ACCEPT AND ADAPT

I’m an optimist by choice, if for no other reason than life is better with a positive outlook. Looking at the bright side helps me reach goals even when I want to quit. Choosing to see the good in any situation empowers me to see possibilities above the challenges. This approach, balanced with a rational acceptance of what is, is being put to the test as I write this.

An annual checkup with a doctor is the normal extent of my involvement with the health care system. I’ve always tried to be proactive with my health and am blessed to feel great. That’s why the test results of the most recent exam caught me off guard.

I don’t think I gasped, but I was shocked by the high LDL and total cholesterol levels. My blood pressure was great, fasting blood glucose was excellent and my HDL (the good stuff) was very high. The doctor’s response was that some people are genetically inclined toward higher cholesterol. That’s fine. I understand. My question is how do I adapt my lifestyle so I can lower the LDL number to a healthy level? 

I jumped into research about why LDL numbers spike and the actions you can take to lower them. I don’t smoke, I exercise every day, my weight is normal and I eat my veggies. There isn’t a lot of sugar or processed food in my diet. I do consume some caffeine, which may spike LDL, but most studies with these findings have been done using coffee and I rarely drink it. So, is this just something I inherited from my ancestors?

I had just attended a family reunion and been reminded how many of my uncles on both sides of my family had died of heart-related issues. In fact, three of my uncles and my maternal grandfather had all died of sudden strokes. Others had passed after long battles with heart disease. Clearly, this is motivation I can use in adapting to this challenge.

Adapt or Die

When the phrase, “adapt or die,” is thrown around it is usually in the context of business culture. It’s used when results don’t meet expectations and a change is needed to deliver better fiscal performance. In the case of the LDL numbers, it was literal. Not that I was going to die immediately, but the test certainly revealed a weak link in the chain of healthy habits I thought I had established. I had to adapt.

Utilizing the paradigm of the Change? chapter in this circumstance looked like this for me:

Am I as healthy as I want to be?

That’s an easy one. No! This must change!

What would perfect health look like for me?

Specific to the numbers I just received from the blood tests: Not only are my blood pressure, fasting glucose and HDL numbers optimal, but my LDL reading is under 100 and total cholesterol results are less than 200.

What are the costs of not being in an optimal state of health?

 I would inevitably be put on a prescription drug and suffer the consequences of the side effects, which come with it. My insurance rates would rise. I would be at risk of damage to my arteries, heart disease and stroke. This is not to mention the many other negative side effects of too much cholesterol like gallstones, reduced blood flow throughout the body and its link to dementia.

Which part of my life is most threatened by my lack of optimal health? 

Would it be melodramatic to say, “everything?” Specifically, my long-term well-being and vitality is threatened. A lack of good health would negatively affect my personal and professional lives. I wouldn’t be able to run with my children, travel freely with my wife and jump out of bed in the morning. The quality of my life might be reduced with an array of heart and brain issues. I watched my mom suffer from dementia for the last decade of her life and I know how horrible that was for her and the whole family. I really want to be there when my sons marry and have children.

How would I benefit from perfect health?

My intention is to live a vibrant life. To me, the length of life is not nearly as important as the quality of life. As someone in great health, these are some of the benefits I have: 

I am energetic.

I am a life-long learner and “sharp as a tack.”

I am curious and always learning new skills.

I am joyful.

I move with grace and ease.

I am resilient in body and mind.

…and I could go on and on about the benefits of being in an optimal state of health. The point of this exercise was to spell out the specific downside of the cholesterol numbers. Then, I created a new vision of good health in my life.

So, I started taking a fish oil supplement, cut out red meat, ate a lot of greens every day, completely eliminated sugar from my diet and cut my caffeine in half. The good news is, my latest test revealed my total cholesterol is more than 50 points lower and my LDL is now normal. How’s that for adapting!