Fat Goggles

7 days on a pre-op liquid diet will make your fat goggles come off.

When did I get this big?

Seriously.

I was sitting on my Gran Gran's bed on Sunday night and I looked up and caught a glimpse of me in her mirror above her dresser. I didn't even recognize myself. When did I gain THIS much weight?

This is day 7 of my pre-op diet. I HAVE NOT CHEATED 1 TIME.

Let me tell you, it has been T.O.R.T.U.R.E. all the obstacles I have had to overcome. But, you know what? I DID IT! I did it myself, with help from God!!!! Let me just replay to all ya'll everything I have had to go through food wise.

1. I had to SERVE food, I could not eat, to over 100 recovering drug addicts.

2. Anthony's family had me a birthday party. Sweet huh? Guess what it was basically a freaking cook out. That I could not eat. Home made hamburgers, chicken fingers, rotel dip (if you do not know what this is....it is a southern speciality......1 can of rotel (diced tomatoes and green chillies), hamburger meat, and the biggest block of velveeta cheese you can find, all melted and cooked for hours in a crock pot), and 2, not just 1, 2 cookie cakes. They ALL ate this why I ate some nasty tomato soup and sugar free jello. I will have to add that it was nice for his mom to think of me and make me tomato soup, but it was actually HELL watching everyone else eat that.

3. My whole entire family decided to go eat at Olive Garden last weekend. They invited me to go. I just couldn't even go. Too much TEMPTATION. I ate chicken noodle soup instead. Not the noodles or the chicken......just the soup part.

4. I had to cook for my church. I had to make homemade chicken and rice soup. I had to shred delicious roisterer chicken, that I could NOT eat. I also had to make homemade spinach dip.

5. I had to help set up a table of food as long as an entire room for our church meal after service. Half of the table was nothing but desserts. I had to watch everyone else eat and eat and eat, tons and tons and tons of food. I had some juice out of the soup I made. Not the chicken or the rice.....just the soup.

6. There was a huge cake there on Sunday. Probably one of the biggest cakes I have ever seen. My brother in-law made it. He makes the best birthday cakes you have ever tasted. I mean THE BEST. There was at least half of the cake left. You want to know what I got to do? It was my job to cut the cake in gigantic hunks and wrap them up for people to take home. I couldn't even lick my fingers.

Is that not some obstacles?????

Did I mention I am almost, almost, like if a couple hairs fell out of my hair, away from 8 pounds down?????

8 pounds.

I have lost 8 pounds.

I am really proud of myself.

Tomorrow I start my clear liquid diet. I get to do fun stuff tomorrow also. I go to my nutrition class, go to my pre-op appointment, and meet my surgeon. I also get to clean my poop out. So much to look forward to :)

I still can not believe I have accomplished a liquid diet for the past 7 days. I never dreamed I would be able to do it. I think I just knew I had to. This is my only option left. I have to make it work. I feel like I will make it work. I feel good today. I have felt good since I have gone on this diet. I feel light. I am happy. 7 months ago this all seemed like a dream. It feels like a reality now. I know I can this. I already am doing it!

Serenity.

I am on day 3 of my pre-op diet. Pretty good so far. I know it is really really weird but I actually feel good today! I had a massive headache yesterday, and was not sure I could take anything. I had been told previously not to take ibuprofen, alieve, motrin, or aspirin. So, I was a little concerned on whether I could take ANYTHING at all. I emailed my sweetie pie RN at my surgeons office and she said tylenol would be fine!!! Yay, no headache now. I really believe it is from no caffeine or sugar for the past 2 days.

I was a little disappointed this morning when I got on the scale and I hadn't lost an oz. I guess I was so shocked yesterday when I lost like 3 1/2 lbs. I expected it again today!!!!! I don't think I am going to weigh myself everyday anymore........never mind I know I will. It is just so weird because I NEVER loose any weight. It feels so weird that I actually did loose a couple of pounds. The last time I lost weight on a diet was probably over 2 years ago. I went to this steroid crazy Dr. That put me on a weight loss program. Basically just took lots of my $$$$ :) He tried to prescribe me diet pills but I wouldn't take them at first because I wanted to do it on my own. I lost 13 lbs. in 1 month. I was so excited. I only ate foods that "God" made...basically only natural foods. The next month I only lost 5 lbs. he told me it was horrible and it was like kicking him in the balls. Can we say inappropriate??? He then used cussed words in the same sentence he talked about going to church. Oh, and used the "N" word, because he was mad at African Americans because they built muscle easier than him????? Needless to say I never went back.

I had to go to Walmart AGAIN yesterday! I actually got hit on by a creepy man. I was walking into Walmart and this creeper say "Hey good looking, how are you?" Gross. It scared me. I didn't know what to say so, I said "Thank you!" I know, I told you it scared me and I didn't know what to say!!!!

Last night was a huge accomplishment. I like to say it was indeed a Labor of LOVE. Every month our church helps out with a drug recovery program called Celebrate Recovery. We provide the recovering addicts with a meal, serve the meal to them, and then our Praise Team sings the Praise and Worship for their service. I always enjoy going. Sometimes we go 2x a month. Last night it was hard!! We weren't serving anything special. It was just sandwiches, chips, brownies, and drinks. But, let me tell you!!!! A person on a liquid diet has a hard time serving ANYTHING!!!! I was serving the chips......In front of me was huge OPEN bags of every kind of chip I would DREAM about eating right now. I am talking Cheetos, Doritos, Plain, Sweet Heat, Sour Cram and Onion. You name it and we probably had it there. I had to serve everyone who came through the line hand fulls of CHIPS!!!!! Guess what, I did it! Even though it would have been SO easy to just eat 1 chip. I didn't! It really was a LABOR of LOVE! It made me feel good! Like.."Hey I can do this!" I didn't sing last night because I was a little weak. I don't think I am getting enough protein in still. I just sat in the audience and WORSHIPED! I felt such at PEACE! I actually cried. I love having ALONE time with GOD!!!

Protein shake this morning was a little better. I added frozen strawberries instead of just plain ice. I am not 100% that is aloud, but they were blended VERY WELL ;) I only put 1/2 a scoop of protein in it also. I know that's not right but I figured I can add a little more every time. Maybe this will help me get used to it!!!!! Other than that I will have a low fat cream of broccoli soup for lunch. Low fat yogurt for breakfast snack. Sugar free jello and pudding for afternoon snack. Some kind of brothy soup for dinner. Oh, and another protein shake hopefully!!!

At Celebrate Recovery we always say the Serenity Prayer with everyone before we leave. Even though I am not a "drug" addict, I still find it very positive and it helps me. I'll leave you with it!!!

God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will.
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.

It. Is. A. Done. Deal.

Just heard from my surgeons office.

I have my official approval.

I have a date.

:)

I don't want to post the date on my blog.

I have so many haters in blog land. I do not want any negative thoughts or words towards me.

I would LOVE to share my good news with ALL my awesome supportive followers though!

Email me so I can give you the deets!

catmalonesellers@yahoo.com

Oh, and I took some before pictures, real before pictures ;) I am going to take some more because my husband told me my first round was a little provocative ;) Maybe I'll put on a little more clothing this time!!!!!

Now go email me!

I need all ya'lls support!!!!

I just want to eat some ham.

Good Morning Blog World!!

This is day 2 of my pre-op diet.

Have I mentioned I hate protein shakes?

Well, just for the record I do.

I dreamed about ice cream and cinnamon rolls last night.

Want to know the good news......I am down 3 1/2 lbs. this morning!!!!!!

What? Can this be POSSIBLE?????

I really would like to just eat a ham today.

Ham.

I am not sure why, but ham sounds really good to me!!!!!

In all seriousness I guess I am doing good. Have not cheated, so that's great!!! I didn't get enough protein in yesterday. I am suppose to be getting in 60 protein and at least 64 oz of water. I did way more water than that yesterday, but didn't get my protein in. I will try harder today! I have already drank one protein shake so far......moving along!!!!!

I ended up going to the grocery store 2x yesterday!!! Someone on a LIQUID diet should not be aloud in a grocery store!!!!!! It was pure torture. Stuff I would never even eat all the sudden sounds great to me!!!! I made it out alive and still on my liquid diet!!!! I am going to try not to go back anytime soon!!!! I can't believe I was down 3 1/2 lbs. this morning. It just doesn't seem real!!

The Perfect Place

If ya'll haven't noticed I got a new blog layout!!! I love it! I think it is so cute!!! I am also changing the name of my blog!!!! It used to be called "Band Me....I'm Ready!" I love that name also because trust me, I AM READY TO BE BANDED!!!! But, after thinking about it, and realizing that this blog is about so much more than just my journey to be banded, I decided to come up with a more versatile name.....

"The Perfect Place"

I think that suits me perfectly!!!!! I am at the perfect place in my life right now! I am excited about this new journey I am about to embark on! I'm excited for the changes that are going to be made!

"The Perfect Place"

I want to thank each and everyone of you for commenting on my previous post about "What if's....."! I am in such a better place today than I was a week ago! I am still nervous but it is an excited nervous! A nervousness because I KNOW this is exactly the perfect place!!!

I went to my last 7 month appointment on Monday on my birthday!!!!! It feels surreal that THAT is over with! I had a long talk with my Doctor that I love so much! She has really been awesome this whole entire time! At the end of the appointment she hugged me!! :) Told me everything was going to be fine, and that THIS was the right thing to do! I just really love her.

I have a surprise for everyone!!!!!

Want to know what it is???

I have started my full liquid diet today!!!

Does anyone want to know why????

I talked to my weight loss surgeons office today, and Mary's procedure is getting very close!

So close that they told me to go on my liquid diet asap, like right now!!

Want to know another secret????

I didn't find this out till like 10 am......

Guess what I ate for breakfast????

King size Twix bar, a large pack of Lance Gold N Cheese bits, and a 12oz Dr. Pepper.

Let's just say that was a little embarrassing when I had to tell the nutritionist what I ate for breakfast this morning!!! She is a sweetheart and said it was fine, but to start my full liquid diet right then.

And THAT I did!

I went home and made me a strawberry protein shake for lunch. It isn't the GREATEST thing in the world, but I AM drinking it ;) I think I need to work on my shake making skills!!!!!

This is what I am allowed to have:

decaf, unsweetened tea or coffee

light juices

sugar free jello

sugar free popsicles

propel water

crystal light

broth

low fat cream soups

sugar free pudding

v-8 juice

tomato soup low fat yogurt

fat free milk

carnation instant breakfast

protein supplements - 2 or 3 a day

at least 64 oz of non carbonated beverages a day / limit caffeine

So what do ya'll think????

I am excited. Much more excited than I thought I would be! I have put THIS all in God's hands and I know HE knows what HE is doing!!!!

Wish List

Good morning!!!

Guess what my birthday is coming up!!!!

I am going to be a whopping 28 years old!!!

Getting to close to 30 for my comfort!

There are a few things I have been wanting! One is a have to for my weight loss and the other is a goal!

Here they are...

I need a scale desperately! I have this horrible old one that really doesn't work at all! I am not sure this is the exact scale that I need or want. I am wanting one that measures like the .1. You know what I mean? So if I went from like 230.4 to 230.3 I would still know I am loosing and it would still encourage me! I like the ones that can do all that cool stuff also! I was looking yesterday at Walmart.com and saw some that even measured like body water and your BMI!!!! If that really works I want one that can do all that stuff too! I would love to know what your favorite scale is, and if it is worth it to buy one with all the bells and whistles!!! Let me know ladies and boys!!!! ;)

Here is the goal item! I have to confess I dream about being able to wear these shorts. I just love them! I think they are beautiful! I can totally see me as one of these people that are just so gorgeous and thin and free that can just throw on a pair of these shorts and a t-shirt and go shopping or wherever! Disclaimer - once I can fit into these shorts I plan on living in them! I want like every color!!! A couple of weeks ago me and my husband were in a Hibbits Sports shop and I showed them to him! He thinks they are a great goal prize also! He told me once I could fit in them I could buy all the colors I wanted!!!!

Ok, so that is 2 items on my wish list! I need some more so I can give people birthday hints ;) What else would be a great investment for me? What items do you love that you couldn't do the band or your weight loss with out?? I need ideas!!!!!

I also want to take just a quick minute to thank everyone for there support during this horrible time with one horribly nasty blogger. All your comments have been great and all the emails have been greatly appreciated!!! I am going to keep on trucking on this path, because I know where the path is headed!

P.S. - I know nasty creepy man is still trashing me on his blog. It does hurt my feelings that he would take my "To DO List" from my blog and post it on his blog to make fun of me. But, you know what that is ok. It is his blog. I know the purpose for that to do list, and it has been a helpful tool to me during this journey. I am taking the high road, because I just don't really care. I am sure he is not the first person to make fun of me and sadly probably not the last. I can't expect everyone in the world to jump on my band wagon and support me in life. Some people just don't get it. The truth is sometimes it is just hard being famous. ;)

Support

I went to my support group this weekend! And.......I had a great time! It was the first time I have ever been, so I was a little nervous, but it ended up being great! I learned some new info, which is always good! I got to try some different kinds of protein and I even bought some! I ended up buying the Matrix vanilla kind. I choose it because they had lots of fun recipes that went with the vanilla kind and I thought it would be fun to change it up a bit!!! Some of the recipes were for a chocolate and peanut butter shake, strawberry cream shake, banana shake, and a chocolate shake! I tried most of them and they were all ok! I hope I can get used to drinking protein! I think it takes pretty nasty right now!!!! Anyway I got a copy of my pre-op diet at the meeting! I was actually kind of excited to see what I was going to get to eat.........which is pretty much NOTHING!!! I meant to bring the list so I could post it, but I forgot it! It basically was water, unsweetened tea, light juices, sugar free Popsicles, sugar free pudding, light yogurt, broth...........I guess the norm for most liquid diets! They want you to do it for 1 week unless you have a high BMI and then it is 2 weeks. If I had to guess I would guess I am going to have to do it for 2 weeks. My BMI according to me at 5'5" is 51. My BMI according to my surgeon's office at 5'4" is 53. I think that is a huge difference for only 1 inch!! I think that is a high BMI so I am just going to go ahead and plan on doing 2 weeks. I think it will be good for me!!!! Until then though I am sticking to the MARY PLAN and not thinking about what I eat. I know it isn't the best plan......but I am about to go on a crazy pre-op diet and HAVE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY!!

Guess who I got to meet this weekend????? KIM!!!!! She is so sweet and so beautiful in person!! She made me feel so much more comfortable! Kim I really appreciate you going with me!!! It meant so much....so thank you so much!!!!!!!!! Her blog is here if you don't already follow her!!! http://good-byefattymcbutterpants.blogspot.com/!!!!!!

Closeness

This would be a good adjective to describe how I am feeling about my upcoming "procedure". Closeness. I think it is a good way to feel. It is getting close that's for sure! I can't help but maintain the idea that I am utterly UNPREPARED for this surgery! I need some advice from some pros!!! That would be ANYONE that reads my blog that is farther along in this journey than me...... pretty much EVERYONE!!!! I am probably about a 1 1/2 months away from have this "procedure" and my game plan right now is.......do whatever I want and eat whatever I want. Which is probably not the best game plan I'll admit! When ya'll were this close what were ya'll doing? Where you eating differently? Taking smaller bites? Exercising like crazy? Or, just setting back and mentally getting prepared? How do you mentally prepare?? I know I will more than likely have to do some sort of pre op diet before surgery. I have not been to my nutrition class yet because they want you to already have a surgery date when you go, I am guessing so it will be fresh on your mind when you actually have the surgery done. So I guess I just need some guidance! What are some things that I should be doing to get ready for this!!! I know you guys are great and will give me some great tips! :) I have faith in you!

I am going to the support group meeting tomorrow!!! Yay! I really am excited about going! I am going to get to meet a BLOGGER!!!!

The sweet KIM @ http://good-byefattymcbutterpants.blogspot.com/

I am looking forward to finally meeting her! My husband Anty is also going with me!!! I am hoping I get some good support and maybe some ideas on what I should be doing to prepare for surgery!!!

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!!! Thanks for all the ideas ;)

Beautiful Day....

I'm still here!

Just busy as ever and trying to enjoy this wonderful summer!

I'm still FAT!!!! :)

I'm still waiting to get banded! :(

On the band front everything as going wxactley as planned!

I have my 6th Dr.'s appointment on Thursday!

I have my sleep study July 14th.

I have my support group meeting on July 17th.

I have my finally Dr.'s appointment August 2, my BIRTHDAY!!!!

Then from there I will have 1 nutrionist appointment and my pre-op appointment......

then Mary will finally be banded! Pheeeeewwwwwwwwwww

It fills like I have been on this JOURNEY forever!

Good news on a personal point I will be leaving for Disney World on Saturday! Yay for me! Everything is just about ready and I am really so excited!

I want to thank all my readers......seriously ther is 99 of them!!! Why do ya'll follow me???? I never update!!! :) Just joking I really appreaciate all of ya'll!!! You all have helped me so much in this process! Thanks!

Oh, I have been visted vy some fairies!!! Not just any fairies.....banded fairies!!!! Thanks to those special ladies who have sent me clothes!!! Oh, and a special thanks to Kim, she sent me Disney World maps! TOO sweet!!!!

So, anyway, I AM STILL HERE!!!

Don't forget about me!0

Oh.....and I would really love 100 followers ;)

Hello.....my name is Mary :)

I know, I know.....I have been gone for way too long this time! I need a spanking! :)

No great excuses just a busy life in general!

I was talking to Amy @ http://babblesofabandster.blogspot.com/ and she said she missed my blog! Sweet isn't she!! She is also sending me some clothes!!!!!!!! I just love her! :)

I have really just been busy with work....church....church......home.....just everything!

I promise to start doing better! :)

On the weight loss front I am doing awesome I have lost 0 lbs!!!!!!!! Cool huh! Just joking...about it being awesome, I really have lost not one single lb :( Sad I know! I just have had to come to terms with the fact that I can just not loose weight on my own. It just doesn't happen for me :( I really don't know what to do about it, other thank just sit back and wait and pray really hard that when I do finally get this tool inside me I will succeed. Kinda depressing :( I need encouragement :) Maybe ya'll could help me with this.....hint hint ;) !!!

On the life front everything is going great just bust great! I am not sure if ya'll remember but my husband Anthony had hurt his foot while dancing at church the last time I posted! Well, praise God everything is fine! The first ortho we saw was here in Jasper was not really that good

:( Of course he wanted to do surgery like he does with every patient he sees :) Get my drift!!! Surgery was not in our vocabulary for a lot of reasons! So we went to see an ankle specialist in Birmingham at the Andrews clinic!!!!! Awesome experience! Guess what he said everything was fine :) Oh, and Eli Manning was in there the day we were! Pretty cool huh!!!!!!

On the Mary needs a vacation front everything is moving right along! Disney is less than a month away! Since I haven't managed to loose any weight :( I have just come to the terms that I am going to be doing Disney as a BIG GIRL!!!! But you know what, I am a hottie and you better believe that I am going to rock it big and beautiful style! :) I'll just have to squeeze in the rides!!!!! :) I have been doing a little shopping for my trip......here is some things I have bought!

Ok blogger is being weird and will not let up my upload my pictures :(

I'll try to post them later!!!

Now, ya'll get to leaving encouraging comments! :)

Thanks in advance! :)