I was happy to have escaped the family curse of high cholesterol.

Note the past tense. Was.

Last January I was warned about high cholesterol and told to change my diet and exercise more. I was, of course, adamant that this was a purely genetic condition as my parents and siblings are all in the same boat. Then came the shocker: my test 6 years ago was normal. Slightly low, even. That means that last January’s test results are the result of something else. That something else is…

*cue dramatic music*

Telecommuting.

The rise in my cholesterol corresponds almost exactly to the time I took a new job working from home. When I worked downtown I’d walk to the bus every morning and get off the bus a half dozen blocks early to walk to work. I’d do the same thing on the way home. I’d also walk at lunch time (the library is a few blocks way from my old office). Since I started working at home, my only regular exercise is stumbling down the stairs into this chair.

MrsPages and I have tried a two-pronged approach to solving the cholesterol problem. First, we have made some big changes to our diet. MrsPages is already an extremely healthy cook. We don’t use any white flour, automatically half the oil and sugar in any recipe (makes little difference, try it) and use healthier oils when we need to. We also eat practically no meat, other than a chicken breast every few months. We decided to make a few more adjustments, mostly in the snack area and some light exercise, and see what happened. If it wasn’t effective, then I’d need to start a hardcore exercise program.

I have been very aggressive in keeping the new guidelines because I truly don’t want to have to start giving up hours of my day to the monotony of exercise. Yes, I am aware it’s good for me. Yes, I am aware that it gets easier once you start. I am also aware that it’s as boring as dry wheat toast.

Well, according to the numbers from my newest test, my LDL is down 38% and my triglycerides are down 70%! Once more I have dodged the bullet of vigorous exercise, and live to loaf another day.

I think I’ll go celebrate with a Big Mac.

Gory Details

–MrPages

We’ve always had thoughts of starting a family band. The Family von Page. The thought of sitting down in the evening and playing and singing with our kids has been a dream our entire time as parents

We have a goal that our kids will play instruments. We don’t want them to be virtuosos. We have stated as our goal that we’d like them to be able to pick up a hymn book (melody line and a few harmony lines) and sight read it. Whether that’s on piano or guitar or whatever doesn’t really matter. We’d like them to be able to open a book of Christmas carols and sing at a party. We wish for them to be fluent enough in music to be able to enjoy it without being frustrated by it.

I’ve been in bands most of my life. I played bass in some bar rock bands through university, and I’ve been leading and playing in worship bands on the acoustic guitar for years now, so I lose sight sometimes just how tough it is to start on a new instrument.

I just picked up a cheap Applecreek mountain dulcimer. I have a some idea how to play it, but not much. So now, as I plunk my way through “Mary Had A Little Lamb” all over again, I can finally empathize with the frustration my kids feel at their lessons, and also with the joy that fills them to bursting when they finally get to “…white as snooooooow.” without any mistakes.

If you will excuse me, I’m off to go work on “Three Blind Mice.”

–MrPages