I've found that running is one of the best ways for me to stay fit. I've burned a lot of fat off and gained better stamina and energy. I have to stay as fit as possible since I'm military, and running about a mile and a half every other day has helped me maintain a healthy weight. Sometimes I run farther, 3 - 5 miles; but I can't go very fast and I try not to do this too often. I also lift weights, just enough to condition and build enough muscle to get through every day life. It's been a very difficult lifestyle change; especially the changes I made to my diet. I eat about 2/3 less than I used to and eat small meals every few hours. I've cut way back on fast food, desserts, and anything processed or fried. I miss certain foods and sometimes the cravings are almost impossible to ignore. But I've decided I want to age gracefully and be healthy the rest of my life. Regular, effective exercise, portion control and staying away from candy bars has worked wonders for me.

I used to run rings around the football players in school for fun till I hurt my foot. In my late 20's I could walk and jog up to a near marathon over a day. I stick to pedaling as fast as I can and trying to build my stamina again.

I'm bipolar and was never inclined to be in the military, just get my SSS requirement out of the way. Sitting in a car for long distances tended to make my joints ache and fatigue me. My fee pronate so that shoes rarely last long. That free pair of diabetic shoes the government offers aren't much of a deal at one a year. That still means I wear cheap Chinese shoes most of the year.

I dropped 99 pounds about 10-12 years ago then went back up then down to 235 when I had some support from a fitness club owner (cardio cycle machine only) then he went to jail for tax problems and the next owner declined. I bounce between 268 and 288.

You can exercise cheaply but not true for the good food everybody hollers about. I agree it works and I try to get what I can BUT I CAN'T AFFORD APPLES A LOT. I shop at cut-rate stores exclusively.

Guns and ammunition are cheaper than bread and butter! I have no expectations of living past 50 and want to die comfortably in a home I furnished. I am a burden of the highest magnitude if I even complain. Even the mental health clinic gripes about the smallest things...I don't expect them to survive either. To hell with them anyhow as I was better off before they took over from the county anyway.

I'm tired of chasing after losers I can't count on and not being able to take care of my home enough in the process. I am sick of hearing about GAS, MONEY and garbage I hear all the time now. I hope I outlive a lot of the losers but if I get any tighter I'll wrinkle and crack. If half the planet just splits I wouldn't have to hear about it on TV or the internet as much. I'm tired of it.

You're not going to feed me for 75 cents a day like some African charity and those are a joke too.

My TV doubles as a night light.

No wonder you're so cantankerous, foreignoregonian. I was once in your situation, unable to afford anything good and wearing cheap throwaway stuff. This is going to sound bad: I joined the military to get away from all that - but I don't care what others think, they don't know my circumstances well enough to judge. I agree that the food that is good for you is too expensive. I've cut corners on other things so I can afford milk, bread and chicken for my kids. I don't mind it; to me health is better to have than money - not everyone will agree with that but hey life isn't all kittens and roses. Hang in there.

throwaway people and throwaway minds. I don't ask for anything I can't get by myself and I know how and where or I find it. If I have to have it it gets here.

I hate that I have to go shopping to socialize. At least with karaoke I get to sing.

There really isn't any to be had here lately. It hurts some actually. I haven't had any alcohol in 16 years and that wasn't becasue of my problems...I had a brother and two uncles with drinking troubles and my brother spent a week in the Canyon County Jail for driving suspended to get home from college after a DUI and one of those uncles died in prison from an illness after embezzling his employer for his habit. His wife was codependent for years and when she got sober we all found out how much we loved her after all those years. We didn't have long with her them as she died of a brain aneurism three or so years back.

I lost the chance to drink any alcohol nonetheless in 1996 when I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. It's no big deal, honestly, I don't care to lose control of myself like that anyway.