After fighting the battle of the bulge all my life and after my doctor telling me I should fill half my plate with veggies (which I never eat) and the rest with stuff I wouldn't eat if I were starving, I decided to look back on when in my life I was at the weight I wanted. In high school, I was 110 pounds at most. I was on the swim team and could eat whatever I wanted, but we had two-a-day workouts (about 3-1/2 hours) every day except Sundays. In college, same thing except it was dance for 2 to 3 hours a day. I still ate anything I wanted and never gained an ounce. Same thing when my son was a toddler - always on the run after that busy little boy.

So I decided to get back to doing and eating what I wanted to eat. Instead of the no-fat, no-fun food the experts told me I SHOULD be eating, I eat mostly complex carbs and a little dairy. Yes, I am the last person on earth who loves Grape Nuts and All Bran. I work full-time, walk for a reason (to get to meetings or events - not just for the sake of walking because I find that boring), and take a couple of dance classes every day (because that's my exercise of choice). Following the doctor and dietician's instructions and with meds, I never got below 7.0 and I was 50 pounds heavier. I am back to my high school weight, I take no medication, and my last A1C was 5.6. If I indulge, which I often do, I just work it off - no restrictions at all, nothing is off limits. I know I am lucky to have found what works for me, but I think with trial and error everybody can find that sweet spot. It gives me the confidence I need to stand up to my doctor at my very veggie-focused HMO. The only negative is that my annual doctor's visit is always an argument about my diet, but they can't argue with the numbers. For me, it's no longer a horrible or frightening part of the year. I am in charge of me. If I want to make my Aunt Carol happy, I'll eat a bite or two of her horrid casserole or or a big slice of her awesome pumpkin pie, then I'll stay for a second aerobics class the next day. No regrets, no guilt, and good numbers.