Check Up at the Doctor

Today was my "annual" physical (annual is in quotes, because I don't get one every year - it's more like every 2-3 years).  This included my blood work and cholesterol check (which is annual due to how high my cholesterol was 5 years ago and my family history of high cholesterol and heart disease).

I won't get my blood work results until Monday afternoon, but here's a few of the other numbers:

The good - Blood pressure - 108 over 70.  Resting Pulse - 48 (huh?  I'm usually around 60...she must have missed a beat or two)

The not so good - Weight - 170 lbs (damn doctor's scale!)

My doc took a look at me and said, "You don't look 170 pounds!"  Of course not, I'm the skinny guy, right???  But the doctor wants me to lose some weight - first goal should be 160 lbs, and then I should be able to get down to 150.  (I can't remember the last time I weighed 150 - maybe Middle School?)

The other thing is that I need to come in for an EKG.  We could not do it today because of the shag carpet I'm flaunting on my chest.  So I need to shave my own chest and make another appointment to do the EKG.  I'm not sure which I prefer, getting the EKG with my hairy chest and having the nurse pull off half the hair of my chest when taking the electrode sensors off (not pretty...been there, done that!) or having to shave my own chest and go to the doctor's office again.  I guess this time I don't have a choice...

So...today's doctor's appointment was no surprises.  Low pulse, low blood pressure, weight is a bit too high.  Cholesterol results will be in on Monday...stay tuned!

Cholesterol Results In - WOW!

On Monday morning when I went to get my cholesterol checked, the doctor told me I could call in on Thursday afternoon to get the results (she also mails them to me, but I like to get them sooner rather than later!).

I had my lowest Total Cholesterol level EVER! 146. My Cholesterol Ratio is 3.3

Exactly four years ago, my Total Cholesterol level was 263. My Cholesterol Ratio was 6.0

When I received my cholesterol numbers in four years ago, I weighed 184 pounds. My doctor put me on a strict diet - limiting my calories to lose weight and limiting my fat intake to 20% of my calories. Three months later, I had lost 24 pounds and my Total Cholesterol was 163 (cholesterol ratio of 4.3).

Since that time I have continued to get my cholesterol checked every 6 months to ensure my levels are good. My LDL (or "bad" cholesterol) continued to slowly creep up for a year following the initial drop in Jan 2004, so I was put on a low dosage of Zocor in mid-'05.

Of course, running has also helped elevate my HDL (or "good" cholesterol).

Avoiding the Super Bowl Binge...

Yesterday's Total Calorie Intake:  2655

(Exercise Calories:  1258)

Total Net Calories:  1397

Tonight is the Super Bowl.  We have an annual tradition to get together with two other families (the three of us were friends at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), and we always serve lasagna and one of the families brings a cake that is frosted like a football field.  Of course there is always chips, beer and other goodies as well.

I will most likely not count my calories so strictly today (i.e. tonight).  I've had a good week so far - especially yesterday with the 10.7 mile run!  I also will have my normal Sunday cross-training routine of the elliptical machine in the morning and two hours of Israeli Dancing (I'm holding the group in the afternoon today so that it does not conflict with the Super Bowl).   So I'm not too concerned about the weigh in tomorrow.

The one thing I AM concerned with is the fact that I am having my cholesterol checked tomorrow.  I go to have my cholesterol checked every 6 months to monitor since I had very elevated cholesterol for my age and a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease (more about this in a later post...).  As a result, I will keep to one serving of lasagna and I'll try to stay away from any other foods that are high in fat.  Worse comes to worse I'll have to consume more low-fat items - like beer - to fill up.  Woe is me...

BTW - for those of you who are trying to lose weight as well and have a choice of soda or beer during the game, choose either diet soda (no calories) or light beer (normally 100-150 calories per bottle...Amstel Light is only 95 calories per bottle).  One 20 ounce bottle of regular soda has about 240 calories (that's equivalent to 2 1/2 bottles of Amstel Light!).