KAATNS

Way to go!!

Way to go!!

Way to go!!

Me too friend.

Ditto. It sucks.

Good for you Steph, really terrific. I know how you feel. I have enough cortisone in my hips that I was able to swim last week and not just dogpaddle after doing my water exercises. I felt fast and sleek in the water and not like the fat lumbering person I was 86 lbs. ago. And...best of all, I was moving! Hooray! Thanks for your wonderful post! You go girl!!

congrats....You Go Girl !!!

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing a NSV!

Great job! Very motivating!

Congratulations!!!! That is so awesome. I totally agree with you, never thought I would enjoy running, some days I dread the thought, but when I go out and do it, it feels so good. I think some of the euphoria comes from knowing where I was before....getting winded going up the stairs. Great NSV!!

Congrats on your loss! You look great!

Congrats on your amazing success Jim! I read a good article a couple months ago and posted a link to it on here. If I can find it, I'll repost it. It discussed not worrying about some long term fitness goal, but just concentrating on your progress today. If we concentrate on what we do today...the long term goals will come.
Heres a quote from it.
""Einstein didn't think he was intelligent, because as his intellect expanded so did his ability to comprehend how much there is to know. Exercise works the same way. As you become fit, you become more aware of higher standards of fitness. Identifying yourself in the scale of being fit can be the cause of depression that will cause you to quit. You must not think about a future state of fitness you want to obtain. You must only think of physical motion in the moment. You must develop sets of physical motion without setting a goal of obtainment. You just do it as a ritual. You don't think about the time involved. You don't become over exhilarated. You just do it."
http://drsimpson.net/fitness/aeobics/aerobics.htm

Awesome progress Jim!
I enjoyed reading your blog, and I agree, as far as our mobility goes, we should never take anything for granted. Going for a brisk walk is something I enjoyed for years, and after my car accident, the road back made me realize that it is often the simple things which mean the most.
One thought which struck me as I was reading was perhaps starting out with a more reasonable exercise goal could help. I am determined to get in 5-6 hours of cardio per week. That's just about the max of what my joints can manage. I'm retired now, but if I were still working, 10 hours of cardio would be impossible for me.
If you adjusted your goal, you might not admonish yourself if you did not reach your weekly goal. That mindset is so important to keep us focused and motivated to continue with meeting our exercise goal.
Also, reassigning exercise to a habit instead of a task does take away some of the interpretation that exercise is just another form of work. Looking forward to exercise because it helps you achieve your weight loss goals is a healthier approach IMO.
Keep up your great progress!

Love it!

In case no one has figured it out...I am the husband LOL. I am happy Kelli has finally joined up on the site and she can hear things first hand from a woman's perspective/experiences. :-)

I enjoyed reading your story. When I met with my original surgeon, long story, I said I felt like a failure because I needed the Band! She said I was not a failure but I was helping myself with a tool. She was right. I love my tool. I love no more 'fat stores'. I can fit into booths in restaurants and no longer have to ask for table and chairs. I can keep up with my grandsons. Don't think that getting the band means you are a failure and need help. We all need help everyday. In other ways.
By the way, did you ever model?
good luck with your choice. Maybe go to the support meetings with your husband. I go every month and most of the time my husband comes with me for support.

You know Kelli, I could tell a similar story and I'm a 60 year old man, as with many of us I found a way to accept the fat and moved on through life. I have just completed my research and made the decision to go with the band, more than the research I had to self examine why now and why I am willing to tackle something this extreme. For me it came down to being here for my wife and family as an active and healthy senior, as we head into retirement. It has taken a while for me to learn to want this and begin to feel comfortable with this decision. So I think it' s a process, you have to see what it does for your future, what it will do for the health you seek, and not acceptance of people who don't support us, even if it's family.

Girl, I've seen your pictures and you are rocking that bikini! Just put a smile on your pretty face and own it! Happy Birthday!

Girl, I've seen your pictures and you are rocking that bikini! Just put a smile on your pretty face and own it! Happy Birthday!

Girl, I've seen your pictures and you are rocking that bikini! Just put a smile on your pretty face and own it! Happy Birthday!

If you are cleared to run, I say GO FOR IT! Do you have access to a treadmill at home or some back road somewhere? I started off walking after my surgery and decided to try and run. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would like it, but I actually LOVE it. I'm not the fastest and surely not the most graceful, but who cares??!! Put your hair up, get your music going and GO FOR IT!

You will learn of your own "trigger foods" that may cause you to PB or vomit. For me it's chicken. I love it, but have to be careful with it. I'm also guilty of eating too fast or not chewing well enough, which causes me to run for the nearest restroom. I would say 99% of the time, it's my fault. You just have to learn what works for you and stick with it.

If you are cleared to run, I say GO FOR IT! Do you have access to a treadmill at home or some back road somewhere? I started off walking after my surgery and decided to try and run. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would like it, but I actually LOVE it. I'm not the fastest and surely not the most graceful, but who cares??!! Put your hair up, get your music going and GO FOR IT!

Awesome!!