Erean--we do not always move this fast. These past 2 days have been CRAZY. New year and all of that. We will mellow a bit. But only a bit.
Nancy--great news about your friend! I love a success story in any form! I am not opposed to surgery at all. Whatever is going to work for any given person...bring it!
Ok, RUNNER WANNA-BEs: This time last year I was one of you! Always wanted to BE a runner, though never thought I could. As my friend here will attest, I always hated running. My whole life. Hated it and could not do it. No matter how I tried, I could never even run a mile (and there have been many years where I was super fit...aerobics instructor, etc.), but even though I could teach 3 step classes back to back to back, I couldn't run even one mile. I just assumed I was one of those people who could never run.
Of course, then I had 3 kids in 3 years, gained weight, lost my conditioning, and got older. Good times.
And I found my way here this time last year. One year ago today, btw.
So, I hung out here for a few weeks, was working on my food, and getting my mind ready...really ready...to take off the weight. And so for my first month - 6 weeks here, I just focused on food and thought about an exercise plan. Didn't DO any exercise mind you, just read and thought about what might work for me.
I work from home, btw, and thus work full time and parent full time (no child care). So I was trying to figure out what would work for me and my crazy schedule. And even though I was comfortable in a gym from all of my years as an instructor, that schedule (trying to find time to go to classes) just didn't work for me anymore. I knew that I had to have something that I could do when I suddenly found myself with half an hour or an hour to spare.
So, running seemed like the only answer. I thought, "hey, all I need are a good pair of sneakers...and then if I find that 30 minutes, I can just head out the door. I don't need to waste time driving to the gym or anything..."
And after reading here, people were recommending the Couch to 5K program. This program brings you from being a complete non-runner (like I was) to running a 5k in 9 weeks. Here is the link:
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Now, I am competitive by nature. If they say 9 weeks, I want to do it in less!
So, I did. But there is no need to. Follow the program.
After 6 months, I ran my first Half Marathon. I cannot tell you how I feel about myself now that I consider myself a runner. OMG, the pride.
Now, for those who DO NOT want to be runners. That is ok, too. Liz lost almost all of her weight just by watching her food and working the WW program.
I am going to post both of our before and "in-progress" photos. Because we don't consider ourselves done yet. But this is just to show that there are options. You can make exercise your focus. Or food. Of course, ideally you want to work on both. But when just starting out, you might find it easier to have one main focus as opposed to fighting a battle on multiple fronts, if that makes sense.
So here we are...me and then Liz.
And here we are celebrating together:
Please don't think this is just about me and Liz. I just only happen to have those before and afters. Others have made progress and are making progress.
Happy anniversary, babes. I love you. xoxox
)
It'll go away soon. But hey - you are NOT allowed to have any "sympathy weight gain" goin' on with Jodi, 'K???
"I want to join too!!" I can't wait to read more and get to know you better.
On the 30lbs, thats great!
That's frustrating. 
Ok...maybe not "waaaay"...but definitely older 
There is no way on God's Green Earth that she will step foot in a gym. No way. Still to far too heavy, long way to go both physically and mentally for that...so this is a perfect option. She has been like a mad-woman playing "Fit" games at every opportunity.
I cannot tell you how happy I am for her.
