shawndimantha

I liked it until I read The Big Fat Surprise , and then I started to question its validity given the high amount of carbs. All the same it has been shown to lower high blood pressure so I recommend it to folks who have been recently diagnosed as a good starting blueprint.

Mayo clinic has a good list here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/recipes/dash-diet-recipes/rcs-20077146 I thought these recipes were fun to look through (didn't have time to confirm if they are DASH compliant): https://www.pinterest.com/karilmullins/dash-diet-recipes/

Really just eat a balanced diet of natural food, mostly plants. One thing I don't like about DASH is the high amount of carbs, which is not conducive to weight loss that a lot of people on the diet need (maybe minor weight loss).

Agreed that processed meats/food can be bad for you, but their nitrate content (in ham for example) can sometimes help manage blood pressure (nitrates / nitric acid in beet juice has recently been shown to alleviate high blood pressure). Just watch the labels. Be careful with deli items even things like chicken salad,…

In addition to working out try the DASH diet (http://dashdiet.org/) - should be recipes available. Also reduce salt intake, walk 10,000 steps per day (if possible), and meditation (I've used http://calm.com/ to help). Avoid smoking, and moderate alcohol consumption

How are you doing now? Hope your blood pressure is still normal and under control! What other nutrients do you keep a close watch on other than potassium (e.g. sodium, sugar, etc.)

Losing weight is the most important step along with diet. Check out the DASH diet, which has been proven to help people lower blood pressure in a couple of weeks if followed consistently: http://dashdiet.org/

Agreed with those who have already posted, walking is a good first step, resistance training also helps. Losing weight will help the most (if weight is a problem for you). Look at page 2 of this document for relative effectiveness of various lifestyle modifications (from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute):…

This seems to be a comprehensive list of non-medication ways to manage blood pressure - http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20046974

Well according to this book we should just be comfortable eating saturated fat / red meat, and avoiding carbohydrates, ala Atkins; esp. if the goal is weight loss

Water sometimes helps temporarily. Nuts and nut bars like KIND bars help fill me up without too much sugar (there was actually a study on KIND and how it helped stop snacking - http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-suggests-not-all-snacking-causes-weight-gain-92180469.html , take with a grain of salt as this…

I've used Polar for heart rate monitors, the one with the chest strap (which is more accurate). Want to try out the new Fitbit HR, would be interested to hear reviews from people who have used it. Own two fitness trackers now. Also would love this - http://www.liveathos.com/

Posted this on another thread: I use the Fitbit Flex, have had it for just over a year. My main complaint is that charging every 4-5 days is a pain, esp. since the charger is horrible (you have to put it in a weird position, hold it down, etc.). It has really changed my behavior, I consistently get 10K steps+ on weekdays,…

Always eat breakfast, trying to add more protein to help me get over the 11 am lunch hurdle. This thread actually reminds me of this Onion article - http://www.theonion.com/articles/man-says-*kitten*-it-eats-lunch-at-1058-am,32181/ (mildly NSFW audio as you can see form the URL)

I use the Fitbit Flex, have had it for just over a year. My main complaint is that charging every 4-5 days is a pain, esp. since the charger is horrible (you have to put it in a weird position, hold it down, etc.). It has really changed my behavior, I consistently get 10K steps+ on weekdays, and walk places more. I also…

I have a fairly standard diet every week and let myself have some treats on weekends. Exercise every day, spin every other day, running / boxing / elliptical on the other alternate days. It is naturally harder to lose weight once you hit a limit. Make sure you have a lot of protein in your diet to help maintain muscle. I…

I use BMI as a general guideline because my doctor generally puts it in my chart, but also consider body fat %, which is harder to measure. The only time I do this is at the gym with that handheld device, but then they try to get me to sign up for trainer sessions... What other numbers motivate you? I've looked back at my…