Yesterday my husband and I went for a hike in the local mountains to see the wild flowers which are absolutely spectacular this year, due to lots of winter rains. The weather was perfect, the birds were singing, the flowers were stunning (including some I had never seen before) and I just couldn't stop. We kept on going and ended up hiking 10 miles. This is the farthest I have been able to go in years, due to weight and joint pain. It was amazing. NO JOINT PAIN! (I have already had a total knee replacement, arthroscopic surgery on the other one, and multiple steroid injections in my hips - all for arthritis brought on by 5 decades of being overweight.)

This is so wonderful. I feel like I am actually getting my life back - the life I used to love and then lost. Having 50 pounds off made such a difference. I cannot even imaging how great it will be with another 50 off. I am going to need a rope to hold me down! I took a friend out to see the flowers this morning - only hiked 4 miles, but still felt so good to be able to get up and go with no pain. This surgery has opened a whole new chapter for me, and I hope for the same for each of you.

36 minutes ago, AZhiker said:

Yesterday my husband and I went for a hike in the local mountains to see the wild flowers which are absolutely spectacular this year, due to lots of winter rains. The weather was perfect, the birds were singing, the flowers were stunning (including some I had never seen before) and I just couldn't stop. We kept on going and ended up hiking 10 miles. This is the farthest I have been able to go in years, due to weight and joint pain. It was amazing. NO JOINT PAIN! (I have already had a total knee replacement, arthroscopic surgery on the other one, and multiple steroid injections in my hips - all for arthritis brought on by 5 decades of being overweight.)

This is so wonderful. I feel like I am actually getting my life back - the life I used to love and then lost. Having 50 pounds off made such a difference. I cannot even imaging how great it will be with another 50 off. I am going to need a rope to hold me down! I took a friend out to see the flowers this morning - only hiked 4 miles, but still felt so good to be able to get up and go with no pain. This surgery has opened a whole new chapter for me, and I hope for the same for each of you.

? CONGRATULATIONS ?

That is awesome!!!

This is a wonderful - stories like this are such a great example of why our surgeries give us our life back I'm so happy for you

Yes, I'm much more active now and it's easier to go to the gym and I've been enjoying walks outside this Spring and life is good. Congrats on your rapid weight loss!

Love the wild flower moment!!! Somethings just make one fall in love again and again and again! Like hiking, the honey, and wildflowers. Enjoy the birds and sunshine!!!!

I am trying to do a good hike (3-5 hours) every week. So beautiful and so great to get out. And so great to be able to walk up hills without panting my lungs out, My balance is better and my endurance is definitely much better. I did have a slip and fall last week (loose gravel) and went down on one hip. I am on blood thinners still (thanks to a post op DVT) and so the bruise on my hip is the size of a saucer!