July 9, 2003
Written by Ang Tian Teck.

Who says skating is only for the young. It's never really too late to start. Those who are skating regularly are physically fitter and healthier. The health benefits of skating overweigh those perceived dangers. Many that I spoke with have tons of excuses for not trying. Oh! I am too old for that. No! It's too dangerous and I am afraid to fall. Hmmm! It looks too difficult. Ahhh! I can't find the time.

Oh yes, I might have given myself those same excuses a year ago if I had not made that first move to put on those skates. There was no turning back after I discovered how cool and interesting being able to move with wheels on my feet. I started out as a recreational skater, but before I knew it, I was hooked on speedskating after about 5 months.

Being someone with history of hypertension in the family, I was diagnosed with it nearly 10 years ago. Although for my case, it is just a mild one, I am on medication for life. Associated with hypertension are usually increasing cholesterol levels. This is due to unbalance diet and lack of exercise.

Cholesterol can be both good and bad. LDL, the "bad" cholesterol slowly build up and form plaque in the walls of the arteries and clog them. This leads to greater risk of a heart attack. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), known as the "good" cholesterol, seems to work against LDL. A high level of it seems to protect against heart attack.

My cholesterol levels were no exception. Since 1995 my cholesterol has been in the higher levels and increasing at times. This goes for my weight too. As per my doctor's advise, I tried to watch what I eat and exercise regularly. Believe me, it was not enjoyable. Trying to run on the treadmill at the gym was so boring. I had to drag myself to do it at least 3 times a week.

Well! I loss some weight, but my cholesterol level was still in the higher scale. My improvements were marginal. So, try harder and run longer.

About 8 months ago I started speedskating. It is fun and gives me all the health benefits that I always wanted without having to drag myself into it. The more I speedskate the more I want to go faster. It turns out to be an activity that I love and am always looking forward to each skating session. For someone in my late thirties, I spend more than 10 hours a week in skating activities and covers a distance of more than 80 kilometers.

Regular speedskating seems to have an effect on my cholesterol levels. As you can see from the chart, my total cholesterol rating has improved after I started speedskating. My LDL (the bad cholesterol) has reduced quite a bit. Along with that I also lost 7kg and feel healthier.

So, if you are thinking about taking up skating, why not start now for a healthier lifestyle.

For more information about cholesterol, visit the American Heart Association's web site.