UT LB Loser

Pedals and bike shoes are the way to go!!! You clip in and have so much more control. It took some getting used to, but I definitely wouldn't do without them! I took a spill on my bike shortly after getting the clips. Be very careful when you first start out. You can't just take your foot off the pedal. You have to clip out. Once you get used to it, it happens very quickly. I'm doing an Oly tri on 6/6/09. I will also be running a Winter Racing Circuit starting in Feb. There are 5 races, 2 to 3 weeks apart. A 5K, 10K, 10 Miler, 1/2 Marathon and 30K. This is all to prepare folks to run a marathon in May. I will run the 1/2 marathon instead. My goal is to run a full by the end of August. Good luck to everyone!

2008 What a year it has been for me! So many positive things have come to pass. My Band experience was only the beginning of a great adventure. To those of you who are struggling with the Band, I am sorry that you are hurting and not seeing the progress you want. Remember that the Band is only a tool. You still have to work towards your goals. Many choose gastric bypass because they don't want to work to achieve their goal. It is so satisfying to know that my progress is MINE and that the Band only helped me along. 2009 holds new challenges and goals for me. My measurements are in place and I intend to reach every goal that I have or will set. Just Focus and Do It!!! You can too!!! Happy New Year!!! Chris

I always drive myself home after the Tris. Ok, once I didn't. I flew home in a small plane from one!!! I also do a recovery run the day after a tri of 2 to 3 miles. It is amazing how that aids the recovery process. These are very relaxed and slow runs. My coach suggested that I do them and he was right as always. They do help. I skiied 4 days in the past 9 days. The holidays have allowed me to schedule that many ski days in. I have most of next week off too. It is a great workout! I have signed up to do a Winter Running series in my area. It starts 2/7/09 with a 5K. 2 weeks later there is a 10K race, 3 weeks after that a 10 miler, 3 weeks later a 1/2 marathon, and 3 weeks later a 30k. This is a huge committment, but I am doing it. I set a goal to improve my run. I have made progress and this will help me continue to improve. I have a dilemma, should I run a 5K on New Years Eve or do a midnight ski run on the mountain? The 5K would be better for my goal. Either way, I'll probably be cold at midnight!!!

That is awesome Kagoscuba!!! I wish you all the best! I'd say good luck, but we know it has nothing to do with luck. It's all good hard preparation. You can do it. I plan to do an Olympic triathlon early next spring. I am also planning to run another 1/2 marathon in the spring. I would love to work up to a HIM later next season. "Hi, my name is Chris. I'm a triathlon junkie, and I LOVE IT!!!"

mrboswell, Congrats!!!!! That is great to hear that you've had good early success! Don't forget to measure the NSVs (Non scale Vitories) as well. They are everywhere early on. Think about how out of breath a certain activity made you before being banded. Now? There are little changes that we aren't always aware of. My approach was, and you are welcome to emulate it, to not set WEIGHT goals, but FITNESS goals. Sure, I still keep track of the #. It is what we all understand. However, if that is/becomes your FOCUS, you will miss oppportunities for growth and lasting change. As one of my larger fitness goal, I set a goal to run one 5K in 2008. I'll admit, it wasn't a very lofty goal now that I have hindsight. I did not know how I would adapt to the band and did not have a mentor to "show me the way". Set a goal you are comfortable with. Remember, a goal not written is only a wish. Once you set the goal, think of milestones that will help you to measure your progress. I have a form that I created in Excel called LBGoals. I'd be happy to share it with you. It now has 16 tabs to the spreadsheet. I measure everything there. I have a quote on my Goals page that headlines it all. It says: "When performance is measured performance improves. When performance is measured and reported the rate of improvement accelerates." Thomas S. Monson Pres. Monson gave that quote more in a business setting than religious one. It is quoted everywhere in business. Google it. He is so right on target with that! I have a "Coach" who is a former neighbor who used to run track at USU. He knows about my band, but he isn't there to talk to about the band. I went to him for advice on running. I asked if he would mind if I shared my workouts with him each week. I copy a portion of my weekly workouts into a training log that I send him each Sunday. He helps me to focus my workouts to where they will help me improve the most. These are short emails. I've only seen him a few times in the past year as he now lives in another city. I feel like I "owe" him an accounting of my workouts since he has been generous with his suggestions. He helps me - and lo and behold, I've helped him to FOCUS too. I can share a whole lot more. I am open to discuss any of my experiences with you. Let me know. Chris

Here is a quick update on what I have been doing since my original post in September. I've done alot, actually!!! This past Saturday was my Bandiversary. It has been one year since I was banded. I celebrated that day by running the Death Valley Half Marathon. Yes, 13.1 miles!!! I did it!!!! I had not run that far in over 27 years since I ran my first Half Marathon in 1981. 26 years, a lot of weight and inactivity, and no FOCUS got me to the point that I needed to change something. I did and you can too!!! I ran 13.1 miles in training about a month ago. I did it in 3:05:11. Going into Saturday's race, I had a goal to be under 3 hours. I shattered that! I did it in 2:46:03. In 2008 I have done 7 Sprint Triathlons, 9 5Ks, 2 bike races, and 1 Half Marathon. I feel great!!! I have FOCUS in my life again. What a sweet thing!!! Always remember and never forget... Where ever you go, there you are! If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!!!!! Happy Holidays!!!!! Chris

I completed the Death Valley Half Marathon on Saturday! I reached all my goals that I had set for the race as well!!! I did it in 2:46:03, under my 3 hour goal. I ran it in training in 3:05:11. I cut nearly 20 minut off of my PR. What an awesome Bandiversary gift to myself. I have had the most successful year of my life. Thanks for being part of it. I appreciate the encouragement and examples I received from all of you on this board. Keep up the great work!!! I am now going to concentrate on the Olympic distance triathlons. Haven't done one yet, but come Spring I have my eye on a few. Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Amanda, I noticed that we both have 50 to go. Wow!!! Unfortunately, these are the toughest 50. Slowly but surely. Do you have a plan in mind for the last 50 or are you just biding your time? I don't have specific plans to lose the rest. I just want to keep my fitness level up and increase my aerobic ability. The cold weather makes it a bit tougher. Jon, where did you go? What's up???

Hello fellow Merry Bandsters!!! Our year mark is rapidly approaching. It seems this thread is nearly dead. Please share your Bandiversary plans with the rest of us. My plans include a flight to Death Valley on the 5th of Dec. On the morning of the 6th (my Bandiversary) I will be running the Death Valley Half Marathon. What a gift to give myself!!!! I can hardly contain my thankfulness for my Band and what it has helped me accomplish this past year. I know that not everyone has had the same results, and for that I am sorry!!!! I love hearing about the small victories everyone has had - not just the big ones. Please share!!!!! Have a great day!

Congrats Sue!!! YOU changed your life by using the tool that we've been given. It is hard work, but is so very satisfying!! When I look back, the hard work was actually fun - because the results could be seen. I have had the greatest summer of my life!!! I have bought a season pass to the best kept secret of a ski resort in Utah. I skiied 8 times last year. This year it should be every weekend!!!! My legs are in great shape, so none of that lactic burn I struggled with last winter. Plus I have my 1/2 marathon coming up... There is still so much fun to have this year!!!! I will check out Trikke.com. Good luck to you in your workouts this winter!!! Chris

Had my best time yet in today's tri. The bike course was tough! The hill we had to go up was brutal!!! It was a 2 loop course. I almost didn't make it up the hill on the 2nd loop. The run was first and that helped me! I wasn't fatigued until after the bike. The swim was crazy!! There was a lot of commotion in the water and it was a jungle swim. I finished in 1:21:13. My goal of 7 5Ks and 7 Triathlons this year has been met!!! What a summer!!! Now I will focus solely on the 1/2 marathon. Tomorrow will be my long run (8 to 10 miles).