Take Shape For Life : Health Coach Joe Streno
Sometimes good things happen from something seemingly bad. On March 12, 2012 I was re-diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. I had been diagnosed with borderline Type II Diabetes seven or eight years ago. But through diet and exercise I was able to control it. Hadn’t had a problem since.
Rewind to a few weeks prior to March 12, 2012. Having felt more lethargic than normal, I started drinking more water than normal. Sometimes seemingly gallons in a day. I had this perpetual bad taste in my mouth and regardless of how much water I drank, seconds after the last sip, I’d be cotton mouthed again.
In the back of my mind I already knew the diagnosis. I did a little Google search on diabetes symptoms, and I knew I needed to see a doctor. Not having any health insurance, nor an income to speak of, I chose to go to the Visiting Nurses Service of Asbury Park.
On my first visit one of the nurses did a finger stick blood glucose test. My level … 425! That’s four-plus times normal. Not good! I was prescribed Metformin and Glipizide to bring my glucose levels back to earth. At the same time I was advised to see a nutritionist at the clinic. I made an appointment for the next day.
This was a fortuitous day. Really! I met with nutritionist Janet Blum. We talked about what I was going through, my ultra-high glucose levels, my prescriptions and my diet. She gave me a refresher course on portion control and carb counting and other ways to control my glucose. One of the things she also told me about was something called Take Shape For Life.
She explained to me about the program and I balked a bit. It sounded like it was too good to be true. And in past experience, my brain told me, Don’t drink the Koolaid! So I didn’t. At first. But I did go to the TSFL.com website and did some reading. It took me about a week or more to finally decide to do it. And now I’m so glad I did!
I knew the best way for me improve my diabetic outlook was to loose weight. On Take Shape For Life, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I started this program at 261.5 lbs. As of this writing I’m now 219 lbs. I’ve lost a whopping 42.5 lbs! Nothing short of miraculous! I lost 47 lbs total including the 5 I lost before starting TSFL. I’m also off all my medication. I started back at the gym within 2 weeks of starting TSFL. I hadn’t been in the gym since my car accident back in October of 2009. So I am tickled pink that I can work out again and I’m getting back into shape. And I have to say my energy level is though the roof. My attitude has changed, so much so that friends have commented on how much happier I am.
My first goal is to get to 195 lbs. I haven’t seen that weight since I was 45 – ten years ago. My second goal is 175 lbs. I haven’t seen that weight since my 20s! But I know I can do it on TSFL.
One last thing. Since having lost all this weight I decided to become a TSFL coach and pay this thing forward. If I can help others lose weight and learn how to live a more healthier life … why not!
1.1.2017: Just an FYI … I am no longer a TSFL coach.
