Feeling much better...cold seems to be on the way out the door, thank goodness. Was delighted to discover both last night and tonight when I dined out with friends that the healthy items I ordered turned out to be FANTASTIC. I didn't feel deprived at all. There may be hope for me after all! No challenges tomorrow (Sunday), as all three meals will be at home.

I also finally got the courage up to schedule my next blood draw. I've been nervous for three reasons:

(1) It is always REALLY hard for the phlebotomist to get enough (or even any) blood out of me. My record was 90 minutes before they struck gold. Consequently, I tend to get really tense and stressed out, which I'm sure doesn't help anyone.

(2) I recently discovered that my long-term partner had in fact been sleeping with multiple other partners of both genders. I'm terrified that he may have left me with a permanent souvenir of our relationship. I know that either way (whether he did or he didn't) I need to get checked out, but I'm so scared it was hard for me to schedule the appointment.

(3) As a result of the aforementioned breakup (what, you didn't think I stayed with him, did you?), I might possibly (before I started blogging) have gone on a bit of a cheesefest, and now I'm worried that my cholesterol (the reason I do the bloodwork to begin with) might have risen.

I know that the only way to stop worrying about all of the above is to just go ahead and do the dang blood draw, so today I scheduled it for the week after next. I'm still nervous, but I feel like a major weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

On the bright side, perhaps the rapidly approaching blood draw date will help me maintain a laserlike focus on my nutritional and exercise goals during the next two weeks!