Being Diagnosed with Diabetes is the catalyst for my motivation for weight loss. Ironically, since being diagnosed with this chronic disease I have never felt healthier!

To start I was not even attempting to lose weight, after attending nutrition classes to help control my Glucose I just started eating right and the weight just started to drop. As I felt better I got the desire to start moving; starting with just walking 10 minutes a day. Now Im doing C25K and feeling much stronger. Now my goal is to get a BMI in the "normal range". I predict it will take to 2016, but thats ok by me. The lighter I get, the better my BP, my endurance, my energy level.... Bottom line, I want to be healthy.

Regret that it took a chronic disease to make me realize this.

To get off all my medications including metformin and other bp/heart related stuff. While I have confidence now, I just want to look and feel better to myself (yes that sounds vain **shrugs**). Just want to be at a more healthy and fit level for myself.

If I'm being honest with myself, general concepts such as "wellness" and "good diabetes control" don't have the immediacy required to keep me motivated. I knew before my diagnosis I was gaining weight, eating poorly, not exercising and becoming unhealthy. I knew I needed a better diet and a workout regimen to avoid chronic health problems. The lever was there and I knew what it was for. I choose not to pull it.

Why then, did I finally pull that lever? What changed with my diagnosis?

Fear. I'd like to avoid as many serious diabetic complications as I can in my lifetime. Neuropathy, blindness, amputations, increased chances of heart attack and stroke. Scary stuff. I just don't want any part of those if I can at all help it. My diagnosis was a wake-up call, screaming "These things are gonna happen sooner rather than later if you don't do something!"

Sure, now that I'm straighter and narrower (see what I did there?) I like much better how I feel and how I look. They're motivational helpers. Even the difficulty of the task itself can lend a motivational hand. Loosing weight is hard? I'll show myself I can do it.

But, no. I have to give credit to where credit is due. Fear is the impetus behind my weight loss success.

About 5 years ago, diabetes was a mythical concept reserved for people who were much much heavier than ME!

I was going home at the end of a Friday and it was pouring rain, a woman I barely knew and I were waiting at the door for it to let up a bit. Casually I asked her what she was doing this weekend and she told me she was going for surgery. After expressing concern I asked what for and she told me she was getting her foot cut off. CUT OFF.

This woman ate Burger King for lunch every single day. Now obviously I didn't know her whole story, but that stuck with me, the removing body parts thing.

I learned that 6 months later she had the other foot removed and was on disability.

When I got my diagnosis that was the only thing I could think about. Removing body parts. Now every time I try to sneak something I shouldn't be having my friends or my sister just look at me and say "feet." Most donuts just aren't worth that.