jcgrove29

Deanna, I felt like I knew where you were coming from. I just wanted to let everyone know that even though my self esteem is shot (for now) I wasn't down about my situation. I could not have said that a year ago! I have the confidence to fight this thing with all my might. I am just taking it one enemy one battle at a time. I do honestly believe that I am going to win this war. :-). I am sharing my struggles and success as I go because it is the only way I know that I can give back and possibly helps others who are going through the same things that I am, this is important to me personally. I want to help others at the expense of my own pride and ego. JC

J, I've got a quote for ya, "That what doesn't kill us better watch out the hell out for my bad ass". HP, thanks you are too cool. JC

Or maybe I am just into pain!!! LOL Sorry to hear you're going for the Cashola, but I certainly understand. JC

Deanna, He definately gets cranking once a month! LOL Listen it is all good. I have things going my direction and you are right it's their loss. I try to look for positives everywhere. At least I know the truth about those so called friends. :-) JC

First of all, BG cute picture! You should be proud of yourself. Second, I am trying intentionally not to draw attention to my new self. I am severly focussed on the weight loss. There are critical numbers for me to DEFEAT. Right now it is 220.0lbs. Reason being I can remember reaching 220lbs in 1988, this is the year I lost control again. I was overweight growing-up, some people have suggessted it was due to the loss of my Mom, I wasn't quite two years old. When I graduated from high school I made a commitment to get into shape. I have always been athletic (for my size people would say) I wanted to look better as well. I was successful, in 1984 I lost 100+ pounds and a world I had never dreamed existed opened up for me. I became very popular, it seemed everyone wanted to be my friend, guys wanted to lift weights with me they would go to the same person who gave me a haircut and ask her to cut their hair just like mine, so much so that she actually quit charging me. Girls too, they would come up and hand me their phone number right in front of the girl I was going out with. having a girlfriend was even a new experiance. This is a small town and me and a friend of mine seemed to have been elevated to this unbelievable status. I thought people were finally seeing the person who was there all along and it felt so good. Then 1988 hit and 220 lbs hit. I tried to get this weight back off and some how added more then a little more. before I knew it i was 250lbs. Then I noticed as a got bigger my world got smaller. Those so called friends of mine weren't around as much. Don't get me wrong there was a core that were good as gold and hung with me, it is just the group was noticeably smaller. Heartbreaking things would happen like people who couldn't get enough of me before would duck down aisles or act like they were looking for stuff when they would see me in stores and blah blah blah. My self esteem has really not been low, it has been assasinated, But you have to know me to understand that I am OK with that for now, because I am a FIGHTER. I have faced utter tragedy at least 5 times in my life and came out as normal as possible. I feel with the decision to be banded I am winning the weight loss fight. In my all out assault I have lost so much so fast that I have a new enemy, excess skin, and it better watch out because as soon as I reach my stated goal I will turn my focus on this new enemy of mine and I WILL kick its ASS. After which me and my self esteem will get to know each other again. :-) JC

I will never be able to look at my boss, Tom the same ever again! JC

Keeping short but self esteem is so low it's flying under radar JC

J, I have to keep it short because I'm at work, but I have to say, I can't even put a figure on how much I admire and value your wisdom. JC

Hey guys check out this route HMMMMAdventure Cycling Association JC

J here is the link I have a stock BikeE oic out there. str8jacket29 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Thanks everyone, but it works both ways. If I didn't have you guys to report to, I probably wouldn't push quite as hard! JC

I did it! I freaking did it! I not only did it, I slapped an exclamation point on the end of it!!!!!!!!!! 3 non-stop jogging miles, finished with a 40 yard, full-on, snot blowing sprint. I honestly believe I can run faster now than when I was 18 years old back when the guys used to say I was the biggest fastest white boy they have ever seen run. I was going so fast that I actually ran out into the street before I could get myself stopped!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry if it seems like I am bragging but this is what I have been striving for, for a very long time. Fire I tell you I am on dad-gum FIRE!!! JC

Check out the distance, 1144.22 Double numbers across the board. I am probably good for half then a rental, not sure I'll dig deeper. JC

Thinking out loud, " I can make an 80 mile a day average until I get out of the flatlands" Probably 100- 120 the first day and lower from there. JC

I WILL look into a possible route and timetable to ride bike up but I am making no promisses that I will follow through with it! JC

T-Shirts Rock Dude!!

J, I would drive, that will help burn up some vacation. Probably take the old BikeE with me instead of the trike. Easier to transport. Deanna, I burned up alot of patience waiting to get to a range of weight that I thought I could jog without extreme pain and downtime. I kept promising myself if I could get into the 220-230 range I would pour the effort into it. I have made this promise to myself for years(more than 10). I feel like a dead person who has been given another chance at life. It is really hard to put words to it but, I bet most of you can relate and understand what I mean. And yes right now I am slap ass on FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JC

Juli, Nothing like a little peer pressure to brighten the day!! JC

Deanna, I have been told conflicting info from the med professionals about glucosamine only vs glucosamine/chondroitin combos. I will research further, until then I am sticking with the combo. Hey Guys, I would like to go on that sept ride. I can't seem to get the pdf to load for the info. Kinda embarrassing considering the field of work I am in. Juli, I am definately a "NUT" however, I sense you are not far behind!! I knocked out a 2.5 mile jog and cooled down with an addtional 2 mile walk and a flat out run for your life 1/2 mile sprint when the lightning started firing off overhead!! I will get to 3 miles of continuous jogging one day, I am less optimistic about how soon becuase that last 1/2 mile feels like a killer. JC

Deanna, sorry to hear about your shoulder. I have started taking glucosamine chondroitin chewables to assist in joint health as I pound the hell out of my body. I have been reading however, that a glucosamine only supplement is better. JC

BG, I can't describe the rush I get when I pour 5- 10 gallons of cooking oil in my tank and drive with it. Kinda makes you hungry in heavy traffic though. JC

Juli, I'm such a slacker, I don't think I have the strength to go jogging this afternoon. Deanna, Water skiing and tubing behind a peddleboat? SWEET!!! Traci, you are right, but right now I feel spent! Last weekend I rode by myself and felt good enough to go jogging. I feel guilty that I don't think I can jog tonight. JC JC

Hey Karla, thanks! I just finished a 50 mle bicycle ride on the Witlacooche trail. I feel like I have been beat up. The guy I rode with has about a 15 mph pace and I, a 10-12 mph. I held tight for 44 miles so I consider it a successful ride I guess. I think I will look at my hopefully upcoming plastic surgery as a reward. I have submitted a refferal and letter of medical necessity. I am just waiting approval. JC

50 miles today! I was riding with someone who has a 15 mph pace and hung with it for 44 miles then started struggling. Oh well I will have to work harder! JC

Juli, hope you have a fast recovery. Deanna, I think you should rest at least an hour a week. LOL Hoosierpoms, I average approx 10 miles an hour sometimes 12. BG, Congrats on the 15 miles. JC