Hey y'all! I'm a school teacher, and every summer I try to lose weight. I give up when I start getting bogged down with lesson plans and grading in September. But this year is different because I'm pre-diabetic. So, I gave up my beloved Coke about 9 days ago, along with my cookies, chocolate, ice cream, and chips. I gave myself a 21-day challenge to see what would happen. I'm also hiking most mornings. This time I want to stay with my healthier habits to my goal!

Hi desertemerald! As a retired teacher, I understand where you're coming from with the back-to-school stress-related eating! I'm sorry to hear you're pre-diabetic, but the good news is you're not diabetic, so good for you on taking steps to avoid that terrible disease! Giving up Coke, sweets, and chips is a fantastic start! You also need to watch your intake of starchy foods like bread, cereal, pasta, and potatoes. Whole grain is the way to go! I wish you the best!