Preparing
I think that this is the most important part. This could be the difference of success and failure. Please do not skip this section
Excited and scared in equal measure?
It's time to prepare yourself first
Tell yourself the truth
It's time to tell yourself the truth and you must listen.
You are ill. This illness will at best shorten your life.
Most of the "complications" are irreversible
You really can for example, loose your eye sight, your lower leg, both your lower legs.
You are much more likely of having a stroke, a heart attack or a debilitating heart condition.
Treating diabetes and it's effects is now reported to consume 10% of the UK National health budget.
Forget "That won't happen to me", you got type 2 so any of the side effects can also happen to you!
Don't get-down or defeatist, this is a reality check, you must come to terms that you are ill so you will do something about it. This is a proper, real illness, this is serious.
Forgive yourself and others
Your personal circumstances got you here. A medical condition, side effects of some drug, giving up smoking, loving food, unhappiness, grieving, loving to party, the list is endless.
Any mental baggage is wasted baggage here. It is time a let go of your frustrations, anger, regret, weakness, laziness, errors by others, outside influences. Forgive yourself and forgive others.
Picture a scene where you forgive, feel the release of this forgiveness, smell the freedom that forgiveness delivers.
It happened, forgive, you are moving on.
It has drained you, let it go, forgive. It's easier without it.
Forgive yourself, forgive your body, forgive your mind set. Let that all go, forgive. You are changing, forgiveness is setting you free to moving on.
Time to focus on your resolve
They say a severe weight loss plan is not for everyone. Well let me tell you that it is not for anyone unless they really need to do it. You really need to do it!
It takes sheer determination and resolve.
It is documented that it is the severity or speed of the weight loss, that seems to have the "re-setting effect" that we seem to need to fix our diabetes. So don't take it slow, keep to the diet.
Everyone can muster the resolve to complete this diet. But you are not just on a diet, your mission is defined, you are reversing your diabetes. This makes it all so simple and it makes it easier. You will succeed, you have to.
You are fighting for your quality of life, freedom, increased happiness.
Prepare now for 8 weeks of unwavering resolve. Get excited, it's fine to be scared, it means you know that you are going to do it!
Now prepare physical things
Fix a start date
We are all busy, we are all under stress, there is never a perfect moment.
Find the best start date. I made it the beginning of a calendar month, after the school holidays and before the Christmas break. 1st September 2015. (what a great day)
Don't let it be too far in the future.
Start to look forward to this date, it will be the date you changed your life for the better.
Get a diary that you display
You need to be able to write your weight and blood sugar levels each day.
I used a calendar internet site, printed the two months and then stuck it on my fridge door.
The site I used was Calendar365.co.uk .
I know some say to just weigh in once a week. This is because your weight fluctuates and you may loose your resolve. We will not loose our resolve, we are reversing our diabetes, we weigh everyday. Don't worry. Stay focused. It will work.
Fridge Door
Things stuck on fridge doors can be helpful and positive reminders.
I found a couple pictures of me when I was thin ( happy and having fun). I was really very young but the pictures remind of the what I look like when thin. They also conjure up smells and feelings of happiness.
I have a few fridge magnets that remind me of fun places that I have been and I have used these to fix the diary and pictures to the door.
Blender
You do really need to make your own soup. After research using Which, I bought a blender for about £30 from Amazon.
I did already have a hand blender but knew from previous experience that I made a real mess.
I have tried making the soup with a food processor but you get thinner, grainier soup. The blender makes it creamy.
With a blender I can make soup for four days at a go.
Meal replacement milk shakes
I found these harder to locate than I first imagined.
I selected the Slim Fast, ready made milk shake. I didn't want the hassle of making them.
I found them in my local Sainsbury's but I now buy them from Amazon. I actually like them, the banana and café Latte I find the best.
I am told that the powders are quite hard to make nice. Best made in batches allowing an overnight soak and then use a blender.
Weighing scales
I think I got my scales from Aldi. Any scales will do but I like the digital variety, something like the ones below.
Keep using the same scales. It's not so much your weight that matters just what you have lost.
Blood glucose (sugar) meter
You need a blood sugars monitor. In most areas of the UK I believe you can request these free from your doctor. This is how I got mine.
You will also need the consumables and know how to use it safely. Again this training should be delivered by your doctors surgery.
There do seem to be offers of free units on different diabetes web sites but I would be most cautious of these offers. I will bring further information if I get any.
Finally, tell everyone?
Well I didn't.
It is my personal journey and I didn't need anyone putting me off, dissuading me, rubbishing may resolve to reverse this horrid disease.
I clearly told my doctor.
Please tell us by registering. Keep us informed. Your journey may inspire someone else. You can opt to remain anonymous. (Just write anonymous in the name box's)
I mentioned it initially in passing to family and friends but I didn't feel the "big tell", say on Facebook, was for me. Everyone else was, as-and-when required. I wasn't going to be going out to dinner or drinking any alcohol for a bit, so this needed a quick explanation.
Everyone has been hugely supportive and I now get people mentioning that they want me to chat to a family member / close friend on how I managed it.
One I liked was another rugby dad mentioning "that I was a shadow of my former self", which was a "good thing". I loved hearing that one for some reason, thanks Rich.
My offer, detailed later, is that if you think it may help, that you can tell me or someone else detailed on this site, who has been through it and succeeded.
We will be available to support and encourage you as required. This support will be provided totally free of any charge. In return (yes not much in this life is totally free) and only if you are successful, is that you provide the same support service, using the same defined information, methods and rules, to a minimum of five others that may select you from this web site.
A word of warning
Once your weight loss is visible, the support may reduce a little. Don't keep talking about your success as it can be very boring to others. Please remember that just about everyone wants to loose weight and you are reminding them that they are not doing anything about their problem.
You may not believe this but you are ready. Start reversing your type 2 >