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Tale of the Tape · 24 August 2013

When all is said and done, people want to know the results of a year-long journey toward health. They want to know the tale of the tape even if it does not give the complete story. (I am happy to oblige even though I previously gave some of the numbers without the comparisons.)


The tape says that I have gone from a 34-inch waist to a 30- or 31-inch waist (depending on the pants manufacturer). The scale says I have gone from 168 pounds to 142 pounds. The timer says I have gone from a resting heart rate of 60 beats per minute to 48 beats per minute. The sphygmomanometer says my blood pressure has remained the same at about 128/72.


Even though I did not get any cholesterol readings at my physical last year, my results compared to two years ago still show significant changes. My HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) is up from 32 to 49 mg/dl (from too low to normal). My LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) stayed in the normal range, but changed slightly from 82 to 88 mg/dl. And my triglycerides are down from 260 to 138 mg/dl (from too high to normal). Like I said before, this is the first time in many years that all my readings have been in the normal ranges.


Overall, the numbers say my health is better. And I feel good too. All from eating a plant-based, whole food diet and exercising a little bit a few days a week.


The tale of the tape does not tell the whole story, but it does give some concrete results of my year-long journey toward health.

© 2013 Michael T. Miyoshi

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