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ajtexas's Blog
 

Zucchini Mama!

This weekend brought an end to the preserving of my spring/summer garden (except for the okra which will produce thru September). It was a good year:   137 pounds of Zucchini (15 plants) 104 pounds of Yellow Squash (15 plants) 30 ½ pounds of Patty Pan Squash (5 plants) 43 ½ pounds of cucumbers (5 plants) 73 pounds of Tomatoes (10 plants) 4 bushels of pears (2 trees)   I spent the summer preserving all this every way I could: pickles, relishes, preserves, marmalades, minced meat, pie fillings, canned tomatoes, canned pears, frozen roasted tomatoes, frozen squash, casseroles, zucchini bread, zucchini cake, zucchini hummus, zucchini cobbler (tastes like apple!)… You name it! It’s been nonstop!!   What does this have to do with the band? You wonder…… EVERYTHING!   Pre band I could not have done a fourth of what I did this summer. I couldn’t cook dinner in the summer without sweating like a pig. I would have a towel around my neck wiping the sweat off my face before it dripped into the pan (for reals!). I would have to sit down every five minutes because my back was hurting. I hated working in the kitchen and doing anything outside forget it.   My husband use to do all the work on the land, I couldn’t physically help him…..   I don’t exercise, I hate the gym and any formal exercise routine. It’s never worked for me….. but I move. I move all the time. I walk and take the stairs as much as I can at work. Every day when I get home I have to feed the chickens, pick produce from the garden, pull weeds, etc. And the weekends are full of chores too, cleaning chicken coops, mowing lawns, pulling more weeds, building goat shelters….   I have so much energy now that all this work is nothing, just life on my farm. Just last night my husband asked me…   “So what is my zucchini mama gonna do next?”…….hummmmm
♕ajtexas♕

♕ajtexas♕

4
Roo101769's Blog
 

Insurance run around...Take 2

I was told by my insurance that there was no "medically supervised diet" requirement on my plan, yet my bariatric doctor was told BY MY INSURANCE there is a six month requirement!!! I just got off the phone with my insurer and was told once again it is not required. But when I made my appointment with the NUT she informed me the office said I had one. ( and she verified it while I was on the phone with her) I wish people would get their darn facts STRAIGHT!!! On the bright side I did see my PCP back in March to start my "medically supervised diet" that my old insurance plan required. So I am almost at the six month mark anyway.....Grrrr
Roo101769

Roo101769

2
adargie's Blog
 

Day 7 post op, made it thru first day of work!

Well technically I am still here but taking a break. I was busy with patients this morning till about 1130 and I handled well. Just glad I was able to sit my butt down after that, Now I am sore from head to toe. My back is sore(prob from spending so much time on my butt) and my gut feels like I have won the guiness world book of sit ups! I got 2 protein shakes down and 48oz of fluid, going to fill er up and get to 64oz before 5 I hope. Whats good is I did not get that low bloodsugar feeling that I was having a couple days ago. I did break out into sweat a couple times but forced myself to slow down. Tonight I plan on puttin something super comfy, (getting this damn bra off) and chillaxin till bedtime. I consider today a success.   Also I have dropped the bomb at work about my surg. Told my manager and a few other coworkers. So far everyone has been supportive (theres prob a big buzz of whispering going around the office regarding me but let them!) I knew I would be able to deal with talking to people about this afterwards better than before hand and I was right.   I noticed a difference in my scrub bottoms today, they were not so "bust the seam" tight. Victory! The scale has moved 15lbs total since pre-op(in which I gained oops)   Anyway, off I go
adargie

adargie

1
What had happened was...
 

It's contagious!

When I started talking about having the sleeve done my sister also started talking about it. She is over weight and has been for most of her adult life just like myself. She is 5 years older than I am but is about 5 inches shorter. She has been my little big sister for many years. Well, she has had a couple of c-sections, laproscopic gall bladder surgery and a robotic hysterectomy and was concerned that she may have adhesions that would cause problems for a sleeve surgery. She talked herself out of the surgery and out of looking into it anymore than what she already had, which wasn't much but still. Well, I've now lost 102 pounds and she has gained about 20 in that same amount of time. She asked me this weekend if I thought she would be crazy to have it done. I was so excited! I have been wanting to encourage her to have the surgery but knew she was afraid to. She talked with her husband and he is supportive too! My prayer for her is that if she is supposed to have it done that God will put her infront of the right surgeon. She lives away from me so will be using someone other than the surgeon that did mine. I am so excited for her and that we could be doing this together. She is one of my best friends and is one of my biggest encouragers. I can't wait for the opportunity to be the same for her!
MissNikki27's Blog
 

Mind over Protein

I had so many issues wih getting enough protein due to me not being able to stomach protein shakes. Well I finally sucked it up and sat myself done and had a serious conversation. I cannot get my protein in with food alone and as you all know I need to get it down. So I decided to get over my fear of the taste and focus on the reasons for having it. It is just like taking liquid medicine that taste horrible. I finally did it...... for the past several days I have been drinking protein shakes and it is only getting better. I was even able to break out the ready makes shakes that I hid in the back of fridge because I hated the taste so bad and now I'm having them for lunch and dinner. So better health here I come.
MissNikki27

MissNikki27

2
Somebody's Blog
 

the best surgery

where is the best surgery? could you recommend any? I'm staying in Thailand, I think it good place for surgery because many people have success for their surgery.
Somebody

Somebody

0
Bluto's Blog
 

Toss the box? A NSV with a problem

I had a NSV this past weekend. Unfortunately, along with it came a problem. I had to go get the box out of the attic. You know the one that I filled with the clothes that were too tight. The clothes that I had from the last time I lost some weight .. and the time before that, and the time before that.... How could that possibly be a problem, you ask?   The routine in the past has always been to take out the smaller clothes (hurrah!!) and fill the box with the bigger clothes. At that point, the box sits in the closet for a few weeks while I decide if it goes to charity or back in the attic. Well, having gained and lost the same 40# several times in my adult life coupled with the fact that I'm frugal (ok ok a cheap rat bastard), the nagging thought that I may need those clothes again generally leads to them going back in the attic. Then later when I've lost my resolve and gone back to cramming my pie hole with whatever isn't nailed down.... the box comes out and the the process is repeated in reverse.   I keep telling myself that this time is different. That not only will I never need those clothes again, in all likelihood, I will have to buy new clothes when the "small" clothes are too big in another month. I am quickly coming up to the point where I will be smaller than I have been in 20 years, and my goal is a place that I haven't seen since middle school. Never the less, the box of big clothes is currently sitting in my closet silently mocking me. Stupid box.
Bluto

Bluto

6
What do you mean I'm fat?!?
 

My Goals

(Posted to MFP on 8/9/13) I've found myself at odds since I reached my first major goal - getting under 200 lbs. I was so focused on that goal that once I reached it, I didn't really know what to strive for next. Over the course of a couple of weeks I started sliding back into bad habits, not tracking, and just generally being lazy. Now I think it's because I didn't have a concrete goal to focus on next. So, I decided to pre-determine my specific goals - obviously the Main Goal is to lose weight, but I need weight-related milestones to keep me on track. Lose 20 lbs - complete!
Get under 200 lbs - complete!
Get to 190
Get to 186
Get to 169
Get to 160
Get to 155
Get to 150
Get to 145
Get to 140
Get to 135
Get to 125
Get to 120
Some odd numbers, I know. I chose 186 because I had a frenemy that used to crow about her weight loss and time in the gym until everyone was sick to death of hearing about it. When she reached 187 it was 3 weeks of listening to her go on and on about her workouts, her food intake, and every last detail of her bodily functions to get to 187. The number always stuck in my head, so I figure if I get to 186 I can finally get that memory out of my head & thumb my imaginary nose at her!   I chose 169 because I weighed 170 after having my daughter, and it was the highest weight I had ever been at. After that, I only gained - I never got back under 170 and that was 18 years ago. So, once I get to 169 I will be at my lowest since 1995!!   The rest of these goals may change over time, for now they are just place-holders. But at least I've got them down!
zenandnow

zenandnow

2
Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey
 

Updated - Really Cool Recipe - Make Spaghetti Noodles from Chicken Meat

Update 4/5/2013   I tried making lasagna out of the noodles tonight. It tasted very good. I layered a small glass dish with the noodles, covered it with spaghetti sauce, put on a layer of sliced black olives, and a layer of mozzarella cheese. Baked for 30 minutes at 350 and let it sit in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I tried making my spaghetti noodles from the recipe below. It turned out really well. I couldn't leave the basic recipe alone and had to add some garlic and onion to the pureed chicken.   Also my store does not carry powdered eggs, so I bought a box of liquid egg whites and used that instead.   I picked up a squeeze bottle in the housewares section of Walmart for 97 cents.   And a jar of Alfredo sauce. It tasted pretty good with Alfredo, but I prefer spaghetti sauce on the noodles.   The toughest part was getting the right combination of water to chicken ratio. I wanted it thick enough hold together as it came out of the squeeze bottle, yet thin enough to pour into the squeeze bottle.   Never did get it right. It was thicker than I wanted and I wound up using the handle of spoon to poke it down the throat of a funnel and into the bottle.   So I got the water to a rolling boil and had my squeeze bottle loaded for bear. Gave it a big squeeze and started goin round and round like I was making a funnel cake. About the 5th round, the bottle gave out a big "SPLAT" - did you know that even the smallest droplets of boiling water hurt when they hit your forearms? So take a tip - turn the bottle upside down and tap it on the counter to pack down the liquid chicken as much as possible before squeezing over the boiling water!   It was a big chicken breast, probably 10oz.. It was enough to load the bottle 2 1/2 times.   Tips: Freeze the raw chicken until it's stiff and sounds kinda crunchy when you bend it. This will make it easier to cut into cubes and puree. I found out the hard way that floppy chicken tends to wrap itself around the blender blades. The warmer the chicken, the stretchier it gets.   Cut the chicken into 1 inch or smaller pieces - this will also help prevent the chicken from wrapping around the blades and extend the life of your blender motor.   Liquid egg whites work well in this recipe if you can't find the powdered egg whites. I used about 1/4 - 1/2 cup per chicken breast.       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The recipe was off Rachael Ray's site.   Watch the video, use this link: http://www.rachaelra...ta-al-pomodoro/               Rocco DiSpirito's Pasta al Pomodoro         Aired on: April 1, 2013   6 grams of fat 133 calories   Ingredients 3/4 cup cold water
2 tablespoons egg white powder
6 ounces cold chicken breast, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
7 cloves garlic, sliced thin
1 pinch red chili flakes (pepperoncino)
2 cups whole fresh ready to burst ripe tomatoes, cut into large dice
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated
16 leaves of fresh basil, torn by hand into small pieces
Yields: 4 Preparation     Boil 4 quarts of water in a large pot. Once the water is boiling add 2 tablespoons of salt. Preheat broiler. Place the water and the egg white powder in the beaker of a blender, and blend on low speed until all the powder has dissolved, then add the chicken breast and blend on high speed until smooth and glossy. Place the contents of the blender into a squeeze bottle and set in the refrigerator.   Pour the olive oil into a large nonstick sauté pan and then lay out the garlic slices in one even layer over the top of the pan. Place the pan over medium to high heat and cook the garlic until it begins to brown, then move the pan to the middle rack of the oven under the broiler to continue to brown the top of the garlic, about 1 minute. Place the pan back on the stove and add red chili flakes and half the basil leaves, cook for 15 seconds and then add the tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes over medium heat until the sauce comes to a simmer and let cook until the sauce has slightly thickened but still loose, about 2 minutes. Add half of the cheese and stir it completely into the sauce and turn off the stove and season lightly with salt and fresh ground black pepper.   Turn the boiling water down to low heat and squeeze the chicken mixture out of the squeeze bottle in a steady stream into the boiling water into strands the same length as spaghetti, about 10 inches until there is no more room on the surface of the water. Let the noodles cook for 30 seconds then remove them with a strainer or spider, set them aside in a bowl and repeat until all of the chicken mixture is used.   Add the noodles to the pan and turn the heat to medium high heat. Toss the pasta to coat evenly with a heat resistant rubber spatula and cook until the sauce begins to cling to the noodles. Add the remaining basil and check seasoning. Plate the pasta on four separate plates and sprinkle with remaining cheese.   Tip: Use a store-bought, fat free, no added sugar marinara sauce and you can make this meal in less then 10 minutes.   Per Serving: 133 calories, 6.17g fat (2g sat, 3g mono, 1g poly), 6.25mg cholesterol, 114.75mg sodium, 4.575g carbohydrates, 1.1g fiber, 13.05g protein
joatsaint

joatsaint

6
JCassell's Blog
 

Things are looking up!

I'm so excited! My financial whoas are almost over!. The Abstrat it up to date and will be so until September 26th, (how lucky is that? 5yr window and I get a loan the month before it has to be updated!), I have proof of income, and we are going to the bank tomorrow to sign the quit claim deed, and talk about the loan. It feels wonderful knowing that all the paperwork is in order and I have a very good chance of getting this money this week!   The Gma in law called me to appologize for being so negative and told me to not let her influence my decision. I know, right?! She said she knew I was tying to do what was best for my family and that I was a great mom and wife for going thourgh all this for them. Dont know where that came from but I will take it! She is going to sign the papers and help us out.   This week I am taking my mother to her first appt with our surgeon. She will get her date Tuesday and I will get my first appt hopefully! Very excited and ready for the new week!
JCassell

JCassell

2
SpecialK1960's Funny Funny Blog
 

I GOT GAS - AND IT IS TELLING ON ME.... FUNNY BUT TRUE.

Before my surgery, I used to stop at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) on my way home from work.  I work many many hours (70+ a week or more) so I come home late a lot.  I got in the habit of stopping off at BWW on the way home for a few.  But I had a system - Here was my thinking -  (1) Tuesday is wing night with discount prices - 40% off means 40% off,  so I ate an extra 40% of wings for the same calories.  I am pretty sure that is the 4th law of thermo dynamics.  I could be wrong. I think it depends on the sauce (go with "hot" flavor to get all of Einstein's relativity benefits, I know he is not the king of Thermodyanics, but you always get points for dropping his name) (2) Then if you used a discount card, or had a gift card, they were "FREE" - well, those don't count… (3) And we all know that all the calories are in the bones, so getting boneless wings was practically like eating lettuce. Well, here was the problem.  BWW was a smoking establishment – so I would come home smoky and the wife would ask, “Did you stop at Buffalo?” to which I would say no! Since she was obviously referring to a small town in upstate New York.  And I had not been THERE! Nonetheless, busted is busted. Until, the great god of fried chicken intervened.  They did a huge bar remodel and in order to get the building permit, they had to go No-smoking inside.  Wheeeee! Now I am in high cotton.  I can stop off and not get caught. Of course, the sleeve surgery drastically changed my eating and beer consumption habits.  So I was not covered in mango hanenero or Asian Zing sauce anymore.  And not having a “few” beers.  But I could still hang with my late night buds, tell horrible lies about all kinds of things – like girls, and golf handicaps, and girls, and how much money we make and girls… (we talk a lot about girls- go figure) But like all great things, there was a catch.  And we are going to get just a bit 12 year old boy potty humor here (or as I like to call it) unexpected sleeve side-affects. Here is the deal – and tell me if I am a freak or weird (in this way only, I know I am an odd ball) – About 30 days after surgery I had a change in my “habits?”  I have become North America’s 2nd largest producer of methane gas, second only to the entire US cattle industry.  And of course as a guy, this is not a drawback – it is something to be proud of. Also it is a useful tool.  Dog in the bed, not being still?  No problem, I can get him to leave without even rolling over.  Trapped in a frozen cabin in Alaska?  I can keep a family of 6 warm for over a week (assuming they survive). So, the problem … Came home late, had a “bit” of gas the next morning (knocked both dogs out of the bed) – but more importantly – “the cloud”, honest to goodness, had a distinct mango hanenero “after burn.”  I was busted again.  TWO FRICKIN’ NAKED (GRILLED) TENDERS AND AN ICE TEA – Unfortunately, you cannot blame wing sauce on a dog. I took out the trash and washed her car twice….  HOPE YOU ARE LAUGHING..... LIFE IS TOO SHORT NOT TO LAUGH - ESPECIALLY AT ME. Before my surgery, I used to stop at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) on my way home from work.  I work many many hours (70+ a week or more) so I come home late a lot.  I got in the habit of stopping off at BWW on the way home for a few.  But I had a system - Here was my thinking -  (1) Tuesday is wing night with discount prices - 40% off means 40% off,  so I ate an extra 40% of wings for the same calories.  I am pretty sure that is the 4th law of thermo dynamics.  I could be wrong.  (2) Then if you used a discount card, or had a gift card, they were "FREE" - well, those don't count… (3) And we all know that all the calories are in the bones, so getting boneless wings was practically like eating lettuce. Well, here was the problem.  BWW was a smoking establishment – so I would come home smoky and the wife would ask, “Did you stop at Buffalo?” to which I would say no! Since she was obviously referring to a small town in upstate New York.  And I had not been THERE! Nonetheless, busted is busted. Until, the great good of fried chicken intervened.  They did a huge bar remodel and in order to get the building permit, they had to go No-smoking inside.  Wheeeee! Now I am in high cotton.  I can stop off and not get caught. Of course, the sleeve surgery drastically changed my eating and beer consumption habits.  So I was not covered in mango hanenero or Asian Zing sauce anymore.  And not having a “few” beers.  But I could still hang with my late night buds, tell horrible lies about all kinds of things – like girls, and golf handicaps, and girls, and how much money we make and girls… (we talk a lot about girls- go figure) But like all great things, there was a catch.  And we are going to get just a bit 12 year old boy potty humor here (or as I like to call it) unexpected sleeve side-affects. Here is the deal – and tell me if I am a freak or weird (in this way only, I know I am an odd ball) – About 30 days after surgery I had a change in my “habits?”  I have become North America’s 2nd largest producer of methane gas, second only to the entire US cattle industry.  And of course as a guy, this is not a drawback – it is something to be proud of. Also it is a useful tool.  Dog in the bed, not being still?  No problem, I can get him to leave without even rolling over.  Trapped in a frozen cabin in Alaska?  I can keep a family of 6 warm for over a week (assuming they survive). So, the problem … Came home late, had a “bit” of gas the next morning (knocked both dogs out of the bed) – but more importantly – “the cloud”, honest to goodness, had a distinct mango hanenero “after burn.”  I was busted again.  TWO FRICKIN’ NAKED (GRILLED) TENDERS AND AN ICE TEA – Unfortunately, you cannot blame wing sauce on a dog. I took out the trash and washed her car twice….    Before my surgery, I used to stop at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) on my way home from work.  I work many many hours (70+ a week or more) so I come home late a lot.  I got in the habit of stopping off at BWW on the way home for a few.  But I had a system - Here was my thinking -  (1) Tuesday is wing night with discount prices - 40% off means 40% off,  so I ate an extra 40% of wings for the same calories.  I am pretty sure that is the 4th law of thermo dynamics.  I could be wrong.  (2) Then if you used a discount card, or had a gift card, they were "FREE" - well, those don't count… (3) And we all know that all the calories are in the bones, so getting boneless wings was practically like eating lettuce. Well, here was the problem.  BWW was a smoking establishment – so I would come home smoky and the wife would ask, “Did you stop at Buffalo?” to which I would say no! Since she was obviously referring to a small town in upstate New York.  And I had not been THERE! Nonetheless, busted is busted. Until, the great good of fried chicken intervened.  They did a huge bar remodel and in order to get the building permit, they had to go No-smoking inside.  Wheeeee! Now I am in high cotton.  I can stop off and not get caught. Of course, the sleeve surgery drastically changed my eating and beer consumption habits.  So I was not covered in mango hanenero or Asian Zing sauce anymore.  And not having a “few” beers.  But I could still hang with my late night buds, tell horrible lies about all kinds of things – like girls, and golf handicaps, and girls, and how much money we make and girls… (we talk a lot about girls- go figure) But like all great things, there was a catch.  And we are going to get just a bit 12 year old boy potty humor here (or as I like to call it) unexpected sleeve side-affects. Here is the deal – and tell me if I am a freak or weird (in this way only, I know I am an odd ball) – About 30 days after surgery I had a change in my “habits?”  I have become North America’s 2nd largest producer of methane gas, second only to the entire US cattle industry.  And of course as a guy, this is not a drawback – it is something to be proud of. Also it is a useful tool.  Dog in the bed, not being still?  No problem, I can get him to leave without even rolling over.  Trapped in a frozen cabin in Alaska?  I can keep a family of 6 warm for over a week (assuming they survive). So, the problem … Came home late, had a “bit” of gas the next morning (knocked both dogs out of the bed) – but more importantly – “the cloud”, honest to goodness, had a distinct mango hanenero “after burn.”  I was busted again.  TWO FRICKIN’ NAKED (GRILLED) TENDERS AND AN ICE TEA – Unfortunately, you cannot blame wing sauce on a dog. I took out the trash and washed her car twice….
SpecialK1960

SpecialK1960

2
SpecialK1960's Funny Funny Blog
 

HOLY SMOKES THE CRAZY GUY HAS BEEN SILENT FOR A YEAR

So I have been gone (off-site) for nearly a year. Why you ask? Darn good question. I wish I had an answer, but I don't. I enjoyed writing my silly dribble and discussing my experiences with others - even if from a bit unusual view. So, what the heck. I was on my e-mail and saw a posting from way back was getting a number of responses, so I figured, that although I think outside the box, maybe I have something to add - a different perspective. I am highly educated AND still cram science text books just for fun, so I get the science/medical side of what we are discussing, but also think a video of a kid in the tub making "bubbles" is hilarious. We all the time marvel at how children maintain their awe and honesty and all the positive attributes of childhood and wonder why, we as adults, no longer have that - well trust me it is not that hard - just refuse to grow up. Work for everyone? I do not know. Work for me? - ABSOLUTELY! GOOD TO BE BACK!! IF YOU NEED ME I WILL BE IN THE TUB - 'NUFF SAID.
SpecialK1960

SpecialK1960

0
A Sleeve-enturous Odyssey!
 

What is This Thing Called Pride?

An amazing thing is happening. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say, "I don't give a s h i t what other people think." Perhaps it's because I'm another year older today, and on birthdays one is wont to take stock. Perhaps it's because I am feeling the empowerment than accompanies true change. Perhaps it's because I'm finally realizing I have people in my life who love me unconditionally, or that I now know I am deserving of that love. Perhaps it is all of these. What I do know is I've said that phrase many times before, at times very convincingly, but I never meant it. I wanted to mean it, others even believed that I meant it because I come across as irreverent and impossible to embarrass, but there was always a motivational undercurrent of wanting to be liked.   The following is a list of notions I've recently come to accept as valid. Some are mere reminders to myself, some are rants, some are missives directed at specific people on this site. All are liberating:   I am not required to tell anyone about my decision to have weight loss surgery. Should I choose to do so, I have no obligation to explain or defend my decision.   I am justified in flipping off another driver when the egotistical delusions acquired from watching "The Fast and the Furious" momentarily override his cognizance of the fact that he is operating a deadly weapon.   I may express my offense when someone implies I should be ashamed of the way I look, or used to look.   I am permitted to be impolite, even rude, to a man whose words or actions are causing me to feel uncomfortable or unsafe. I am allowed to inflict physical harm if his clear intention is to harm me.   I am free to voice my belief that it is not all right for people posting in the general forum to attribute their weight loss to a higher power. If I attributed mine to Obama or the recent supreme court ruling on gay marriage, and put that post in a general discussion forum, I would be criticized. And rightfully so.   I have a right to discuss the increase in my libido on an internet forum, as well as the conundrum I'm faced with as a single teacher in a small town, without being accused of advertising for sex. And should someone attempt to shame me out of talking about sex, I have a right to stand firm in my refusal to be shamed.   I am allowed to call people out for misusing this and other support sites; for not following the rules, which have been clearly laid out; and I am allowed to do so without being subjected to ridicule and insult.   I am not required to dumb myself down because others are intimidated by my intelligence. I also am allowed to state that others are intimidated by my intelligence without apologizing or prefacing such a remark with a qualifier or self-deprecating damper such as "This is probably going to sound egotistical, but...." when I have a higher than average IQ. It is also true that I am endlessly disheartened by the dissolution of the English language, have won awards for performance and writing, and am, on the whole, infinitely more impressed with the emotional intelligence of animals over that of people. None of these statements require compensation.   I do not have to remain passive when others make remarks that are sexist, racist, ageist, homophobic, heterosexist, xenophobic, misogynistic, violently aggressive, indicative of body fascism, or convey intolerance of mental illness, mental retardation, or other disability.   I deserve to be treated with dignity.   And if you don't agree with me, I really don't care. Honestly. And it feels so f u c k i n g good to say that.
Canary Diamond

Canary Diamond

2
SolracSpree's Blog
 

Once I lose all my weight....

SO Here is my motivation list. Things I will do when I get to my goal weight. Skiing with no boot extenders
Ride a rollercoaster comfortably
Tan out by the pool
Learn to salsa dance
Go to an actual zumba class
Experiement with different sex positions
Go hiking and not feel like dying
Not be the biggest person in the room
Fit back into my little black dress
Looking awesome on the back of a bike
Go to the gym and not feel self consious
Buy clothes that arent in the plus size
Get lingerie
See my ex when I'm 100pds lighter
Walk up my steps without getting winded
SolracSpree

SolracSpree

3
Travelbug1955's Blog
 

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Broccoli and Cheese Soup Cooking Spray, 1 large chopped onion, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 3 cups chicken broth, 1-16 oz package broccoli florets, 2 1/2 cups heavy cream, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 8 ounces cheese of your choice. Preparation: Heat a large nonstick pan coated with cooking spray over medium high heat. Add onions and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes. Combine cream, flour and pepper, stirring with a wisk until well blended. Add cream mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick. Remove from heat and use immersible blender until smooth, or use food processor. Add cheese, stir until melted. Makes 6 - 1 1/3 cup servings.
Travelbug1955

Travelbug1955

2
demitrious21's Blog
 

4 days til VGS-mas

Yes it is like counting down until Christmas. 4 more days until surgery. Started out 8 months ago at 275lbs. Already at the goal surgery weight of 235, actually i'm at 230. I really like the protien shakes, and I actually make it into a pudding so that it doesn't go straight through me. I eat some at each meal, and really who wouldn't want to have some protien choc. fudge pudding at each meal :-) . I'm big on veggie soup anyways, and found a way to still have lasanga using dehydrated zuchini instead of noodles. Really the only problem I've been having is now being able to use Aleve. I have some of the worst muscle tension in my neck and shoulders, and I usually take Aleve to manage it. Any ideas? I do massages and stretching, but it is kind of a chronic problem that I have had most of my life.
demitrious21

demitrious21

2
Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey
 

Shrinkage! - How Big's Your Meat?

I was truly surprised to see the calorie difference between 4oz. of 93% hamburger and 85% hamburger. Almost 110 calories per 4oz.!   Even though the 93% costs about $1 per lb more, I've noticed that, after cooking, the amount of cooked hamburger is almost the same between the two. There's so much shrinkage, that they are pretty much the same in cost in the end. So I think I'll spend the extra dollar per pound and save 110 calories.       I thought it might be enlightening to grab some common calorie counts for ground beef, chicken and turkey and compare them side-by-side.   Click on the pics to enlarge them.       Standard Disclaimer: This is by no means the definitive numbers for these products. The numbers vary depending on the manufacturer. These numbers are presented to make you aware of the differences in calorie counts and fat content.   You can find much more specific details by manufacturer or by food group by searching this database: http://caloriecount....oods&searchpro=   George Carlin's Advertising Disclaimer:   No cash? No problem! No kidding! No fuss, no muss, No risk, no obligation, no red tape, no down payment, No entry fee, no hidden charges, no purchase necessary, No one will call on you, no payments or interest till September.   Limited time only, though, so act now, order today, send no money, Offer good while supplies last, two to a customer, each item sold separately, Batteries not included, mileage may vary, all sales are final, Allow six weeks for delivery, some items not available, Some assembly required, some restrictions may apply.   So come on in for a free demonstration and a free consultation with our friendly, professional staff. Our experienced and knowledgeable sales representatives will help you make a selection that's just right for you and just right for your budget.   And say, don't forget to pick up your free gift: a classic deluxe custom designer luxury prestige high-quality premium select gourmet pocket pencil sharpener. Yours for the asking, no purchase necessary. It's our way of saying thank you.   And if you act now, we'll include an extra added free complimentary bonus gift at no cost to you: a classic deluxe custom designer luxury prestige high-quality premium select gourmet combination key ring, magnifying glass, and garden hose, in a genuine imitation leather-style carrying case with authentic vinyl trim. Yours for the asking, no purchase necessary. It's our way of saying thank you.
joatsaint

joatsaint

3
Gamergirl's Blog
 

Day Eight of Post-Op: Trying to do too much

We make soup today! Shrimp Bisque and Chicken & Mushroom, both pureed. I don't know how to shop or cook for small meals. I barely have pots in the house small enough for our new meals. I take out the cauliflower I bought. I picked the smallest one at the market. The WLS Surgery recipe calls for 1 cup for four people. That's about a fourth of the entire dang cauliflower. What am I supposed to do with the rest? The chicken soup recipe calls for 1/2 lb of chicken. I have no idea what size pot I need to cook that little chicken. I've been cooking for a family since I was 14, and here I am at 47, I can't guesstimate the right pot size for so little food.   I've been telling R he will have to stop going to Costco but I don't think he quite believed me until he saw the proportions of food we're cooking. Forget Costco, I think I may need to start buy veggies at the Salad bar instead of at the grocery!   And after all that? I eat 2 oz and R can get in 4 oz of the soup before we're too full for more!   Friends want to come visit to check on us. We start to clean the house and to cook something for them. After several hours of whirl winding around, we are SO tired that my tummy hurts. R is cranky and over-sensitive and has to go lie down after he loses it with the kids and me over nothing. The hormone thing is doing a whammy on him for sure. We give him hugs and reassure him we still love him, and then sit down to eat as a family.   I decide we will have to let our friends know we are not up for company yet. We're really, really not. At all.   We may not hurt, but we tire easily and then we get cranky. Need to tread slowly still. R and I go to lie down in our bed at 1 pm. The kids follow as does the dog. We spend the rest of the day hanging about together, all of us on our computers, chatting occasionally, resting, reading, and playing with the dog. From time to time, I get up to make food/snacks for the kids, and R gets up to make our soups.   THIS is how you recover on a Saturday after surgery my friends. Soul-food time, with no food, just love to feed your soul.   And a little soup maybe.
gamergirl

gamergirl

1
aliekat55's Blog
 

nearly one month out- first goal met

it is day 27 post op and I am under 100KG (220 for the non metric amongst you). it is significant because although i got close once ten years ago i never made it into double digits. it is the lowest i have been in 30 years. My mind cannot catch up with the reality, i still see myself the old way even while people are shocked at the change. part of it is that it is hard to believe I am here and that it will not go away like it always has. Nevertheless, it is of interest that i am not as small as i was ten years ago when i got close to 100KG, back then i was much fitter and was lifting weights, so for the same weight i was one size smaller (38 pants instead of 40). I guess while i think about it i have already reached another goal which was to get the weight off my bum knee so i can exercise more. I havent had trouble with the knee for weeks. Although i lost much of the weight (43 pounds) pre op, it was all due to the VSG, the education, the preparation, the anticipation. Before i started this path i was on an uphill course. IT has been a very tough road with some difficult days. i am only now getting more energy than i had before.
aliekat55

aliekat55

0
M Squared Blog
 

Blogging Newbie

Firstly, this is my first blog ever! I have thought about blogging for a while, but just never saw the point. I decided to go ahead and create a blog now because I would like to record a history of my weight loss journey. ***WARNING*** I will be using brutal honesty.   To be honest this is no where near the beginning of my journey. I have been battling my weight since I was a teenager. Some of my attempts were successful in the short term. Some were healthy choices. Some were not. Probably the most embarrassing things to admit to is buying illegal diet pills, throwing up and taking laxatives (that didn't last long). I have always wanted to be skinny, but my body has not always cooperated with me. After countless diets, diet books, diet pills, and meal plans, I have decided to get the gastric sleeve.   GASP.....did I just say that I am getting weight loss surgery? Yes, I did. The decision to have surgery is not one I made lightly. What I am choosing is to be healthier and to hopefully live a long fulfilling life. I am not taking the easy way out. I do not believe there is an "easy button" for weight loss or a healthy lifestyle. I previously decided to only tell a few people that I was considering surgery as I did not want to be judged. I will be judged, but that is OK. What I do ask for is acceptance and support.   I just received my approval by the insurance company and a surgery date has been scheduled. That sure brought some mixed emotions: anxiety, failure, and excitement. Anxiety of what is to come. Failure in my attempts to lose weight on my own. Excitement that I am opening a new chapter in life. So October 2nd it is!
Travelbug1955's Blog
 

Baked Meatballs

BAKED MEATBALLS 1 pound ground beef 1 pound bulk Italian sausage 2 teaspoons dry minced onion 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 2 ounces (I used the kind in a can) 2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl using your fingers. Mix until the meat no long feels slimy from the eggs. Shape in golf ball size meatballs and place on a large baking sheet with sides. Bake at 375º for 15-20 minutes until the meatballs are done all the way through. Rinse in a colander to remove any egg and cheese that has leaked out. Makes about 20-30 meatballs Can be frozen Per meatball: 92 Calories; 7g Fat; 6g Protein; trace Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; .5g Net Carbs
Travelbug1955

Travelbug1955

1

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