I agree with some of the comments on the idea of running. I've never liked running myself, and couldn't think that I would ever get to the point that I looked forward to it. I was banded in Feb 2010. I started out running 1/2 mile at a time, and would build up every week to then a mile, then a mile and a half.......... My weight started out at 301, and my running started when I was in the high 240s. I eventually ran in the Donor Dash in July of that year which is a 5k. Saturday night I told my wife, "I’m going to do it." I ran it in about 42 minutes. I didn't stop.
I was proud for getting to that point, and looked forward to running in the mornings. The following week I ran 5 miles at one time. I bottomed out that day as I have sugar diabetes. The doctor dropped my meds even more which gave me more incentive to run..
Then a couple weeks later I did 6.4 which was equivalent to a 10k. That took me 1.5 hours. I never got so winded I couldn't continue. As I was running I was thinking I would have been watching something silly on TV like Dog The Bounty Hunter, or Billy The Exterminator. I was thinking how many years of my life has been spent in front of a TV instead of exercising.
Then in November of that year, I fell of the latter in my garage and broke my leg. I couldn't run for 9 months, and the doctors have advised me to try swimming or biking. I don't get the same cardio feeling as I do when I run. Then I had a slip of my band and got back up to 282. I had the h-pylori, so that treatment took some time. Now I'm back on track. My weight is around 265, and I finally got in 3.2 miles 2 times this week. Now by no means am I worried about time. It took around 47+ minutes the first time, and I was 46+ the 2nd time. One of my elderly neighbors can walk as fast as my jog . I'd like to run the 5k for the Denver Komen walk in October. My mom and 4 sisters have all survived breast cancer, so our family tries to participate as many as we can each year.
I can tell my heavier weight is effecting my knees. I recommend anyone who wants to run for exercise to buy a good pair of shoes. Just like a read in another post about bikes, running shoes from Target/Wal-Mart don't work for me. I'm 47, and would like to get down in the area of 200-210. I think it would be great if I could do a triathlon before 50. I've learned I can reach anything I put my mind to. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd do a 5k.
What I'd like you to take away from my story is that anything is achievable. Even if it's something you've never imagined you'd like. Have a plan, work it, and do your best. Things will always work out. Good luck!!!