Judge Mike Engelhart:
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A Story of Recalibration
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At first, Judge Engelhart gave himself two weeks to see what, udge Engelhart worked out sporadically over the years— if anything, might begin to change by counting running was his exercise of choice—and he calories. When he saw the changes that two weeks had also worked with a trainer at times. But, brought, he became increasingly motivated to stick beginning in 2018, he found himself weighwith his plan. ing more than 300 pounds and dealing with sleep Judge Engelhart Now, four years later, Judge Engelhart has successapnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis in his hip. He decided it was time for a began making fully lost 125 pounds and kept it off. Along with that change, his self-confidence has improved. Gone are lifestyle change. He knew he had a lot to live for— changes, startthe days disliking seeing himself in photos and the a wonderful wife, two teenage sons, and a great ing with his diet. difficulty in finding clothes he likes. career. So, Judge Engelhart began making changes, He bought a food But even more valuable is the fact that Judge Engelhart is off the medications he had previously needed starting with his diet. He bought a food scale and scale and began to treat his high blood pressure and cholesterol. His began weighing all of his food. He now owns two food scales—one at home, and the other on the weighing all of resting heart rate is in the mid-40s, and he no longer a CPAP machine. corner of his office desk. He also counts calories, his food. He now needs Although difficult at first, the habits became more limiting himself to 1,900 per day, and regularly owns two food routine as Judge Engelhart experienced a mindset tracks all his meals using a phone app. Throughout the process, Judge Engelhart rescales—one at shift about food. And while he routinely eats the same meals for breakfast and lunch and does not schedule alized the need to become educated about diet, home, and the planned cheat days, he does allow himself to splurge finding the foods and snacks that best served his goals. For example, when he reduced his red meat other on the occasionally, most often at dinner. But now he stops intake, he found he had become iron deficient, so corner of his eating after a slice or two rather than eating the whole pizza. The key is moderation. He also knows that if he he found sources of iron that he could incorporate office desk.” ever strays for too long, he has the tools and knowlinto his diet. He also found low-calorie snacks that edge to make the necessary changes to get back on were tasty and filling. The same was true for finding track. The plan is to put in the hard work to continue enjoying desserts that could satisfy a sweet-tooth craving without putall the gifts he’s been given. ting a dent in his diet plan.
Judge Lauren Reeder:
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A Story of Reset
udge Reeder’s legal career began as a commercial litigator at both a large firm and a specialized litigation boutique, then as an assistant district attorney in Harris County, and currently as the presiding judge of the 234th District Court. Seeing how many women with young children tried to keep their personal and professional lives separate, Judge Reeder sought to do the opposite. She brings her young children to the courthouse and encourages others to do the same in an effort to normalize the shifting meaning of—and the relationship between—work life and family life. In doing so, Judge Reeder has wanted to be very open about her struggles to manage both. More recently, a new opportunity to lead by example presented itself. In November, Judge Reeder was coming off of a successful 22
January/February 2023
thehoustonlawyer.com
reelection campaign, her husband had opened a litigation boutique with three other attorneys, and she and her husband had recently welcomed the birth of their second child. And, like all of us, she was coming out of the COVID pandemic. In the midst of it all, Judge Reeder knew something was “off.” More specifically, she felt it was becoming increasingly essential to carve out time and space for herself. She realized that when you have depleted your tank, you are not a bad spouse, parent, colleague, or friend for wanting (and needing) to take time for selfcare. In fact, taking the opportunity to focus on yourself and, in doing so, becoming more present and giving more grace to yourself and others, is how you can improve in each of those roles. Likewise, Judge Reeder knew a break was not a sign of laziness, selfishness, or weakness —which can so often be the feelings that