Since I've been working out regulary with my trainer I've been doing modified push-ups (on my knees). Last night I did 5 full push-ups! I was so excited, I've never done a full push-up in my life. My form wasn't fanstastic, but I did them and I will continue to get stronger and be able to do more and do them better! One of my goals has been to do full push-ups!! It is so exciting to see the improvements in my strength.

Three years ago, on July 26, 2005, I did my first race, the Corporate Challenge. It is a 3.5 mile race and I was thrilled to finish in 52 minutes (my goal was 55 minutes). Today I did the same race and finished in 36:30, which is a 10:26 pace. This is a PR for me - my fastest race to date!! I guess all the sweat and training has paid off. It really means a lot to be able to go to an event like this with my co-workers and to be able to run at a respectable pace.

Flying is certainly not pleasurable these days, but it is so much better than it was before my gastric bypass surgery. I just got back from a work trip to Boulder, CO. I had to book the dreaded middle seat for the return trip. While the middle seat would never be my first choice, I was relieved that I didn't have to worry about fitting in the seat. I knew as I would as comfortable as one could possibly be in the middle seat on an airplane.

It is so wonderful not to have to worry whether or not I will fit into a seat!

Today I did my first duathlon, which consisted of a 2 mile run, 12 mile bike ride, 2 mile run. It took place on the campus of SUNY Old Wesbury. I was so nervous this morning, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was hoping to get out of doing the race somehow, but that just wasn't happening.

Rodney came to the race with me and helped me get everything situated. It was a very well organized race. Here I am with my bike in the transition area before the start of the race:

Here is a picture Rodney took of all the bikes in the transition area:

Before I knew it we were off running. The run was brutal and started with a hill. Actually, never mind started with a hill, just about the entire course was uphill, or at least it seemed that way. I started out too fast, but it was ok and I got through the first run without too much difficulty.

I finished the 2 miles and was faced with the transition area. This is the part I was nervous about, but it went fairly smoothly and before I knew it I was headed out for the 12 mile bike portion of the race.

I was hoping the bike portion wasn't as hilly as the run, but that hope was short lived. It was a very hilly course and I worked really hard to finish. The course consisted of 3 4 miles loops. One good thing was that the loop seemed to go faster each time as I became more familiar with the course. On the first loop, I did a bad job of shifing my gears on a hill and my chain fell off, so I lost a little time there. Other my chain falling off, the day getting hotter by the minute and screaming quads, I made it through the biking portion of the race. Now I had to face the 2 mile run again before I would be finished.

The run was harder than the first time around. It takes a while to get your running legs back after biking. Knowing that it wouldn't be much longer before I was done with the race kept me going! It wasn't long before I was crossing the finish line.

I finished the race in 1:48:24, placed 114 out of 124 and 4th in my age division. I even won a medal for the Athena division, which just make me laugh. The Athena division is for the heavy weight women, over 150 pounds. I placed first in this division. I find it funny that I placed first in the heavy weight division after losing so much weight!

So, I conquered this new challenge. I was really nervous about the race, and I did it and finished. It was a lot of fun and I would definitely do a duathlon again.

Here are the complete results from the race:

Yesterday, after work, I went shopping at Trader Joe's for a few things. They had packages for sliced apples that looked really good. I bought them thinking that a couple of slices would be a nice snack for the ride home. As I was eating my apple slices, it occurred to me that prior to my surgery I would have gotten a couple of candy bars for the ride home. WOW! I am so thankful for this surgery; it has made such a difference in my life! It is wonderful not to have the food demon hanging over my head all the time. I am also happy that I still have these moments where I stop and think about the difference the surgery has made, I think it helps to keep me focused.

The New York Road Runners Foundation establishes and supports running-based physical education programs for children in underserved communities across the United States. They offer various volunteer activities included the opportunity to be a "running buddy" during a race with a child. Today was my first opporunity to participate as a running buddy. The kids participate in a running program sponsored by the NYRR Foundation. I was assigned to one school and ran with 2 12 year old girls. My goal was to help encourage them through the race. It was a 4 mile race and the longest they had run previously was 2 miles. It was so much fun! Not only is it amazing to be able to run, but it is so satisfying to be able to help others with their running. I can't wait to do it again!

What an amazing journey the last 3 years has been. I've lost 150 pounds and I've kept it off 16 months. For the last 16 months my weight has been fairly stable. I don't think I've ever maintained a weight for such a long period of time. I worried whether or not the surgery would work for me, I was sure I would be the one person who wouldn't lose weight. So, that wasn't true. Now my struggle is with worrying about regaining weight. It is a constant battle.

Now that I am three years out from surgery, it is so much easier to eat. I can understand how easy it is to gain weight. While I can't eat large quantities at one time, I could certainly graze my way through the day. This is why I would emphasize the importance of developing good habits in the early days after surgery.

The success of the last three years is not measured just in pounds. There are so many other measures such as:

• my diabetes being under control. This is the number one, most important result of my weight loss!
• I can move with ease
• I can run. I ran in the NYC Marathon a month ago, fulfilling a dream I had for a long time.
• I don't have to worry about fitting into plane seats. Just this week I traveled to Texas for a class. Coming home I had to sit in the middle seat. Now, I would still prefer not to sit in the middle, but I didn't have to worry about fitting or being able to get out of the row when the person on the inside needs to get up.
• Taking dance lessons.
• Taking the stairs, just because I can.

As important as all my successes and WOW moments are, it is also important to me that I remember the pain. I don't want to forget how miserable I was, as I believe it helps me not to allow myself to go back there. I know it could be all too easy to slip back into old habits. It is easier to eat now, and I can eat more than I've been able to. I have to watch that I don't allow myself to start picking up bad habits along the way.

There are so many people to thank for their support thoughout this journey, but I have to give special mention my amazingly supportive husband, Rodney.

Here is a recent pic of me, my marthon medal :) and my dear hubby: