Leaderboard

Awesome progress Jim! I enjoyed reading your blog, and I agree, as far as our mobility goes, we should never take anything for granted. Going for a brisk walk is something I enjoyed for years, and after my car accident, the road back made me realize that it is often the simple things which mean the most. One thought which struck me as I was reading was perhaps starting out with a more reasonable exercise goal could help. I am determined to get in 5-6 hours of cardio per week. That's just about the max of what my joints can manage. I'm retired now, but if I were still working, 10 hours of cardio would be impossible for me. If you adjusted your goal, you might not admonish yourself if you did not reach your weekly goal. That mindset is so important to keep us focused and motivated to continue with meeting our exercise goal. Also, reassigning exercise to a habit instead of a task does take away some of the interpretation that exercise is just another form of work. Looking forward to exercise because it helps you achieve your weight loss goals is a healthier approach IMO. Keep up your great progress!

wonderful blog and GREAT suggestions ......why are they great? they obviously work.....just look at your before/after. all the best love

Jim, you've done a phenomenal job! I agree with Sojourner; try & set a more realistic goal, and take some of the pressure off. It's true that exercise needs to become part of our daily routine. Easier said than done, I know! If it weren't for my dog giving me "the face" every morning, I'd probably plop down at my desk, and not surface for hours. I used to take her to the park; play catch, then sit my butt down on a bench while she plays. Now, I take her out for a good 40-45 minute walk through the hills about 4-5 times a week, which has made a huge difference in my progress. I know I "should" (hate that word) do more, but for now, this seems to be "enough". You're doing great, Jim.... Keep it realistic, and try not to get down on yourself for not living up to your own expectations. As my father always says, just do the best you can :-)

Congrats on your amazing success Jim! I read a good article a couple months ago and posted a link to it on here. If I can find it, I'll repost it. It discussed not worrying about some long term fitness goal, but just concentrating on your progress today. If we concentrate on what we do today...the long term goals will come. Heres a quote from it. ""Einstein didn't think he was intelligent, because as his intellect expanded so did his ability to comprehend how much there is to know. Exercise works the same way. As you become fit, you become more aware of higher standards of fitness. Identifying yourself in the scale of being fit can be the cause of depression that will cause you to quit. You must not think about a future state of fitness you want to obtain. You must only think of physical motion in the moment. You must develop sets of physical motion without setting a goal of obtainment. You just do it as a ritual. You don't think about the time involved. You don't become over exhilarated. You just do it." http://drsimpson.net/fitness/aeobics/aerobics.htm

Love thanks for sharing your story. You look amazing and you are such an inspiration to us all.

You look amazing with your wonderful smile and great looking husband. Knowing that it took you 2 years to get to goal just made my day. Thank you. I have been around the same weight for 3-6 months (lost count) and feel like a failure. Now I don't. I am 13 months banded and thought it would take 1 1/2-2 years so I guess that is right. Keep in touch with us we all need encouraging words.

awesome girl! I'm going to keep this entry and refer back to it when I get to goal. Hopefully in March!

When my band is adjusted properly I eat a little bit of everything I like and no one really notices. I throw away food if I add too much to my plate. I try to stay away from foods that may not agree with my band but sometimes I still get stuck out in public.

Um, you don't look older that's crazy. You look way more vibrant and full of energy. You look younger and healthier. Great job! Don't let the family bring you down.

Right there with you. My surgery is Sept 17th. I switched a few weeks ago to half liquid and half lean and green diet a couple weeks ago and dropped 8 lbs. good luck with your surgery.