Busy and Rewarding Month

Managing Health and Fitness Amidst Challenges

This past month has been particularly challenging for me, and I won’t sugarcoat it (though if I could, I’d probably be tempted to eat). Living with an autoimmune condition and a few other minor health issues made my daily routine feel like a game of Jenga, one wrong move, and the whole day could topple. Still, I managed a decent record of going to the gym. Take that, couch! (Sorry, Netflix, we’re on a break.) In fact, despite experiencing the hottest weather this month, seriously, even my sunscreen threatened to unionize, I pushed myself to sprint more often and focused on improving my running. I bravely tackled activities I once thought were out of reach, like running for fun instead of just running from responsibilities (though, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s both). To support my health, I continued taking my lovely prescribed D3, B12, and a weekly shot to prevent any relapses, because nothing says “I’m thriving” like turning your kitchen into a makeshift pharmacy. For the first time, I also started using a creatine supplement specifically recommended for women (because, apparently, my muscles dream of becoming superheroes too). Shout out to the woman from my gym that recommended it, because I honestly love it! On top of that, I became extremely intentional about when to take each medication, following guidance on whether to take them with or without food, nothing says “adulting” quite like setting calendar reminders for your vitamins and then forgetting where you put your phone.

Prioritizing Nutrition and Routine

I have also become extremely dedicated to my diet, so much so that my fridge now opens more often than the front door. While I’ve generally made healthy choices, my approach used to be about as consistent as a toddler’s mood. This week highlighted just how hectic life can be for parents. I wake up shortly after five in the morning to prepare a nutritious breakfast for my child, all while battling insomnia that sometimes has me awake as early as three or four a.m. (apparently, my brain thinks I’m auditioning for the role of “rooster” in the farmyard musical). I’ve learned to accept those early hours, whether I manage to fall back asleep or not, which is rare. My commitment to getting back on track with exercise, after years of inconsistency, is unwavering, like a squirrel hopped up on an energy drink. Although the number on the scale hasn’t changed as much as I’d hoped (maybe it’s secretly set to “stubborn”), I plan to compare some older photos to now. I am confident I’ve become stronger and leaner, even if my weight remains about the same, proving once and for all that my muscles are really, dense…or maybe my shoes got heavier? Either way, I’m ready for a rematch with gravity.

Juggling Family, Responsibilities, and Meal Prep

This week has been an Olympic event in chaos management, kids’ activities, camps, and a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt (if only laundry folded itself as fast as it multiplies, I’d be set for life and probably have a cleaner wardrobe to boot). Nevertheless, this month deserves a gold medal for parenting, spousing, chef-ing, and, who knew, my hidden talent as “pool maintenance specialist.” My kitchen escapades included culinary hits like keto tacos and grilled chicken alfredo in spaghetti squash boats. The grilled chicken briefly turned my backyard into a summer campfire experience, grill fire included, because multitasking as “pool girl” and “grill master” in 100-degree heat apparently means you’re living on the edge. (Pro tip: don’t try to add water to your pool and grill at the same time unless you’re yearning for adrenaline with your protein.) Thankfully, I put out the blaze without needing to call the fire department or traumatize any fire alarms—though, for a split second, I thought I’d get to meet my local heroes in oven mitts and a swimsuit. In the end, the chicken was a triumph, providing us with multiple meals and only a minor scare, plus a dramatic story for the next family gathering. Who knew dinner could be so… electrifying?

Learning, Acceptance, and Recovery

I’ve realized that life can be easier with thoughtful planning and discipline, but it’s equally important to focus on taking care of yourself (and occasionally hiding in the closet with a snack…healthy of course). Over this month, I’ve made significant progress by accepting my current circumstances and striving to improve in manageable ways. Although I often feel exhausted, the sense of accomplishment is starting to outweigh the fatigue, though both compete fiercely for my attention, like my kids at bedtime for back and feet rubs when I clearly want one myself. I’ve learned to approach each phase of recovery with patience and care, recognizing that each day may require a different approach, and sometimes, just a nap. Or even sometimes the occasional mental health drive in your pajamas after your dogs roll around in some unknown poop early in the morning and you just need to clear your head around the block multiple times. Yes, that happened this week, no bra and all driving the same pattern listening to music to calm my stressed-out soul.

The Importance of Organization

In reflecting on these experiences, I can’t help but see the comedic side of trying to maintain a journal or log amidst the chaos. For example, I proudly scribble my weekly meal plan on the kitchen chalkboard, because nothing says “prepared parent” quite like erasing last week’s failed attempts with a dramatic flourish. My daily or weekly tasks are written in an old-fashioned paper notebook (yes, paper…the ancient ancestor of the smartphone). And don’t even get me started on my sticker, or “zap,” obsession, a lingering side effect from the military. I slap them on my planner like merit badges: “Survived Monday,” “Didn’t Burn Dinner,” “Only Cried Once.” This quirky ritual guarantees that, no matter what kind of mayhem the universe throws at me, be it a reckless driver barreling down my street or a squirrel on a nut-fueled sugar high plotting to sabotage my Tesla, there’s always a plan (or at least a sticker) for my family’s meals. After all, if you fail to plan, you plan to eat out of convenience for dinner…again. And let’s be honest, the best part about paper journals is that if something doesn’t get done, you just heroically migrate it to next week, as if you deliberately planned to procrastinate (which, in a way, you did). I swear, digital to-do lists just can’t compete with the thrill of moving sticky notes around like a strategic general in the war against unfinished chores.

Looking Ahead

Right now, I don’t have much else to share, my brain needs a few days to recover (from life, and from last month’s epic to-do list, which I swear was longer than my grocery receipts). But brace yourself, because I’ve got some exciting plans for the coming month. Who knows, maybe next time I’ll have fewer grill fires, more sleep (ha!), and even more kale and protein. And let’s not forget, the grand finale: the last kiddo birthday pool and slumber party at my house, which means my home transforms into a temporary aquatic wildlife preserve with so many boys swimming, eating, and generally causing chaos that even my pool filter wants a vacation. If you listen closely, you can hear the kitchen sighing and prepping itself for a carb invasion.

So, yes, this blog was basically me giving myself a standing ovation, or maybe just a kazoo solo. Either way, sometimes it’s important to celebrate yourself, even if your only audience is your dog, who’s just hoping you drop a snack. After all, we all deserve a moment to toot our own horn (or kazoo), no matter how off-key. Stay tuned for next month’s adventures, which will hopefully involve less grill fires, more sleep, and maybe a pool party that doesn’t require a lifeguard with nerves of steel.

I’m a 1980 baby so I felt my picture was appropriate, but never be afraid to toot your own horn or kazoo and stay hydrated my friends this summer in all your gym or life goals!