Do you have a diet/exercise routine that works for you? If so, share it with a comment.
I’m going to go off the beaten path and talk about a subject that I rarely mention on this blog – diet and exercise. A blog reader emailed me about an idea for her own blog. When I emailed my response back to her, it turned out the post outlined my struggle with high blood pressure over the last two years, which prompted me to post my experience here.
I was diagnosed with high blood pressure about 2 years ago, it’s hereditary. Since I’ve been in my thirties and forties I’ve been on the heavier side, but people wouldn’t necessarily categorize me as “fat” – I was skinny while in my twenties, seriously.
Anyway, I was on different meds for the HBP off and on for a year. Every med gave me a negative side effect. Soon I got tired of that crap and went to a holistic doctor. She gave me a list of a bunch of vitamins and herbs to take. I take them all. The main one that keeps my HBP down is the Hawthorn. Also, exercise helps.
Exercising at home was not working for me. My job was stressful, and when I got home, all I wanted to do was sit back and relax. So, I decided to exercise during my lunch time while at work. I bring work-out clothes and go for a brisk walk/run for about a half hour or 45 minutes. Plus, they have a gym at my job so if it’s cold or rainy, I get on that treadmill! Exercising is nothing “new” to me. I used to run 10K races while I was in my twenties/early thirties. Also, I exercised regularly at the gym.
My routine lagged when I got pregnant. The pregnancy was difficult and after our child was born, I didn’t really feel like exercising. Well, our “baby” is six now, so, I guess I can’t use the child as an excuse for not exercising!
I’ve been exercising during my lunch break for about eight months now. I cut out fast food (except on weekends – I was eating fast food almost every day when I was diagnosed with HBP) and I watch my sodium intake but, for the most part, I eat whatever I want whenever I want. I love carbs, so I don’t really watch my carbs. I eat oatmeal (the oatmeal that’s JUST OATS, the holistic doctor told me to stop eating the flavored oatmeal packets, too much salt in them) or some low-sodium cold cereal every morning for breakfast. I eat my breakfast at work. I also eat a low-sodium lunch and dinner. Sometimes I snack, sometimes I don’t. Depends on if I feel hungry or not.
People just started randomly commenting about my weight loss about a month or so ago. At first, I didn’t really notice it. I don’t weigh myself (too depressing) and I don’t really watch my figure – I started this new plan to keep my HBP down not for vanity reasons. The weight loss was secondary since I didn’t really have a goal of losing X amount of pounds – I just wanted a normal blood pressure reading so that I could stop taking that terrible medicine the doctor gave me.
However, lately, people have been saying, “Hey, you’ve lost weight,” or “Hey, you’re slimming down.” At first I thought they were just being nice, but, too many people were randomly commenting about my weight loss, plus, my jeans are very loose, they barely stay on my hips, so, I’m starting to pay attention now.
I love sweets! The weekend before last, I made vanilla bean panna cotta for the very first time! Yum! Last weekend, I made an apple pie and it was GOOD!! I don’t eat sweets every day, but I eat them when I want them. If I want to bake something, I do it! I don’t count calories or pounds.
OH, BTW, my blood pressure is BELOW normal/NORMAL now. I usually do a reading whenever I go to the grocery store at the BP machine and I also have a small BP contraption at home. It’s just a small square contraption with a cuff and a rectangular box – like the picture on this blog post.
This routine is working for me, so I was curious about others who read this blog. So, do you have a diet/exercise routine that works for you? If so, share it with a comment! Also, I’d be interested in knowing if something happened to make you change/start your diet/exercise routine.
Every year, millions of Americans resolve to lose weight, whether on New Year’s Day, their birthdays, or just some morning when their mirror or the bathroom scale seems particularly unkind. And every year, many get frustrated and give up before they reach their goals.
Supplement, that is so true! I recall when I used to go to the gym regularly – right after new years, the gym membership would explode and the gym would be SO CROWDED!! After about a month, the members leveled out again and the crowds no longer dominated the gym. You have to be serious about wanting to lose weight when you say you’re gonna do that. I think it worked for me because, well, I had a different goal – exercise to bring my blood pressure down. The weight issue wasn’t my focus, but, it was a nice added benefit! 🙂
Cecelia, I met with a personal trainer yesterday to get me back on track with a program. Part of it I will do at home and some at the gym. Because I have RA I felt I needed someone who understood how that affected my exercise choices.
Good morning,
I’ve fought my weight for years and managed to win. This year I turned 50 and I am struggling.
My problem is sweets. So I try not to have any sweets in the house. Also, every day after work I take the dog for a short walk to the park behind my house. Then after supper my husband and I try to walk around the block with our dog. Right now with NaNo it’s easy to skip the walks. I’m really glad you posted this. You’ve challenged me to work harder to exercise.
Thanks!
Jackie
Hi, Carrie
Thanks for commenting. RA is the acronym for??? Not sure what that is. Pardon my ignorance.
Jackie, I totally understand about skipping those walks when things get hectic. I know when my day job gets hectic, or, when it’s certain times of the month, I’ll skip my walk/run for a day or so. Sometimes you just need to take a few days off to re-group, and that’s okay, as long as you go back to your routine later.
Glad to hear that you’ve managed to control your weight! Also, I totally understand about those cravings for sweets! 🙂
First off, Congratulations Cecelia on your managing your HBP naturally! That’s quite a feat and takes determination and commitment.
RA is Rheumatoid Arthritis. That’s a tough one, Carrie!
I have to say I never had trouble with weight until I turned 45. Seriously! Even after a hysterectomy in 2000, my weight was fine. I could fit a size 10, no problem. Then 45 hit and BOOM! The weight started coming on, and fast! I about killed myself two years ago trying to lose it. Ok, slight exaggeration 😉 but I lost 25 lbs in 5 months, kept it off a year then it came back. The exercise routine was a killer to me and my feet started hurting so bad 🙁 Now my doctor says I just need to cut back on portions and get out and “walk” for at least 30 minutes every day. So far, the portion control is going ok, the walking not so much, but I have lost 5 lbs! Definitely not noticeable, though. I’m hoping by the time I turn 50 next year I will have lost about 20 lbs. My goal is to be in a comfortable 12 🙂
RA is an abbreviation for Rheumatoid Arthritis. So that is what people mean when they say they have “RA” which can range in severity.
Weight Watchers! I’ve been on it for six weeks and have lost an average 1 pound per week (some weeks I’ve lost 2 pounds, a couple 0). Eat what you want (within your points) and as soon as I get through this month of editing, I’ll be able to devote more time to exercising to make the weight loss quicker. I like it so far because I used to workout like a madwoman but my eating habits were off so now I’m seeing results (without exercising-haha…well, a few times over the last 6 weeks). Keep up the good work Cecelia!
I’ve been a member and leader of First Place 4 Health for 18 years and have kept off all but five or so pounds of the weight I lost. A picture of me at my sons wedding almost 19 years ago prompted me to join First Place. I don’t exercise as regularly as I once did, but for my age, I do fairly well. Coming up on 76 in 2012.
BTW I think she was speaking of rheumatoid arthritis with the RA acronym.
@Ann – Great goal and great work! You didn’t start to have weight problems until 45? Mine started at about 28, initially. My metabolism slowed down but, I was so skinny beforehand that I just kinda got used to my increased size. After baby, well, I gained more! I’m 45 now, so, I think I’m okay for now, I’ll keep exercising and hopefully I’ll lose a bit more.
@Victoria – I’ve heard several state that they LOVE Weight Watchers. I doubt it’d work for me, but, what works for some may not work for others. Congrats!
@Martha – you’re 76? Wow! Congrats on your weight-loss accomplishments!
I wish! I only have twenty minutes at lunch so this wouldn’t work for me. This is an area of my life that really needs attention!
Hi, Tracy. Each person is different. Perhaps before or after work? Maybe do weekends and then one day during the week, that’d be at least 3 days a week exercise? Whatever works for you. I understand about the short lunch break…
For me, exercise helps me feel better and stay healthy. I am at a healthy weight, but I want it to stay that way. I find walking is the best exercise for me, but it is struggle in the winter. I am making myself use the treadmill in the winter three days a week and do an alternative routine the other days. I aim for 30 minutes of exercise on top of my regular running (I have four boys).