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187, a very sweet number but 60 perversely good

2010 April 20
by Eric R.

I just got back my blood test results from my doctor and for the 1st time since 1995 my total cholesterol is 187. Totally normal without ANY drugs and without changing my diet. The only factor that was added to my life was my Optibike received on September 21, 2009. About 600+ miles was all I needed and that was 300 miles from September – November  and 332 miles from March to April of 2010. All my rides are documented on this blog.  Only rode on weekends other than my 1.5 commutes to work (which I plan to resume on a more frequent basis since they are refreshing in a perverse way – think frogger). All miles were done for the pure pleasure and joy of riding a bike. Note – that when the weather turned arctic around Atlanta I was unable to bike December – February.

Only bad number I got from my blood test is that my serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase or SGOT result was 50% higher than normal (that’s a 60 when the upper range limit is 40). The SGPT number was totally normal. Thus after researching around the internet – my conclusion is that the only possible reason that number was elevated was due to the process of BUILDING MUSCLE. I take that with gusto!

My current weight will have to wait until I visit my doctor next week (I’m traveling out of town this week).

I’m now creating the initial version of  Eric R.’s  joyful fitness equation:

Optibike + 4 months of riding = normal cholesterol + more muscle +  (to be revealed after doc visit)

And for those who enjoy algebra

  • muscle = ++ fitness
  • normal cholesterol = longer life
  • longer life = happy
  • 4 months of riding = joy

Do your own substitutions… watch out Jared!

P.S.  Reflecting on how much I had spent on Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, Vitoryn, Zetia, cod oil pills and all other kind of crap since 1995 I think I spent enough to probably have paid for 2 new Optibikes and those pills never gave me anything more than anxiety and dreading to see the numbers from my liver tests every time I went to the doctor.

One Response
  1. Gina permalink
    May 3, 2010

    I’ve been looking for a good, duel suspension mountain bike that is electric assist so I can still get a good workout but that will be powerful enough to give me the confidence to go on really, really long rides over the Santa Monica Mountains to the beach and back, should I get heat stroke or overly fatigued. I wish I could test ride one in Los Angeles, CA.

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