'Swim 22 has given me a big, but acheiveable challenge.'

I was diagnosed with Type 2 about six years ago.  Although I lost 11 stone and got to 'WW (weightwatchers) gold' over ten years ago, I have put all that weight back on and a little more. I knew what to do but was finding it difficult to take action. 

July 2011

Swim 22 has given me a big but achievable challenge.  I have persuaded a friend to do it with me.  We have now been swimming for about four weeks. We have just gone from twice a week to three times. I can only do breast stroke and am a fairly slow swimmer so it will take three times a week for the full three months to acheive my 1416 lengths. 

Hopefully I will soon get my food intake sorted too.  So far I have raised over £250 which means that I cannot back out now. I am doing this for me, but I am delighted that my efforts will help others too.

August 2011

I love the sense of achievement that I get after each swim and can't wait to report how I have done to my friends on Facebook.  This will get even better once I start adding the lengths together.  Reaching the thousand mark should be good.

I started to lose weight. To make things better I haven't followed a diet or counted anything. I know I haven't got portion sizes etc right yet but I have cut right back on the sweet things that I loved without making life unpleasant.  If I can continue like this then I shall be very happy!  The swimming has obviously helped with this too.

Along with swimming three times a week I am now managing to get to the gym as well.  I had my monthly personal training session this morning.  Mel was pleased with me and said she could see a difference.  She has worked out a new programme for me to use when working on my own. As I am still getting aches in my leg she has put in a number of leg exercises between each of the cardio machines. I am just moving to working out five times a week.

I have started the swim proper and did 46 lengths yesterday.I have now lost a stone in weight.

I saw my nurse today who shared my latest blood result with me.  It was HbA1c level value 7%.  I was disappointed that it wasn't lower but she said that thinks it more likely that I will see the difference when I have my next test.  My May result was 7.6% so at least it was lower than that.  The test will be a fasting test.

November 2011

I am thrilled to have finished the challenge two weeks early.  Halfway was the worst point as the end suddenly seemed so far away, but I did enjoy all my swims except for the few times when the pool was very busy. 

I have been given great support and encouragement from friends, staff and members at the gym, Virgin Active and members of my church. 

I am definitely feeling much fitter from the challenge and have fewer aches than I previously had.  My good eating had a blip but I am still losing weight just much slower.  I am anxious that I don't fall back into bad ways with my exercise.

Sue and I started planning our next challenge as we ate our celebratory lunch at the gym on my finishing day!  I am definitely feeling more confident and look forward to a time when I can come off at least one of my current tablets.