2nd check-in w the dr's office

weight 219 (down 2-1/2lb from last week, 11lb since march 1st)
blood pressure - bad (160/100)
blood results: everything is perfect except

beta-carotene, which is very high, and
cholesterol, which is so low the dr thought i'd been taking pills. told him i've never had to take cholesterol pills in my life - he said he's only ever seen readings like mine in ppl who've been taking cholesterol pills.

conjectured it could be the bodybuilding/powerlifting (muscle repair requires testosterone, which is made out of cholesterol) otherwise, not a clue.

the beta carotene is a puzzler: i don't eat carrots but i do eat a lot of salad. i take two multi-vitamins a day, dr said keep that up until the next blood test in six weeks.so either i'm somehow taking in too much or could it be i'm not using it up like i should be? i'm going to research what vitA does and see if maybe something i can do would force increased utilization and get that level down.

the good news is he doesn't want me to start the blood pressure pills - urine tests came back normal (finally!) so my kidneys are no longer being stressed by my blood pressure. he said i could buy the script tomorrow and start on half the original dosage prescribed or i can leave it until the next test - "normal test means now we have time but that doesn't mean you can relax!".