This is simply advice to my younger self.

I once got a pre-diagnosis of diabetes. Along with it, recommendations to shed that belly fat by exercising more and eating less. I listened but didn't really act on it. First, because I had already tried to lose that fat anyway, and never managed to. Second, because I thought I had no time to exercise any more than I already did.

A few years later I got full-blown diabetes—irreversible and incurable.

I greatly regretted not taking action sooner.

Dear younger self, here are 7 simple tips from someone who cares deeply about you. You are stubborn, depressed and fed up already, I know. But please pay attention. <A stitch in time... / An ounce of prevention... / insert favourite proverb>

1. Make it your #1 priority to avoid getting the real diabetes. It's irreversible.

2. Ignore "eat less and exercise more", as it won't work to lose fat.

3. Do lose that belly fat; but, more importantly, lower your blood sugar.

4. Luckily, a single intervention addresses both: LCHF/keto (read Taubes for why).

5. Avoid carbs religiously, as if they were poisonous for you. In a way, they are.

6. It's painful, but nowhere near as painful as living with diabetes. And it works.

7. Measure your waistline, fat and glucose regularly, and celebrate your successes.

You have no idea how much I wish someone gave me this one-pager ten years ago.