LisaT678

My weight loss stalled and crawled for months, started moving again, then stalled and crawled again for months... I found that it was pretty easy to adapt and give in to the mindset of "I can eat anything I want now since I can eat so little" and that's an absolute disaster in the making. Choices are still choices and even with the stomach capacity of a small bird, poor choices are still poor choices. When I stuck to proper (ie. healthy) food choices my weight started moving again, albeit very slowly the majority of the time. I have been, and still am, a very slow loser even making good food choices (I'm not perfect either ) . The quantity of dense Protein I am able to consume is still less than 2 ounces per meal and eating is a chore most of the time. My hair is very slowly, but finally, starting to grow back (more than half of it fell out...) , and the saggy skin just is what it is. The road certainly hasn't been easy, and it will continue on, but never once did the thought of "failing" even enter my mind. I chose the sleeve because it simply cannot fail; by it's own very unique and very permanent design. You must make yourself stick to your guns and make smart, healthy choices about what you put in your mouth. Yes, there are many things I miss about food (I'm a foodie and a pretty decent chef) and even with all the nausea, fatigue, near baldness, etc., I wouldn't go back for all the prime rib and chocolate truffles in the world. Not one bite of it tastes as good or is worth the way I feel now. I've gone from a 26W to a 14 Petite and for the first time in 20 years, I demanded to go out for New Year's Eve this year so I could STRUT, and that's exactly what I told my stick in the mud partner of 16 years who never wants to go anywhere. He threw every excuse in the book at me he could think of. But in the end, he couldn't deny me my well earned strut and the feeling was beyond anything I ever imagined...
So... Get back to the basics of healthy eating, get your head back into the game, get some walking in, quit wasting energy feeling sorry for yourself because there has been no failure, and get things moving again. The sleeve is a very proven and reliable tool, but even proven reliability can be sabotaged by poor choices. Attitude is everything. Hang in there because it will happen !!!

Deedadumble that sounds so amazing! Congratulations!

Finished Ragnar Relay and finally home again. It was in the top five of my most life-changing experiences.
I loved all three of my runs, but they were all so different. The first was 5.9 miles at about 8pm. The first part of it was down a gravel path. The rest was on the side of the road. Most of the road did not have a shoulder or a bike path. Very scary at times, but I had a good pace for the conditions. The second run was 2.9 miles in the morning. I had very little sleep... maybe 1 hour on the sidewalk of a school where we exchanged runners and then another 1.5 hours in the back seat of our van. This was my best run and I had 5 "kills" (passing other runners) and I only got passed once. The final run was 3.5 miles in the early evening as the sun was going down heading into Key West over the final bridge. It was extremely challenging because it was hot, I was so tired, and my back was cramping up.
I loved running with awesome athletes. Many of the runners on my team place in their age divisions in runs in this area. I learned a lot from them and made wonderful new friends. I didn't know anyone on the team. My regular running buddy works for one of the women on the team and I heard from her that they needed a last minute substitute last Monday.
I loved running the race as a part of a team. The team didn't worry about how fast you were running, their only concern was supporting you as a runner, whether it be going forward and stopping to offer you Water or just cheering you on as you were running.
The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the lack of sleep. I didn't get much sleep on Thursday night (maybe 3 hours) before meeting the team Friday morning to drive to Miami where the race started for us at 11:30am (they stagger start times to keep the race and exchanges from getting crowded). I got 2.5 hours of sleep Friday night. After the race ended on Saturday we drove back to Miami and got to our hotel at 2:30. Then got up at 8am to drive back to Clearwater.
Overall it was an amazing experience. They have Ragnar Relays all over the country and I highly recommend them if you want to really challenge yourself.
Here's our team pic and the bling:

First leg done. 5.9 miles in the dark on a trail and beside the road. Next one is 3.5 miles around 7 am across one of the bridges. Body is aching and I am so sleepy.

Wow! Congratulations! Welcome to the 40's.

I did it! I just finished the c25k app. It is still very very challenging me to just run for the 30 minutes so i think i am going to stay at the 30 minutes for awhile - at least until it doesn't feel like i am going to die and then add a minute every week. Still can't believe it. While I am running I am saying to myself -you are a 48 year old overweight woman who has never run in her life- who are you kidding to run for 3 miles-- but I just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Then its over and I am in the last minute and I get a SxxT-eating grin on my face.

Finished in 2:44. My goal was under 2:45. Started crying as I crossed the finish line. Such an emotional accomplishment. Never thought a year ago that I would be running a half marathon. Hope that I inspire more sleeve surgery patients to start running and persevere. I have bad runs and days where I don't want to go any further, but I just keep going and know that I'll have a better run next time.
My surgery was 1/17/13 and I met my sleeve sister as I was waiting to go to the hospital. We've stayed good friends and have kept each other motivated. Her and her partner Gina cheered me on at mile 9 and the finish. Spending the rest of the day at the Grand Wailea celebrating an awesome year and wonderful life.

I'm 48 as well. I was an athlete in high school and in my 20's (softball and volleyball), but never much of a runner. It's amazing to me that a year ago I was unable to run 45 seconds without being out of breath and struggling. Love the app and trying to get more friends and family hooked on it. I'm getting some of my cousins (all in our 40's) together to run the OKC Memorial Relay Marathon. Some are already runners, but a few are going to have to finish the program to be able to participate. I have been wanting to run the Memorial run for a long time and so glad that I'm finally in good enough shape to do it.

I kept going because I wanted to add distance. But either way, keep increasing something so you do not get complacent and board....either speed or distance.

On week 8. The last week of c25k. Once you graduated from the app what did you do continue with 30 minutes and try to improve your time? I don't have a desire to run much more than the 3.2 miles.

I only eat 3 specific times a day and usually not more than 4 or 5 oz. sometimes in the evening I eat 1/2 carb master yogurt from Kroger. I also only eat 800 calories or less a day.
I use myfittnesspal and log every bite I put in my mouth and I walk at least 1 mile a day. Even doing all that I average only about 2 pounds a week.
I think keeping track of what you eat is the key. Grazing and sliders will get you.
I also try to get between 60 and 80g of Protein and keep my carbs under 50g.
I used unflavored powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury and mix it with Water and crystal light.
Hope that helps. Blessings. T

I'm going to start back on my c5k tomorrow

I was in same boat last week and half was my doctor on Wednesday told me not getting enough Protein back to basic getting 60 gram Protein daily. So started it again lost four pounds in two days wahoo me. Give it a try see if it works. good luck don't give up. We are in it together.

I know people who can run marathons who can barely run a 5k in 30 minutes. Honestly that is an unreasonable expectation in the C25K plan. The beauty is it doesn't matter how fast or slow we run....just that we run.

I just signed up to start training fir a 5k run which will take place at the end of February! To go from not being able to walk a block to training for a 5K i'm still pinching myself!!!

Great to see you checking back in. I'm allergic to the cold too. LOL

Up to day 3 of week 6 which calls for 22 minutes straight run time. Yikes! I know I can do it since I did the 20 minutes but am beginning to feel like a real runner.

Here's a good place to start reading.
http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/291240-52-links-and-info/

I'm doing the same thing, but only doing the Protein shakes for a few days to get the carbs out of my system. My Garmin just got delivered, so I'm going to go for a run in a little bit.

Getting back on track. The last two days I haven't exercised and my eating was high in carbs! Thinking about doing Protein Shakes only for a couple weeks to get back on track. Anyone else ever do that?

Getting back on track. The last two days I haven't exercised and my eating was high in carbs! Thinking about doing Protein Shakes only for a couple weeks to get back on track. Anyone else ever do that?

That is so awesome!! You believed in yourself and that's the biggest battle. I have finally come to the realization that slow is better than no. I will get faster eventually. Each week I just added another minute to my runtime and I know that eventually the endurance will allow the speed to follow.
I love coming here and reading all of the encouragement from you guys. You're all the bomb!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!