My health update · Breakthrough Body Blueprint

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My health update

I have mentioned my health struggles in comments on many of our members' posts, but I haven’t shared an update in a post of my own. Allow me to provide a consolidated summary here.

Short :

- March improved from February.

- Decided to stop fat loss.

- Plan: Maintain calories, add a bit of back muscle and focus on saturated fat intake.

- Thanks everyone for support

Full :

I have been exercising and dieting for decades to avoid medication, as the seniors in my family have taken statins for life. I heard of Lipitor before Whey and Crestor before Creatine. Still, I’ve been "on and off" with my plan due to different stages of life, causing my lipid panels to fluctuate above the normal range.

In 2020, during the first wave of COVID-19, I slacked off. I eventually got back into decent physical shape, though my 2021–2022 lab tests remained slightly above range. However, from 2023 to early 2025, things hit an all-time low due to work stress.

I resumed my health journey in September 2025. From September to November, I exercised, chose healthy foods, and "eyeballed" my protein and calories, though I hadn't started using MyFitnessPal (MFP) yet. Between December 2025 and February 2026, I increased my exercise and maintained healthy food choices. By November 2025, my weight had gradually decreased and my labs improved compared to 2024, though they were still out of range.

I joined BBB at the end of 2025 and started tracking with MFP in January 2026, incorporating a more complete exercise routine: resistance training, HIIT, and LISS.

https://www.skool.com/darrenliufitness/hello-82381ef8

By February 2026, my body fat was even lower than in November, but my LDL spiked from sub-200 to over 200. Statins were prescribed.

https://www.skool.com/darrenliufitness/blood-check-up-vs-body-composition

It took me a few days of shedding tears before I started analyzing what went wrong. I learned that while a calorie deficit is the core of fat loss, the key to reducing LDL is limiting saturated fat. (both are good but they are not the same thing.) My doctor in November told me to avoid pastries and high-sugar fruits. However, the doctor in February gave no advice other than saying my LDL fluctuates above recommended limit because of my genes. He told me I was in a critical state, at risk of collapsing at any time, and would need medication for life. Neither mentioned how saturated fat interferes with the LDL receptors in my liver. Regardless, I design my owneal plan.

Two weeks ago, my partner questioned if my meal plan was actually working, so I scheduled a CAC test at one hospital and a blood panel at another for late March.

I’m not sure if healthcare systems in other countries are like this, but here it is very competitive. Prepaid blood tests, mammograms, vaccines, and CAC, other tests, etc. can be bought at a discount from online stores and redeemed at hospitals like any other merchandise. In the last four months, I’ve seen four different doctors across four different hospitals.

The doctor who checked my CAC said that if the issue is genetic, medication is mandatory, and she prescribed statins. However, the doctor who did my latest blood work discussed the option of pausing the medication while maintaining my diet and exercise to see the outcome in May. I accepted this.

I can’t say I’ve reached my goal yet since every doctor has a different opinion. I plan to have my lipids checked every two months this year.

Furthermore, I’ve decided I’ve reached a "good enough" physique, even with a little soft belly. My partner mentioned I might look "scary" if I lose more weight, and sometimes when I look in the mirror, I feel I look too gaunt (like drug addict). I will stay at maintenance calories while trying to add a bit of muscle to my back and—most importantly—focusing on my saturated fat intake.

Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone in this community for the constant support and encouragement. Knowing I’m not alone makes all the difference. Let’s keep pushing forward and walking this journey together! 🫶

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