Ava324

They had a tanktop sale (current sale is free shipping), so I ordered these two for myself: Also, picked this one out for my Whovian hubby... We live in New Orleans, so "Who Dat?" doubles for the Saints chant. It's perfect!

Thanks, Ginger! I never considered weak hips could make such an impact! I'll definitely work on my mindset about agility, and try to spin it fun and take pride in it too. Funny how your trainer has gotten tough with you. My trainer said to be ready to really work next week and warned that he's going to push to my limit. He said to have oatmeal and fruit before our session for fuel, but it has to be more than an hour in advance so I'm not throwing up. Eek!

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words and suggestions! We pretty much never use the weight machines in training. It's mostly free weights and kettle balls, then pulley cables, and TRX straps. I've certainly activated my stability muscles and balance muscles some, but I've mostly compensated up to this point with other muscle strength. I've reached the point where something has to give. In order to lift heavy, three things happen: I either go up on my toes, use bad form/round my back, or fall forward. Where agility training fills me with dread, it's music to my mother's ears. She's an occupational therapist and has lectured me on poor balance forever. Apparently I had poor balance and stability as a little kid too. She works in geriatrics so she can go on and on about how important agility is for fall prevention. I've actually had a few bad trips and falls in the past that put both my arms in slings and I'm only 26..

I may be able to help. I sent you a PM.

Start: 156 Goal: 145 I'm hopeful.. Good luck everyone!

I'd pay for ad-free too!

So far I loathe the new app, which I downloaded last night. Such a shame! I broke my own policy of avoiding app updates for as long as possible, because they seem to always get worse - not better. I thought BariatricPal would be safe. The pop-up and in-thread ad banners are a complete nuisance. Distracting. They raise my blood pressure. Ugh! I'll almost certainly delete the app. I'll visit BariatricPal less. Ugh, again...

Sorry, I don't have a specific recommendation. I'm bored with music too and think audiobooks might work for me. Maybe look for a funny fitness audiobook?

My skin is in poor shape and flabby, but the fact that there is now definition amazes me. I had mashed potato arms before and couldn't feel a hint of muscle if I tried. Not arm related, but I dead lifted 115 yesterday. So proud!

I picked up a little personal heater to keep under my desk at work. SUCH a life saver.

I think my fitbit broke, and I am sooo bummed. I dropped my zip (only from hip height!), and it's been unresponsive since. Hopefully when I get home and can take the battery in and out it will revive.

Two NSV posts for me back to back! Yesterday I went and got a mani, and I hadn't seen this manicurist in a while. It genuinely took her a minute to recognize me. Then of course came the questions. She asked what I weighed, I told her, and then she said "I wish I weighed that". Someone wished they were my weight.... What?!! She said she weighs 163, which is a very normal weight to me, and a skinny weight to former me. A non-heavy person wished they were my weight... Mind blown.

Before surgery was even in consideration, my husband and I sabotaged each other. I think I played a greater role though. He made poor food choices, but I was more the emotional eater and constantly fatigued. I resisted his encouragement to get active and work out with him. He came around on supporting surgery, and he did the pre-op dieting (scheduled meals under 1,200 cals/day) with me for two months. He even suffered through a Lean Cuisine instead of the Thanksgiving feast. Since surgery, I've taken the lead on getting healthy. He eats what I do (when we're together), just larger portions. He joins me at the gym every now and then and even signed on with my personal trainer. We completed our first 5K Friday, and he's on board for many more. He's the best, and I wouldn't be in such a positive place and wouldn't have been as successful without him. He's benefited personally too. He's lost 65 lbs of his own and is back in his high school size. He flexes in the mirror now. Haha.

You're spot on about outlook. My arms were batwings even before surgery, but they've gotten a lot worse since losing the weight. I'm lucky that they're my only really bad problem area, but what a problem.. They're wrinkled, saggy, and flappy. I used to hide my arms with cover-ups. And now? I wear a sporty tanktop to the gym. In public. They give me away, and I imagine people notice them and think of how big I must have been. But... I'm proud of them. It's the only way I can outwardly show off my hard work. I don't want to look as if I've never been big. I've been overweight to morbidly obese since I was 8 years old. I woke up Sunday morning with a normal BMI for the first time in 18+ years. For now, my attitude couldn't be better, and I'm happily flapping it in sleeveless shirts and dresses.

Please count me in. I haven't participated in one of these challenges yet, and this is the perfect one. I hope to reach my personal goal by Halloween! Oh boy, oh boy.

If you ever wanted to host a BP retreat, I'd so be there!

Congratulations! I know that feeling, and it's incredible. I had PCOS and insulin resistance pre-surgery, and they're now resolved. Or as my doc explained, in the "off" position. I'm keeping it that way! Also I love the subject line for your thread.

I completed my first 5K last night! I jogged about 95% of it, so it was definitely a victory! Finished under 46 minutes, which isn't too shabby. I never would have dreamed of running a 5K before! I wouldn't have imagined it 8 months ago, when I had surgery. Or even 4 months ago. And here I am totally proud, ready for the next one, and motivated to improve my time.

First pic was taken Christmas Eve, two weeks after surgery. After I'd already lost 14 lbs pre-op and still on liquids.. Second pic from yesterday - taken by our personal trainer after a very sweaty session. Now I'm just 17 lbs away from goal. Hubby hasn't had surgery, but he's lost 65 lbs of his own. So proud! We run our first 5K today.

I'd love to hear from those who reached their goal, and moved to the next phase. I'm just 17lbs from my goal, and I find myself getting anxious. I've been overweight and told so since I was 8 years old. Not once have I been at my ideal weight, and this is totally uncharted territory. I spent the past 8 months totally focused and motivated, and this anxiety has come as a surprise. When I'm so close? How is goal or near goal treating you? Anyone else a bit emotional about it?

First 5K tomorrow. So freaking excited! Also registered for a 5K 9/12 and a mini marathon (4 miles) 11/23. Signing up for these runs well in advance is a real motivator. I'll make my one year surgiversary 12/10, so the mini-marathon is perfect timing.

A snuggie is a great idea! Gloves would be nice too. And a nose warmer!