If you are thinking I am about to rant about my kids grades, think again.
I am the one with the bad report card.
Last week I went to the doctor for my first physical in 17 years.
Alright, already! I can hear you yelling at me from here!
I know it was terribly irresponsible of me to neglect my own health for that long. I guarantee that the kids have had every single one of their physicals and dental check ups since they were born. It is just so easy to let mine slide. You can stop lecturing me now, because I have, in fact, gone back to looking out for my own health.
The doctor's office called today with the results of my blood work. While I passed some of the tests with flying colors (you will be happy to know that my blood sugar levels are very healthy, my blood pressure is great, and so is my "good" cholesterol), I didn't do very well on other tests.
My "bad" cholesterol is absurdly high and my triglycerides are also too high. Phooey!
So, what are triglycerides, anyways?
Click HERE if you don't know the answer and want to find out. My triglyceride level is 265! It is supposed to be below 150. DRAT! My "bad" cholesterol is 244. Holy cow!!! That is REALLY high! Optimal is 100 and acceptable is 150. So you could say that mine is very, VERY unacceptable.
The only saving grace I might just cling to is that fact that you are supposed to have the blood work done after a 12 hour fast. I had eaten breakfast. However, the doc said it should be fine, since breakfast for me was just one serving of Raisin Bran and non-fat milk (I get congested if I consume too many dairy fats).
The skinny on all of this is that I have to cut "bad" cholesterol out of my diet. NOW.
Because I am now forty, I also got to experience my first mammogram this week. All I will say about that is that it is not as bad as all the stories you have heard. I will get those results next week.
Can't wait.
Next, the stinging hands.
I went to the gym tonight with a dual purpose. One, to try out my new running shoes. You know, the funky finger toes running shoes. Two, to get to work right away on fixing those test numbers!
I LOVE MY NEW SHOES!
The reason I wanted them in the first place is that I have been suffering from heel strike pain ever since I started jogging. The research on these things said that they resolve that problem. The sure do! They are like running barefoot. Think about the last time you did that. When you walk, you let the heel strike first. But, if you run barefoot, you strike first with the balls of your feet and the heels take little or no pressure at all. That is exactly what happened when I increased the speed on the treadmill. Of course, now we'll see if I develop pain in new spots. I know that I felt different muscles doing the work all the way up my legs and down to my toes.
It was a good workout. I got really sweaty. The sweat got into all the little cracks in my winter dry hands. OUCH! Ever get salt or lemon in a paper cut? Now imagine that all over the backs of both of your hands. They look raw, now. I may just sleep with lotion-ed up mittens on my hands tonight.
And finally, the Sweet Compliments.
Before I went to the gym, Helena told me I have a great body! She said that I have a better body than a lot of the girls at the high school.
Now, while I am thrilled that I, as a 40 year old woman, could look better than a bunch of high school girls, I can't help but feel bad for the reverse of that compliment... that lots of girls at the high school look worse than a 40 year old woman. No matter how many compliments Helena pays me, I am not slender.
The other compliment today came from the woman on the treadmill next to me in the gym. After my workout, she paused to ask me how I liked my shoes. After talking about that for a minute, she told me that she was glad I had been running next to her because I had been "inspirational".
How's that for making a person feel pretty great?!?! I'm inspirational!
And on that note, I will wish you a good night.
3 comments:
I run barefoot on my treadmill here at home and love it! Those are really cool shoes. Where do you get them? I saw a guy in some when I ran my last 5k. Good for you getting in to see the doctor. I go every 6 months or so to make sure everything is going well. Thankfully my test results have always been great. I want to be around for a long time!
You're right, a mammogram isn't all that scary. It's just odd how flat they can make them get! (I had my first when I was 30.) Anyway - KUDOS for getting in. Even if some of the results are not what you anticipated. And? I agree with that lady. You ARE an inspiration!
Becky, Bill got the shoes for me at REI in Salt Lake City. I had tried them on earlier in the fall and he remembered the correct size. Sizing is done in the European scale, so you really need to go get fit for them. They have a thick tread so I can trail run, but still barefoot run, if that makes any sense.
Sara, thanks! I can't tell you how lucky I feel to have you for a friend again after all these years!
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