Samaddhhi's Journal, 19 May 22

Hey saw your reply about diabetes. I started this journey with my friend who had type 2 diabetes and had it for sometime. I had already begun losing weight and working out and when covid hit I got him to join me. A year later he has reversed the type 2 diabetes completely. He dropped to a normal BMI from overweight bordering on obese and switched to eating plant based diet like me. His doctor even stopped the metaformin. So do whatever you can this is not what it has to be now you know you can start turning it around. With every 5% of body weight loss you are reducing your chances of the diabetes and heart disease. I would really recommend not trying random diets but just learn what you are eating, count calories until you really understand portion sizes and the values of what you are eating. Make sure you log everything the extra bites when cooking, or sharing a snack with kids, the little things you grab at work or walking through the kitchen. When you can really see what and how much you are eating then compare it to what you need to be eating at a normal weight for your age. That’s what I did I looked up the BMR for someone my age and for the Weight I wanted to be. For me that’s like 1500 calories a day before exercise. Then make lifestyle and grocery changes that will let you eat that amount every day and be able to enjoy what you like. I was huge and at my weight I was eating up to 3 times what I needed so when I did that the weight dropped off I didn’t exercise for the first year too fat and it was a struggle and when I could I took up walking daily. Embrace a new life and gain your health back. I hope this helps and reach out anytime  

I am amazed at your persistence.I agree about diets tried everything there is just put it back on. I appreciate your feedback. I stopped drinking alcohol a couple of months back which has helped a lot in terms of calories and my general health. I have been contemplating looking into a plant based diet but haven’t quite got there yet. When did you cotton onto the plant based diet? This diabetes is really grating me so am going to do everything I can to remedy it. My cholesterol is high, blood pressure high so I have really needed to take stock and get myself into better shape as I am 57 now and I do not want to fritter away my life by not taking good care of myself. Are there any particular things you notice now that you have lost all of that weight? Some years ago I got into calorie counting and weight training and got to about 84k. The place I was working at was full of people who were all obese and I actually felt out of place. Suffice to say I put it back on. Calorie counting and excercise seem to be the best way for me, portion control too, and I am carb conscious, not obsessional but mindful. I have started doing a bit of biking 30 minutes every other day and after three weeks find I can get into almost a rhythmic trance, it’s very pleasant. Only happened once but that was something I want to repeat. Am walking every work day usually ends up being about 8,000 steps but I don’t always have my phone with me so it may be a bit more. I still have a small treat at night a chocolate Anzac biscuit and three jet plane lollies lol. I didn’t really have a sweet tooth more a savoury person but find now I like sweet things, love jaz apples. Anyways thank you for your feedback it is encouraging.  

ey jaz, When I was reading your posts it just struck a cord with me. I’ve been there and I know how awful it feels and i hoped I could share something that could help you. Cutting out the alcohol is a great thing I’m a non drinker too. It’s not something you want to be doing when you are already dealing with health problems it will just aggravate everything you are having issues with. It’s also just empty calories that make it very hard to lose weight I’d imagine. I had been eating on off most of my life vegetarian or vegan it was just really hard years ago and I’d often give up. These days it’s really easy a good way to start might be swapping out dairy products like milk for almond milk or oat milk. Then try learning a couple of plant based meals to make once a week and see how you like it. Cutting out meat even a couple of times a week would help a lot with cholesterol and reduce fat intake. As for things I notice now I lost the weight I in my denial of being fat thought all my aches and pains and lack of flexibility were because of old age! I now easily can paint my toenails, pick things up in the shower, and I have no more joint pain. I don’t get hot all the time and sweaty and my skin is no longer red and all the little red bumps on my arms went away. I breathe easily, I sleep better, everything is better I’m full of energy and feel like a new person I feel years younger. The biggest things is the health I just had bloods done recently they were perfect. My blood pressure is low end of normal, my ecg was a picture of health and I have no cholesterol issues. It’s hard to explain you carry the weight for so long that until it’s gone you don’t realise how much it’s impeding every thing you do. It sounds like you are on the right track make the steps a part of your life just like breathing I do 10000 a day now much less when I started. I think if you just analyse and really work out how much you are eating you should have no problem losing the weight. Sometimes we have to do it our own way and at our own pace. All the diets and trends never sat right to me I just focused on wanting to be healthy. Hope this finds you well and enjoying the day