fern

Mark! You have done so fantastic! You were such a help to me when I started running- you made me believe in myself So proud of you!!

I'll be 2 years in February. Lost exactly 100lbs. No regain. Running marathons now (literally) Can eat anything, but totally stay away from pop and slurpees (my vices)

I ran the princess half this year. I was exactly 1 year out. That being said, Disney is pretty flexible with times. You have 3:30 to finish. That is 3.7 on the treadmill. I would bring protein shakes to hydrate and constantly be sipping. I think you can do it as long as you are very very smart about it

You just start walking!! When you feel you can, jog for 15 seconds. then walk again. As time goes on, you'll be able to run for a longer time or more frequently. Couch to 5k is a great start- as well, look into Jeff Galloways method. I use it all the time! My start weight was 240ish. I ran my first half marathon this past February- exactly 1 year post op. Since then I have run 5 half marathons, with my first full marathon next month. I'm not fast by any means, but I'm getting out there and doing it- I finish middle of the pack generally. My advice? Don't think just do it!!

I'm sorry to say I've become a lurker. .... Life has become so incredibly busy that it's getting harder and harder to relax!! In February 2011, I headed down to Mexico and had my sleeve done. Since then I've lost 100 lbs. I lost the weight in about 8 months and have had no trouble keeping it off!! A huge reason I can keep it off is due to being VERY active! I've become a long distance runner- tomorrow I will do my 4th half marathon. I have another half marathon in September, and my first full marathon in October. In January, I'm traveling to Disneyworld to do the Goofy Challenge. I get up Saturday and do the Donald Half, then go on Sunday to do the Mickey Full. If I complete both in the allowed time, I get a Goofy medal!!! In march my fiancé and I are finally getting married in Hawaii!!! - and yes, there is a half marathon tied in 6 days after : ) My biggest changes?? To do what I CAN do! When I was big, I'd give up on everything- including myself. Now? I've had a running injury for the last 2 races. My second half, I ended up walking the last few miles. My third? I got injured 3 mile in and WALKED the next 10 miles!!! I won't give up!!! Eating wise? I still do Protein first and I still do not eat and drink at the same time. I still carry a drink with me everywhere and get 3 liters liquids in per day. I still stay away from popand slurpees like it's the plague as it's just too much of a slippery slope for me. Since having the sleeve my attitude has changed so much. I'm enjoying life and the people around me. I've gone onto a major fasttrack at work ( I've had 4 promotions since surgery, 6 raises, and 3 bonuses) Life is good My biggest recommendation for new sleevers? CHUCK YOUR SCALE!!! I only lost weight one week a month. It majorly f$cked with my brain! One more thing- get active! The trick is to find something you love. Running for me gives me time to myself ( which I very rarely have), and it allows me to think things through and clear the cobwebs. I also like hiking and do it multiple times per week right now. Now I'm off to pack my gear! Have a great evening!!!

I'll try and figure out how to post a pic after my race tomorrow!

Yup. Hubby and I did it. It's pretty hard core! But I lost a bunch of weight and the eating is right (smaller meals more often) and lower /better carbs. If you do it, get the eating for life book too.

Ice, ice and ice some more. Where exactly on the knee is it? I have an IT band injury from running. The pain shows up in my knee but is actually a weakness of my hips/glutes.

Yes! It's true!!! I live in Vancouver Canada. Here we have a mountain called Grouse Mountain (part of the 2010 olympics were on this mountain. Anyways, on thismountain is an "attraction" called the Grouse Grind. 3000 stairs over 2.9 km straight up the mountain. I love it!! It's addicting to try and beat my own time. The avg seasoned hiker can do it in 1:30-2:00. A vacationer is generally 2-2:30. Last year my best time was 1:24. My first time last week was 1:21 (yay). On Tuesday I'm going with some first timers so the pace will be slow. But I really wanted to beat my time!!! My work life has sucked recently. I took on managent at an existing bakery and it's been really bad and really exhausting. To the point that I'm starting to get that panic feeling in my chest. So I took matters into my own hands and played sick today. I spent a lovely day with my family and they took the tram to the top of the mountain to cheer me on when I got to the top. And I killed it!!! I came in at 1:12!!! A full 9 min faster!!! My ultimate goal is under an hour. I'm almost there!! Yippee!! and I don't feel bad about calling in sick either- this was a mental health day for me ; )

Yay!! We did a trip to Disney in march and I got my pic with the characters right along with my kids!! I loved fitting in all the rides. It just made you feel so carefree and giddy at the same time didn't it???? Great job!!!!

I can't get my hubby to do it!!! : ( Oh well. Relying on yourself for these things is a real eye opener!! Even tho, for the most part, I do it bymyself- I love it!!!!

That is very true and I feel so much better because of it!!

I'd be there with bells on!!! I just took a friend if mine for the first time. I stuck with her the whole way!!! She kept apologizing for taking so long!! Lol I didn't care though. Sometimes you need to do something for fun not for challenge. It's absolutely beautiful and you feel amazing after he acomplishment!!

Congrats!! That's on my bucket list! The goal with the first one is to finish in the upright position ; )

I realized some time ago that slotting some "Heather" time at the gym or going for a run with the dog does a few things. It shows the kids that I respect myself and they should respect themselves too. That mommy is a better mommy because I have the energy and patience to be with and keep up to them. And it makes dad have a better relationship with them because he spends more one on one time with them. I do try to involve them in some excercise stuff like going for walks, or tomorrow I'm hiking a mountain nearby. My hubby and kids are taking the tram up and hanging out ( there's a grizzly bear sanctuary and restaurant etc up there) and they'll be at the top cheering me on! I'm really excited!!!

I think I've been turning a blind eye to my extra skin. Up until yesterday, I didn't think it was so bad. I truly thought my extra skin was, well, still fat!! I'm now a runner ( still feels good to say that). But I'm a runner with a knee injury. So I've been using a roller- pretty much a big rolling pin torchure device that I need to lay on it and roll it along my muscles to release the tightness. I went in a really hot shower to warm up my muscles and decided for the first time to not put on clothing to using my roller. There I am, lying on my side with the roller under me and I saw all this skin!!! Like holy crap!!! Where did that come from!!!! My stomach is pretty bad too. I only wear a size 8 pants, but I can't help but think what size I could be if this amount of skin was gone!!! This is truthfully the first time I've thought about plastics.

I am giving you a good ol' spanking from here!!! You just need to make that decision to smarten up and jump back on the wagon!!! You can do it!!! Here comes that wagon!!! Nowwwwww........JUMP!!!!!

Cut up you food into tiny pieces and eat one at a time. Hard to get tose tiny buggers on a fork!! Lol takes much longer so it works like a charm. Plus it works mentally because it looks like there's much more on your plate

I loved the full liquid phase!! Roast then boil ( or just boil chicken bones and veggies to make a higher Protein ( and just plain better) broth. Throw it in a blender with fully roasted veggies, chicken, and milk( if wanted). Then add flavors you like- taco seasoning and red peppers for Mexican soup, potato, leeks, and bacon for potato soup. Butter chicken sauce and peppers for Indian soup. You can stir in unjury chicken soup or unflavoured Protein powder for extra protein. I had great fun making different soups. I'd make a base soup, throw it in the fridge and flavor a cups worth at each meal. Changed up the menu to keep it fresh! Just note, you may need to strain your soup if your blender doesn't purée it fully.

Today I finished my 3rd half marathon..... With an injury!!! During my 2nd, I injured my IT band (fancy name for runners knee). I've been with a physio to help resolve it and together ( with my pushing), we agreed that I could try today's half marathon if I was careful. The old me would have given up. The old me would have said if I couldn't do the whole thing, it wasn't worth trying. My thought process now is sooo positive! Yes, I'm going to try. Yes, I may get taken off the course. But I at least was going to TRY!!!! And try I did!!!!! The first 5km (3.1miles) was amazing!!! I came in under 30 min for the first time ever!!!! Then my left knee blew out again : ( So I walked the next about 13-14km (about 9 miles) and ran the last mile to cross the finish line at 3:05:18. Not the best time but who cares!!! I FINISHED!!!!! And I'm so proud to have finished and not just given up. This surgery has given me the power to shed so much more than extra weight!!

I did the Scotiabank 1/2 here in Vancouver, Canada. The weather turned beautiful!!! Perfect day for a run : )

Woohoo!!!!! That's figging awsome!!!! The stall will break eventually. You could just be holding water. That seemed to be my issue while u was running. Up your liquids if you can. It helps!!

Haven't heard of it, but I've done body for life. The eating plan is also great for us slivers (higher protein- lower carb- 5-6 meals a day) it's a cardio one day, weights the next. It was awsome!! My hubby and I are actually started again this week. Him for weight loss, me for support and definition : )

I'm a wimp in the heat!! Lol I'll hit the treadmill or run earlier morning or later evening. I'm in Vancouver, Canada. This year has been a very cool, wet June!!! So today's race was ( if I'm doing the calculations right) in the low 60s but sunny!!! Perfect running weather!! I hated running too at first. I begrudgingly did it to up my weight loss. Then something happened and I started to enjoy it!!! When I first injured my knee I was 3 weeks without running!!! I was such a b***h!!! Turns out running is my stress reliever. My clear out the cobwebs time. Hopefully my knee allows me to run again soon. I know WHY it happened so I at least can try to fix it now

Thanks Emily! You can do it too!! I was NOT a runner by any means when I started. I couldn't even run/jog a full minute when I first started. C25k is great! I didn't use it so much- I actually found it too hard!!! Lol I've run 3 half marathons (13.1 miles) I have another half in august, a FULL (26.2 mils) in October (eek!!!) and in January I'm going to Disneyworld to do Goofy's race and a half challenge. Saturday will be a half, then Sunday a full ( double eek!!!!) Believe in yourself and set yourself a goal. Find a race and register!!! (my first registered race I came in 7th from last- but I still beat all those people on the couch!!!!)