POLL: Ok now you're at goal/maintenance....now what?

 Ooh, I forgot about white water rafting - I really want to do that again.  Used to do it a lot when I was in college.  I still have my river shoes!  I am gonna start researching a trip for the spring!

I used to go rafting with a group of people, so we all had our equipment. Unfortunately, the group dynamics changed and became weird, so I ended up dropping it. But, I can start it again, only it will have to be commercial trips and not the private boating that I used to do.

Hey Godwit Days - thats my backyard! Stop in to Arcata Artisans Gallery on the square in Arcata. You might see me.  Diane

I'm slowly getting back into ballroom dancing, regular dancing, rollerblading, and yoga.

 
One of my best friends..... The one that "called me out" on my weight and pushed me over the edge to make the phone call to LapSF/Cirangle.

He rides a 2seat promotional motorcycle for Marlboro/Ducati and gives rides to the press and celebrities. His motivation for me the last couple of years has been to get me a ride on that bike at any track in the world that he rides it. You gotta be less than 200lbs. and pass a physical. Yah gotta be able to fit in the leather suit !!!

This is a full race 990cc MotoGP race bike, Motorcycles equivalent to Formula 1, about a 2 million dollar machine. Top Speed well over 200mph at a track big enough.

This could be my year for a ride on this machine!

frisco

     

omg what a bike. all i can say is when you do this you better post some pics and also have some life insurance! Go for it! Diane

well update - we rebuilt that raku kiln today. took down all the brick and hauled in new brick and rebuilt it, fixed all the kao wool insulation, got a new burner put in and cleaned out loads of broken brick as well as debris created by 32 artists in one studio. And I stood inside the thing on the soft brick floor to repair the ceiling of it. Now firebrick is very soft and brittle so you don't stand on it if you weigh 250 lbs as it will crumble. but skinny me was the lightest of the three of us so i did those repair honors. Two years ago no way could i have hauled brick, lifted all that stuff or stood on the firebrick or kept at it for several hours.  Then went and practiced my Aikibojitsu.

Tomorrow is the "maiden" firing of the rebuilt kiln. Feels so darn good to be at normal weight. And afterwards i went to get groceries and did other art and made dinner and such, things i would have been too wasted to do two years ago. And nothing hurts either. Diane

Wow, Diane,
what a feeling of accomplishment!!
You are an inspiration.
I have been pretty down-in the dumps, since my hubby died suddenly in August, so motivation to do things has been a big factor for me.
I want to be active, and I am more active than before VSG, but my soul deep reason for losing weight was to get into better shape so that my husband and I could enjoy our retirement together.
We had been talking about that very thing when we traveled to Michigan together so that I could have the surgery a year ago next week. 
I had lost a little over half my weight when he suddenly had a stroke and died within that week.

I have plans to ski again, as we had just bought new skis and parkas, and ski boots, but had not gone skiing for a couple of years.  He had broken his leg in a motorcyle accident, and we had not gone skiing since that accident.
I also got on a bicycle and took a ride yesterday for the first time in many years.  It was enjoyable.
also felt it in my leg muscles.  Good strength building activity.

Hey, I don't mean to bring everybody down with this post, but it's where I am at right now with trying to get active again.  I'm trying hard to move forward, it's just so hard not to keep looking back all the time.
Please forgive me for being so morose.

CJC
So sorry you lost your husband. Must have been especially difficult because it was sudden and unexpected. REminds us all that life is short and precious and all the more reason to do things and enjoy the experience. You certainly need to be contemplative at this point as you are dealing with a lot and no need to run out and do all sorts of new things when you are missing your partner. After some time you may feel more like venturing forth and you will know when its right for you. Meanwhile, enjoy the posts of others and take comfort in the memory of your dear husband. I suspect he would want you to enjoy life and eventually do the skiing. best wishes. Diane

Isn't it great to be active again....and have so much energy!  It is like I want to do stuff.....just cause I CAN!  I did some martial arts as a kid ( requirement for all us Asian dudes!)  and every kid wants to be Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, or Jet Li  at some point!  .