I'm coming up on my One Year Anniversary of my Gastric Bypass. This is forcing me to view myself, and my life in general, in a different way. I am not the person I was a year ago. I'm thankful for the gift of this surgery and what it's brought to my life. And I think I'll focus some effort into trying to articulate these feelings:
It's easy to say my life has changed because of what I eat. It has changed, but not because of what I eat. It's changed because of why I eat; instead of eating because I was bored, or stuffing food in my face because I was busy, I now eat with purpose. I chose very carefully exactly what I'm willing to endure after eating, if I choose badly. I chose carefully because I'm very aware every bite counts towards daily protein intake. But I choose carefully because I wanted to ensure that eating still remained a joy, not a chore. GBPers have two paths after surgery: lose weight from happiness or frustration. You will lose weight, you have no choice. Your choice remains in how happy you will be here on.
For many months, I ate with purpose: to not lose my hair nor muscle mass. I was terrified of the stories I'd heard regarding these issues due to lack of protein intake. Undoubtedly, many folks who qualify for surgery have achieved weight gain from being carb lovers (me included). It becomes natural to eat the yummy carbs first, proteins take the backseat. I was never an Adkins supporter thinking "how can you lose weight eating steak and bacon?" But I see the overall premise of the program now...proteins are important in filling you up and keeping your hunger staved. Carbs in fruits (not many for me, too much sugar) and veggies are second on the list of eats...but simple carbs are in my past. I don't miss them, surprisingly. So I guess that could have something to do with my outlook for my future. But I have to wonder how many GBP patients have deep regret over never being able to eat the things that truly bring them joy.
I suggest if you are in this category, look for alternatives. I felt a tad silly going into Barnes&Noble to buy Bethenny Frankel's books Naturally Thin and Skinnygirl Dish. But Bethenny's Claim To Fame is not dieting; it's changing HOW you cook to just be naturally a thin person without making a huge change in your everyday food prep and eating process. Her mantras can hold true for anyone, but it was particularly interesting to me in that, she's created a menu that is balanced, low in sugar and fat and delicious. So, by using these recipes and the changes she's made to every foods I thought I could no longer eat, I can eat and feel very satisfied with food choices. I love cookies: now I can eat ONE cookie, but no longer feel even slight desire to eat six. That's the difference. I cannot eat semolina pasta, but whole wheat or rice pasta in small amounts is fine. So I urge you, if you are feeling unhappy because of the choice you made to have this surgery, what are you missing? And can you make a substitution to at least feel as though you are going to miss this for the rest of your life?
I don't want to feel as though I'm a lucky one. I am blessed because before my one year anniversary I have reached my target weight and am so healthy I am running 3 miles a day (soon to be 4!). I had goals when I went into this life changing decision, one, being able to run again! And nothing feels more free that taking off your shoes and just running. You have to find your inner bliss and hang onto that. If you're not blissful, bless yourself with a quiet moment alone, pen and paper if necessary and really dig deep to realize what make YOU happy. Because no matter how many people you have close to you, that depend on you, or just love you for who you are; you cannot love them fully until you learn to love everything about yourself. This starts with finding your bliss. Happy hunting :)
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, April 8, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
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