NSV: Blood Pressure back to normal range

ModernRock

Healthy blood pressure is as much of a motivator as decreasing my waistline. As far as I can tell, my blood pressure hit a high of 148/95 in Feb 2013. For those keeping score, that's stage 1 hypertension. At the time I was sedentary, stressed out at work, and taking a break from my home improvement projects. I was a 37 year old male, and my weight was in the high 230s (at 6'2").

It got my attention, and I could feel the literal and figurative pressure, and for a couple weeks I kept track of my calories. It didn't last under those conditions and I went on to gain another 20 or so pounds by March 2015. When I realized my weight AND my blood pressure were headed in the wrong direction, I bought a pedometer and started setting goals for steps per day. Although I didn't realize it at the time, the most important step came early 2015 when a different company came calling and I changed jobs. I used some of my vacation payout to buy a bike I actually look forward to riding (albeit nothing ambitious).

A few months later (August 2015) my blood pressure had improved to 125/83 (Pre-hypertension). I still weighed just over 250. That's right, my blood pressure improved significantly by moving more and being less stressed out, even at a higher weight than when my blood pressure was at its peak.

When I started tracking calories it seemed like a set of habits that could stick. A month or so later I'm back down to the weight I was in early 2013 (high 230s), comfortably wearing pants I was no longer able to squeeze into a year ago, and my blood pressure is down to 118/74. (Normal range! I assume it's been many years since my blood pressure was normal.) I'm going to keep at it, as I'd like to get my weight down to 220 by the time I hit 40 next year, which is the weight I was in college regularly lifting weights. I already set up my free weights in the garage, and I'll get started with them this winter.

fourterrys

Congratulations! Good luck on your journey!!!!

ModernRock

Thanks!

For me, adjusting my eating habits has been more about how much I eat rather than want I eat. I wasn't binge eating bags of chips and we've never kept snack cakes around the house. I simply ate too much too often for my level of activity. I will say, however, the biggest change is eating fewer sandwiches, fewer slices of pizza, 1 or 2 craft beers a week rather than 4 or 5, and smaller servings of pasta. Last night I had two veggie hot dogs. Both with mustard and sauerkraut (low calorie and high in flavor!), but one without a bun. I'd rather eat half a serving of ice cream or drink a gin and diet tonic any day over a silly hot dog bun.

Last weekend I made spaghetti for the kids and I divided the leftovers into 3 single serving sized containers (250 calories each) to eat for my lunch during the week. I budget my calories so that almost every night I can have a serving of ice cream.

On a somewhat silly note, I also noticed that I'm actually chewing my food. If all I'm going to have is an itsy-bitsy single portion of spaghetti, then you can bet I'm going to savor every last bit rather than swallow it whole like I used to do!

OutdoorCamoGirl

That's awesome news! And well done on finding how your body reacts to certain activity and stress. I know that those can be some major factors in our lives that can control so many different things.

You are truly an inspiration!!
HUGE high five!

GaleHawkins

Great job. High BP is a killer of good health.

winn9524

keep it going!