Kathybad

Rhonda, what a nightmare! Make sure you don't go back to your dr's partner again! Don't worry about what he was poking at... likely didn't know what he was doing and didn't want to admit it. Good luck at getting the right fill amount. I haven't had a fill change in 1-1/2 years. My level seems to be fairly good, somedays I'm too tight, and somedays just right. Never too loose. I find stress tends to make me too tight. I get a lot of hicups, and often stuff doesn't quite go down very well, but if I wait it out, I'm ok. I really don't have any aftercare services, so unless its an emergency, I'm not getting anything changed. Well I didn't get to my run as planned. I've been battling this chest cold for so long, and it just got the better of me yesterday. So maybe tonight?

Yeah... another 2lbs down! Rhonda, I haven't been "actively" doing anything lately, but I did notice through the fall/holiday timeframe I had gotten into the habit of snacking later at night... a bit of wine & cheese or something like that.... fairly often throughout the week. DH and I were feeding our stress. Of course I couldn't eat much, but it was unnecessary calories and was holding my weight up there. We stopped that after the holidays and started eating a bit more appropriately. That seems to have been the trick. I have to admit, my running has been sparse the last little bit, mostly due to a stupid chest cold that started on New Years Eve and hasn't gone away yet!!! UGH. But I charged up my iPod today and I'm going to run for a bit tomorrow just to test out my lung capacity. I want to push on my weight loss and go for that last 10lbs or so. BTW, I tried on a size 12 jeans, and they zipped up! Tight, but I got them on! Now my goal is to get there and stay there. I'm off to Ft. Lauderdale in 2 weeks for business, but am staying one more day just to soak up the sun. Should be fun, even though DH will be stuck at home with the kids.

Carol... I've friended you on facebook... Hey, chin up. You've come so far with your weight loss and exercise that you has so much to feel proud of! The weight and scales are so fickle, and may not move at all when YOU think it should. Keep up your healthy lifestyle and all will work out. Remember that the band is for life, not just for a diet, so changes will happen over many years. My approach is to face it as a balanced lifestyle. I'm not going to be perfect everyday, but I make choices that work for me. I'm physically active, have a good healthy diet and that's good for me. I really want to get the last few pounds off, but at this point in my life, I realize I might not get there. Years ago, that would have been enough to send me into a binge attack and gain it all back. Now, I just forget it and go on with my life. Don't get down on yourself or your efforts. It will pay off in better health, so throw out the scale for now and just do what feels right for you.

Its been so slow here lately... I know I've been too busy to even log on. Good news is my weight seems to be coming off again. This last plateau was easily 5 month. Thank goodness for the band, without it I would have bing ate up again. I imagine being so close to goal, that the weight may or may not come off and will be slow. That's ok. My only goal left is to be in a size 12. I've achieved all the rest. Hey, let me revisit that list: * Regain my health - Yup! * Be able to keep up with the kids - Yup! * Not feel fat - Big Yup! * Be physically fit - Yup! * Fit in an airplane seat - !!!! YES !!!! with room to spare! * Weigh less than in highschool - Yup! * Fit a size 12 - ohhh so close, I think I could squeeze in. Not bad. I've started training for my spring run, but its on my DD b-day this year, so I might choose not to run it and go in a different one instead. Hope everyone's running or staying fit somehow.

I found out late last week that the trip to the Olympics is off. There were some "political" issues at work and another dept got really mad that my dept got to send people and they didn't, so they flat out cancelled it. I'm so bummed out and really deflated. I'm just now getting around to telling people. It seems like every time I am given something amazing, something happens to ruin it. So, sorry... no pics to share. Suzanne... so sorry about the foot again. I hope the running is going to work for you. Carol... nice to hear from you.

Ok, I had to share this amazing news! The newbies to this post won't know this, but the ol' timers will remember that I tried and tried to get a chance to carry the Olympic Torch during its route through Canada for the Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, I didn't get selected... Well, that's ok, cause I'm going to the Olympics! As an incentive trip for top performance, I get to go with my DH and we go to the opening ceremonies, attend 2 separate events (Freestyle Skiing and Speed Skating), plus get wined and dined and toured around for 4 days!!!! This is such a thrill, I can't believe it!!! Ok, so I don't get to carry the torch, but I do get to see the finish to the torch relay!!!

Welcome to all the new runners! Suzanne, I've got my fingers crossed for you in Jan. Let's hope this is the last surgery! Georgia... hows the fill level going? Just wanted to pop in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. DH is in the bedroom wrapping presents... I did all mine a few days ago! Ha! so now I'm sipping a chocolate martini... mmm DH and I decided to run the Resolution Run on Dec. 31. So I'm getting another 5k in before the end of the year. This will be my first evening run (in the dark) and in this cold! I don't hold out high hopes for a good time, just want to complete it. I've been running 2-4 times a week lately, so I'm glad about the consistency, but the distance has only been about 2m. Since I've been stuck to a treadmill, I usually don't go much longer than 25-30 min. Someone posted a question about average running pace. I walk at about 3.7 and run at 4.5 to 4.8. I've been running now for 1.5 yrs, and have difficulty getting much faster, so I've just accepted that I'm slow. Like a snail! LOL, slow and steady wins the race! HAHA. My DH runs at around 5.0 to 5.5, but he's been doing this for years and is much leaner than I am. I run to keep my fitness level up and burn some cals so I can indulge a little bit. I've stabalized my weight at this level since April, so I doubt if I'll lose any more... and that's ok. I'm very healthy, and have accomplished all the goals I wanted to. Ok, rambling... must be the martini! Merry Christmas everyone!

David... good luck with your 20min run! I found that the most challenging step in the whole C25k process. Up until then I was able to go through most of the intervals... not easily, but I did them. But the 20min run kicked my butt... and it actually took me 3 or 4 weeks to actually do it. The most I could do was 13 min before I'd have to walk. I was running on a treadmill, so my DH finally encouraged me to try running outside and that worked. Once I was able to do 20 min, moving up in time was no problem. Although I got stuck on week 5 for a long time, I breezed through weeks 6-9 in just 2 weeks and was running 5k pretty quickly. So don't worry... if you can't make it the full distance, just keep trying and adding time. You'll get there and beyond! Suzanne... I hear you on the speed of time. Wiz... and there it goes! I ran last night and struggled the whole way. I had low energy to start, and was just battling it. Taking a break today. But I feel good, I've gone 3x so far this week, and still have the weekend.

As much as I'm sad about the weather turning colder (I love the fall, not winter), I'm really happy for what its doing to my running routine. Now that I can't run outside at night (don't like running in the dark), I know I have to run inside on the treadmill, and its keeping me regular! I'm averaging 3-4x per week now, which is a far cry from what I was doing in the fall. It feels great! DH and I have another challenge that ends on New Year's Eve. So far, I'm beating him by a little bit. I think its going to be close! Suzanne... I'll be cheering for you in the New Year. BTW... I can't believe its Dec. 1st! Only 24 more sleeps until Santa!

LOL... I thought your nickname was Notorius!! Congrats on getting through your first run DD!!

Suzanne... I'm so pleased the surgery went well. When will you be able to try running? I ran again on the weekend, even though we were super busy with Christmas parties, and then ran last night. Both runs were a bit of a struggle, but I'm glad I did. BTW, I did win the Nike+ challenge against DH... Oh it felt good!

Welcome Notorious... I'm not sure about the app, but there is a podcast that you can download that steps you through the program. I believe if you look on the 1st or 2nd page of this thread you will find a link. If not, google "Podrunner Intervals" and click on the link for the First Day to 5k program. You can also subscribe to it for free through Itunes. Good luck.

I thought the challenge ended yesterday, but its still on until midnight tonight... so far I'm ahead by about 1km. Not sure if we are running today or not, but I plan to win this!

Welcome Sndy... congrats on taking one of the hardest steps... the first one! All you have to do is take it at your own pace, progress as you can and when you're ready and you will end up loving this as much as we do! Don't worry about your age or weight. I'm 43 and started last year when I weighted 243. I struggled big time throughout each week. Most weeks I couldn't finish all of the intervals until the 3rd or 4th try, but kept with it. Then it just started to get easier. I really loved the feeling I had after running each time. I felt so proud and totally amazed that I could actually run... ME! Then one day about 3 months in, I realized DURING the run that I loved it. Then I knew I was hooked. There have been a few periods where I don't run for a few weeks, but not more than 3, and then I'm back at it, going every day or 2. I just finished another treadmill run, and am really enjoying the euphoric "runner's high". DH is now running, so I'm hoping he doesn't run more than 5k, so I can still beat him in the challenge that we have ending tomorrow!

I ran last night on the treadmill and really pushed myself. DH and I are in a challenge with Nike+ and I really want to beat him, so I had to do 4k or more... so I did 4.4k, and I ran it faster than I have been lately. It felt great, and I slept like a baby all night! Had the runner's high and everything.