Anonymous wrote:You beat me. There were only horrible food options today at the meeting. All day followed by reception. Ugh. I ate junk. But not sugar, at least. I leave for out of town tomorrow. May the healthy food gods be with me.

I did run today at least.

I’m sorry Kate, so hard when you don’t have a lot of control over the options. I’m impressed you didn’t go for the sugar.

I’ve been consistently ok, not binging or eating too much sugar but bits here and there and probably more calories than I can to lose weight. I guess it’s ok- things are so stressful. But not really clear when they will get better. Work at least should be better next week.

Trying to eat lots of healthy stuff- protein and produce. Helps a lot when I’m tired (have been sleeping poorly again….)

Alexandra

You beat me. There were only horrible food options today at the meeting. All day followed by reception. Ugh. I ate junk. But not sugar, at least. I leave for out of town tomorrow. May the healthy food gods be with me.

I did run today at least.

Hi Kate, I HATE it when I don’t have enough healthy food around. I’m really sorry- sounds like an annoying difference in opinion with your husband.

Yesterday was pretty good. I resisted evening snacking. Go me!

Yesterday was good in the exercise department but I did have two doughnuts. There wasn’t much food in the house because DH has decided to shop every day instead of weekly so there is only ever enough for dinner. He has issues and works a very part time job so he took over groceries but it’s not working out well IMO. I’ll have to use my weekend to shop instead.

Today is a full day work meeting with provided food. I plan to make good choices. Hope you got some sleep!

I would say I’m still doing ok. Not awesome but no big binges or big things of sweets despite a lot of stress and very little sleep. Kids have been waking up a LOT during the night. They do that sometimes during transitions - I really hope this ends soon.

Went for a long walk yesterday. Squeezed in some abs today. Will try to do something more tonight, depending on my energy level

Oh a day trip to NYC with just your DD sounds so amazing. I can’t wait to do that. Something wonderful about every phase, to be sure.

I’ve been doing ok enough, well ok for me. I’m really sleeping poorly and I’m definitely eating more carbs than a dietitian would call optimal but nothing crazy. My youngest is a picky eater but also so so thin the doctors have us giving him all the carbs and fat he will eat, and it hard to resist. All worth it because he’s doing ok.

Getting back to exercising. It helps a lot.

Alexandra

My doctor called me back for repeat bloodwork and the strange out of range number was completely normal the second blood draw.

We did a day trip to New York yesterday, just me and my daughter. I was very proud of ourselves for packing a healthy breakfast to eat on the train, getting very good quality healthy food from a hot bar at lunch. Dinner was a little rushed and included a bag of peanut M&Ms for me but all in all, not bad for a day on the run. It feels strange not to crave so much junk food. This week will be tough with a work trip, actually two of them. But I am determined to stay on a good path because I definitely feel better when I do.

My cholesterol has never been terrible, in fact it has steadily improved since I was 18 when I pulled a 240. It’s one reason I have focused on my health most of my adult life. My LDL runs high very consistently and unfortunately my HDL is not high enough to balance it out. But my total this year was still under 200 which was the first time in many years I’ve seen that. It is possible the focus on diet has helped with that. I did have one other non-lipid number out of range so I am wondering what my doctor has to say about that.

That makes sense and if your kid has always been that way then it’s probably just their nature. As hard as it is to accept, you are not responsible for your children’s happiness. of course it feels as though you are and you are the one signing them up for this or that but ultimately they just have to make their own lives work. I know that’s not very helpful when your kid feels sad or disappointed. Some people are more homebodies and I’m sure that I can get tough if you have to go out every day. My daughter has her first job this summer working as an assistant counselor at a camp. She is really enjoying being on the other side of things rather than being a student. Let your kids know that there are seasons in life and some have things better in one area and worse than others. You sound like a wonderful mother.

Hi Kate, I’m sorry you are disappointed with your bloodwork. Were your numbers bad to start? I totally get wanting to see improvement.

My kids do know they need to go to camp so I can work. One kid enjoys it, one kid never does although they tolerate some better than others. I feel so sad and guilty because I want them to have fun relaxing summers I just can’t figure out how to do it.

Today was better. Exercise helps me get to a more virtuous cycle. Ate a small piece of chocolate with my DD. Love that kid- both of them of course- so much. We had a nice evening at least.

Trying to get some sleep tonight. I have to prioritize that again.

Alexandra

Well, my bloodwork is largely unchanged—but it’s not worse. My LDL is down 6% from two years ago and my HDL is up 2%. I’ll keep doing what I am doing, but it doesn’t seem to be moving the needle much if at all. I guess trending better is better than tending worse so I need to call it a win.

Too bad.

Hi Alexandra--good to hear from you.

You are in the thick of it, for sure. I'm about a decade ahead of you and only just now able to really focus on my health. Kudos to you for focusing on it now. Anything you do will be in your favor as you head into your 40s. You are young enough that perfection is not necessary. Sleep and exercise are more important than your diet, I believe. They vastly affect your mental health which impacts everything else.

I do think kids need to know that some activities are choices and some are not. Camp while mama has to work is not a choice. Make the best of it and I'll see you at 3:30 or whatever.

It does get better, I can tell you.

Hi Kate, it’s been a rough week- kids are having mixed feelings about camp and my work is still nuts. I haven’t been sleeping well as a result so I guess no surprise I have been eating too many carbs. Not terrible on sugar (aside from the weekend) but definitely carb overload and chips! Unlike me to crave salty stuff like this so I wonder what is going on.

I eat so much better when I’m exercising. I know this, it’s better for my mental health and yet life just gets in the way. I did a low key workout the past two days to try and start easing back into it. I can’t let my work and ruin my health. As I get closer to 40 I’m very much thinking about staying active and mobile and being able to do the things I want to do physically- it seems to slip away a lot faster than even 5 years ago…

Alexandra

So interesting how I woke up at 4 AM when previously I'd been sleeping through the night with no issues. I am convinced at this point that eating sugar disrupts my sleep. It definitely gives me a bad taste in my mouth in the morning, too. Well, the ice cream is gone and the only treat around here is dried unsweetened mango and some fresh peaches. Should not be a problem to be low sugar today.

Had a good run this morning but still need to do my strength training.

--K.

I ate really well all day, then polished off the rest of the pint of ice cream after dinner. Oh well. It's gone now.

Should get bloodwork results tomorrow. At least I'll be home tomorrow and able to eat normally.

How are you doing, Alexandra?

--Kate

Ended the day with a bag of chips and one serving of ice cream and was satisfied. Looking forward to a nights sleep.

I’ll get back on the horse tomorrow.

Kate