Why were you referred here?

I meant to post this yesterday buuuuut I never got to the library, soooooo i'll just double post today, since today's post was pre-scheduled from like a week ago!!! 

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Sooooooooo my doctor referred me to a weight-loss clinic in Scottsdale and so I made an appointment and had a phone intake yesterday morning, where basically they go over their program with you and ask you your goals etc...

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So they start off my asking me if I was referred to them by someone? So I say yes, my doctor and then they ask me IF there was a REASON WHY my doctor had referred me to their WEIGHT LOSS program???

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When they asked me this, I paused for a really long time, TRYING to figure out the correct answer??? I mean, this seemed pretty basic, buuuuuut I also graduated high school with straight Ds...soooooooo was this liiiiiiike a trick question??? I analyzed it several times in my head buuuuuuut still could NOT come up with any other answer to this question than the OBVIOUS reason one would join a WEIGHT LOSS program...sooooooooo finally I say...

UUUUUUUUUUUUUH...

TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!

Liiiiiiiiiiike DUH!!! :P

The lady doing the intake starts laughing, she's like, no, what I mean is, aside from losing weight, do you have any health issues, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart issues, sleep apneia or diabetes etc? I'm like, oh no none of that, I just got a bunch of blood work done and they said all that is really good!!! My main thing is that I gained a bunch of weight during 2020 and I haven't gotten it off! I'm able to maintain my weight but I want to get that weight back off and for me to do that I always have to a really strict program and then I'm usually able to maintain it, I just need help getting it off!!! 

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Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut anywayZ it was soooooooo funny when she asked me WHY i had been referred there, liiiiiike isn't this superrrrrr obvious??? Kinda like when I got hired with a special needs company, I work for a different one now, buuuuut at this one they do a new employee orientation and at the orientation, they go around the room and aske everyone to tell them WHY they chose to be in this "CAREER"??? 

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Weeeeeeeeeeeellllll everyone had these huge heroic reasons for their WHY they were doing this, basically they all pulled out their super hero capes and then it got to ME, they're like, what about you Mary? Why did YOU CHOOSE a career here??? I paused for a minute, then after really thinking about it, I gave my HONEST ANSWER, i was liiiiiiiike, Uuuuuuuuuuh...

FOR A PAYCHECK!!!

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Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude you shouldve a seen the look on their faces...they were SOOOOO OFFENDED with my response!!!! I was thinking liiiiiiike, okaaaaaaaaaaay sooooo SUE ME for being the only HONEST person in this room!!!! Yes, I LOVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, buuuuuuut would I be working here IF I DID NOT NEED A PAYCHECK??? NOOOOOO!!! (Once again, I can't pay the bills with good looks and an amaaaaaaZing personality!!!!;) IF I didn't need a paycheck I can not honestly say I would be one of those people that would still be working!!! 

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I'd be traveling the world, going on adventures, exploring, shopping and WRITING!!! Writing is THE ONLY job I would do NO MATTER WHAT without making a dime from it...which is obvious since I DO that right now without making any money...HOPEFULLY that will change soon once I get "Peter's First Italian Feast"  published..(Waiting on the editors and then the illustrator).buuuuuuuuuut IF NOT...I can tell you that I will STILL BE WRITING...I have to...it's in me and I know it's what God wants me to do and I can't waste the gift he gave me!!!!

♥Mary Frances :)

Weight Loss Goals!!!

Sooooooo I wanna lose 26 pounds by the end of the year!!! My weight loss coach...YES...I have a weight loss coach...BAHAHAHAHAAA...anywayz she wants me to lose 40...which I'm all for buuuuuuuuuut lets also be real...THE HOLIDAYS!!! I mean, I'm jus sayin!!!! 

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Although, it all depends on HOW motivated I am, liiiiiiike I ACTUALLY stuck to low carb on my birthday...buuuuuuuut idk if ill ACTUALLY do that for Thanksgiving annnnnnnnnd CHRISTMAS!!! I mean really HOW can we celebrate the birth of Jesus without carbs??? EVEN HE ATE BREAD!!!!

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And my brother wants me to do keto with him and I just wanna do low carb-high protien lifestyle----buuuut i've been eating to much sugar soooooo I gotta cut that out again----I'm just NOT sure about the whole HIGH FAT thing, I'm liiiiiike what about HIGH protien with fat and veggies---I'm not like drinking oil or anything crazy...bahahahaaa...buuuuuuuut I said I'll TRY IT for two weeks and if I'm NOT down a TON of weight I'm eating an apple!!!! Buuuuuut just so  you know I'm NOT EATING PORK RINDS!!!! That's soooooooo DISGUSTING!!!! He's like they actually don't taste bad!!! I'm like I don't care HOW they taste...I can't eat pigs skin....I just can't!!! Annnnnd my brother is trying to convince me that the fat on like steak and stuff is SOOOOOOOOOO good!!! I'm like NO ITS SICK!!! I don't like the way it feels in my mouth and I'm NOT eating it!!! My fat of choice is BUTTER...thank you very much!!! 

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 Also, I had read these reviews about some keto premade foods, like these keto cups that are suposed to be chocolate candy...OMW those things are literally disgusting...DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! and then this like this soup broth that the lady said was sooooooooo amazzzzzing...duuuuuuude it was also sooooo GROSS!!! Buuuuuuut not as nasty as the keto cups...I was literally gagging for those!!!! My brother was like, don't buy premade keto food, your a good cook, just cook  your own stuff!!! I was like TRUE!!! I mean, unless it's a twinkie, premade food is usually pretty gross anyways weather it's keto or not- frozen and packaged meals are all the same!!!!

....soooooo Soooooooo basically I'm just doing the diet that works for me, buuuuuut without any apples or fruit!!🙄 I started today...I'll let you guys know how it's going next Friday!!!! If you've had success on keto or have any tips or GOOD RECIPES or good websites, hit me up maryfranceswriting@gmail.com or text me if you have my number!!! 

Keto taco-isn't it cuuuuuute????

I mean I'm gonna have to say, it was a pretty bomb lunch----maaaaaaannn i'm good!!!

♥Mary Frances :)

Break-through!!!

I have an announcement to make!!!

As of YESTERDAY MORNING...

I lost all 4 pounds I 

gained on Thanksgiving!!! 

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Juuuuuuust kidding!!!! That's NOT my actual announcement although I DID lose it!!! Hee, hee!!!! My announcement is that: I'm officially the lowest weight I've been my WHOLE ADULT AND TEEN LIFE!!! I mean, I had originally gotten there when I got to 279, buuuuuuuuuuut since then I've gotten down to 245 two times then gotten stuck there and gone back up a bit, then down to the same and back up a bit, buuuuuuuuuuuuut I finally broke through the 245 mark and got to 244 yesterday morning! My goal for this year is to get down to 235 and IF I can't make it to that, AT LEAST 239...I really think I can do it!!! 

♥Mary Frances :)
P.S. Isn't my sweater THE PERFECT thing to be wearing for this??? This struggle is real my friends, it REALLY IS!!! 

Getting older...it's all good!!!

Sometimes, when I hear my friends and peers complaining about getting older...I just can't fully relate...I don't feel older and I don't mind saying that I'm almost 40!!! (ok, in 4.5 years buuuut I'm closer to 40 now than 30;) 

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Buuuuuuuuuuuut when I friend recently sent me a comparison photo, I realized WHY perhaps I don't mind getting older...

Check this out!!!! 

I don't particularly relate, looking good and feeling good and good health, TO MY AGE!!! I feel better older, than I did younger!!! It's been a looooooong journey, and I'm not completed yet, buuuuuuuuuuut thank God for his help in getting me where I am today!!! God's given me A LOT of tools that I've had to choose to use and work with to get here, buuuuuuuut ultimately, I couldn't have done it without God's help!!! 

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I meant to say this on Thanksgiving but ran out of time to post about it, but I really am SOOOOOOOOOOOO THANKFUL for my health! To be able to freely do active things and enjoy life to the fullest is such an amazing gift!!! Thank you Lord!!! 

♥Mary Frances :)

Horseback riding!!!!

Soooooooooo as you all know, being able to go horseback riding was on my list of weight loss goals!!! I had researched it online and the weight limit was 250 at most places, SOOOOOOO, with hitting 249 this past week, I knew that it was time to experience this new goal ANNNNNND Thursday was my chosen day to go, since most places are taking their horses to cooler weather for the summer!! There was NO WAY I was waiting till the end of October to go!!! 

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Don't worry, found a RIDING skirt on amazon for NEXT TIME!!! Because I will be doing this again, definitely a new hobby I'm going to learn!!! I chose to go to Cave Creek Trail Rides for my first time riding, it was recommended to me by the lady waxing my eyebrows, LOL, annnnnd since I grew up in this town I was liiiiiiike SUUUUURE!!!

Celebrating 110 pounds lost!!!

Soooooooooooooo to be honest, I was scared OUT OF MY MIND when I was ACTUALLY on top...Like...OMW...THIS IS A ANIMAL...IT HAS IT A MIND OF ITS OWN...ANNNNND THIS IS REALLY HIGH OFF THE GROUND...EEEEEEKS!!! Buuut after a while, I relaxed, they said I was riding like pro, apparently I had really good riding posture...NOT QUITE as at getting OFF THE HORSE!!! BAHAHAHA!!!

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Sooooooooooooo yeah, basically we went all through the desert...That was the thing that scared me, cuz there were cactus and stuff, I was like, I don't want my horse to get to close to the cactus and get mad and buck me off, also they said it was rattlesnake season...soooo YOU NEVER KNOW!!! Next time, I'm going to take the trail UP THE MOUNTAIN...it's like a 2 hour ride!! OOOOOH ANNNNNNND...we're going to go in a group, it's going to be a BLAST!!! 

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My horses name was Teddy Bear!!! Is that liiiiiiike the most MAR-BEARISH name everrrrrr???

The lady riding in front of me was asking if it was fly season because there were so many flies around the horses, I'm like, THEY'RE HORSES LADY...HORSES...Pooping and peeing like every 10 minutes, whada ya expect to be around them???

 Of course I HAD TO TAKE A SELFIE at some point...I mean, I may have been scared out of my mind...buuuuuuuuuuut...How could I NOT take a selfie???

Next riding session will be this summer...In the bay...AT THE BEACH...How amaaaazing is that??? IF I can find a place, apparently, most places over there are saying 200 pounds is their limit, and I don't quite think I'll be there by August!!! LOL!!! If anyone knows of any good places let me know!!!!

♥Mary Frances :)
P.S. I smelled DISGUSTING afterwards, I HAD to take a shower ASAP!!! LOL 

Coolest compliment!!!

So I post this before and after picture of myself on my family Groupme and my brother gave me one of the coolest compliments everrrrr!!!

He said, referring to my before and after picture "Same Self-Confidence though, not very many people can say that!" And I thought, that's just about THE COOLEST COMPLIMENT I've gotten during my whole weight loss journey! No, no, THAT IS THE COOLEST COMPLIMENT I HAVE GOTTEN!!!  Although, I would HAVE to say, that I think what my brother ACTUALLY meant is "Same SELF-ESTEEM" Because self-esteem is overall how you view and value yourself as a person, self-confidence is how you feel in your ability to do something.  Because one of my biggest fears with weight loss surgery, which I will go into more details in another post, was that in the process of losing weight, I would ALSO LOSE ME!!! :,( 

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I talked HERE about my over all self-esteem from a legit mental health test I had to take before they started the weight loss journey process!!! The phsycholgist said he had NEVER had a client score as high as me..bahahahaaaa 

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For example, my confidence may be high when it comes to public speaking or writing because I KNOW that these are strong areas in my abilities, buuuut when it comes to math, my self-confidence may not be very high, not because I think lowly of myself as a person, BUUUUT because I know this is a weakness of mine, HOWEVERRR, self-confidence can improve with learning and studying...soooo if anyone out there wants to tutor me in math...HEEEEEEEY...LOL Anyways, soooo in certain areas, my self-confidence HAS gone up with weight loss when it comes to being able to wear certain clothes because they look better now and in physical activities because with weight loss has come increased ability to become better in physical activities!!! 

However, my SELF-CONFIDENCE, which is what my brother was ACTUALLY referring to, IS THE SAME!!! And TO ME that is THE COOLEST COMPLIMENT EVERRRRR!!! Because ultimately what that means is this, I'm STILL THE SAME ME! ME has NOT been lost in the midst of MY WEIGHT LOSS!!! Believe it or NOT, that was LITERALLY my biggest fear OVERALL with having weight loss surgery, I didn't want to LOSE ME...I LOVE BEING ME!!!

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I still know what I knew BEFORE weight loss, I am a child of God, my heart, my life, my being belongs to Him! I was made by Him, and FOR HIM! I am beautiful BECAUSE He created me in HIS IMAGE! I am HIS handiwork! His masterpiece! HIS DESIGN!!! My outward appearance may have changed, BUT WHO I AM HAS NOT, I am STILL God's girl...I am still my hilarious, warm-hearted, quirky, fun-loving SELF!!!

I AM SITLL MARY...

I AM STILL MAR BEAR!!! 

♥Mary Frances :)

November/December End-of-the-year Weight loss update!!!!

First of all my friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

Well here it Is, my end of 2017 progress photo...as of December i hit my 100 pounds lost since surgery mark!!!

In actuality tho, I've lost 152 pounds since my highest weight of 408 in my early 20's! You guys have NO IDEA how overwhelming my weight loss felt to me at this point. It just seemed like I was in this huge black tunnel trying to fathom how much weight I need to lose, knowing that IF I LOST 100 POUNDS, I would still be OVER 300 pounds...It all seemed IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Buuuuuuuuuuut NOW, now even tho I'm still in that weight loss tunnel, NOW I"M FINALLY BEGINNING TO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL...I can see it, it's NOT IMPOSSIBLE, slowly, but surely and by the grace of God, I'm GOING TO GET TO THE END!!!

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This past year i lost a grand total of 42 pounds, an average of 3.5 pounds a month! Now that I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel, i figure that at the end of this year coming, 2018, I'll be in the low 200's, at this point, I'll reacess and if i think i need to, im just going to keep going and push to be in the 100's! 3.5 a month doesn't seem like a lot but slowly and steadily it all adds up!!!

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A few things I've learned this year

~It's not as important to lose weight quickly as it is to lose it steadily and PERMANENTLY!!!

So I think compared to most of my fellow bariatric surgery peeps, I've lost weight A LOT SLOWER!!! There are people that were already at 100 pounds lost by 6 months after surgery, I got there a year and a half after surgery, buuuuut what matters, IS THAT I GOT THERE!!!! 

~ Diets don't work!!!

Ok, don't get me wrong, THEY DO, buuuuuut they only last if you plan on eating that same exact way FOR LIFE!!! Part of the reason WHY my weight loss has taken me A LOT LONGER than other people is because I never really stuck to the diet they gave me!!! Now I'm NOT a doctor OR in the medical field at all, sooooo I can only speak for myself, I HAD to do what was RIGHT FOR ME!!! The reason WHY I never stuck completely do their diet plan is because losing weight has to be PERMANENT for me and diets are NOT PERMANENT and when you go off them, YOU GAIN!!! For me, I've had to learn to eat in a way that I am going to do FOR LIFE!!! For me this mean implanting, calorie count, portion control and HEALTHY CHOICES THAT I ENJOY!!! I continually educate myself on food and recipes, learning to enjoy new healthier foods, new veggies, EVEN FISH now. Buuuuut I never cut anything COMPLETELY out...the downfall is that its taking me longer, the benefit is that I'll NEVER just gain back a bunch of weight because all of the sudden I added in a ton of food that I couldn't eat before! 

~Exercise only lasts if its something you truly enjoy

Find something you like and it won't be a chore but something you look forward to, for me, THATS HIKING!!! I know it's exercise, buuuuut I LOVE IT!!! I just feel so relaxed and enjoy it SOOOOO MUCH!!! I like trying other things out for fun for a little bit, like Jabz boxing, I wanna do that another month this year, I wanna try Orange Theory for a month, I'd like to try cross fit, I like doing the races, weight training is fun buuuuut with those things, its just something I do for a little bit and then get bored, buuuuuut HIKING...I just ADORE IT!!! 

~ Pray MORE than you exercise! 

At one point during the summer I was really frustrated because I had hit a 3 month platau so I was just excercising like crazy and it was to the point that I was ACTUALLY excercising more than I was praying...Nothing is as important as our prayer life...PRAY MORE than you exercise!!! It's better to go to heaven fluffy than to hell...HOT...cuz you only gonna get HOTTERRRR THERE...jus sayin!!! 

~Enjoy the weight loss journey!

I Hear a lot of people say they just want to hurry up and get skinny and be done with it. While I DO want to get to my goal, I've learned to enjoy this journey that I'm on. To not be satisfied where I am but still contented with getting there slowly! I could say I'm going to push myself to be at my goal weight by the end of this year but Instead I plan to be there within the next 2 years. If things go as planned, another 30-40 pounds lost this year and i'll be around 220, I know I want to get down to at least 208ish (That'll be 200 pounds lost since my highest weight in my early 20's) and at that point I'll evaluate myself and see if I think I should keep pushing to get into the 100's...IF my BMI is right, I'm NOT going to push myself to be in the 100's, but I don't know yet so I just have to wait and see!!! In the mean time,  I'm just going to keep taking it slow and steady and enjoy my life! There's no reason to be in a rush for something you want to last foreverrrrr!!! 

6 more pounds and this sista is going HORSEBACK RIDING!!!!😎👐

♥Mary Frances :)

P.S. I decided to do a separate post on GOALS!!! 

Turkey Trot 2017!!!

 I did it you guys, I RAN (Ran/jogged/power-walked) MY FIRST RACE!!!

I didn't come ANYWHERE close to winning...

buuuuuuuuuuuuut...

IF there was a BEST-DRESSED-RUNNER AWARD...

I SOOOOOOOOO WON!!!

 In fact, I would VERY HUMBLY like to give myself that award...bahahahaaaa!!!I did it up right!!! My #thankful in gold glitter shirt, with my black sequin skirt, that my sis-in-love so kindly cut and hemmed for me so I could wear it in MY FIRST RACE, annnnnd my Hobby Lobby turkey headband!!! People LOOOOOVED IT!!! As soon as I walked in someone that worked there came over and asked if they could take my pic for the website! I was like, SUUUUUUUUUURE!!! LOL!!! 

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Our WHOLE GROUP of trotters...Next year we expect some of the LPC MEN to join us...COME ON PASTOR...I see you running the aisles... YOU CAN DO IT!!!! Whoop, Whoop!!! 

Odie did GREAT and he LOOOOOVED the turkey!!!

Especially when he got down and talked to him!!!

 

 Happy Birthday JUDAH!!! Sweet 13!!!

 Getting ready to run...

 Ready...

 SET...

ANNNNNNNNND GOING!!! 

 More than halfway done!!! 

 And when I got to the HOME STRETCH, I heard my peeps cheering for me!

AWWWWWWWWWW!!! 

 Annnnnnnnd FINISHED!!! 

 

Then we all went and chowed at DJ's bagels because they have THE BEST everrrr...even better than Chompies BAGELS!!! NYC APPROVED BAGELS!!!! Nom, nom, nom!!! Ooooh annnnnd I got THE BEST ICED COFFEE EVERRRR THERE...The Hawaiian Beach latte...YUMMMM!!!

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 What, what, WHAAAAAAAAAAT????

YES, Annnnnnnnnnd then I went hiking, IF ONLY cuz I had NOTHING else to do...annnnnd cuz I've ALWAYS wanted to go hiking in a sequin skirt!!! AHAHAHA!!!! Now I'm just finishishing up baking my pies and I've had 3 iced coffees and am SOOOOOOOOOOOO HYPERRRRR!!!! 

♥Mary Frances :)

P.S. Wait till you guys see my BLACK FRIDAY OUTFIT!!! Once dinner is over...it's OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS TIME...me and the sis and kiddos HIT THE STORES!!! Whoop, whoop!!! 

September Weight Loss update!!!

Weeeeeeeeeeelllllll this month I got down to a GRAND total of 91 pounds lost...WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!! I would LIKE to try and get down to 259 by the end of this month, I don't know if I will BUUUUUUUT I am going to PUSH for it...Like a woman in labor...okaaaaaaaay maybe not that much...ahahaha...Like the epidural version of that...bahahaha!!! I have my one year with my surgeon at some point this month of October and I would REALLY like to impress him with a 100 pound grand total loss...I have lost 20 pounds since my last check up with him buuuuut I would like to impress a LITTLE bit more!!! 

Sooooooooooo the other big thing in September was being able to fit on ALL the rides at Knottsberry farm!!! That was such a HUUUUUUUGE deal for me!!! you have know idea how much I have ALWAYS wanted to get on the silver bullet, the supreme scream, the ghost rider and THIS YEAR, FINALLLLLLY!!!

#NORIDELEFTBEHIND

 Okaaaaaaaaaaaay to be perfectly honest, there was a kiddie ride in Camp Snoopy I didn't fit on buuuuuut I don't think that counts since I'm NOT a kid!!! BAHAHAHA!!!

Sooooooooo for coffee, now I can buy a Starbucks drink and keep it in the fridge and drink it every morning for three days or so, drinks NEVERRRRR lasted me that long before!!! I usually downed a drink in less than 10 minutes!!! LOL 

 

Of course MORE fitting into clothes...Hee, hee!!! 

 Annnnnnnnnnnd I'm back to my beloved HIKING!!! 

 The exercise that NEVERRRR bores me!!! 

I plan to tackle Squaw Peak by the end of this month!!! 

Soooooooo Goals for October are:

1. get down to 259 

2. Hike Squaw Peak

3. Start practicing running for the Fountain Hills Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving!!! 

4. Buy a new Fitbit

♥Mary Frances :)

When God keeps you humble!!

Sooooooo since the weigh loss surgery, there are these monthly support groups that you can go too, its supposed to me like you know, talking about weight loss, buuuuuuuuuut, a lot of times it turns into drama and sob stories...(Kinda like testimony service can...BAHAHAHA!!!) If you could hear some of the drama these people talk about as we go around the room, I'm just sitting there like, 

You all need MORE THAN WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY...

YA'ALL NEED JESUS!!!

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Sooooo the MOST COMMON THEME, especially among the woman is this,  I've lost all this weight and I still feel fat! Annnnnnd I'm sitting there like, okaaaaaaaaay the reason WHY we all still feel like we're STILL FAT, is because, WE ARE!!! Buuuuuuut we're NOT AS FAT!!! LOLOL (Although my preferred word is ALWAYS FLUFFY!!!) Liiiiiiike for realz!!! I just soooo wanna shout it out buuuut I'm pretty sure I would get stoned for that!!! 

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Then it's someone else's turn, I still don't feel like I'm Pretty!!! Then someone else joins, I know, I feel soo ugly!!! Annnnnd I'm just like sitting there like, sooooo ummmmm...like, AM I THE ONLY person in here that prays as they lose weight, God don't let me get conceited, KEEP ME HUMBLE as I continue to lose weight!!!'?!?!?!

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 Buuuuuuuuuuuuut let me tell you all something, IF YOU SINCERELY PRAY for God to keep you humble, that is a prayer that he will have NO PROBLEM answering, TRUST ME!!! ;))))

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So let me share with you a few incidents that God has used to answer that prayer...

#1 That person that walks up to you and is like, OH, you've lost weight! ME: Oh thank you! Them: your welcome, you look good...ME:About to say thank you again...buuuuut interrupted by them, "BUUUUUUUT KEEP LOSING!!!" 

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#2 The guy that walks up to you and says, HEY! You've lost some weight huh! ME: YES! Them: Yeah, your STARTING to look good! ME: Refraining from saying, WHY THANK YOU, your JUST AS UGLY AS ALWAYS!!! BAHAHAHA!!! 

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#3 The girl that's just hardly tipping the scale at 100 pounds!Girl: "Oh hey girl! Like, did you lose some weight!? ME: Yeah girrrrrrrl!!! Girl: OMW! I KNEW IT!!! Liiiiiiiike I can totally see it!!! Me: AWWWW THANKS GIRL!!! Girl: YEAH, like, seriously, I think your face is thinner, I can TOTALLY SEE IT IN YOUR FACE!!! Me: Why thank you! I've lost 85 pounds since you've last seen me, (You'de me DEAD if you lost that much weight) buuuuuut you can totally see it in my face, THANKS GIRL!!! 

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#4

Baby sitting my nephew Joseph one evening, I've literally just reached my lowest weight I've been, MY WHOLE TEEN and ADULT LIFE, he says, Hey Aunt Mary, just to let you know, don't get offended buuuuuuut your looking A LITTLE fat tonight! Shocked i'm like, JOSEPH!!! WHY would you say that!?!?!?! He looks at me completely bewildered, He's like, AUNT MARY, first of all, I told you not to get offended and second of all, I said only A LITTLE FAT!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I honestly think he may have meant it as a compliment, like, your ONLY A LITTLE FAT NOW!!! 

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#5 

BUUUUUUUUUUT I think this last one is my all time favorite, liiiiiiike it WINS THE PRIZE of God keeping me humble!!! AHAHAHAHA!!! Sooooooo back in June when I had shingles, I had to go to the doctor to get a prescription for shingles to get rid of them. So since I don't actually have a primary care doc I get a recommendation from my surgeon's office. I go in, the doc is looking at my shingles and we're just talking and I tell her I got a recommendation from my surgeon Dr. Reyonoso, she's like, OH so are you one of his bariatric patients? I'm like yes I am! She's like, Oh that's SO GOOD!!! And where are you at right now in this process? I'm like well I'm 7 months past my surgery date! She's like, OH, you've ALREADY HAD THE SURGERY???

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YEEEEEESSSSSSSSS TRUE STORY!!! She ACTUALLY SAID THAT TO ME!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm just sitting there like, lady, don't quit your day job and think about becoming a life coach or anything!!! AHAHAHA!!! It's good thing I was blessed with TWO THINGS: Good self-esteem and a Good sense of humor!!! 

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Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaay GOD, I think we're good for AT LEAST another 10 pounds before you need to worry about me needing to be humbled again...AT LEAST 10 MORE...Really God, I'm good for now, REALLY... jus sayin!!! ;))))
♥Mary Frances :)

August weight loss update!!!

Weeeeeeellllll August 25th I celebrated my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY since my weight loss surgery!! 

85 pounds in one year!!! To say that I and a lot of people expected me to be further than this in one year is TRUTH!!! There are people that lost 100 pounds in 6 months, buuuuuuuut FOR ME, weight loss surgery was NEVER MAGIC!!! It just has made it POSSIBLE to push through and keep going! I think FOR ME, its better this way. This way I've never had to NOT be in the habit of WORKING to lose weight!!! I have time to adjust and get used to slowly seeing myself change...

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Things I accomplished this past year:
85 pounds lost
I'm the smallest I've been my WHOLE teen and adult life!!! 
Diabetic FREE
Blood pressure 115/85
Became a hiker
HIKED a HUGE MOUNTAIN
FIT ON ALL THE RIDES I've been DYING to ride on for years but NEVER FIT!!! (Silver bullet, Supreme Scream, Ghost Rider, #norideleftbehind
No more seat belt extension on the airplane
Don't need caffeine in the mornings anymore
Started wearing belts, BECAUSE I CAN NOW!!! 

Went down to a size 11 shoe

Run the aisles faster and be able to jump and dance MORE at church!!!

Building a healthy/active lifestyle

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Future goals:

Lose 5 pounds a month

Run the Fountain Hills Turkey Trot

Run in a Color Run

Hike Camelback Mountain

Hike Squaw Peak Mountain

Get to 260 so I can go in a zorbing ball at Bump and Roll

Get down to 250 so I can go HORSEBACK RIDING

Get down to 220 so I can HIKE DOWN the Grand Canyon and ride the burros back up(220 is the weight limit to ride their burros)

Start bike riding

Learn how to play volley ball really well

Go white water river rafting (Ok I could probably do that NOW, I just gotta wait for an opportunity!!!

Cross my legs all dainty lady like LOL 

BMI in the 30's (Okaaaaay so that's doc's goal LOL)

Archery 

Skiing

My GOAL SIZE IS: HEALTHY WITH A SIDE OF FLUFF!!! (Okay soooo the credit for that goes to Hanna) OR TAILORED FLUFFY!!! (Submitted by Stultz)I Like both of these because they indicate ME in THE HEALTHIEST VERSION OF ME!!!(I had a few of my own ideas A few others that I liked were, Slenderly-fluffy, Fun size fluffy(Except that indicates me being little, which i'm NOT ever going to be, I mean, I'm NOT a little person!) Light and Fluffy!!!

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One thing that has always been very important to me in this journey was that I remained ME!! They said that there are a lot of times personality changes in people when they have HUGE weight loss and that HORRIFIED ME!!! I don't want my personality to change, I LOVE BEING ME!!! I am happy to say that I consulted separately with two of my closest friends and they both said that they don't see ANYTHING in my personality that has changed, aside from being more health consciencous and active!

Anything annoying about losing weight???
UH nooooooooooo!!! Well, the only thing was when my first pair of shoes were TOO BIG!!! I wasn't exactly excited about having to buy new shoes, its NOT like people are like, OMW, you lost so much weight, I can see it on your feet!!! LOL 
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Also, people think when you have weight loss surgery that its just MAGICAL and that you now have it MADE IN THE SHADE!!! Its NOT like, that! It IS WORK! Buuuuut it's like an opportunity to get help and its UP TO YOU to receive it!!! You have to grab a hold of it and take advantage of the opportunity you have!!!
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Would I recommend weight loss surgery???

FOR ME, it was one of THE BEST, scariest, hardest, BUUUUUT BEST decisions I ever made!!! IF you are considered morbidly obese, and have tried over and over again to lose weight but NOT getting were you need to be, I would say to study it, research it, get educated on it, seek council and PRAYERFULLY consider it!!! For 10 years I tried my hardest to lose weight. In my early 20's I was 408, I got down 50 pounds but spent basically 10 years going up and down with another 50 pounds. If you chose to do this, don't go the cheap route and just get it done in a forigen country unless they are equipped and monitoring you the same way they do here. Don't make your decision on a whim! Understand that this is NOT a quick fix! It's NOT magic, YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK! (Although, NOT as much as some people depending on your body, ESPECIALLY if your male, my surgeon tells me every visit, I'm Sorry, don't hate me, woman just lose weight MORE SLOWLY!
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Also, don't do it unless you are ready to say GOOD BYE to carbonated drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, and certain medicines FOREVERRRR!!!
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And go in to it knowing that there will be people that think you took "THE EASY WAY OUT!" They will criticize your decision, IGNORE THEM!!!
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Also know that, weight loss surgery and losing weight WILL NOT give you good self esteem, yes it can help, BUUUUT, it's NOT magic, only YOU can see that your value comes from being created by God, no surgeon, diet or mirror can do that for you!!! 

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.I love being brave and wearing whatever colors I want now...I NEVERRRR would have worn that mustard gold before...

Annnnnnnnnnd I LOOOOOOVe having funnnnnn!!!

Aside from being healthy, my main goal aside from all the cute outfits I can now wear, my main goal for weight loss, is for me NOT to be hindered from any activities, BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT!!! I don't want my weight to hinder me. I want to create healthy habits I can live with for life and live an active lifestyle!!! #Norideleftbehind #Iwillcrushthatmountain

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♥Mary Frances :)

When the doctor says to eat fish...

Buuuuuuut your STILL NOT losing weight!!!

I JUST DON'T GET IT!!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

♥Mary Frances :)