka fatty liver. He didn't seem too concerned, but he recommended more cardio and try to follow american heart association food guidelines.

I'm assuming (which could be wrong) that I could do some bike sprints up the hill in front of my house after workouts. I haven't delved into the AMH recommendations yet - but I doubt eating large is what they suggest.

Has anyone else tried to eat healthier while maintaining growth/progress?

Thanks

How soon before you go to the Dr. And/or get bllod work again. 6 months? 1 year? You just started training, be interesting to see what your blood says in six months if you did nothing (mosty lift and eat right).

I could see not waiting a full year though.

Do the bike sprints.....maybe just try to eat cleaner....IMO carbs fats protien yes matter, but maybe try to get your macros/calories from better sources (veggies, quality Meat and fats, etc)

[Culican]

Full text link.

Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men

Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy men

What this study adds

Weightlifting results in profound increases in liver function tests in healthy men used to moderate physical activity, not including weightlifting.

Liver function tests are significantly increased for at least 7 days after weightlifting.

It is important to impose relevant restrictions on heavy muscular exercise prior to and during clinical studies.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Yep. That's the article I was talking about. Thanks for not being lazy like I was and finding it.

[Culican]

Yep. That's the article I was talking about. Thanks for not being lazy like I was and finding it.

I actually saved the pdf to my computer in case I had to print it out for my doctor. I was cleaning my drive a few weeks ago and saw it so I remembered the exact title to put into Google.

[vanslix]

I cringe a bit at this. Just because working out and elevation of enzymes are correlated, does NOT exclude the possibility that he does in fact have a fatty liver, or other hepatic dysfunctions for that matter. Maybe the OP drinks. Maybe he takes tylenol regularly. Maybe he's insulin resistant. Or, all of the above. There simply is not enough clinical history here to make definitive diagnoses.

[Culican]

I cringe a bit at this. Just because working out and elevation of enzymes are correlated, does NOT exclude the possibility that he does in fact have a fatty liver, or other hepatic dysfunctions for that matter. Maybe the OP drinks. Maybe he takes tylenol regularly. Maybe he's insulin resistant. Or, all of the above. There simply is not enough clinical history here to make definitive diagnoses.

Of course. But it wouldn't hurt for him to ask the doctor if the lifting could be a possible cause. The doctor may not know that it could effect the test values or the doctor may know but not know that he is lifting.

I always question my doctor if I am in doubt about any test results. A while back he ordered a test as part of an annual visit that is not recommended by one organization (grade of "D") and recommended by others only if a discussion of the possible drawbacks are discussed the the patient first (something they really don't have time to do in a 15 minute visit). I gave him hell about it and he did tell me that he was going to "re-evaluate" ordering that test routinely with all of his patients. (I don't know if he still orders it because it has been less than a year and I haven't seen him again yet but at least my concerns registered with him.)

[MashedTaters]

This is timely as I'm dealing with this very issue as we speak.

I've had elevated liver tests for, I dunno, 20 years or so. An ultra sound years ago disclosed nothing. Fast forward to this summer and a new doc - elevated liver function tests, again. He referred me to a liver guy and, after ultra-sound and additional blood work, I was told I have a fatty liver due either to 1) booze, or 2) junk food. Since I eat virtually no junk food, the liver guy told me to cut back on booze for 3 months and comeback for blood work again.

So, just for the fun of it, I decided to eliminate all booze for 3 months so I could get a good baseline.

To be continued...