I feel like I'm six again

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Not a size 6. Age 6. Took a walk on my lunch break today. It's cool and damp in Chicagoland right now. I walked to the 7-Eleven and bought myself a turkey sandwich. I decided to walk around a few blocks, and get some exercise and see the results on my Fitbit.

As I walked around the neighborhood, it dawned on me how much I was enjoying it. Even though I have only lost a third of the weight that I need to lose, the difference in how I feel is incredible. I am not out of breath, and my joints don't hurt until the end of the day. Before banding, I couldn't walk half a block without getting winded and having terrible back and knee pain.

As I walked outdoors today, I remembered something my father once told me many years ago when I was a teenager. He told me that I was always an active child. He attributed that to the fact that when I was age 6, I had an operation on my knee. I remember that year well. After the knee operation, my leg was in a cast for an entire summer. I also was off of school for several weeks. My father told me that once I was back on my feet, they could not keep me sitting still. I walked and ran everywhere!

When this memory came back to me today, it made me realize that I have that same feeling right now. Carrying 61 pounds of extra weight on my body prevented me from moving like a normal person. I was so sedentary, for so many years, that this newfound energy and ability is astounding to me.

When I first started exercising the day after my banding, I hated every minute of it. Now I realize that part of the reason was that I was doing it in a basement on a treadmill in the winter. I was also still carrying a lot of weight, which made it painful, and tiring. With every pound I lose now, it gets easier. I am not huffing and puffing when I walk anymore. My knees do not hurt me until the end of the day when my arthritis finally raises its head. My back has not hurt me in weeks.

I feel like that six year old kid who got her legs back. Remember the scene in Forrest Gump, when he kicks off the braces? And then he can't stop running!

[StephanieRR 131]

Very Inspiring!! I myself have discovered new energy I could never have imagined!! Enjoy!!

[betty_s 476]

oooooh i lovedddd walking around chicago, even at 300 lbs, it was enjoyable, albeit difficult, to walk around that gorgeous city!

congrats on your loss!! keep it up!

[BigGirlPanties 957]

LOVE this story...ahhh my Chicago, how I miss thee...

congrats, you are doing so well!!!

[Bandista 7,466]

I'm glad to be able to walk outdoors now, too, and to explore -- we had some rain so today was a basement workout day. Kind of dark down there so before the snow flies next winter I'm going to get some better lighting down there. Oh dear, sorry to mention the S word. Have fun tromping around your city!

[Recycled 2,182]

I hated running and never ran when I was overweight. Lately after dumping close to 80 lbs, I decided to try running again on the treadmill at the gym. Within a couple of minutes.......(pause of antisipation)....I stopped and went back to walking. Turns out, I still hate running.

But your story is great......keep up the great progress........and the running.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Recycled

[rose2014 81]

Congrats, you are doing great! Enjoy Chicago scenery. Last time I was there was 31 pounds ago :-). Can't wait to go back and experience it lighter. Keep up the great job!

[enjoythetime 1,457]

This is awesome Justwatchme! I'm gonna justwatchyou take over...watch out here comes the awesomeness!

[terrydumont46 1,954]

with 2 bad knees, that are just waiting until I lose some more wt. but will need replacing I shouldn't even be thinking about running. but I am. I want to run. where that idea came from, I have no idea. so I am going to try it out on the treadmill first. I want to ride a bike too! would never had even consider any of this if I was still 296. I would had been huffing and puffing just thinking about it a year ago. lol