Newbie question

June 5, 2000

Hi Jill,

No question is dumb. But some of the answers might be. I believe when

Bill was describing portions he meant cooked. But if your meat is shrinking

considerably during cooking then it has too much fat anyway. Meat should

only shrink slightly when cooked if it is lean. Hope this helps.

~Laury

February 2, 2001

,

Here's a cut from one of Bill 's on-line chats last year. Hope this helps.

Cheryl C.

sammooney_webmd: My husband and I are in our second week of the challenge and he is experiencing extreme loss of energy what would you suggest?

: The body will go through somewhat of a "shock" during the first couple weeks of the program, especially if exercising regularly and reducing/controlling caloric intake is a new pattern. However, oftentimes, if change isn't uncomfortable, then its not enough change. Typically, within four weeks, the body will begin to respond very favorably to the exercise and nutrition program and will be allowing you to live at a higher level of energy and clarity

February 3, 2001

Whenever I get back into working out, the first couple of weeks, I'm

exhausted. I go to sleep earlier and drag a bit more. But once I

get into it, I actually have MORE energy than when I started.

I refer to it as an " energy bank " . The more you put in, the more

you get out. Initially you put in an hour, you lose an hour in

addition to the hour you put in. Then you get to the point where

you put in an hour and you can stay up as long as you did before.

Then it really gets good when you put in an hour and you can stay

up an hour longer than you used to or do more for a longer period of

time or whatever. For those that say they don't have time to

exercise, they just haven't discovered the formula. If you take the

time to make the time to excercise, the exercise wil make far more

time for you than it takes to do. Therefore, net gain!

> ,

>

> Here's a cut from one of Bill 's on-line chats last year. Hope

> this helps.

> Cheryl C.

>

> sammooney_webmd: My husband and I are in our second week of the challenge

> and he is experiencing extreme loss of energy what would you suggest?

>

> : The body will go through somewhat of a " shock " during the first

> couple weeks of the program, especially if exercising regularly and

> reducing/controlling caloric intake is a new pattern. However, oftentimes,

> if change isn't uncomfortable, then its not enough change. Typically,

> within four weeks, the body will begin to respond very favorably to the

> exercise and nutrition program and will be allowing you to live at a

> higher level of energy and clarity

>

" Buy Low, Sell High "

(If this statment is used for financial gain, I am entitled to 10% of all

profits. )

February 5, 2001

Yes but don't forget that even if you gain more energy to potentially go

without sleep, if you do so you may limit your muscle gains. Enjoy your

high energy and get lots of sleep. kit

March 6, 2001

There are different thoughts around this. My opinion is that CV work is

critical, but don't add any. At most drop to twice a week. Make sure you

get 1 gram of protein for each lb. of body weight and that you eat six times

a day. If it is possible for you to do, wake up in the middle of the night

and have a scoop of protein powder mixed in water. Beyond that use carbs to

get your calories up to slightly over your maintenance level, and fat intake

is critical. Try Udo's Choice oil as a supplement. And creatine of course.

And lift with intensity and good form. Push yourself. just some thoughts.

Kit

April 8, 2003

Hi ,

If you live in the US, you don't have to be licensed to sell homemade

toiletries(unless you are talking about a business license and that's not

quite the same thing as being licenses to make toiletries). It is a good

idea to have your emulsions challenge-tested but most of us can't afford it

so we have to be very very careful about sterilization and preservatives(why

I don't make emulsions..lol). There is a test kit you can buy for basic home

testing(not rigorous like a challenge test though) on some websites but I've

never used it so can't comment about it's helpfulness.

If you want to know the regs 'from the horse's mouth', here is a good URL:

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-218.html

And here is one that governs labeling:

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-lab1.html

Basically, though, if it is a 'true soap' (and some M & P doesn't qualify so

has to be treated as a cosmetic, IMO) and you make no claims that it does

more than clean, you can treat it as 'not cosmetic' so you don't really have

to label with your ingredients. Everything else must be labeled with the

INCI name at least. I use both the INCI and the common name because it's my

belief that most people don't know what the INCI name means and might be

scared off a handmade soap if they can't tell what's in it.

I don't know why you wouldn't want to label it though. I think showing what

good stuff you put in your soaps is a selling point and I, personally, would

not buy a handmade toiletry of any kind without knowing what was in it. I

also think labeling with ingredients so people can check for any possible

allergies(plus a warning on the label)helps protect against any 'accidents'

and/or irritations and, possibly, legal problems. JMO. Everyone does their

labeling how they see the rules. This is just my interpretation.

HTH,

Newbie Question

> Hi,

>

> I'm new to soap making and toiletries. I'm curious if you all have to

test

> your products and be licensed before you can sell them to the public? How

> does that work? As I understand it, you can sell soap, but if you claim

it

> does anything more it is considered a cosmetic and needs to be tested. Is

> that how it is?

>

> Thanks for any insight! :-)

>

> Beers

>

May 21, 2003

This is usually the first to go on alot of women. Just work the

entire program and it'll come off. You can't spot reduce no matter

what exercises you do.

-JB

> Hi Ladies,

>

> I would LOVE to get rid of my " back " fat that is sitting right

above

> my buttocks! he he he

>

> Any suggestions on what type of exercise I can do?

>

> Thanks,

>

> from Alabama

> and New to BFL

May 21, 2003

Hi , and welcome!

We all have our problem areas where we carry a lot of our fat. Mine

is my lower abs. It is not possible to spot reduce. As you reduce

your overall bodyfat level, your fat will disappear from your entire

body. It has been compared to unrolling a roll of paper towels. It

comes off in layers all over. Unfortunately that means that

your " problem " area will be the last place to be tight and toned but

with perseverance it will get there!

This is a great program. Follow it strictly and you WILL see results.

Lynda

March 10, 2004

> Is ozone water nasty tasting like drinking H2O2 water ?

it is NOT like H202 water.

I've read some comments from people who think it has a strong

or noticable taste. Personally, it tastes just like " water " to

me. Sometimes a SLIGHT ozone smell, but very minor.

> Does it

> bleach hair like H2O2 ?

I don't think so, but I haven't tried ozone water on my hair

> What are people mainly using to make ozone

> or are people mainly buying it ?

I don't know of anyplace that sells it. The ozone will only

stay in water a short time (a few hours)--- longer if the

water is frozen. Anyway, I don't know of anyplace to buy it.

I make ozonated water every morning, using an ozone machine

and an oxygen concentrator.

I do buy ozonated olive oil.

Moria

March 10, 2004

> Is ozone water nasty tasting like drinking H2O2 water ?

it is NOT like H202 water.

I've read some comments from people who think it has a strong

or noticable taste. Personally, it tastes just like " water " to

me. Sometimes a SLIGHT ozone smell, but very minor.

> Does it

> bleach hair like H2O2 ?

I don't think so, but I haven't tried ozone water on my hair

> What are people mainly using to make ozone

> or are people mainly buying it ?

I don't know of anyplace that sells it. The ozone will only

stay in water a short time (a few hours)--- longer if the

water is frozen. Anyway, I don't know of anyplace to buy it.

I make ozonated water every morning, using an ozone machine

and an oxygen concentrator.

I do buy ozonated olive oil.

Moria

March 10, 2004

> Is ozone water nasty tasting like drinking H2O2 water ? Does it

> bleach hair like H2O2 ? What are people mainly using to make ozone

> or are people mainly buying it ?

> Dan

Even highly ozonated water has no bad taste at all. You can taste

the difference between ozone water and non ozone water though, it has

a sort of fresh taste, vaguely like a chlorinated taste at very high

concentrations.

March 10, 2004

> Is ozone water nasty tasting like drinking H2O2 water ? Does it

> bleach hair like H2O2 ? What are people mainly using to make ozone

> or are people mainly buying it ?

> Dan

Even highly ozonated water has no bad taste at all. You can taste

the difference between ozone water and non ozone water though, it has

a sort of fresh taste, vaguely like a chlorinated taste at very high

concentrations.

July 26, 2005

At 03:42 PM 7/26/2005, you wrote:

>OK, I'm a very very newbie. I have a sort of natural way of putting

>together scents so I've decided to learn more about it. Some of you

>folks have a lot of knowledge!

Hi Dede:

Welcome to the group and glad you're hear to learn.

>OK, I think this is really a basic question (maybe not), but everyone

>must have their own individual preferences -- so then how can one

>create a scent in an olfactory area that you don't really like? Do

>people just stick with the scent families they find most personally

>appealing?

I was just discussing this with a perfumer the other day. She likes all the

fragrance types, from florals to chypres. I have had to force myself to

overcome my dislike of both certain raw aromatics and finished blends --

especially chypres and spicy orientals. When I started blending signature

perfumes a few years ago, moving up from simple blends that pleased me and

my hotel clients, I learned that " the customer is always right. "

Many of my clients are from Europe (north to south) and Central and South

America. They love the complex chypres and orientals, blended with a lot of

sophistication. What a quick learning curve for me. What I had learned in

books had to be amped up immediately with on-site sniffing " trials " .

Recently I wrote asking for help on a blend -- a chypre, of course ;-)

Winging as I have been with the perfume groups I dislike has forced me to

accept and delve deeper into them. Longtime members of this group will

remember me posting in the past " I don't like some of the perfumes I blend "

-- but the customer loved them!

I forgot to mention my northern European clients' love of citrus perfumes,

heavy on the bergamot and mandarin. I don't like mandarin, so even within a

scent family I love, I had to go heavy with a raw aromatic that isn't my

favorite. They adore the blends, and slater them on (with warnings about

sun exposure fresh in their ears from me ;-)

So, don't limit yourself. You'll be stunting your growth as a perfumer. You

need to experience it all; there's just no way around it, IMO.

Anya

http://.com

The premier site on the Web to discover the beauty of Natural Perfume

" The Age of the Foodie is passé. It is now the Age of the Scentie. "

July 27, 2005

I do have the strongest preferrence for Orientals (spicy, woody and very

musky) but I also have created scents in the other categories - not because

someone requested but because sticking to one category can sometimes be too

emprisoning and the occasional trivia of creating a floral scent comes like

a mind-cleaner and opens new horizons.

Konstantin Mihov

International University Bremen

College Ring 6, Mailbox 495

28759 Bremen

Germany

+49 421 2005395

+49 1520 2739282

>From: " edgetexlady " <rbright@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Newbie question

>Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 19:42:57 -0000

>

_________________________________________________________________

Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!

http://search.msn.com/

September 19, 2005

I'm new too, but here are my suggestions:

- read the book, Body for Life by Bill

- read his website, www.bodyforlife.com

- I like his book, Eating for Life, but I think of it as a guideline for

longterm; I do not think all of it applies when I am starting out and

trying to lose weight; you don't need this book in order to follow the food

guidelines

- you can see sample recipes at both www.bodyforlife.com and

www.eatingforlife.com

HTH

n

C1-W4-D1 (1st challenge, 4th week, 1st day)

At 10:09 AM 9/19/2005, you wrote:

>I'm just starting the " dietary " part of the program (my trainer has

>had me doing the BFL workout for over a year). Couple of questions:

>is

>the dietary part called " Eating for Life " or is that something else?

November 17, 2005

Body for Lifers,

I have a newbie question or two. You all sound very experienced

with the BFL program so please forgive me if my questions are groaners.

My name is and I am a competitive athlete who needs to

lose about 20lbs. I have great upper body strength but no defenition

except for my abs.

I played semi pro football 2003-2004. I'm only 5'2 so being a

bit on the heavier size was a plus back then.

I'm now competing in Judo and we have weight classes like boxers

and wrestlers. Our practice sessions are much like what a wrestler

would go through.

I'd like to be around 120 but still have the stamina to get

through a 2 1/2hr practice. We practice from 6:30pm to 9:00pm and are

lucky if we get a minute to gulp gatorade so there is no way I can grab

an energy bar or anything else.

Should my preworkout meal be largely made up of carbs? What

about after?? I use Betagen in the morning and the evenings.

Also, should I stick to BFL bars and shakes for snacks or should

I use some other Myoplex product?? I need enough protein to add muscle.

I'm getting hopelessly confused by all the different EAS

products.

Thanks for your time,

November 17, 2005

Really watch your diet and stick to those 6 small meals a day. Each

meal should be carbs and protein equally. SMALL portions, that way

you will get plenty, not starve yourself when you need it most, yet

still not eat so much that you gain weight.

You may also want to take up running which will strengthen your legs

and help your stamina while doing your ground work. Vary up your

long distance running (2 to 3 miles) with sprint intervals (2 minute

walk/jog with a 1 minute sprint for 5 to 7 rounds which is 15-21

minutes total).

Your goal should be to get within 3 to 5 pounds of your weight

class's upper limit. Then 4 weeks out you can diet down and you're

only a few pounds away from making weight. Doing this will help you

keep your muscle and strength up while you are practicing, and keep

your stamina so you don't have to diet down drastically in a short

amount of time to make weight.

Bars would be good to eat before practice because they have simple

sugars in them for instant energy. Figure on eating that about 1/2

hour before practice. If you aren't doing a BFL Challenge then don't

be concerned with using only EAS products. Labrada bars are good

quality, and Xyience is coming out with bars this winter some time.

Dont' worry too much about low-carb bars because you need some

carbs. 25-35 carbs is a good range (make sure they aren't all sugar

alcohol). Labrada Gold is a good choice, or 1/2 a Myoplex Deluxe bar

from EAS.

-

>

> Body for Lifers,

>

> I have a newbie question or two. You all sound very

experienced

> with the BFL program so please forgive me if my questions are

groaners.

>

> My name is and I am a competitive athlete who needs

to

> lose about 20lbs. I have great upper body strength but no

defenition

> except for my abs.

>

> I played semi pro football 2003-2004. I'm only 5'2 so being

a

> bit on the heavier size was a plus back then.

>

> I'm now competing in Judo and we have weight classes like

boxers

> and wrestlers. Our practice sessions are much like what a wrestler

> would go through.

>

> I'd like to be around 120 but still have the stamina to get

> through a 2 1/2hr practice. We practice from 6:30pm to 9:00pm and

are

> lucky if we get a minute to gulp gatorade so there is no way I can

grab

> an energy bar or anything else.

>

> Should my preworkout meal be largely made up of carbs? What

> about after?? I use Betagen in the morning and the evenings.

>

> Also, should I stick to BFL bars and shakes for snacks or

should

> I use some other Myoplex product?? I need enough protein to add

muscle.

>

> I'm getting hopelessly confused by all the different EAS

> products.

>

> Thanks for your time,

>

November 17, 2005

Fabulous! Thank you so much !

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 2:11 PM

Subject: Re: newbie question

Really watch your diet and stick to those 6 small meals a day.

Each

meal should be carbs and protein equally. SMALL portions, that

way

you will get plenty, not starve yourself when you need it most,

yet

still not eat so much that you gain weight.

You may also want to take up running which will strengthen your

legs

and help your stamina while doing your ground work. Vary up your

long distance running (2 to 3 miles) with sprint intervals (2

minute

walk/jog with a 1 minute sprint for 5 to 7 rounds which is 15-21

minutes total).

Your goal should be to get within 3 to 5 pounds of your weight

class's upper limit. Then 4 weeks out you can diet down and

you're

only a few pounds away from making weight. Doing this will help

you

keep your muscle and strength up while you are practicing, and

keep

your stamina so you don't have to diet down drastically in a

short

amount of time to make weight.

Bars would be good to eat before practice because they have

simple

sugars in them for instant energy. Figure on eating that about

1/2

hour before practice. If you aren't doing a BFL Challenge then

don't

be concerned with using only EAS products. Labrada bars are good

quality, and Xyience is coming out with bars this winter some

time.

Dont' worry too much about low-carb bars because you need some

carbs. 25-35 carbs is a good range (make sure they aren't all

sugar

alcohol). Labrada Gold is a good choice, or 1/2 a Myoplex Deluxe

bar

from EAS.

-

>

> Body for Lifers,

>

> I have a newbie question or two. You all sound very

experienced

> with the BFL program so please forgive me if my questions are

groaners.

>

> My name is and I am a competitive athlete who

needs

to

> lose about 20lbs. I have great upper body strength but no

defenition

> except for my abs.

>

> I played semi pro football 2003-2004. I'm only 5'2 so

being

a

> bit on the heavier size was a plus back then.

>

> I'm now competing in Judo and we have weight classes

like

boxers

> and wrestlers. Our practice sessions are much like what a

wrestler

> would go through.

>

> I'd like to be around 120 but still have the stamina to

get

> through a 2 1/2hr practice. We practice from 6:30pm to 9:00pm

and

are

> lucky if we get a minute to gulp gatorade so there is no way I

can

grab

> an energy bar or anything else.

>

> Should my preworkout meal be largely made up of carbs?

What

> about after?? I use Betagen in the morning and the evenings.

>

> Also, should I stick to BFL bars and shakes for snacks

or

should

> I use some other Myoplex product?? I need enough protein to

add

muscle.

>

> I'm getting hopelessly confused by all the different EAS

> products.

>

> Thanks for your time,

>

November 18, 2005

How do I determine the sugar alcohol content of a food??? Is it

something that would be on the label??

I used the Advantage Edge Essential Energy bar before practice last

night and it seemed to do the trick.

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 2:11 PM

Subject: Re: newbie question

Really watch your diet and stick to those 6 small meals a day.

Each

meal should be carbs and protein equally. SMALL portions, that

way

you will get plenty, not starve yourself when you need it most,

yet

still not eat so much that you gain weight.

You may also want to take up running which will strengthen your

legs

and help your stamina while doing your ground work. Vary up your

long distance running (2 to 3 miles) with sprint intervals (2

minute

walk/jog with a 1 minute sprint for 5 to 7 rounds which is 15-21

minutes total).

Your goal should be to get within 3 to 5 pounds of your weight

class's upper limit. Then 4 weeks out you can diet down and

you're

only a few pounds away from making weight. Doing this will help

you

keep your muscle and strength up while you are practicing, and

keep

your stamina so you don't have to diet down drastically in a

short

amount of time to make weight.

Bars would be good to eat before practice because they have

simple

sugars in them for instant energy. Figure on eating that about

1/2

hour before practice. If you aren't doing a BFL Challenge then

don't

be concerned with using only EAS products. Labrada bars are good

quality, and Xyience is coming out with bars this winter some

time.

Dont' worry too much about low-carb bars because you need some

carbs. 25-35 carbs is a good range (make sure they aren't all

sugar

alcohol). Labrada Gold is a good choice, or 1/2 a Myoplex Deluxe

bar

from EAS.

-

>

> Body for Lifers,

>

> I have a newbie question or two. You all sound very

experienced

> with the BFL program so please forgive me if my questions are

groaners.

>

> My name is and I am a competitive athlete who

needs

to

> lose about 20lbs. I have great upper body strength but no

defenition

> except for my abs.

>

> I played semi pro football 2003-2004. I'm only 5'2 so

being

a

> bit on the heavier size was a plus back then.

>

> I'm now competing in Judo and we have weight classes

like

boxers

> and wrestlers. Our practice sessions are much like what a

wrestler

> would go through.

>

> I'd like to be around 120 but still have the stamina to

get

> through a 2 1/2hr practice. We practice from 6:30pm to 9:00pm

and

are

> lucky if we get a minute to gulp gatorade so there is no way I

can

grab

> an energy bar or anything else.

>

> Should my preworkout meal be largely made up of carbs?

What

> about after?? I use Betagen in the morning and the evenings.

>

> Also, should I stick to BFL bars and shakes for snacks

or

should

> I use some other Myoplex product?? I need enough protein to

add

muscle.

>

> I'm getting hopelessly confused by all the different EAS

> products.

>

> Thanks for your time,

>

November 18, 2005

Sugar alcohol is something only used in " Light " or " Sugar-Free "

foods as a sugar substitute. It will be labeled in the ingredients

or the nutritional information that there are sugar alcohols in it.

-

> >

> > Body for Lifers,

> >

> > I have a newbie question or two. You all sound very

> experienced

> > with the BFL program so please forgive me if my questions

are

> groaners.

> >

> > My name is and I am a competitive athlete who

> needs

> to

> > lose about 20lbs. I have great upper body strength but no

> defenition

> > except for my abs.

> >

> > I played semi pro football 2003-2004. I'm only 5'2

so

> being

> a

> > bit on the heavier size was a plus back then.

> >

> > I'm now competing in Judo and we have weight classes

> like

> boxers

> > and wrestlers. Our practice sessions are much like what a

> wrestler

> > would go through.

> >

> > I'd like to be around 120 but still have the stamina

to

> get

> > through a 2 1/2hr practice. We practice from 6:30pm to

9:00pm

> and

> are

> > lucky if we get a minute to gulp gatorade so there is no

way I

> can

> grab

> > an energy bar or anything else.

> >

> > Should my preworkout meal be largely made up of

carbs?

> What

> > about after?? I use Betagen in the morning and the

evenings.

>

> >

> > Also, should I stick to BFL bars and shakes for

snacks

> or

> should

> > I use some other Myoplex product?? I need enough protein

to

> add

> muscle.

> >

> > I'm getting hopelessly confused by all the different

EAS

> > products.

> >

> > Thanks for your time,

> >

November 18, 2005

Ahhhhhhhhh I couldn't find it listed anywhere on my food labels. No

wonder........

My co-worker and I just checked out your blog. Very impressive!

He's busy right now registering for the challenge. ;-)

I have the BFL and EFL books and have decided to follow them like a

madwoman. I'm relentless when I want something bad enough and I'm ready

to do this!

Thanks for your time.

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 12:55 PM

Subject: Re: newbie question

Sugar alcohol is something only used in " Light " or " Sugar-Free "

foods as a sugar substitute. It will be labeled in the

ingredients

or the nutritional information that there are sugar alcohols in

it.

-

> >

> > Body for Lifers,

> >

> > I have a newbie question or two. You all sound

very

> experienced

> > with the BFL program so please forgive me if my

questions

are

> groaners.

> >

> > My name is and I am a competitive

athlete who

> needs

> to

> > lose about 20lbs. I have great upper body strength

but no

> defenition

> > except for my abs.

> >

> > I played semi pro football 2003-2004. I'm only

5'2

so

> being

> a

> > bit on the heavier size was a plus back then.

> >

> > I'm now competing in Judo and we have weight

classes

> like

> boxers

> > and wrestlers. Our practice sessions are much like

what a

> wrestler

> > would go through.

> >

> > I'd like to be around 120 but still have the

stamina

to

> get

> > through a 2 1/2hr practice. We practice from 6:30pm

to

9:00pm

> and

> are

> > lucky if we get a minute to gulp gatorade so there is

no

way I

> can

> grab

> > an energy bar or anything else.

> >

> > Should my preworkout meal be largely made up of

carbs?

> What

> > about after?? I use Betagen in the morning and the

evenings.

>

> >

> > Also, should I stick to BFL bars and shakes for

snacks

> or

> should

> > I use some other Myoplex product?? I need enough

protein

to

> add

> muscle.

> >

> > I'm getting hopelessly confused by all the

different

EAS

> > products.

> >

> > Thanks for your time,

> >

December 12, 2005

Well, my experience and understanding is that the ALT and AST values really have no meaning with HCV other than to tip the doctors to test for HCV. But many with active HCV will have normal ALT and AST values at various times. I have.

There are many things other than HCV that can cause elevated LFT values. What does your doctor say about problems? Will your doctor test you for HBV and HCV? Has your doctor even examined your liver?

About the colonics, I am also awaiting answers. I have advanced chronic HCV with cirrhosis. I am anticipating going on the Peg treatment next month. I hope.

The diet you are following will help your liver. A good, balanced C complex will help your liver, no matter what the underlying condition, if any.

I'm so sorry to hear of the difficult life and loss of your daughter. I would be devastated. The stress alone could be the source of your elevated LFT numbers. And often times its after the stress that our bodies falter.

There is NO reason to cut back protien. The only liver problem that requires protien restriction is End Stage Liver Disease (ESLD). Cirrhosis advanced to the point where the liver is failing most of its functions. You are not at that point. There would be other indicators. As far as protien, the liver regenerates itself and requires abundant protien to do this function.

As far as uplift, unless you are diagnosed with a viral liver disease there is no need to worry about it. HCV is a very slow disease as far as progression. I've had it for about 50 years and am just getting to the point of cirrhosis. Call your doctor and discuss your concerns about your LFT results. Ask for testing.

Sally

-----Original Message-----From: Hepatitis C [mailto:Hepatitis C ] On Behalf Of RankSent: Monday, December 12, 2005 6:33 AMHepatitis C Subject: Newbie Question

Hello Everyone -

I am new here, trying to sort out the meaning and the best plan for a recent abnormal ALT and AST levels I received during a routine blood lab. I hope you can help me with a couple of questions.

I have yet to be officially diagnosed with anything. My family doc has scheduled an ultrasound, but I am putting that off until after the new year. I have some insurance issues to contend with and also I am trying to keep this under wraps from my family in hope I can improve and solve the issue without the need to worry them.

I have had a very rough couple of years following the loss of my young daughter who died from a brain tumor. During many years of stress fighting for her, I did not take very good care of myself. After she died I took even worse care and ate fast food, drank too much – not everyday, but too much - and became about 50 pounds overweight. Now I have these elevated LFT’s and I am worried terribly that my wife will be even more traumatized.

About two months ago, immediately when the labs first appeared, I ceased all alcohol and went on a health crusade. Six weeks later my AST went down, but my ALT went up by ten to 83.

I am now eating a nutritious, low fat diet – only some fish, no other meat. Also taking milk thistle, SAMe, and a couple of other vitamins.

I definitely feel some fatigue, fog and occasional dizziness – other than that, no problems.

My first question is about colonics. I feel as if I need to detoxify big time, but I have read that colonics can further damage a distressed liver. Most of what I read is that colonics help the liver. So, which is correct? Has anyone else done homework on this, or have any direct experiences to share?

Next question is about protein intake. I have read contradicting information on this too. Some have said to eat more protein because the liver is not processing it properly. Others say to avoid protein because it is putting a strain on the liver. Any input?

How about any success stories? Are there people here who have improved AST ALT levels? Any who reversed damage, fatty liver, inflammation? I could use a little uplift if it is there to be had!

Thanks in advance and best wishes to all.

December 12, 2005

Hi welcome , since you have yet to be diagnosed there is a good chance it may just be from the alcoholism . And though you have ceased drinking the damage may already be there . I wouldn't worry to much yet , notice that I said yet because that doesn't mean that there will be nothing to worry about . At this point its to early to say if you have cirrhosis of liver , fatty liver disease , or hepatitis c . Your doctor will want to run other tests of course and these tests are necessary to rule out which problem you may be having . As far as protein is conerned you should get your daily amount as normal unless you have cirrhosis and then the doctor is the one to tell you what your protein intake should be every day.