The current state.
Every active intervention, every supplement, every biomarker, every monthly cost — the public scoreboard of the experiment, refreshed as the data comes in.
Project Vitae · Four Pillars v2
🔴 #1: CPAP Adherence — the $0 intervention worth more than the entire supplement stack
Confirmed sleep apnea (AHI 6.86, Oct 2022). Oura SpO2 shows moderate OSA (BDI 10–19/hr, SpO2 95.9%, 2-20 nights/month below 95%). CPAP machine owned but rarely used. Treating OSA would simultaneously improve: resting HR (−3-5 bpm), hs-CRP (−0.5-1.0), HOMA-IR, and sleep quality. This is the single highest-ROI intervention in the entire protocol.
🔴 #2: Free T4 declining — 1.03 → 0.87 → 0.97 → 0.70 ng/dL
Consistent downward trajectory across 4 panels despite normal TSH (1.23). This dissociation suggests central hypothyroidism or conversion issues. Low T4 contributes to elevated HR, reduced VO2 Max, and metabolic sluggishness. Next panel must include: Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO antibodies.
🔴 #3: VO2 Max 34.2 — volume without intensity
Despite 23K steps/day and 63 workouts/month, VO2 Max declined from 40→34 because 95% of exercise is walking (HR ~103). Zero Zone 2 cardio, near-zero resistance training. Add: 3× Zone 2 (130-145 bpm, 30-45 min) + 2× resistance + 1× intervals per week.
| Biomarker | Result | Optimal | Status | Trend (prior) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | 5.4% | ≤5.4% | 🟢 At target | ↓ from 5.6 (Jul ’24) |
| Glucose (fasting) | 96 mg/dL | 70-90 | 🟡 Slightly above | ⚠ Travel artifact (24h no sleep) |
| Insulin (fasting) | 15 mU/L | <8 | 🟡 Artifact | ⚠ Real baseline: 3.2 (Nov ’25) |
| HOMA-IR | 3.50 | <2.0 | 🟡 Artifact | ⚠ Real baseline: 0.5 (Nov ’25) |
| Free T4 | 0.70 ng/dL | 0.9-1.7 | 🔴 LOW | ↓ 1.03→0.87→0.97→0.70 |
| TSH | 1.23 µUI/mL | 0.5-2.5 | 🟢 Normal | → stable (1.0-1.3 range) |
| Total Testosterone | 1,041 ng/dL | 800-1100 | 🟢 TRT peak | ↑ from 266 (pre-TRT) |
| Estradiol | 55 pg/mL | <40 | 🟡 Elevated | ↑ 19→28→34→55 (aromatization) |
| Total Cholesterol | 189.2 mg/dL | <200 | 🟢 First time <190 | ↓ 338→184→189 |
| LDL | 114 mg/dL | <100 | 🟡 Near target | ↓ 260→118→114 |
| HDL | 54.0 mg/dL | ≥60 | 🟡 Best in 6 years! | ↑ 41→43→54 (finally moving) |
| Triglycerides | 106.9 mg/dL | <80 | 🟡 Improving | ↓ 193→118→107 |
| hs-CRP | 1.5 mg/L | <0.5 | 🟡 Moderate CV risk | → unchanged. OSA driving this? |
| Vitamin B12 | 690 ng/L | ≥500 | 🟢 Recovered! | ↑ 460→343→392→690 |
| Vitamin D | 49.9 ng/mL | 50-80 | 🟢 Near target | → stable. Consider ↑ to 4000 IU |
| Creatinine | 0.88 mg/dL | 0.7-1.2 | 🟢 Normal | ↓ from 1.12 (was false alarm) |
| eGFR | >90 | >90 | 🟢 Kidneys healthy | ✓ resolved concern |
| Uric Acid | 4.5 mg/dL | <5.5 | 🟢 Controlled | ↓ from 5.3. Genomic risk 56% |
| GGT | 17.9 U/L | <30 | 🟢 Excellent | Liver clean despite NAFLD risk 43% |
| AST / ALT | 27.2 / 29.7 | <40 | 🟢 Normal | → stable, healthy |
| Ferritin | 171 µg/L | 40-150 | 🟡 Slightly high | 257→174→135→171 (TRT effect) |
| Hematocrit | 44.7% | <50 | 🟡 TRT trending up | ↑ 41.4→44.7. Monitor for >50% |
| Homocysteine | 6.94 µmol/L | <10 | 🟢 Controlled | MTHFR G/A managed w/ methylfolate |
| Magnesium | 2.0 mg/dL | 2.0-2.5 | 🟡 Low end | Consider ↑ Mg Threonate dose |
| Zinc | 79 µg/dL | 80-120 | 🟡 Low end | Borderline on 20mg chelate |
| Milestone | Target Date | Current | Goal | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMI ≤ 25 | Jun 2026 | 26.0 | ≤25.0 | 🟡 −4 lbs to go |
| Body Fat ≤ 15% | Aug 2026 | 19.3% | ≤15% | 🟡 Need recomp + strength |
| HbA1c ≤ 5.4% | Sept 2026 | 5.4% | ≤5.4% | 🟢 TARGET HIT! |
| hs-CRP < 1.0 | Sept 2026 | 1.5 | <1.0 | 🟡 CPAP may fix this |
| LDL < 100 | Dec 2026 | 114 | <100 | 🟡 Close — Ezetimibe working |
| HDL ≥ 60 | Dec 2026 | 54 | ≥60 | 🟢 Finally moving! +13 pts |
| VAT < 1.5 lbs | Dec 2026 | 2.68 | <1.5 | 🟡 Next DEXA Sep 2026 |
| Free T4 > 0.90 | Sept 2026 | 0.70 | >0.90 | 🔴 Worsening — investigate |
| VO2 Max ≥ 38 | Apr 2027 | 34.2 | ≥38 | 🔴 Need Zone 2 protocol |
| CPAP Compliance | NOW | Sporadic | Every night | 🔴 #1 priority |
| Website Launch | Jul 2026 | — | MVP live | ⬜ Pending |
| 1,000 IG Followers | Oct 2026 | — | 1,000 | ⬜ Pending |
Saulo Cruz · Age 53 years 7 months · DOB Sept 4, 1972 · Seattle/Bellevue, WA
“53 → 60, looking 50. No billions required.” · Not medical advice.
Get the next Field Note in your inbox.
One man, real data, sent only when something moves. No noise, no supplements to sell, no daily check-ins. Just field notes from the experiment.
You’re in. Check your inbox to confirm — the first Field Note is right behind it.
Something went sideways. Try again, or email saulo@vitaexperiment.com.
