Wow.....can't believe it's been 13 months since I started this journey! It's been one hellofa ride believe me. Can't say I've had anything in particular that's been extremely adverse up to now. My doctor, Dr. Zare has performed since my surgery...surgery on 3 people that I've sent his way....and one more in the process as we speak. The good doc is such a wonderful person. I thank God everyday for finding him for me, and all the others that will benefit from his expertise! If anyone in the San Jose area, or even Monterey County is looking into this surgery.....this is the man to see! Okay, enough on the good doc.....back to me. I'm so happy with my life these days. I'm hopeful and am striving to remain on this journey on a permanent basis. I don't ever want to go back to the old me. I'm just blown away when I look at all my old pics and see the transformation, for that matter see, really see what I looked like back then. Why is it that I never saw the morbidly obese person staring back at me? Why did I never see her in the full length mirrors I looked into back then? I can't figure that one out! It blows my mind about that aspect of my obesity previously. At any rate....I am an all new person these days and I for one am so grateful for all that I've achieved thus far. I still have 35 more pounds I'd like to have gone, but, I'm taking it one day at a time. I'm eating healthy, taking my vits and drinking tons of fluids! Exercising has become a way of life. Can't say I'm obsessed with it, cause I love walking (at least 3 miles a day at home), but, hate the lunges, and squats that I've learned to do. I get so sore from it. Wondering when the soreness will stop?! I've just started doing the lunges and squats and man oh man, I know why I haven't ever done them up to now! So, if any of you newbies take a gander at this post....know this; Life is what you make it. If you go down this journey, try to make it the best you can, one day at a time! Don't sweat the small stuff, don't stress on numbers, take your vitamins, eat right, sleep right, and exercise right! I love my children so much for supporting me on this journey, they really haven't a clue what their support and pats on the back have meant to me. Thank you to my husband for loving me any way I am.....that means more to me than anything my husband can ever give me....cause I can be a terrible bitch at times!

It's been an amazing almost eight months! I can't begin to explain how wonderful I feel. Being able to go day in and day out without being so obessed with food in itself is so awesome! Lately I've been having a hard time with my appetitie, I'm really not hungry much, and I can now eat about 3/4 cup of food at a sitting....it's just that there is nothing I really truly enjoy enough to want much of. So, I try to drink my protein shakes, drink my water, take my vits and plug along. Hair is still falling out, yet, not as much as it was. There are times I wonder how this will all pan out....will I really get down to where I want to.... I can't imagine being thin. It's so surreal for me where I'm at now, and people all around say how great I look, why is it I still see that horribly obese person lurking inside of me? My outward appearance is not so dramatic to me as it is to people who haven't seen me in awhile. I still have catching up to do mentally.

I broke my ankle last month....wore an air cast black boot during that time, and just got to take it off last week. Now my low back is outta whack....gotta go to the chiro for a few times to get it back in shape.....so, I haven't been able to walk or do much of exercising this past month, yet.....I'm 2 lbs away from reaching my 100 lb mark! I'm just tickled about it. Such a big number! Who knew? Well, I'm sure my good doc, Dr. Zare' knew this would be happening! He's so wonderful! And thank you to the continuing support of my family....I couldn't have been this successful without them!

Just the other day when my daughter did some glamor shots for me (you can see them in my pic's in here), she sent a copy to my son, and my grandson who is 5 years was asked who is that? He said it was his tia (aunt - my daughter)! He didn't recognize his grandma! That was a defining moment for me to a strong degree. That said, gotta admit, I am so happy with this whole process. God bless everyone involved in my life!

Well, it's officially 6 months out as of September 17th! I can't believe how much my life has changed. I'm down approximately 88 lbs! Onederland is looking closer and closer!
Here's a brief overview of how life's changed for me:

First of all ~ Food is not all encompassing in my daily thoughts ~ who would've thought? I've spent a lifetime obsessing on my snacks, meals, desserts, etc..... only those of you who've been there and done that can truly relate to just how miraculously wonderful this revelation is for me! I actually am a picky eater these days and I do not have any complaints about it, believe me! Matter of a fact, I have very few complaints these days...and when I do complain, I take it in stride. Compared to where I was 6 months ago, believe me, I'm not complaining much!

Second of all ~ I'm pretty darn light on my feet these days. I'm walking approximately 3 miles at least every other day and all the in-between times, i.e., breaks at work, after work at the gym, I'm walking here and there during those times and doing exercises I could only watch someone else do prior to this surgery!. I can bend over comfortably, I can tie my shoes effortlessly, I can even exercise and swim for great lengths of time....this in itself is just so wonderful! But more than that, I want to do these things! Lord, thank you for sending Dr. Marc Zare' my way! You have truly blessed me. The good doc has provided the essential tools that I have needed to make a better life (via Lap RNY) for myself and I'm running with them!

Thirdly ~ I can wake up daily and feel like getting up and moving around! I would have never imagined feeling this way 6 months ago! Yes, my life has taken on new meaning.

Lastly ~ Just the other day I went to the doc, and just happened to be walking up to the office when low and behold there stands my doc getting out of her car. When I approach her to say hello, she looks at me incrediously and states; I barely recognized you! Wow, that was a defining moment. After all, I truly haven't noticed that much of an alteration in my looks....but, others certainly have and it feels wonderful, because the good Doc was quick to say how great I looked! Definatley a WOW moment!

Just an additional comment and I'll make this brief...wouldn't want to bore anyone....Everyday is given to me by God and I thank him daily for it, but, just as importantly is that these days I look forward to each day, even if I'm losing my hair, even if my teeth have started to go bad sooner than I'd like them to, even if I have to take in vitamins, calcium, protein that I really don't enjoy taking, I am still so delighted to wake up in this ever changing body with the increasingly sagging skin! I've just learned different ways to tuck it all in! (By the way, Dr. Rey, from Hollywood 90210 ~ you know the breast doc ~ makes these wonderful bras! I just love the one I just bought recently....down from 48 around to 40 around....life is good!

Good luck to all you newcomers and if you're where I'm at these days, give me a holler! I try to come in here as often as I can, it just seems it's never often enough! God Bless!

Mary V.