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Today we did the 5k for the fitness classic at a local hospital that is held here yearly.  I participated last year at 2 months post-op and was the last one through the finish line, but I did it! I did it in one hour and 12 minutes.  This year I didn't want to be last and I wanted to come in under an hour. Mission accomplished.  I don't know how many were behind me, but there were quite a few so that felt good and I did the walk (with a little run at the last stretch( in 57 mins. and 52 sec.  My DH says that is a good improvement, over 20%.  I know like 14 mins off my time from last year. I wanted more than anything to be uner 60 mins and I did it.  My butt is still hurting from yesterdays fall on the skates, my face is sunburn but I feel great. Just hope I still feel good come tomorrow at work. I think it's going to be a looooooong week!  :)

Today I skated! Ok, not sure if you could call what I did "skate", but I put on the knee pads, the elbow pads, the wrist guards, the helmet and the SKATES!!! DH and I went to our local "Outdoor Venture". It's an organization that has many vendors of local activities come together and for free people in the city can come and try out these activities. Things such as dragon boat racing, roller blading, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, biking, walking groups etc.  We went last year and I wanted to so badly try roller blading but was afraid I'd fall and get hurt. I was only 2 months post-op and that's still a lot of weight to hit the pavement. LOL Plus there were tons of kids around doing the skating.  Well this year I was determined to try. It was on my agenda for the day.. Wasn't positive going if I would do it, but I DID IT!!! It was tough, but I had the "Courage to Try".   I looked like a baby trying to learn to walk, but I did it! And... I fell at one point back, right on my right butt cheek. Boy does it hurt!!! But that's ok. I got back up, and I finished my lesson.  I have been trying to not be a quitter in things I do anymore.  It's something new that came along with the WLS.  My whole life I pretty much have done what I wanted. Yes, I guess we all do to a point, but I didnt' care how it affected others or if I left others hanging etc. But since surgery if I start something I finish it. It's just been something I've felt I have to do.  So after my fall when I wanted to say "That was enough", I didn't. I wiggled the hurt "cheek", got up and pathetic as I looked LOL skated/stepped my way back to where we started.  It was tougher than I thought it would be trying to skate.  I never could as a kid. I just never could get all eight of those wheels on skates to go the same way, so I never skated really as a kid.  I thought maybe all in a row wheels would be easier. NOT!!! lol.   You use muscles you didn't know you had, you have to hold yourself in knee bent position etc. So it's a lot of work.  But its a start. And I guess even those who were out there skating and looked so at ease and just glided along, must have looked like a duck too at one point. LOL I don't know if I'll be trying it again, I think I will, why I want to torture myself Idon't know. But I do know I want to be able to skate and glide along smoothly and enjoy the breeze that passes by me as I whiz on down the rode in my skates. LOL Despite my aching butt right now I'm glad I had the "Courage to Try".

Yesterday at work we had a guest.  His name was Ed Hearn.  Ed is the winner of the 2006 World Championship of Public Speaking at the Toastmaster International Speech Contest.  It was very exciting to get the chance to hear him speak and he did not let us down.  The topic yesterday of his speech was about having the "Courage to Try".  He explained how there is no one who holds us back from doing whatever it is that we want to do, but ourselves.  We all have dreams and things we want to accomplish.  But we so often find that we don't accomplish these things out of fear.  Fear of failure,  fear of being laughed at, fear of rejection.  There are those out there that will be successful and those who will never reach their potential. The difference is that some have the "Courage to Try". They get in there and give it their best. They don't let fear hold them back.  How do you know if you don't try?  Others, will not accomplish what they would like because they don't try, they give up too early.  

We all have struggles in our life, we struggle on this journey of weightloss.  Some are more successful than others. Some never give up, some give up too soon.  Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do this.  If this is something that you want to do, then do it. Do it with your heart, with your own conviction.  This is for you. No one can make you succeed or fail but yourself.  Ed also talked about always having "excuses" in our lives. That many don't accomplish their dreams, goals because of "excuses".  We can always find them.  "Oh, I don't deserves this..."  "They won't accept me because I'm  __________" (Fill lin the blank with whatever fits). "I can't do that, I'm too old". The list could go on and on.  There is always a way.  I guess it goes back to the power of thinking.  And like Ed mentioned in reference to the book "Secrets", it is like that.  He does believe in the power of positive thinking.  No, not always believing something is just going to make it so.  But one does need to be positive, see what they want, work to achieve it.  It just won't happen. 
I wanted to post about this today because I thought it was a good message.  He is an amazing speaker.  If you ever get a chance to hear him, do it! I'm sure there was so much more in his speech. He definately was entertaining, funny, intense all wrapped into one. His family stories are a hoot as they say.  I want everyone to have the "Courage to Try" in whatever it is you do. We don't know the endless possibilties of what we can do, or what we can be unless we TRY.  

Since having WLS my life has changed tremendously.  I had a good life before.  A supportive, loving family.  The most wonderful husband in the world.  They all loved me just the way I was, they always supported me, and urged me to do whatever it was I wanted.  I haven't wanted for much within reason. Life was good.  But now, after WLS it is soooooooooooooooo much better.  I knew it would be better.  I knew my health would be better.  I figured I'd be able to do more things in physical ways.  I did not imagine to the extent that I have.  Each and every day, even at 13 months out now, every day is amazing.  I find joy in each one, I do something new, I take notice of a movement, an action, some feat that I've just done, that last year I could not do, or may not have ever done in my life.  Sometimes I'll take notice that I'm breathing with no problem and think wow!  I have a fantastic new job that I don't believe I would have gotten if I had not had the wls.  I have always done well in my jobs, but never got ahead to where I'd like to be.  Now, after wls, Im in an amazing position, I LOVE it every day and I only hope to grow.  I'm doing things now in a career aspect I never thought I would.  I make more money than I ever thought I would. I've joined Toastmasters through an invite from a manager at work and I like it. I've gotten up in front of the Toastmasters meeting group and have done a small meeting introduction. Also, my manager had to be out of town one day during a 401(k) meeting that was scheduled.  She asked if I would do it.  I was scared, but I had the "Courage to Try" and I did it. She got great feedback. This meeting was in front of about 80 people. I can't believe I did it.  I've never spoke to a gropu that size. Things have been so different.  My life is so busy. It is so much better than before.  Can it get any better? I think it can.

It was as if Ed was speaking to me yesterday.  Or should I say, he has been speaking to me for a few months now. So much is so good because I have had the "Courage to Try".  

I hope for all of you to succeed, to live your dreams, to have the courage.  Wishing everyone all the best! :)