Resolution Review 2009/2010

So, I realize this post is now almost 2 weeks late,  as we are now 13 days into the year 2010.  I had plans of posting this before New Years, and even started writing a few days before then, but I ended up getting sick and had other things that got in the way.  So, now that the dust has settled, here I am with my long overdue Resolution Review for 2009/2010.

Now, I should tell you that my list of resolutions for 2009 and 2010 are one in the same.  I see no need to make new resolutions when I still have things to work on with the old ones.  Before getting back to work on them, I thought I’d take a few minutes to review how I’ve done with my Big 3.

Resolution 1: Eat better

Now this is one resolution in which having diabetes and congestive heart failure have actually helped me.  Due to those conditions, I was placed on a 1,500 calorie diet, and have had to be careful about the things that I consume on a daily basis.  Now, I wish I could say that I’ve stuck to it to the letter, and that I didn’t cheat from time to time, but I’d be lying if I did.  I’m not perfect, nor do I know anyone else who is.

For the most part, though, I have been good.  I’ve been eating more salads, veggies, etc… and have cut out most of the junk foods that I used to eat.  Notice that I said most of the junk foods.  I’ve switched to drinking diet soft drinks, which is something that I thought I’d never be able to do.  I grew up drinking  real Coca Cola, and hated the taste of diet.  Thank god for Coke Zero, which is a diet soft drink, but lacks that sucky after taste.

And, I can turn down chocolate, candy, and other sweets with the greatest of ease now.   You can even eat the stuff in front of me, I really don’t mind.  Just don’t start teasing me with it, and please don’t tell me how sorry you are that I can’t have any.  It’s annoying, and could have hazardous consequences.

So, overall, I’d say I’ve done fairly well with this resolution.  There are some aspects of it that could be worked on, though, so it will be on the list for 2010.

Resolution 2: Exercise.

I’d have to say that I’ve had mixed results with this resolution over the last year, and it’s definitely one that I will continue to work on in 2010.

When I made this resolution at the beginning of 2009, I had just been diagnosed with diabetes and congestive heart failure.  I was reeling from that news, and knew that increased physical activity and exercise would play a big role in my treatment and recovery efforts.  I also knew that because of the weak condition of my heart, I would be limited in the types and amounts of exercise that I would be able to do.  So, started with the simplest form of exercise, walking.

I started walking at the mall on weekend, parked my car a little farther away from the entrances of grocery stores, and even took to playing putt putt golf on a regular basis.  You might not think so, but you can get a good , low impact workout from a couple of rounds of putt putt golf.  I wrote about that fact in a previous post,  My Exercise of Choice: Putt Putt Golf! Check it out if you’d like.

I spent the majority of 2009 doing those light forms of exercise, and they helped quite a bit.  It made me feel good to be more active.  However, I started feeling like it wasn’t enough, so I got my cardiologist to clear me to join a gym .

At first, I was going to the gym at least 3 times a week, and spending a lot of time on treadmills, recumbent bikes, and other cardio equipment.  I had developed a pretty good routine, and things were going great.  Unfortunately, I managed to hurt my ankle a month or so into the routine and, well, things went down hill from there.

So yeah, this resolution will definitely remain on the list for 2010.  Wish me luck.

Resolution 3: Lose weight.

Out of all the resolutions I made for 2009, the results of this one have excited me the most.  Within the first 4 months of the year, I lost about 40 pounds.  And, I’ve managed to keep the majority of it off, give or take about 5 pounds.

My weight loss achievements were the results of changes in diet and exercise, among other things.  While I’ve already lost a good deal of weight, I’m not finished yet.  I’m working to lose a whole lot more.

All that said, this resolution will also be repeated on the 2010 list.  Again, wish me luck.

So, that concludes my Resolution Review for 2009/2010.  I made good progress last year, and have things to work on during the next year.  For those of you who have made New Year’s resolutions for 2010, I wish you the best of luck in accomplishing them.  I’m rooting for you, we’re all in this fight together.

Happy New Year to Everyone.  Rock on!

** If you managed to accomplish your resolutions for 2009, I’d love to hear what they were and how you accomplished them.  And if you’ve made resolutions for 2010, I’d like to hear about them as well.   You can leave your comments on this post, or send an e-mail to resolutions@mydiabeticheart.com. **