Now that I have completed the Challenge, what’s in store of me?
Continuation, after all, the whole point was to effect a lifestyle change.

I’ll take this time to chime in my two cents about the Challenge focus, which to me seemed to lean way too heavily on weight loss.   About week six, when weighing in and finding that I actually gained weight from the previous week, it hit me that weight has absolutely no value as a metric, at least no value during the 12 weeks of the Challenge program.  It took me 25 or so years to get into the atrocious physical condition that I was in when the Challenge began, so it seemed completely unreasonable to assume that any measurable improvement would occur in 12 short weeks. 

After week six, what actually happened to me was (1) my A1c went from 10.0 to 8.7, (2) I felt so much better, (3) I could see that my bad eating habits were changing to the point that the things I craved (like fast food) were becoming so much less important (4) my weight had decreased slightly from week one of the Challenge.

Now that the 12 week ‘official’ challenge is over I find that my weight is coming down every week not because I’m dieting, but because I have actually changed my lifestyle, i.e., I live by the 9 inch plate rule; I exercise and enjoy it; it’s actually fun eating out knowing that I’m capable of making intelligent choices; and I FEEL TERRIFIC!  It’s my view that by continuing to practice what I’ve learned in the challenge, my body will adjust over time to its ‘normal’ weight.

Bottom line:   Don’t fall for the fad diets; change your lifestyle! 

Considering that I’m not particularly a social guy, the spotlight hasn’t bothered me at all.  I’m such a believer in the Challenge and am eager to share its concepts.  There were no disadvantages.

How do I feel about completing the I Can! Challenge?
Confident!  I know that the 12 week Challenge program is what I needed to give me the support to meet my goals:  reduce my medications; feel better; lose weight.

How do I feel about keeping a journal throughout this Challenge?  Do I feel I gained anything from it?
Sorry again!   I feel the journals could really be called a diary, and I just don’t do diaries.  I do keep a daily log of my ‘numbers’ (glucose levels, weight, insulin dosage) and do record anything I need to remember so I can tell my doctor on my next visit, but writing verbiage in the form of a journal just isn’t my style. 

What are some stress management techniques that I started using this week?  Which ones did I find to be most helpful?
Sorry, I respect and appreciate the new techniques we’ve learned, but don’t feel that I need to practice any of them at the present time.  I’m extremely happy at home with my wife and I enjoy my job immensely.  Any stress I have is very short-lived. 

How would I currently describe my stress level?
Very low, compared to my younger years.  I now look at stress as a problem-solving exercise.  I define what’s causing any stress and figure out a solution. 

Actually, using the techniques that I’ve learned during the past 10 weeks of the Challenge, doing the right, i.e. ‘healthy’ thing is getting easier and easier.   I really have effected a change in my lifestyle.  The biggest change I’ve noticed is that I just feel better. 

A brand new website is available to York/Adams County residents.  It’s http://www.aligning4healthpa.org/communitycheckup.aspx
This site contains a huge quantity of data, comparing the care provided by participating medical practices.   Check it out!

I’ve been very fortunate in finding the perfect family physician for me.  He always takes the time to do a thorough exam and sits down to explain my situation and answer any of my questions.  Additionally, when I need specialized care, I know he would only refer me to the specialist that he feels is most qualified. 

Yes, I do have a better understanding of my conditions, particularly diabetes.  What I now understand is that I have a relatively good grasp of the ‘big-picture’ of diabetes, but am basically clueless about the nitty-gritty detail of managing this disease.  I must become more proactive both in questioning my doctor and doing my own research.  Retaking the diabetic education classes will be my first step.   When I took the classes shortly after being diagnosed as diabetic, I really didn’t know what questions to ask.   Now, after living with diabetes for several years, I think the classes will be much more beneficial.  

As a relatively new insulin user, I was surprised to hear that (1) there are different types of insulin; (2) each type of insulin can work differently, i.e., some work throughout the day, some must be taken multiple times daily, and (3) I really don’t know enough about insulin.

After reading the side effects of my meds, I was surprised to see how many may contribute to a gain in weight.   This is on my list to discuss with my doctor during my next appointment.  

What has been the best benefit of increasing my physical activity?  After the first week of starting to exercise, I felt so good after each session.  My mind is clearer, I don’t ache like I used to, and basically I just feel better. 

I’m not into team sports, but enjoy exercising by myself or with my wife.  We like going to the gym, walking, biking, and working around our farmette.  We also have a stationery exercise bike, lots of dumbbells, a bosu ball, and stretch bands at home.

Over the years, my activity level gradually decreased to the point where I became a typical couch potato.  This wasn’t by design, but just happened.  I gained weight and had less energy; I tore the meniscus in one knee and 2 years later did the same to the other knee; and finally developed 3 heel spurs and ligament problems in one foot.  Any activity that required walking or use of my legs was simply painful so I avoided it.   I had my final knee surgery late last year and am under the doc’s care for my foot issues.   I can finally walk, which I really enjoy, and can now go to the gym.  I feel so much better after some physical activity.  I can go up stairs without huffing and puffing; I can spend hours in the garden without requiring frequent breaks; and like I said before, I just feel better.  As I build my endurance, I want to get back into biking with my wife.