Today I'm 50 and I'm telling the world!

I always give blood every 8 weeks and until last February, my BP had always been in the 110-120/72-80 range. And, then about this time last year, I had three straight readings in the 130-140/90-100 range. Wow, 171/100 is scary. I didn't take any medication. I just started exercising a LOT and eating much better.

I went back to my previous active lifestyle. A little over three years ago, I was in very good shape, always had been. Then, I injured my ankle bad and didn't play basketball for two and a half years. Right after I injured the ankle, I started a new job and fell into a routine of working long hours, eating poorly (a lot of greasy fast food) and no exercise. The three higher than normal BP readings, and topping 240 lbs was the wakeup call it took for me to turn things around.

I immediately started walking for 45 minutes on my lunch hour and then eating a salad at my desk. I quickly increased the pace and distance of my walking to 3.5 miles in under 40 minutes, and after about a month I added a pair of 3 lb. hand weights, and then moved up to a pair of 5 pounders. I wasn't looking to bulk up, just use as many big muscles as I could to burn as many calories as possible during my walk. I also started doing calisthenics and stretching exercises for 45 - 60 minutes every morning and during the summer I ran every night. Not far, just 2.5 miles, but at a fast pace. I also started playing basketball and softball again. I now play basketball 3 - 5 times a week, mostly against guys half my age. I do OK. Over the winter, I replaced the evening runs with 45 minutes (or more) on the Nordic Track. I do that while watching Blazers games. I get a good low impact cardio workout. I get at least three 45 minute exercise sessions in every day (morning, noon and night), sometimes more.

I watch what I eat. I mostly eat salads with no dressing, or nonfat/low fat dressing, dry cereal (with no milk), fresh fruit and berries and an occasional nonfat yogurt. I haven't had red meat or anything fried in over 10 months. The only meat I eat is boneless, skinless chicken breast which is high in protein and low in fat.

My BP went down as I lost weight and got in better shape. I no longer snore and sleep much better and awake feeling rested. I also avoid white sugar and high fructose corn syrup. I mostly drink water, but will occasionally have a zero calorie Sobe or Propel. I don't drink any caffeine, alcohol or soft drinks, not even diet soda. Exercising in the morning and cutting out the sugar and caffeine keeps my metabolism and energy level much more constant during the day. I no longer feel tired after lunch and don't have any cravings for sweets.

It was a big change, but it was easy spring and summer when I started. The stores were full of fresh produce, fruit and berries. So, I found plenty of delicious natural foods to meet my cravings and keep me feeling full. It was harder over the winter. During the warmer months, I rarely ate any hot food, but during the cold weather my body craved something warm. So, I replaced the dry cereal with oatmeal and occasionally had a barbeque or teriyaki chicken breast over whole grain brown rice. Still it was hard to keep the weight off over the winter, especially during the holidays. But I did and right now I'm at 6'4" 195 lbs and feel great. I continued to do my daily 3.5 mile walk every day, rain, shine or snow all winter long. There were days when I didn't want to venture out in the cold and rain, but I'm glad I did. Now that the weather is getting better, it's getting easier again and I'm feeling motivated to lose that last 5 lb, and maybe 5 more.

Good luck getting your BP down. My dad had ridiculously high BP starting in his late 30s and was on BP meds the remainder of his life. He ate horribly. When I was in 6th grade his doctor put him on an ultralow sodium diet. So, I haven't used salt on, or in, anything in almost 40 years. I don't even have any salt in my house and haven't for decades. I hope you can find some combination of diet, exercise and medication that will help get your BP under control.

BNM

 

Wow, that has to be the best birthday present ever. Congrats. I hope it all works out this time.

BNM

 

...and I remember so very clearly the Blazers sweeping the Lakers in 4 on their way to the '77 Title.

 

I had one more for ya, but the trade deadline has passed....

NOTE: Had I proposed Pry + Cunningham + Picks for Gerald Wallace earlier in the year, I would have heard it from you good, right Yenniedn!?!?! I'd say Cho pulled off quite the Zany trade - - we might even look back at this move as the Zany trade that put the Blazers into the WCF this year! Who would have thunk?

 

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

 

Awesome stuff... grats to you and I will definitely take some of this in consideration. I fear my BP is secondary hypertension... in part because it doesn't seem to respond at all to diet changes or medication... and also because about the time my BP started to go up I had some other things I noticed. Who knows though.

 

VERY COOL! I have a 2-year old and there is nothing in the world better to keep you young.

 

It is true that having a young-one will keep you partying late into the night as if you were young...

Congrats to all the birthday boys (and girls and otherwise sexually undetermined).

 

Does it run in your family? There could be a genetic component. My dad, grandfather, uncle and both older brothers all had/have high BP. A lot of that is diet related, none of them ate/eat well, but it is also partially genetic.

BNM

 

Congrats, on all counts!

 

I'm 38 and still a mutha' fuckin' hustla'! Had my 20th HS reunion last summer and everybody said I still act like I did when I was 18! Young at heart FAMS... young at heart!

 

You'll be 40 in 2 years...

 

^and in 2 years you'll STILL be a virgin!

 

I'm saving myself for marriage.

 

No.

 

No one in the family has high BP... and again... my diet is not bad... love my work.