Best Meatloaf EVA!

DO NOT be intimidated by the length of the recipe.  This is SO easy.  Literally takes 10 minutes to prep...do not take shortcuts with tomato sauce (no Ragu, get a can of plain tomato sauce) and make your own sauce (it's worth it).

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/barbeque-meat-loaf-recipe/index.html

Yoga

So I'm SO excited to have found a really good program on Time Warner Cable's OnDemand Sports Channel...yoga at home.  I considered getting a yoga DVD because every time I think I'll join a class, I don't.  I think about getting back into yoga, and think, and think.  So today, no excuses!  Started up the program, laid out the mat and boom, 45 minutes later a decent workout!  So, you don't have to pay for a class, buy a DVD, figure in when and where the class will be in your schedule.  Your time, your way.  You can even use a large towel and not even get a mat!  Just do it.  Whatever "it" is...no excuses.

Chicken w Rotel

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cans of mild chile Rotel

Use a 13x9 pan.  Season the breasts with salt and peppers.  Coat with olive oil.  Pour both cans of Rotel over all breasts.  Turn after 30 minutes.  Leave for another 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook for 15 minutes, turn breasts.  Cook additional 10 minutes.  Sprinkles Mexican style shredded cheese over each breast.  Broil for 2 minutes. 

I made brown rice with chicken broth.  Served chicken over rice and spooned some drippings from the pan.  

What to do with all those dang egg hunt treasures

What to do with all those eggs chock full of protein?  Here you go!  I added peppers to mine for some interesting kick...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/deviled-eggs-recipe/index.html

Easy Peesy Pot Roast

I went to my grocery store and found a big ole piece of beef on sale.  It was discounted, and was the last day to purchase before the date expired...hence I got it super cheap!  I seasoned it, simply.  Added beef broth and popped it in the slow cooker and walked away!  I'll make fragrant rice and gravy, but remember...PROTEIN FIRST!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/pot-roast-with-roasted-root-vegetables-recipe/reviews/index.html

A day signaling renewal

Easter takes on a new meaning when your youngest child is 16.  It used to be egg hunts, baskets, stuffed bunnies, and a huge dinner with lots of family.  In retrospect, it stressed me out beyond recognition.  As I move into the new phase of my life, I seek out ways to bring calm and peace into my life. 

On this day, I challenge you to find one thing to examine, restructure and renew.  My challenge is to break down my week into days, scheduling tasks daily.  What is most difficult for me is procrastination.  What ends up happening is, I have tasks that need to be performed.  I look at the ENTIRE task and am so overwhelmed, I cannot begin.  I freeze.  Another issue of mine is, I must complete a task once I start.  This ties into the procrastination, and ultimately not getting tasks complete.  I'm going to plan out my weeks on a daily basis; doing small tasks each day instead of ALL tasks in one day.  This also includes my dinner menus.  I will shop weekly, and then set up the upcoming menu based on what I purchased.  So my renewal is to kinder to my mind, and find ways to calm myself by making molehills out of mountains.

Since it's a family day I'm opting for a short and sweet entry.  But, renewal of a daunting situation in your life a huge undertaking.  Today's blog maybe be small, but your task is huge.  Don't be discouraged if success isn't instant...nothing in life worth having is easy.

Little balls of heaven

Made these a few days ago.  Husband looks at me and said "you can make these everyday.  I will eat them on bread, rice, noodles, plain, anything, anytime anywhere."  I chuckled.  They are SO easy and will be inhaled rather quickly.  Next time I'll double the recipe and hope for leftovers!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bbq-mini-meatballs-recipe/index.html

Feeling good inside

So, this is actually my second post of the day.  Some issue Blogger.com is experiencing caused my last blog to disappear.  I'm going to go in a different direction in case my "lost" post magically reappears at some point.  Ugh, that's maddening.

Three weeks ago I was struck down with the flu.  The flu symptoms ebbed, but I was left feeling not myself.  I went to my Surgical Center and they took FIFTEEN vials of blood; I had missed my 6 month checkup since I was also post hernia surgery, so feeling badly also incorporated their need to ensure my nutritional levels were being met at this 9 month juncture.  Also, current symptoms were in line with GB levels out of whack.  Thrilled to see all of my nutritional work paying off with perfect vitamin blood values and cholesterol is stellar!  There is something to be said when you look at yourself in the mirror and know you look good; then find that your insides are just as good.  I finally feel I can with all conviction say, I am a Gastric Bypass success and you can listen to me lol!

That being said, let's discuss how You Can Do It!  First, and foremost:  I take two Centrum Chewables every single day.  I chose to stay on chewables even after my doc said I could change to tablets; they are too large for my stomach and make me feel like I swallowed a brick.  Also, if your stomach can't break it down properly, you won't get good absorption in the intestine.  My only iffy test result was Vitamin D...slightly low.  On the flip side my calcium was perfect.  So I added a daily calcium citrate chewable with Vitamin D added (I chose chocolate to get a little hit of choco and none of the guilt).  GP says this should bring up D values just fine.  Also, I'm a sun goddess, so au natural in moderation is great for Vitamin D as well.  Take your calcium with the multi-vitamin as they've seen better absorption with Vitamin C.  I was pleasantly surprised to see my perfect iron levels since I'm not a big red meat eater.  But as I've read, iron levels are more of an issue for menstrating women; I am not after a total hysterectomy in 2004 so that might have something to do with it.  If you're anemic even after taking your multi-vitamin (like I said I take 2, and 1 has 100% of my daily requirement), do liquid iron.  I'm a big proponent on making things as simple on your stomach pouch as possible.  This follows through for anyone, not just GBers.  There are many people on acid reflux meds nowadays, which of course reduce your stomach acid.  My belief is if you reduce the acid, you reduce the ability to get the full effect intestinally.  So you're wasting time, money and belief you are helping yourself. 

Another huge component to this factor is food.  The old adage "you get out what you put in" is totally spot on.  I'm not an organic shopper or eater.  I'm not knocking anyone who does, I just don't.  But I do abstain from fast food and overly processed foods.  I cook most of what I eat, which gives me a lot of control over knowing exactly what I'm eating.  I encourage everyone to do the same; you don't have to be a gourmet cook to take a package of meat out of the fridge, season it and grill or bake it until no longer raw.  As I've said before, the internet is an awesome tool to find recipes that range from braindead easy to incredibly sofisticated.  Also, it only takes a little extra time to shop bi-weekly so try to buy fresh when possible.  Figure out what you are capable of doing time management wise and just do it.  This is the only body you will EVER have, be kind to it.  And I find a lot of personal satisfaction in cooking well for my family, knowing I'm not just helping myself be healthy, but them as well.

Fluids are crucial.  Get your water, period.  But I also drink two servings of soy milk every day.  I either get it from a decaf latte or just straight up.  I choose soy because of my milk allergy, and because it's so rich in protein.  I must say, I indulge in light vanilla flavored...I've tried plain and it's just not for me.  Also, having the hysterectomy put me in line for hormone replacement therapy.  I didn't like the way the meds made me feel and found the soy gives me enough estrogen to be able to get through the lack of ovaries medication free.  Understandably, not every woman may be able to get what they need from a few glasses of Silk so I'm thankful I do.  For those with a soy allergy, rice and almond milk are great alternatives.

Exercise!  I was at the gym the other day trying to not watch the timer on the elliptical machine.  My way of doing this is putting a magazine over the display lol.  Well, they had a good article about moving your feet during the day.  Everyone puts so much stock in getting to the gym and doing some monster hour/hour and half long session to fulfill the guilt of the "Exercise Demon."  That just sets you up for NOT going.  But the article noted several things to do throughout your day that overall are incredibly beneficial: 
1.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator
2.  Use the restroom on a different floor
3.  Don't park near the entrance, further away and walk it out (I need to do this I am a Princess Parker)
4.  While on a call, don't sit and talk.  Walk around while talking
5.  Download a program on your computer to pop up a timer to remind you to get out of your chair every 2 hours minimum...more often if you can allow with your work schedule.

So, that's a good start.  Changing your entire life is a monumentous undertaking.  Don't get discouraged if it takes a while; find one thing you can change and embrace that one change.  Then find one thing and so on.  Soon, change will be natural and you'll think "why did I think that wasn't possible."  I forced changed by deciding to accept the tool of GB.  But I had to prioritize the pieces of the puzzle and not be discouraged over slips.  Inventory of daily small victories is a huge motivator.

Slow cooked Green Chile Pork

My very great friend and fellow GBer made this for my husband and I when we went over for a fun evening.  As we left, my very picky eater of a hubby said "get that recipe."  And I did...now I'll share with you:

1  (5-6 lb) pork butt or pork shoulder
1 Tbs cumin
4-5 cloves of garlic (minced or put through press)
1 Tbs oregano
Salt and pepper (to taste)
2 cans original rotel
2 cans diced green chiles
2-3 cups water
1 12oz can coke (regular)
1 jar green chile salsa (tomatillo w/jalapeno for mild or green chile/jalapeno for more heat)

Place whole pork roast in crock pot (on rack if you have one, if not, no big deal).  Add 2-3 cups water.  Sprinkle seasonings on top or roast and rub in with back of spoon.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Add rotel and green chiles, then add coke.  Liquid will bubble up.  Cook on low 8-10 hours under tender and falling apart.  Remove from juices to cutting board.  Using two forks, shred meat, scraping away any fat.  (Discard fat and bones.)

Put shredded meat in large saucepan or soup pot, add green chile salsa and add back a few ladles of broth to keep moist.  Heat through.  Serve with rice, warmed taco-size flour or corn tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream and green onions if desired.  

Food, a good four letter F word.

One of the things my surgical center stressed Pre Surgery was to learn your relationship with food.  I really didn't attribute my weight gain with an emotional need for food, but rather food was an annoyance I had to placate.  I didn't love food, in fact most times I hated it.  I'd see myself in the mirror, hate the way I looked and blamed food.  So, I'd limit food, I'd abstain from food, then I'd give into food because...I was hungry.  After eating, I hated food again.  So, yes, learning your relationship WITH food is important.

Food didn't make me fat; my personal choices made me fat and food was the scapegoat.  For the first three weeks following surgery, I had no food.  I was on a liquid only diet and when you are drinking your meals, it forces you cleanse away any predipositions you have carried.  I was in an unusual situation; I was to start with soft foods at three weeks post surgery.  Instead I was back on the operating table having my gallbladder removed.  I won't go into large detail at this time regarding life after removal of the gallbladder, but suffice to say, dietary changes are a must.  So couple this with GB and all food notions are out the window.  I quickly realized in the weeks following surgery my tastes had changed.  Foods I loved, made me gag.  Foods I didn't care for were now tasty.  Also pasta makes me very sick...which is very difficult since in my former life I was a turbo carb loader :/  I've heard from other GB patients they have also experienced such.  I cannot say if it's rerouting of the digestive tract or being without the use of canine incisors for nearly a month that brings on these changes.  It's an interesting journey when you can't wait to start eating foods you loved, to find you have no interest in those foods whatsoever.

Having two back to back major surgeries took its toll on me.  My body was just worn out and my energy stores were non existant.  But one thing I did find rather quickly was, I didn't like canned food.  Could be that I lived on canned soup broth for about four weeks?  Could be this whole transformation I just described.  Nonetheless, I wanted to eat cooked food.  Did I want to cook at that time?  No.  I'm the chef in the house, so if I was going to eat, I was going to have to cook for myself.  At first I overwhelmed myself cooking huge meals that I could only eat about an ounce at a serving.  I quickly got burned out and starting finding ways to scale it all back.  I finally set up my Aerogarden and grew beautiful herbs such as basil, dill and thyme.  That alone is a huge inspiration to cook something lovely!  I also developed a love affair with my slow cooker.  What I tell anyone who asks "how do you find time to cook?" is it doesn't take much more time to cook a meal than to buy, store, unwrap, microwave and cool down a Lean Cuisine!  Find tools that aid you and entice you to utilize them.  I've made an amazing meal from a cheap cut of beef, thrown it in my slow cooker and here's how it relates to Lean Cuisine:  I unwrap a piece of meat, I place it in the slow cooker, I add 2-3 fresh ingredients and either water or broth.  Turn it on and walk away for 6-8 hours.  Then I put on a pot of water and wait for it to boil.  I throw in some fresh veggies and walk away for about 10 minutes.  When I come back I have a meal.  In total, it takes about 10 minutes of prep work and I am left with meat that is fork tender that rivals a filet mignon and fresh veggies that don't taste like metal.  Also, given the size of your family, possibly that 10 minutes of prep you just invested, could garner a meal for several days.  I've made BBQ chicken in my slow cooker that I transformed the next night into BBQ chicken quesadillas; premade chicken, 2 flour tortillas and cheese in a pan...2 minutes.  This works for me.  It took several months for me to find what did work.  I've always loved to cook, so it wasn't as hard as it might be for someone who doesn't cook.  Maybe you are lucky enough to have a partner who loves to cook but hasn't found inspiration.  Maybe your role could be prep work, shopping locally or finding tools for the kitchen.  Whatever it is, find it.  Food should be your friend, not enemy.

My new facination is with shopping locally.  I'm exploring local farmer's markets and butcher shops, buying fresh and cooking often.  If you buy produce in season, the price is about the same that pay for frozen in the grocery store...tasting better and improving the quality of your meals and health.  My goal is to go Saturdays and Wednesdays.  My weekly menus will be created after returning from the market with whatever I've found!  An awesome internet tool I use every day is http://www.foodtv.com/.  You can enter anything into the search engine, from ingredient to main component and search recipes.  You can adjust the recipes according to rating, relevancy, ease, and cooking time.  I choose rating and have never been disappointed, but do what works for you.  For example, broccoli is in season right now.  My family isn't a huge fan of broccoli.  So I need to find a quick way to cook it, in a way they will eat:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/chili-garlic-roasted-broccoli-recipe/index.html
Took me 2 minutes to find this recipe and I'll make it tomorrow night with the orange honey roasted chicken I was planning to make!  Healthy, preservative free, and delish!  I like the rating feature because not only do you see that others have made and enjoyed it, but reviewers can post adjustments or suggestions for you to try as well. 

So two "foods of thought":  first, figure out how food fits into your life.  Second, figure out how to make it easy to fit food into your life effectively.  There is nothing more that I enjoy than to make the people I love smile.  When my loved ones walk into the kitchen and smell what I've created, they smile and say "when's it ready?"  There was a quote that went around a few years ago "Food is Love."  I think it was targeted at overweight folks who were unhappy and used food as a way to find peace.  The quote took on a negative connotation, which is sad.  For me, food is love.  I cook for my loved ones and it makes them happy, making me happy.  And now, finally, I've learned to cook for myself.  I've found ways to cook that make me look and feel better and that is a very good thing.

Prepacked foods...

Is it really worth lost term exposure to hazardous chemicals to take 2 minutes and microwave a "meal" rather than 10 minutes to cook one?

http://abcn.ws/hiYmaA

North African Meatballs...ethnic protein with flair!

Hello protein!  Recipe says "intermediate" but don't let that scare you.  Pretty easy, just measure and get the sauce right.  Some strong spices here so you don't want to "gestimate."  I'm pairing it with couscous...a healthy grain without all the bad starches associates with carbs ;)

http://bit.ly/eHHNXK

Yoga!

Exercise is key in any human.  You need to move around and get that heart a pumpin!  It also naturally floods your body with feel good endorphins, which is a great after surgery.  Here's a link for some yoga poses you can do without much risk of torquing yourself into a pretzel:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20359611,00.html

Yoga is not only an excellent, non-invasive way to exercise...it is an excellent way to learn controlled breathing which can benefit you in so many ways including managing stress and blood pressure.  You don't need to pay for a class or worry about making a fool of yourself.  Do it at home and let your dog laugh at you!

Vitamins, vitamins...where for art thou Vitamins?

Today's entry is personal.  First, sorry it's composed so late in the day.  I was delayed at my surgical clinic having 15 vials of blood drawn.  Which brings me to our topic:  could you be doing everything right and still need more?

I showed up at the clinic and they handed me a few forms:  one to verify current medications, one to give an example of my daily food intake, and one asking symptoms that brought me to the clinic in the first place. 

1.  Since surgery and subsequent weight loss, I'm off all meds except the lowest dose possible of Xanax.  Am hoping to be off that very soon, but not quite there yet.  According to the shrink at the clinic, they recommend no patient change pysch meds for a year after surgery.  I didn't think I'd need an entire year to wean off this last jagged little pill, but alas.  I choose to be happy with all I've accomplished instead of what I have not.  I chew 2 Centrum each day.  They did say to add chewable calcium, so will do tomorrow. 

2.  Breakfast, container of greek yogurt.  AM snack, piece of oatmeal bread toasted with peanut butter.  Lunch, tuna salad with chopped hard boiled egg and a slice of tomato.  Afternoon snack, protein shake.  Dinner, 2 ounces of baked chicken and 1/4 cup of steamed green beans.  PM snack, 2 ounces of cheddar cheese and 2 Triscuit crackers.  Doc said "your diet is stellar!"  So A+ for me tee hee. 

3.  Symptoms:  extreme fatigue, dizziness, mental confusion, cold hands and feet, no appetite.  I had what I could best qualify as the flu (doc asked if I went to the clinic and verified it was indeed the flu I said no) about 2 weeks ago.  So last week when these symptoms popped, I chalked it up to coming off having the flu.  The fatigue was nearly debilitating yesterday afternoon.  By this morning, I forgot how to drive home from dropping my daughter off at school; a drive I do twice a day, 5 days a week.  I called the resident on call and he said get to the clinic...so I did.  Gave more blood than a vampire could drink, but it should give us a nice WIDE target to aim for!  They gave me a B12 shot; I had been doing B12 shots regularly before GB but since surgery, haven't had any symptoms.  I do think that's the underlying issue now and I have to face facts that my body cannot absorb B12 naturally, which sucks.  Then she asked how much water I drink each day.  I told her 100 fluid ounces, give or take, not including fluid from my protein shakes or cup of coffee.  She says "that's too much.  I want you to cut back to 64 ounces...you might have sodium deficiency."  Huh?  Too much water?  Not enough sodium?  Huh?

We're conditioned in this program to get in as much water as humanly possible to stave off dehyration.  Another key topic is salt because it's not good for you in general, but it dehydrates.  So I'm told I am drinking TOO much and have TOO little sodium.  Huh?  I guess we'll wait to see what the tests reveal. 

I'm not posting this to scare or confuse.  What I'm trying to say is, I'm told I'm the poster child for gastric bypass surgery and weight loss.  I've done everything I was told to do, I've had huge success with my weight loss and skin retention, and no hair loss.  I've had no metabolic issues whatsoever and have started a very good exercise regime.  And I woke up this morning feeling like I was losing my mind.  This is normal.  If you have symptoms that make you feel "just not right," call you doctor.  So you sacrifice a few pints of blood and spend a few hours in waiting and exam rooms...but that's what they are for.  This is a life long journey and they are your tour guides, so use them!  You aren't bothering them and no question is a stupid question.  If you are in a Center of Excellence, there is no question or symptom they haven't heard of or answered.  I'll let you know tomorrow what they've discovered and how I will adjust my "stellar" daily menu accordingly.  Just remember, you can only do what you can do...and no more.

Food Addiction is REAL

Great article.  I think if people actually can identify their "drug of choice" and detox...healthy mind/healthy bod.

http://huff.to/grTj40

Good article

Check this one out:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/relationship-with-food?cm_mmc=twitter-_-womenshealth-_-content-food-_-foodrelationship

Recommended as a good read

Ordering this for myself.  Was recommended by a friend.  She focuses on the process of GB as a nurse and being a GB herself.  Looks good, check it out...

http://amzn.to/hfMFXi

Tuna is your friend!

I have to say, I am an amateur chef that prefers canned tuna to fresh.  I know I shall be shunned by chefs near and far, but I can't lie!  And, canned tuna is just too dang easy.  This recipe is AWESOME!  I don't like capers really so I add baby peas.  You get your protein from tuna, eggs, avocado and cheese!  I usually put my tuna salad in a tortilla instead of bread because I cannot eat bread or eat it plain Jane...but do what makes you happy.  Also, substituting greek yogurt for mayo will be even better for ya ;)

http://bit.ly/fAhpyc

How to hydrate

One of the things my surgical center stressed weeks before surgery was hydration.  It's important for all humans to be and stay properly hydrated.  For GB patients it is CRUCIAL.  Before surgery, we were advised to start "practicing" how to drink fluids.  We are to stop drinking fluids 30 minutes before a meal, not to drink during the meal, then abstain for 30 minutes after completing the meal.  This is much more difficult than it sounds; you have to eat every 2-3 hours AND get at least 64 fluid ounces in per day.  So you not only have to be aware it will be time to eat soon, but then toggle the necessary fluids around such mealtimes.  Practice does help.  I did so for about a week before surgery and thought "how in the world do people do this?"  I was scared and thought I'd never get in 64 ounces of water a day.  Now it get around 100 fluid ounces.  I was recently asked "do you protein drinks count towards your 64 ounces?"  No.  So...what to do?

First thing is, cut caffeine.  I know, I know.  How can you possibly live without that morning cup o' coffee, tea, Red Bull!  Whatever your vessel for this drug of choice, I'm a firmer believer, abstinance is key.  The only way to truly benefit from the drug is to keep feeding it.  Once you stop, you go through withdrawal symptoms that are dreadful.  This is your body's way of saying "this really isn't good for me."  That aside, it dehydrates.  So, you take up critical hydration opportunities to become dehydrated.  Makes no sense, right?  I drank my last caffeinated beverage the day before surgery.  Cold turkey after that and feel great.  I also found it gave me "false anxiety issues" and found that, no it's not panic/anxiety...it's my Venti Latte from Starbucks! 

Cut carbonation.  It's air...takes up space in the gut and studies actually show progresses osteoporosis.  So, if you're consuming carbonation, even Pellegrino, it's not the best choice so just let it go. 

Sugar dehydrates me.  Not sure if that's a GB thing or anyone.  So here may be yet another reason to cut sugar intake.  And, if you're downing a regular can of Coke...triple whammy. 

I bought a 20 ounce water bottle.  Easy math, given how many times I refill it per day.  As long as I fill it 4 or 5 times, I was successful that day.  I never had issues with drinking plain water before surgery.  As with many other things, after surgery my taste for water changed.  So I got into the surge of powered, sugar free powders.  Worked like a charm for me.  My favorite was sugar free Tropical Punch Kool-Aid :)  So, in the first few months after surgery, it did take some time to work out drinking and eating.  Being an insomniac by nature, I started drinking when I woke up at night.  So, around the clock, I manage to squeek out my 64 ounces.  In time, I was able to increase.  I originally bought a huge 48 ounce water bottle, thinking if I just constantly carried around a big bottle of water, I'd drink.  But, once I got the smaller bottle, I found I drank more fluid, more often.  It's easy to tote around; I can put it in my purse, carry it in the car, and easily around the house or the mall.  So, for me, small bottle, filled all day.  Also, you may have seen my link yesterday...I'm now HOOKED on MiO...comes in 6 flavors so far and all are so yummy.  Very portable, easy to dispense, and you can add it anything...not just water (someone online added it to a margarita lol).

So, hydrate everyone!  Not only does it assist in digestion, but it's great for your complexion! 

Tikka Marsala Chicken...reinvented

I'll be trying this one.  I love this show...they test the recipe in the kitchen before presenting them...one trick I use is buying the pre-minced ginger in the produce section ;)  I will also be using half and half instead of whole cream and brown rice.

http://www.americastestkitchen.com/video/index.php?docid=24314&Extcode=L1CN4BA00

Hydration

They say it's good to get 64 ounces of water in, per day.  I do 100.  My son, Michael, turned me onto a new product called MiO Liquid Enhancer.  I love powder packets to add to all the water I drink every day, and zero calorie is a must.  This is BETTER.  Already a liquid so no clumps or powder all over the counter, your hands, etc, etc...check it out!  http://bit.ly/h3ZxEG

Slow Cooker Heaven

A great way to get your protein is buying inexpensive cuts of meat and using a slow cooker.  Don't spend a fortune on one, if you don't have one already (I've found they pretty much all work the same).  Here's a great recipe I've used quite a few times...big hit with the family. 

http://bit.ly/fFQmOW

Knowing when to say when

Something that is near and dear to me:  Grazing.  Since I find myself falling off this wagon to date, I figured I'd talk about it today to inspire myself to stay straight:

I've gone to a few support group meetings at my surgical center.  The majority of the time, I do not find them hugely beneficial, personally.  One thing touched upon by a fellow patient was weight gain after surgery.  Shortly after surgery when I heard this I thought "What?  How can that happen?"  Now that I'm eight months out and eating normally, I understand.  The nutrition expert said "eat every 2 hours.  Finish eating within 10 minutes and walk away.  Return and eat again in 2 hours."  Here's what this means:  you CAN eat an entire cheeseburger after GB, if you graze.  You eat your 1-2 ounces when you start.  Then 20 minutes later, you can eat another 1-2 ounces.  Then 15-20 minutes after that...another 1-2 ounces.  Within an hour, you've eaten an entire cheeseburger.  You don't feel sick, like you would had you eaten the entire burger when you first sat down.  Had you eaten the ENTIRE burger, the GB fairy godmother would have promptly and violently reminded you of your too small stomach, and brought the burger back up.  Then you would have said "darn, I wish I hadn't eaten an entire cheeseburger because I know I'm not supposed to."

In conveying this subject, I tried to find an alternative word for "cheat."  Every word in the thesaurus was horrible!  But it is human nature to push limits.  So in avoidance of my two biggest fears: stretching my stomach and weight gain, I give the following advice...one and done.  Sit down, eat your meal, walk away.  Make whatever you are eating your focus at that moment.  Turn off the tv.  Close the laptop or PC window.  Get off the phone.  Just eat.  You will be full at first at about an ounce.  Later at about eight.  The key is proteins first, carbs second.  So choose wisely and do it every 2-3 hours only.  And today I will start practicing what I preach.

The link I chose did put a focal point on behavior and pyschological issues that lead to weight gain in the first place.  I can only speak from personal experiences in my blog.  Personally, I did not choose food as a way to balance missing components in my life.  My weight gain was brought on by not paying attention to what my body needed.  I had a lifestyle that basically caused me to be on hyperdrive all day.  I'd get up in the morning, and run out the door; kids, husband, house, job, etc.  Around 2-3 PM I would realize, with a headache, "I forgot to eat."  So I'd eat 2 or 3 meals worth in one sitting.  Then I'd go home and eat a HUGE dinner.  My metabolism was shot and I'd trained my body that it was starving, therefore it had to store all calories in order to survive lol.  Not good.  I know there are lots of folks that eat for different reasons and we can explore those reasons individually.  My surgical center required a pysch screening before surgery and offers treatment after.  Personally, I need to stop life's joyride for 10 minutes a few times a day and JUST EAT.  But I encourage you to find your food trigger and evaluate what you need to do to use the safety. 
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Fitness/story?id=4444057&page=1

A good list of proteins

A good list of proteins

Start of something wonderful!

Hello!  If you are here, you are like me...looking for a shared goal of success.

When I first started exploring the choices of assisted weight loss, I went straight to Google.  After attending the initial meeting at Duke University's Weight Loss and Metabolic Clinic, I was inspired by one thing the physician said:  "Gastric Bypass is not a get out of jail free card.  You won't be doing this surgery for an easy way to lose a bunch of weight.  You'll be doing this to change your life.  Bypass is just a tool to assist you."  I did all the research, read all the medical overviews, and got MANY personal opinions.  But in truth, what I was looking for was a real person to help me; to tell me I could and would be successful.  And to be there if I needed guidance.  I really couldn't find much so I relied on the support group provided by my surgery center.  I was lucky enough to meet a great friend and we've been able to support one another.  But I thought, I can do more.  That's why I'm here.  So today, the journey begins! 

I will post daily to encourage, to assist and to show you how you can do this most major life choice successfully.  I will focus on positive mental improvement, motivation and diet to show you that you too can have great results in a short period of time and be well on your way to enjoying each and every day of your life.