What other "impossible" things did you conquer AFTER reaching your fitness goals?

CipherZero

Survived a myxoma and recovered fully four months before any of the most optimistic predictions claimed I would.

PinkyPan1

Wow...good question and where to begin? As of January this year I was in chronic pain from to failed back surgeries (titanium fusions to my spine) and I heart attack. I gave up on life. I won't lie...I was very disappointed when the heart attack did not kill me. So I spent a month feeling sorry for myself and then realized I was given a second chance and I needed to make changes and fast. I refused medical treatment and my doctor advised me to lose 10 lbs and walk a mile a day...oh, I was to quit smoking too. I joined this site and never looked back. Not only have I done all the above and then some but I am stronger and healthier than ever. I still have pain but it is tolerable and I pretty much "just suck it up." I now consider my heart attack a blessing in disguise.

aeb09

Love this thread!!

SLHysell

Otterluv wrote: »

It's not just the beginning and end that matter, all of that time in the middle should be rewarding as well. Because really, there is no "end" anyway.

Love that.

lilmisfit1987

I've only had one issue with my gallstones since I changed the way I eat this January, when normally I was in pain multiple times a month. I also have started college and I'm hoping to get in a nursing program. I don't know if I'd have the motivation, confidence, and energy to get through this, but right now I feel like I could take on the world...and I'm only half way to my goal. This year has been coming up all me.

hoyalawya2003

I had always wanted to learn to jump (on horseback). I took some lessons in college, then drifted away from it after. Eventually got out of horses all together, and felt too fat to ride, never mind put on tight spandex breeches and hang out with pre-teens (which make up the bulk of hunter-jumper riders).

Sooo, after losing 30ish pounds, I called a barn and signed up for a lesson. I could never have predicted how that would snowball. One year later, I am leasing a horse, have joined a foxhunt, and am jumping 2'3" fences! I rediscovered my passion for horses, in a new and fun way. I cannot overstate how much more joy I have in my life now. Oh, and I totally rock those breeches.

MamaRiss

nothing really, but I did spend a whole evening in 3 inch heels. Didn't even take them off while sitting down to dinner.

CJsf1t

Love this thread! I am going to bookmark it and come back when I need motivation.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

Had a baby
I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (early menopause) at age 26 and was told my only chance of having a child would be adoption or IVF. Shortly after that I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. My BMI was 33 at the time.
Following cancer surgery and getting that under control, we decided we wanted to proceed with IVF but my fertility specialist told me that at my weight, it was unlikely to work. Devastating.
Fast forward 18 months, 90 lbs down and IVF round #2, we got the call we'd been waiting for - the blood test results were in. I was pregnant.
Our 4 year old little boy is the greatest joy I have ever experienced. I didn't think it possible that I would be a mom, and it wouldn't have happened without taking control of my health.
I'm crying as I type this. Thanks for starting this thread. What a great topic

CJsf1t

BinkyBonk wrote: »

Had a baby
I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (early menopause) at age 26 and was told my only chance of having a child would be adoption or IVF. Shortly after that I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. My BMI was 33 at the time.
Following cancer surgery and getting that under control, we decided we wanted to proceed with IVF but my fertility specialist told me that at my weight, it was unlikely to work. Devastating.
Fast forward 18 months, 90 lbs down and IVF round #2, we got the call we'd been waiting for - the blood test results were in. I was pregnant.
Our 4 year old little boy is the greatest joy I have ever experienced. I didn't think it possible that I would be a mom, and it wouldn't have happened without taking control of my health.
I'm crying as I type this. Thanks for starting this thread. What a great topic

Aw! Congratulations! Your story had me tearing up .

amblight

This is a really good question, thank you for bringing it up - it can really feed a new mentality For so long now, weightloss has been either nagging in the back of my head as something I 'should', or, for these past months, been pretty much a full time occupation (mentally). So where will I put all this focus next? Clearly I'm able to set my mind to a goal, I'm almost finished! Knowing you can do it is quite a motivator

I'd like to focus on building muscle, something I've only vaguely worked on during my loss. I'm not feeling the determination for it yet, just a 'oh hey, could be cool'-kinda feeling that I also had about weightloss for years, but maybe it will come.

I'd also like to focus on my engineering degree, which I'm currently slacking a bit too much on (in fact, I should be studying for the exam right now...). And I'd also like to get more into dating, maybe I can actually work up enough passion for that to actually bother responding to people, or start to pursue someone.

AShannon54

Last week I ran 7 continuous miles without stopping. Never done that in my life and I actually got a little bit emotional when I finished my workout. It is hard for me to believe that my body actually did that.

AShannon54

BinkyBonk wrote: »

Had a baby
I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (early menopause) at age 26 and was told my only chance of having a child would be adoption or IVF. Shortly after that I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. My BMI was 33 at the time.
Following cancer surgery and getting that under control, we decided we wanted to proceed with IVF but my fertility specialist told me that at my weight, it was unlikely to work. Devastating.
Fast forward 18 months, 90 lbs down and IVF round #2, we got the call we'd been waiting for - the blood test results were in. I was pregnant.
Our 4 year old little boy is the greatest joy I have ever experienced. I didn't think it possible that I would be a mom, and it wouldn't have happened without taking control of my health.
I'm crying as I type this. Thanks for starting this thread. What a great topic

Love this! I struggled for years conceiving my first child and I know the joy of finally getting that precious gift. Weight played a large roll in my struggles as well. I am so happy for you.

NoelFigart1

I've lost and regained quite literally hundreds of pounds. It's nothing amazing or exciting to me since I've been losing and gaining since I was twelve. So, it's not like, "I've finally proved to myself I can achieve a goal!" I'm in my forties and live a reasonably full life. I have achieved goals that are important to me.

I'm losing weight for a specific purpose. I want to do an open water swim. The recommendation is that you should be able to swim a mile in 40 minutes to be able to complete it safely. While it is just possible I could get to that goal without losing an ounce, the reality is that even though elite swimmers do not have to be skinny, speed increases as you become more hydrodynamic (which I am totally not).

Hence the weight loss. So for me, it's a step to a goal rather than a goal in and of itself.

yankeedownsouth

I was never really overweight, but I was terribly out of shape. I had cancer a while back and lost most of my muscle mass during chemo (and many long hours laying on the couch). I decided about three years ago that I wanted that muscle back, and then some! I've been lifting (not always consistently) since then, and my life has changed immensely! Now for fun, I mountain bike with my son and hike and kayak with my husband. I can easily deadlift my kayak on top of my Xterra, and it's TALL!

Oh, yeah... and I'm turning 46 in 10 days. Five years ago, I never would have believed I could do so much at my current age. I think it's totally cool!!

SLHysell

AShannon54 wrote: »

Last week I ran 7 continuous miles without stopping. Never done that in my life and I actually got a little bit emotional when I finished my workout. It is hard for me to believe that my body actually did that.

I know that feeling. The 6 mile mark was my emotional one. It is an incredible feeling when you do the seemingly impossible.

lemonlime006

I ran a half marathon last year, and have decided I want to run a full marathon one day. When I joined the Army 8 1/2 years ago, I couldn't pass the run portion of my physical fitness test, and I spent the next 6 years barely passing. The last time I took one, I more than got a maximum score on my push-ups and sit-ups. I still can't get the maximum score on my run, but I don't hate it nearly as much and I'm not in constant fear of failing it. Right now, my husband is coming back from overseas for his mid-tour leave soon, and I just want him to think, "damn, my wife is hot!" when he sees me again.

drepublic

Went from leaving shirt on at swimming pools to entering a physique competition...total confidence game changer.

getitamb

Motivating my parents, especially mom, A few years ag ok she found out I was abused and I never thought we would have a normal relationship. But now, we dance tongether, hang together and have abrelationship I wanted

khakstol

I too like this thread.
Its about community and thats what I find with all of my fitness activities. People are always supportive. I also enjoy the solitude of a 2 hour run or a 70K ride, After focussing on running for more than a decade this time I incorporated road biking into my regime and it has had huge benefits as I can do something every day. Not only that but have added a whole bunch of new friends to spend time with.
So whats next? There is a masters swimming group that has a session starting in January and I think I'd like to add that to my repertoire of fitness activities.