The last day of summer & and a new beginning
Today marked the last day of summer, at least according to the traditional Swedish view of “June–July–August” as the summer months. And I have to say, it was a perfect ending🤩!
After a good night’s sleep (= me in a good mood), I started the morning by picking fresh blackberries (naturally packed with vitamin C, K, folate, antioxidants & fiber) for breakfast. Then I went for a bike run among beautiful, “late summer” harvested fields under sizzling sunshine, and finished the day with a refreshing swim in the ocean. A perfect last summer day I really have to say!
Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I am passionate about health. More and more, I’ve come to realize how crucial it becomes as we age, and... healthcare systems get increasingly pressured. Don’t get me wrong: I believe the healthcare system does a good job under these circumstances. But it is primarily focused on curing, not preventing. With so much illness to treat (and more to come), there’s little room left for prevention. It’s firefighting. And it won’t get easier as we continue to eat more ultra-processed food and move less.
That’s why I believe we need to take personal responsibility if we want to avoid ending up in a downward spiral. My goal now is to strengthen what I can control, so I don’t have to fix what could have been prevented!
Tracking for insights
Knowing my own starting point, and what actually works for me, has become both more important and fascinating to me. I track some data for sure.
I have used a smartwatch for training for years. When my old one broke this summer, I replaced it. I have to say, I love the upgrade and the stats it gives me. A poor night sleep and slow recovery? Recommendation to go easy. Higher pulse than normal during sleep? Either I’m in the mountains, or my body is signalling that I might be getting sick.
This summer I added something new: tracking my glucose levels for a few weeks. It was very interesting. I honestly think many people could learn a lot from doing this, even just for a short period.
👉 Tip 1: Eating sugar on an empty stomach versus after a meal has a totally different impact on your body. So, save your ice cream for dessert—it really makes a difference.
👉 Tip 2: If you’re going to “treat yourself” regularly, do it in connection with exercise. Your body can handle it much better, and your cells will thank you. Don’t exhaust your hard working beta cells by snacking on sweets every other hour.
⚠️What probably surprised me most was how much psychological stress impacts glucose levels. Poor sleep, an argument, or even just a stressful drive to get to an appointment in time, all showed up clearly in the data. It was black on white proof of how harmful constant (or frequent) stress is for the body. And of course, it affects not only glucose but also things like blood lipids. This is another whole chapter I am exploring and will write about.
👉So tip #3 is probably the most important. Try not to push yourself into stressful environments / situations. It is seriously bad for health.
The last reflection; it is easy to only stare at glucose levels when you wear a monitoring device. Just because you are managing to stabilize your glucose, it doesn’t mean that the bag of candy after the run is good for my body. There is more to do (& track) for improving health.
Starting to change my diet
Before summer, I promised myself to relax before making big changes. Starting in August, I slowly (& gradually) started to feed my body with fuel that seems to fit me better.
For the past 1.5 weeks, I’ve avoided gluten and lactose completely, and so far, I feel really good. It is not as hard as I thought but I think I might still be in the honeymoon phase 🙄(and I am also one of those who can get really excited about trying new stuff wholeheartedly for a while). The dietary changes (including all the supplements to fill my existing gaps) is a whole other chapter & I’ll share much more in future posts. For now, I’ll leave you with my new favorite breakfast recipe 😋:
Super-morning yoghurt
🥑 1 avocado
🍌 ½ banana
🥥 ½ dl coconut flakes
🍓 1 dl frozen berries
✨ A pinch of vanilla for taste
Blend it all in a mixer, and voilà!
Top with some nuts and berries for extra crunch.
So that’s how I ended summer, on a high note🙌, curious to see how these changes will affect me as darkness enters and autumn unfolds.
Until next time, friends let’s keep exploring what makes us feel healthier, stronger, and more in balance.
For that Vivante life we all deserve 🤸!
