For the past 12 weeks I have been on the journey of a lifetime.

Watching our local news last year I saw a story about a local journalist that was going into his finale of a weight loss competition put on by HEB called the Slim Down Showdown.  I found my curiosity getting the best of me so I took to the internet to research this competition.  At the time I read the info on the HEB website I had one week to decide if I should apply to participate before the deadline.  I discussed things with my wife and I decided I had nothing to lose but weight.  I filled out the application and made a 3 minute video of myself (3 minutes is hard) and mailed it off 2 days before the deadline.

Fast forward about a month later…

I am at the local university participating in a program called Fit Life for work.  This is out annual stress test for work and assessment.  I walked out feeling disappointed I had not met the goals I set for myself the previous year.  As I got back into my truck I noticed a voicemail so I listen as Ms Melissa V-W left me a message saying she was with HEB and wanted to set up an interview for the contest.  I immediately returned the call but then I had to leave a message for her.  The next 24 hours were the longest of my life as I didn’t hear back from her.  The next day I called again and I fnally got a hold of her.  I had to apologize for my anxiety but I didn’t want to blow this opportunity.  She scheduled my interview and the following week I found myself driving to Houston to interview with a panel of what seemed like 100 people.  The interview was very personal for me and I still won’t share that aspect of things but I will say I did have to use some of the tissues.  I finished the interview and was lead out and told I would hear by 2 weeks if I made it.  I left it in my faith’s hands.

Two weeks later I got home from work and realized it was almost 5 o’clock and I had not heard from anyone from HEB.  I told my wife that I guess I didn’t make it.  She asked if I was sad and I said no, but in my heart I was sad.  Then 5 minutes later I got a call from a little firecracker…Suzanne Parker – the HEB health and wellness coach.  She informed me I was selected to take part in the HEB Slim Down Showdown 2013!!  I couldn’t believe it.

I have told you all about Fit Camp and you have all read about my progress throughout these last few weeks.  I had fear going through this journey and I only felt like quiting just one time.  On the way home from Fit Camp I spent those 3 hours by myself in my truck thinking I wasn’t going to be able to do this on my own.  I didn’t think I would ever find motivation to workout as much as I needed to.  I walked into my house and saw my handsome son Diego and my very pregnant wife Joy and found the motivation.  Then Diego said, “see momma he still has a belly”.  I knew I had to do this.

I have learned so much about myself during this journey and apparently have motivated some people along the way.  I love hearing compliments but I still get embarrassed when I hear them.  I am stronger, more fit, and off some expensive meds by eating right and getting off my rear and excercising.  In other words, everything doctors and health class taught me years ago, when actually applied – works.  Working out surprised me.  I never thought I would look forward to working out…never.  Let me tell you this – it hurts when you start, but be strong and don’t stop.  Before you know it you will not even notice that the pain is gone and the soreness you feel lasts much shorter than when you start.  You will have so much energy you will be amazed.  Before this competition I was an 8-12 cup of coffee a day guy.  Now, if I do drink coffee it’s because I genuinely love the taste, but it is very rare if I drink even 1 cup.

I have a much different outlook on life now.  Work isn’t important to me.  I mean I know it is a must but it will not define me and be my priority.  Live hard play hard and work a little in between….that’s what I do now.

I have said it before and I mean it…when you feel pain…MAKE THAT PAIN YOURS!!!!!  You and only you are in control of your life so make the change to an active lifestyle!!!!

I will miss you all so much!  Find me on social network sites if I not your friend already.  Thank you for taking this journey with me.  To that special group of young men and women from Mrs Arevalo’s journalism class…thank you all so much!  You are bright and intelligent individuals that will go so far in life.  Study hard and keep in your heard straight…more importantly…listen to your teacher!!!!!

Thank you to all of my wonderful family for the love and support you have given me – the bond between us all is closer than ever and I love it!  To all of the great people at the HEB Bryan #3 – thanks for the love and support.  I am forever greatful for the support your store showed me.  Rich you have an awesome staff and Sarah you are very talented person that is going far in your career…thank you both!  Thank you to the men and women of the College Station Police Department and the Bryan Police Departments for the support!  Thanks to the HEB staff – they have forever changed my life and countless others – for that you are all saints in my life!  Thank you to the Cooper Institute – especially Kathy Thal – I love you so much and cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me!  Zumba Rita – you rock!!!!!!  Thanks to Dole for the support and for putting me on a coupon (how many of you can tell your kids you were on a coupon once)!  Thanks to Gold’s Gym, Fleet Feet, Hilton HIll Country Resort, Avocado from Mexico, watermelon.org, Brita, Uncle Sam, and especially the wonderful people at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital.  My SDSD brothers and sisters couldn’t have done this without all of you.  Julie with Tresletree – I am going to miss our talks so much.  Thank you for listening to me!

Last but not least…I want to thank my wonderful wife Joy.  You have been my biggest fan throughout this journey.  I hope I haven’t been too bad.  You are a wonderful, beautiful, wife and mom that is the strongest woman I know.  I love you so much and I thank you for being patient with me as I adjust to my new lifestyle.  I can’t wait for you to join me on my runs and workouts.

Diego and Gabe…I know you are both very young but I do this for you.  I have to do my part to ensure I am around as long as possible to watch you grow up to become men and start families of your own.  My promise to you is that I will do everything in my power to make sure you succeed in all aspects of life – especially with a healthy lifestyle.  Now I know what I am doing so I will give the greatest gift anyone can ever give – education.

I love you all!  My journey doesn’t end here – I am just getting warmed up!!!!!

DOLPHIN CLUB!!!!!!!!

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My second to last blog and I am realizing I am getting sad.  More than I realized at first.  I won’t dwell on it too much because I am pretty sure my post on Monday – the last one – will hit me hard.

Some people say the famous, “one chapter in my life is closed and a new one begins”.  I have closed more than a chapter my friends…I have closed a book.  Some people say they will never look back…I will.  Growing up we all read a favorite book and some of us kept that book or bought newer versions of it throughout our lives.  We kept them on the shelves, in a box, in a drawer – wherever we may have chosen, but the fact is we kept those books very close to our hearts.  In order to appreciate our past – which helps reminds of where we used to be – we need to look back on it.  My book I am about to close is my favorite book and will always remind me about my life and where I was.  More importantly – this old book will remind me of where I do not want to be anymore.  I can pull it off the shelves and re-visit it anytime I want for motivation to keep me moving forward.  It will be a constant reminder of how badly I want to continue this lifestyle change I have made.  I was never in this contest for the money.  I knew I wasn’t going to lose 100 lbs in 12 weeks, and I knew I would still be way off from my ultimate goal which is to get under 200 lbs.

So far, I have lost 19 lbs.  Not even close to what some of my SDSD brothers and sisters have lost.  I have seen a reduction in diabetes meds, I am full of energy, I am much more confident than I ever imagined I would be, and I now have a much different outlook on life and my goals are completely different.  One month ago today I was blessed with my little Gabriel.  He decided he wanted to make sure he could be there to the see the finale I guess.  Since then I have been deprived of my sleep, and I have been challenged on many other fronts as life continues despite a competition.  How I have dealt with this now is completely different with how I would have dealt with it in the past.  While most of my SDSD brothers and sisters have doubled up their workouts in the last few weeks before finale I have had to cut back.  Listening to your body is essential in the success of a workout and nutrition regimen.  Being without rest these last few weeks has taken its toll, however I fought forward and kept up my nutrition.  I got workouts in when I could, and I had to make time for my older son Diego who quickly pointed out to me and handed me the guilt as he noticed people paying more attention to Gabriel.  Hearing his shivering voice, seeing his shaky lips, and seeing the tears from his eyes as he wanted to know why me and momma couldn’t talk with him as much anymore or play with him really hit hard.  I went for a late workout one night and when I returned home he was still awake well past his bedtime.  When I started getting after him he explained he was just waiting up to see me before he went to bed.  For the first time I felt a failure when I went to bed that night.  But this is my reality folks.  This is real life for me.  I work a stressful job that at many times keeps me awake at all hours of the day and night.  Finding the balance between work, family, and living right is difficult, but if one thing is for sure it’s the fact I know I can get through it.  I spent tonight taking my oldest to the movies – a guy night.  We talked about how I don’t get to see him much right now and how when I went to the gym or for a run it was because I wanted to be around for a long time.  Diego, in all his young glory, understood.

My new book.  This is where I begin.  Baby steps are more successful, but my next baby step is a half marathon in December.  A healthy lifestyle is a permanent change.  One that you must continue.  I don’t want to get back on all that insulin.  I don’t want to special order clothes anymore.  I don’t want to feel tired 18 of the 24 hours in a day.  What will I do to make sure I succeed?  I will remember.

I will pull out my old book and read it.  I will thumb thru those pages and remember how tired I was, how embarrassed I was to buy clothes, how my son would tell my wife I didn’t do anything but lay on the couch all day.  I will remember how much I hated myself all those years.  My new goals have me doing triathalons and planning vacations around what kind of physical activity my family and I can do rather than mapping out going to all the man versus food stops.

I promise you all that I will succeed!  It may take a bit but I will be below 200 lbs one day, and I will be running marathons and triathalons soon.

I invite all of you wonderful people to come see me and my SDSD brothers and sisters at the Grand Finale on Saturday April 6th at 1pm at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio.  It is free to the public and you can meet all of my brothers and sisters.  I would be honored to have as many of you there as possible.

I have one final blog that will be posted on Monday so please stop by again and read the last one.  Please visit my SDSD brothers and sisters profiles and read their blogs too.  They are all wonderful people and they have such great stories.

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Well folks this week will be my last week to blog for this journey.  Saying goodbye to this portion of the competition is going to be hard.  I have “met” so many wonderful people that have been following this blog it will be hard to get used to not seeing such kind words from everyone.  Although I am excited about the finale coming up I am saddened by the thought of not getting to talk to my HEB family as much.

HEB has changed my life!  I was blessed with this opportunity, and I told myself that because so many people tried to be where I am and I was picked that I wouldn’t waste the moment.  I went in full of doubt, but when applying to everyday life I found it easy. Along the way I learned a lot about love.  Yes, that’s right…love.  Love for my friends, my family, but more importantly the love for myself.  Folks you have to realize that each and every one of you out there is worth so much more than most of you give yourselves credit for.  At many times throughout life people stumble along the way.  Some may stumble over and over again and feel the world is caving in, but not one of us is guaranteed an easy life.  In fact, there is no such thing as an easy life.  The problem is you have to realize the difficulties in life are sometimes brought on by the choices we make.  For me – it was my lifestyle choices.  These choices trickled down to all aspects of my life causing the domino effect in the problem department.  Once HEB gave me this opportunity I went full steam ahead.  Knocking down any obstacle in my way like a runaway train – I was determined to keep positive at all times.  I have had a few tough days in this program that I had to fight back hard, but I gained control quickly and that is all that counts.  Stay in control of your attitude people – your attitude is your foundation.

Thank you all again for the inspiration you have all given me.  It means more than you will ever know.

Stay tuned because I have a few more blogs to go by the end of the week.

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Well ladies and gentlemen…I did it!

As mentioned on my blog before the weekend I had to follow up with my diabetes specialist on Friday.  I am officially off one of my insulins!!!!!!!!  Before going into this competition I was on a once a day insulin, and a once before every meal insulin.  I am pleased to announce I am no longer on my once before every meal insulin!!!!!!  I am still on my once daily insulin but my doctor strongly feels I will be off of that one too by the end of the year!  All of this because I am eating what I am supposed to be eating.  All of you diabetics out there that roll your eyes when your doctor tells you how easy it is to change your eating habits and to control your diabetes – they are right!  I know because I rolled my eyes too all of the time.  “Save the preaching” I thought, because I am not giving up the food I love.  A slow and painful death was my other choice.

For the first time since I was diagnosed with diabetes I am winning!  I refuse to bow down to the temptations that weighed me down so much in the past.  Get up and move people!  Your life depends on it!  I had an aunt tell me today that she wishes she could be like me.  Well guess what???  I never thought I could be like this!  I told her to get up and move and eat right!

Again, I couldn’t have gotten here without the wonderful people at HEB, Rita, Katie with Gold’s Gym, and, of course, Kathy with the Cooper Institute.  I owe my life to these wonderful ladies.  All of my dreams will be accomplished in regards to meeting my new fitness goals and it will be because of my Dream Team!

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Coming up on the 2 week mark til finale!!!

Tomorrow morning I have to follow up with my endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) and I am hoping for good news to start the weekend.  Perhaps another lowering of medication?!?

After work I am going to race to the gym and get a quick workout in and then head to baseball practice with my son.  Yes, I am coaching and it is a pretty good workout working with a bunch of 6-8 year olds.  Then Saturday Diego and I will go on a run and bike ride.  Sunday will be my day of rest or at least a lighter workout at the gym.

I ask each of you this…

What healthy activities do you have planned for the weekend?

Come on folks – give me something good to read – leave me some love!

Have a great weekend and I will see you all soon!!

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In 2 1/2 weeks I will be in a little town called San Antonio for the Grand Finale for this most wonderful journey.  Today it hit me that the end is near.  I had the pleasure of speaking to Kathy (my nutritionist from the Cooper Institure) who just called to check on me.  I ended the conversation so excited because I truly feel Kathy was the jump start I needed – the reality check.  She informed me that I am only 7 lbs from my 10% mark from my starting weight.  The significance of this 10% is that the 10% is when one really begins to see the health benefits of weight loss – especially in diabetics.  I was pumped!

I came inside kissed my boys and wife and went for a run with more motivation than ever.  I ran the first mile fine, but as I began my second mile I started thinking about how this is almost over.  I started to get emotional because I started thinking about my new SDSD family, the wonderful staff at HEB, and Kathy.  These people helped me find…well – me.  The me I have always wanted to be.  The me that I always said I was going to be but would wait because I would start the next Monday.  The me that I eventually had given up on ever seeing.  I started to feel a certain fear I hadn’t felt in a long time which lead to panic.  Just as I started to approach the door I tripped on a piece of tire in the road and landed on hands in a push up position!  I thought – man I am getting stronger because of how I landed and how fast I sprung up.  Then I turned back as I started running again to look at the tire and fell again because I was running backwards.  This time it was not graceful and I am hurting pretty bad on a few areas of my body.  I had almost an entire mile before I made it back home.  I still tried to run a little, but, as luck would have it, it is uphill the rest of the way back home.  My knee required some ice when I returned home.  The good news is that thanks to my weight loss so far my shorts are a little big and start to fall a little despite my efforts to tie them up.  This particular day my shorts were covering my knees and so there is no scabs!!!!  Yes, I am sure many people got a good laugh at me as several cars passed during my “moment”.

As I continued home I started thinking about everything again, but because I was in pain I felt I was defeated.  I started channeling my inner beast for help.  I thought about every motivational thing I have heard along the way and tried to apply it.  Nothing was working.  My fear was back and it was me worrying about what was going happen when I was no longer in an official competition.  Then it happened…I fell again.  This time my leg and knee just gave out.  I managed to throw myself in the grass this time, but then I thought about something Kathy told me during our conversation just moments prior – just do it.

I was so ashamed I had fallen 3 times that I couldn’t even tell my wife.  I just came home and told her I was hurting more than usual today and I just needed to ice my knees and legs for precaution.

I was so busy feeling sorry for myself and worrying about what was going to happen after April 6th that I was missing the big picture.  By applying to be a part of this experience I “just did it”, like Kathy said.  I am just pounds away from 10% weight loss.  I have my blood pressure and glucose under control with minimal medication with hopes of being off of it completely very soon.  I am wearing tighter clothes.  I love to sweat.  I run – most days of the week.  I ran a 5k!  I have become closer to my family, some old friends, and have found a whole new family.  I have started training for a half marathon.  See this is all stuff I never would have imagined I would ever be doing.  I closed my eyes and jumped and I haven’t been the same since.  It was at this moment I realized I was knocked down 3 times during my workout to knock some sense into me.  I “just did it” already.  Now I have to keep doing it.

I know this is a life changing event.  As far as the competition goes…I am competing for a healthier life.  This will go well beyond April 6th.  I have proven to myself I AM worth it!  I love everybody!!!!  So as I think of a familiar song that calls on love to pick you up…everyday…I know all I need is love.  Love for my family, my friends, and most importantly…love for me.

I am calm now people.  I feel great again, and although I am hurting a bit still I will be at it again tomorrow.  The new Mo came out and beat back the old Mo and I can now laugh at the falling down.  My wife is now asleep so I will let her find out when she reads this blog.

Thanks for the love people…it feels good!

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Well folks in less than 3 weeks I will be at the Finale for the Slimdown Show Down!!!!  I feel great and my health has improved tremendously in the short time I have been making these changes.  I know I will not hit my ultimate goal of being less than 200 pounds by the finale, but I knew that going in.  Healthy weight loss is only 1-3 pounds a week.  I did not gain this weight over night and I will not lose it over night, but I will keep moving forward!!!

I invite each of you to the finale which is Saturday April 6th at 1:00pm at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio!!!  It’s going to be fun and you will get to see the newer me!  I plan on spending the next 3 weeks continuing as I have done in the past several weeks.  Maintain nutrition, continue my workouts, and new this week will be to begin increasing my run times in order to train for a half marathon in December.  My ultimate goal is to one day run marathons and triathalons so no better time than now to push for it!

I continue to need your help and support during these final weeks.  Please continue to share, comment, and like ,my blogs!!  Ask me anything you want and I will help you the best way I can.  If I can’t – I will find someone who can!

I have another great recipe from the wonderful people at Dole for a great salad!  I hope you all enjoy it.

Dole^® Mixed Berry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Prep: 20 min.               Makes: 4 to 6 servings

                                        1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

                                       1 teaspoon honey

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 package (8 oz.) DOLE^® Spring Mix

1/2 cup sliced DOLE Fresh Strawberries

1/2 cup DOLE Fresh Raspberries

1/2 cup DOLE Fresh blueberries

1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

• Mix vinegar and honey in bowl.  Whisk in olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine salad blend and berries in large bowl.  Add vinaigrette and gently toss to coat.  Arrange salad on plates.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and almonds.

Please give it a try and give me some feedback!!!!

Thank you for all the continued support!

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Most people – including me – fully believe the cost of healthy food is more expensive compared to the not-so-healthy options.  Is this true?  Yes and no.  Confused???  Yeah I was too once.  Let me try and break it down…

You are craving some chips and decide to head to the store.  You walk down the chip aisle and see a family sized bag of your favorite nacho cheese tortilla chips.  Now the price of this gigantic bag is around $4.79.  Now, if you go towards the deli you may find a bag, slightly smaller, of multi-grain pita chips for $3.79.  For $1 more you can buy a bag almost 2 times bigger than the healthy option.  Score right?  Wrong.  How many people actually read the label on the back and determine the appropriate serving size and only eat that?  A few of you may but the truth is not many do.  If you portion out the healthier option you will find just as I did that in the long run you will make the pita chips last longer.  Another lesson learned is bread.  You can buy a loaf of white bread for less than $2, but few people have the appropriate serving size.  Whole wheat bread is pricey but when you use portion control you save!!!  That is the key folks – portion control.  Trust me you will see the savings!

One last note – produce is always cheaper than the chip aisle, bakery, or the candy aisle any time of the year, day, or night!!!!  Hit up that produce aisle!!!

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Like a small child always recollects the best times in their lives I do too.  This one time at Fit Camp…

As mentioned, this one time at Fit Camp, we had several field trips.  My favorite was a trip to the CIA in San Antonio.  No, not the men in black but the men in white, rather.  The Culinary Institute of America.  We learned how to cook along side of some accomplished and soon to be chefs.  They broke us into groups and I was honored to be the only male in group #5.  Not only did I have the privilege of working with some hot ladies but we also got to make dessert.  We were given the ingredients and instructions but we had to name it.  So, here it is…presented by The Group 5 …

The Not So Chunky Monkey

Ingredients x5

8 Gingersnap cookies

1 box sugar free chocolate pudding

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Place 1 TBSP of crushed cookies in 4 small parfait cups, set aside

Prepare pudding as instructed on box and pour 1/2 cup of pudding on top of each cup of crushed cookies

Sprinkle each pafait with coconut and pecans

Makes 4 servings

THE BEST PART…

Calories 192; Fat 8g; Sodium 436mg; Carbs 20g; Fiber 1g; Sugars 3g; Protein 2g

Now I’m not just patting myself on the back but we did tie for 1st place for the taste and presentation of the Not So Chunky Monkey.

Give it a taste and let me know what you think.  It is quick and will help ease that chocolate craving!!!!

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Although I have come a long way with managing my diabetes with this journey I can tell you I will always have it.  I knew that when I was officially diagnosed, but the important part is that I am doing a great job so far at managing it that I hope to be off my meds (or at least the majority of them) soon.

Several years ago, when I was diagnosed, I had somewhat of an idea what was happening to me.  I come from a long line of diabetics, and had grown up with a classmate that was diagnosed with it in the 5th grade.  I still had no clear idea of what was happening inside of Camp Mo until I started the SDSD.  Since I have been in this program I have been doing as much reading as possible through the American Diabetes Association and with the lessons learned from my week at Fit Camp and decided this is information that is valuable to everyone.  So, since I share recipes with all of you, I decided it would be irresponsible if I didn’t share this information as well.

“I don’t have diabetes, but I think I might”

Truth is most people don’t realize they have diabetes.  They have become so used to the lifestyle they are living they don’t realize their body is sending them warning messages.  Many times when it is diagnosed it is because some have lapsed into a diabetic coma and had to be rushed to the hospital.  On average one lives with diabetes for 9-12 years before being officially diagnosed with the disease.  Symptoms are subtle but include frequent urination, excessice thirst, unusual fatigue, unexplained weight loss, numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, blurred vision, dry or itchy skin, recurring infections, cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please go see a doctor soon!

“Okay, I have been diagnosed.  What happens now?”

Well now you must change your lifestyle.  You have to know how to eat!!!!  This is the most important part of managing your diabetes.  Yes, your doctor will possibly put you on medication, but the meds will not take care of the diabetes alone.  Think of diabetes as a marriage or any relationship – you have to invest 100% to make it work.  Some say only 50% and the other person puts in the other 50%, but remember the other person in this marriage or relationship is DIABETES!!!!  If you only put in 50% with diabetes the diabetes wins!  See a diabetic specialist, nutritionist, or educator.  Make sure they are a “diabetic” specialist/nutritionist/educator!!!  My nutritionist for the SDSD was a wonderful woman – Kathy – and I can credit the years I am adding onto my life because of her.  Not only did she give me valuable information at Fit Camp, but she also said, “Now, I am NOT a diabetic specialist.  So, when you get home you need to show all of the information I am giving you to your specialist and do what SHE says.”.  Then came Rita – my HEB assigned nutritionist who is, in fact, a diabetes specialist.  I learned so much from these wonderful ladies.  My actual endocrinologist (the name of a diabetes doctor) looked at my nutrition plan and said, “These ladies know their business.”.  I was so happy my team didn’t have so much pride that you see these days that they didn’t tell me they had all the answers and to follow up with my specialist.  Bottom line…you have to know what to eat in order to succeed!

“I know what to eat so now what?”

Okay now that you know how to fuel your body comes the next most important part of managing your diabetes…excercise!

Most people that have diabetes haven’t done this in a long time.  Perhaps that is a contributing factor to why one has been diagnosed.  I have blogged about exercise before so here some of it is again.  You only need 150 MINUTES of excercise a week.  150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week is an average of 30 minutes each day for 5 days of the week.  You can even break down the 30 minutes is you choose.

“What is moderate physical activity?”

Walking briskly (about 3.5mph on a treadmill) for 30 minutes

Hiking

Gardening or other yard work

Dancing

Golf (sorry walk no cart)

Bicycling (less than 10 mph)

General light weight training

Take small steps people.  Small steps lead to big steps.

“What do all of those numbers mean and are they important?”

Absolutely!  You must know the ABCs of diabetes!!!!!

A – A1C.  This is the average glucose levels of the past 3 months.  Your glucose should be 70-130 mg/dl fasting and less than 180 mg/dl 2 hours post any meal.  Your A1C as a diabetic should always be < 7.

B – Blood Pressure.  Heart disease is sometimes a result of diabetes if you don’t manage the diabetes.  Your BP should always be less than 130/80 mmHg.  You should check this every morning with your fasting glucose level and keep a log the same way.  The ADA doesn’t recommend using those blood pressure machines you see at grocery stores and drug stores because they do not calibrate them often enough and will sometimes give incorrect readings.

C – Cholesterol.  This is also part of the heart disease tree.  Know your numbers.  Your LDL “bad” cholesterol should be < 100 mg or < 70 mg if you have already been diagnosed with heart disease.  Your HDL “good” cholesterol should be > 40 mg/dl in men and > 50 mg/dl in women.  Your triglycerides should always be < 150 mg/dl.

Know the ABCs of diabetes!!!!!

I know some of you out there have heard this before – hey I did too – but what you eat and how you excercise is what is going to determine your fight with diabetes.  Hopefully by the finale I will be able to write a blog post about being off my insulins!!!!!!

All of the information contained in this blog was based on information provided by the American Diabetes Association.

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