Well I had a company health check back in Autumn last year. It's not a mandatory health check, but because I don't dabble in drugs and other such things I was curious to see how "healthy" I was.

Now my waist was a little bit larger than the nurse would like, 36" - stating that as you get past 36" you start to increase your chances of heart disease etc... However, I've always had a bit of a "thick" trunk... but still it got me thinking about it. Clearly my weight (at the time was about 15st 12lbs) and calculations made me near to obese on BMI but having seen me she realised that clearly I carry a bit of muscle mass and it skews the result. My lung capacity was good, but not as high as it could have been, so that was a bit disappointing.Blood pressure was a little high, but I was at work and it's always been high... need to work on it clearly, but I believe it to be a congenital thing - but I'm going to try and book some time at the GP to see if there's anything weird.

The biggest thing that made me think hmmmm am I healthy, was my cholestrol reading was about 4.78 - which whilst below 5 was higher than I wanted.

I radically changed my diet, increased CV work and just started to be a bit more careful.

As of today, I now weigh around 14st 12lbs, waist is just under 35", cholesterol is down to 4.1! It was hard work, certainly the sacrifices I had to make in terms of food and treats, especially considering I stopped going to the gym for nearly 11 weeks (kept doing skipping and other exercises though).

I don't know if I feel better for it, I think in the back of my mind I do - it was a bit of a hit losing weight and "mass" - what hasn't helped was the 11weeks being away from the gym. I'm struggling to get back into it at the moment - I'm going regularly again, but it's hard work!

Don't know really why I'm posting this I guess I just wanted to share my experience with you.

People with high cholesterol live longer you know..

Really?

Fuck that then - where's my deep fried mars bar?!


On a serious note, there is a history of strokes and cogential heart issues in the family so I'd rather be safe than sorry... then again straining my body at the gym is probably not helping!

Cholesterol is a load of effing cock Will. Look it up mate.

Also BMI, when I broker m leg & ankle, they weighed me for the anesthetic and said that on BMI I was obese but due to muscle mass fine and there's now work being done with rugby players like Gavin Henson etc., for the more muscled amongst us.

Will you worry too much...grow a set

My dad had a bad turn a couple of years ago owing to blood pressure, heart issues and cholestrol was bandied about - kinda unnerved me a little I have to be honest. I've researched cholesterol a lot, and there's nothing 100% conclusive in my eyes, yes it's good for you and yes you don't directly ingest it from diet, and it's actually quite useful for muscle along with sat fat in boosting test levels. However, with the history of strokes in my family it does make me a little nervous - I have no idea how my arteries are looking - you can't really tell until it's too late.

I know I know, I worry too much it's daft. I think I'm in general pretty healthy - but when you're told by a professional that some things are a little high it makes you think. I've researched lots of things but for everything I find I find a counter argument for it!

I think stress is the biggest killer, so find a way to chill... are you taking up another sport, or sticking with weights?

I'm not trying to lower mine any more - as you say I managed to lower mine v.quickly. I agree also that there's far too much crap spouted about statins and cholesterol. I *know* cholesterol is actually good for you to a certain degree, and we all know that excessively high is bad for you - like anything a nice balance is key.


Si - stress is the crux of the matter. I'm crap at switching off an relaxing. I've got a holiday in 5 days and it'll be just what I need. Other than just other forms of exercise (hill sprints, walking, skipping) the only thing I'm doing is the gym. Just don't have time for anything else, hardly have time for the gym as it is!


Scott - do you have any further reading that I can look into? My parents are both going mad with their benecol-type drinks etc...

Thanks - that'll sort me out some holiday reading for when I go to Cyprus!

I had a health check at work and the nurse said that as long as your waist is under 40 then you should be fine.

cleaver wrote:I had a health check at work and the nurse said that as long as your waist is under 40 then you should be fine.

Doesn't you chest have to be bigger than your waist though???