Our health insurance was making all employees do a biometric screening. Okay, not making us do it, but if we did it, our insurance rates wouldn't be raised. What is a biometric screening you ask? Its a group of tests that show how healthy you are. It scans your weight, BMI, blood pressure, and checks your cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. So I took the test about 10 days ago. I like to think I am a healthy person. I work out 5 times a week. I am not overweight. I don't eat fast food. I eat mostly organic. I do not eat processed foods or white bread. So when I went in to the room to do my test I walked in pretty confident. Actually that is a lie, I was real confident. I knew my numbers were going to come back just fine.
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WRONG!
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My weight was good, 124. My BMI was good, 19%. My blood pressure was awesome (don't remember it). My cholesterol...well that's were I failed. Cholesterol should be under 200, mine was 212! WHAT! How could I, healthy eating momma have high cholesterol???? My LDL, lousy cholesterol was 106 and it should be under 100. My HDL, happy cholesterol was great. My triglycerides were also great.
So why am I posting this? Why am I putting these numbers on the screen? Because I never thought in a million years that I would have high cholesterol. Here is the thing, I do not eat a lot of red meat, and I do not eat high fat foods. BUT. But, I do love my sweets and cheese. LOVE THEM!!! I figured since I worked out, dessert shouldn't be a problem.
Here we are 10 days later and I have dramatically changed my diet. After doing some research I decided to get rid of all dairy. I am no longer eating cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. I am also limiting my sweets. As in, I haven't had one since my test results. And NO MORE RED MEAT! I really don't eat meat so this has been a non issue. I have switched to Almond Milk, which is amazing by the way. I have also incorporated more veggies in my diet. Each morning I drink a spinach smoothie, I promise its delish. Max even likes it.
10 days later I feel great!!! I have lost 4 pounds. WOOT! WOOT! Not that I was trying to lose weight but hey, added bonus. I have more energy and I feel real good. I will retest my blood in 6 months and by golly those numbers better be low! I should mention that on my dad's side of the family high cholesterol is a problem. I am DETERMINED to beat this with out medicines!
Check your blood if you ever get the chance, it could be an eye opener.
Um.... ok. so I decided to skip the gym today and come home and bake cookies with Landon instead. So I'm lounging on the couch with a huge spoon of cookie dough as I read your post. I think that is a major fail on my part. Hey, cookie dough could be considered a "raw" food right? And isn't that the new health trend? :)
ReplyDeleteDid you also know that my mom had high cholestrol in her 20's? And your results are basically the same as mine were. As long as your good stuff is high, you are not at much of a risk. It is scary though...apparently the cycle of the family is after 20's it goes down? We will see. I can't give up my cheese...
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