Isn’t it fun being young? We get to cruise on through, thinking “that won’t happen to me” or “I don’t have to worry about that!” We don’t worry about wrinkles, or saggy skin or peeing when we laugh too hard. And we really don’t have to worry about cholesterol, high blood pressure or cataracts right?
Not so fast my friend.
A month or so ago I went to the doctor for some blood work. My doctor wanted my cholesterol tested so that we would have a baseline measurement going forward. “No problem!” I thought. I exercise regularly, don’t eat that bad, and have never had any health problems beyond a yearly bout of bronchitis when I was younger and a couple of days of pink eye. What’s the worst that could happen?
A week after having my blood drawn (and playing volleyball, and ending up with a naaaasty bruise), my nurse called. “Your cholesterol is good and your thyroid is normal,” she said, and I smirked over the phone because, I’m 25, of course they are. “But your triglycerides are elevated.” Mmmmhmmm…interesting. “What does that mean?” I asked.
“Well, they are a little high.”
Right…I get the ‘elevated’ part, thanks. More interested in the ‘triglycerides’ part, because I have no idea what that is.
Turns out, this is not such a good thing and can lead to other not good things like a propensity for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity (my vanity will never stand for that).
Then my nurse proceeded to tell me to go on a diet and maybe lose weight. Right.
In the interest of taking care of my body and trying to be reasonably healthy, I looked into ways to lower my number. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following: lose excess pounds, cut back on calories, avoid sugary and refined foods, limit cholesterol, choose healthier fats, eliminate trans fat, avoid alcohol, exercise regularly.
My feelings are a little hurt because, honestly, I thought I was doing pretty well on those fronts. Sure, I love a Snickers bar as much as the next kid, but overall we eat pretty healthfully at the Loftin household. We even buy heads of spinach for our salads, no bagged greens for us!
Even before this all began I was working out regularly, playing volleyball, going to yoga practice and letting Jillian Michaels kick my butt for a few hours a week with one of her exercise DVDs. I guess this means it’s the food. Bummer.
So I get it, I need to eat better. But man those cheeseburgers were good last night. I’ll do better tomorrow.