Hi, Drew. Thanks for the invite. Although the U.S. Army doctors did not consider "pre-diabetes" enough of a signal to send me to nutrition counselling for diabetes education (1998), I "kept going" the way that I was going, when Type II diabetes could've been stopped. In 2001, a V.A. doctor looked at my stats and "pronounced" Type II diabetes; I was never more disgusted, angry, and almost "demon possessed" because of what could've been done for me "in time" to stop the ravages of this disease! "I will not be saddled with this disease!", were the words that came out of my mouth! Don't remember very much about my actions from then to 2005 (I was an "old" graduate student -- at 53, I completed the requirements in Dec 2003, and marched in Jan. 2004, just turning 54). Since 2006, I've maintained a log of food intake & prep, and any exercise classes + walking, although from 2002-2006, Fibromyalgia crippled me, and my wardrobe included a couple of T-top canes; not too much exercise was done, then. Had many steroid injections for a while that helped the pain for a while; added to my weight, however. Was as heavy as 273 lbs by 2002! Lost 30 lbs, just by changing my diet: Got rid of the white rice, white bread, white sugar; would only sweeten "a glass" at a time, of anything! Current weight? 238 lbs, recorded by the Vet. Administration as a 29-lb weight loss! Was a size 22W; had one pair of size 24W jeans -- refused to buy another pair that size! :o) Now, a size 18 -- No "W"! lol Slimming down "looks good on me". :o) My goal is 230 lbs by Christmas (8 more lbs), which should put me in a size 16, easily! So, my new wardrobe awaits, to catch up with my healthy approach to life. :o) When I retired from military service in Dec 1998, I weighed 240 lbs; I now weigh 238 lbs, and "toot my own horn", because of the things that happened to me for a decade! To God, I give the glory for instilling in me the "guts" to not stop, but to triumph over this enemy. :o)