Cholesterol Check

YAY! What a great way to start a Monday! Plus, I got to sleep in! And had a delicious oats in a jar with blackberries morning! Life is grand.
The last time I had my cholesterol checked (and the first time) was May 4, 2009. I was pleased with the numbers, except for 1. My good cholesterol (HDL) was borderline low. I did everything they told me to do, I didn't know why it was so low. And I am not the type to want to have to go on medication to raise it. So, good thing my other numbers were good. But, I strived this year to make that number go up! :)

Here is my results - with the key findings:

May 4, 2010
Weight - approximately 166
Total Chol - 156
Glucose level after fasting - 69 (almost too low she said this morning)
HDL (good) - 40 (40 is the number that you are too low)
LDL (bad) - 97 (in the good range)

March 15, 2010
Weight - 151 (still too high, but 15 lbs less than last year)
TC - 152 (dropped 4)
Glucose - 81 - she said this was more of a normal number which means your body is still operating well after not eating in so long (I last ate at 640pm last night and my test was at 915am)
HDL - 48 - WOW! Thats a jump in 8 points! I love it. I guess that is what a less-processed, olive oil, avocados, nuts, greens, and grains diet will do for you - and losing 15 lbs and running! :)
LDL - 95 - this even dropped 2 points. I'll take it!

I am very pumped by these numbers. I just gotta keep up what I'm doing! :)
What good health signs have you seen in your life? How are you taking care of the inside of your body?

Body Assessment

Today has come. Its great that I got everything on one day. Here are the results from my many tests today - most of which I am very pleased!
Cholesterol - total is 156 - very good. My good cholesterol is on the low borderline, so I need to raise that. I need to eat some healthy fats and more seafood (like my Dad does).
Blood sugar was 69 - anything lower than 70 is good. This is good news because diabetes runs in my Dad's side of the family.
Body fat % - 33%. This may seem really high and it is, but it is still in the normal range for women. I would like it to be around 22% so that is my goal. And my scale at home that says i measures body fat is WAY off! Don't believe it. Go get a caliper test - much more accurate!
BMI - 25.551 - so that is still a little high, need to get that down, but that will come off with weight too.
Waist - 30.5 - I was so excited about that! :) Man to think what it was!
Hips - 43 - yikes! I need to keep doing cardio and lunges! :) But, it was a good ratio.
My crunch fitness test was excellent and the return to normal after cardio heart rate was above average. My push up test was ok to poor, but my flexibility is where I really need to work! I need to do more stretching!
I tried on a 10 skirt yesterday and it was too big, a size 8 jeans which were just snug in the waist, and a size 6 dress which was a tad tight at the top. But, I'm heading in the right direction!
Another race is this weekend - 5k Throo the Zoo - many hills, but I am encouraged! I can do this!
Gotta keep going - right now, though, I gotta go eat lunch!

Aches and Pains

Well - moving in my bike this weekend and putting it off and on the bike rack (learning how) has strained some muscles. I think I would rather have a pulled muscle in my leg. But, I have strained the muscle on the inside of my right shoulder blade - which is attached to a muscle in my chest. That just hurts running. I had a horrible mile.2 yesterday. Today I must go do more. It should be nice weather on Thursday and Saturday for longer runs.
The derby is 10 days away. I am looking forward to it. Goal time anywhere below 3 hours. It will depend on the weather and the pulled muscle. But, I can push through it - right?