OMRON’s 90-Day Blood Pressure Challenge — Completed
As an instructor of Emerging Technologies at Rutgers University School of Business Executive Education Programs and a “Top 100 Health Tech Influencer”, having served for several years on the board of directors of a major university hospital, I am often asked to collaborate with brands to review healthcare-related products and services. Though I have agreed to a paid collaboration with OMRON, the thoughts here are my own and may not reflect those of OMRON.
About 90 days ago, I accepted a challenge from OMRON to adopt healthier habits. How’d I do?
I surprised myself. After accepting OMRON’s 90-day challenge to adopt healthier habits, among them regularly monitoring my blood pressure, I am leaner (by about ten pounds — eating less, eating better, moving more), more energetic, happier. I know that’s a lot, but I’ll explain more.
OMRON makes the most doctor and pharmacy-recommended health blood pressure monitoring devices. So, not surprisingly, the 90-day challenge begins with weaving in-home blood-pressure monitoring, with one of their devices, Complete, a dual EKG and blood-pressure device.
Sounds complicated. It’s not.
I don’t have high blood pressure, but I know that that could change, and monitoring it is the only way to catch it if it changes. — And home monitoring is a smart choice. No that’s not just me saying that, it’s the CDC.
Why do I credit the 90-day challenge with my wellness success?
Understanding the importance of monitoring my blood pressure made me think about my overall health. I knew that if I wanted to reduce my risk of high blood pressure, I’d need to lose some weight, eat healthier, exercise more — and, of course, monitor my blood pressure.
Making monitoring my blood pressure memorable was easy. I like to listen to the morning news at breakfast. I keep my compact Complete monitoring device in its non-descript black carrying case on my kitchen counter where it reminds me to do a reading before my coffee. Finding that rhythm may take a few tries, but once you find it, it’ll make monitoring your blood pressure an easy habit!
So, thinking of how serious a problem high blood could be, made me focus on how I could master OMRON’s 90-day challenge of achieving a healthier lifestyle.
I recently moved from New Jersey to a small town in Sicily. Eating healthier was easy — IF I wanted it to be. Tons of fresh fruits and vegetables and a lot less red meat.
Exercising fell out of my routine. OMRON’s challenge reminded me to add exercise back in. Now, you might say to yourself, “Who wouldn’t ride their bike if they were in Sicily?” It’s always easy to come up with a reason not to do something. Choosing a healthier lifestyle — which includes monitoring your blood pressure, will get you to do more of what you should and less of what you shouldn’t! I also added VR exercise to my routine for a long period of time when taking a bike ride or even a walk was not allowed.
If you can’t join me in Sicily, you can join me in taking OMRON’s 90-day challenge.
Please do — and let me know how you do! And feel free to ask me any questions you may have in the comments section below! Thanks!
