Shortly after my Lap Band surgery in 2012 rang in a new year. So of course caught up in the moment I made a sudden proclamation to one of my co-workers (and close friend) that I was going to participate in twelve 5ks in 2012. Mind you I said "participate".
So January 1 2012, just 3 weeks after my Lap Band surgery I walked (and ran maybe 2 yards) the first 5k. January 1, 2013 I ran/walked the thirteenth 5k. Now what?
I had some amazing friends who were with me at the start and the end of that year. My hubby even did all of the 5ks with me. But after that last 5k my motivation fizzled. I had set my goal and accomplished it. I needed to find a new one.
So we tried P90X, then murphy struck with months of sickness in the house and an insane work schedule. If that sounds like a veiled excuse for not continuing exercise well, your right it is. At one point I almost got my motivation back, then murphy again. This time gallbladder surgery. Nothing like the fact you cant work out putting thing in perspective.
So in the meanwhile I have been following a few pages on Facebook and even seeing some friends make so pretty significant transformations. It started to feed the motivation. There are a few pages in particular that caught my attention and have been the fuel to my new found motivation. I want to share brief insights on them. Because their are a few I kept my overviews of them pretty short but if you want to read further on their stories I provided their web and Facebook pages, with the exception of Kelly and Cat.
Kelly and Cat are a mother and daughter team who decided to turn over a new leaf and following a healthy diet and exercise regiment. When this photo was taken they has lost a combined weight of 120 pounds
While researching how common gallbladder surgery was with Lap Band patients I found this woman. Ok I googled the information and she was one of the top websites listed. She has great blog and Facebook page where she is very candid about her lifestyle since being banded in October of 2009 She has lost at least 120 pounds .
Amazing right? I had to look twice when reading her page. She had the Lap Band as well. I didn't know it was possible to have six pack abs with a band, obviously this woman shows you can. Just the amount of dedication she has is invigorating. Who wouldn't be motived?
I first saw Drew's story on the CNN web page last years. He is a fitness trainer and until 2011 had never been unhealthy or overweight. He never could "relate" to his clients that actually struggled with their weight and health, so he decided to find out first hand. He had unrestricted diet full of high fat foods and no exercise for six months then he followed his own fitness program to regain his physique. Publicity gimmick? I am sure of it, but it worked he can relate to his clients now.
Andrea is amazing I wish I could post more of her pictures and videos. She is such a bundle of energy. In 14 months she has lost 180+ pounds and ran her first 10k just a few days ago. She is candid and refreshing on her updates. She did NOT have weight loss surgery. I really can not express the amount of admiration I have for this woman.
I came across Jeremy when he promoted on one of the fitness threads I follow on Facebook. He had an amazing transformation by losing 110 pounds of fat and found a new addiction: body building. He now is a fitness trainer helping clients reach their goals in a new "lifestyle"
Now I noticed all of these remarkable people have something else in common, they not only have web pages but they created a page on Facebook. With the exception of Drew I contacted every one of them and asked their permission to post their stories. All of them had extremely positive responses to my requests.
I have thought about creating a page on Facebook when I lost all the weight I wanted to lose. Really? That was my train of thought? Put a page out there "after" the struggles? I have rethought this and realized that maybe being vulnerable is one of things that will keep me motived. I guess it goes along the lines of "Really you don't think I can do this? Watch me".
I know I could have been a lot more successful in the past 18 months. Sixty pounds is still not bad but I know I have a lot longer to go to get where I am truly healthy. I have built my confidence over the last year or so just posting my blog to my friends. Now it is time to expand the network (hopefully).
Here's new the next chapter in my new health lifestyle.
