As a high schooler, I saw myself as heavy at 5'7 and 150 with a truly large frame. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself yo-yo dieting my way to my present weight that I've carried for the last 30 years. What I wouldn't give to be there again! Now, with age and a much slower metabolism, it is harder to lose even 5 pounds and to keep it off.
I've mentioned on here before about having hip surgery in December, 2014, but what doesn't get talked about was the year of declining activity and the ensuing pain until that event. It was the most excruciating thing I've ever gone through. About this time last year, I was going to prepare for the local 5K at the Oakdale (California--former home of the second Hershey's manufacturing plant in the US, now moved to Mexico) Chocolate Festival but thought I was battling a pulled groin muscle or ??? After extra massage appointments, acupuncture, chiropractic, I learned the truth of no pad in my hip socket, making it bone on bone. That time brought many lessons to me of perseverence and what I could deal with, as I kept on working but had no life outside of that.
Fast forward to the present and now trying to get my stamina and strength back to--yes, once again--begin to train in earnest for the same marathon, but a year later. The race is in May and my friend, to be 60 a week after, and me--to be 70 3 weeks after--are doing it even if we have to walk it.
My friend is a story in herself, having almost lost her arm 3 years ago in a roll-over motor vehicle accident and fighting to regain any use of an appendage they reconstructed just so she would appear more "normal." They never thought it would have any function at all.
We are both establishing a "new normal" for our lives. Wish us well.