When I ordered my Rythm blood panel, I wasn’t expecting perfection.
I wasn’t expecting a clean bill of health.
I wasn’t expecting bad news either.
I just wanted information.
For years, I lived under the assumption that if I felt okay, I probably was okay. I exercised here and there, ate what I thought was a relatively balanced diet, and went about life like so many of us do.
Then one simple blood test changed the way I think about health.
Not because something was terribly wrong.
But because it made me ask better questions.
Today, I’m sharing every single one of my results.
Not because I’m looking for sympathy.
Not because I think everyone should compare their numbers to mine.
But because I believe transparency helps people learn. If one person reads this and decides to ask more questions about their own health, then it’s worth sharing.
My Results
| Test | My Result |
|---|---|
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) | 2.16 |
| Vitamin B12 | 592 |
| Uric Acid | 3.00 |
| Fructosamine | 218 |
| GGT | 11.5 |
| Alkaline Phosphatase | 46.9 |
| ApoB | 130 |
| Creatinine | 0.727 |
| Free T3 | 3.38 |
| Total Cholesterol | 240 |
| HDL Cholesterol | 64.5 |
| SHBG | 62.4 |
| hs-CRP | 0.891 |
| Total Testosterone | 77.6 |
| Triglycerides | 50.7 |
| Progesterone | 0.962 |
| Albumin | 4.53 |
| Vitamin D | 32.5 |
| Ferritin | 92.3 |
| Estrogen | 411 |
| Free Testosterone | 9.11 |
| LDL Cholesterol | 165.36 |
| LDL/ApoB Ratio | 1.27 |
| Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio | 3.72 |
| Triglycerides/HDL Ratio | 0.78 |
| Remnant Cholesterol | 10.13 |
Some of these numbers made me smile.
Some made me curious.
A few made me stop and say, “Okay…now I need to learn.”
The Biggest Lesson I Learned. One thing this experience changed for me was how I think about the word “normal.”
So many people—including me—have probably heard the phrase:
“Everything looks normal.”
But what does that actually mean?
Normal for who?
Normal compared to the average person?
Normal compared to everyone else who has ever taken this test?
Or normal for me?
That question has stuck with me ever since I opened my results.
I Don’t Think “In Range” Tells the Whole Story
Before anyone gets upset, let me be clear.
I absolutely believe laboratory reference ranges are important. They’re based on research and are an incredibly valuable tool for identifying when something may need further evaluation.
But I also don’t believe they’re the entire story.
We’re all different.
Different genetics.
Different lifestyles.
Different medical histories.
Different diets.
Different stress levels.
Different hormones.
Different bodies.
We are all created equal in value.
But we are not created alike.
Because of that, I don’t think my goal should simply be to land somewhere inside a population reference range.
My goal is to understand my body.
Maybe a Vitamin D level of 32 is perfectly acceptable for one person.
Maybe another person feels significantly better when it’s closer to 50.
Maybe someone’s cholesterol has always been naturally low.
Maybe another person’s family history means they need to pay much closer attention.
Those are conversations worth having.
I’m No Longer Chasing “Normal”
This bloodwork shifted my mindset.
I’m no longer asking:
“Am I normal?”
Instead, I’m asking:
“Am I becoming healthier than I was six months ago?”
That’s a much more meaningful question.
Because health isn’t a destination.
It’s a moving target that changes as we age, learn, and make different choices.
These Numbers Aren’t My Identity
When I first saw my LDL cholesterol and ApoB, I won’t lie—I was scared.
Then I started researching.
I talked with healthcare professionals.
I looked at my diet.
I looked at my exercise habits.
Instead of seeing those numbers as bad news, I started seeing them as a roadmap.
They gave me direction.
That’s exactly why you’ve seen me sharing my meals, my workouts, my Proov testing, my Rythm experience, and everything in between.
I’m not trying to become perfect.
I’m trying to become healthier.
Why I’m Sharing All of This
Healthy Until Proven Complicated isn’t about pretending to have all the answers.
It’s about asking better questions.
It’s about learning.
It’s about celebrating the wins while acknowledging the areas that need work.
If my numbers improve over the next six months, I’ll celebrate that.
If they don’t, I’ll keep learning.
Because that’s what this journey is about.
Not perfection.
Progress.
And maybe, just maybe, by sharing every step of the journey—including the numbers that make me uncomfortable—I can encourage someone else to take ownership of their health before they ever feel sick.