So, I had blood work done this past week. I have had problems with cholesterol and triglycerides over the years. When I was in my early 30s, I ballooned to 260 and my cholesterol was over 700 (norm is 125-200) and my triglycerides were around 1300 (norm is <150).>
I quit smoking in November 2006. In March 2007, weighing in at about 225, I decided to see the doctor for a routine checkup and he told me my triglycerides were around 600 or so, and my cholesterol was 300ish. So, I started taking Niacin to reduce those levels, and it seemed to work. Plus, I had started running in March 2007 (well, walking a lot), eventually working up to my 8 mi/every other day now. Nov. 2007, I joined a gym (Anytime Fitness), which has been helping me, so now I weigh around 190.
My levels in November ’08 were Triglycerides: 342 (remember, norm is <150)/ Cholesterol: 238 (norm is 125-200); in December ’08 they were Triglycerides: 229 / Cholesterol: 181. My “good” cholesterol or HDL was 51 (should be >40), and my LDL, or “bad” cholesterol was 84 (should be <130).
The Niacin was affecting my liver a little, so the doctor switched me to Lipitor, and I upped my exercise starting in December (just after our meeting).
As of today, my Triglycerides are 76, and my cholesterol is 126. My good cholesterol is 55, and my bad is 56. This is the lowest they have EVER been.
That is EXCELLENT. The doctor asked when we saw me, “Have you been eating bean sprouts and tofu?”
