| Over the years, I have been lucky not to have had to | | | | exercise. I began to read as much as I could on the |
| worry too much about my weight. I have played a lot | | | | subject, and the internet was a fabulous tool. A great |
| of sport, and kept myself healthy. At the age of 40, I | | | | resource is where there are over 1400 pages of |
| was still actively involved in squash, tennis and golf, | | | | information. There is also a lot of diet information there. |
| although the latter 2 were not as strenuous as squash. | | | | I became a bit of an expert, especially as I began to |
| At the age of 41, I gave up competitive squash, and | | | | lose more weight. I found that providing I cut out the |
| over the next 6 months put on over 5 kg's (11 pounds). | | | | saturated fats, and cut down (not out) desserts, and |
| By my early 50's, I was about 84kg (185lb), diagnosed | | | | ate smaller meals I continued to lose weight. I cut down |
| with Type 2 diabetes, depressed, and wondering | | | | beer, and drank mostly wine. In essence, I continued to |
| where my life was going. At only 170cm (5'8"), my BMI | | | | enjoy all the foods I had previously enjoyed, but with |
| was much too high. I had to find a way to slim down. | | | | the motto, everything in moderation. |
| After getting the doctors advice on my diabetes, I | | | | A simple exercise regime was begun; I walked for just |
| started to try to do the right thing and lose weight. I ate | | | | 40 minutes a day, 4 days per week. I play golf at least |
| a diet of cardboard and grass, or if you will, crackers | | | | once per week, and during the warmer months, tennis |
| and salad. I tried to starve, ate just protein, all the usual | | | | once a week. This is not body breaking stuff. The |
| fads, and lost a bit. Christmas came around and I was | | | | reality of all this is that with serious diabetes or obesity, |
| back to top weight and again feeling depressed. After | | | | you can lie around all day and night in a cemetery if |
| trying all sorts of diets, I would always fail. I then began | | | | you do not confront your weight problems. |
| to understand that losing weight was not an easy thing | | | | Now at the age of 55, I am down to 75kg (165lbs), the |
| to do. I have subsequently read how many people | | | | last blood test showed I was no longer diabetic, and I |
| embark on diets, and how many fail to lose weight, or | | | | feel better in myself. While I know diabetes cannot be |
| simply stack the weight back on after the diet is over. I | | | | cured, I firmly believe that it can be controlled by |
| was one of them. | | | | controlling your weight, and in particular, your fat |
| It became apparent that the only way I was going to | | | | percentages. |
| succeed was to change my mindset. I began to see | | | | I also firmly believe that information is king and you can |
| that there was no miracle diet. I had to reduce my | | | | never have too much information. Sites like can be of |
| calorie intake or burn more calories through work or | | | | great use. Obesity is a health hazard, so let's beat it. |