One year ago today

[tonyespo]

It was Oct 9th 2007 that I was told I had diabetes, exactly 1 year ago. I still have diabetes, but I have lost 34 lbs, my A1C has gone down from 7.6 to 5.5 and my Meds have been reduced twice. I still have 26 pounds to lose, but I am hoping that on Oct 9th 2008 I will be able to report that I have lost the weight. This is also the anniversary of my giving up alcohol. I haven't had a single drop of anything alcoholic in a year. That I am very proud of as I was drinking a quart of gin a week and wine and beer. Any wonder that I am a diabetic?

I want to thank everyone for all the encouraging words and well wishes this past year. You gents are a great support group.

[soulshine]

kudos to you tony!

s~s

[DEF]

Has it been a year already? Geez, that was fast. (Easy for me to say; I wasn't giving up gin and all the other carby goodness.)

Big congratulations to you on your discipline and improved health!

If you'll excuse a metaphor, here, I had a realization this week. The wife and I are getting our house ready to market. We're doing all those little touch ups like oiling the woodwork, cleaning up the trim, washing the windows, changing out ratty doorstops, etc. We've got the place well on its way now. Last night I was sitting looking at the kitchen cabinets, and I said, "Now why is it that we'll do all these things for prospective buyers, but we were more than happy to settle for less for ourselves? We could have been enjoying these lustrous cabinets all along!" I think that observation is true for much in life. Whether it's keeping up a nice home, buffing up the Boxter (or Corolla in my case), or making the most of our health, the key is constant vigilance and continual maintenance effort. Huzzah for Tony for showing us how it's done!

Regards,
Doug

[tonyespo]

Doug, in my case is was having a quality of life or having bad health. I was content being FAT and drinking 2 martini's everyday. Had I remained healthy I would still be doing it. Once the diabetes hit it was change or die. With that facing me I made the choice to change my ways.

It's easy to let yourself go as long as you don't feel bad. We have dust bunnies in my house too.

[yasuo200365]

Well done Mr Espo ..., time to update that photo.

Regards
John

[Leisureguy]

Well done. And aren't you feeling better physically (more energy, easier to move, etc.)?

[tonyespo]

Well done. And aren't you feeling better physically (more energy, easier to move, etc.)?

Michael, exactly.... I feel like I'm 10 years younger. People just don't know how important keeping their weigh down is. Even losing 10 pounds makes a big difference in how you feel.

[Sam]

Tony, congrats and also kudos for making this public. You also inspire others and I am back to running because of reading of your travails. Doug makes a salient point that we sometimes accept less for ourselves in matters.

[Leisureguy]

My sister, I think it was, told me about something they did in one of her weight-loss groups. When someone had lost 10 pounds, to help them understand the effects, they gave them a 10-lb bag of flour or sugar to hold and had them get up out of a chair holding it. And I think they also had a prop: 10 lbs of beef fat to look at and think about. It was frighteningly large. They'd bring it out, let everyone look at it, then put it back into the freezer for the next time.

[Trumperman]

Tony,

Congratulations on your success. I can personally vouch for how well you look in person (he smells good too). To me, you don't look like you have to lose anymore weight but I'm not a doctor. ( but I did drive a Porsche past a Holiday Day Inn Express once)

Keep up the good work. You and Sam are making us docile guys look bad.

Regards,

Bill

[jww]

Attaboy Tony!!!

We want pics, please. Before and after.

[texasPI]

Good job Tony. You certainly give me inspiration to get on the ball about my own fitness level. I figure if an old geez...ah...what I mean is if an older gentleman such as yourself can do it, surely a young whipper snapper like myself can too!

[Chaps]

Good job, Tony. You are an inspiration and example for us all.

Danny

[Steve-o]

Good on ya, Tony! May the discipline you brought to this year stick with you through the next (and many more after that)!

[fallingwickets]

Great job Tony. twenty six thumbs up and all of that.

Personal question: When you gave up the liquor, did you just wake up one day and say "I quit!!" or did you plan it advance?

Clive

[tonyespo]

Great job Tony. twenty six thumbs up and all of that.

Personal question: When you gave up the liquor, did you just wake up one day and say "I quit!!" or did you plan it advance?

Clive

I came home from the doctor poured the 1/2 bottle of gin down the drain and declared to my wife that I had quit drinking. I haven't touched a drop of anything with alcohol. I guess you call that cold turkey.

[Tommynick]

Great news. Congratulations. Keep up the great work.

Both you and Sam are an inspiration. I was done 35 lb but it is slowly creeping back on again. I'm getting back into my gym routine again after reading your posts.

Keep it up gentlemen!!!

[jslfl]

Yes Tony you are an inspiration to many of us. Thanks for providing gentle reminders along the way. By doing this you keep us on our toes.
Congrats on a year well done!

[tonyespo]

I was talking to Bill ( The Ear ) Trumperman today and he asked me if I really wanted to lose another 20 lbs. I told Bill my goal was to lose 24 lbs in a year.

I want to pass this information along because that is exactly how my doctor presented it to me. He only wants me to lose 2 pounds a month. 1/2 pound a week. They means cutting back about 1700 calories a week or adding more exercise and cutting back less calories. When you put weight loss in this prespective, losing a small amount at a time, it doesn't seem hard. I urge anyone who is trying to lose weight to do it slowly.

[texasPI]

I was talking to Bill ( The Ear ) Trumperman today and he asked me if I really wanted to lose another 20 lbs. I told Bill my goal was to lose 24 lbs in a year.

I want to pass this information along because that is exactly how my doctor presented it to me. He only wants me to lose 2 pounds a month. 1/2 pound a week. They means cutting back about 1700 calories a week or adding more exercise and cutting back less calories. When you put weight loss in this prespective, losing a small amount at a time, it doesn't seem hard. I urge anyone who is trying to lose weight to do it slowly.

Tony, if you don't mind my asking, what type of exercise do you do?