It’s been four weeks since I started my journey to a healthier me. I’ve lost a total of 8 pounds. My goal weight is 145 pounds in the middle of the day. Why in the middle of the day, do you ask? I like to weight myself when I first get up because that’s always my lightest weight, and as the day progresses I’ve noticed my weight goes up a few pounds. I guess it’s the food and water that we intake, as well as the fact that most of us have clothes on about that time of day 
So I’m feeling pretty good about myself. I’ve eaten a 95% vegan diet for the past month. I’ve been exercising a little more, but I still have a l0t of room for improvement in that area.
I started a nutrition class this past Tuesday, and had my blood pressure checked by a nurse. Much to my chagrin, I was told that it registered in the range of Stage 1 Hypertension / borderline Stage 2. I had noticed that it was creeping up over the past couple of years, but I had no idea it was that high. My diastolic was 100! I wonder if it was higher before the 8 pound weight loss? This is nothing to play with. I plan to chart my blood pressure for the next couple of weeks so my doctors and I can make an informed decision about whether I can lower it to a safe zone with diet and exercise, or if I need to begin taking high blood pressure medication. If I can do it naturally I’d prefer it. So I have more incentive to lose weight and exercise daily.
So I ask you, have you checked your blood pressure lately? Most of us just wait until we have our annual checkup, but 12 months is a long time. If you don’t have your own blood pressure machine at home, stop by the Walgreens, CVS, or other pharmacy in your neighborhood. Most of them have blood pressure machines you can use to take your blood pressure.
In the mean time, here are some articles I found helpful and they apply to anyone, not just women and not a specific ethnicity. They will help to educate you on Hypertension, the healthy range for your blood pressure, etc.
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Enemy #1 in the African American Community – This article will define the systolic and diastolic numbers and what is a healthy range.
- Pressure Points: Preventing and Controlling Hypertension
- Stroke – The Facts
- Controlling Hypertension Throughout Your Life
October 25, 2010 at 2:23 pm
keep on eating well and exercising and that will help your blood pressure. STAY MOTIVATED!
October 5, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Thanks for the reminder about blood pressure. Most of us never think much about it. Also, congrats on losing 8 pounds in 4 weeks, way to go!!!
August 6, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Until I read your blog I suffered major blood pressure issues. I would like to thank you personally for your help and all the best for the future.
July 14, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Great post! I found it very helpful and inspiring.
June 5, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Detox diet are really the best because they are all natural and dont require diet pills it is much better that way and hey mother nature has its ways. Lots of cool information on your blog cool stuff
April 14, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Ever since I had my daughter who is now 12 years of age, I’ve had blood pressure issues. After giving birth to her in 1998, I suffered a Gran Mal Seizure, seven strokes in the back of my head and was in acoma for three days. The aftermath wasn’t so pretty as well. I suffered seizures for her first year into the world & had short term memory loss. I still have this problem to this day with remembering things short term. It was due to my blood pressure rising with both top & bottom numbers in the high 200′s.
As I am most grateful to Christ for letting me live my plans HE has for me, I am more aware of the different things that go on in my body now that I am no longer 20 anything. From time to time, I can tell when my blood pressure is rising because my speech will start to slur or slow down, I would get dizzy and my head would hurt like a migraine.
I’ve started excercising and its helped tremendously. It’s peaceful for me and therapuetic as well. Just something as simple as walking for thirty minutes a day or three times a week makes all of the difference in the world. We women over 40 have to make it a necessity to take care of ourselves, to love ourselves and to ensure those that love us that we will have a hand in lasting for as long as we can and for as long as God says.
April 16, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Hi Kimberly,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I stand in agreement with you for your total healing in this area. I agree that exercise and nutrition (i.e. the foods we eat) can play a huge part in keeping out blood pressure within normal, healthy limits. However, if you find that your blood pressure continues to be elevated, you should consider high blood pressure medicine to keep it in check. High blood pressure left untreated, can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, etc. I have heard testimonies of people who only have to take it for a season, until they get their weight down and diet in-line. Are you taking blood pressure medicine now?