Blood Pressure

There are other measures of success when dieting besides the scale. One is how your body feels  - lighter, more agile (for lack of a better word). One is the way clothes fit - looser, less binding, too big. Another is more directly related to health. Some members of our program hope to go off or reduce their prescribed medication for blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. I don't take any medication, but my blood pressure is typically right up there at the edge of OK, like 139. Sometimes they have to take it twice to get it to dip under 140.

During the Optifast diet, it's mainly been in the high 130's, occasionally being higher on a particular week (in the 140's or 150's). Blood pressure is taken every week at the weigh-in. I'm happy to report that on Monday, mine was in the 120's for the first time in quite some time. I'd love to get it - and keep it - under 120 (the ideal blood pressure) but I'm happy for 128 and the downward trend. Yay!

Test Results - A Little Bit Scary

My liver test results came back high. The doctor said that can happen and they'll watch it. I think the liver gets stressed by a combination of the diet and the rapid weight loss. Also, they say drinking water helps and we're supposed to drink a gallon a day but I'm still not even close. I have 23 oz water bottles and would need to drink 5. It's almost four and I haven't finished the second. And just recently our town was in the news for having bad water which makes me a bit leery of tap water. Going to the store later so need to pick up more bottled water and need to force that water down me every day in the hopes that my next tests are in the normal range. I don't want to damage my liver.