Diabetes and weight loss - the "click"

[Vilya]

All my life, I heard stories of "the click" that happened when people finally said, "THAT'S IT, NO MORE." And successfully overcame their lifelong weight problem. I tried, and tried, and tried but never heard "the click" - until I got diabetes.

Suddenly, I was terrified of what might happen. It's like actual mortality slapped me in the face for the first time. That was my "click." I do not want to end up with no eyesight or limbs, or kidney failure. The fear of diabetic complications was the thing I needed to stop all the excuses and self sabotage. I know that there is no going back, if I want to maintain the blood sugar control I've got now.

And once I no longer had an "out," I no longer had the doubts and insecurity about weight loss. It was the strangest thing. In the past, if I overate one day, I would think, "Well, that's that," and use it an excuse to pig out. Now if it happens I just chalk it up to one day and get right back on track the next day. I still do have cravings for things or get tired of the constant management, but it doesn't consume me. It's kind of mind-blowing to me, like all this time I wasted on hating myself when it turned out I just had a broken metabolism and didn't know it.

I like to tell people that diabetes really saved my life.

[Calgal98]

Thats been it for me as well. There is no longer an *out*. My meter is also a great motivator to stay on track

[Hooterville]

I understand and live every single thing you said there, Vilya.

[jwags]

I did get that click about 6 years before diabetes. I had kept on extra weight with each of my 5 kids. One day when I was in my late 40's I looked at some Christmas photos and didn't even recognise the person in the photos. I had let myself get to almost 200 pounds in a size 16. I took about 50 pounds off before Diabetes. Then after the shock of my diagnosis wore off I discovered Low Carb to control my bgs. I wasn't even thinking about the weight loss that was just a nice side effect of my new Way of Eating. I am now down another 30 pounds and in a size 4. I have been at my goal weight more or less within a few pounds for over 2 years. The Diabetes does keep me honest. I will never get that heavy ever again.

[Ed B]

My experience is very similar. When I have been asked how I lost weight and have managed to keep it off for the last 5+, I have pointed out what a great motivator a diabetes diagnosis can be. Like you, I would prefer to keep my eyesight, fingers and toes. My level of vigilance with my diet goes up and down but I have been keeping my numbers pretty well in check and my weight has remained
down significantly compared to pre-diagnosis.

I know I have posted this here several times before but as my father told me upon my initial diagnosis, "You can die with diabetes from diabetes. It is up to [me]." More than once I have considered it a blessing in disguise because it forced me to make much needed changes in my life.

All my life, I heard stories of "the click" that happened when people finally said, "THAT'S IT, NO MORE." And successfully overcame their lifelong weight problem. I tried, and tried, and tried but never heard "the click" - until I got diabetes.

Suddenly, I was terrified of what might happen. It's like actual mortality slapped me in the face for the first time. That was my "click." I do not want to end up with no eyesight or limbs, or kidney failure. The fear of diabetic complications was the thing I needed to stop all the excuses and self sabotage. I know that there is no going back, if I want to maintain the blood sugar control I've got now.

And once I no longer had an "out," I no longer had the doubts and insecurity about weight loss. It was the strangest thing. In the past, if I overate one day, I would think, "Well, that's that," and use it an excuse to pig out. Now if it happens I just chalk it up to one day and get right back on track the next day. I still do have cravings for things or get tired of the constant management, but it doesn't consume me. It's kind of mind-blowing to me, like all this time I wasted on hating myself when it turned out I just had a broken metabolism and didn't know it.

I like to tell people that diabetes really saved my life.

[apollo322]

All my life, I heard stories of "the click" that happened when people finally said, "THAT'S IT, NO MORE." And successfully overcame their lifelong weight problem. I tried, and tried, and tried but never heard "the click" - until I got diabetes.

Suddenly, I was terrified of what might happen. It's like actual mortality slapped me in the face for the first time. That was my "click." I do not want to end up with no eyesight or limbs, or kidney failure. The fear of diabetic complications was the thing I needed to stop all the excuses and self sabotage. I know that there is no going back, if I want to maintain the blood sugar control I've got now.

And once I no longer had an "out," I no longer had the doubts and insecurity about weight loss. It was the strangest thing. In the past, if I overate one day, I would think, "Well, that's that," and use it an excuse to pig out. Now if it happens I just chalk it up to one day and get right back on track the next day. I still do have cravings for things or get tired of the constant management, but it doesn't consume me. It's kind of mind-blowing to me, like all this time I wasted on hating myself when it turned out I just had a broken metabolism and didn't know it.

I like to tell people that diabetes really saved my life.

Boy can i relate to this topic! Not only did this diagnoses scare me enough to start exercising and lose weight, but the day I heard the diagnoses something finally "clicked" inside me about smoking. I have not had one puff since I found out close to six weeks ago, from a 1 1/2-2 pack a day smoker. I almost feel guilty when people congratulate me about the no smoking since this time it was EASY to stop. Theres no doubt, strange as it sounds, that diabetes saved my life more than it harmed it so far.

[Gladtobehere]

To describe "the click" I use terms like, "born again" or "the light turning on". There seem to be numerous terms to describe such a revalation, but there is no doubt that there seems to be some "eye opening" event that triggers the change in attitude and eventual success with whatever the problem is. Too bad, we can't package it and get an infomercial on TV.

[Julias]

Can I be the wet blanket on this thread? I thought I got the click also and had a great A1C and thought that I had this but since the end of April I have seriously fallen off the wagon, with the postponement of my surgery til October and various birthdays and other excuses...I am squarely back on chocolate and cigarettes. My little trip down self sabotage lane better be over soon coz I hate it every day and yet there I am looking to get that click back. The truth is diabetes didn't save anyone's life. You all had it in you all along. The power to make these changes in your lifestyle was yours, not the disease's. In a previous thread someone commended me for candor in saying I did this to myself (in part). Admitting....That's the easy part..the hard part is to stop doing it.

[Ed B]

Can I be the wet blanket on this thread? ..... The truth is diabetes didn't save anyone's life. You all had it in you all along. The power to make these changes in your lifestyle was yours, not the disease's.

I was with you for a while but you are taking this statement too far. I agree the power isn't in the disease per se, but a diagnosis of T2 diabetes can save someone' life. Maybe a better way to put it is being diagnosed T2 can improve and extend someone's life depending on how one responds. For some it provides focus, urgency, a clear understanding of what our primary threat is, and measurables to track our battle with the condition. But the benefit generally goes well beyond better BG numbers. It often includes the ancillary benefits of generally better lifestyles which in turn can result in better physical shape, lost weight, and lessened complications from those issues. My knees, lower back, and blood pressure levels have improved greatly since being diagnosed with T2 diabetes. Diabetes was the slap in the face I needed and it provided a clear focus on what would kill or debilitate me first. That is why and how being diagnosed with T2 improved my life. Certainly this is not always the case. I know people who know what they need to do but lack the willpower or motivation to make changes. And I am not talking about adherence to any particular regime, just general common sense changes. It is sad to watch, but I don't try to evangelize or judge, I just talk when they want to talk.

......Admitting....That's the easy part..the hard part is to stop doing it.

Agree.

[apollo322]

Can I be the wet blanket on this thread? I thought I got the click also and had a great A1C and thought that I had this but since the end of April I have seriously fallen off the wagon, with the postponement of my surgery til October and various birthdays and other excuses...I am squarely back on chocolate and cigarettes. My little trip down self sabotage lane better be over soon coz I hate it every day and yet there I am looking to get that click back. The truth is diabetes didn't save anyone's life. You all had it in you all along. The power to make these changes in your lifestyle was yours, not the disease's. In a previous thread someone commended me for candor in saying I did this to myself (in part). Admitting....That's the easy part..the hard part is to stop doing it.

It was me who commended your candor in a previous thread. I'll give some more props for talking about failing after a rousing start. This is a forever disease, and on more than one night I wonder how well I'll sustain all the changes I've made. But I must disagree with you about the "click". Sure it was always inside us all to exercise more, quit smoking and eat right all at the same time.

I know myself, and there is no way I would have been able to do all this without getting diabetes. Now that its happened it's become habit forming. Knowing that if I stop and fall back the tiger comes out of his cage is a motivAtor I was never able to get when I was "normal". I truly hope you get your mojo back, and I really beleive you will.

[jillybean]

For me, my diabetes diagnosis pushed me to the decision to have weight loss surgery, and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. I now live essentially diabetes free (though I try not to say I'm cured because I don't want to get to the point where I don't think about it at all, but that's just my own mental game).

[Postal Phil]

Mine took an very drastic lifestyle change a Divorce. My ex always wanted to eat late at night and wanted me to eat then too even if I was not hungry.

[Hooterville]

Can I be the wet blanket on this thread? I thought I got the click also and had a great A1C and thought that I had this but since the end of April I have seriously fallen off the wagon, with the postponement of my surgery til October and various birthdays and other excuses...I am squarely back on chocolate and cigarettes. My little trip down self sabotage lane better be over soon coz I hate it every day and yet there I am looking to get that click back. The truth is diabetes didn't save anyone's life. You all had it in you all along. The power to make these changes in your lifestyle was yours, not the disease's. In a previous thread someone commended me for candor in saying I did this to myself (in part). Admitting....That's the easy part..the hard part is to stop doing it.

Julia, I just want to say that I'm sorry you are having a tough time. Hugs.

[sweetstar]

MY story is similar. However, when I was first diagnosed I lost 40 pounds and exercised regularly. But, I was following the ADA guidelines and ended up going off track
for many, many months, translated years. I found this site and was motivated to start the low carb eating plan. My BG"S are much better and the plus side is that
I have also lost weight.
Juila, I am sorry you are going through this. I know you were disappointed that your surgery was postponed. But, you can come out of this funk with just a few baby
steps. If you can quit the cigarettes, it would benefit you the most. Don't let it get you down. We are all pulling for you.

[Vilya]

Julia, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. However, I do still believe that diabetes saved me. Without it, I was on a path to a very bad ending, if you get my drift. Getting diabetes led me to LC eating, and THAT is what has truly saved me.

I hope you're able to get back on track. *hug*