While working on this life change...

While working with the research for this life change, it became clear I wasn't doing everything in my power to control my own blood pressure. In fact, I was doing very little. I laid all the responsibility for blood pressure numbers and my cholesterol squarely on my doctor's shoulders.

This hypertension project was at times an unwelcome and rude eye-opener for me. I chose to start taking responsibility for my issues with blood pressure and cholesterol by first repairing my bad eating habits. I took the whole foods approach (similar in many ways to the DASH diet plan) to heart, if you'll pardon the pun. In just a few months, both my blood pressure and my cholesterol levels are lower than they've ever been in my adult life. I take vitamin supplements but no pharmaceuticals now. Tackling more exercise is next on my list, followed by getting my stress levels more in line.

If you've ever read through the material in some of these life changes and wondered if the projects ever really touched the writers on a personal level, the answer in this case is a solid "yes".