My DH and I are doing this together too (but he's not the type to read or post on message boards). My DH also has sky-high BP and high cholesterol and is on meds for both (he is only about 30 lbs overweight).
We are hoping that by losing those 30 lbs that both the BP and cholesterol will come down so that he doesn't have to take the Lipetor and can decrease the amount of BP meds.
Our doctor also discourages the low-carb diet plans - but we were both eating low-carb, low-cal and low-salt and both gained weight on this "healthy" diet. We both need to increase our exercise. Since we'd had success on Atkins a few years ago, we went back to eating low-carb the middle of Nov. and are both feeling better.
Some people with high BP and high cholesterol have a genetic component to these problems - diet and exercise will only do so much, as will medications. My DH's mother had extremely high BP and high cholesterol (she was not ever overweight) - and we lost her to Parkinson's disease in 1995. His father is very overweight, smokes like a chimney, eats whatever he wants and has "acceptable" BP and cholesterol.
I think all you can do is do your best to be healthy.
best of luck to you and your DH.
-Laurie