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CONGRATULATIONS, GRose!!!! 82 pounds is such an accomplishment. I hope your weight loss has done something to improve your health problems.

JaGo, try stretching if you're not already. I stretch every time I walk, before and after. And yes, I think just building up your endurance helps with the soreness too.

Congrats! I'm almost there, too!

Wow Jachut, that's impressive! I'm not to that level yet. But I am pushing myself!

Hey, who knew? For the past few months I've been walking on the treadmill 3-5 miles a few times a week. I'd work hard for 1-1.5 miles, then for the remainder I'd go slow enough to read a book at the same time. I figured the time would go faster and I wouldn't die of boredom if I could read.... This week, I've been working HARD for 2 miles or more, then mixing up the remainder, and also doing ab crunches in between miles. I had not lost a lot of weight in the past few months, but I lost 3 pounds this week. Hmmmmm, I think I finally have it figured out! I honestly have not had sore muscles in months. So obviously, even though some days I was walking 5 miles, I was not doing something right. I guess I have to constantly push my body because if I don't feel like stopping, I'm not working hard enough.

I'm off to a good start!

Bastard! Being morbidly obese IS a major health problem. I thought I was a pretty healthy obese person, then I had 3 blood clots in my lungs that almost took me away from my family. Not a single doctor, except the bariatric doctor I saw nearly a year later, had the nerve to tell me that the major contributing factor to the blood clots was my obesity. Beyond that, just the strain to an obese person's heart and joints is enough reason to consider surgery. I wish you the best in your search.

I think that is just most people's reaction to someone who has lost a lot of weight. I spent time with extended family last weekend, and they were very excited about how much I had lost and how "skinny" I am. I was still the biggest person in the room. At my height, I have to get to 155 pounds just to have a "normal" BMI. So that is my goal. After all we've been through, why wouldn't we want to get to a normal, healthy weight? Maybe you should just smile, say "thanks", and keep doing what you are doing.

I put a little bit of chocolate protein powder in my strawberry yogurt, and add frozen blueberries. This meal could replace ice cream if I was having a craving, I like it so much. PS I used to hate yogurt, and blueberries! Strange.

Amy, I was thinking about how I might push myself in November too! This challenge was really what I needed to get myself going. I have been walking since January, but I guess I really needed someone to TELL me to do it consistently about 5 days a week.

I have a treadmill and some weights at home that I've been using since January, with results. But now I'm starting to wish I had a little more variety in my exercise. Maybe it is possible to participate in a Zumba class or likewise, without actually joining a gym? I don't know.

I don't mean to steal the thread, but wanted to say to Subie66 that your friends who are eating all carbs and not exercising are probably losing a lot of muscle, are not any healthier than when they started, and probably have that weight-loss-lose-skin "turkey neck". You look incredibly healthy. It's harder to do the right thing but it's always worth it. NatalieB, you need to do some tough love on yourself. I can eat what I want on any given day, but most of the time I choose not to. It's hard. The band was not designed to make you not eat the things that are bad for you. You have to decide to do the hard work because you want to be healthier, period. I almost died from an obesity related problem, so maybe I'm lucky that I actually got the wake up call and I get it, I know why I'm doing this. I have 2 kids and I don't want to die young. I still ate 2 cookies yesterday (and would have had chocolate if I could have found any in the house), but I also ate a lot of protein and exercised. About 6 months after surgery, I found myself putting almost as much food on my plate as the rest of my family. If it is on my plate, I am going to attempt to eat it. It took me a while to get back into the right mindset and start serving myself small portions again. I found that if I have a small portion on my plate, I will eat that and stop. You have to decide that you are worth the tremendous effort you have to put into making this change, and then do it!

Way to go!!

I went to Vegas this weekend for a wedding. I thought I was taking the weekend off from walking, but that is just what you do in Vegas, walk walk walk! It was broken up by gambling, drinking, and eating good food though. So I'm back on the treadmill today, stretching out the muscles.

Amazing story! Congratulations!!!

It's such a mind game!!! I was walking around in circles last night, trying not to give in to night time snacking. I knew it wouldn't benefit me. I just try not to eat a few hours before bedtime. As a snack though, I have had an apple dipped in sugar free caramel topping, it was amazing and sweet! Sometimes your brain just won't shut up about wanting something sweet.

Find something to do that keeps you busy! If you are engaged in some activity, other than watching tv, you will think about eating a lot less.

Well BillOh, how did it go????

Going through it with someone you love will be helpful! It might be hard at times to watch each other make mistakes and not get preachy. I hope you get the "go ahead" soon!

OUTSTANDING!! You made a commitment to your health, and look at what you accomplished! Plus, you could cause all kinds of trouble around your hometown and nobody would know it was you! You look very different than you did a year ago. I'm not saying you SHOULD, just that you could....

No walking to record yesterday, because I had to help my husband cut down trees and load 2 trucks full of wood! I worked hard though...I can feel some muscles today I haven't felt in a while.

Congratulations, Kimmypoo! Boy is that exciting!

You will definitely not be the last! I did a 5K about 8 weeks after surgery and had a pretty respectable time. I've never run in my life. I walked a lot with a little jogging in between. But I did it! That's the important thing. I'll be doing it again in February and don't even care if I run/jog at all. My fitness has improved this year, but my knees still hurt like crazy if I run, so I just walk a lot. GO FOR IT!!!!!

You might not be getting enough nutrients. My protein powder has about 32 grams per serving, where the Instant Breakfast has about 5. Chewable vitamins are fine to take on the liquid phase because they totally break down, it's not like swallowing solids.There are also different flavors of protein powders, if you're bored. You'll get through this phase soon!

7 miles today!!! My husband was so impressed that he went running.