What it's like skiing 92 pounds lighter

?Ski clothes fit. I went from 1 pair of (too tight) ski pants to 4 pair loose and comfortable. All my insulated underwear is no longer in danger of splitting out. I really should get a new coat as the one I have now is way big. ?Boots fit looser and are easier to buckle. ?More room on the chairlift. ?I can hike uphill with gear without getting winded. ?I can pick up dropped stuff from the snow without stepping out of the skis. I can also put my skis in the ski bag with it flat on the ground. ?I can ski longer with less fatigue ?Much less soreness on day two. ?I don't sweat as much. In fact I need more skin protection, heavier clothes and gloves because I get colder now. ?My body weight has shifted and I needed to relearn my center of balance ?Without all the fat on my inner thighs my feet are closer together. ?Falling down still sucks but getting up is easier. ?A Camelback is great for keeping hydrated but you have to watch how it sits against the back of the chairlift. ?Taking extra protein bars along is important for keeping energy up. ?Big farts filtered thru ski pants and released into crisp mountain are still stink. Have fun and stay safe, Rich

Hello Richard in Illinois! I was laughing and excited as I read your post. I just had lap RNY on 12/12/05. My inability to go skiing for the past several years due to my weight was this symbolic, painful sore point in the whole issue of my obesity and its effect on the quality of my life. My fiance finally started going without me. My surgeon says I should be able to get a little skiing in by the end of the season here in New York. I can't wait! My last skiing venture was horrible, I faced many of the things you humorously mention, but the worst two were "falling and not be able to get up" like the lady on the commercial (still cringe in embarrassment), and the fact that I could no longer control my speed. I was so heavy that gravity was going nuts and I didn't have the strength to keep from barrelling down the hill like a boulder on a crash course. I couldn't even call it skiing, never mind trying to find clothes to fit. (They don't MAKE long underwear for obese women). Anyway, enough about this horrid tale. Skiing is in my future again and your post was a great inspirational boost. Including weight I lost preop, I am down 59 lbs. and hunting around for my old ski stuff this weekend to see what is useable. I am anxious for the old active self to be able to come back (you know, the person I used to be- skiing, hiking, carrying canoes, etc.). Congrats on your achivement! Kelly

Thanks, Kelly, and congradulations on your success. Last year I could ski only about 3 hours and then had to stop. Then I was sore for the next week. The speed and my difficulty in controling it was scary for me too. I see your procedure was laproscopic so you may indeed be able to get a little skiing in this spring on the easy slopes. If you can get some good leg exercise in before you go, like the eliptical machine or even treadmill and squats, that will help a lot. Mine was an open procedure so I timed it for mid summer. That way I had 6 months to lose weight and strengthen muscles. I have skied in the east a little --Stowe, Sunday River, Mt Ste Anne and Mt Tremblaunt. I drove past Killington in the summer but that doesn't count. For us in Illinois it is just as close to go west so I am usually in the Rockies for the big trips. So far this year I have skied three days at some local hills which are only 400 to 700 feet high but hopefully this will get me used to this new body before the big trips. I ski with a club which has all ability levels. This makes it more fun when you have someone your level to enjoy it with. In my earlier "skinny" days I would ski with the "Big Dogs" in the morning, have lunch, and ski a leasurely afternoon with my wife. She has gotten good enough now I could ski with her all day but we still like to split off for the social aspects. One thing I didn't mention in my earlier posting was that I don't think I will be doing too many Jagermeister shots with Weise beer chasers apre ski. Good luck and great skiing. Rich

Hi This site is really great, not only have I found somewhere to look when I need the inspiration and motivation but also somewhere where there is talk of my favourite subject, SKIING. Your posting really has motivated me to get stuck in and win this battle of the bulge. I had band fitted laprascopically on 14th January this year. Lost 17lb first week, 2.9lb week 2 and 5.7lb last week; overall since my first consultation on Sunday 28th November 2005, so about 10 weeks, I am down 45lb. Started at 377lb, aiming for 200lb. I am so glad I did this, I am already feeling so much fitter and looking forward to fitter faster skiing. Skiing is my passion in life, I have skied for years and have really noticed that skiing at peak weight is not so much fun. But I still cant function in life without a fix every season. Spent 10 days in Whistler just after Christmas, it was great, but I really wont go again at holiday time, expansion has spoilt the resort, to many people, never again. Looking forward to Europe late March when I hope to get snow and lots and lots of sun shine, and importantly skiing lighter and fitter. Lech in Austria probably as I have friends living close by. Thanks & happy skiing. Christopher, from South East England

Great to hear from you, Christopher. We were at Whistler a year ago and I think you are right. They are in the middle of preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics and all the construction is annoying. Not only that, the resort has gotten so popular and big it is getting hard to find any cheap walk-in walk-out lodging. My first trip there was in January 1987 and we paid US$ 550 for transportation from Chicago and a week of lifts and lodging at the gondola base. I was totally spoiled. This week Thursday I head off to Durango, Colorado for a long weekend of skiing. I will report back when I return. Our club just had a trip return from Kitzbuhel and I'll get to hear about it at tonight's club meeting. I hear it was good snow but difficult traveling there and back. Welcome to OH. You may have already noted that this website is mostly women. I have heard that we men make up 10-20% so be sure to check out the mens board for an all-guy perspective. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/men/ Have a great day. Rich