I had plans in place to start this challenge as early as last Summer.   In October of last year, I went in for a routine health assessment and got a very unpleasant surprise.  I have Type 2 Diabetes.  I was upset for a number of reasons but a big one was I thought “well, there goes my 2014 challenge”, convinced my life was going to be reduced to rice cakes and tap water.  That is, of course, silly because Diabetics can’t eat starchy rice cakes.

The origin of this condition was not a result of my habits (shockingly enough) but rather of lineage.  I have a history of Diabetes in my family.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure my lifelong philosophy of “cake is a meal” certainly didn’t help stave it off but through diet, lifestyle changes, medication & exercise, I’ve been able to control it and keep it from becoming a bigger problem for my health.  I’ve also dropped a significant amount of weight, which is a great step in the right direction.

I’ve learned the secret is a LOT of moderation.  I have been determined to learn how Diabetes fits into my life, not the other way around.  It was that line of thinking that convinced me to go through with this challenge.  I will try to make largely good choices at the restaurants I go to and demand that my dining companions give me a bite of whatever decadent selections they get.

So, yeah.  Still in this race if you are.  Belly up to the table everyone.  I’ll pass on dessert, though.

-Anthony

I guess my days of passing out on the floor after Thanksgiving are over