I'm a 34 year old guy in Michigan....a year ago I was scared and having doubts that this was right for me...but I went forward with it....I've had a lapband for a year and loving it. If anyone has any questions or comments for lapband...feel free to contact me here or ask me for yahoo messenger name. This site helped me early on...so I am back to help! I've lost almost 80lbs in one year and I am competing in 5k races almost every week...I am also training for a half marathon in the fall! You can do it too

woo hoo ! youre awesome ! someday ill be a runner too !! Good luck !

I'm addicted to that runners high!

Gratz on the weight loss and keep up the good work ..

Hi Brian...I am also from Michigan. I love my band too, although I am newly banded, Feb 15, 2012. Welcome back!

Just stared jogging..s-l-o-w-l-y...hoping to become a runner! Thanks for the inspiration:)

Running is awesome! I am on day 2 after a tummy tuck right now but cant wait to get back to it, ive been a runner for six years now, since very soon after I got banded. Youll get knockers who tell you cardio is a waste of time and you should be lifting but running helped me lose 130% of mh excess weight and keep it off for years now.

What is the appeal of running? I'm still very much overweight and am just doing the walking thing for now, but I have friends who run also. Whenever I try to run, I get out of breath, my side cramps, and my legs hurt. Is it something that feels better after loosing a lot of weight. Right now, when I try to run, the impact on my knees and feet hurts so bad that I can't go very far. Just wondering what it is about running that causes people to do marathons and such. Right now, that is not one of my goals after weight loss, but a lot of people have it listed as one. What's the draw???

I would love to take up running but i have some of those same feelings. Can i do it. Will i be able to? How do i start?

For the last couple of posters...it is hard work and even painful at times...but it is rewarding beyond what I ever thought. When I finish a good run, I am mentally high for 2 to 3 days after..especially when I accomplish a personal goal. What worked for me is to start entering in official events...like check out www.active.com . I can't tell you how fun those large events can be! I go put in my work then hang out after with all the people who are doing the same. Its definitely easier to do events than to stay motivated on the treadmill or through your neighborhood. If you want to talk about advice on getting started..pm me a messenger service and name.

Brian