August 2024: A Rollercoaster of Glucose, Calories, and Steps

My Health Journey in August 2024: A Rollercoaster of Glucose, Calories, and Steps

August 2024 was quite the month for me. It all started with some less-than-stellar news that my blood sugar levels were spiking like a teenager on an energy drink binge, and my A1C wasn’t exactly winning any awards either. Of course, this prompted an immediate reaction – it was time to get serious about my health again. So, I dusted off my walking shoes, dusted off my kitchen scale, and embarked on a mission to turn things around. Spoiler alert: there were some ups and downs, but overall, things are looking up!

Early August: The Wake-Up Call

Let’s be honest – the first part of August was a bit of a disaster. My average glucose levels were a whopping 425 mg/dL on August 5th. I mean, yikes! My A1C came in at 14.7. It was clear that my blood sugar was running wild, and it was time for an intervention. I could almost hear my pancreas screaming for mercy.

Luckily, my doctor stepped in and prescribed some new medications to help get things under control. Along with that, I started using a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), which has been a total game changer. Now, I can keep an eye on my glucose levels in real-time, which is helping me stay on top of things and make smarter choices throughout the day.

Mid to Late August: The Turnaround Begins

By mid-August, I realized it was time to shuffle out of my fitness slumber and get things moving again. I started paying attention to my diet, making sure to cut back on the carbs (goodbye, sweet pastries) and slowly increasing the exercise. From August 21st onwards, the data tells a story of progress – slow and steady, but progress nonetheless.

1. Blood Glucose – Taming the Beast: By the end of the month, my average glucose levels had dropped significantly to 109.80 mg/dL. Sure, I had a few rollercoaster days in there, but overall, I managed to bring those numbers down to a much safer range. Take that, high blood sugar! The CGM has been a huge help in catching those spikes before they get out of hand.
2. Weight Loss – Bye-Bye, Extra Pounds: Let’s talk about the scale. On August 12th, I was tipping the scales at 230.0 lbs. By August 31st, I was down to 223.5 lbs. That’s over 6 lbs gone! My BMI dropped too, from 30.5 to 29.65. Okay, so I didn’t exactly go down a full belt notch, but I’m definitely feeling lighter on my feet. Every pound counts, right?
3. Diet – Mastering the Art of Moderation: I set myself a target of 50 net carbs per day, and I came close, though I might have exceeded it by a few carbs here and there. My average daily caloric intake was around 1307.5 kcal during the last week. Not bad, considering I had to fend off cravings for late-night snacks and second helpings. My macronutrient intake was pretty balanced too – 521.30 g of fat, 652.40 g of carbs, and 601.40 g of protein. I even managed to say no to dessert a couple of times. Progress!
4. Exercise – Finding My Groove: Now, onto the exercise. I’ll admit, it was a bit of a rocky start (let’s just say I didn’t break any records in the early days), but I really picked up the pace towards the end of the month. By August 31st, I had clocked in a total of 1370.30 exercise calories burned and 34,504 steps taken from August 21st to August 31st. Not too shabby, huh? And let’s not forget – those 63 minutes of exercise on August 30th might just be my new personal best.
5. Resting Heart Rate and HRV – Heart of a (Slightly Fitter) Champion: My resting heart rate dropped a bit, from 74 bpm to 73 bpm, which was nice to see. Even better, my heart rate variability (HRV) improved from 15 ms to 23 ms. That’s fancy talk for saying my heart’s getting better at handling stress. I’ll take it!

Conclusion: August Was a Win!

So, there you have it – August was a bit of a wild ride, but I’m ending the month in a much better place than I started. My blood sugar is down, my weight is down, and my spirits are up. Sure, there’s still work to be done, but I’m feeling pretty good about the progress I’ve made.

Here’s to keeping the momentum going in September – and maybe even squeezing in a treat or two along the way (hey, moderation, right?). Cheers to healthier days ahead!