One year down and a lifetime to go.

Many of the people in or around my life have noticed a major transformation in my physical appearance as well as my mental and emotional health over the past year. I would finally and officially like to let you in on a decision I made to better my health and life a little over a year ago.
Last January, my Aunt Shelley, my mother and I were sitting in the Red Oak gym watching homecoming. Of course our conversation turned to dieting and all of the recent trends. Who is doing what. How much they have lost...and on and on. It was at that moment my aunt turns to me and says, "Carly, have you ever thought about the band?"
It was that simple question that changed my life. 
Of course I had thought about the Lap Band. Anyone who is over weight or struggled with weight loss will tell you they have thought about every form of bariatric surgery. However, I always thought I could do it on my own. In my mind I was stronger and had the will power to conquer this battle. I was wrong.
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved food. I am a foodie. There is nothing wrong with this until it is an addiction. Yes, I am and will always be addicted to food. Unlike drugs or alcohol addicts, people addicted to food can't actually live without our addiction. We all must eat to survive.
I thought about the question, "Have you thought about the band?" for about two weeks. Went back and forth on whether or not is was the best decision for me to make at this point in my life. Then a simple comment brought me to my knees. My grandfather made a comment to me one Sunday afternoon that made me feel like the ugliest, fattest, and most ridiculous person in the world. I still don't want to write or even remember (even though it is engraved in my memory) what he said, but it broke me.
I removed myself and just cried. I was mad at the world, mad at myself for looking this way and wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. As I was drying my tears and trying to regain any composure I had left, my mom sat down beside me and said, "Let's look into the Band."
My mom and I had a very strained relationship. I would take my pain of being overweight out on her and because she is my mother she always let me take my frustration out on her. I feel so guilty now looking back on all of the fights and mean words I said to her. But she would do anything to make me happy and healthy. She and my father did just that.
On February 28, 2013, I drove to Tulsa to meet a dear family friend, Shannon. He was going to go with me to a seminar on the LapBand procedure. I was a nervous wreck sitting through the hour long seminar discussing the procedure, the cost, the lifestyle and the results. Shannon would write me notes and give feedback to what was being said. After it was over and we were walking to my car all I could think was, "Find a way. Make this change. Do it for you."
From that moment on it took only one month until my surgery. My mom and father's "anything" to give me a happy and healthy life was the LapBand procedure. On March 13th, I had an appointment with the surgeon, Dr. Ladd Atkins. My mom went with me. She was extremely nervous about the surgery. I wouldn't blame her. On March 18, I started a two week liquid diet to prepare myself for surgery. This is not only to shrink the stomach, but also to shrink the liver. I thought I would be in agony those two weeks, but with the help of chicken broth and Arby's au jus I made it. I even made it through the Easter Holiday without a Reese Egg!
On March 31st we celebrated Easter with my family before my mom, Aunt Kalyn and I drove to Tulsa for my surgery the next day. We made sure everything was in order for me to recover at my aunt and uncle's house. 
My surgery was scheduled for 7am and I had to be there at 6. I woke up, showered, dried my hair and was ready to go. This was the first day of the rest of my life. I could tell my mother was nervous on the short car ride to the hospital. I just sat in the back while she and my aunt nervously talked.  As soon as I was checked into the hospital I went to prep for surgery. Mom and my aunt came back to before I was taken into the operating room for last minute details and questions. Mom kissed me on the cheek and said, " I love you" and I was wheeled away. 
I really can't describe my emotions as I was wheeled into the operating room. I remember jumping onto the actually table and being ready to go. 
Waking up has never been my favorite thing to do and waking up out of anesthesia isn't any better. I slept a lot the day of surgery. 
Tuesday I traveled home with my mom. Wednesday I was back at work. 
My life is forever changed.

Some might think I took the easy way out. My doctor will tell you he did the easy part. I have had to change my entire lifestyle. Goodbye bread. Goodbye sushi rolls. Goodbye tortillas. Goodbye pop. I don't get cheat days. 
I can't begin to express my love and gratitude to all of those who have supported me through this journey. My family and friends have been more than wonderful. My relationship with my mom is one of the greatest blessings in my life. We spend so much time together and rarely argue. My surgery didn't just change my life, it also changed her life.
This is my new life and I couldn't be happier.
Thanks mom and dad. I love you more than words can express.
xoxo,
C

The picture on the left is from March 31, 2013, the day before surgery.
The picture on the right is me today, April 1, 2014, one year after surgery.
The dresses are both Lilly Pulitzer; however, the one of the left is an XL and
the one of the right is a medium.