The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak... I'm working to make that less true for me, at least the latter part. I have knowledge of how to eat, I know how to lose weight pretty rapidly, but I haven't been doing it since February.

I'm addressing a couple issues that I think have been causing my noncompliance. The main issue is that I just haven't taken control of my life. My children's routines have been lacking, our sleeping and eating schedules have been out of whack, and the illnesses we had in Feb, March, and April have amplified those problems.

Sleep/Routine. We learned at the IfHI conference last year that early birds are the healthiest. Staying up late and sleeping late throws the body out of harmony. With small children I was happy to let them sleep in, so I could get a few more zzz's myself, but that is changing now. My 5 year old really likes his pre-kindergarten, and has begged us to let him go all summer, but it's only in the mornings during the summer, so we're going to do it, and we'll all be better off for it. Today my taekwondo class was at 9:30, which is earlier than we usually get anywhere. It cost me some sleep, but we did it, and we actually ate breakfast in the morning, and lunch at noon. I got some gardening done after lunch, and it's been a really good day. They went to bed 1 and 2 hours earlier last night than the night before, and they should be tired tonight as well.

I heard on the radio about a sleep study where they found that lack of sleep contributed to increased hunger by affecting the amount of Leptin hormone. It also causes prediabetic changes to the metabolism, so sleep is serious stuff. That may have contributed to my falling off the diet wagon when the kids and everyone got sick. I missed a lot of sleep then! Here's to staying healthy.

Self-Control. For me this is part of being in touch with my body and actually having something challenging to perform. After my MS scare, I am very grateful to have a body that works well, and I'm going to really start using it. Today was a trial for taekwondo, and I signed up right after for the next 6 months, 2 days a week. I knew I'd be sore, so this will keep me coming back regardless of soreness. I have till next Tuesday to recover from today's lesson. My five year old is very excited, and I think a bit proud, that I'm joining up too. He went with me today, as he had a class right after, but will switch to an afternoon class next week to work around summer school.

I have no excuses, and I'm not going to make them, but I am doing something to change them. I should have lost 20-30 pounds since the first of the year, at the clip I was going in January. I can hardly give diet advice to others until I start progressing along myself.

Today has been pretty perfect. I had scrambled eggs, crenshaw melon, and hato mugi for breakfast, with some green tea to make up for the lost sleep of the morning. For lunch I had a buffalo patty with ricotta salata and tomato. I did have a bit of sugar in the organic ketchup, but I have found a compliant Eden mustard...Oh, I have compliant ketchup now as well which I forgot to get out and open...Organicville. Since gatherers can have vinegar, that makes it much easier to find such things, though I do still avoid distilled vinegar on account of my corn allergy. These two items have apple cider vinegar I believe, and the ketchup is sweetened with agave! I did have a bit of sugar in the kombucha I bought to try, that has sugar added after fermenting (I started drinking it, then looked at the label when it tasted too good, I enjoyed it, then bid that brand a fond farewell).

I'm addressing a longstanding issue with slightly high fasting blood glucose. I'm cutting way back on agave, as vegetable glycerine works just fine in most places. I'm avoiding the high fructose fruits that are black dots for gatherers, and sticking to superfood carbs wherevr possible.

It's good to take control. I have knowledge, it's my responsibility to use it. I have a functioning body, and it's my responsibility to use that as well. I must combine the two to reach a state of health that allows me to contribute more to my family and the world. (Or I could say, "and THUS the world", as the furthest reaches of a mother's contributions extend so profoundly through her children and their contribution to the world.)

Oh, and as far as taekwondo goes, I'm going to be very sore! It's a great workout, and will really improve my coordination and confidence. I found out I don't have to spar, if I don't want to add that in, but I can still get a black belt. That takes a lot of work, of course, but I need a challenge. I'd like my sons to get their black belts, so I need to set an example.