BEHIND THE BODY

Diet • Fitness • Lifestyle for Women 40+

I haven’t been able to get my Oura ring off my index finger for a week.

The ring isn't too small. It actually fits perfectly. I'm just really puffy and swollen right now, so it won’t budge. And I find it pretty funny.

So here’s what’s going on. I started HRT a few weeks back, so I knew some water retention might happen. Plus, it’s been really hot in San Diego, and we’ve been playing a lot more golf. Somewhere along the way, I started enjoying seltzers with vodka, so I’ve been drinking more than I’d like, and definitely more than I’d suggest to anyone else.

The funny thing is, I didn’t even notice how puffy I’d gotten. I see myself all the time, so nothing seemed different in the mirror. But when I recorded this week’s YouTube video and started editing, my face looked huge. With the alcohol and HRT, I feel like I’ve gained 20 pounds. 😂

I know the puffiness will go away. Once I cut back on drinking and my hormones settle, the water retention should ease up. And I know this one is really my fault. I’ve been drinking too much.

But I’m not going to spiral.

Because it’s been fun! I’ve had lots of laughs, spent plenty of time outside, and enjoyed some great afternoons golfing with my husband. My HRT symptoms are better, too. Can I control the puffiness right now? Not really (ok, maybe a little). Worrying about something I can’t change just isn’t worth it.

Not everything has to always be perfect or go exactly as planned. Life has its ups and downs. It’s okay to deal with some water retention, gain a few pounds, enjoy the moment, and work it off when the time is right.

I actually made a whole video about how you can keep alcohol in your diet and still lose weight. You can watch it here.

I’m definitely a Type A perfectionist, and sometimes I make things unnecessarily harder for myself. But honestly, I’m happiest when I let go a little and just enjoy life. The ring will come off when it’s ready.

My Suggestion For You

With the holidays coming up, here’s how I see it: these next 10 weeks are when a lot of us feel like we’ve messed up by Thanksgiving and give up until January.

But it’s all about balance. Enjoy what really matters to you, and skip what doesn’t. For me, having a seltzer (or 3) on the golf course with my husband on a Saturday is worth it. But grabbing a Burger King Impossible Whopper on a random Tuesday night just because my husband doesn’t feel like my healthy cooking again? Not worth it. That’s the key—not perfect, not always in a straight line, just being honest about what you care about.

This approach lets you say yes to what you really want, without saying yes to everything. You can go out, have a few cocktails, and enjoy the food. You can still maintain your weight because you didn’t say yes to everything in between. We really can have it all. We can look good, feel good, and enjoy life. There’s room for it all; you just don’t need it all every single day.

What I’m Loving This Week

The pumpkin cold brew at Trader Joe’s right now. It’s so good! It’s October and pumpkin spice season, but it’s still really hot in San Diego. This drink is the perfect solution. I get my pumpkin fix, and it’s still iced coffee. There’s no link, but you can find it in the coffee section at Trader Joe’s. Give it a try. It’s delicious. 🎃

Because You Didn’t Ask…

I had my second golf lesson last week. What’s interesting is I paid $150 to learn how to golf better, and it makes my swing worse. How that works, I don’t know. Apparently, that's normal in the golf world, but here I am shanking it all over the course. Between the lessons and the number of balls I’m losing, this is turning into a very expensive sport. I still have hope, though. ⛳

Great chat! Let’s do it again next Tuesday.

Xx,

Andrea