Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine wine

After taking a Mulligan at the end of week 12, week 13 finally delivered the kinds of results I was hoping for. On four days – three of them consecutive – I recorded readings in the 130s over 80s.

If this form continued, week 14 was shaping up to be a good one. The problem was that I had four social nights lined up. It was a bit like getting a storm warning. You know there’s tempestuous weather headed your way and you prepare as best you can.

In my case, I could have drunk water instead of wine. The alternative, sticking with the storm metaphor, was to see how well the roof repairs would hold.

As things played out, I sipped slowly, but there’s no hiding away from getting to bed at midnight when your body clock is going to wake you at some point between 5.00 and 6.00 (and that’s not factoring in the disturbed sleep that often follows a ‘social’ night).

All things, considered, the outcome wasn’t terrible, and certainly better than it would have been when I started this exercise.

Week 14 went one better than the previous week, with five days in the 130s over 80s (four of them consecutive).

For the first time, my diastolic reading was below 90 throughout the week. Some things seem to be working.

The next challenge is to get below 130/80 (and to do it without living the life of a monk).

The Week in Numbers

Sunday (post social)
BP: 156/88 (144/82)
Bike: 90 mins, mostly zones 2 and 3 with a small dose of zone 4

Monday
BP: 134/78

Tuesday
BP: 137/82
Bike: 62 mins in zone 2

Wednesday
BP: 139/85 (125/77)

Thursday (post social)
BP: 136/82
Bike: 63 mins (evenly spread between zones 2, 3 & 4)

Friday (post social)
BP: 144/83

Saturday (post social)
BP: 137/68
Bike: nil