Bloodwork: How to Spot a Fit Body vs a Struggling One (40+)
After you read this, you might want to have your blood analyzed. We now have partnerships and can provide you with everything you need if you are interested. One of the biggest misconceptions around bloodwork is that it tells you whether someone is healthy or unhealthy in a black-and-white way. It doesn’t. Bloodwork tells a story. And once you understand what to look for, especially after 40, you can clearly see the difference between a body that is adapted, efficient, and resilient versus one that is inflamed, stressed, and slowly breaking down. The Big Picture Rule I don’t look for one magic number. I look for patterns and trends over time. Fit bloodwork looks calm, stable, and efficient. Struggling bloodwork looks noisy, inflamed, and drifting in the wrong direction year after year. Blood Sugar Control Is the Biggest Separator This is the first thing I look at. Fit bloodwork typically shows: - A1C that is stable and not creeping up year over year - Fasting glucose is in a healthy range - If insulin is tested, it is controlled and not elevated Struggling bloodwork often shows: - A1C is slowly climbing into prediabetes - Fasting glucose consistently over 100 - Insulin resistance shows up before anything else breaks If blood sugar is off, the rest of the labs usually follow. Lipids Tell the Lifestyle Story I’m not just staring at total cholesterol. Fit patterns usually include: - Lower triglycerides - HDL holding strong - Lipids that improve or remain stable with training and nutrition Struggling patterns usually include: - High triglycerides paired with low HDL - Lipids worsen alongside weight gain, poor sleep, and stress This combination almost always points back to insulin resistance and poor recovery. Inflammation Shows How Hard the Body Is Fighting Chronic inflammation is quiet but destructive. Fit bodies tend to show: - Low, stable inflammation markers - Good recovery unless injured or sick Struggling bodies often show: