Diabetic-Lost 125 lbs. and kicked insulin habit

My main focus was to give up soda (I drank a lot of diet soda), sodium, sugar (of course) and alcohol. I know that's hard.

Things I love to eat:

Ezekiel Sesame Bread - made with sprouted grains. I have this everyday toasted with SF Jelly or Almond Butter. I AM A HUGE FAN. I get it at Trader Joes and when I emailed the company I was a fan, they mail me 4 50 cent coupons per month. I'm unemployed so that helps.

Almond Butter with Flaxseeds - again Trader Joes.

I drink unsweetened iced tea, I make my own every morning. I like True Blueberry or Fruit Tea sampler by Celestial Seasonings . My husband even drinks it now. I even fill it into my gym water bottle instead of plain water.

Flavored Seltzer water - giving up soda was tough and I hate plain water.

I changed my eating lifestyle to each almost no processed foods. The sodium is a killer and I just made that choice. A carrot is a carrot and a potato is a potato. Needless to say, we don't eat out much and if I do, I always check online before going to the restaurant.

Quinoa - I like it better than brown rice and I don't have to add anything to it - I like it plain. Boxed couscous (processed) is too salty for me.

Trader Joes Fruit Leathers - they are about 50 cents each and are all fruit or veggies. They are about 60 calories and I keep them in my purse if I need a lift or after a workout.

That's all I can think of at the moment - I'm sure more will come to me.

Before I used to eat a lot of drive thru and takeout. Now, I buy fresh and cook myself. I have to say it is hard work. I keep a food diary and log my calories, what I eat, when I eat, my blood sugars and my exercise. And YES, I go to the gym 5 days out of 7. And I thought I was doing so well going to the gym but I've learned I exercise till I sweat and do at least 30 minutes on a stepper or eliptical. And I like to sweat - weird, right? Like I said, it's hard work. Before I couldn't even sit in a diner booth and would test a chair before I sat in it (Highest weight was 347) and now am much more active. But it is a journey and you must take one day at a time. I go to Planet Fitness gym and am amazed how many different people, ages, shapes and sizes work out. I respect each and every one of them for showing up to the gym. My first day at the gym I walked in with a cane - talk about sticking out!! Now I make the gym part of my day. My daughter is 15 and for most of her life, she saw me as not being able to participate in her activities and having limitations. She wasn't overweight but wasn't fit. We have taken the journey together and I hope I am a positive role model to her. Bonus: she just ran her 2nd 5K and won 2nd in her age division. If you were to tell me a year ago we would be doing what we are doing now you would have to scrape me off the floor!! In my case, I had to have the POOP scared out of me to get off my duff.