Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Doctor's Visit

Worked out Monday night, and my legs are quite sore today. Today, Tues., I visited Dr. Fuhrman for the last time during this vegan quest. Here is a photo of Dr. Fuhrman and myself and I am trying out my new European cut fitted shirt...perhaps I should still stick with the full cut for now. But a quick reminder below of how I looked last year.

According to his scale I have lost 55 lbs (I think it is a couple pounds more). But the real news, the great news, is the health of my body. Looking at blood work results going back to over a year ago when I had a check-up before a knee operation, there is amazing progress!

Below are charts for cholesterol and liver enzymes.

1.) TOTAL CHOLESTEROL

Less than 200: Desirable

200–239: Borderline-High Risk

240: High Risk

2.) LDL or “Bad Cholesterol”

Less than 100: Optimal

100 to 129: Near Optimal/ Above Optimal

130 to 159: Borderline High

160 to 189: High

190 and above: Very High

3.) LIVER ENZYMES

AST (SGOT) Between 10-40 is Optimal

ALT (SGPT) Between 10-42 is Optimal

January 7, 2009

Total Cholesterol: 268 (dangerously high)

LDL Cholesterol: 197 (dangerously high)

AST: 93 (more than twice the optimal high)

ALT: 94 (Larry Hagman pre-transplant levels)

October 30, 2009

Total Cholesterol: 300 (baseball batting average? Good. cholesterol level? Deadly)

LDL Cholesterol: 227 (walking heart attack. Says Dr. Fuhrman, “we got you just in time”)

AST: 36 (inexplicably normal)

ALT: 73 (still almost twice the amount it should be)

December 7, 2009 (five weeks into my veganism, and being booze free)

Total Cholesterol: 208 (down 92 points, and just a whisker borderline high)

LDL Cholesterol: 150 (border line high, but major potential blockage removed)

AST: 25 (safely optimal)

ALT: 30 (the liver is amazing at healing itself when given the chance)

April 14, 2010

Total Cholesterol: 170 (living healthy in the perfect zone! 130 points down in less than six months – and without ANY drugs!)

LDL Cholesterol: 105 (like new pipes installed in the heart pump!)

AST: 15 (a liver so clean, Bogey would kick me out of Rick’s Cafe)

ALT: 16 (the best advertisement for being a teetotaler!)

Needless to say, the Doctor was thrilled with the results, and I am ecstatic! I have just elongated my natural life, God willing, by years, if not decades!

My blood pressure went from Hypertension last year to a terrifically healthy 95/65, and my resting heart rate was checked twice by Dr. Fuhrman who said “Wow,” it was an “exceptionally low, athlete-level low,” 39 beats per minute.

My weight goal of 225 lbs by April 30th is a bit out of my grasp (but will be conquered soon), however, my overall health from changing my lifestyle has undergone a revolutionary change for the better.

I’m smiling broadly.

10 comments:

Vegan Epicurean said...

What a wonderful advertisement for a healthy vegan lifestyle. Congratulations! Keep it up. You are definitely an inspiration!

Alicia

Unknown said...

What great news! Your results are just amazing. I know my total cholesterol dropped from 258 to 192 the first few weeks I did ETL (and I'm a rather thin woman, so that goes to show you). CONGRATS, Terry! It must feel so good to know you have years of healthy living ahead of you.

Terrence said...

Alicia, Amanda - thank you so much!

Marisa Rospos said...

Terry you look great!

Jill said...

Congratulations, and thank you for sharing your experience with all of us internet strangers.

Terrence said...

Thanks Marisa!

Jill - I decided to be brutually honest because my short-comings are and were fixable, so there is no shame and laying it all out there.

Chalon said...

Congratulations, Terry! We're all so happy for you!

Anonymous said...

You, my friend, are a RockStar! Nice job on those bloodwork numbers! - Chris

Naina said...

Awesome job! You look healthy!:)
That is what I want, healthy.

Terrence said...

Thanks so much Chalon, Chris and Naina...there has been less drama, and tears than the TV program Biggest Loser, but I think it has been a more realistic journey that applies to most people. So I am stoked to share these numbers with everyone.