BillOh

This is kind of funny. My wife is in this corporate event, I signed up for a different event on the same day. Turns out the two groups got together and combined it into one big event, so we will be going there and running together after all. This works out great for me because I hate carrying anything on me while running. She doesn't mind carrying a key and my "Tiger Balm" with her.

A great feeling isn't it? I think I've been here about 3 weeks now. Since my goal was 195, I wondered what would happen when I got there. So far I have stayed within 2 pounds, but having that 200 above me keeps me motivated.

My stalls seemed to last 2 weeks. It has happened 3-4 times. Just remember not losing is also not gaining.

If your insurance covers it and its not an unbearable expense, welcome it. It was much easier to go home the next day.

The "corporate challenge" is multiple events in our area that I think is put on by United Way as a fund raiser. They put corporations of aproximately the same sizes together is friendly competitions, but they do have very strict guidelines about people having to work for those companies and no "ringers". They do lots of fun things that I get left out of because my company sucks.

You are probably about done, let us know about it, I haven't tried trail running at all. My skinny friend ran his first 5k yesterday, finishing 2 minutes behind me, but a very good 27 minutes for his first 5k. I've decided to make sure he stays there by signing up for my 2nd 10k for next Saturday. My wife, the gastric bypass patient has entered in the "Corporate Challenge 5K" and will be running her first race without me. I ran the 10k without her back in June, so I was looking for a run while she is at that one. I am not allowed to run.

Just finished my 8th 5k. No new record this week, it was a rough week, I had to take time off because of a blister (totally avoidable, because I was stupid) and I was out late Friday night at a birthday party so I ran today on 4hours sleep. Did manage to take 3rd in my age group. That usually is good for a medal or plaque. Today, and I'm sure you will all appreciate the irony here, 3rd place was good for a $15 gift certificate to a local bakery/sweet shop. :biggrin:

The info session is a great place to start. You have the right attitude about your friends and family's. You might also get some "attitude" from other weight loss patience. Many people undergoing the procedure have BMI's above 40. I did catch a little from a few people. (None here in this forum) But like you I had bad hypertension and sleep apnea, both of which are gone, so it was a great decision for me. Coming here was another good start.

Interesting, you must be close to 6'. I made my first goal of 195, and debating whether or not to try for 24.9. My WLS doctor and family doctor are happy where I am now. I'm still in my first 2 weeks of making that goal, so I am still trying out the situation. I found this thread interesting.

Trail shoes are definitely not right for the treadmill. Since you recognize the value of the larger toe box, I recommend you go to a running store and get fitted. I have a New balance store near me and have had problems with shoes with narrow toe boxes so I got fitted with the proper size. I'm partial to New Balance as the ones in the store are American made and I used them when I ran 30 years ago. A running store that carries several brands can have a good recommendation. I've never worn Asics before, but I wouldn't doubt their philosophy of construction would carry over from trail to s treet running.

I didn't consider G2 at that time. Good idea.

Getting rid of sugar was in my opinion, a major key to my success. I've done two things that might go against common logic here, but have worked for me. I love dark chocolate. I've been buying bags of Dove mini darks. To me they are very satisfying. I take an insulated snack bag to work everyday to get through the day. Its filled with good stuff and 2 of these dove chocolates. They are small, can't be that much sugar. I've been doing this for the last 40 pounds or so. Now comes the part that will get people screaming. I grew up on Pepsi, back when they made it with real sugar. It came back out again this year as PEPSI THROWBACK. I bought a ton and stored it. I used it as a reward for major milestones and on the days I had one, I ran an extra mile. I have one in the fridge now and will drink it Saturday after kicking my skinny friend's ass in this weekend's 5K run. In fact, I plan on drinking it standing on the finish line when he crosses. Some people are doing to talk about stretching your pouch and that isn't going to happen. I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last week and talked about it with my doctor. Unless you pull a Mean Joe Greene, it just isn't going to happen. (Google Coca cola Mean Joe Green commercial if you don't get the reference. Because I'm rewarding myself, it is going to take me 20 minutes to drink it, like it does for most food. I take my time, sip slowly. Come Sunday, if I'm up a pound, I'll do something extra that day. Hey, its working for me. I figure if I was strong enough to get this far, I'm strong enough to use moderation everywhere.

That moderation is the key, I had my first major event since making goal, a family wedding. I gained 3 pounds to be 2 over goal, and 4 days later I'm back to goal.

Claudine, that's great. With that you could enter many 5k's now. Many of them are not that competitive and many people walk the entire thing. My wife started that way and by the 3rd one she was running them completely in about 40 minutes. I'm lucky, I live in an area where I could find a 5k nearby every weekend. We are currently doing it every other weekend. PS. I've inspired one of my skinny and 10 years younger friends to start running. We are running our first 5 k together this weekend. I intend on parking near the finish line and getting a lawn chair and beer (lite of course) and be waiting at the finish line for him.

Been there, done that. I'll have to admit, when weighing the decision to have the surgery or not, having 2 weeks off was a huge factor Still glad I did it.,

That "groove" as you call it is pretty close to what we call "The runner's high" Don't worry it's legal.

It was the worst thing I have done that didn't involve actual pain. I've actually done the sleep test 5 times, 4 with all the wires hooked up. I now understand how sleep deprivation can be used as torture. I'm proud to be cured of sleep apnea!

I was like that as well. Good call on the goal, you may find that it is a reasonable one. My wife was close to your starting numbers and your goal number. It has worked out well for her.

A friend of mine started running and he had shin splints as well. The exercise helped him as well. The technique using the towel was written that way because its easy to hurt yourself lifting too much, so if you use the wet towel it falls out of your toes before you could hurt yourself. I did find a write up on the internet where people do the same thing, but just put a small object on top of your feet, but don't go over about 1lb per foot.

3 Days, :thumbup: We were invited to the rehearsal, the wedding day, and the day or return travel. The weight would be off today if I could get outside and run in this Soup, but have to let the foot rest another day. Now that I mentioned it, it probably was the rehearsal dinner that did me in. I did good on the wedding day and the travel day back, but the rehearsal dinner was at an Italian restaurant and they served Veal that was excellent, first time I've had it since surgery.

This past weekend was my first big event since reaching my goal. I had to travel out of town for a wedding. That disrupts my normal routine and travel seems to be the hardest time to keep things under control. Add in a foot injury has sidelined my running for a week. Well, I ended up gaining 2 pounds over the weekend, but that was with a lot of self control, but not enough exercise. I'm happy with that, I should get it back off by the end of the week.

Having us both go through it has really made it easier on both of us. When I was in nuitrion classes, there was another couple, there surgery was 2 weeks apart, that might be tough. My wife and I were 6 months apart.

Maybe the fact that a long standing tradition would revolve around food got me to where I had this surgery says something. I've gone to the Ohio State Fair for 31 straight years. Among the many reasons, certain foods are must haves. Yesterday was the first fair since reaching my goal. I ran yesterday and took a very light lunch so I wouldn't do too much damage. Every year since 1978, the last thing I did was buy a bag of mini-doughnuts. I passed on those this year. I did have an ear of roasted corn, a small french fry order (usually large) and then a steak on a stick. I probably did pretty good, better than any other year. This morning was stressful, so I didn't weigh myself. Maybe thats good, its gives me a day back on track to check it out.

24.9, your right, I think that is the universal line. I think I have to lose 12 to get to that mark. I'll see where I am come winter, then try to maintain, and then perhaps make an effort next spring to get there. Not sure yet, just got to this goal.

What are you defining a healthy BMI as? Just curious for this and other discussions. It was a huge milestone when I got below a BMI of 30 and my WII fit stopped calling me obese. I think it will stop calling me overweight when I get below 24. I've had a couple of discussions with my doctors and am not sure if I will ever get to that point, or whether or not I should.