The Numbers I Actually Care About at 51

My September health check was probably my best yet. The interesting part was what still needs work.

By Carles Carrera · September 2026

Twice a year I do a fairly complete health check: bloodwork, VO₂ max, strength, mobility and a few other tests.

I’ve been doing this for long enough now that the individual numbers matter less than the direction they are moving.

This September was probably my best overall result so far.

Most things look good.

A few don’t.

Those are the useful ones.

VO₂ max

Six months ago my measured VO₂ max was 39.1.

This time it was 48.

That is a much bigger improvement than I expected.

I cycle regularly, do strength work and normally include one hard session per week, so at least something seems to be working.

At 51, aerobic fitness is one of the things I care most about maintaining.

Strength and mobility

Strength is generally good.

Mobility is not.

My right ankle is still considerably worse than my left. That is a useful reminder that being active does not automatically fix your weak points.

Some things need specific work.

ApoB

Most of my bloodwork looks good.

The number I like least is ApoB.

My recorded results are:74 → 90 → 102 → 115 mg/dLI care more about that trend than about whether 115 is good or bad in isolation.

So this is now the blood marker I most want to improve over the next six months.

Kidney function

Creatinine was a little higher and estimated GFR a little lower again.

There are several possible explanations, including training, muscle mass, hydration and creatine use.

Rather than guessing, I’m going to repeat it and add better tests.

This is one of the reasons I like measuring things.

Sometimes the answer is not to change anything.

It is simply to get better information.

Next six months

I don’t want every health check to produce ten new things to optimize.

For now there are only three:

1. Lower ApoB.

2. Check kidney function properly.

3. Improve strength and mobility while keeping my aerobic fitness where it is.

That is enough.

Why I keep doing this

I’m not particularly interested in living to 120.

What interests me much more is what I will still be capable of doing at 70 or 80.

Riding a bicycle.

Riding motorcycles.

Travelling.

Working.

Learning new things.

Being physically capable enough to keep doing the things I enjoy.

After several years of testing, that is also why the trends have become more interesting than the individual results.

I’m not trying to improve every number forever.

I’m trying to keep what is working, notice what is starting to deteriorate, and do something about it early.

Six months from now, I’ll check again.

This is a record of my own health and learning process, not medical advice.