It is day 20 and I am officially down 14.3 pounds. I’ve been pretty good with my eating. My biggest problem has been making sure I eat enough. The days that I gain slightly have been the ones where I’ve not eaten enough food the day before. I wouldn’t say I forget to eat, as some people have reported. It’s more that I am not hungry. I pay more attention to my macros (protein, fat, carbs) than I do calories and that seems to be working well.
As you can see, there have been some days I’ve gained but then lost it plus more. Those were the days I was too restrictive and my body said “Hey, we’re starving here. Better save that fat for tomorrow in case there is no food!”
I am still working on moving more. Some days are better than others. As my wellness coach says, “something is better than nothing”.
I’m officially standing at the start of something new—and I feel genuinely excited about it.
Beginning my GLP-1 journey isn’t just about weight loss. It’s about taking control in a way that feels intentional, informed, and long overdue. After a lot of research, reflection, and preparation, I’m ready to focus on getting healthy, not chasing perfection, but choosing progress.
One of the things I’m most looking forward to is simply moving better. I want my body to feel like a partner again, not something I have to fight with. Less knee pain is high on my wish list—because when movement hurts less, life opens up more. Walking becomes possible. Energy comes back. Confidence grows.
And yes, I’m excited to make myself a priority.
Not someday. Not after everything else is handled. Now.
As part of this journey, I’m starting a walking program, something gentle but consistent—movement that fits into real life and supports long-term health. I’m also continuing the healthy eating and movement plan that’s already been working for me. Since December 15, 2025, I’ve lost 11 pounds, and that matters. It tells me I’m capable. It tells me I can trust myself when I commit.
There’s also room for small, surprisingly hopeful goals—like trying (and maybe even liking!) cottage cheese. It might sound minor, but embracing new foods and habits is part of building a healthier relationship with my body and my choices.
This GLP-1 journey feels like a tool—not a shortcut, not a magic fix, but support. Support as I keep showing up for myself. Support as I build momentum. Support as I choose health, mobility, and strength for the long run.
I’m proud of where I’m starting. I’m excited about where I’m going. And for the first time in a long time, I’m doing this—for me.
Last month I began preparing to take better care of myself. I met with my doctor, had a thyroid scan, and met with a wellness coach. I believe I have a good plan in place to lose some weight and get stronger.
I see the doctor again next week. He may or may not put me on a GLP-1. I wanted to start this journey for several years and have done extensive research into using GLP-1s to assist with weight loss. I have been reading up on things to do to minimize side effects.
Yesterday I had a good discussion with my wellness coach. I learned a lot from her in that one hour call. For example, I am on the right track in adding more protein to my diet. I am also on the right track with cutting down on coffee and it’s companion poisons – sugar and artificial creamer. I have switched over to drinking tea either green or black tea. I allow myself one 50 cal probiotic soda but I have not had one every day. It is a treat. I drink mostly water now.
This week I started doing squats. Every hour while I was at work I did 10 squats. I did this for two days and by the third day I was in quite a bit of pain and discomfort. The wellness coach told me that it was lactic acid buildup in my legs and that I should drink more water when I do squats. She said that the water will help flush away the lactic acid. I plan on trying that on Monday .
I plan to keep a record of my journey here and will update as things move along. I have already lost 5 pounds so I am feeling more positive that I can do this than I ever have.
So, my Lingo CGM (continuous glucose monitor) arrived. I prepped my arm and placed the sensor. It did not hurt at all. I did, however, bleed like a harpooned whale.
So far, my levels have been between 76 and 110. I can’t wait to see how it goes tomorrow. Here is a photo of the sensor showing the needle.
I can’t believe it has been almost 8 months since I last posted. Where have I been? To be honest, no where. I’ve been in quite a funk lately – mentally and physically. I recently decided I needed to do something about that.
First, I started reflecting on my mental health. What is keeping me stressed and depressed and what can I do about it?
With the current state of the world, it has been hard to think positive about the future. It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you are on. I have friends and family from all walks of life and I love them all no matter what. What I don’t like is the amount of hatred that is out there. I’ve decided that I am going to spread positivity. It is amazing how people react to an unexpected smile or a kind gesture from a stranger.
I’ve been dealing with family health issues on both my side and my husband’s side of the family. I find myself stressing. We are so far away from both sides of the family. Sadly, there is nothing I can do. So, I just pray. God must be up there thinking. “Oh no, not her again” LOL. Not really, He has been good to me.
I’ve also started to invest in my physical health. I looked into vitamin B12 shots and, after extensive research, started getting weekly shots. Well, it’s only been 2 shots so far, but it seems to have made a difference. Both my brain fog and severe exhaustion have lessened. If you ask my husband, he will say my energy has exploded. (I haven’t been caught singing and dancing in the passenger seat of the car in years. Today, I had a ball).
I’ve also been interested in how my body reacts to different foods and activity. I am awaiting my first CGM (continuous glucose monitor) delivery. They should be here on Monday. I plan to wear one for the next month and track how different foods affect my glucose. This will help me choose foods that are less likely to spike my blood sugar. More on that journey in a future blog.
I am feeling better and have more energy. I am hoping to share some insight and tips with anyone interested.
I met with the registered dietitian last night. I think it was a good session. We came up with three doable goals for the next two weeks.
Goal 1: Since my step totals have fallen off and I haven’t been hitting 5000 steps lately, we decided to set a goal for 5000 steps each day. I hit 5105 yesterday. Today, at 4:45 PM, I already have 5135 steps.
Goal 2: Since Physical Therapy is helping, my second goal is to continue with it AND to do my PT home exercises every day. So far, so good.
Goal 3: Continue tracking my food and posting pictures on the Nourish. Easy, peasy.
I’ve been working on eating healthy and moving more. I am currently having physical therapy once a week to help with my lower back arthritis.
I have been so frustrated with my goal of getting healthier and moving better. I often feel like the rusty tin man. My joints don’t want to unlock. I’m tired of feeling this way and I am working on a plan for change.
Besides physical therapy, I have been getting massages again. Not the nice, relaxing massages. These massages have improved my flexibility so much. My therapist, Wendy, has found a way to unlock my knees. It hurts like hell while she is doing it and for two days after, but it is working.
I will be meeting with a nutritionist tomorrow after work to get some assistance. I will share what I learn and give updates on my progress.
Back in March, I was feeling physically and mentally exhausted. The stress of dealing with the aftermath of a category 5 hurricane had damaged my psyche. Between eating unhealthy food due to dealing with an unusable kitchen sink and having to sleep in an old queen sized bed, my body was rebelling. It was time to do something.
After a lot of research, I decided to try Golden Milk. What is Golden Milk? It is a drink made of warm milk of your choosing, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and dried coconut milk. I had heard that turmeric was good for inflammation. I thought about taking turmeric pills but decided I didn’t want to go that route. I found an organic Golden Milk mix on Amazon and decided to give it a try.
Day 1: The bag of Golden Milk arrived Wednesday, May 10, 2023. I was so excited to try it. That evening, I warmed up 1 cup of cow’s milk in the microwave for one minute. I added a teaspoon of the golden powder, stirred it and sat down to sip by drink. While I wouldn’t describe it as delicious, I wouldn’t say it was disgusting. It needed just a little something to make it more enjoyable. If all goes well, I will try added maple syrup to it as suggested.
About half an hour after drinking it, I was so relaxed and ready for bed. I went to bed without taking the Tylenol Arthritis and Advil that had become a daily thing for me. I slept like a baby and woke up feeling great. I actually woke up before my alarm went off and, instead of waiting for my legs to feel good enough to walk, I got up and made a pot of coffee. No hitting snooze. I was up and at ’em.
That first day I was able to go up the stairs at work for the first time in ages and I did it without having to stop part of the way up. I didn’t only do it ONCE, I went up the stairs TWICE that day. Amazing.
Day 2: This evening I added a tsp of maple syrup to the Golden Milk. It was an improvement but still not how I wanted it to taste. It went down smoothly and, just as the first night, I was relaxed and ready for bed in half an hour. I slept like a baby again.
The next morning I woke up, still feeling better than I was. However, I was muscle sore due to pushing myself too hard and using muscles I hadn’t used in a while. I did take an Advil and after being up for a while and getting the muscles warmed up, I was much better. Even with the little bit of morning achey muscles, still an improvement over how I felt in the morning before Golden Milk entered my life.
Day 3: This evening I added a squirt of agave and a splash of vanilla extract to my Golden Milk. YES! This is how I will be making it from now on. Once I finish my regular milk I will switch to unsweetened vanilla almond milk and I won’t need the vanilla. Drank my delicious latte and once I was relaxed, I went to bed. I know you are expecting me to say I slept like a baby and I will, but not the way I first meant it. Did you know that this turmeric has diuretic qualities? Yes, I encountered the I will call the wee wee hours. I lost count of how many times, but it was a lot. Just like a baby. LOL
The next morning I woke up feeling great. I looked down and, much to my surprise, my feet and ankles were no longer puffy. I weighted myself and I lost six pounds. Yes, I said six pounds.
Day 4: Had my latte and went to bed, sleeping really well.
The next morning, I had a sinus headache but the rest of me felt fantastic. Took an Advil and that went away quickly. I made sure to drink lots of water so I didn’t get dehydrated due to the diuretic actions.
As for how I am feeling today: One a scale of 1 to 10, my arthritis and muscle pain is a 2. A week ago it was any where from an 8 to a 10. My ankles and feet no longer look like the stay puffed marshmallow man. I wore pants haven’t worn since before the pandemic. I feel fantastic.
Day 5: Had a great nights sleep after drinking my yummy latte. Woke up refreshed and went for a walk down on Charlotte Harbor. I didn’t need to stop and take a break. I even walked up the slight incline near the Spirit of Punta Gorda statue. I’m down another 4 pounds! I’ve only taken Tylenol Arthritis once since I started this. I’ve taken Advil twice. I haven’t needed to take Claritin either. I’m looking forward to continuing this stuff.
Day 6: Had my latte and slept well last night. Got up at 6:30 am this morning. Weighed myself and I was up two pounds, but that’s ok. I’ll lose it again.
It is Monday of my Staycation. I made coffee and started cleaning. Cleaned the refrigerator. Cleaned out some cabinets and took the items we no longer wanted to Good Will. I had a nice lunch and now it is time to take a break. More reports to come.
Day 7: I woke up feeling pretty good. Had a relaxing day. It is almost time to make my 7th cup of golden milk. It is funny how this has so quickly become an evening ritual. Once I feel that it’s time to meditate and get ready for bed, I get happy and look forward to that golden deliciousness.
Went for a nice walk around the block tonight. Did the whole thing without stopping. I’ve almost made my step bet goal for the day. I have 300 steps to go. After I finish that two week program, I’ll write about my experience.
What a great way to end my week of drinking Golden Milk.
My conclusion: After 7 days of Golden Milk I feel like a new woman. My arthritis is so much better. I’m sleeping great. My appetite and food cravings are so much improved. Digestion has settled. My skin is improving. My mood has improved and I’m feeling less stressed.
This was my experience with Golden Milk. Yours may or may not be similar. Please check with your physician if you plan on trying Golden Milk. Wishing you well.
My friend gave me this bar to try. She kind of liked it and wanted to know my thoughts.
Cross section
The cross section made me excited to eat the bar.
The macros – 190 calories per bar, 8 g fat, 200 mg Sodium, 14 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 16 G protein. Not horrible but not the best.
Now for the taste. It was DELICIOUS! However, it was not filling. A Snickers holds me over better but also has worse macros. I think I would eat one of these bars occasionally as a treat.
Have you tried them? Let me know what you think in the comments.
If you know me, you k no ow I love lemon flavored EVERYTHING! I had really high hopes for the Lemon Delight Think! Bars.
Lemon Delight Think! Bar macros
First, the macros. A little higher in calories than I would have liked and I was disappointed that there was NO FIBER at all.
Cross section
So, was the taste worth the calories and lack of fiber?
In my opinion, no. The texture was weird and there was not enough lemon flavor for me. To me, it was like eating a sawdust bar that was dunked in lemon water. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion.
This is a bar that I won’t be trying again. That doesn’t mean you won’t like it. If you have tried it and like it, good. Maybe you can share your thoughts on what you like in the comments.
This {_______} life 