Health and Fitness

189

Some thoughts on my current blood test results.

Author on a hike at Griffith Park. Photo credit: Author

My annual physical was this month. Always an exciting time, but this time especially exciting as I have been working hard to be even more physically fit that I just knew my blood test results, mainly around cholesterol, would be better than ever.

189.

That’s my cholesterol level.

Not awful. But for me it is. It’s 10 points higher than last year. Which was 20 points higher than the year below.

I exercise. Frequently. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink.

I’m vegan, so I don’t even consume cholesterol!

In the past few months I have been exercising even more.

And, my good cholesterol, my HDL, is down to 43, after a high of 46 last year. I have always struggled with getting this number past 40, and was finally there. Just to have it lower in one year.

And just in case you want to know more, and are a numbers geek like me: My LDL calculated is 128; cholesterol/high density lipoprotein is 4.4; cholesterol/non HDL is 146 and triglyceride is at 98.

I wanted better, in all of these categories, and honestly thought I was doing everything I can to obtain better numbers.