Great annual checkup w/biking influence...
 

Had a checkup last week for the first time in 2 years. I'm 52 now and started riding again this spring after decades of doing other things instead.

Cholesterol 2 years ago: 208
Cholesterol now: 185

LDL (the bad stuff) 2 years ago: 167
LDL now: 126 (!!!)

Doc asked if I'd been taking the statin drug that she'd prescribed 2 years ago. I told her "no", then she asked "Have you been doing anything active that's new?" I told her that I'd started biking earlier this year and have ridden about 500 miles this summer. (I'm a pansy, I know... :-)

She said "Then that's the only explanation I can give you for the lower numbers. Keep on biking!" :)

Gary

:thumb:

Keep it up! :)

Woo hoo!

You should follow your doctor's orders in this case. And congratulations! :D

Congrats. Keep it up - or down in this case.

yeah keep biking! I am not convinced that statin drugs are really safe for most people

great job!

My HDL is low for some reason. I eat so much fish too. GRRR

My LDL is not high but it is higher then I would like and I watch what I eat. Frusterating.

Six years ago when I started biking, I thought it'd be wise to visit a doctor "before beginning a new activity". Cholesterol was a little high, so she wanted to prescribe some drugs. I asked if she'd let me try diet and exercise first. Twelve weeks later, on my check-up, I'd dropped my cholesterol by 50 points. She looked me in the eye twice and asked if I'd taken anything, and twice I said no. :)

rock on! :thumb::thumb:

I wasn't aware that exercise lowers your LDL levels...

Does it?

I'm not making that claim as a universal statement, certainly. I'm not a doctor and don't play one in the movies... ;-)

I am stating my experience, that's all. You can make your own conclusion... I know what I think!

Gary

I have seen my numbers drop dramatically with a combination of regular cycling and a low carb diet (conversion from 4 year career as beer drinking couch potato - boy do I miss the Cobb Burger and a good IPA...). I try to keep the carbs limited to complex stuff that processes slow - ie no taters, no white bread, no jam, etc. Seems to be working. But the other part of the equation is our weight loss - if we lose weight, in most cases, our LDL will drop. So does our BP - I have been able to cut my bp meds (under doc's supervision) and am hoping in another 20 pounds or so to eliminate them.

Cycle on!

I suppose it makes sense. My last checkup was right before I started cycling in May. I had been spinning or skiing 4-5 hours a week for 8 months and the doc said my LDL dropped like a rock and I had the lowest reading he's seen in months. I just assumed it was because I was eating a little healthier, and was surprised it made such a big drop. I'm worried because my next checkup is in a month and I've been a little sloppy with my diet lately. But I'm also averaging 12 hours of cycling a week now, so we'll see...

sweet! good work. 500 this summer, 1K next summer ;)