You know what I really like about being here with you guys?

Well, a lot, actually. But what I really like the most is that I get to just be me, not the *in charge* person all the time, not *on duty* all the time, and I actually get to talk to you guys about stuff that's really important to me, and it helps me to feel like the whole me is engaged here, just as *one of the guys*. I can't tell you how nice that is! I work with support groups all over NC, and I love doing it, and I love sharing info with people and I hope that it is helpful, and I hope I am able to do it for a long time to come! But here, I can just let down my hair (well it's short now so that's easy! ). In the WLS world, I am done with the weight loss, I have been maintaining for a long time, there isn't a lot I need to learn about the surgery or myself having it anymore. I do find discussions interesting, but I'm not the one needing it in order to get my health back. But I do have this bodybuilding and lifting weights and that goes on and on and this place gives me a place where I can share that with other folks who've also been walking a mile in my shoes, and are choosing weightlifting/bodybuilding as a part of lifestyle or getting healthy, etc. So I am still on this part of my journey now, and I really am grateful to have folks like you *****ally understand and that we can share in the joys and struggles together, and it's really a struggle but a good one! Nobody else understands where I've come from and where I am now, and what all that can mean emotionally and physically, to struggle through tremendous adversity with illness against tremendous odds, and to now be standing here! Wow! And it's still a struggle and it's still difficult some days and I still stumble sometimes and I still make progress, but I know that there are some people in this forum that understand that, both physically and emotionally, and can relate to it in some ways unlike many of the guys I train with/around at the gym. Thank you thank you for being here and sharing this part of our journeys together! It means a lot to me! Hugs, Donna E.

Aww that's sweet! I feel the same way. This has been a great board...even when it was just kinda me and Earl posting to each other! LOL Mikee and Kevin got us going, and we have been here ever since. It has really been growing like crazy and that is EXCITING!!! But you are right. Those of us who choose to weight train/body build I guess are somewhat of a different breed. I will tell you there can't be a more encouraging place to come for beginners. Getting people into it is great fun. But for those of us who do it, we understand the ups and downs, the diets and the injuries, and the dedication. Take tonight for instance. Today is a slug day. I am learning not to feel guilty about it, but I have been up since 5 am and had only about 5 hours sleep. My body doesn't like 5 am. But I know that I would not have gotten a productive workout tonight. If at all. So it got bumped to tomorrow night. Not to mention my back and ankle are still angry at me for dancing in heels all saturday...oh but GOD it was worth it! I love the fact that I can come here, and dump that and you guys understand. How cool is that? You are right Donna, we can all just be who we are here, no judgements, only encouragements. I love that about the weightlifting community. We can respect each other because we know what kind of hard work it is! I have to have my forum fix everyday! Glad you came by and joined us!! Hugs, Val

Slug day for me too Val. As was yesterday. Just taking it one day at a time now. I'm finding more of us out there but just don't know about these forms. I think its even harder to find the pre-op'ers that like to bodybuild and do resistance training already or have done so in the past. I met another pre-op the last couple days who also bodybuilds and lifts insane amts of weights. She is very strong and use to be a Jr. Olympic champion. For once I realized that the added testostrone with the PCOS might actually have one benefit.. haha!! She has PCOS. I suspect I have had it for a while but never got diagnosed. Will check into it more after surgery if its still an issue. Anyway her name is Tammy, from PA, and she is a mom of 7!! Hopefully she will pop up here sooner or later. We were chatting on AIM tonight and I'm sure she will fit right in. Also met a former bodybuilder named Ronnie who is having his surgery next week and paying out of pocket. It took him three years with insurance! He decided to go the self pay route and took out a loan. Incredible stories and incredible people. The overwhelming support and friendship I have had just from OH has been so good. I've learned so much!! I must get at least 4 or 5 emails a day lately from just people sharing info and networking in all stages of this journey. I have a lunch date next Tuesday with another OHer and another date with three other ladies in my area all pre-op that use OH. I love this place!!!!!

Ok, now I'm thinking about the PCOS-weightlifting thing more seriously because I have it too! I was drawn to weightlifting in my early twenties, and I put on muscle easily, *and* I loved the way it felt to do it! My youngest sister has it, too, and during junior high/high school, she was a champion in javelin in Jr Olympics, and she and I have always muscled up very easily, esp upper body, though pretty much anywhere nowadays. I was really into the weightlifting in my early twenties, and actually did one competition as a bodybuilder, though of course didn't place but it was a fun experience! In the gym, I pump up really fast after I start my workout, and I love to look at the muscles rippling where I'm working out that day! I like the feeling of strength and I like pushing hard into it till the failure hits, and it's positively exhiliarating! I get such a rush from it!! With cardio, I like pushing so hard that breathing is pushed, and I get sweaty and red, and long enough that I get that *runner's high*. I like getting to that point, and I feel like a winner crossing the finish line! I like seeing all the veins in my neck and arms and even across my chest and through my legs get pumped up as I push the cardio and everything feels tight by the time I step down! And then the tremendous relaxation that I feel after I'm done, cool down, and wind down from it is the best! I have so few people that I know that can relate to my love of weightlifting, and many of my friends think that women shouldn't love it like I do, but they also say, "Oh yeah, that's why you look so good in clothes!" when they find out that I am a bodybuilder/weightlifter. But they can't imagine why a woman would *want* to be in the gym doing that stuff. And I am the only woman at my gym who trains like I do. The rest are guys, muscle dudes, and also some average guys, lots of bodybuilders, but all men. Just aren't women around much that really love lifting weights, even if they can visibly see the benefits on my body. The stereotypes of weightlifting are hard to get past, even in this day and age when it is acknowledged among the entire medical community that resistance training is critical to the health of all people, not just cardio. It's important for a ton of things that range from maintaining bone density with aging, to supporting metabolism and more!. I don't know whose idea it was to develop forums that were not strickly WLS here to share common interests among WLSers, but it was very clever indeed! With kindest regards, Donna E.

I love this board too. It has really helped me stay motivated. Thanks to all you you for posting!

I am so glad you found a place to relax, share, and feel at ease, It is a little oasis of positive energy in our day. thanks for sharing. Mike