Whiteley Creek Homestead

I was inching my way ever so slowly through the grocery store checkout line today, scanning the magazine covers.

 

The cover's headline… WALK OFF MORE WEIGHT… Donuts dripping with icing… Hmmmm. Right then and there, I recommitted to my monthly goal of logging a minimum of 50 miles (e.g., walking, biking) each month and recording my progress here on these blog pages like I used to do. Since I began college classes last September, my exercising has become hit or miss… something I would do if there was any time left in the day… and there usually wasn't. A doctor's appointment yesterday was a wake-up call. Once again my cholesterol numbers have risen.They had steadily risen from September 2006 to September 2008 until my Dr. suggested medication. Stubbornly, I said, "Give me 6 months. I can do it without meds." …and I did. One year ago, on March 31, 2009 I was celebrating because I had improved my numbers drastically without medication. Six months prior, I had started walking and biking nearly everyday and had made some dietary changes. My latest blood test shows that my triglycerides and HDL are good, but my total cholesterol and LDL are not. I think my present dietary component is working for me, but I'm adding back in my daily regimen of walking/biking, taking fish oil, and eating nuts. According to a textbook in one of my nutrition classes this college term, "approximately 80% of the calories in nuts comes from fat, but up to 90% of the fat is unsaturated, which has been shown to have a positive effect on serum cholesterol levels. The recommended serving size for most varieties is 1 ounce (roughly 1/4 cup)." I can do this. Yes, I can. 

September 2006

Total Cholesterol 181 Good (Optimal <200)

Triglycerides 46 Good (Optimal <150)

HDL 62 Good (Optimal >60)

LDL 110 Good (Optimal 100-129)

September 2007

Total Cholesterol 206 High

Triglycerides 49 Good, but increasing.

HDL 65 Good

LDL 131 Not good.

September 2008

Total Cholesterol 228 High (Optimal: <200)

Triglycerides 58 Good but still increasing, so not good.

HDL 62 Good

LDL 154 Really really not good.

March 2009 I am back to September 2006 levels!!!

Total Cholesterol 180 Good

Triglycerides 42

HDL 62

LDL 110

March 2010

Total Cholesterol 204 (Optimal <200) Not good.

Triglycerides 42 (Optimal <150) Good

HDL "good cholesterol" 69 (Optimal >60) Good 

LDL "lousy (bad) cholesterol" 127 (Optimal 100-129) Not good. 

 

March 16, 2010

Today's Mileage: 2-mile walk

Total Mileage for March: 2 miles

Bible reading? Yes.