Minor Back Sliding

I had a vast array of semi-annual tests run last week on fasting blood and urine samples. Some good news, some so-so. No "terrible news", but I'm back sliding on sugar slightly. Hemoglobin A1C went from my admirably decreased 5.4 (last November) up to 5.7. Still less than 6, but I am eating far too many figs, dates, apricots, and sugary rum drinks. Have to scale back. I want to drive the A1C back down towards 5.

Now for the good news. The voice message my physician's office left started out with the statement "Your Cholesterol has risen from 182 to 187". Well, that's nearly measurement error, and they told me last November it was 184, but that's fine. LDL went DOWN from 117 to 111, and HDL went UP (thank you Almonds and exercise!) from 42 to 49. Triglycerides went from 142 mg/dl last year to 102 in November to 135 last week. Not alarming, and within normal dietary variation, but eating alot of animal fat will do that.

It's the A1C that is impossible to move in the short term, and has me somewhat concerned. I planned last week's test panels 1 day in advance - so I had no opportunity or lead time to try and bias the test with short term dietary modifications. With this new data, I will refocus on reduction of fruit intake, and work on the long term reduction in A1C, regardless of how delicious the organic fruit is =)

I did a bunch of yard work Sunday - anchoring my leaning lemon tree with 3 foot driven metal spikes and clove hitch knotted nylon rope, cleaning up mounds of fallen leaves, putting out ant bait around the back yard in an attempt to obliterate the Argentinian invaders, trimming encroaching mulberry branches, in 109F heat... and in the process dropped 9 lbs in 4 hours, flirting with 200 again for the first time in a few months. This time it was not exclusively water weight, since I consumed almost 64 ounces of water to replenish and quench thirst before weighing in at 201.

I still feel more healthy, stronger, and more in better shape physically than I've been since becoming a father nearly 2 dozen years ago. HFCS, gluten, nearly all grains, artificial sweeteners, and Franken-foods have no place in my pantry or my digestive tract, and yoga's gone from 2 times a week to 5 or 6 times a week. We shall see going forward... what the next 6 months bring.