Month: July 2010

The Results are In

My cholesterol lab results arrived:

Cholesterol: 200 *
Triglycerides: 82
HDL-Cholesterol: 67 
LDL-Cholesterol: 117 * 

Here’s a good site that shows you what my levels denoted with an asterisk should have been:

I’m disappointed in myself since the numbers are up from the last test I had (over a year ago)… but lower than my initial test in December 2007 where I first discovered my cholesterol levels were high, and which prompted me to take running more seriously. 2010 has been hectic, and my marathon training has suffered a lot. I haven’t even run an 8 miler this summer, and should be doing that at least once a week by now. 

This is an eye-opener! 

“But you look OK”

I remember as a kid being teased by neighborhood kids’ parents for having “bird legs” and being “too skinny.” I was super hyper-active and took pride in it. I felt fast, and imagined I was indestructible as I jumped out of trees, off single-level houses, walls, and even chased trucks in an attempt to prove i could catch one. I was given the Presidential Academic Physical Fitness award in the third grade, and labeled the most athletic girl in my class. It was going well, then I had this weird notion to emulate my older sister, and do nothing but read books in my spare time. Because of this, I never went out to play during my fourth grade year. And then, my health started failing me by the start of my fifth grade year. During this awful time I was forced to play AYSO soccer (which is what made it an awful time) by my mom due to my weight gain. I was not a jock. I got stepped on by another player once, as I lay flat on my back and she ran over my stomach. With cleats on. (Bitch). Then, I caught pneumonia in the 5th grade and noticed that I started to get stray white hairs after staying home from school for what felt like weeks. I became prone to bronchitis, and no longer ran around. I caught colds often, and they were painful and drawn-out respiratory-intensive illnesses. I learned to doubt myself as I entered my tweens, and it stuck with me for a long time.

My weight has fluctuated much of my life. My heyday was probably when I worked at the airport, greeting tourists. I was sixteen, (107 lbs.) super self-conscious about the uniform, and very thin. My early twenties were fun too since I was muscular and lean from my Army training and extensive hours of dancing under the influence of alcohol, and a diet mainly consisting of caffeine, alcohol, and cigarettes. (125 lbs.)

Then I got old– spiritually and physically. 25+ were my fat years. (135+ lbs.) I only lost the weight when I was about 30. (130 – 135 lbs.) And I still feel overweight. I am not able to fit my early twenties era clothing, and my primary care physician showed me how much I weigh this year, (135 lbs.) and then asked me how much I weighed when I graduated high school. (It was 112, but I said 115 lbs.) He said that would be my ideal weight. So, I’m 20 lbs over my ideal weight and wasn’t sure if I should do something about it or not since he also followed it up saying, “But you look ok.”

I think I should lose it. I considered weight watchers, until I saw that you have to cook based off recipes. I can’t see myself being able to do that. My marathon training got thrown off by a series of two colds in June and July which have prevented me from running for a month and a half. My cholesterol always comes up lately, so it’s probably for the best I lose the weight. I think I can do it if I actually decide I want to do it.

I guess I’m comfortable at this weight. People always tell me my weight looks “normal” to them, and some of my relatives who used to lightly tease or scold me about my weight before felt like I lost the weight and seem happy about it. I’d like being thinner, but it’s not a priority. Though I feel like it should be since my dad’s side of the family has bad heart problems and even thin aunties and uncles suffered from it, so this is the day.. 7/11, 2010. Even if I feel OK now, I don’t want to suffer from heart disease or stroke later. I broke summer lent since it was my cousin Kelsey’s wedding, but it’s time to get motivated and lose the weight. I finally feel like now is the time to do this.

Short Sale Update

So, if you actually read my blog and are wondering what’s going on with the Short Sale I mentioned, ( https://joan9.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/short-sale/ ) I’ll tell you.

I put in a bid on June 16th. The seller accepted and made a counter offer on June 17th, and I accepted and signed the paperwork on June 21st. This means I’m in a holding pattern while waiting to see if the lenders (there are two) approve of my offer. I can walk away at any point even though I signed escrow papers, since  the Short Sale Addendum I signed states the buyer can keep looking since it’s a short sale. (Often, short sales fall through since lenders will reject the buyer).

If I get this place, there’ll be work to do. It seems they have kids who like to color on walls and floors. New paint, new flooring, new counter top in the bathroom, at least.. but since it’s a lower price, it’s OK that I have to sink some money in for renovations. The truth is, I don’t have to put any money into renovations, but I’d want to. The bathroom counter wasn’t in as good shape as the kitchen was, so I’d probably see how much it costs to replace it and the bathroom sink as well.

I don’t want to get my hopes up since short sales fall through, so I also keep looking at the open houses, and have seen some interesting ones. Shopping for a place to live has been a good experience so far. I think I’ve never really known the buildings and streets of Honolulu as well as I’m starting to now.

Just an update on July 4th. Happy 4th to those out there celebrating!