Happy New Year!

Hello... New Me! Everyday I am closer to being "Healthy" and "Thin".... I am eating better and much more active... I am entering 2011, in much better health then I entered 2010. I know this year will hold many more new adventures and happy moments than 2010 held. I can't wait and I look forward to seeing what you all get into during the new year! 2010 is the year that I changed my life, started writing my blog, "met" alot of you in person and in virtual world.... I am a better person because of 2010... and look out 2011! Enjoy a healthy, Happy New Year... My Friends! Go Get 'Em!

HELP>>>> I've fallin' off the Wagon and I can't get up!

Ok, I am beginning to believe I am a self-saboteur... I mean, my head knows that i have to eat a Lean/Green diet to continue my weight loss... (Basically Low Carb/High Protein/Low Fat) But my mouth seems to be on strike... For some reason... Mashed potatoes, which were never a favorite of mine... are now craved often. I miss bread... alot and I am not loving meat these days. I guess I should tell you that I never was a meat and potatoes girl... But now I'm forced to be a meat and broccoli girl... specifically chicken, turkey or fish... I do eat beef and pork sometimes too but mostly I stick to poultry or fish. I have been seduced by the potato completely... I want baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fries, sweey potatoes, and so on and so on... I always have gotten a small spoonful at a buffet once in a while to feed the need but the spoonful has been getting bigger and bigger... and my protein count has been getting lower and lower. I have been having a great day today, 103 grams of protein and 64 ounces of water so far... but also I went over my carbs by a few... and want more desperately like a crackhead craves the pipe. I only had 53 grams of carbs... not 530, like I want. I have been trying to keep the carbs below 50 a day. So why are the cravings so strong? Anyway, I really need to stay strong... I exercised with my Wii Just Dance 2 earlier and seemed to be doing so well. I love my Just Dance 2, BTW... I have been doing the Just Sweat program and I am doing the tough one which is only like 3 songs a day... and I have been going on... Did you hear that world? I can stop since I hit my 1000 sweat point mark and continue on... I felt great but with the night comes the cravings.... Always. I am looking forward to seeing some great BOOBs this weekend! No, I'm not hitting the strip clubs.... well, maybe I am but Stephanie, Heidi, Amy and I are getting together... for dinner and Disney. i am going to miss the many visiting BOOBs... Orlando is one of the top tourist destinations in the World... but just between you and me... I won't miss the tourists.

Merry Christmas to Mini-me and Mini-you!

Well, the pity party has begun... I should tell you that we never get to go home for Christmas since my George works for Disney and Disney doesn't celebrate holidays... They have closed like 3 days since we moved here over 10 years ago... 2 were major hurricanes and the other... September 11th, 2001... need i say more? Anyway, I am looking forward to next year and being surrounded by family. We are alone and usually we really enjoy each other's company but on the Holidays it always seems like something is missing. I should be glad that he is high enough in seniority at Disney to have Christmas day and New Year's Day off... at least. We went to the movies for a marathon yesterday... saw Little Fockers, Black Swan, and How do you Know.... We had a wonderful time together, as usual. But today... we are just relaxing at home. Which is fine... but not great. When I see many of you complaining about your families... It makes me think? Would you rather not have the awkward family gatherings at all? Everyone needs a little dysfunction to thrive. I mean, where would we be today without the competitive sibling relationship or the backhanded compliments of your Father's new wife. We hate it while going through it... but without it, it can be lonely and I started a little tiff with my Hubby earlier for no reason... just to add the much needed Holiday Drama. I need the bizarre exchanges! I want the forced conversations! I thirst for the temptation of the cookies, pies, chocolate, And especially Cake! I would love to get drunk on bad eggnog to tolerate my handsy Step-dad! Do I sound crazy? Looney tunes! Muy Loco! That's because I am. The Drama is as much a part of the Christmas Tradition as the sitting on Santa's Lap, Midnight Mass, and Sneaking presents under the tree at 3:30am after frantically wrapping them at 2 since the kids wouldn't stay asleep... all the while hoping that they sleep past 6am. Anyway, Christmas without the Drama? No Thank you! If my Christmas sweater isn't drenched in gravy from my drunk sister's annoyed passing down the table... It's not Christmastime! I get frustrated with all the commercialism, greed and traffic... the same as everyone else but i am not sure i could live without it... even though I say i easily could. Jesus was born in the world to die for our sins... because we are human and are prone to sin.... I'm sure when he looks down on us with disgust, he has to giggle a little at our human nature getting the best of us. Human nature is the reason that we celebrate his birth in December... since he wasn't born then... but the catholics didn't like being outdone with the pagan Winter soltice celebrations... and Christmas was born! Merry Christmas Everyone... Enjoy the magic memories and giggle at the Tragic moments. The combination is what brings us Christmas! And Good will toward Men... even though they end up asking "When are we going to eat?"... instead of picking up a spatula and pitching in!

Food Pimps... Take your homemade fudge and Shove it!

Tis the season of the Food pimp... Eff-Eff-Eff-Eff-Effffff-Eff-Eff Eff UUUUUUU! ... I have been trying to steer clear of them pretty well with their Christmas baked goods and grandmother's recipes to just have a little taste... Uuuummm, would you offer a Junkie a heroine fix? i love the Sweetness like Crack! Candy, Pies, Cookies, Hot Chocolate, Cake, Homemade Fudge... You love me for a moment... and i hate you for a lifetime. I know that a little taste won't hurt me... I know that it's only once a year... i know that I can always diet tomorrow... but I am making my own food choices... and they might not always be good but they are always... Mine to make. So don't Push me into "Indulging" with peer pressure or "Rewards" for all my hard work. While they're all preparing for the new Lent of the New Year's Resolution... We are trying to walk the walk... among the gingerbread houses, Sugar Plum Fairies and candy cane dreams! And remember... It's the thought that counts... or the lack of thought. Be strong. it will all be behind us soon, just like our new "Less junk in the trunk" behind. Merry Christmas to all the other Walk the Walkers...! Trip, if you like, but don't fall! PS... If I turn out to be a hypocrite for the day, or the week, or the month... Just let me wallow in my own cookie crumbs with an eggnog chaser pity party... I don't need the Food Police to come to my rescue either. (And kindly disregard the previous post....I may have been in a sugar coma while writing it...) This post is dedicated to Hey... at Lap with me, who inspired me to write it... and be strong.

Eggface is Santa... This year! Giveaway!

Our friend Shelly over at "The World according to Eggface" is giving away a great laptop lunch kit... Bento Box style. It is great for us Bandsters who need to have a little of this and a little of that... Anyway, you have to enter to win! Check it out! http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/12/ho-ho-bento-holiday-giveaway.html

Help me Santa Claus!!!!

Dear Santa, This year all i want for Christmas besides World Peace, of course... Is Friggin' Will Power, and Self-control... because I am really wanting to eat my way through all the Christmas Joy and am afraid that my round belly will shake when i laugh like a bowl full of jelly, no offense... which i will be head first in especially if it's Raspberry. Well, I guess I should be glad that I am far from my family with the cookie baking and the chocolate making... well, let's not kid ourselves, pretty much anything sweet. I love my sweets... candy, cookies, cake... I really love Cake! How can i say this? I wish Cake and chocolate tasted bad... after my surgery, SAY WHAT? Did I just say that? I think it's a frickin' Christmas Miracle.... when I admit that I would be better off if Cake Sucked! I wouldn't mind the over indulgence, if it only came but once a year... but a day without chocolate is not a good day... Anyway, Santa, I've taken up enough of your time... Instead of giving up Cake, could you possibly make my metabolism super fast so I have to eat more or I'll become too thin... I'd like to try that for a while. Thanx, I've been a good girl... most of the time, and when i haven't, I've had enough sense to destroy the evidence... or at least eat it all and blame the dog. Your loyal friend, *Maria*

Mama's got a brand new... Shoe?

Mama's got a brand new ...Shoe? I am sure you've realized from my constant whining about my state of health 9 months ago... pre-band? It was bad... and I am realizing each day just how bad it was... Anyway, I had settled on a life of slip-on shoes... even my sneakers were slip on... Hiding the painful truth that I couldn't put on my own shoes... or socks. Thank God for my sweet understanding George... and for the fact that he never had to wipe my ass. I was afraid that i would end up there... Don't go there! Takes on new meaning, doesn't it? I am thrilled to the point of breaking into a skip and singing What a wonderful world daily these days... so something must be done to prepare my feet for that lifestyle! Well, these are my first pair of Lace them uppers... Serious Kicks for a serious walker. I am my own ass wiper! You hear me world! I'm putting on my shoes and socks one foot at a time... I am ABLED! Well, I have been realizing the need for "Real" sneakers for a while, ever since one of my Dr. Scholl's slip on sneakers... went flying across the gym when a recumbent bike got a little ahead of me. Along with the fact that my routine flip flop life is coming to a close come April when I move home to Philly. I love my Fit flops... And Skeptic as i may be, they do work out your calves, thighs, and buttocks! I have a firmer fanny due to my new fit floppin' lifestyle... so since our Florida days have been less sunny more chilly these days. I got some New Balance Rock n Tones... They aren't the new fancy True balances but thanx to the Outlets... last year's model was less than 1/2 the heavy price tag... and 25% extra percent off... My critique Is that they do ROCK! and TONE! These shoes are made for walking... and that's just what they do... one of these days these shoes are gonna walk all over you! Or over to you at least!

Body Imagination?

Well, here it is... The post I have been dreading to write, but Tessie Rose has inspired me today with her heartfelt post. It can be overwhelming at times... I went into this journey truly believing that I was doing this for my health... not my body image. Well, my health is a 100% better... but my self-image is 100% worse... How, you may ask, after losing 104.3 pounds could my body image be worse? I don't think my defense mechanisms allowed me to see how big I was... I mean, i knew I was loved and I knew i was overweight... even morbidly obese, but 475 pounds... never was imagined, until the cruel scale broke down my defenses... and opened my eyes to the cold hard truth. Luckily, when I was weighed I was in a bariatric seminar... obviously on my way here but I started seeing photos differently, and my behaviors differently. I always hid halfway behind my husband or others in photos to delude myself... i had alot of close ups on my face but not many full-length shots... if they were taken that way I would crop them... I unconsciously knew that i was unhappy with my body... but I distracted myself with everything else... not making the time to be there for "ME"... Well, now I make alot of time for myself. To choose good food options... and when I choose not so good options... I take my time and savor every bite of the Yum. I make time to blog and release all these thoughts from my overactive mind. I take time to be the friend I want to have... I take the time to compliment... if I think it, I say it! It tends to freak folks out from time to time but i feel like people need to hear nice things about themselves and no one takes the time to say nice things, unless they want something. On the same point... I try to take compliments I'm given with the grace and appreciation that they deserve. I know that people are more likely to take the time to say nasty things... so I am fearful still since my self image is healing slowly. When people ask how much weight I've lost... I am nervous to say that I've lost 100 pounds because I believe that they're thinking... "You've lost 100 pounds and you're still that fat?"... Now that my defenses are not as strong... it's like alot of the weight I've lost has come from my protective shell. I am also angry... When i see people being mistreated because of their weight. I joke about my weight all the time, but It bothers me when I see other people do that... about their weight. I am a Forever Fatty... and I am proud of myself for how far I've come... It is a long road ahead... but I need to realize how hard I've worked by taking each necessary step. I may never be a supermodel... but I have always been one to my George and that's enough... Today, I say goodbye to 104.3 pounds and good riddance! It's my journey but I want to make my husband proud, my mother proud, and my brother proud... Is that silly?

Day 3!!! I'm eating again! And 5.3 pounds gone.

I am done with the liquid days of the 5 day pouch test... Yesterday was easier than day one... But I really was looking forward to chewing... It is hard to get your chew on with sugar-free jello! Anyway... I wanted to get any idea how much the liquids flushed out... and i am down 5.3 pounds. Amazing! I expected maybe 1/2 of that. I know that the proteins are basically what i eat in my normal diet... so i don't expect to lose much more than normal but I am also staying away from all carbs instead of most carbs so maybe that will make a difference. Outside of Band news, I am looking forward to starting my Christmas Season with the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT this friday... We are going with Kim(Good-bye Fatty McButterpants) and her Dad. We have become very good friends since we met in Chicago, another blessing from my blog. I love reading about each of your lives and ups and down... I am truly inspired by your successes and saddened by your losses... unless they are the good losses. You are all Losers! I am blessed to be a Loser as well... and every pound i lose, I know i owe it to you as much as to my food choices... and exercise(What there is of it)... Anyway, I can't wait to meet Kim's Dad... i met her Mom when i met her for Lunch while she was visiting her Mom and family... They don't live far from Orlando... When I move I will be leaving a few friends behind but I am relieved to know that you are always a web address away... and i take you with me on my journey no matter where it takes me. Well, I wanted to have the whole Magical Disney Christmas Experience for our last Christmas here... i will see everything through different eyes... and a different body. I feel wonderful walking around without the pain and breathing issues(Out of breath) I had 9 months ago... It is an amazing time to visit DisneyWorld!

Anyway... A bad day... Liquidified!

Well, I enjoyed my mini-getaway... Christmas spirit and all. unfortunately, The rest of the weekend was quite stressful... The yard sale didn't go over as well as we hoped but the unsold went to the Salvation Army and Goodwill so Reduce, reuse, recycle.. and all. I was on my TOM all weekend and the combo of stress and TOM= Chocolate... and when I went to the Doctor for my fill, i had gained almost a pound since my last weigh-in... Which wasn't great news, but I had started the 5 day pouch test this morning... and hopefully, My starving and torture will get me back on track. My Doctor's office emailed me this photo that they took of me the day before my surgery... to cheer me up. And i feel better, much better... i have come a long way these last 8 months. The future is bright! I have the Eye of the Tiger... I know since my stomach keeps growling... 24 hours to food!

Sitting on Santa's lap and other festivities!

Yes this is me... Sitting on Santa's Lap, and it's been 3 decades since I last sat there... When I was a child, people would complain about how bony my butt was landing me the family nickname bony butt for a while... I hated it but for the last 25 years, i would kill to get that nickname back...
I have come along way since last Christmas... 100 pounds ago. I look forward to seeing what next Christmas brings... it's now 8 months and change since my surgery... and i feel like i lost 10 years with the 100 pounds.
Here i am with George at my Surgeon's Alumni Christmas Party... You can imagine the food at a shindig such as this... Protein, Protein, Protein, raw veggies, and Sugar free jello... but I enjoyed it.
Here i am with Susan, our bariatric coordinator... she is a lapbander herself and takes amazing care of us... Last but not least... This is me with Doctor Rehnke... in his festive Christmas tie... When we move i will really miss my amazing, sweet surgeon... Anyway, I couldn't miss this Alumni Christmas party since it was the first one for me... and the last one for me. Unless, i happen to be down here around the next one, I'll miss it. I really didn't know anyone there since i live almost 2 hours away, i go to a closer support group in Celebration, FL. I didn't get to meet anyone at the hospital when i had my surgery because I was so out of it and had my own room. I do plan on visiting some new patients right after they have surgery buti need to plan it around when I have my appt with the doctor or a concert or something... in the area. Anyway, most of the bandsters outside of the blogs i met in my support group at Celebration and they have their surgeon there... But I went to Chicago with a wonderful group of supportive bandsters.... BOOBS, to be exact. Well, i got distracted from a point I was going to make. There was a girl Dawn who won a lapband surgery through my doctor and Allergen. You may have read about her on LapBandTalk well, i have met her a couple times, at a support group and i saw her today at the party... She's lost 108 pounds in the 7 months since her surgery... And since she's been so successful, Allergen and the surgeons' office are donating 2 more this year. So That's awesome news for self-payers everywhere. check around your area to see if there are any contests by surgeons there... And remember that my surgeon's diet is Lean and Green which is why her results are so good... most would never be that good, without little to no carbs. Anyway... I am happy for her, and whoever else wins the next 2 surgeries. As for me, i am staying in a hotel here in Clearwater so i can go to my doctor's office for a fill tomorrow and save gas and hassle. I am officially starting the 5 day pouch test tomorrow... i'll keep you updated on that process too.

The Junk in my Trunk!

This was emotionally a Dark day... Milky way Dark to be exact! I don't keep candy in the house but while pumping gas today it was calling me from the store... Chocolate! Anyway, I stared at the Ding Dongs for a minute or 2... 180 calories for one, but could i refrain from eating the other... Milky Way Dark it is! One of my favorite candy bars... Luckily, it is not always easy to find since most people prefer milk chocolate but I like my chocolate Dark like my moods... Anyway, I am doing well, otherwise. Going through years of clutter and picturing myself on the next episode of hoarders. My yard sale is this Saturday. Pretty please let people come out and buy my junk... One person's trash... and all. i have seen alot of photos of myself over the years and was surprised at my weight fluctuation. I am happy with my new weight fluctuations these days... they're better overall. in other words... After the yard sale, the only junk to still get rid of will be the junk in my trunk!

Guess who's lost 100 pounds?

I have lost.... Drum Roll Please?.... 100 Pounds. I am so thankful that I got weighed on Thanksgiving Eve. I was having a Milky Way Dark Day... and I hopped on the scale to face the music... If you will. Anyway, I was banded 8 months ago yesterday so it is great timing. I blame the loss on my cutting back to only 1 or 2 desserts per day. Good grief! I am blessed! How thankful am I that I have this band to fall back on when my weakness takes me over... Or those days that the Chocolate wins? Or the days when I have the stress of an air traffic controller and the cravings of a pregger? I am still in the game fighting to get when I am going...

I am thankful for what fills my heart...

This Thanksgiving... I am thankful for my wonderful husband George, who puts up with my mood swings, drama queening, and depressions... He is my rock, my hero, my best friend and my knight in shining armor... i am thankful that we have been able to build a home together and welcome my mother and my niece to live here with us in our shiny lower middle life... and that our real home is in each other's arms...Which comes in handy when you are moving 1000 miles from that home you've built to re-build... another. I am thankful for my incredible memories of my father and sister who have left us too young... I am thankful for my family... My Mom, who although she tends to be a food pimp, supports me in all my endeavors, My Mother-in-Law who has accepted me and loved me like I was her own child, My Brother and Sister-in-law who have blessed us with the 2 most amazing nephews on this Earth, My niece who reminds me of my dorkatude whenever I feel hip and with it, and my BOOBfriends who keep me honest, laughing, on track, texting, facebooking, trying new things, and feeling loved and respected... no matter how many cupcakes it takes to get through the day... In conclusion, This Thanksgiving, and every other day, I am thankful for what fills my heart, instead of what fills my belly... I love you all.

Halloween.... Finally!

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Well, This was the first Halloween that i dressed up in a long, long time... When you get bigger and bigger. It is much more difficult to look cute or sexy... in any costume. When we planned this Halloween cruise, I expected it would be more of the same but 93 pounds makes alot of difference, obviously. I really enjoyed this one, I felt confident and sexy. I was the Red-Head from Pirates in the Caribbean... the ride. You know, Me wants the Redhead. Well, I was the Red-head to George's Captain Jack Sparrow. I am the Redhead! Anyway, what will next Halloween bring?

Exciting news...

We are moving back home in the spring time... Philly bound. I am so excited. I have been begging my husband for years since my first nephew Chase was born and he finally gave in... I am about to flip out... I will get to watch my nephews grow up and see my family every week instead of 2 or 3 times a year. Anyway, We are going through all our junk and getting a couple yard sales together and getting rid of the unsellable... We are simplifying our lives and bills... We are going to travel alot and enjoy our families.

It's like Weird Al says... Eat Me I'm a Danish.

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These photos take me to my happy place... i love Dolphins and this was my first time interacting with them... My weight has held me back from doing alot of things but I can't explain the exuberant joy that I was filled with that day... I was over the moon as they say... Anyway, now I am home in a Post-Vacation funk... It happens alot when I get home from a romantic vacation alone with my husband... I am still struggling with the CARB EFFECT.... It's like the Butterfly effect but with no redos. I have been spending too much time at home catching up on my Tvs shows that DVRed while I was away. Home means snacking to me, no real distractions, and eating while unhungry which all lead to carb cravings and old habits sneaking back in. I have decided to do the 5 day pouch diet like Kristen did to get back on track... and back to basics. I knew my vacation would cause me some trouble but I thought that It would be weight gain, i actually lost 1 1/2 pounds while traveling but instead it has started bad cravings and a post-vacation funk. Depression causes me all kinds of screwed up eating. I just ate 2 Eggo waffles and didn't get stuck. I have alot of those 100 calorie snacks and have eaten more than I should in a day. I need to get this monkey off my back... Anyway, I have been eating fine at meals... but snacking in-between like a mad woman. I am not making excuses... but where are my peeps at? Very few of you have been blogging or commenting lately, and I miss my support system. Anyway, I haven't gained any weight or hit a plateau yet, just slowed my weight loss down considerably. So not all is lost... and support group is tomorrow night so a little time with my hometown BOOB Amy(Babbles of a Bandster) and my other banded friend DD may be just what i need to jumpstart my lifestyle back into gear. Wish me Luck!

My Visit with the Bama Beauties...

Here are Kim and Kristen Rivals til the end... Crimson Tide and Tigers. those girls can't even fake being mean.... I should have given them some tricks on Trash Talkin' since I'm from Philly... Those Southern Belles wouldn't know what hit them... LOLThis is what I would look like with long hair... I love me some fake hair. I am going to be one of those cute little old bitties with the crazy wigs. And Kristen feeds my addiction like a Opium Den master... I love that Supermodel.

Shopping with the girls...
Here i am as a honorary Bama Beauty... Check out these hotties!
Here we are with our makeup artists... Bare Escentuals glamour girls.
We are posing next to the big pink makeover truck...
We are trying to copy the fabulous escalator Chinatown Chicago shot... Looks good, but not great.
******I feel overwhelmed... I have so much to blog about and I can't think of where to start... just let me start by repeating... I love my BOOBS... Those of you who are friends of mine on facebook know that my road trip part of my vacation started in Dollywood and it rained all day and our time was basically ruined. Rain puts a damper on everything on vacation but we come from the Happiest Place on Earth and since Walt Disney planned our parks so well, hardly anything gets closed down in the rain. Most things are indoors, so waiting can be done in air-conditioning and out of the elements... Fantastic, really! Dollywood wasn't planned by Disney, unfortunately so everything closes down in the rain. Anyway, after that rain on my parade stop on our road trip we headed through Alabama and stopped to see 2 of my favorite BOOBS, the Bama Beauties... Kim(Good-bye Fatty McButterpants) and Kristen(*Kristen's LapBand Journey). We had an awesome day sight-seeing, then lunching with the ladies... followed by some cardio or in other words shopping at the mall. My wonderful Boobfriend or husband George was our personal photographer for the day and i was so thrilled that he got to meet some of my friends. I already told you that we also brunched with Amy Sunshine and her honorary Boob Girlfriend Heather. He was thrilled to get to meet some of the character in my blogworld melodrama...

Searching for Amy Sunshine...

Well, My trip is going to have to be broken up in several blog posts but I was welcomed home to the Sunshine State by no other than Amy Sunshine... or Amy W. for those of you who are set in their ways. On our way home we got to have a wonderful brunch double date with Amy and her incredibly amazing Heather. I was lucky enough to meet Heather before when Amy was here in Orlando on business and i was totally enchanted by her then and this fantastic brunch didn't change that perception at all. I adore Amy but I am always shocked to realize how tiny she is each time I see her. I look like Gulliver in these photos, like one of these things is not like the others... LOL. Anyway, It was so wonderful to have the end of my vacation been on such a bright note, I tend to be prone to the post-vacation blues usually. I am so happy that another bandster could have the chance to meet my George... he was so taken by the Bama Beauties on the pre-road trip and now a double date with another couple who deals with similar eating issues on the way home... Meaning, George has to watch me eat things from time to time that will get me sick, even though I expect that this time will be different. i was so glad that he got to see that Amy gives Heather the same grief sometimes... What we do to those we love for what we love...namely, Food! I miss you both! You adorable couple You!

Road Trip Rage...

Will I ever get my eating habits in check again? This road trip/cruise has shown me that I still have alot to learn about how to handle the head hunger and boredom... in general. I have actually been really good about the road trip staples such as Slim Jims, Chocolate and Pepsis... but I have eaten like I forgot everything I've taught myself these last 7 months. I want to continue to succeed with my band but I think she may be mad at me because I have been getting stuck more than usual. I know logically that my food choices haven't been good lately but what place does logic have in this addiction? What does logic have to do with anything chocolate? Cover Logic in chocolate and I'll eat that too. I have alot more to say but I am tired and annoyed with myself, slightly. The photo at the top of this post is my 7 month bandiversary photo... taken on my cruise. I've missed you guys!

A Day with the Bama girls... More to come.

I owe you a post... I realize that but I have been having a whirlwind trip and I keep putting it off until "I have time"... Well, I'm about to get on my ship for my cruise in a hour and I never got the chance to post... So here's a quickie. I had a great time in Alabama with Kim and Kristen... even better I expected to and my expectations were high. I wished we lived closer to them so we could get together more often but such is life! It is amazing to meet such good friends without a job, or school to band us together... truth be told we are banded together by our bands... literally. My George felt like the king of the world surrounded by 3 beautiful girls and loved being our personal photographer all day. If you want to read Kim's detailed post or see some great photos from our day about our wonderful and haven't already here is the link. I will write more wonderful detailed post when I return from my romantic cruise... and we are onto more adventures.... Hint! Hint!

Dollywood was a "BUST"... LOL

Hey, DollyWood was a complete "BUST" and not in a good way, like expected. It rained all day at Dollywood yesterday and I didn't even get to go in Dolly's tour bus to check it out... What a waste! Nature can be cruel. Anyway, we moved on to Birmingham, Alabama and we are spending the day with Kim and Kristen here... and I'm really excited since I didn't get my boob fix at Dollywood, I'm gonna get my BOOB fix here. Photos and blog post to follow later!

My Road trip... to New Orleans

I am frantically preparing for an all-night drive... I prefer to drive at night when the roads are mostly clear. I am driving to Dollywood for my first post-band visit. It is good testing ground for my food addictions since the food there is to die for. I am going twice during this trip on the way to New Orleans and on the way home from New Orleans... Why would you do that, you crazy biotch? Well, I love Dolly Parton, but that's not why, I love the theme park, but that's not really it... I think I love the atmosphere during her festivals, This week is the Harvest Gospel Festival... and next week starts the Smokey Mountain Christmas. So I am hitting both. We have annual passes, and I enjoy the area of Tennessee too. I was hoping to see Lynda (This time next year...) when I drove through Georgia but I will probably see her on the way home in a week. We'll see... After we visit Dollywood, we are stopping in Alabama to see my favorite Bama Girls Kim (Goodbye Fatty McButterpants) and Kristen(*Kristen's LapBand Journey*)... I love them both, we had a slumber party til 4:30am in Chicago and laughed til our ports popped. And the Bama girls will get to meet my George for the first time. Then a few days in New Orleans before we leave on our cruise.... I am Super Excited. If there's a chance that any of you live in the Atlanta area, Pigeon Forge/Gaitlinberg area, Birmingham area, or New Orleans area... I would love to meet you if you have the time email me, or facebook message me from my link...

Thousand word thursday... wait what day is it?

This is my 100th post and since i dropped the ball yesterday by forgeting to post my thousand word thursday... here it is, a day late and a dollar short... just like me. It is about my Fit Flops.... As most of you know, walking is a renewed thing for me since I was rolling around in a wheelchair 7 months ago before my band of gold, well plastic but gold sounds more poetic. Anyway, I got some Disney Fit Flops several months ago and they are awesome, so awesome that I have worn them almost all the days since I got them. Last week, I adopted a sister for them. I had the bronzy brown pair and now I have the shiny black pair... Both are pictured here. Comfort can be stylist, it seems or at least adorable. I love them and they haven't worn hardly at all in the 2 months since I got them and wore them very often. And for my final statement of the night.... Let's Go Phillies!

I lost 92 pounds and my mind... this week.

Ok... I just ate more than a 1/2 cup serving of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream... Can you say stress eating? The Phillies lost again... and it is tough to watch. They are so much better than they are playing. So I ate my feelings... luckily all I keep in the house is low fat, light, no sugar added Ice cream. I am not mad at myself for eating ice cream... I love ice cream, It's delicious. The reasons behind eating it... not so much. I have come so far and need to "get a grip".... Sometimes, we will struggle to pay our bills, but lots of chocolate will not help my bank account. Sometimes, I will grieve and feel sad that my Dad and my sister are gone.... but no amount of cake will fill that hole. Sometimes, I will feel under-appreciated by my Husband, Friend, mother, brother, Mother-in-law, and donuts won't cure my blues. next week, I will have been banded for 7 months, I am healthier than I've been in almost 10 years and I've lost 92 pounds so far as of last night. 92 pounds... Can you believe it? Stressed is desserts backwards... but I am stronger than the old me and I am not alone on this journey... You are there with me.

My week in a nutshell...

The first photo is Me and Kim at our lunch... and the second is me and George on our wedding day.... October 14th, 1995.
Well, It's been a full week... for me. My George and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. We went to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival twice... My Mother-in-law is visiting, and I had another mini-boob get-together.... First things first, My mother-in-law Barbara is here visiting, We are pretty close so I'm enjoying having her here and she's going back home on Thursday. She loves buffets so we've been hitting the buffets all week. I like buffets as well, as long as they charge me the child's price since I can't eat much. I do love the variety, that's for sure. A little of this and a little of that. Anyway, super fun... but not so great for my food options. I did very well, making healthy choices though, considering. George and I were married for 15th years last thursday. I can't remember a time when we weren't together but that's a long time. We went to Epcot on Tuesday for the food and wine festival... It was great. Our mothers both came with us and we had a great lunch at the Coral Reef... I got the Kids' Mahi Mahi.... which was delicious but then ended the meal with a Bailey's Jack Daniels' Chocolate Moose... It was so delicious, It's not necessarily a good choice... but my anniversary comes but once a year. And man was it good! We went to see Air Supply since my husband and I are complete AirHeads... LOL. It was the 20th time George has seen them in concert and I have been with him most of the times but it was kinda nice for his 20th concert to be here at Disney. Anyway, It was a great day. On Thursday while George worked, I drove to where Kim's mother lives to see my Boobfriend Kim... (Good-bye Fatty McButterpants)... We had a great time chatting and hanging out. I took my MIL and her mother met us during her lunch hour. It was awesome to meet the mother behind our Kim... She was funny and sweet just like Kim. Kim's new Do looks gorgeous in person too. I am so glad her family is so close to me since It means I'll get to see her again soon. After my George was done work, we went to Ohana's in the Polynesian Resort at Disney. We had to wait a lone while because we didn't have a reservation but we got a table by the window and had a beautiful view. I get stuck everytime I go there and this time was no different. I used to love that place but I don't think it's band-friendly... Anyway, Today we went back to Epcot for another day of the food & wine festival and Howard Jones in Concert... We met up with a couple of old friends who were actually at our wedding... and met their kids for the first time. It was wonderful to see them. Another nice day and this time I made good food choices and did alot of walking again. Baby steps... right? In other news... I got the black Fit Flops from Disney, the other day... my hubby surprised me with them as one of my anniversary gifts... I was going to wait for his extra discount but it is only an additional 5% so... this way, I'll have them for my cruise. I will have to show you the rest of my gifts in another post...

I love my Boobs!!! They are awesome...

My boobs are quite nice, mind you, but I am talking about my BOOBS... Besties that I met here in Blogland. My BFFs... If you will. Yesterday, I got to spend some quality time with Rani(Roo) from "A Brand New Roo". She is the Sassy Aussie who's living in Dubai these days... She is quite the adventurer and World Traveler. I envy all that she's seen and done in her somewhat shorter lifetime, so far. I will catch up someday... LOL. I met her at her Disney Hotel where she's been staying since she came in from Chicago, where I originally met her with alot of other BOOBS. We went shopping for a while, and had a great chat over dinner at Joe's Crab Shack... We had a awkwardly funny waiter named Hash... and i enjoyed my Mahi Mahi so much that I nearly licked the plate. Well, We talked and talked... like old friends. It was amazing. I never met anyone online before this blog came into my life, and I always wondered how people could fall in love and have whole relationships online, but I feel so connected to you all... and enjoy your ups and mourn your downs... You are my Good Friends. I can't believe how blessed this blog has made me. Anyway, I highly recommend Mini-Boob outings for all. I am lucky to live in one of the top tourist designations in the world... so I am getting alot of Boob on Boob action... You knew I was going there, didn't you?

The Cheesesteak.. stuck to my ass! and other works in progress.

Ok, I'm home and I've realized a few things while I was in Philly... 1)If I still lived up there among my people, I would find every pound that I lost. It's not just that the food is awesome(Cheesesteaks, Soft Pretzels, Rice Pudding, Scrapple, and all the pizza and hoagies/Subs are better because the bread is better), but being around my whole family brings up old eating habits... Moderation is not a word that I learned in my family or an action used in my family, but my metabolism can't handle that lifestyle and I know it. Now that I'm back I am struggling to get back in the groove... but I'll get there. 2) My nephews are probably the cutest angels in the whole world... well, most likely they are. 3) I have always been a people pleaser... but I didn't know it. I want people to like me so I become who I think they want me to be or "tone" myself down for them if need be... It is a good thing sometimes, but it is not constant. I feel like my family does not love me unconditionally and that I have to work on keeping them liking me... I like myself most of the time but feel like others need a different version of me to grow to love. The reason that i mentioned this is because in Chicago, i was myself. i was the true Maria. i was funny when i felt like it, thoughtful when i needed to be, graceful when the mood struck me, and I realized that I am a work in progress... always re-evaluating what i am or want to be. I know I sometimes rub people the wrong way and sometimes my sarcasm is too biting, or sharp, but I am trying to be or become the best me... I can be.

I absolutely love Jen from "A Freckle on the Nose of Life's Complexion"... She is funny, takes beautiful photos and see the world in an incredible way... I adore her and read her blog whenever she blesses me with a post... She is having a giveaway and I am giving her a shout out. She is giving away this cool alarm clock for those of us to prefer to remain sleeping from Think Geek. You have to check it out... and her amazing blog. http://freckleonthenose.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-of-giveawayable-proportions.html

My Philly visit and a big goal for my 1 year...

I'm in the Philly suburbs at my brother's house spending time with my 2 perfect nephews Chase(2years) and Blake(4months)... I am truly blessed but, the internet access and my eating habits are not so good... 1/2 a cheesesteak, some pumpkin pie, a little birthday cake(my brother's birthday was last week) and my SIL made some killer oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins. WTF... If i still lived in Philly, I would find those 87 pounds i lost real quick... but alas, I don't. I have turned down alot of treats but I gave in too much. I will be heading home in a few days and get back on track. I have a goal which seemed outrageous but when i did the math, It is very possible. I want to be down 150 pounds by my 1 year bandiversary, March 23rd, 2011. I can do it... definitely but I have to keep up the good work and stop being tempted too often. Now that I put it out there... in writing... Wish me Luck and lots of Will Control(Will power and self control)...

Memories of BOOBS past and BOOBS present.

It's been an eventful couple days... I knew that I was only here for a few days before flying to Philly tomorrow... i am about to see my sweet angel nephews. I am very excited. i got to spend some quality time with Amy(Babbles of a Bandster), & Amy W.(Once upon a time...In the land of Cheese and Sunkist) and I even got to meet Heather (Amy's girlfriend)... It was a wonderful chance to re-boob after days of BOOB withdrawal. I look forward to hangin' out with Rani(A brand new Roo) while she's here too in the next couple weeks. I highly recommend Mini-Boob outings... intimate gathering gives you the chance to chat and really get to know each other. As you know, I had an incredible time in Chicago with the BOOBS. It went by so fast though and I thought I was going to get a chance to talk to everyone at one point or another but the weekend got away from us. i am so glad that I got to spend time with as many BOOBS as i did but i would have liked to chat with more of you... and I really missed the BOOBS who couldn't make it. It was fun hanging out in each the Bama girls' room like a slumber party, getting stuck on deep dish pizza, sniffing the expensive air in the Coach store, walking on air on the skydeck... (Willis/Sears tower), trying caviar for the first and last time, the talking in my sleep causing the giggling in theirs... It was an incredible weekend full of great memories.

Lady Lap Band Giveaway!!!

Lady Lap Band is having an awesome giveaway of the Biggest Loser food scale... i am entering and thought you would like to as well. Check it out at http://ladylapband.blogspot.com/2010/09/giveaway-find-out-how-to enter.html?

Hello? Is anybody out there?

Worn out... Exhausted... Sore all over... Slowly coming down from a friendship overload. Too tired to think... BOOBS... Will post later. A Picture's worth a thousand words... right?