Health Tests: Know Your Numbers

The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. ~Benjamin Mays

Hi gorgeous! MindfulEats is beyond thrilled that you are becoming even more radiant and healthy. How healthy are you? Having a health baseline helps you figure out what you need to do, and it helps you set goals. When's the last time you went to the doctor or had your numbers checked? 

Get your numbers checked: weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Having a mind-body connection is important, but your numbers provide a health snapshot of a moment in time. They are not the sum of who you are - it's just a picture of where you are now, and they can get better or worse.

I started eating healthier 4 years ago after I went to a health fair at work. My cholesterol reading was 194, which is close to the borderline of 200. That's when I decided to improve my diet.

Don't be scared of your numbers, even if you suspect they are bad. Having "bad" numbers will make your improvements even more impressive! After I worked on my diet my cholesterol got better, but it climbed back up to 195 this May when I ate excessive amounts of dairy. 

We had a health fair at work again this past week, and I expected my cholesterol to be terrible since I had started eating meat. Instead, it was 166 - the lowest it had ever been. (Maybe it's the meat or eating breakfast). The point is, don't be scared. You don't know what the results will be, and they will be a great guide.

Sorry the picture is sideways. Flip your head - tests are in the left column, and normal values are in the right column.

What to do - Check Your Numbers

1. Get a blood work-up. If you have insurance, call your doctor to get a checkup today. If you don't go, you are wasting this benefit - you're paying all those premiums for nothing. If you don't have insurance, you can take advantage of health fairs. Check your community center or local health clinic - they will have them on occasion. You can also check your religious center (church, temple, synagogue), or work. If there isn't a fair, ask your clinic if they provide the service.
2. Look at your numbers. The picture above shows the numbers you should focus on. Look at the left column to identify the test, and look at the column on the right to see what the desirable levels are. Ask your doctor/counselor to explain your results to you. In general:  
   • Cholesterol is a fatty material found in all people. We need it to function, but too much of some cholesterol can cause problems. 
     • High Density cholesterol (HDL) is "good cholesterol." We often think of cholesterol as bad, but HDL is good - it protects the heart. The more of this the better.
     • Low Density cholesterol (LDL) is "bad cholesterol." This can lead to blocked arteries, heart disease and heart attacks, uh oh.
     • Total cholesterol are all the cholesterols together.
     • Total Cholesterol:HDL ratio - this is another way of calculating your cholesterol levels. The lower this ratio is the better.
   • Triglycerides are another fatty material - too much of this can lead to blocked arteries and heart attacks. Another uh-oh.
   • Glucose measures the sugar in your blood. Too much can indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes. 
   • Blood Pressure measures how much pressure your heart is putting on your circulatory system when it's pumping and when it's at rest. Too much pressure is tough on your system. You don't want to blow a gasket! When it's high, you have hypertension.
   • BMI is a weight to height calculation. You don't want to be too thin or too fat. These conditions will lead to other health problems.
3. Keep a log of your numbers. Use whatever system works for you. Handwrite them on a sheet of paper with the date at the top, then write your new numbers and the date in the next time you get your numbers. Keep a spreadsheet, or put your numbers in a file.
4. Look at your numbers and set some goals. Want to lower your cholesterol or glucose? Want to decrease your BMI? Want to keep everything the same? Awesome. Understand your goals and work toward them! 
5. Schedule an appointment for your next set of numbers. Look at those numbers to see how they compare to last time and your goal. Then put the new numbers in your log. 

   Knowing your numbers is an important tool for getting healthier. Don't be disappointed if they aren't as perfect as you want them to be. Stick to your eating and exercise plan, and they will get better. Promise. It's about getting better and improving your batting average, not about being perfect.

   What I ate: 50 oz. Gatorade, 1 banana, Yogi cereal + milk, 1 hard boiled egg, 2 plain Gus (not real food, but it works for me during a run), 30 oz. water, 2 lattes, mentai rice ball, lobster sushi, dried mango slices, macadamia nuts, almonds, eggplant + tomatoes + zucchini + Israeli couscous

   Exercise: Ran 20 miles