Along with my surgery a year ago, I decided to remove the word "can't" from my exercise vocabulary and replace it with "why not".

I am 48 yrs old and have a bad knee and several autoimmune disorders. My doc has diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I had every excuse to say I can't. Instead, I decided to persevere and to always try.

I started the couch to 5K training program one year ago this week. When I started I could barely run for 45 sec walk 90 sec repeat 5 times. I finally finished the program in August. This weekend I am part of a team that is running from Miami to Key West (200 miles). Three weeks ago I ran my first half marathon. None of this happened overnight and none of it would have happened if I continued to say I can't.

I never planned or dreamed that I could do these things a year ago.

For veterans, what are some things that you're doing that you never planned on or thought you could accomplish?

For those of you just starting out, what are your fitness dreams?

A year from now I'm hoping to stay right where I'm at...in other words I do not want to start regressing due to age....

I would not mind getting more fit, but I'm happy right where I'm at....I am in better shape, health and weight than I've been ion a long, long time....so it's all good....

A year ago I had not seriously started considering WLS, but I was very frustrated because I was gaining weight back after finishing up a medically supervised 14-month (extended from 12 by travel) Optifast program. I lost 20 kg in that program but felt like crap, and had already put 10 back on by Feb. I was in therapy for my "binge eating disorder". That's in quotes because it mostly went away after surgery which leads me to believe it was at least partially biological / chemical. Anyway I was probably at my lowest point with no way out. I began researching in March and had the sleeve in May.

Now I am 35 kg down (over 75 lbs) and I'm running at least 180 minutes a week, Body Pump once a week, Zumba once a week, and getting well over 10000 steps each day. I am in remission from diabetes. All my blood work is PERFECT. I'm the smallest I have been since I was 18 years old. I'm not quite at goal yet but I won't need to make any big changes to get there. I'd like to be under 60 kg by my one-year mark in May but I'm not stressing about it.

A year from now, I'd like to be at goal with several months of maintenance under my belt. I imagine that my daily and weekly routine will be similar to now. I don't feel the need to add a lot more minutes of exercise, though I hope the intensity is higher and I'm stronger and faster and more flexible. I will almost be 37 and I expect to be healthier than at 27 or 17!

Edited February 9, 201412 yr by mistysj

Along with my surgery a year ago, I decided to remove the word "can't" from my exercise vocabulary and replace it with "why not".

I am 48 yrs old and have a bad knee and several autoimmune disorders. My doc has diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I had every excuse to say I can't. Instead, I decided to persevere and to always try.

I started the couch to 5K training program one year ago this week. When I started I could barely run for 45 sec walk 90 sec repeat 5 times. I finally finished the program in August. This weekend I am part of a team that is running from Miami to Key West (200 miles). Three weeks ago I ran my first half marathon. None of this happened overnight and none of it would have happened if I continued to say I can't.

I never planned or dreamed that I could do these things a year ago.

For veterans, what are some things that you're doing that you never planned on or thought you could accomplish?

For those of you just starting out, what are your fitness dreams?

I just wanted to let you know how much what you shared made me smile. To read about others accomplishing what I dream to is very inspiring.

Goals for a year from now? I want to be able to race my husband everywhere and beat him haha. I'd also like to be able to play a basketball game and keep up with all the regular sized people (which may be me by then!). And I want to be able to bench press my body weight.

I just wanted to let you know how much what you shared made me smile. To read about others accomplishing what I dream to is very inspiring. Goals for a year from now? I want to be able to race my husband everywhere and beat him haha. I'd also like to be able to play a basketball game and keep up with all the regular sized people (which may be me by then!). And I want to be able to bench press my body weight.

I had lots of time to think about things the past two days. All of my relay team members were incredible athletes. I felt so lucky to be a part of the team. I still have moments when I still think of myself as the person from a year ago. Out of shape and obese. I'm still trying to come to terms with the changes. This weekend was a huge help in that process. Our overall times was 31 hours and 45 min with an average pace of 9:30. I always think of myself as a slow runner, but I'm only 2 minutes (and sometimes less) away from that time. Six months ago I was 2 minutes per mile slower than what I am now. I'm going to persevere and hopefully lower my pace by next years's Ragnar.

It's funny, but during my program I never set weight loss goals. I did set goals for the steps that I had to take to get there though, which for me was 60+ Protein, 60+ Water, 60+ min exercise. Those were goals I could achieve and that I had control over. I don't have control over how much or how fast I lose. My exercise programs has been a little different though. I set goals (and signed up for races) to keep me accountable and moving forward. It's interesting the similarities and the differences.

I love your goals! They are all about living differently and I think more than anything else WLS gives us that ability.

I don't even know where I am NOW

still living a healthy life

A year ago, I also didn't know what the future held for me or what I might accomplish, and I'm so thrilled at what I've done in a year. I lost the majority of my excess weight, got a great new job, and have become decidedly happy. (I never was unhappy or negative, but now I'm just more enthusiastic about life ).

By this time next year, I hope to be at goal and have completed reconstructive/plastics, as well as a knee replacement so that I can begin training. I want to compete in marathons, too. Right now I can't see myself ever running, (I'm 51 and I really always hated to run, lol) but I do think I can walk and incorporate training and fitness into my daily life. Beyond that, I just want to make sure that I maintain the changes I've worked so hard to make so that I can just LIVE