114) Almost-end-of-summer update- holding steady and doing well

We have been back from our European holiday for over a month and in my last post, I wondered if returning back to our normal lifestyle would change anything about his weight.  While there, although we ate foods higher in carbs and sugar, we were also walking 12 km a day on average. Lo and behold, his weight has wobbled up and down a little bit since returning from the trip but he is basically holding steady. His weight at the end of the trip (July 8) was as much as 4 kilos lighter than what he weighed at the end of the school year (mid-June).  Today, his weight is about the same (80.8 kg) as what he weighed when I last posted on July 11, 2018.

His oxytocin regimen remains at 6 iu/day.  When his weight was climbing up in May and June, I regret that I did not check his other lab values (especially thyroid) because I might have discovered that his T4 levels were low.  Indeed, when I finally got his free T4 levels checked in early June, they were within range but on the lower end.  We know that he functions better when the levels are on the higher end so we have since raised his T4 by an extra 25 mcg/day and now his levels are on the high end. Perhaps some of his weight loss and subsequent weight stabilization can be due in part to more optimal thyroid levels.

Another interesting fact is that since he seemed to tolerate eating foods higher in carbohydrates while in Europe and even lost weight, we have been more liberal with carbohydrates this summer.  We've been enjoying an occasional pasta (using a higher fiber wheat pasta),  sandwiches, and eating quite a bit of fresh summer fruit (we have a peach tree and blackberries in our backyard).  Still, his weight has not been rising!  His walking has greatly decreased from what we did in Europe but he still manages to walk at least a couple of km every day; on the weekends, we all go to the gym and for three days a week, he gets in about 5 km per day, thanks to our dear surrogate grandmother/friend and her dogs (thanks, Marla!!)

I suppose I am reporting good news overall...
1) his hormone levels appear to be optimal now;
2) he is enjoying a diet that is approaching a more "normal" lifestyle (less carb restriction);
3) he is getting some pretty decent walking exercise half the days of the week and going to the gym on the weekends;
4) his oxytocin dosing has remained the same as always;
5) his appetite is normal; he continues to get excited about getting the occasional sweets/desserts but (as far as we know), he hasn't engaged in any sneaking or stealing of these foods during the camps he has attended for the last 4 weeks;
6) he is earning money for his good behavior (no food related "disasters") and his handling of his money appears to be working since he is free to buy snacks from vending machines and stores (close proximity to his summer camps); and despite his access to money and junk food...
7) he is somehow keeping his weight at the same level it was when he returned from Europe.

Besides all this food/oxytocin/weight business, I am glad to share that he has been enjoying a great summer break- he has been enjoying two main summer camps- doing computer coding (robot programming) and performing in a rock band (vocals and guitar). In a digital recording rock band camp, he recorded this song (he sings in a duet with a female vocalist) and I'm proud of the beautiful music these kids made.  The song is Stop This Train by John Mayer but the kids (all middle school and high school kids) arranged and played the music in this recording.

Listen to the very poignant lyrics, beautiful harmonies, and enjoy!  Happy (rest-of-your) summer!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1INcqwSrxa1Xvq7pPkBo4fihnyqfAJpR8/view?usp=sharing