Doing great - just checking in after surgery 5 months ago!

Hey all! How is everyone feeling these days? It has been a long time since I've been on the boards. I have lost a total of 93 lbs so far (including the weight I lost before surgery). I had surgery 12-5-06 at Westchester Medical Center - Dr Kaul - and have been doing great. Sure there have been bumps in the road but nothing serious. I am actually training for a marathon! Yes, me, who could barely walk, me who had 3 back surgeries and sever arthritis in her feet! Ye, on June 11th, I will be running/walking a full 26.2 marathon in Kona, Hawaii for the American Stroke Association. I just ran 20 miles yesterday! It's been amazing over these past 5 months to build up my endurance and walk/run farther & farther. I only just started running (jogging actually) a few months ago for the first time in my life! There is NO WAY I wou;d've ever thought to do anything like this if I didn't have WLS. This is a way to exercise, be motivated, challenge myself, lose skin and CELEBRATE this new life I have. I also started a support group in my area (Southern Dutchess County, NY) if anyone is interested in attending, please contact me for more info. I'm also going to try to get on the boards more often. If anyone would like to chat, please email me. Blessings to all~ Lisa

You go girl! I'm doing lots of walking but nothing like you are! I'me up to about 5 miles at a time for a long walk. Mainly I walk during my lunch hour though so can only go so far and get my stretching in before I have to go back to work. Do you find that all that exercise makes you hungry or empty feeling? Just wondering! Diona

Hey Diona: Sorry it took me so long to write back. Yes, the exercise makes me hungry for sure! Ravished sometimes! But, first of all, I am exercising so much that I HAVE TO eat more, #2 - I try to eat things that are complex carbs, not simple carbs, # 3 - I drink LOTS of water which fills me up. One of the things that I was concerned about in doing this training was the fact that I was going to have to eat alot of carbs. I was kind of freaking about that. but I spoke with my dietician and she assured me that I am working out so much that I am burning them right back off. And I feel that this is true. Once this intensive training and marathon is over, I will be adjsuting me eating and then I will let you know how it goes. I don't think it's going to be a problem, however. I am really into working out. Five miles at a time is AWESOME! I will keep on walking/jogging after the marathon. Before my surgery, I was swimming one hour 4-5 days per week. Now, I take a yoga class once a week, I walk, I do nautilus. As much as I love swimming, I like the variety. Do you do any other type of exercise?

Lisa, WOW--congrats on your success! It's stories like yours that keep me focused on what's actually achievable with WLS. Congrats--your hard work is really paying off... Question for you: how did you go about training for the marathon? I would like to run the Marine Corps marathon someday, and I don't even know how to begin training for this. I would appreciate your sharing how you've worked up to 20 miles at a time so far--that's amazing to me! Good luck, Cantweightanymore

Hi There! First of all, thanks for the congrats. And I read your profile and I send a huge CONGRATS to you for all of your weight loss! I believe that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! And I truly mean that. Let me give you some background: I have overcome a severe back injury and 3 major back surgeries that damn near took my life. The doctors held out little to no hope for any quality of life. I was drowning in a pit of excruciating pain, loneliness, depression, etc. There were times that I wanted to give up but I didn't. There were times that I believed things were going to get better and had hope for the future. There were times that I didn't "feel" anything at all - just numb all over. But I had this thing going through my mind that I had heard, "With God, the only way to fail is to quit. And quitters never win and winners never quit". I actually hit bottom emotionally when I was ready to ca**** all in and give up on life, but man I had this awesome lifechanging experience. Since that time, I have had this FAITH and a fighter's mentality. I will not give up!!! So, I went into the pool and started swimming. I couldn't do much. At first, it took all I could do just to get undressed and put a bathing suit on (which was painful in itself wearing one in front of people, not to mention physically painful!) I swam two days per week for a half hour. I put on one of those aqua jogger belts and moved around. Then I started using the Delta Bells and did some arms and abs exercises in the pool. I eventually worked my way up to swimming for one hour 4-5 days per week - doing both laps and aqua aerobics. I was getting into great shape. i was fat but very fit by the time I decided to have WLS. Right after WLS, which was 12/5/05, I made the decision to bump up my workout and was going to hire a personal trainer. Within two weeks of my WLS, I received a post card in the mail from the American Stroke Association (ASA) about their Train To End Stroke program (TTES). It caught my eye because it said "Free Personal Training". Basically, it said that if I would raise funds for the ASA and agree to walk/run a marathon, they would provide the training. They went on to say that most people who do the TTES marathon are walkers and people who have never walked/run a marathon. So, I said, "Let's try it. What's the worst that can happen? Even if I can't do the actual marathon, I'll get free personal training and get into the best shape of my life!" Well, let me tell you! I HAVE gotten into the BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE for sure. I've lost alot of weight and gained a lot of muscle. I'm in size 10s for the first time in my life. I am tone; I am fit. I am so healthy. I have gotten so much more out of this training! I have learned so much about myself. I have pushed myself beyond what I thought I could ever do. I've learned that I can do ANYTHING. I've learned that I can go the extra mile - even when I feel that I can't, I can do it! I have gained a greater appreciation for God's wonderful creation/nature as most of my walks/runs are outside. I started training over the winter at the end of January. So, when the Spring arrived, it was so incredible to watch the trees and flowers bud and see all the signs of new life appear. This marathon experience is so indicative of LIFE in so many ways. I think I'm actually going to write a book about my experience because I have been so changed. As far as the actual training for the marathon, you work your way up to the high miles. We have a great coach and wonderful mentors who are awesome role models. I highly recommend the book, THe Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer by David A. Whitsett, Forrest A. Dolgener, and Tanjala Mabon Kole. We used a training schedule very similar to the one that they used. If you ever have any questions, PLEASE FEEL FREE to email me at [email protected]. Get the book - it is awesome. Sorry that I gave you so much more info than you asked for. It's just that this has been so great and I am so excited about how this has changed my life. And the marathon hasn't even happened yet! But it is less than 2 weeks away now! June 11th here I come!!! WooHoo!!!

Thanks, Lisa M, for the info. And your story is truly inspiring. Just what I needed today. I will get the book and see what's next.... Best of luck to you on June 11th--I'll be sending good thoughts your way!