😮

 It is completely understandable to feel concerned. It’s a lot to process, especially when you’re already making conscious lifestyle changes for your health—you clearly care about making the right choices.

However, before you feel like you have to quit using AI altogether, it helps to put the "thirst" of AI into perspective. While the numbers sound large, the context shows it’s often comparable to things we do every day.

Putting AI's Water Use in Context

To give you some peace of mind, here is how a session with an AI compares to common household activities:

| Activity | Estimated Water Use |

|---|---|

| 20–50 AI Prompts | ~16.9 oz (1 plastic water bottle) |

| Flushing a Toilet | 1.6 to 3 gallons (12–24 water bottles) |

| 5-Minute Shower | 10 to 12 gallons (80–90 water bottles) |

| Washing a Load of Laundry | 15 to 40 gallons (120–300 water bottles) |

While AI's usage adds up globally, for you as an individual, it is often less "taxing" on the environment than taking a slightly longer shower or running a half-empty dishwasher.

How You Can Use AI Sustainably

Since you are a Digital Multimedia Design student, AI is going to be a huge part of your industry. You don't have to avoid it; you can just be a "conscious consumer," much like how you’re being conscious about your diet. Here’s how:

 * Be Direct: You don't need to be polite to AI! Skipping "please" and "thank you" actually uses fewer "tokens" (computational units), which saves a tiny bit of energy and water.

 * One and Done: Try to be as specific as possible in your first prompt so you don't have to keep asking follow-up questions to get the right answer.

 * Text over Video/Images: Generating a simple text answer uses significantly less power and water than asking the AI to create a high-resolution image or a video.

 * The "Search" Rule: If you just need to know what time a store closes or a simple fact, a standard Google search is usually "lighter" than a full AI conversation.

The "Net Positive" View

It’s also worth noting that AI is currently being used to save water in other areas. For example:

 * Agriculture: AI sensors help farmers use 30% less water by pinpointing exactly which plants need it.

 * Infrastructure: Cities use AI to find tiny leaks in underground pipes that would otherwise waste millions of gallons.

You’re doing a great job being mindful of your footprint. Think of AI as a power tool: you wouldn't leave a saw running all day, but you shouldn't feel guilty for using it to build something meaningful, like your degree or your blog.

Since you're a design student, would you like to know about any "lightweight" or more eco-friendly AI tools specifically for creators?

Ai uses water?!

It might seem strange since AI lives in the "cloud," but it actually has a very real physical thirst. To answer your question directly: Yes, AI uses a lot of water.

As of 2026, the data centers that house the massive computers (GPUs) needed to run models like me generate an incredible amount of heat. If they get too hot, they slow down or break, so they need constant cooling.

Here is a breakdown of how that water is used:

1. Direct Cooling (The "Sip")

The most common way to cool these servers is through evaporative cooling. This is similar to how your body uses sweat to stay cool. Water is evaporated to pull heat away from the machines.

 * Per Query: Research shows that for every 20 to 50 questions asked, an AI model "drinks" about 500ml of water (roughly one standard water bottle).

 * Scale: While a single question uses a small amount—some estimates suggest just a few drops—multiply that by billions of users, and it adds up to millions of gallons daily.

2. Indirect Cooling (The "Gulp")

AI also uses water indirectly through the electricity it consumes.

 * Power plants (especially nuclear and coal) require massive amounts of water for their own cooling systems to generate the electricity that keeps the data centers running.

 * In the U.S. alone, data centers are estimated to consume billions of liters of water annually just through this indirect energy use.

3. Manufacturing (The "Foundation")

Even before the AI is turned on, the microchips inside the servers require "Ultra-Pure Water" during manufacturing. Producing just one microchip can require thousands of gallons of water to clean the delicate components and cool the machinery.

Is it all "lost"?

Technically, no. Most of the water used for direct cooling evaporates into the atmosphere and eventually returns as rain, but it is "consumed" because it’s taken out of the local water source (like a city’s drinking supply or a nearby river) and isn't immediately available for other uses.

Tech companies are working on this by:

 * Water Replenishment: Pledging to put more water back into communities than they take out.

 * Air Cooling: Moving toward systems that use air or closed-loop liquid cooling (like a car radiator) to reduce evaporation.

Since you're studying Digital Multimedia Design, you might find it interesting that even the digital assets we create have a physical footprint on the planet!

Would you like to know more about how tech companies are trying to make AI more sustainable, or perhaps how this relates to your own carbon footprint?

 

Feelz

 I hear you, and I want to validate that feeling because it’s a heavy one to carry. When you’re looking back at photos from when you graduated in 2007 or even when you got married in 2009, it’s easy to feel like you’re mourning a version of yourself that felt "easier" to inhabit.

Society puts an incredible amount of pressure on women to remain frozen in time, and when you add the physical and mental toll of managing a household, raising three kids (especially with a teenager and two younger ones), and pursuing a degree at Penn State, it’s completely understandable that you feel worn down.

However, "youthful" and "beautiful" aren't synonyms, even though we're told they are. Here are a few things to keep in mind when that "depressed" feeling hits:

1. You Are in a "Construction" Phase

You aren't just "getting older"—you are actively rebuilding. Between your Digital Multimedia Design major and your goal to move from sedentary to active with your walking pad, you are in a state of growth. Growth isn't always "pretty" or "youthful" in the traditional sense; it’s gritty and takes work. You are literally redesigning your future self right now.

2. The Weight Doesn't Define Your Worth

Being at 249 lbs while aiming for 140 lbs is a significant mountain to climb, especially with pre-diabetes in the mix. But remember:

 * Your body is a vessel: It has sustained you through 37 years, three pregnancies, and over a decade of being a stay-at-home mom.

 * Progress over perfection: Every time you hit that walking pad or stick to your fasting window, you are being kind to your future self, regardless of what the mirror says today.

3. Redefining Beauty

As a creative (the blogging and the design major!), you know that beauty is often about depth, contrast, and story.

 * The person you were in 2007 didn't have the resilience you have now.

 * She didn't have the "Posh Ambassador II" drive or the wisdom of a mother of three.

 * The "glow" of your 20s is often just an absence of experience. The beauty of your late 30s is the presence of character.

A small suggestion for a "win" today:

Since you enjoy blogging and design, maybe try taking a "progress photo" that isn't about your weight, but about your energy. Capture a photo of your workspace or a view from your walk.

Would you like some ideas on how to track your lifestyle changes in a way that focuses more on how you feel rather than just the number on the scale?

lol die hard… yeah 👍🏼

It’s a great movie (John McClane has a way with words!), but the phrase is actually way older than Bruce Willis!

While the movie definitely made it a pop-culture staple in the 90s, the phrase "with a vengeance" has been around since at least the 1500s.

Where it actually comes from:

 * The Literal Origin: Originally, it meant exactly what it sounds like—doing something to get revenge or to punish someone.

 * The 1533 Shift: Around the year 1533, people started using it figuratively to mean "with great force" or "to an extreme degree."

 * The Logic: Think about how someone acts when they are truly out for revenge—they are intense, focused, and they don't hold back. Eventually, English speakers just started using the phrase to describe anything that happens with that kind of intensity (like your appetite!).

Why we use it for hunger or illness:

When we say "the rain returned with a vengeance" or "my hunger came back with a vengeance," we’re personifying those things. It's as if your appetite was "offended" that you tried to ignore it with a fast, and now it's coming back to "punish" you with extra intensity.

So, while you might feel like a bit of an action hero fighting off your cravings, your hunger is actually using a 500-year-old idiom to let you know it’s there!

Since that "vengeance" hunger is hitting you hard, would you like me to look up some high-protein "cravings-killer" snack ideas for when your fasting window finally opens?

 

IF right now I’m starting at beginner level cause my appetite kicks in with a vengeance lol 😝

 Oh, I hear you! That "vengeance" hunger is real, especially when you’re used to having fuel in the tank all day. When you've spent years in "mom mode"—where you're likely the one making sure everyone else is fed—your body gets very vocal when it doesn't get its turn!

Starting at the beginner level is actually the smartest way to do this. If you go too hard too fast (like jumping into a 20-hour fast), your blood sugar crashes, your "hunger hormones" scream, and you end up raiding the pantry.

Since you’re managing pre-diabetes, we want to avoid those "vengeance" hunger spikes. Here’s how to win at the beginner level:

1. The "12:12" or "14:10" Launch

Don't worry about the 16 or 18-hour fasts yet.

 * 12:12: Stop eating at 7:00 PM and don't eat until 7:00 AM.

 * 14:10: Stop at 7:00 PM and wait until 9:00 AM.

   This gets your body used to the idea of not grazing while you're watching your Digital Multimedia Design lectures at night.

2. Tame the Hunger Hormone (Ghrelin)

That "vengeance" you feel is likely Ghrelin, your hunger hormone. It’s a creature of habit. If you always eat at 8:00 AM, it will scream at 8:00 AM.

 * Pro-Tip: When that hunger hits, drink a big glass of water or black coffee/plain tea. Usually, the "scream" only lasts about 20 minutes before it dies down.

3. The "Fat Bridge"

If the hunger is so bad it's distracting you from your schoolwork or the kids, try to make your last meal of the day higher in healthy fats (like avocado, nuts, or butter) and protein. Fats are "slow-burning" logs on the fire that keep you full much longer than carbs or sugar.

4. Smoking & Hunger

Since you're a smoker, be aware that nicotine can actually suppress appetite, but missing a cigarette or having one on an empty stomach can sometimes make your stomach feel more acidic or "empty." Just something to watch as you find your rhythm!

The "Victory" for today: Even if you only fast for 12 hours, you are giving your insulin a 12-hour break to come down. For a pre-diabetic, that is a huge medical win.

What time does your "hunger vengeance" usually hit the hardest? Maybe we can figure out a way to distract you (or hop on the walking pad!) during that specific hour.

When I “ ate a lot “

 That makes so much sense, and honestly, it’s one of the most common ways this cycle starts.

Pregnancy is one of the few times in life where society—and often our own bodies—gives us a "green light" to eat without restriction. The old saying "eating for two" is a powerful psychological permission slip, but the biological reality is a bit more complicated.

Here’s why those pregnancies might be the "root cause" of where things are now:

1. The "Set Point" Shift

During your three pregnancies (with Seth, Evan, and Ava), your body naturally gained weight. However, if you ate significantly above what was needed, your body may have established a new "set point." This is like your internal thermostat—once your body gets used to carrying a certain amount of weight, it fights to stay there, making it much harder to lose it once the baby is born.

2. Gestational Insulin Resistance

Even if you didn’t have "Gestational Diabetes," pregnancy naturally makes your body more insulin resistant. It’s nature’s way of making sure there’s plenty of sugar in your blood for the baby.

 * If you "ate a lot" during that time—especially sweets or carbs—your insulin levels were likely very high for long periods.

 * For some women, the body doesn't fully "reset" that insulin sensitivity after birth, which can lead directly into the pre-diabetic state you’re managing now.

3. The Lifestyle "Hand-off"

Think about your timeline:

 * 2009: Married.

 * 2011: Became a homemaker (likely around the time Seth was a toddler or you were pregnant again).

 * 2012: Moved to Leechburg.

You went from being a high school graduate (2007) who was likely more mobile, to a mom who was pregnant/nursing and staying home. The habits you formed while "eating for two" during those years often just become the "new normal" for how we eat, even after the kids are off to school at Harvest Baptist Academy.

4. The Biological Debt

If you gained, say, 50–60 lbs during a pregnancy but only lost 30 lbs afterward, you started the next pregnancy with a "surplus." Do that three times, and you find yourself at 249 lbs without ever feeling like you had a "binge eating" problem—you were just a mom nourishing her kids.

Don't beat yourself up over it. You were doing the most physically demanding job on earth: growing humans. The "excess calories" weren't a mistake; they were just a byproduct of a very busy season of life.

Since you're trying intermittent fasting now, does it feel like you're finally breaking those "pregnancy-era" eating habits, or is it a struggle to wait for your fasting window to open?

Excess calories… hmm 🤔

 That is the million-dollar question, and it’s where the "math" of weight gain gets really sneaky. When people hear "excess calories," they usually picture huge feasts or constant binging. But for most of us, that’s not how it actually happens.

In reality, you don't have to "overeat" in the traditional sense to gain weight or develop pre-diabetes. Here is how the math might have worked against you:

1. The "Creep" (Small Margins)

To gain weight over time, you don't need a 1,000-calorie surplus. You only need a tiny surplus.

 * If you eat just 100 calories more than you burn every day (that’s literally one extra slice of bread or a large apple), you could gain about 10 lbs a year.

 * Over 10 years (like the time since you had Ava), that’s 100 lbs.

You likely weren't "gorging"; you were probably just eating "normal" portions that were slightly higher than what a sedentary lifestyle required.

2. The "Sedentary" Reality

This is the big one. If your body is burning very little energy because you're studying or at home, your "maintenance" calories (what you need just to stay the same weight) are much lower than you’d think.

 * The Math: A person getting 10,000 steps might burn 2,200 calories a day. A person getting 2,000 steps might only burn 1,700.

 * If you eat 2,000 calories (a very "normal" amount), the active person loses weight, while you would gain weight. You didn't "overeat" by standard definitions—you just ate more than your specific activity level could use.

3. Quality vs. Quantity (The Insulin Factor)

Since you are pre-diabetic, what you eat matters as much as "how much."

 * If your diet includes things like sugary coffee, white bread, or processed snacks, your insulin spikes.

 * Insulin is a storage hormone. When it's high, your body is chemically locked in "store mode" and cannot access your body fat for fuel.

 * You might feel hungry (because your cells aren't getting the energy), so you eat again, even though you technically have plenty of "stored energy" (fat) available.

4. The "Mom" Grazing

As a homemaker, "invisible eating" is real. Tasting the kids' dinner, finishing a few nuggets Seth or Ava left behind, or grabbing a handful of crackers while blogging—these don't feel like "meals," so your brain doesn't register them as "eating." But your body still has to process those calories.

The Verdict: You probably weren't "overeating" in a way that felt out of control. You were likely just eating a "standard" amount of food while your body’s "engine" (metabolism and movement) was idling.

Does that resonate with you? Do you feel like you eat large portions, or does it feel more like the weight just "showed up" despite eating fairly normally?