Bike sprints, diet and disease

Yesterday did the bike sprint intervals.  Today did the 2.5 mile sprint with hills.   Both hard.  I'm thinking these types of workouts plus strength are probably better than these 25 min hill climbs where my HR is over 170 for 15-16 minutes, over 180 for 2-3 min.  I still push it to the 170s but just for short duration.   Maybe do a hill climb once a month or so.  

Bike sprint intervals  - 4 x 400m w/ 2:30 rest  

max speed: 28.4, 27.5, 28.4, 28.5

Max HR - 173

 

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Bike sprint - 2.5 miles on Laurel Branch Trl

total time - 10:18 (tied PR)

Max HR - 179 

HR over 170 - 5:18 

Avg HR - 165

 

Going for a blood draw again this week.  Kidney function tests and week after, followup with my PCP, and will press him for an angiography.  

Diet and heart disease

My brother's latest determination of celiac artery blockage was called into question by one of his Drs because it was ultrasound based, so he's pressing for a more definitive test, a CT w/ contrast.

His Dr., a DO, is one of these Keto diet guys.  I'm all for low carb low sugar diet but to be extreme about it is not particularly sensible to me.   I get the low carb thing, carb = sugar. These keto bros / carnivores are totally into this idea that you can eat unlimited fat as long as you eat zero carbs and sugar. The fact is that it does work to lose weight, but for some people, this keto diet will cause heart disease if you’re a “responder” to dietary fat.  And you don't know if you are unless you test prolifically.  Not just standard lipid panels, but more advanced tests like lipid fractionation, apolipo ratios, Lp(a), inflammation, imaging like angiography, etc... CACs are good but not enough, same with lipid panels, and it's ridiculous to draw any conclusions from the once per year lipid panel... but better than nothing. Lipid panels are cheap. Just $23 at Ulta.  

The problem with tests like LDL or Lp(a)  - these are a few of many factors that *may* contribute to heart disease / atherosclerosis. The development of CVD is a very complex and individual process, as we can see with the wide range of anecdotal experiences.   Some have established heart disease yet live long lives. Some are affected by disease from lifestyle factors like diet, yet some aren't. Medical science observes general trends among the population, but there are always a lot of outliers on each end of the bell curve.  You can definitely lose weight on carnivore / keto,  usually by replacing carbs/sugar with protein and fat. Much of the confounding and conflicting data on the subject ignores the fact that there is no general rule for all people on affect of dietary fat. Different people are affected differently by dietary cholesterol as the process for atherosclerosis is complex and dependent on many factors -including genetic disposition. Frankly, looking at it any other way is tantamount to pushing an agenda, a hasty generalization, overly simplistic, or plain disingenuous.   Not much long term data on the results of carnivore / keto diets.  

Anecdotally, I've learned I am a dietary 'responder' to animal fat intake as I learned in 2021 on my brief 'egg diet.'   My brother and I are an interesting case study, albeit ... anecdotal.

A lot of this carnivore / keto diet stuff coming from social media influencers - some professionals - seems to follow the trend of the "RFK Jr - MAGA - bro-science - pseudo-masculine - vaccine science deniers" ... long on anecdotal trends and short term results, short on science and long term studies, and certainly not looking out for individual susceptibilities, and tailoring diet to the individuals based on known vulnerabilities.  They certainly push a lot of generalizations, questionable cherry picked "science," and not much info on longevity and long lived cultures - none of which are carnivore / keto.  I also think diet can be adjusted for athletic goals and training, and can vary and be optimized according to physical needs, time of year, activity level, and body type, etc...