High Blood Pressure -- Part II

As some of you know, six weeks ago I was diagnosed with high blood
pressure, and was prescribed medication. Although the medicine the doc
gave me WAS on the FAA's list of "approved" drugs, the mere act of
taking such a drug would set into motion all sorts of things regarding
obtaining future medicals that I simply didn't want to face.

Nevertheless, there I was, standing in my bathrobe, holding that stupid
pill in one hand, a glass of water in the other, feeling old and flabby
and powerless. Yet, just as I was about to swallow the damned thing, I
realized one simple fact with absolute clarity:

I liked flying more than I liked eating.

So, with that I put the pill back in the bottle, and resolved on the
spot to change my diet and (to some extent) my lifestyle. I was going
to lose 15 pounds, and see if the old BP would follow.

At 197 pounds, on a 6-foot frame, I was not obese. I have done weight
training with my 14-year-old son for almost two years now, every day --
so there's a fair amount of muscle on this 46-year-old frame. However,
in college I was in even better shape -- and weighed just 175 pounds.
So, I knew there was at least 15 pounds of "extra" Jay on board at all
times.

The first thing I needed to do was to make sure that -- whatever diet I
chose -- I was never hungry. This meant that I needed a high-bulk, low
calorie diet. Since I find the high-fat/high protein/all meat diets to
be counterintuitive, I opted to create a diet made primarily of fruit.

Why fruit? Well, it's no-salt, low calorie, full of vitamins, high in
bulk -- and tasty as hell! I decided I would eat two "fruit meals" per
day, and would allow myself one "normal" meal -- which I initially
designated as being lunch.

Unfortunately, I soon found that society plans too many events around
"dinners" -- and I simply couldn't whip out a banana at a restaurant --
so within a few days my "normal" meal had evolved into dinner.

Thus, for breakfast, lunch, and mid-afternoon snack, I created a diet
made entirely of Golden Delicious apples, Bartlet pears, and bananas.
For dinner, I could eat anything I wanted.

Within a few days, the pounds began to shed. Happily, I was never
hungry, since I was constantly stuffing my face with jumbo apples. And
I could always look forward to a good burger, washed down with a
microbrewed beer, at the end of the day. It was the perfect diet!

Better yet, by eliminating my normal breakfast and lunch, I also
eliminated the lion's share of my salt intake. I also started running
with my son, every other day, in addition to weight training. As much
as I hate running, I soon found that carrying less weight makes running
easier -- so I don't hate it as much anymore.

So how's all this working? I just got back from the doctor, and here
is the tale of the tape:

March 22 May 3
Weight 197 185
BP 155/85 135/82

The nurses were astounded that I could lose 12 pounds in just six
weeks, and (thanks to multivitamins, the fruit, and running) be
perfectly healthy. The good doctor was amazed at a 20 point drop in
blood pressure in such a short time -- especially since it had been
rising for at least the last four years.

So, I think I've discovered the perfect diet. I'm stuffed all the
time, I'm losing weight without being hungry, my nightly indigestion
(always followed by Tums or Rolaids) is completely GONE -- and, wow, am
I regular as hell!

:-)

At this rate I should be 175 by OSH, and -- best of all -- I think this
is a diet I can stick with for the rest of my life. I highly recommend
it!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"