Quick Question/PSA: Have You Checked Your Health KPIs? 

Next month is my birthday which is a trigger for me to check in on health markers. 

I do the typical annual doctor appointments and when it comes to bloodwork, I go to other sources who do a much more comprehensive panel. 

The downside is the cost involved as most are NOT covered by insurance; however, in recent years more and more companies offering this service have appeared and the cost is getting lower and lower. 

These tests are important because they can serve as early warning signs of potential risks (e.g., pre-diabetes, cholesterol, metabolic dysfunction, etc.) which can help inform what kinds of changes to make before developing serious health conditions. 

One sometimes tricky thing about these test results is that many people learn they are in the “normal” range of something even though they don’t really feel great a lot of the time. This can be frustrating, especially when you are putting in the effort to eat well and exercise but just don’t feel or look the way you want. 

What’s important to remember is that “normal” doesn’t necessarily mean optimal and your normal/optimal may be unique. 

I highly recommend regular (at least annual) testing to see where you fall in the commonly recommended ranges and so that you can compare yourself to you over time. Maybe your blood sugar levels are in range but what if they’ve gone up in the last few years? What if triglycerides are “normal” but high for you compared to what they were 3 years ago?

Without testing regularly, you just won’t know and if you’re in the “normal” range something can go missed for many years that you could have taken action on. 

If annual feels like overkill, consider doing this every 2 years. 

This recommendation goes double for my midlife friends out there. If you’re over 40 now is the time to pay closer attention. Hormones are shifting. Our bodies are changing. And more and more research on protocol options is becoming available. 

The data you gather now sets the stage for smarter, more strategic decisions later.

Some testing I’ve done personally includes:

• Blood and urine tests for hormones, metabolic markers, organ function (every 6–18 months)

• Genetic testing (once)

• DEXA scan & bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for body composition and bone density

• Cancer screenings (I’ve just the basics on this one so far)

Having this data over multiple points in time allows me to see trends as I get older as well as consider genetic predispositions I need to manage through nutrition, activity, and supplementation, or at least be aware of so that I can detect any early warning signs. 

These tests and numbers can get confusing and overwhelming but, like with anything, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. 

Start where you can and build from there:

✅ Get comprehensive bloodwork done — ideally once a year

✅ Track and compare your numbers year-over-year

✅ Look for your trends and changes, not just what’s “in range”

✅ Work with a professional to interpret what’s ideal for you (p.s. ChatGPT can help with interpretation and recommendations as well)

Knowing your numbers, meaning your health KPIs, is how you catch issues before they become problems.

This is how you take control of your energy, your weight, your sleep, and your long-term health to live as well as possible at all ages.

I’m not just trying to avoid illness and feel “OK,” I want optimal and awesome, not “normal.” My guess is that you do too. 

Consider getting some testing done and create your own personal KPI scorecard.