MORNING WALK!

It's time for my walk. I need to get it in before the heat comes. It's now 6:00 AM.
For the past month and a half I have been walking daily, and now I am up to 3 miles. It has helped me with toning up my legs. I find after my morning workout, I have lots of energy for the day - it keeps me positive.

I have a lot of toning to do. One of my biggest fears is losing so much weight and having my skin stretch out so badly that I will have all that hanging skin that is common with this weight loss.

With the lap band, working out is a big key, and I know a lot of us are not used to it. I was not always this size - I was a size 12 for many years, and a fitness junkie. But as I gained weight, I lost the energy and the will to want to work out.

So with the loss of 80 pounds, I got back the motivation to get back into fitness and health. In the past, I have joined gyms, but like most, I stopped going. Now, what I've done is come up with, and incorporate many exercises I can do from home and get the same results as if I were in the gym. In this economy, where things are so hard for so many of us, we try to save money where we can - but it does not mean I have to skimp on my health - hence I started my home exercise routine.

THE SCALE IS MY FRIEND NOW!

I went on my scale this morning and I lost another pound, so that made me smile. I use to hate the scale but now the scale is my friend.LOL. Its 6:30 Am and am going for my 3 mile walk as I do every day alone the pier over looking the Manhattan skyline so beautiful to look at as am walking alone the NJ side of the hudson.

BACK TO MY ROUTINE

I've been away for five days, and I miss blogging. I had tendinitis in my right hand and I had to go to the emergency room because I was in so much pain. This was the first time I had to go to the hospital since I had my lap band surgery. During the intake, this was the first time I was not ashamed and embarrassed when they asked me my weight - I proudly said "208" with a smile.

When the nurse asked me if I had any medical issues, I said no - but my husband reminded me about my lap-band. I said oh yes, that's right. The lap band has become a normal part of my life, so I don't always think about it. When the doctor prescribed some pain meds and antibiotics, my husband was quick to remind me and to tell the doctor that I could not have any large pills because of the lap band, so they prescribed liquid versions of the meds - let me tell you they tasted NASTY! But I took them - YUK! LOL.

My hand had to be in a splint and sling for five days. By the third day, I really began to miss my exercising, and that's when I realized I had become really dedicated to my workouts. On that third day, I decided to take a walk in my neighborhood (not my usual location by the pier, since I could not drive). So I took a two-mile walk.

Today, the sixth day, I finally got to the pier to walk - I'm on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, so what a lovely view of the Manhattan skyline! When I walk, every second day, I push myself to go a little further. I felt good about my workout today. I still can't put any strain on my right hand, so it limits the type of exercises I can do, but the walking is great. It is Memorial Day weekend and I have to say I feel really good about myself - better than I have in a long time, about my look, self-esteem and overall health. There was a time I could not walk even one block without pain, and now look at me now - I can walk for miles!