Official Report on Blood Pressure

Every 6 months I am required to have a Class 1 medical to maintain my pilot's licence in Canada.  Like all the Boomers I talk to where employment income depends on good health, we breathe a collective sigh of relief with every semi annual stamp of approval (literally a stamp on the licence).

"Clunk" goes the stamp, good for another half year - Phew!

The exciting thing was the blood pressure reading.  Consistent work outs over only 6 weeks involving lots of cardio work such as swimming, bicycle rides (did a 36 km ride yesterday), Zumba classes, have had the desired effect.  My blood pressure reading at my previous pilot medical was 148/85.  This was a serious concern for me for a couple reasons.  One, I have had very low blood pressure my entire life (until the past few years where it has started to climb steadily) and two, both my parents suffered from hypertension.  I told my aviation doc I did NOT want to go on medication!  Not that he was prescribing it, but he did mention maybe it was time to see my family doctor.  Or, he said, I could consider exercise and treat it like a prescription, in other words do as directed!  I took the second option.

New reading *** 140/80***!  I am pumped about this (yes, pun intended).  This is a significant drop and it proves that exercise plays a major part in reducing blood pressure.   The doc explained to me that as we age our blood vessels harden and blood pressure rises over time and for my age  (56) this new blood pressure reading was a normal reading and it would probably never go below 130/75 because of my age.  My new goal is of course to see the blood pressure drop to at least that 130/75. 

My weight is another issue.  The weight has not changed in the last 6 months.  But, my clothes are looser.  I am not concerned, but I admit I am bitterly disappointed.  I understand that muscle weighs a lot more that fat does.  All the exercise has increased muscle mass, I can tell because I'm not as flabby.  Muscle is the engine that burns fat.  If you want to lose weight in a healthy way you need to increase muscle mass.  You need to increase the muscle mass in your body first and then slowly the muscle will burn fat.  So it makes sense that as this process is happening, you actually could weigh MORE, or like me, stay the same weight but your Body Mass Index, or BMI, is improving - the percentage of fat in your body is decreasing. 

Like I said, I'm disappointed with my weight after all this work. I personally need more feedback.  In the past I have been told to throw away the weigh scale because it doesn't give a true story.  But, surely I should see some results soon.  So I caved.  I bought a scale, but am not going to live on it, I"ll check my weight once a week.