For those sleeved, what have been big physical goals you have accomplished?

[ShadowCruiser]

For those that are farther along the journey, what physical goals have you accomplished? Completed a race? One of those mud obstacle races? Biking? Etc? I would love to hear about your goals.

Before deciding to go ahead with my sleeve, I signed up for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon. I have complete a few 5Ks but more of a walk-walk-jog-walk thing. I'm turning 40 in January at it was a goal to finish a half just after my birthday.The Disney race is in February. I'm following the Jeff Galloway program of a walk-jog, so this is right up my alley. Not that I am selling myself short by saying I'll never run a 8 or 10 min mile, but want to be realistic: I just want to finish within 3 hours! If all goes accordingly, I'll finish the conditioning program and start the first 3 weeks of the half training prior to surgery, take four weeks off, and then start training again down to the week of the race!

Love to hear about your goals---and successes! Post your bling if you can!

[niamh]

I wanted to go snow ski-ing again. I hadn't done that since 2007, as I found it too physically uncomfortable that last time. So I went skiing for my birthday this year and loved it. Was also the first time my husband skied and we had a great time together.

I did a 5k charity event in December last year, about 2.5 months post-op. I was still quite overweight and not up to running so I walked it. But I finished it, in an hour.

I did another charity 5k event in June, having done some training, and only a few kilos over goal. Couldn't run the whole thing, but, ran 2/3 of every km, and walked the other third. Did it in about 44 minutes, so good improvement from the December time.

I have been doing regular running training and last weekend did 5k without stopping. Slowly, but finished in 39:37. I am signed up for another 5k charity run (twilight event - run in the evening) in October.

I am also signed up for a very short-course triathlon in September (400m swim, 8.5km cycle, 2.5km run), and am training for that at the moment. So mixing up the running, cycling and swimming training.

And finally, I've taken up netball again for the first time in more than 15 years. I used to play and coach up to my late 20s but gave it up when I got depressed (and first got overweight). Really enjoying the social aspect of playing a team sport again.

So yes - LOTS of physical goals set and achieved. The thing I'm loving is that although I'm glad that this helps me be fitter and healthier, mostly I'm doing this because I enjoy the challenge and enjoy being physically active. I had missed that so much for all those years. Yay!

[ShadowCruiser]

I wanted to go snow ski-ing again. I hadn't done that since 2007, as I found it too physically uncomfortable that last time. So I went skiing for my birthday this year and loved it. Was also the first time my husband skied and we had a great time together.

Where do you like to ski?

Thanks for sharing! I am encouraged with removing what has kept me from alot of my goals/dreams--my weight.

[niamh]

I live in the UK, so continental Europe is close by. Have mostly skied in France, but also in Austria. Actually I learned to ski in Australia as a teenager (I'm and Aussie living in the UK for last 11 years), but the slopes are much better in Europe. Australia's an old continent so the mountains aren't very high.

[healthyandstrong]

I am just shy of 16 weeks post-op and 50 pounds down since surgery. I completed at sprint triathlon on July 13th at 13 weeks post op. I beat last year's time by ten minutes and the swim for this race was twice as long as the my first sprint triathlon that I completed last year 8 months post knee replacement.

Two of my sisters were inspired by my race this year and are commiting to do their first triathlon next year, (as I do it again next year). I am only allowed to complete one triathlon a year per my orthopedic surgeon due to artificial knee.

In September I will be going to the Smokey Mountains with family and hope to get some hiking and kyaking in,something I dreaded before WLS. I hope to be able to fit into a couple of bathing suits I bought last year that I did not fit into at the time.

My next goal is to ride my rowbike, this takes strong abdominals, 29 miles to a local State Park by October. (I hope to be rocking a Wonder Woman costume for a Keys vacation planned for end of October.)

I plan on registering for my next triathlon by Black Friday, when they offer 50% registration fees.

[aroundhky]

Being a weight lifter in the past, I wanted to get back to my "pre-sleeve strength" but at my new lower body weight. Because just about everyone knows it's easier to move heavy weight and be strong when taking in a lot of calories. But getting that same strength on limited calories......quite a challenge for me. I had to work my a$$ off in the process and nearly threw up several times, but I did accomplish this physical or fitness goal I set for myself. I did it in about 6-7 months after surgery. In addition to eventually getting back to all of my recent pre-sleeve max lifts, I also greatly increased my body weight lifts such as dips and pullups. Those muscles are about as strong, or stronger now, as they were right before I got my sleeve, but those muscles are having to lift a lot less of my body weight. So I can do many more reps on body weight lifts than before......which is an added bonus.
Example:
Pullups.......pre-sleeve I could do 3, maybe 4 on a good day. Now on a good day I can do around 14-16.
Dips......pre-sleeve I could do 6-8. Now I'm doing 16-20 reps per set.

I can't complain any about where I am physically or fitness-wise now, which was one of my main concerns before the surgery in deciding whether or not to be sleeved. So I'm here to say that with enough work/effort, proper nutrition and maybe some good genetics......it CAN be done. So if your goal is running, lifting/strength, walking, biking, sex, whatever, hang in there and work hard......you'll be glad you did!

[LizzieSydney]

I didn't have any real specific goals, but I jogged a 10 minute mile with no walking and shocked myself. Now I run 3 miles at a time without a thought and a couple times I did 4 mile jogs without walking a single step!

[compact]

I tried scuba diving before my weight loss and am looking forward to doing it again at a smaller size. In the meantime my partner and I went snorkelling with humpback whales in the open ocean near Tonga. getting in and out of the boat, even putting my fins on, everything is so much more do-able now. I am looking forward to kayaking in Tonga next year to develop more strength and happiness.

Great thread -- let's keep the inspiration flowing.

Nel

[MeganES]

Congrats on what you've accomplished thus far!! Only good things to come, for sure. I'm looking forward to this thread because I have a feeling it will be quite inspirational! I'm not sleeved yet but hope to run a half marathon by one year after surgery. Ahhh!

[redfawx09]

My goal is to do a Spartan Mud Run and not die=-)

[christine53]

Just did a color run! It was amazing and never in my dreams through I could do that and it was mostly up hill!color race 021.JPG

[aroundhky]

Just did a color run! It was amazing and never in my dreams through I could do that and it was mostly up hill!color race 021.JPG

That's awesome and looks like great fun!

[Babs4531]

I used to swim laps. I would do 25 to 30 laps without blinking an eye. Then the years went by and the weight piled on. I couldn't see myself in a bathing suit let alone do laps. Then I had the surgery. The weight started coming off and I became motivated.
As crazy as this sounds, I just can't get enough swimming in. My husband pulls me out of the lap pool when I go over my hour. I am up to 50 laps now. This is in a 25 meter lap pool. I had to go home and do the conversion on the computer. I was surprised to learn that I am currently doing just over 3/4 of a mile. All backstroke... My new goal is to hit 1 mile. I know I can do it. My husband just has to leave me in the pool long enough to get it done.
Swimming is the full body workout and I can't get enough. I have lost 50 pounds in 3 months and I am down 4 sizes. No one will be stopping me now...

[sunsetwaves]

Babs4531, that's amazing. I used to be a lifeguard and loved swimming. Like you in the past, I have refrained from swimming much after the weight gain. I was embarrassed of my body and hate the way people stare. I am currently 244 pounds and 5 ft 2 in. I can't wait to swim again comfortably like you are now. By the way, how long after your sleeve surgery did you get back in the pool and start swimming lightly again?

[christine53]

Several 5ks, pics in my before and after I actually finished and didn't have to be carried across, they told me that didn't count