I should be in bed, but I just had to share this with all my wonderful Bandster family! I have a NSV!! I rode in a 20 mile bike benefit tonight! I didn't lead the pack, but I didn't bring up the rear either! I was smack dab in the middle, blending in, feeling almost normal. I wasn't the only short fat person on a bike. But I was able to hang in there and finish, without having to stop. There were plenty of "skinny minnies" stopping and resting along the shoulder.

Gosh, I don't tell this to brag! I just want to encourage each and every one of you to get out there and try things that you probably never would have dared. If you'd told me 4 months ago that I'd do this, I would have laughed so hard that my asthma would have kicked in bigtime. Now, granted, I took my celebrex and rubbed in the Ben Gay first. I may have to roll out of bed tomorrow a.m., but right now I'm on an adrenaline high. And I like it!

I wish this kind of happiness to every one!

Reach for the stars and LIVE LIFE! :rolleyes:

Pam and Hopeful 1, I hadn't been on my bike in years - didn't have the energy or even care about doing anything physical. I waited until my 6 wk. post-op visit before I started biking, then just gradually tried to go a little further each time. Three times around our circular block is a mile. I took little, bitty, baby steps - huffing and puffing all the way. Pretty soon, I felt like a hamster going round and round in his cage and ventured off the block. I felt under the weather this last week and only rode once. I can tell a big difference! I've felt restless and "stove up" and wanting to "nibble" too much. I gained 2 lbs. Yipes!

Pam, just strive a little further each time you're out. You'll find yourself looking forward to that "meditation" time. I do hope that you are careful and aware of your surroundings when you're out! I carry a small can of mace on my handlebars. I haven't had to use it, but I don't want to run up against an "unfriendly" dog or anything.

Hopeful 1, best of luck to you on your ins. approval! I remember that wait! But it was certainly worth it! You overcame your zero to become a teacher! Wow, now that's something to be very proud of!

Marie

thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I walk on the Junior High School track and I take my black lab with me. Ya know it really does make my entire day go better. The only problem with taking my dog Raygun is that she is solid black and it is dark so I can't see her. I have to call her to me so I can hear her.

Anyway again thanks.

Pam

Hey hopeful 1.

I wish you luck on your approval keep us posted.

My daughter is thinking about taking a job in Colorado. She would live in Denver or the suburbs there of. What is the cost of living like up there. What would you pay for a two bedroom house or apartment for instance.

Again good luck on your banding. I certainly have no regrets

pam

Pam, glad you take your puppy. I know she enjoys it too! They're great motivators. Have you thought about getting a reflective collar and/or lighted tag for her? Love her name!

Hi Lucky,

Colorado is a wonderful place to live but I think it's fairly expensive for housing. My two daughters live just outside Denver, one in Westminster and one near Aurora and both pay about $850-$900 a month for a two bedroom, two bath apartment. There are a lot of apartments for rent and they got theirs for a discount.

What kind of a job is your daughter thinking of taking?

Thanks for the encouragement.

Denise

The Aspen leaves glistened like golden coins and the magnificent Elk were everywhere. Everyday, we took 4 and 5 hour hikes up and down beautiful mountain trails, along cascading streams, through a gentle rain, then huge snowflakes. We shared our lunch with friendly Stellar Jays and chipmunks beside roaring waterfalls. Gazing down from a 10,500 ft. mountaintop, I cried because I was so thankful for both of our renewed health. Just a few short months ago, I would have never even considered such a vacation. I want to get out there and "catch up" on everything I let pass me by for so many years.

This band is helping us lose weight, but more importantly, it's giving us our lives back!

I wish happiness, health, and serenity to all my "Bandster Family" here.

Awesome accomplishment, Marie. You have every right to be proud of yourself. Thanks for your encouraging story.

Great post Marie,

That's really what it's like. I hope to be out there next year hiking too and feeling good about it. Who'd have thought that in only five months you'd be down 50 lbs. and life would be so different! I can't wait.

Neicy, that's why I posted about this trip... to encourage other bandsters and let them know that their life is just going to get better and better.

Hopeful 1, I didn't have a clue what would happen to me after I got my band. I really assumed I'd fall flat on my face. To lose 50 pounds has not been hard at all. In fact, it's been so rewarding to see the NSVs uncovered. I never dreamed I'd fall in love with bicycling and go on beautiful treks. And to be capable of climbing any mountain trail that I wanted - all the way to the top and back down. Well, that has to be one of the most rewarding moments in my life.

I've learned that it takes more than just losing the weight. You have to also have some steady form of exercise to build up your endurance. Without the routine bicycling, I would not have had the lung capacity and the leg strength to hit those mountain trails. There were times I was huffing and puffing, but I did it!

Again, please let me encourage you to reach out there and attempt things that you might never have even contemplated. You and your family will be so pleasantly surprised. Best of luck to each of you!!!

Marie, I want to go bike riding with you now. You really do make it sound so easy and fun! Your neighborhood or mine?

You choked me up on that description of your last vacation, sounds wonderful even tho there was'nt a jaccuzi involved!

O.K., Lisa G., you busted me! I have to admit we had a wonderful cabin w/ an indoor jacuuzi and fireplace. Didn't I say it was a perfect week? Enough said. LOL

Oh, I remember now Marie. Sorry I had forgoten about the jaccuzi in your story.

Nancy (Clara Luz) described it perfectly in another post..."I wasn't lazy, just tired all the time." It's amazing what dropping weight can do for us - physically and emotionally! Don't we live in an amazing time when we have this band available to us!

marie,

that was wild!!........ i have been wanting to bike ride for the longest time .. and but, not to sure because of the band so now ,not this year. next yr. in, 2005, i'll set my goal and be out there..... your warm and caring spirit and excitement ,comes out as you speak. that was great to do that, and loved every minute of it.

when was the last time you got on a bike?. for me ,ummm :ermm had to really think on that one myself .i was 19. still remmber and still loved it.

hearing, that some of you guys like to bike ride too, is so encourageing to me i can hardly wait!! to go ride.

thank you, for you other reply, i wanted to reply sooner but, had family over and they wanted to walk with me and go every where i go to walk, it was fun. they have been so helpful these couple of days ..

and, i'm so glad that there are so many things to still look forward too...even if we've been there , done that.. now, is so new and now, is so exciting .

i'm so happy for you, you've made my day.

thanks... marie

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margie,

295/259/-39

getting lost in PA.

clear your mind and your body follows

Margie, find anything that you enjoy doing. But please don't wait until 2005! Fall is such a beautiful time of year! With a 3 year old grand daughter, that can be a walk in the park, collecting the many beautiful fall leaves. Press them in a book for her and you can cuddle and share them for years to come. Or a trip to the zoo. I'm sure she'll give you a great workout! And the better you start feeling, the more different things you'll be able to do. I had bought a cheap bike at a clearance center several years ago. It had been ridden so few times that it still had the little nubby things on the tires (which had gone flat). I started riding here (6 weeks after banding) because it was SO hot walking and I got bored with the treadmill. Just went a little bit more each time and gradually built up the speed and time. Before you know it, you'll be strapping a child's seat on the back of your bike and taking that little doll with you. Then you'll be running beside her as she takes off on her bike. There are great things in store for you!