Encouragement

[hopeful1 1]

One more congratulations to ya Marie! You have to be so proud of yourself. :Bunny Biking is something I'd really like to get back into if I ever get approved!! We have a very nice bike trail not far from here that's about 14 miles long.

I had to laugh when you said you'd be the one to take a zero rather than give an oral report. I actually did that once in high school too. Who'd have thought I'd have grown up to be a teacher for awhile?!

Wish me luck on an approval sometime in this century so I can become a "biker mama" too.

Thanks for all the encouragement you give to us "wannabes".

hopeful1

[New Hope 37]

Pam and Hopeful 1, I hadn't been on my bike in years - didn't have the energy or even care about doing anything physical. I waited until my 6 wk. post-op visit before I started biking, then just gradually tried to go a little further each time. Three times around our circular block is a mile. I took little, bitty, baby steps - huffing and puffing all the way. Pretty soon, I felt like a hamster going round and round in his cage and ventured off the block. I felt under the weather this last week and only rode once. I can tell a big difference! I've felt restless and "stove up" and wanting to "nibble" too much. I gained 2 lbs. Yipes!

Pam, just strive a little further each time you're out. You'll find yourself looking forward to that "meditation" time. I do hope that you are careful and aware of your surroundings when you're out! I carry a small can of mace on my handlebars. I haven't had to use it, but I don't want to run up against an "unfriendly" dog or anything.

Hopeful 1, best of luck to you on your ins. approval! I remember that wait! But it was certainly worth it! You overcame your zero to become a teacher! Wow, now that's something to be very proud of!

[Guest lucky]

Marie

thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I walk on the Junior High School track and I take my black lab with me. Ya know it really does make my entire day go better. The only problem with taking my dog Raygun is that she is solid black and it is dark so I can't see her. I have to call her to me so I can hear her.

Anyway again thanks.

Pam

[Guest lucky]

Hey hopeful 1.

I wish you luck on your approval keep us posted.

My daughter is thinking about taking a job in Colorado. She would live in Denver or the suburbs there of. What is the cost of living like up there. What would you pay for a two bedroom house or apartment for instance.

Again good luck on your banding. I certainly have no regrets

pam

[New Hope 37]

Pam, glad you take your puppy. I know she enjoys it too! They're great motivators. Have you thought about getting a reflective collar and/or lighted tag for her? Love her name!

[hopeful1 1]

Hi Lucky,

Colorado is a wonderful place to live but I think it's fairly expensive for housing. My two daughters live just outside Denver, one in Westminster and one near Aurora and both pay about $850-$900 a month for a two bedroom, two bath apartment. There are a lot of apartments for rent and they got theirs for a discount.

What kind of a job is your daughter thinking of taking?

Thanks for the encouragement.

Denise

[New Hope 37]

The Aspen leaves glistened like golden coins and the magnificent Elk were everywhere. Everyday, we took 4 and 5 hour hikes up and down beautiful mountain trails, along cascading streams, through a gentle rain, then huge snowflakes. We shared our lunch with friendly Stellar Jays and chipmunks beside roaring waterfalls. Gazing down from a 10,500 ft. mountaintop, I cried because I was so thankful for both of our renewed health. Just a few short months ago, I would have never even considered such a vacation. I want to get out there and "catch up" on everything I let pass me by for so many years.

This band is helping us lose weight, but more importantly, it's giving us our lives back!

I wish happiness, health, and serenity to all my "Bandster Family" here.

[Neicy 0]

Awesome accomplishment, Marie. You have every right to be proud of yourself. Thanks for your encouraging story.

[hopeful1 1]

Great post Marie,

That's really what it's like. I hope to be out there next year hiking too and feeling good about it. Who'd have thought that in only five months you'd be down 50 lbs. and life would be so different! I can't wait.

[New Hope 37]

Neicy, that's why I posted about this trip... to encourage other bandsters and let them know that their life is just going to get better and better.

Hopeful 1, I didn't have a clue what would happen to me after I got my band. I really assumed I'd fall flat on my face. To lose 50 pounds has not been hard at all. In fact, it's been so rewarding to see the NSVs uncovered. I never dreamed I'd fall in love with bicycling and go on beautiful treks. And to be capable of climbing any mountain trail that I wanted - all the way to the top and back down. Well, that has to be one of the most rewarding moments in my life.

I've learned that it takes more than just losing the weight. You have to also have some steady form of exercise to build up your endurance. Without the routine bicycling, I would not have had the lung capacity and the leg strength to hit those mountain trails. There were times I was huffing and puffing, but I did it!

Again, please let me encourage you to reach out there and attempt things that you might never have even contemplated. You and your family will be so pleasantly surprised. Best of luck to each of you!!!

[LisaMG 5]

Marie, I want to go bike riding with you now. You really do make it sound so easy and fun! Your neighborhood or mine?

You choked me up on that description of your last vacation, sounds wonderful even tho there was'nt a jaccuzi involved!

[New Hope 37]

O.K., Lisa G., you busted me! I have to admit we had a wonderful cabin w/ an indoor jacuuzi and fireplace. Didn't I say it was a perfect week? Enough said. LOL

[LisaMG 5]

Oh, I remember now Marie. Sorry I had forgoten about the jaccuzi in your story.

[New Hope 37]

Nancy (Clara Luz) described it perfectly in another post..."I wasn't lazy, just tired all the time." It's amazing what dropping weight can do for us - physically and emotionally! Don't we live in an amazing time when we have this band available to us!

[adoorme9 0]

marie,

that was wild!!........ i have been wanting to bike ride for the longest time .. and but, not to sure because of the band so now ,not this year. next yr. in, 2005, i'll set my goal and be out there..... your warm and caring spirit and excitement ,comes out as you speak. that was great to do that, and loved every minute of it.

when was the last time you got on a bike?. for me ,ummm :ermm had to really think on that one myself .i was 19. still remmber and still loved it.

hearing, that some of you guys like to bike ride too, is so encourageing to me i can hardly wait!! to go ride.

thank you, for you other reply, i wanted to reply sooner but, had family over and they wanted to walk with me and go every where i go to walk, it was fun. they have been so helpful these couple of days ..

and, i'm so glad that there are so many things to still look forward too...even if we've been there , done that.. now, is so new and now, is so exciting .

i'm so happy for you, you've made my day.

thanks... marie

--------------------------------------------------------------

margie,

295/259/-39

getting lost in PA.

clear your mind and your body follows