First half of 2018 KPIs

Key Performance Indicators - if you can't measure it, you can't manage it - and that goes for health too. Here we are, end of the first half of the year, and once again time to look at the numbers.

I'll start with the exercises. These tend to start well, with a New Year kick and then carrying on strongly into Lent, before tailing ofp into the second half. This year, the press-ups are really good, well up on last year - I'm now able to do 36 in one go comfortably, 42 maximum. Now using 5kg weights rather than the 3kg I started the year with, using them to build up shoulder strength. And pull-ups - 10 easy, 12 at a stretch. In each category more exercises done than in the first half of last year, 2016, 2015 and 2014. So what's being exercised the most - the will to do it. Thanks again to Michał Borzyskowski from Australia for the tips and regular motivation!

My walking achievements were held back by a heavy dose of flu in January (that month my daily average was under 8,000), but since then I've been pushing forward, knocking out more and more. June's daily average was 12,405 paces a day, bringing the half-year daily average up to 11,079 (down a bit from last year's 11,098, but then I didn't miss four days through illness)

Alcohol consumption slightly up on last year (17 units a week, compared to 15 last year; UK health guidelines now being 14 units for both men and women. But number of days without alcohol has stayed the same - 116 this year and last (out of 182 days in the half). This does suggest that I could do with reducing the numbers of glasses of wine per session! Intake of fresh fruit and vegetables at 5.4 portions a day identical to the first six months of last year.

But the real achievement is in tackling high blood pressure without medication. This time last year, average readings were 140 (systolic) over 100 (diastolic). I was prescribed pills ("to be taken for the rest of my life"). I bought the prescription but didn't take any. How am I faring? 30 June last year - average reading was 134/95. 30 June this year - it was 112/79. Can it be I've willed a long-term drop in blood pressure? Or is just a slight improvement in my exercise regime helping? Looking at the daily averages, by late August last year, my blood pressure was down to acceptable levels. Which, according to the Heart Foundation's guidelines from 2016, are between 90-129 (systolic) and 60-84 (diastolic). Was it a one-off episode last summer? Anyway, if you don't measure it, you can't manage it! Schrodinger's cat and the power of the Conscious Observer to influence the outcome!

This time last year:
Three and half years of health and fitness data

This time two years ago:
First half of 2016 health & fitness in numbers

This time three years ago:
Venus, Jupiter - auspices

This time four years ago:
Down the line from York

This time five years ago:
Cider - at last available in Poland

This time six years ago:
Despondency on Puławska

This time seven years ago:
Stalking the stork

This time nine years ago:
Late June lightning