My biggest challenge since being banded

I had my Realize Band placed in June of 2009 and spent that year completely focused on weight loss.

In 2010 we vacationed in Montreal for a week.  We did not rent a car, just walked 8-12 miles a day sightseeing.

In 2011, we trained for and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon ... And back up again.

In 2012 we travelled to Germany, Austria and Switzerland where we walked miles each day and hiked the North Face of the Eiger.

Next weekend, we head out to Spain where we will walk/hike 200km (125  miles) of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in 9 days.  I am excited, scared, and grateful.

i am so grateful for the health my band has helped me achieve.  I am grateful for a spouse who pushes me to do the things I want to do and is right beside me on all of these adventures.

i am grateful for my surgeon (who gave me some huber needles for my backpack in case of emergency ... And told me to call hiss cell at any time if I have problems).

i KNOW the band is not for everyone and my heart hurts for everyone who has had problems related to it ... But mine has given me a new lease on life ... And I am grateful.

I'm very glad that you're doing well, Kath. 

I've been to the Swiss Alps and have seen the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau ... so beautiful! It's quite a hike, too. (I still have my sweatshirt that I bought at one of the giftshops. The Toblerone is long gone.)  

Wishing you the best on your Spanish excursion.  125 miles of walking in 9 days... that's intimidating.. but I'll bet you can do it! 

Safe travels to you. 

Kath,

I am so glad to read such a positive experience.  I just got my band at the end of July and had made first fill a little over a week ago and feel nothing from it.  I go back Sept. 17 for my second fill.  I too have a Realize Band.  I am really looking forward getting some support from my band soon.

Congrats to you as it sounds like you are doing GREAT!

Sheila

Have a fantastic time. I have just returned from Austria and had a wonderful time. A close friend did the same Spanish walk as you last year and loved it.

But I love this thread so here is my version! NONE of these things would have happened without my band!

went by 4X4 and on foot, trekking in the Namibian desert, the Kalahari, pitching my own tent, many miles from all habitation or  any other people apart from the local villagers and the four people we were travelling with.

camping in virgin rainforest in tree hammocks (again, just us and this time only our guide with us) in Malaya

quad biking on 1000 foot high sand dunes, doing wheelies!

first ever abseil (think you call it something else - jumping backwards down a very steep cliff holding on to a rope)

large chunks of one of the NZ Great Walks

hiking in Maine, 

backpacking in Vietnam, Malaya, Borneo, Thailand

performing on stage

5k runs

Canoeing

riding a camel.

and so much more!

Kate, this is completely off topic, but how do you get up onto the camel's back? With a step ladder? Or do you just take a running jump?

They obliging kneel down and you put your leg over! The uncomfortable bit is getting off as they kneel down front legs first and you feel you are going to slide over their head! It's a very uncomfortable motion as well. Bt the worst is going trekking on an elephant. We did it in a bit of an out of the way place and there was a sort of plank laid across from a bank to get on. I required help! And it is terrifying when they go downhill. We went down across a stream and our elephant picked her way quite delicately but every step down was a sort of jolt and sliding off an elephant would be quite a slide!! The mahouts slide down the trunks which looked fun but NOT for me! 

I don't know if I could handle all that!

When I was in Bangkok a long time ago, a Thai business associate suggested that I have a ride on an elephant. I was 113 pounds heavier then than I am now and no way was I going to get hoisted up onto an elephant! Not sure if I'd dare do it today, either.

I give you a lot of credit just for trying things like that in your travels.

Congratulations on your success...and on your wonderful adventures!

Congratulations on your success!  You sure have an active life.

HAPPY FOR YOU! I have gotten so much more active too. Even went to Everest Base camp....where I was evacuated because I could not keep enough food in to account for the burning up of calories on the trail, Machu pIcchu is next august and I am going to be unbanded by then. I eat no grains or sugars anymore but now cannot get enough good food in to be healthy. And I aspirate all night several nights a week.