I’ve always been curious about my own body data, so I paid out of pocket (insurance wouldn’t cover it) and wore a continuous glucose monitor for four weeks. Quick disclaimer: everyone reacts to food differently, so this isn’t health or medical advice. It’s just what happened with me.

First, no, I didn’t lose weight. And if you have a bit of fat on the back of your arm, it doesn’t hurt at all. It didn’t mess with my triceps workouts either.

The biggest surprise was how hunger-proof I am. I went 24 hours without eating and my blood sugar didn’t budge. Same while sleeping, and same during cardio as long as it was under an hour. Lifting made it dip a little and then come back. So for me, the “secret” to losing weight is pretty boring: just be okay with being hungry.

Food-wise, white rice actually spiked me less than boiled potatoes or pasta, and it was no different from brown or purple rice. So I’m officially done forcing down brown rice for my blood sugar. Sugary drinks and added sugar hit fast, so I’m cutting back on those. Fiber matters more than I thought. And sour fruit? Still full of sugar. Don’t let the taste fool you.

What surprised me most was how much stuff that isn’t food mattered. Sitting still after a meal was the worst thing I could do. Even light chores or a short walk kept my numbers way down, and calf raises worked like magic. The second big one was sleep. A bad night showed up in my numbers the next day.

My favorite moment, though, was taking my daughter to get our flu shots. I played it totally cool in front of her, like it was nothing. But my blood sugar jumped for a minute and gave me away. Apparently I’m not as brave as I look.