I had my doctors appointment today. Here is my story and the ones that don't think cycling plays a MAJOR role in good health and a good blood work report can take it with a grain of salt if they would like. It's just the truth.
My numbers have always been kinda ok. Some of them used to run on the edges of the acceptable levels and occasionally a couple would be slightly outside that "normal" range. The exceptions being cholesterol and testosterone. Cholesterol high and testosterone low.
Started taking a statin about 8 years ago. It kept my cholesterol just in the acceptable range. Took testosterone injections for a few years and again, it was in the "normal" range but still toward the low side of the scale. Year before last, at the doctors suggestion, I stopped the testosterone treatment. At my yearly exam I had been riding for approx 14 months. My testosterone level was almost exactly in the middle of the range. The cholesterol level was way down. I probably should have stopped taking it then. Went in today and all of my numbers were well within the range that they want to see. Cholesterol was way, way down and the doc said to stop taking it.
I have done nothing different except I ride my bike to work and a few extra miles here and there. I drink and eat what I want. Wife has always been good about not having a lot of fried foods and I really don't crave sweets. Maybe that helps some. If I have a problem where diet is concerned it would have to be the amount I eat.
I enjoyed the OP's story. I wish I had started commuting by bike 10 years ago. I'm 56 and have been commuting by bike for 2 years, 3 months.