Both you and DBNY! Congrats on your weight losses! As a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, after a 25 pound loss, I love to hear other peoples success stories.

Thank you PattyP!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Thank you Skate@Delaware and PattyP. Congrats to Skate@Delaware for getting in shape! I too am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, and it was after that that I gained back all I lost plus another 45 pounds. I did follow the Weight Watchers point plan when I finally lost the 45 pounds, but did not go to meetings. I lost another 12 pounds when I went on a low fat almost entirely vegetarian diet. I'm now down another 10 due to a recent illness, but I believe I will keep that off and lose more, based on my experience at a Vipassana Meditation retreat (I'll write about that when I've caught up with everything at home).

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Right now I weight 216 lbs, or 98 kgs
So far I've lost 26 1/2 pounds, 12 kgs. I'm doing it gently.
But I am getting there, and I can feel my muscles getting stronger.

I laughed at the comment about getting puffed out after getting half way around the rink - our rink is so tiny, it isn't an issue - about 8 fast strokes and I'm starting to get into crossovers!

Oh for an Olympic size rink!

Karen

I think you are way ahead of where I was when I started, but it wasn't lack of breath that made me sit down. My calf muscles were killing me, especially right above the boots in back. I just had no strength at all. Oh, and crossovers were in no way an option at that point

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I've found losing weight (not quite, but very nearly, 60 lbs since July of 2004) has really, really helped my skating - I just wish it had helped my knees, which still play up from time to time!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I lost weight (almost 40 lb) very gradually over a year and a half. I've been a lifetime WW member for about 4 months now. It feels great!

I used the South Beach diet because I liked the mini-meals, although some of their snacks I have to substitute-due to lactose intolerance (their ricotta whip). I was also in the right frame of mind to lose the weight, which is 80% of the battle.

Of course, losing the weight has NOT helped my jumping-still stuck in that area!!! I'm blaming excess gravitational forces...deforestation of the rain forests....lack of good coupons in the Sunday paper....

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

In other knee news, I had my appointment yesterday with the ortho at the Duke Sports Medicine Clinic. She said there's significant cartilage loss and that the only *solution*, given the location of where the loss is, is to do a cartilage implantation. That's where they extract good cartilage from my knee, grow it in a lab with some biologic, then implant it in the right spot, where it's supposed to grow on its own. At the same time, she'll have to move one of the bones over because it's out of whack and would just grind up the new cartilage if she didn't move it. Because you have to wait for the cells to grow inside your knee, the rehab for this is really long -- about a YEAR before I could really skate again. I'd be on crutches for 2 months, then have to use a cane for another couple of months, until the cartilage grows enough to support my weight. And then maybe do the other knee. <sigh>

I'm not thrilled with the idea of being inactive and off the ice for so long (okay, so I cried like a baby last night about it), but any other type of remedy is only temporary and would, at best, stop it from getting worse but wouldn't fix it so I could skate. I'm totally bummed about it! I'm already cranky and stressed out from the lack of exercise and weight gain. But if the surgery is successful, I'd get at least another decade to skate once I heal, so I'm willing to give it a go. And if it doesn't work well enough to allow me to skate, it would most likely at least allow me to ride a bike and walk (which I can't even do now). My current plan is to do it in the Spring, after our trip to Greece. So I'm currently trying to get my head wrapped around the idea of not skating for such a long time and not getting really depressed about it. I'm trying to focus on the fact that it's a FIX, not a band-aid, and worth being patient for.

And I have a brand new pair of blades that my husband gave me for my birthday, mounted on my boots, and never touched the ice.

Oh, skaternum, I'm sorry to hear that you won't be able to skate for a while. But at least you'll get the problem fixed and (hopefully) won't be in pain anymore.

Do your docs think that skating in general caused your knee problems, or was it a specific injury or a genetic factor? I ask this b/c I've had a couple bad falls on my knee(s) and I think about the long-term implications.

Sorry to hear about the news, skaternum....

But the good part of the news is that at least the doctor told you that if you do this procedure that you'll be skating again after a year. It sure BEATS being told by your doctors that "you should consider giving up your sport and do Tai Chi and slow walking", right? (Those were what my old GP and second chiropractor told me to do! I was 32-33 when I was handed this diagnose. Well, my current chiro and I would like to say to those doctors... "UP YOURS!!!" )

So chin up! Focus your efforts on doing all you have to do to work towards the day that you'll be able to set foot on the ice instead. This is your off-ice training!!!

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Aw, skaternum, I'm sorry to hear about this, too, but like Debbie and Jazzpants said, at least it should fix your problems! And I have to say, it sounds like really amazing medicine and very cool! Perhaps, given your general good fitness you will rehab faster than they expect! Good luck with it!

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August 22, back on the ice!

Good luck with the surgery, Skaternum. I like Jazzpant's idea for exercise - punching a punching bag could help in more ways than one . Swimming might also be good - will this be allowed? What brought about you knee problems? Was it skating or was there some sort of prior injury?

So sorry to hear that skaternum. But as others have said, at least you have a solution. One year off will be tough, but it will go by fast.

I've been whining about a injury that's kept me off the ice for 5 weeks now, but that is nothing compared to what you are going through.

Good luck with your surgery and recovery.

Patty

(((((Skaternum)))))

I admire your attitude, that you are willing to give up a year to gain 10 more.

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A big hug from me, too!!! I know I would be depressed if I was told I couldn't skate for a year (I think I'd prefer to be told I couldn't walk, LOL!). On the other hand, it is so exciting that you are being told this will FIX your knee! So many times, adults are just told that it will never get better and all they can do is to stay off it. A year ago, an adult skater friend of mine had knee surgery and now she's starting to land axels with no knee pain, so just keep that image in your head and we'll be looking forward to seeing you tear up the ice next year!

Thanks for the kind thoughts and words, everyone. It helps knowing that other skating addicts appreciate how difficult this is. You guys are so great!!

To answer this question, it wasn't a specific injury. I danced (classical ballet) for years when I was younger, and that did a heck of a job on my knees. I eventually had to give it up because of my knees. Also, the way my knees and hips are structured is probably a contributing factor.

To answer some other questions, swimming won't be allowed for several months after the implantation. I'll be doing a lot of swimming between now and when I have the surgry, since it's the only thing I can do consistently that won't kill my knees. Sadly, I HATE swimming, so I have to force myself to go. I did a couple of water aerobics classes, where it was just me and the old ladies. (Even the instructor was much older than me.)

That's really true. I went to see an ortho who specializes in knee & shoulder problems for female athletes. She told me that if I was 71, rather than 41, she'd never recommend this type of surgery. She thinks that at 41, you should have decades of sports activity in front of you. I really liked her attitude!

Ok, here's my "fat" pictures. We went on vacation to Orlando, FL, and Charleston, SC in July 2004. The fat ones were taken at Bubba Gump Shrimp in Charleston. Look at the size of that dessert! Yum!! Actually, my son and I ate all of it .

http://www.sk8rland.com/users/tkahli...ht+Loss+Photos

The "skinny" photo was taken this fall when I was "auditioning" a dress to wear for our exhibition skate. I don't have a good mirror with enough light, so my daughter took the picture for me (don't mind the mess in my room).

I started at 200 pounds and am now down to 137 (as of this morning). My goal is to reach 135. I weigh less now than when I graduated from high school in 1980 and am in better shape than I've ever been (notwithstanding all my health problems---grrr!).

Slow and easy does it! Crash diets just do that-crash!
Terese

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

So I guess our plan of me relocating back to NC and eloping on the ice to skate pairs is on hold?!

Seriously, best of luck 'num for a speedy recovery.
Your attitude and sacrifice are quite admirable.

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Thanks for the photos Skate@Delaware. I think I need to lose a heck of a lot more before I post any before & after photos.

Skaternum, it is a difficult decision to make. Having rediscovered the joys of skating, I would be devastated to be facing a year off the ice. All the best with your recovery.

It is inspirational knowing so many others out there are facing similar issues with their skating.

Karen

Yep, I think loops is stuck with you.

Thanks. I'm trying not to see it as a sacrifice -- just a necessity.

I will be at Easterns, of course, taking pictures and working, so don't think you're rid of me that easily!

Skaternum, I'm sorry to hear about your upcoming surgery and wish you the best for a full recovery. A year seems like a long time, but you'll find the time passes quickly once you start doing rehab. I was off the ice for 9 months after my first knee surgery, and it was an opportunity to learn new crafts and go to auctions and antique shows--things I didn't have time for when I was skating a lot.

If this operation will allow you to be pain free, it will be worth every minute of the year you are off. It's good that doctors can do this type of surgery rather than telling you that you need a knee replacement. I've often wondered, though, why if they can teflon coat a pan they can't teflon coat the inside of a knee where the cartilege has been shredded.

Terese, thanks for posting your before and after pictures. You look great!

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"May the wind be at your back and the sun upon your face and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars."

(((( Skaternum))))
What a bummer, but it's only a year!!
You can channel your energies towards *other projects*

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Skaternum,
Your prognosis sounds very positive! Even though the recovery sounds like a long time-maybe the doctor is conservative in his/her estimate based on the general population (we all know skaters are above the general population as far as fitness goes). We tend to recover faster!!!

I'm sure with a good therapy team, your recovery will be fast and it sounds like you will be back better than ever! I didn't know medicine had advanced so much.

I think if I had that sort of prognosis, I'd surely catch up on all my sewing, scrapbooking and crafts and all the movies I haven't been able to watch (about 5 years behind on the movies-don't think I'll ever catch up ).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!