An annual physical is essential to optimal health management. If you are fortunate enough to not have any medical problems throughout the year, or any chronic disorders that need to be managed, it at least gives you one meeting with your doctor, in which you can ask any of those nagging questions you have. He might also have some good ones for you. This time my doc asked me if I had any skin rashes.

Last year I asked about optional tests, that is, ones that you wouldn’t normally get by default, and frankly, are usually not covered by insurance. This year I had the usual tests plus Testosterone, Vitamin D, fasting insulin, b12, and some others.

I got the results a couple of weeks later, and it wasn’t just the usual. He had some recommendations. Now, my diet has changed a bit since last year. I haven’t been doing any resistance training, so I haven’t had my usual protein supplements. But I was still surprised to find that I was protein deficient.
This may have something to do with something new to me at least on my physical, and that is insulin resistance. For this he recommended more protein, less carbs. Also I should drink more water. I will need to come back in 3 months and get tested again, and may require medication if this doesn’t improve.

The other new thing was that I am deficient in Vitamin D — remember that vitamin D is an optional test, so it’s a good thing I got it. Vitamin D is important in a ton of different things, the most basic of which is cell health. I talked about it in my episode on supplements, #189. I have to take 10,000 units of D3 per day, which is a lot (AARP recommends 600IU per day for seniors, who are at risk for bone loss). Thank God there are GUMMIES available! So if I’m willing to spend 75 calories, I can just take 10 of these gummies (on the bottle the recommended does is 2, or 2000IU). Interesting how the recommendations of the manufacturer are higher….

So I have some work to do, on my diet mainly. But I’m glad I got those tests. It seems they were worth it. The only other thing that stuck out about my physical was that the doc asked me if I had any skin rashes. I didn’t ask why.

So that’s it, I have a somewhat-clean bill of health for another year. I’m going to try to continue that. Meantime, I’m back for some remedial testing in about 3 months.

What did you learn from your physical this year? I’d love to hear from you.

References:
RAF189: Best Supplements for Over 50 Weight Training
http://RunningAFEVER.com/189