I’m back to talking about cholesterol.
I now have two more data points in my lipid history.
| Year | Total | LDL | HDL | Ratio | Tri |
| 2013 | 152 | 67 | 62 | 2.45 | 114 |
| 2014 | 188 | 101 | 72 | 2.61 | 78 |
| 2015 | 163 | 59 | 2.76 | ||
| 2016 | 182 | 100 | 71 | 2.56 | 57 |
| 2017 | 192 | 76 | 2.53 | ||
| 2018 | 223 | >100 | <45 | ||
| 2023 | 214 | 113 | 90 | 2.38 | 55 |
| 2025 | 202 | 100 | 94 | 2.15 | 38 |
| 2026 | 216 | 112 | 91 | 2.37 | 65 |
I really wish I hadn’t missed a few years of data so I could see how I was trending. It is also interesting to see both of my cholesterol numbers climb once I started running. I think it is pretty clear that I have probably just been eating more bad food than before I started running. That’s not to say I was eating worse, just that I was consuming more calories and had a generally poor diet.
I have convinced myself that my food addiction is okay as long as I burn the calories off with exercise, but that doesn’t hold water. My body still has to process the food I eat, and if that extra food is high in saturated fat or sugar, then I am still doing damage to my body.
I have made small improvements over the years, and I am at least aware of the harmful effects.
I was surprised when my doctor prescribed me 10 mg of Rosuvastatin. I guess the final push was a separate test this year showing that my apoB was 92, which is also just in the borderline category. However, my CRP Cardio (<0.2 mg/L) and Lipoprotein A (11 nmol/L) are very good.
I have prided myself on not taking any medications, even though, at the same time, I encourage others to do so. I allowed myself to take supplements that actively harmed me, but I feared people knowing that I was on a medication.
My dad’s passing last year is why I decided to take the medicine that night instead of letting it sit. High cholesterol will continue to build up plaque and restrict blood flow. It’s something that happens slowly and is not simple to clean up. You never want the plaque there in the first place.
My follow-up is scheduled for November, and we will see how I am progressing. I have not noticed any side effects besides, honestly, feeling slightly better in my chest. I feel like I had more “sharpness” that has gone away. That may just be anxiety or inflammation, but I’m glad I’m not showing any severe issues.
I will continue trying to improve as a person.
