I am a 6ft 42 male and gave up smoking 3 1/2 years ago in a bid to get fit. Unfortunatly I very quickly pilled on the weight and weighed 252 pounds a year ago. I then started to loose weight, just by cutting down on food but last year I was diagnosed with type 2 diabettes. I have also been told by my doctor that the sudden weight loss was due to my diabettes.

This diagnose was devastating for me, but now my blood sugar levels are controlled with tablets, I feel more need to loose weight and get fit. i joined a fitness gym a month ago and go three times a week, for around 1 1/2 hours per session. spending 15 minutes each on a stepper, rower and bicycle. the rest of the time I warm up and down, an use weights to tone up my arms, chest etc.

Suprisingly I am really enjoying it, and look forward to going after a days work. I have found already my fitness levels have improved after 12 visits, now Im not out of breath after 5 minutes. but breathing fairly deeply and regularly, and feel I can go on much longer.

However, I have wieghed myself every week, but havnt seen any real difference in weight. in fact sometimes it seemed to go up! my goal is to loose 1 to 2 lb a week and reach my ideal body weight (Body mass index) of 189 lbs (max). I currently weigh 224 lbs, so i need to loose 35 lbs by my goal of end Jan 2007 an avg 1 1/2 lb a week.

My diet has improved, mostly because of the diabettes and much lower sugar intake. My diet could be better I feel, smaller portions, fruit etc. Although I do like the occasional treat.

Is this a realistic weight loss I can expect or could I do more to achieve it?

PS I suspect I have had diabettes for a number of years although the extra weight had made the symptoms more apparent. As a result of my diagnosis my mother was also found to have diabettes, even though she had no symptoms and has always eaten healthily and of normal weight. She was found to have very high blood pressure while she was diagnosed. There is also a history of diabettes in her familly (those that were daianosed at least) also a history of early strokes, heart attacks etc. i suspect due to diabettes.

Those couple of pounds you gained may have been muscle and not fat, if your diet is in check. Do a search on body fat % and find what yours is. The goal is to get your body fat% below 20% to be considered healthy on those charts.