Maija's Fat Farm

A Perfect Weekend......

Kim makes everything so glorious at her events!!! They keep getting BETTER!!!!

The tabletops:

 

Even the chair backs....

 

And every attendee recieved a goodie bag chock full of treats!!!!

 

More Mermaids....

 

Denise Hahn and I....she has some wonderful items in her etsy shop!!!

 

Christine, Holly and Jenn- my lovely mermaids!!!

 

   

   Me and my girl Kay Ellen!!

 

Me and Colleen- I'll be waving to you from the sky when I fly over San Francisco this afternoon!!

 

These fabulous girlfriends are so fun and fabulous- always laughing and smiling, Priscilla and Mariesella (shit I hope I spelled than right girl!!)

And a Belamar Bloody Mary was the perfect way to end the day!!!!  My 5 servings of vegetables in a glass!!!

 

 

It Felt Like A Carnival Here.....

Yesterday, Sherry and I hosted the every-other-month gathering of our local creative peeps and our theme was Circus/Carnival.  Everyone was to make a page that would accommodate a photo booth strip, and then teach us all how to do it.  

 

First we set the mood....

 

  

There were my homemade cupcakes...

 

Candy to nibble on.....

 

Some fruit to keep it healthy.....

 

A place to work...

 

More snacks....

 

And girlfriends to make it special!

 

Carol Wingert

 

Annette 

If you want to see what we made, 

click CARNIVAL-CIRQUE 

and get a peek at more of this.....

 

  

    

I Have Neglected this Blog and My Weight....

I'm up about 10 pounds,  My jeans that were once falling off are now so tight I have a muffin top.  Which is ok, too, because I'm still not 100 pounds overweight.

I started taking a wonderful medication called Abilify.  Abilify, combined with my anti depressant Celexa make my moods really stable, even in the most difficult of times (the end of year holidays).  The nasty side effect is increased appetite and a resulting weight gain.  Shit. 

Additionally.....I've been sloppy and lazy in the way I eat.  Not making sure to get my protein first, snacking on cookies instead of lunch or other no-nos.  

Time to readjust.

In my pouch yesterday:

WEDNESDAY

1/2 cup garbanzo's with tazhiki 

2 slices cheese with 6 saltines and grapefruit

1 cup lentils with eggplant

protein shake with some banana and strawberries

2 spoonfuls of peanut butter right before bed (I was hungry!!)

THURSDAY

What has and will go in my pouch today:

1/2 cup of Fage with peaches, banana and sugar free homemade granola

2 eggs with saltine crackers and citrus salad

1 cup of lentils

protein shake with strawberries

And, like my mentor and idol the world according to eggface, lots of coffee (and water)!

It will vary some more when I get used to eating on schedule and eating a restricted amount of food.

I'm also going to eliminate meat from my diet since it's so freaking hard to digest!!!

WISH ME LUCK!!!!

Today's Menu...

AM- 2 cups coffee

Breakfast- Protein shake made with 1/2 banana and strawberries  180 c./26 pro

Lunch- Chickpea Salad, 1 cup - 286 c./ 6 pro.

Dinner- S-B Protein Shake  180c/ 26 pro  

Coffee

Snack- 1/2 bag (bag is 1.5 oz) Olive tortilla chips   105 c./1.5 pro
             3 T peanuts  170 c./8 pro

Evening meal - 1/2 cup yogurt, berries, Shelly's  granola 155 c. /5 pro

1076 calories, 72 protein
+ 30 minutes treadmill

PROTEIN SHAKE:
1 scoop Ispopure Zero Carb, Creamy Vanilla
1/2 banana
3 frozen strawberries + ice and mix

OLIVE Tortilla Chips- they totally rock and don't hurt my pouch!!!

SHELLY"S  Granola ( with a little Maija in it)
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. pecans
1/3 c. steel cut oats
1 scoop ground flax
2 T natural peanut butter
2 T Torani Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
1 T cold butter

Put it all in the food processor and mix it up.
Pour the clumps onto a baking sheet and cook at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes or your level of crunchiness!

I love this coffee:
AM:  Good old Tim Hortons

My PM fix:

Instant 3-in-1 G7

Two Years Out....

And I still have 18 pounds to lose!!

I've been sitting at 168 for over a year, I wear a size 10 jean and I'm down to a 36 B.  Regardless of the back size of my bra, I've got those runaway loose skin flaps that hang over the backstrap......

I like how I look- I love my body, soft, smooth- yes I have too much skin, but I have to remember it's not fat and I'd rather have the loose skin than the weight!  Right now, my body probably has about 10 extra pounds from skin alone!

THE PLAN

My goal is 150 pounds and I'll probably look very thin since I am almost 5"7".  I am very happy where I am right now, and I think no matter how much more I lose, this will be my comfy weight- I've never been a skin and bones girl. I do want to hit my goal though.

That means E X E R C I S E.....
anyone who knows me knows that I am inherently lazy.  I have realized that I have to exercise to get off the rest.

Today's eats....

Breakfast: Vanilla yogurt with berries and Shelly's granola topping

Lunch: Beef and zucchini casserole

Snack: 5 Wheat Thins
                Cheese stick

Dinner will be a slice of Pork roast and some asparagus.  I'm going to have to work in a protein shake tonight as well.


Plastic surgery.....
Of course.
But how much?  I think I'd like to have my neck done (1st), then have my boobs lifted (2nd).  The thought of a tummy tuck makes me sick- the Doctor would have to basically cut me in half at the bikini line and whack off the excess and sew me up!  All just to have that flap of skin removed.  I don't need a flat belly- I had that when I was young. Not sure I want to endure that pain.  Arms- I do have wings, but I can deal with them as long as I don't frantically wave at people.

I'm going to call Dr. Lille's office on Monday- he specializes in plastic surgery for WLS patients and our goofy skin.

It's All About the Food Now....

My weight is at 169 so I have 20 pounds to lose.  Not too bad- certainly nothing a little exercise can't take care of!
Here's a recent photo- my friend and photographer Kim Kwan had me goofing around:

  

I'm not digging the excess skin around my waist, on my tummy, under my arms, on my back.... but it's better than the alternative, which is skin stuffed with fat!  Oh, then there's the saggy boobs and wrinkly neck.  Oh well-nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

The loose skin is just a fact.  That's what happens when you are fat for years and then experience a rapid weightloss.  I fuss about it, but I welcome the skin with open arms! When the economy turns around, and the boys college fund is secure, I'll get my neck skin tightened up and my boobs lifted. Maybe.

Next month I'm going to a lecture sponsored by my surgeon called something like "Getting Back on Track".  While I've been doing really well, I can see I'm making some poor food choices...Twizzlers instead of fruit, that kind of stuff.  I'm also slacking of on my vitamins.  I go through phases with them.  Sometimes I get really tiered of chewing those chalky muti-vitamins and the gritty calcium tabs.  I love my surgeon- you can have counseling for life!

This will be my second Thanksgiving that I am not worried about eating too much!  It's a nice feeling.....

Happy Holiday!

Size 10 jeans

That's me, in Paris, looking a little haggard, but feeling good!

I've moved down to a smaller jean size, but I've discovered what "muffin top" is!  The pants fit perfect, but now there's that ring of skin that poufs a bit over the pant top.  But that's ok!  I just won't be weraing any tight white tee shirts.
My weight is about 171- not much different, but everything is shifting and settling in.  Not too much I hope- I still have a little more weight to lose!

I continue with my vitamin routine and I try to have a protein shake everyday to get my protein intake up.  But what about the necessary fruit and vegetables?  I can't get enough of these in because I'm usually full after I eat my protein.  I've been looking for a nutritional supplement and I think I've found it!


I am really excited about this product.  Drink 2 ounces, 2 times a day and it packs the nutritional value of up to 13 fruits and vegetables!  It's low in calories, carbs and sugar!  I started today, so I will keep you posted on my progress.  Who can benefit from a product like this?  People on the go who don't get to eat right- our spouses, our kids (although there is a slightly different product for kids to use.  It costs about $4 each day, but I bet with the energy one gets from all the good stuff  means you can miss that cup a day Starbucks habit!  Click on the photo to go to their website.

Long Time!

Not a great photo, but it's the only one I have that's current.  As the family photo taker, I have lots of everyone else and not many of me.

Some of the details:

Start weight 263 lbs    Current weight: 174   Goal weight:150

Start jean size: 20  Current: a loose 12 from the Gap

Bra size: 42 D  Current size 38 B ( or 38 extra long without a bra).  I'm actually a 36, but I don't like how the excess skin dribbles over my bra in the back.  You know what I mean- it's back skin vs back fat.

My weight loss has remained flat and I am OK with that for now.  I hit my one year out mark on June 25th at 174 pounds!  I still need to hit my goal weight of 150, which I will work on upon my return from Paris next month.  I'm due for my labs- I'll get that done next week.

I finally understand how to maintain my weight, and now I have to do what "normal" people do to keep their weight down.  Yes you know, that horrid word, E X E R C I S E.  I'm not sure why I am so hesitant- I know I have the physical strength.  It must be the mental mind screw- I'm worried I won't be able to do it??

Food- I have a pretty healthy relationship with it.  I have decided to do one protein shake each day which gives me 25 grams of protein, some calcium and fruit with a dose of Benefiber to keep things working.  I don't miss any food- I would like to have a beer once in a while, but then I realize it's really not worth it.  My priority is to get protein in.  My girl Shelley at The World According to Eggface has kept me satisfied with some of the best food recipes for WLS people!

I feel good!

I've been invited to join this group:     Wellsphere   I'm still learning what it's all about, so check it out for yourself!

178 = 85 Pounds!

A little bit of a break through!  I have to say though, the only way I'm going to lose the rest of my weight will be to....ugh....exercise.  I am thrilled to know that I am able to maintain my weight, I just want to be at a lower weight to do it.
On Wednesday I went to Vanishing Veins to have the big uglies removed from my left leg.  Let me tell you, that wormy sucker started below my knee, and puffed it's way all the way up to my groin!  There was a lump in my groin that was a vein!  The procedure was easy.  I got stoned on a little Xanax, numbed up my leg with some lydocaine cream and the Doctor lazered and injected and whatever and I was on my way home.  Recovery- well, I have to wear a support hose on the leg, and it sucks!  First of all, it itches.  And it's hot and uncomfortable.  The worst?  It's very tight, and all my leg skin hangs over the top of the stocking.  I'm talking gross! I can't take the stocking off until tomorrow night, and then I have to wear it daily for 3 weeks, but I can take it off at night. Tomorrow will be my last sponge bath, and then in 6 weeks I do it all again for the right leg!

I guess I should show a current photo....

That's me and my peep, Kecia.  The photo was taken at The Art Nest in Utah on Feb 22, 2008.