MAR BEAR

............................................................ ..TO MY PLACE!
LET THE MUSIC TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE...I DO...
BORN IN FLORIDA...I'm a SUNSHINE BABY!
PLACES I HAVE CALLED HOME:
Florida, California, Puetro Rico, Alabama, Texas and have called MICHIGAN my home since 1973.
MEXICAN ...FRENCH...PORTUGUESE.
That is what THIS GIRL IS!!!
I always thougth of myself as healthy and very lucky to have the life I had been living all these years. That was up until I looked into the mirror (which was SLOWLY becoming MY ENEMY) one day and the reflection I saw made me cry. I sat there and cried until I couldn't anymore. I tried all the diets I could tolerate. Even down to fasting for 5 days straight. I was getting to the point where I was just making myself sick. It went beyond just feeling and looking fat...my mind was taking over. I started feeling ugly and thought, 'Who wants to be seen with me?'
My body was talking to me BIG TIME by then. My knees were causing trouble, I had back and joint pain everyday (and night!), my heart was showing signs of stress,...there were so many symptoms I thought for sure I was slowly dying. It was hard to do the easiest tasks. Yup, stairs didn't like me. I would start breathing hard after the 5th step. If 'that' wasn't enough, just being in the public was a REAL CHALLENGE. I just felt like every EYEBALL was on me...and believe me...not becuase I was A GOOD LOOKING KNOCK-OUT. I had a zest for life. I loved being around my family and friends but being 320 pounds...well let's just say 'MARY' was hidden underneath all of that padding.
It finally hit me. It's not that I COULDN'T take it anymore, I didn't WANT TO TAKE IT anymore. I went to see a Dr. Hanks at Northeast Surgical Group. Poor guy...I don't think he knew what he was getting into with me! I knew I was going to get this surgery done no matter what he said. When he tried to talk me out of it I thought...WHAT? Little did I know 'why' he was saying that to me. That was before I knew ANYTHING about the surgery & BEYOND. I had my WLS on 4-3-04. As we call it in the weight loss world...MY REBIRTH!
I was 320 pound, size W38 pants/4-5X tops.
I promised to be the best POST-OP he'd ever have. I did EVERYTHING by the book and more. Going through this surgery has been a blessing. Sure, I hate some days but over-all, I don't regret it. I am LIVING MY LIFE all over again. I feel free from the OLD MARY.
I have changed my ways when thinking about food and fitness. I work out 3-4 times a week (including yoga, palates & aerobics), walk and swim. Actually the thing that I love to do is just get up and DANCE. Great exercise. Hey, I've dropped up to 2 pounds in just one night out! (HINT!)
I have lost 185 pounds and now into size 8 pants and small tops. Watch out world...Mary's on her way!
I was blessed to have met a man that has gone through the same surgery. Little did I know 'who' he was...BIG WILL. He was a Motivational Speaker at the ObesityHelp Michigan conference in 2005. I helped them out and was honored to have met so many wonderful people. This was his very first time speaking. Will's speech left me (and everyone in that room) feeling good about myself. Like he proclaims, he's no doctor, just one of us but he has a way of expressing what each and every one of us is feeling at a certain point of this journey of ours. He has changed my ways of thinking about myself and has made me a stronger person and for that I call him my BESTEST FRIEND and MENTOR!..."With much love & respect, THANK YOU for being in my life...FRIENDS UNTIL THE END BOSS!"
PLEASE check his website out. On top of Motivational Speaking he is also an entertainer. He is a member of THE SUN MESSENGERS. (25 years strong!) If they are ever in your area CHECK THEM OUT! You will be on your feet after the first song! :)
Last but not least I must add...I like looking in the mirror again. ((I just want to see the 'reflection' of what I dream about more often...)) Knowing what I know now about this surgery, I want to share my experience with others and help them as much as possible. I am proud of what I have accomplished. I know that I'm not done but deep down inside I know that if not completed, I will have had worked hard trying to get there!
~TE QUIERO MI AMIGOS~
MY FAMILY & FRIENDS.....
Cool Slideshows
...
MY BOYZ...The SUN MESSENGERS...YOU 'GOTTA' SEE THESE GUYS PERFORM..THEY'LL GET YOU DANC'n!!!
..
Cool Slideshows
embed allowScriptAccess="never" allowNetworking="internal" enableJSURL="false" enableHREF="false" saveEmbedTags="true" src='' ........................................................