32 pounds down 22 to go

June 22nd was a rough day. I had asked the doctor to send a perscription for blood work prior to the annual appointment versus waiting until afterward and playing phone tag. My HDL's had been low and my tryglycerides had been high - over 400. I was 244 pounds. I am 6'2 3/4, so I carried it pretty well, but it was the culmination of an extra 4-5 pounds per year. At this pace, I would be nearly 300 pounds in the next 10 years.

My glucose numbers were 184. The doctor felt that all of the liver issues were coming from this. He showed that 2.5 years ago, the glucose number was 101. Last year we set up a term life policy and it required blood work. I did not have any issues securing the policy and was quoted at a middle of the road risk rate. Anything that had happened, had happened recently.

The doctor told me to get off all refined sugars - no soda, candy, cookies, etc. I needed to watch the sides of labels to make sure that I wasn't ingesting sugar that I did not know about. He then wanted me to come back two weeks later for a fasting blood sugar and an A1C.

2 weeks later, after getting off of the sugar, my glucose score was 157. My A1C was 8.0. I was diabetic. Over the course of the prior two weeks, I decided to totally change the way that I was eating. I found this site. I had been working out for the last 18 months but I was not losing weight. As it turned out, my body was not processing the sugar correctly. WIthout working out, I probably would have gained 10-15 pounds.

The doctor put me on a very small dose of Meformin. One tablet cut in half and taken in the morning and evening. He asked me to lose 50 pounds. At 6'2", the BMI chart says that I am obese at 210 pounds. At 6'3", I am obese at 216. 50 pounds would put me at 194. I was going to shoot for 54 pounds for an even 190. As soon as I go below 194, I am going to buy myself a blue-faced Rolex Submariner. I have been thinking about buying one for a few years. This provides the motivation to work towards it.

I have increased the intensity of my workouts. I have been very diligent about working out first thing in the morning - fasting - before breakfast. Breakfast is either oatmeal with berries or an egg beater omlette with turkey bacon, onions, banana & jalapeno peppers and a pinch of low fat cheese. Lunch is usually roasted turkey on a low carb wrap with lettuce, tomato, jalapenos, banana peppers, dill pickles, and spicy mustard. The wrap is then toasted panini style. Dinner is some variation of salmon, tuna, cod, halibut, flounder, grilled chicken, or turkey (turkey burgers, turkey meatballs, tacos with turkey meat, etc.). I have not had beef or pork since the week after the June 22nd diagnosis.

I find that it is very manageable in the normal course of life. Since I have given up 90% of my cheese consumption and all refined sugar, my 1650 calories (to lose 2 pounds a week) + 600 in daily credit for exercise are actually plenty. I feel like I am eating all day - baby carrots, an apple, etc.

Where it becomes a struggle is in social settings. Last week, we threw a birthday party for my wife. There wasn't a thing that I could eat - including pizza for dinner and an awesome cake. When I travel (and I do frequently), I have to be careful. When I go out with a group, I avoid the appetizers. I am now that guy who asks the waiter everything and orders off menu. Last week, in the club lounge at the Marriott, they had buffalo wings as the evening snack. The old Kevin would have sat down and eaten a plate or two - 20-30 wings adn dipped every one deep in the blue cheese. This time, I grabbed a plate of broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and celery, and proceeded to eat them without dip while taking in the wonderful aroma of the wings.

I also take Alli. Our company sells it. I know the science behind it and it is a great product when used correctly. I compare it to a riding in a canoe on the rapids. If you are going the direction of the current, it is great. When you try to row upstream, it is nearly impossible. I was exercising 40 minutes a day, running 2.5 miles with resistance training. I had removed most of the fat from my diet. Alli became an accelerant. The Alli claim is 50% more weight loss - so if you were going to lose 2 pounds a week, it will help with an extra pound per week. For me, this has been the case.

In 9 weeks, I have lost 32 pounds (Actually 31.5 - but my 244 was taken at the doctor in the afternoon and my weigh ins are fasting in the morning.) 2 pounds a week would be 18 pounds. 3 pounds a week would be 27. When you consider the prior statement, 2-3 pounds could be water weight that changes throughout the day, so I am right on plan.

What amazes me is that I am now 212.5. By the BMI chart, I am still on the brink of obesity. I don't feel like I am carrying much fat around my midsection. I am not sure where the next 22 pounds are going to come from, but I am sure that I would be surprised at just how much fat my body is still holding onto. As I am pacing, I should be at my weight by mid to late October. God willing, I should have my new watch on my arm by Halloween.

Most importantly, my glucose score was down to 105 two weeks ago. The doctor has me getting blood work every two weeks and I had another sample taken yesterday. By Wednesday, I should find out if I am under 100. The next step will be to keep it under 100 without medication.

The depressing thing is that I am and will forevermore be a diabetic. The way the doctor explained it to me was that my body became insulin resistant a few years ago. The pancreas worked overtime to make up for it over the past few years and I did not know it. Then, within the last year, the pancreas said - too much, I can't do it anymore. it stopped producing the insulin to remove the sugar from my blood stream and my blood sugar numbers shot up. I am thankful that I go the annual checkup and asked for the bloodwork. I only hope that it wasn't too late and damage hasn't already happened which can't be reversed. The doctor compared my body to a gas grill. He said that when the gas starts running low, you get a low flame, but you can't turn it up and get the huge flame. As a result, you can use the grill, but you have to thaw the food out - sometimes, pre-cook it. Your grill can't do all of the work itself. He said my body, as a diabetic, is experiencing the same thing. In order to control the diabetes, I will either have to keep my weight at very low and healthy levels (pre-cooking and thawing out), take meds to increase "the flame", or a combination of both options. My goal is to get my weight to a level that allows me to have this under control.

I have abused my body over the years. A coke is 39 grams of sugar for 12oz. I would go to McDonalds, buy a 44oz coke and refill it 3-4 times to maximize the value. Now that I have realized what I was putting into my body, I am grief stricken. I know that I cannot undue it. What I can do is make sure that my kids don't suffer the same fate.

They eat too much sugar. Poptarts are a favorite at the house. They have 18 grams of sugar per serving. A serving size is one poptart - even though they come packed 2 and no one generally eats one. I had always thought of them as a healthy snack alternative. I would have been just as well giving the kids a snicker bar. I am trying to pull them back a little at a time. I want them to be kids and some of this consumption comes with it. Halloween will be a challenge this year. The kids really clean up. I will really need to manage the candy consumption.

My wife has been a great partner in all of this. She has come along with me (She is 5'1, 98 pounds - no issues on her part). She has made a point to go to diabetic websites for recipes, etc. As she is cooking better for me, the family is getting the benefit.

so, I am about 60% to my goal in 9 weeks. My larger goal is to get to 190 and maintain in longer term. I have read that my behavior is not unlike many new diabetics. They are a tad scared and committed and make life changes. Over time, they become lax and start eating the foods that caused the issues in the first place. Then, 20-30 pounds are added back on and it becomes even tougher to lose it the second time around. I know that I cannot totally deny myself. When I get to the full 2200 calories plus my exercise credit, it will allow me to have an occasional indulgence - the key will be making it the exception not the rule.