As Type 2 diabetics, we're often told that the best thing we can do for ourselves is lose weight. And that's undeniably true. But no one tells you ahead of time how weird that process can be.

Now, I write about my own weight struggle a lot, so perhaps it's time for me to own up to some actual numbers. I'm not an "alert the media" level fat guy. When I was diagnosed with diabetes almost two years ago, I went on a panic-and-phentermine-fuled weight loss frenzy, and I lost about thirty pounds. At 6'2", I got down to about 205 pounds. So not Jude Law, but not Jabba the Hutt, either.

This was quite a difference from the worst of my college days, when I weighed (and I can't believe this, even as I type it) about 280 pounds. I was a mess, a big sloppy boozy lummox. I'd managed to lose about thirty of those pounds before I was even diagnosed, because let's face it, Dean Wormer in Animal House was right. "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son." (READ MORE)

Mark Birkle

It seems like lately I've felt more abnormal than ever before in my life. I've always known I wasn't like the rest of the world. I have always been the different kid, the one who had to eat different food, the one who did shots all the time. I thought that I wouldn't feel so different when I got older. I figured that with time diabetes would be just a part of my life like being a brunette or having freckles. Now I'm getting older and diabetes is completely ingrained in me, but I still feel different. (READ MORE)

The holidays are just as good as any day to get some movement in. Researchers say that the average person gains 7 pounds between Thanksgiving and the New Year. If that's not incentive enough to get out and take a walk or do some activities, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! We all know how we can get carried away on Thanksgiving and Christmas with shoving food down our throats. I am just as guilty as the next person. I sit around and eat, watch movies, or play board games. I also know that with family around there can be additional stress. What better way to remove some of that stress than with some boxing or aerobics?
(READ MORE)

I have been on this Weight Watchers program for a few months now. The weight has been lost and found over those months. Luckily more has been lost then found but it is definitely an up and down ordeal.


This Saturday's weigh in proved to be a very minor loss. It was only .4 lbs. Not even a whole pound! I was not happy but any loss is better then a gain. All day long I noticed that my shorts felt like they were going to fall off of me. For fear of looking like a dad trying to look cool with sagging pants, I continued to hike up my shorts all day long.


Well Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church I figured I should try using the next notch in my belt. When I pulled on my belt to put it on it easily pulled right to the next notch. The last notch. (READ MORE)

Working out with a stability, or Swiss ball, is an awesome way to get a good workout. If you're not familiar with what a stability ball is, then you can look it up on your computer or stop by a sport store. They are large rubber balls that allow you to work on numerous things. Their sizes range from 35 cm to 85 cm depending on the types of movements you want to do. Some of the benefits include balance, stability and core exercises, and they are also great to stretch on. Brynn just bought one for relatively cheap at our local Wal-Mart. If you decide to buy one, you have the option of purchasing the nicer name brand models, but from my experience, a rubber ball is a rubber ball. Anyway, this morning, I found myself working out on our stability ball and it felt wonderful!
(READ MORE)

I love this time of year. As soon as we can "spring ahead" and gain that hour of sunlight in the afternoon, I get excited. Before this last Sunday it was dark soon after I got home from work which meant no Disc Golf during the week.

A while back I wrote a post about how I am not a typical gym guy. I like to exercise in non-traditional ways such as racquetball or disc golf instead of being strapped to a machine at a health club. Well now that the days are longer I can meet my buddies at the park after work for a round of disc golf. If you can throw a Frisbee then you can play this game. It is not nearly as frustrating to me as golf is. I am terrible at traditional golf. (READ MORE)