Biking for a healthier heart

Staff writer Ruth Solomon went on a mission - to lower her bad cholesterol and raise her good cholesterol. She opted to watch her food intake and ride to bike as many days as he can from her Chicago home to work at Pioneer Press in Glenview. (Jeff Krage/For Pioneer Press)
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"I was almost 50, very out of shape, and knew my bad cholesterol level teetered on the verge of needing medicine. I have four children, ages 10 to 19, and they need their mother to be alive, I thought."
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All summer long, I rode.
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The results came back with good news: My bad cholesterol was down, my body mass index was down, my girth was below 35 inches, and, even though still overweight, my favorite line on the report stated: "METS indicates fitness to be in above average category."

I was fat, but fit. And my 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease had gone down to 2.7 percent. Four smiley faces were stamped in my Heart of a Woman booklet acknowledging my progress.

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http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/lifestyles/health_family/729535,on-biketowork-011008-s1.article