Life's Daily Journal

[Life]

Hey guys.

I used to frequent this board over a year ago and even posted awhile back and have decided that now's the perfect time to start up again.

To briefly summarize: I'm 24, male, about 5'4" and weigh 233.0lbs. (weighed today) At 22 I was around the same weight and got diagnosed with Type II Diabetes but I immediately got to work.

I put myself down at around 180 in a couple of months and had my blood sugar in perfect control but eventually got myself back up to where I am now. I was even heavier about a month ago, at 245lbs.

My blood sugar is currently out of whack, and blood work from the doctor yesterday told me my a1c was at a 7, which means my fasting blood sugar has been around 150-175mg/dL in the past three months. (normal is around 70-110mg/dL)

The last month it's been decreasing, and it's averaging about 140mg/dL at the moment but I am now working hard to reach normal levels at around 95mg/dL.

To make things worse, the doctor found protein in my urine and it's pretty much the beginnings of diabetic kidney failure.

He put me on an ACE inhibitor to protect my kidneys, but it's a progressive disease and pretty much irreversible. The ACE inhibitor supposedly just slows down the disease, but does not reverse it. I'm still trying to get a hold of the doctor to get a little more information.

The only way to slow down this progressive disease (diabetes and kidney failure) is to live a healthier life. I need to take my blood sugar down, my blood pressure down, my weight and pretty much everything else.

When I was told of this yesterday, I pretty much broke down at work. I researched and researched... "protein in urine", "diabetic kidney disease", "ace inhibitors", "dialysis", "kidney transplants" ... anything and everything I needed to know I tried to find.

And the only way I can help slow down this disease is to get a better grip of my health.

I finally did the right thing last night and joined a 24 hour gym.

It was more than costly, but I feel it's worth it.

I work a second shift (12PM-8:30PM) and things get pretty hectic at the gym during 9-11PM so I plan on going daily (5-6 days a week) at around 11:30PM.

I sleep at around 2AM, wake up at around 10AM, and then go to work...

I'm inexperienced in lifting and even cardio for that matter, but will do whatever's necessary to get on the ball here.

Gotta start eating right and doing everything I possibly can to take care of myself from this point on.

I don't really expect any sympathy, I used to binge to get away from things and now I'm paying for it.

My dad is a diabetic and at 68 he's had a heart attack and a stroke... he's unfortunately losing his eyesight and it's just so sad every time I go to visit my parents.

I don't want to suffer when I'm older but I think I might've started something now that's going to catch up to me sooner than I had expected.

I really respect and admire this board because of the people who are within it, and the motivation and encouragement that people bring into it make me want to start my own journal for even that sole reason.

Any advice, questions, anything... please feel free... I don't mind answering any questions or taking any advice. Thanks.

[CF-OC_gal]

Great decision Life. Just take that first step and don't expect to do it all at once. I take it we are talking lifestyle change in your situation and you've got the best motivator - quality of life.

There is a ton of info on this site so come by often and read, search, ask questions and read some more.

Do you have a fitness routine laid out already?

Have you any limitations because of the medication you are on or your current health situation?

[Life]

Originally Posted by Brat

Great decision Life. Just take that first step and don't expect to do it all at once. I take it we are talking lifestyle change in your situation and you've got the best motivator - quality of life.

There is a ton of info on this site so come by often and read, search, ask questions and read some more.

Do you have a fitness routine laid out already?

Have you any limitations because of the medication you are on or your current health situation?

Thanks. I've already gone through this thing before, and I know it's not easy, but I'm doing what I can to make the best of what I've got...

I don't have a fitness routine really laid out... I know that cardio + lifting are beneficial, but I guess at the moment fat loss is my #1 priority, and all I have planned for tonight is to just ride the elliptical for about 45 minutes... I would like to lift but just don't know how to exactly start...

As far as limitations, no... I've always been pretty strong despite what I've been going through, and all my doctor asks of me now is to get my weight down...

I used to take oral medications for my diabetes but when I went from 235-180 back in '03 they took me off of it because my body was responding so well to what I was doing...

[Life]

By the way, here are two current pictures of me...

I'm the one with the scruffy beard.

I'm a pretty laid back and mellow guy, but I guess when this all hit I've really been down and kinda feel helpless... it's weird, you know... never really felt this way until all of this started coming down...

But I've been trying to get a grip and hopefully that will push me to fight until I possibly can't any longer...

[Life]

Fasting Blood Sugar: 129mg/dL.

I might as well make a log of my daily glucose as well.

Later tonight I will post what I ate and what I did to workout...

[Life]

intake:
10:30am - breakfast: bowl of oatmeal: 120 calories
12:30pm - snack: 4 carrot sticks: 98 calories
2:30pm - lunch: tuna (1 serving) 80 calories, 4 carrot sticks: 98 calories
6:00pm - bowl of oatmeal: 120 calories
8:00pm - tuna (1.5 servings) 120 calories
10:15pm - subway 6" roast beef sub (on wheat, lettuce & black olives, mustard, oil & vinegar) 350 calories (i'm guessing)

exercise:
3:00pm - 30 minute walk

wanted to go to the gym today to get on the elliptical - but was out with friends... and am about to hit the hay... (2:10am right now, gotta work tomorrow)

believe me, trying to watch what i ate today was hard enough... and calculating those totals are way down my caloric intake... will up the amount during my meals tomorrow

trust me, i'm used to eating 4-5k a day... aiming for 2-2.5k here...

here's to a lower (and normal) blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight!

[Life]

oh yeah... almost forgot... 3.5 liters of water...

[gcs118]

Those calories only add up to 986 if I'm not mistaken. That's simply too low. To start out, if you lift a few times a week and do cardio a few times a week, you should begin losing weight pretty soon. I wouldn't worry too much about counting calories as long as you eat healthy. It's pretty darn hard to eat so much good food that you gain weight. Example...fat free cottage cheese, whole wheat bread and lean lunchmeat sandwich. Almost all protein, very little carbs and fat.

[Life]

Originally Posted by gcs118

Those calories only add up to 986 if I'm not mistaken. That's simply too low. To start out, if you lift a few times a week and do cardio a few times a week, you should begin losing weight pretty soon. I wouldn't worry too much about counting calories as long as you eat healthy. It's pretty darn hard to eat so much good food that you gain weight. Example...fat free cottage cheese, whole wheat bread and lean lunchmeat sandwich. Almost all protein, very little carbs and fat.

Thanks gcs... I know it was too low, I'll definitely take in more today... I'm trying to get a routine down, it's just been so long since I've worked out or really done anything (never really lifted) so I'm trying to gather info on how to get started... not so familiar with all the machines...

I'll be going to the gym tonight after work... (to do 45 min cardio) and thanks again, you're right... will work better on the diet!

[Life]

Day 2's Fasting Blood Sugar: 128mg/dl

this is what i don't understand... don't know how many diabetics are on this board, but, last night before i went to sleep i checked my sugar and it was 100mg/dl

usually after sleep blood sugars decrease or remain stable... my last meal was at 10pmish last night so why the jump?

i'm thinking my body isn't well adjusted yet and it's gonna take time before it stabilizes, i guess...

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by Life

...wanted to go to the gym today to get on the elliptical - but was out with friends... and am about to hit the hay... (2:10am right now, gotta work tomorrow)

Hey Life, this is something to work on. I know it's hard but sometimes you just have to say "catch up with ya later, guys". This is a commitment killer right here. If you know its hard to do, try making sure you get the gym workout done before socializing. I also agreee on the calorie comment that gcs made.

Look up the posts and comments by sooner_ed. He is managing his diabetes and has lost a lot of weight.

[gcs118]

As Brat said, sometimes I have to put off my girlfriend for a couple hours to get to the gym. It's worth it in the long run, your friends or sig. other won't get upset, especially if it is important to you. Many of the machines have labels to get you acquainted with them, but you said you are new to lifting. www.bodybuilding.com and www.exrx.net are both excellent sites to learn new free weight (and machine, body weight, etc.) exercises. Full descriptions and proper form. Might make it a little more exciting for you.

[Life]

Originally Posted by Brat

Hey Life, this is something to work on. I know it's hard but sometimes you just have to say "catch up with ya later, guys". This is a commitment killer right here. If you know its hard to do, try making sure you get the gym workout done before socializing. I also agreee on the calorie comment that gcs made.

Look up the posts and comments by sooner_ed. He is managing his diabetes and has lost a lot of weight.

thanks for the encouragement, i know exactly what you mean - don't worry, i went to the gym tonight!!!

[Life]

Originally Posted by gcs118

As Brat said, sometimes I have to put off my girlfriend for a couple hours to get to the gym. It's worth it in the long run, your friends or sig. other won't get upset, especially if it is important to you. Many of the machines have labels to get you acquainted with them, but you said you are new to lifting. www.bodybuilding.com and www.exrx.net are both excellent sites to learn new free weight (and machine, body weight, etc.) exercises. Full descriptions and proper form. Might make it a little more exciting for you.

gcs, thank you so much for those sites, it's very informative and helpful into trying to get into the lifting scene!!! i did a little progress tonight, i'll post it in a couple ...

[Life]

end of day 2

intake:

10:40am - 2 bowls oatmeal, 1/3 cup milk - 270 calories
12:30pm - 1 cup cottage cheese - 180 calories
2:40pm - 4 carrot sticks - 98 calories
3:50pm - 6" roast beef subway sub - 350 calories
6:50pm - 1 bowl oatmeal - 120 calories
10:05pm - 1 cup corn, 1 slice wheat bread w/1 tbsp natural peanut butter - 350 calories
12:15am - 1 banana, 4 carrot sticks, 1 slice wheat bread w/1 tbsp natural peanut butter - 428

total: 1796 cals

exercise

3:15pm - 30 minute walk
10:55pm - barbell bench press - i'm not sure how much a bar weighs... last time i lifted was back in like... 1999... and i think it was 40lbs? if so i did 8 reps with 25 lbers on each (90lbs), and then 6 reps 90 and then 4 reps 110

dumbbell bench press
8 reps 20lbs
6 reps 25lbs
4 reps 30lbs

lever chest press
6 reps 90lbs (45 lb on each handle thing) (please excuse me, i'm very limited with the terminology)
4 reps 90lbs
4 reps 90lbs

i guess i didn't want to push it too much since this was my first day... i also wanted to make sure i was doing these exercises properly...

i wanted to do triceps but i just decided to get on the cardio instead...

5 minutes i was on the elliptical and my body just couldn't handle it... being 5'4" and weighing over 230lbs and not doing this in so long just took the life out of me ---

afterwards i went on the treadmill to walk 3.5mph and 10 minutes into my left calf cramped up... it was cramping up so bad i had to pause and strech my leg a little... it didn't go away but i kept going... 10 minutes later my right calf cramped up too!

i did 25 minutes total and i wanted to go longer but the cramping would not go away...

i guess i'm done rambling here... tomorrow i want to work harder at it...

(i also know it's best not to lift and do cardio at the same time, but with how my schedule is this is the best time i can go and do what needs to be done... i really hope my body will start forgiving me for what i've done to it, that i can slow this kidney damage down and get my diabetes under control... i've never ate so well in all my life and being on these forums really help me get me out of my chair and get moving!)

i realized that my sugar might've spiked up last night because i read that when the sugar gets too low at night the liver releases glucose and throws the sugar back up - i'm going to bed at around 2:30am and i'll check my sugar before then... if it's reading in the 100s i will have a bite to eat to throw the sugar back up so that 8hrs from now hopefully my sugar will be more stabilized...

(oh, and 4.25 liters of water today)

here are supplements that i take daily:
1 multivitamin
my ace inhibitor (lisinopril)
baby aspirin (for my heart, just in case)
600mg alpha lipoic acid (helps w/the glucose, cleaning my system)