NSV: Blood Pressure back to normal range

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.