I am 64. Six months ago I was, and had been for many years, obese, dependent on alcohol, suffering from depression, sedentary and had diabetes type 2. I felt negative and unmotivated. Due to those factors, making any changes was, I thought, nigh on impossible.
I thought I was locked in to diabetes. I have already done irreparable damage to the soles of my feet, and further damage to my body seemed inevitable. But, as I have discovered, it is possible to escape from diabetes and make very positive changes. If I had known what I know now, I might have followed the course I am on sooner. But, due to my mindset then, maybe not.
One evening, seven months ago, for some reason, I thought 'I can't go on like this. I need to do something about my problems'. So the next day, I decided to give up alcohol, control my eating, and start exercising. I didn't stop to think about these decisions because I knew that if I did, I would find excuses not to do it.
The next day, I signed up to a local gym. It was the first time I had ever been into a gym, and it seemed very daunting, but the staff have been very helpful, supportive and encouraging. I started off doing the most that I could, and now go there six days a week and have progressed to exercising very strongly. I have discovered that the more I do, the more I can do.
Seven months on, I haven't had any alcohol. I thought that this would be very difficult, but actually, for me, it hasn't been. I don't miss it at all. I now limit my daily eating to three carefully calorie controlled (fairly) healthy meals. Again, this hasn't been as difficult as I imagined. I even enjoy the taste of the smaller quantities much more than when I was eating excessively.
After Christmas, I went for my quarterly diabetic check up. Much to my amazement, all my measurements, including cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure, are now completely normal. I no longer have diabetes. I didn't know that this was possible, but the numbers don’t lie. My readings have, since then, either stabilised or even improved.
My life has been turned around, in a very positive way. There have been so many side benefits that I wasn’t expecting. My eyesight had been deteriorating, and when I felt that it wasn’t, again, quite right I visited my opticians. My eyesight has changed, but much to my delight, it has changed for the better.
I enjoy dressing in a way I consider to be good, but due to my obesity, I was restricted to ‘big man’ websites and their rather narrow and dull ranges. Now I am free to buy anything I want from normal shops and websites – and I do!
Since I started, I have lost nearly seven stone in seven months and I am no longer obese, diabetic or depressed. I feel, and am, fit and healthy. I no longer have depression and all that entails. I feel alert and positive. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I am in control of my health and life.
I really thought I was the last person who could do what I have done. I hope that my experience can encourage other people with similar problems to improve their lot.
I thought I was locked in to diabetes. I have already done irreparable damage to the soles of my feet, and further damage to my body seemed inevitable. But, as I have discovered, it is possible to escape from diabetes and make very positive changes. If I had known what I know now, I might have followed the course I am on sooner. But, due to my mindset then, maybe not.
One evening, seven months ago, for some reason, I thought 'I can't go on like this. I need to do something about my problems'. So the next day, I decided to give up alcohol, control my eating, and start exercising. I didn't stop to think about these decisions because I knew that if I did, I would find excuses not to do it.
The next day, I signed up to a local gym. It was the first time I had ever been into a gym, and it seemed very daunting, but the staff have been very helpful, supportive and encouraging. I started off doing the most that I could, and now go there six days a week and have progressed to exercising very strongly. I have discovered that the more I do, the more I can do.
Seven months on, I haven't had any alcohol. I thought that this would be very difficult, but actually, for me, it hasn't been. I don't miss it at all. I now limit my daily eating to three carefully calorie controlled (fairly) healthy meals. Again, this hasn't been as difficult as I imagined. I even enjoy the taste of the smaller quantities much more than when I was eating excessively.
After Christmas, I went for my quarterly diabetic check up. Much to my amazement, all my measurements, including cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure, are now completely normal. I no longer have diabetes. I didn't know that this was possible, but the numbers don’t lie. My readings have, since then, either stabilised or even improved.
My life has been turned around, in a very positive way. There have been so many side benefits that I wasn’t expecting. My eyesight had been deteriorating, and when I felt that it wasn’t, again, quite right I visited my opticians. My eyesight has changed, but much to my delight, it has changed for the better.
I enjoy dressing in a way I consider to be good, but due to my obesity, I was restricted to ‘big man’ websites and their rather narrow and dull ranges. Now I am free to buy anything I want from normal shops and websites – and I do!
Since I started, I have lost nearly seven stone in seven months and I am no longer obese, diabetic or depressed. I feel, and am, fit and healthy. I no longer have depression and all that entails. I feel alert and positive. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I am in control of my health and life.
I really thought I was the last person who could do what I have done. I hope that my experience can encourage other people with similar problems to improve their lot.
