Remember when I wrote this entry back in May? I was totally convinced that there was no way I would be able to do the 3-Day, just 4 months out from surgery.
Boy, was I wrong.
The walk started on Friday, which happened to be my 4 month anniversary. I'm 55 pounds down but I was still worried, because you know, I'm not skinny yet. I'm still packing on quite a few extra pounds; maybe I hadn't lost enough yet. But I had started training with a group back in August, led by a highly energetic woman names Roxanne. She kicked our butts into walking faster than I usually do, farther than I usually do, more often than I usually do. The training walks were usually attended by the same people and eventually we became this giant team, 71 members strong. And what I forgot was that I was in pretty good shape even before the surgery, so all this training was probably going to make things easier for me.
What was awesome about the gigantic team was that we were all able to find someone that walked at our pace and keep us company through the 3 days of endless walking. My partner was Nancy, and she's the one who took this picture. She took it on the top of the Torrey Pines Reserve service road, a long and windy and steep hill that we had to walk on the first day. The last time I did the walk, I had to stop 3 or 4 times on my way up it.
This weekend, I didn't stop even once. I even passed people on the way up! When I got to the top, I told Nancy that I was having A MOMENT, and she said I needed to take a picture of me, at the top, with people behind me. And you know, that was only the first big hill; we had one on Day 2 and on Day 3. And guess what? I walked straight up those too. In fact, I walked every single one of those miles, with no major injuries and no blisters. It was a goddamned miracle.
This was huge for me, on a number of levels. First, it was huge because I know that I never would have been able to do this 55 pounds ago. I think I need to send this picture to Dr. Mueller with a note that says "Thanks for making this possible for me." Second, I did this while I was still a fat girl. On Sunday night, I was in better shape than a lot of thinner people on that walk. I was limping less and I was blisterless and I was just plain in better shape. And I think it's so important to point that out, because having this surgery has not changed my mind about health at any size being possible. If I, at 242 pounds, can train successfully for an event like this and get through it with nothing more than the standard pain that comes with an endurance event like this, then anyone can.
And they should. Because man, the view from the top is amazing.
Boy, was I wrong.
The walk started on Friday, which happened to be my 4 month anniversary. I'm 55 pounds down but I was still worried, because you know, I'm not skinny yet. I'm still packing on quite a few extra pounds; maybe I hadn't lost enough yet. But I had started training with a group back in August, led by a highly energetic woman names Roxanne. She kicked our butts into walking faster than I usually do, farther than I usually do, more often than I usually do. The training walks were usually attended by the same people and eventually we became this giant team, 71 members strong. And what I forgot was that I was in pretty good shape even before the surgery, so all this training was probably going to make things easier for me.
What was awesome about the gigantic team was that we were all able to find someone that walked at our pace and keep us company through the 3 days of endless walking. My partner was Nancy, and she's the one who took this picture. She took it on the top of the Torrey Pines Reserve service road, a long and windy and steep hill that we had to walk on the first day. The last time I did the walk, I had to stop 3 or 4 times on my way up it.
This weekend, I didn't stop even once. I even passed people on the way up! When I got to the top, I told Nancy that I was having A MOMENT, and she said I needed to take a picture of me, at the top, with people behind me. And you know, that was only the first big hill; we had one on Day 2 and on Day 3. And guess what? I walked straight up those too. In fact, I walked every single one of those miles, with no major injuries and no blisters. It was a goddamned miracle.
This was huge for me, on a number of levels. First, it was huge because I know that I never would have been able to do this 55 pounds ago. I think I need to send this picture to Dr. Mueller with a note that says "Thanks for making this possible for me." Second, I did this while I was still a fat girl. On Sunday night, I was in better shape than a lot of thinner people on that walk. I was limping less and I was blisterless and I was just plain in better shape. And I think it's so important to point that out, because having this surgery has not changed my mind about health at any size being possible. If I, at 242 pounds, can train successfully for an event like this and get through it with nothing more than the standard pain that comes with an endurance event like this, then anyone can.
And they should. Because man, the view from the top is amazing.
8 Comments:
You rock so hard. These are NOT tears in my eyes. Shut up, it's dusty.
CONGRATULATIONS MELINDA - I'm so so proud of you!
That is so awesome! Congratulations!!
Yay. Good job. I did the 3-day in Chicago two years ago and it was a great experience. Training is the key. It was a once in a lifetime experience for me though, once was enough.
liz
I love reading your webpage! I think we had the surgery at the same time and I've lost the exact same amountn as you. We seem to be experiencing some of the same things. So much so, that sometimes when I ready your posts it feels like you somehow got in my head and put my thoughts into well-written words. This WLS is an amazing thing, isnt' it?
Congratulations on your 3-Day! What an accomplishment!
You? Are amazing. Thanks for inspiring me.
With all the cycling events I ride in, you'd think I'd have the courage to do the 3-day.
What an achievement... remember, there are skinny folks out there that just sat on their couch and did nothing. You might not be skinny yet, but you are well on your way!
Big, big congrats! You are doing amazingly well. And you look stunning!
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