Happy New Year everyone! I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

I have to make some changes for the new year to improve my health. I have very mixed emotions about them because they entail giving up some of my favorite things. Here goes:

1. Being pre-diabetic, I have to cut down on carbs. I've been successfully making gradual changes and have reached the hardest parts. I have to cut back on pasta consumption to once every 2 weeks. I can eat almost an entire 1 lb. box in one sitting as I enjoy it tremendously; it raises my triglycerides too much.

2. My wine hobby has to go. Again, it raises my tryglycerides. I have already started cutting back. I am not a heavy drinker but it really puts on the pounds too. This is going to be a tough one as I really enjoyed trying different wine varities and wines from around the world. I have to find a new hobby too.

3. Finally, the most difficult change. I have to give up my walking hobby. I love to take long walks outside but have bad feet; I walk on average 20 miles a week. My feet are so oddly shaped that getting shoes is a big problem. Recently, I have developed very painful foot problems. MDs don't know what is wrong. I am awaiting the results of an MRI. The walks were good at making me calm too. Because of foot and knee problems, I had to give up tennis - a true passion of mine - years ago. I don't enjoy swimming or cycling at all; they are not viable options. I have to exercise to keep my cholesterol and triglycerides under control. (I cannot tolerate statins.) I am considering joining a gym. I swore off gym memberships long ago - I like being outdoors. But, I am not seeing any other options. I am really feeling devastated and angry and bitter about this change.

Today I joined a gym with a pool. It took an act of will to make the decision. I will continue to make acts of will daily to make sure I use the membership. Fortunately, the swimming pool is shallow and the water is warm making it easy to get into and less likely for my crooked toes to cramp. For some reason, I don't like spending money on myself. Never have. So this was a bigger step than it might sound.

I have decided to take mass transit to work rather than walk at least until my foot fully heals. The snow from the recent blizzard in NYC has mostly melted, so I will return to using the walking boot to give the foot a rest. Today, I walked to the gym and back with just orthodics in my sneakers and it was very, very painful. Tomorrow, I hope to get the results of the MRI.

I pray I made the right decision to join the gym. The gym membership will be paid with vacation money and funds I could have put toward needed therapy. Instead, I invested in my physical health. Gotta admit that I had to force myself to go to the gym today, I was really tired from doing chores. Everyday takes an act of will to get out of bed and go to work. Looks like I will now be making two acts of will everyday; I have to exercise daily to keep my triglycerides and cholesterol low, and my blood sugar in check. I am going to miss my walks for sure.

[Nola22]

unhappyguy, I just read your post and I'm sorry you must pare down things and activities in your life that seem to bring you so much enjoyment. They are such simple pleasures too, and I know it's got to hurt to let many of them go. I share some of your likes and interests (pasta and other carbs, wine, and walking) and have a hard time imagining life without those indulgences and distractions. I give you an awful lot of credit for making the smart choices in favor of your health; I'm not sure I'd have the strength and willpower to go through with all that.

Give yourself the credit you're due too; you're making a conscious effort to keep yourself going and healthy. May not seem like much of a consolation right now, I'm sure, but you obviously have the foresight to realize what's best in your situation and to act on it. Perhaps you can amend your diet with recipes designed for folks who are pre-diabetic so that you still may find happiness at the supper table--I've had pasta made from vegetables, and nope, it was nothing like the real deal, but it was delicious. It was cut thin like spaghetti and lightly tossed with marinara--wish I could have some right now, to tell the truth.

I'm also an inveterate walker. My average daily walk, when my life is normal, is four miles. I can do up to twelve when I feel motivated. I too crave the calm those walks often deliver, as well as the contemplative time and exercise. I've been sidelined by a few injuries recently, and I can't begin to tell you what a grump those incidences made me. I'm sidelined right now, and I *wish* my wounds were physical and not emotional. I know what you're going through, and hope the swimming can make up for those walks until you hopefully feel better foot-wise.

Best of luck to you.