CobaltBlue

(1) First I had a heart attack, then during the first stent, two jolts of a few hundred joules to zap me back into my senses. After that, I quit eating my high fat diet of prime rib, lobster and drawn butter, deli meats and cheeses. I now eat a salad every night, vegetarian 3 nights, fish 2-3 times per week and chicken once a week. I don't exceed more than 6 oz meat per day, and usually keep it at 4 oz per dinner. I get to eat out every Friday night and get one scoop of ice cream as a treat.

My exercise consists of running 15 min after I wake up at 4:15 am. I run 3.1 miles 6 days a week, and on the 7th day (Thursday) I do 1.4 miles. On the same 7th day is when I do 3 miles on the treadmill, bike, arm ergometer, rowing, weights. I also do weights on day 5. On Monday through Friday, I walk 2.6 miles after lunch (around the lake at UF), which takes just under 38 min. On every night of the week, I take a 18 min walk around the block after dinner.

(2 & 3) I weighed 227 on March 15, 2002. On December 31, 2002, I weighed 180. I weighed 157 this morning (April 18, 2003). My end goal is 155, at which time I will reward myself with one slice of vegetarian, cheeseless pizza The more amazing part is that I was diagnosed with type II diabetes in 2000. On April 30, 2002, I was at 204 lbs and was able to come off all diabetes medication. Since then, my glucose tolerance is essentially equal to a non-diabetic.

(4) I am certain it never will come back. I have learned my lesson--I like the way I eat now too much to ever go back to that food-excessive sedentary lifestyle. March 15, 2002 was also the start of my tobacco free life. I have never looked back upon quitting, don't miss it, don't ever want it again. I can say the same for foods involved in my eating disorder. The excessive eating and sedentary lifestyle that led to my demise have left a lasting mark on me and effected a postive change in me forever.