Health benefits should outweigh (pun intended) vanity for us all when trying to lose weight. I mean, gosh, it really doesn’t matter how good you look, or how thin you are if you’re sick. If you’re life/health are in jeopardy, what’s the point? I know, looking better is big (there’s that word again…) for most of us, but feeling better and knowing that you’re not a ticking time bomb is HUGE!
My health has always been pretty great. With my weight gain though, I was on the verge of Type 2 Diabetes, and was at a fairly high risk, after having gestational diabetes 14 years ago, but other than that? Well, I’m a high-risk for Alzheimer’s too. My grandmothers both had it, and my sweet mom had it too. Considering that research is now tying Alzheimer’s to diabetes, it looks like my health was more dangerously imperiled than I believed. Denial? Oh yes.
I’ll give you a peek at my numbers. Keep in mind that last year, I weighed about 30 pounds more. I’ve been on a low carb, high protein diet for the last 112 days (almost 4 months).
Blood pressure a year ago was 123/81 (pre-hypertensive). Most health care practitioners would say that it was fine. However, I know that for me, that was pretty high and it always shocked me to see it like that. This year my blood pressure was taken after having blood drawn and having been poked TWICE trying to find the proper vein (uh, yes, my blood pressure went up with those sticks thank you very much…), my blood pressure was 119/70. Honestly, it’s consistently 110/70 when there are no needles involved. Awesome.
My total cholesterol which was already in the “ideal range” at 181 last year, is now 153. My only downer was that my good cholesterol dropped slightly too. That, I’m sure is because I’ve done no exercise for the last 3 months because of the knee surgery. That will go up with exercise, I’m sure.
My fasting glucose was below 100 for the first time in years! That’s a good sign too!
My hubby’s cholesterol dropped on his screening too. His is not naturally low like mine, so that makes me super happy! He’s been eating (fairly) low carb with me. He’s not as strict, but he is sticking to gluten-free most often too. We’ve had plenty of red meat and eggs which traditionally were no-no’s. He also adds a lot of naturally cholesterol lowering foods like steel cut oats, grapefruit, extra fiber and chia seeds. We’re not eating “low” fat either. I guess that we’re living the article I posted a few days ago.
I really hate doing those health screenings for his insurance company. Every year I’ve rolled my eyes and gone in because we save money by doing so. This year, I went in genuinely curious at what my numbers would look like. I was rewarded with big improvements where I didn’t think I needed any (cholesterol) and my health went from a C grade to an A!
I can’t argue with the numbers. Huge strides were made health wise in just four months. And, though I said vanity shouldn’t really matter, we all know it does. I don’t just feel better, I look better in my own healthier skin!
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