A milestone achieved

Am I allowed to be just a little smug? This morning - six weeks tomorrow since I travelled to Obsidian, and 31 days since my return - I have (a) got below twelve stone for the first time since 2011, and (b) have therefore lost a stone since my first day at the resort. I have a further 18lb to go to reach a 'normal' BMI, so just under halfway through.

It's a bit disconcerting to realise that my weight today (167 pounds, or 11-13) was actually my HEAVIEST point on previous journeys in 2006 and 2007, but hey - that's the way too many cookies crumble.

However, here is one other interesting observation. During the last fifteen years, my blood pressure has constantly been a little on the high side. Not dramatically so: most of the readings were in the region of 118 to 130 for the systolic reading, and between 80 and 95 for the diastolic. That latter reading caused several medics to say "it's not quite high enough to use medication, but it's higher than I'd like it to be..."

On my first assessment at Obsidian, my reading was in that sort of range: 131/95. The day that I left, it was a highly satisfactory 114/76. Today it was *drum roll*... 102/77.

Now, what's even more interesting is that this reading is way, way lower and healthier than it was when I was much lighter than I am now. Today I'm 167 pounds. In May 2008, I weighed in at 150 pounds - and my BP was my highest that I have ever recorded: 142/109. That's when I was just one pound heavier than my healthy BMI target today.

I can only judge that the removal of most sugar, alcohol and (probably) gluten from my diet, a 5K walk nearly every day, and around 75% vegetarian food, have been responsible for this change - which is, in fact, far more important than the fact that I am gradually reclaiming half my wardrobe.

It's all about so much more than the pounds.