Hollee's Weight Loss Success Story ((in progress))

I'm taking an all inclusive trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico for my 27th birthday. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that I usually throw a pretty big party for my birthdays.  Here are a couple of photos from the last few: 24-Pre WLS   25   26 But then last year's (26th) birthday wasn't a ton of fun for me.  My friends had a blast but I ended up taking care of everyone who was drunk.  So I decided this year to do something different. 3 girlfriends and I are going on an all-inclusive trip to a resort in Riviera Maya, right outside of Cancun. 2 days!  I can't wait.

Here's some motivation for you: I began on October 21, 2014 weighing 246.0 and completed the challenge on April 21, 2015 weighing 211.8.  I contributed $125 (plus $20 for weekly weigh in tokens-this is optional) and I won $292.07 AND a FitBit Flex (from the weekly weigh ins).  I'd say I did pretty well for myself on this DietBet and I definitely plan to do it again in the future. Note:  I did forget to do my official weigh in for Round 2 so I lost about $30 there. There's nothing like winning money for doing something I already planned to do anyway (LOSE WEIGHT!).

This will be posted for 24 hours.  Then it will be taken down for a while, until I have grown the lady balls to tell the appropriate people... like my dad. You all may wonder why lately it's been so important that Mr. Banker meet my parents and why the sudden trip to Rhode Island to meet his parents.  Well... we're expecting a baby in November.  I've kept it a secret now for 12 weeks and I just can't any longer. That's why I'm worried about weight gain.  That's why I recently wrote that I've had bigger things to worry about than the scale.  So there it is.  And it will be posted for all to see on this beautiful Monday, until I take it down. We are excited, and nervous- as I think most new parents-to-be are.  But things have never been better between us and he has been amazingly supportive.  I knew our surprise was going to be a make-it or break it type moment for us, and it seems that we are making it- so far anyway. Talk about an NSV... I...

I think Mr. Banker was cloned. His father is just a 30 years older version of Mr. Banker.  Same sense of humor.  Same smile.  Same laugh.  I'm usually shy around new people, but it was so easy to be around him and to love him because I felt like I already knew him from knowing and loving Mr. Banker himself.  The minute Mr. Banker left me alone with his parents, his dad asked me when I was going to marry his son and give him some grandbabies. Mr. Banker had scared me a little about his mom.  He had told me several months ago that she told him not to bring another woman home unless he was going to marry her.  So I had a lot of anxiety about that.  I thought she just didn't like them, but she told me she just didn't want to get attached to women who didn't last the test of time.  Regardless of my anxiety about meeting her, I loved her too. Overall, it was amazing meeting them.  Not only did I get to meet his parents, but also childhoo...

I just realized that I never gave an update on Mr. Banker meeting my parents.  I'd say it went as well as I could've hoped for.  For a white family in the south, it can be a big deal for the daughter to bring home a black man.  I wish it wasn't, but it still is. I remember growing up, my parents taught me that I should never judge someone based on their outward appearance- whether that be their race, gender, any physical disability, sexuality, etc.  Somehow that rule doesn't quite apply to dating though.  I understand in a way, I know that it was the way they were raised.  White belonged with white, black belonged with black.  I know that was what was acceptable then, but times are changing.  I've dated white men, black men, a hispanic man, and an asian man, and I never felt like race was an issue.  My parents were never 100% thrilled with any of them, so maybe my parents just don't want their baby girl growing up. Anyway, I've digressed ...

Let me be honest and just say that weight loss has NOT been a main priority lately.  I've had a lot going on, some things I'm not yet ready to disclose.  That being said, I've continued to lose. Depending on the day, I'm somewhere between 212 and 215.  That's crazy considering I think my brain still belongs to a 344 pound Hollee.  My original goal was just to be under 200 pounds.  I just want to live in Onederland.  I'm so close, but soooo far.  I can't even tell you how far it feels to get to 200 pounds or less. Hopefully I will continue to lose over the next couple of months and get to under 200 pounds, but I'm currently feeling a little discouraged.  I'll update you all soon.

I know I have talked on my blog in the past about my mom considering WLS before.  Back when I was banded she went to see a surgeon in Concord, NC to talk about the lapband, and the surgeon said that the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy would be a better option for her, given that my mom has diabetes that is not well controlled (by any stretch of the imagination). That was at least 2 years ago and now she's considering it again.  The thing about my mom is that she is not really that overweight.  I mean, I would say she MIGHT be 50 pounds overweight.  She just has comorbidities to obesity that the surgery might help her. I'm scared for her, but excited for her at the same time.  I'm glad she didn't go forward with getting banded, although I do worry about her not being able to stop losing weight after VSG.  But I guess that's not something I've seen a lot of from the ladies I follow on IG and such. My mom broke her arm and had to have a kidney stone surgical...

Wishing you all a lovely Easter weekend.  I hope you enjoy your time with your families more than the food.  I know we all look forward to the food, but this year will be the first Easter I've really celebrated in a very long time and I'm so excited to be near my family. My mom usually works on weekends, so she is always working a 12 hour shift on Easter Sunday.  Back in January, my mom fell and broke her arm and has been out of work since then.  It will be so nice to have my mom home for the whole day on a holiday--even holidays that fall on week days, she usually offers to work part of a shift so that someone else can spend time with their families.  My sister and nephew are in NC now, so it will be the biggest family holiday in many, many years.  It will still be small, but perfect- my parents, me, grandmother, sister, nephew, and sister's boyfriend.  I'm very much looking forward to it. Mr. Banker is coming home with me to meet my parents. ...