Help! High blood presure / work lunch ideas?
Help! High blood presure / work lunch ideas?
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Dover Nige

Original Poster:

1,308 posts

272 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Just got back from the Docs for a blood pressure check (they wrote and asked me in) and apparently I have high blood pressure and will be checked again in a fortnight.

I am enlisting you, my fellow PH'ers to help me go back in a fortnight and avoid going on to BP medication..!!


1) I don't do much exercise due to my job changing (previously active, now office based). Solution: I'm going to start walking as of tomorrow and build up to brisk walking.

2) Stress, I get a bit annoyed at things, but I'm now going to let stuff wash over me. No point in fretting about crap, it seems I need to start thinking about my health seriously. Solution: Don't worry about stuff at all.

3) Diet. Here's my problem. The nursey told me to stop putting salt on my dinner as a starter for ten. I don't smoke and don't drink any more than 1-2 pints a week (all my money goes on petrol!). I do however live on my own and work shifts, so I'm guessing my diet is rubbish. Lots of quick to do frozen chips, scampi, breaded chicken things, pasta bolognese, curries, pizza, crisps. The usual junk. Work packed lunches consist of a quick and simple few rounds of sandwiches (packet meat), a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar.

The tricky bit is that I don't like veg all that much as it seems to take ages to prep and I can't stand fruit. What the hell can I do with my diet...? I've got no ideas what quick to do packed lunches I could do for work instead of my usual easy to do sandwiches and what sort of stuff is quick to cook, healthy, will fill me up and will involve minimal washing up for my meals at home..??

I'm a bit lost as to what to do here. Can anyone offer some advice..? (Apart from buy an MX5 or go post on handbag.com!) I'm a beefy lad at 16.5st and 5'9" and don't want to lose much weight as I'm a good size and not overweight looking if you see what I mean. I just need to do healthy stuff to my diet. Oh, and it can't cost the earth either as I need £££ for petrol..!!


Cheers in advance......

andy-xr

13,204 posts

233 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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You need a pet. If you're not the cat type get some goldfish and watch how chilled they are

MaxAndRuby

6,792 posts

261 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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What were the two magic numbers?

I had it and beat it without medication. It's now been stable for six years.

Two important factors for me were weight and lack of physical exercise. I started exercising, lost weight, and the BP reduced accordingly.

Avoid furious masterbation prior to measuring BP!

anonymous-user

83 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Doesnt matter if you like it or not! you need to eat more fruit and veg and cut out the crap! Saturated fat is the biggest thing you need to cut out. There are some very good cookery books with simple, healthy and very tasty meals in! Preparing a fresh cheap healthy and tasty meal is easier than you may think!

anonymous-user

83 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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If you buy pre-packed veg from the supermarket (broccoli, carrots and cauli) you can microwave it in the bag in 2 minutes. No prep and no hardship. You need to learn to like veggies my friend - as they will be very friendly to you smile

Fittster

20,120 posts

242 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Dover Nige said:
2) Stress, I get a bit annoyed at things, but I'm now going to let stuff wash over me. No point in fretting about crap, it seems I need to start thinking about my health seriously. Solution: Don't worry about stuff at all.
I think you'll find it hard to let things wash over you that currently result in you being stressed.

Dover Nige

Original Poster:

1,308 posts

272 months

Monday 9th February 2009
quotequote all
MaxAndRuby said:
What were the two magic numbers?

I had it and beat it without medication. It's now been stable for six years.

Two important factors for me were weight and lack of physical exercise. I started exercising, lost weight, and the BP reduced accordingly.

Avoid furious masterbation prior to measuring BP!
I've no idea of the numbers I'm afraid. The electronic thing didn't work on me after several attempts and just came up with "-E-" so it was the stethoscope and gauge way and she didn't tell me what it was, apart from that it was high.

I'm hoping the starting walking thing may have some effect, but being on a week of nightshifts isn't going to help.... Oh, and I'll bear in mind that furious masturbation is a no-no....laugh

Dover Nige

Original Poster:

1,308 posts

272 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Hmm... OK. So processed food is no good then. There was I thinking scampi, bolognese, chicken and pizzas were ok (the Italians are healthy aren't they?).

So apart from bags of microwave veg (I'm liking the simpleness of that), what should I eat instead that's fast, simple, easy on the fairy liquid and filling...?

Edited by Dover Nige on Monday 9th February 15:37

digger_R

1,809 posts

235 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Dover Nige said:
I'm a beefy lad at 16.5st and 5'9" and don't want to lose much weight as I'm a good size and not overweight looking if you see what I mean.


so I'm guessing my diet is rubbish. Lots of quick to do frozen chips, scampi, breaded chicken things, pasta bolognese, curries, pizza, crisps. The usual junk.
There is no easy way to say this, you're a fat bd.
I'm the same height I think I have a bit of blubber I could do with losing and I weigh a touch over 11st.
I would start by eating a healthy cereal in the morning (hot oats & muslei), it may stop you from eating so much crap. Stop eating crisps, chocolate bars - not just cut down but stop and someone else has already said cut out the processed food.
You need to get a lot more veg and fruit into your diet and some excercise (lots of it)

I hope there are no hard feelings about the fat bd thing biggrin

MaxAndRuby

6,792 posts

261 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Dover Nige said:
Oh, and I'll bear in mind that furious masturbation is a no-no....laugh
Only just before your BP gets measured, any other time it's a plus.

Unbelievable that she didn't tell you the numbers. Mine was 150/110, lost weight and got it to 115/75 and kept it around that region.

It'll kill you, so take it seriously and find out the numbers.

crofty1984

17,064 posts

233 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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May I suggest that you go to the docs, and if you need medication, then take it and don't complain. It sounds like you're trying to cheat the system, like going for a big poo before a weigh-in.
By all means, do these things, go to the doctor and tell him/her what you're doing to turn things round (2 weeks probably isn't long enough) and then in 6 months time if you can keep up your new healthy lifestyle tell them you'd like to try forgoing the pills.

MaxAndRuby

6,792 posts

261 months

Monday 9th February 2009
quotequote all
crofty1984 said:
May I suggest that you go to the docs, and if you need medication, then take it and don't complain. It sounds like you're trying to cheat the system, like going for a big poo before a weigh-in.
By all means, do these things, go to the doctor and tell him/her what you're doing to turn things round (2 weeks probably isn't long enough) and then in 6 months time if you can keep up your new healthy lifestyle tell them you'd like to try forgoing the pills.
I was told if I had to take medication then I'd be on it for life.

Pickled Piper

6,452 posts

264 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Try drizzling a good quality olive oil over cooked veg and also salads. It makes them far more palatable.

pp

Dover Nige

Original Poster:

1,308 posts

272 months

Monday 9th February 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies and answers so far. They're much appreciated.

I am taking this as another serious health warning and realise now that I'm going to have to do something if I want to get past 40 and still be able to enjoy cars and driving.

In fact, I'm starting to flap a touch about my health. Is it too late at 35 to put it right?

Can anyone recommend or point me in the direction of books or websites detailing quick, easy healthy dinners/lunches?

As for calling me a fat bd....laugh No offence taken, but 11st and needing to lose a bit of weight..? I think I was last 11st when I'd been playing rugby for about a year at 13. The only way was up after that. I blame the weights during my teens for it myself..!! wink

Edited by Dover Nige on Monday 9th February 15:49

Arese

21,341 posts

216 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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digger_R said:
Dover Nige said:
I'm a beefy lad at 16.5st and 5'9" and don't want to lose much weight as I'm a good size and not overweight looking if you see what I mean.


so I'm guessing my diet is rubbish. Lots of quick to do frozen chips, scampi, breaded chicken things, pasta bolognese, curries, pizza, crisps. The usual junk.
There is no easy way to say this, you're a fat bd.
I'm the same height I think I have a bit of blubber I could do with losing and I weigh a touch over 11st.
I would start by eating a healthy cereal in the morning (hot oats & muslei), it may stop you from eating so much crap. Stop eating crisps, chocolate bars - not just cut down but stop and someone else has already said cut out the processed food.
You need to get a lot more veg and fruit into your diet and some excercise (lots of it)

I hope there are no hard feelings about the fat bd thing biggrin
You can't say he's a fat bd based on his height and weight. Do you know his body-fat percentage?

You skinny !


wink

Edited by Arese on Monday 9th February 15:47

clanger

1,087 posts

287 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Watch out it isn't just White Coat Syndrome.

Chim Chim

739 posts

234 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Buy a simple cookery book or look on Channel 4/Sainsbury etc websites for simple recipes.

Also try "sin free" (Slimming World) chips - chop potatoes into chips and put on a baking tray with a bit of olive oil (either "real or spray sort) and bake at 200degrees for about 30-45mins.

nick_bbb

5,490 posts

264 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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I would go back to the doctor and get them to do another test and give you proper results.

I went through the same thing at the begining of december. Each time they took it, it got lower as if your not used to having it taken it can effect the results. Mine was still high though at 160/90. They should then send you for blood and urine tests to see how else you have been effected. They test for good and bad cholestoral, liver and kidney damage and signs of diabeties. Luckily for me I passed all of those with flying colours so as suspected my problem was a complete lack of excercise as my diet was more of less fine. Since 8th December I've lost about a stone and a half by walking four miles a days with a backpack. I too am not just a fat bd but a big build anyway, I'm 6'3" and have 16" bicepts so contrary to the earlier poster who obviously believes that the BMI is gospel it's not. I weighed 23 stone though so have a long way to go yet, but even the doctor said he couldn't see where I was keeping it all.

The problem with going on medication for blood pressure is that once you start taking it you can't come off it which is why I'm working hard to avoid going on it.

maxrider

2,481 posts

265 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Dover Nige said:
Lots of quick to do frozen chips, scampi, breaded chicken things, pasta bolognese, curries, pizza, crisps. The usual junk. Work packed lunches consist of a quick and simple few rounds of sandwiches (packet meat), a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar.
That is bloody awful! Loaded with salt, sugar and fat.
Eat fresh as much as possible, no pre-packaged crap and get used to checking the labels for nutritional value.

However if you're not keen on fruit and veg and don't like washing up I wouldn't worry too much as with your current diet you soon won't be having to wash up again anyway.

digger_R

1,809 posts

235 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Arese said:
You can't say he's a fat bd based on his height and weight. Do you know his body-fat percentage?

You skinny !


wink
I have absolutely no idea about his body fat, random guess that having a sedate lifestyle and eating lots of processed foods is not going to get you in shape for a triathalon anytime soon

If you don't have a great deal of time for excercise then something like this http://www.hundredpushups.com would be very good for fitting in alongside other training.