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I Never Thought of This!

All total, I've lost about 50 pounds from last year at this time. I was happy and proud to wear a brand new gown I had to have for the Scottish Festival here locally. My old ones were either so huge as to look like tents or too hot for the Florida spring-like 80-degree temperatures.   Dante, Karen, JJ and I walked around all day from opening until late afternoon just before closing. I've never had the energy to walk, dance, and shop all day before. I'm still considered obese at a 39 BMI, but darned if I didn't feel wonderful!   That is, until my feet let me know that they weren't used to this kind of abuse. I expected them to hurt. After all, they're still carrying around a little more than 75 pounds more than they should.   What I didn't expect were blisters. OMG! I've got blisters in places I've not had blisters since childhood. I had dirty, blistered feet from all that fun I had. :smile: I can't remember the last time I exerted myself to the point where my feet were dirty and I had big blisters from my shoes rubbing through the stockings! That takes some serious abuse!   I'm proud of my blisters and sore feet. I'm grinning as I wear my flip-flops so my shoes don't rub those very tender spots on my toes and heels. I earned them by walking, shopping and dancing! Woohoo!   I'm also sunburned. I wore something that showed lots of shoulder and didn't have to be hustled into the shade or a cool building to recover when my heaving, fat, sweaty body couldn't bear the awesome job of walking around the merchant booths another moment.   I'll swallow the aspirin and rub aloe on my burns with joy today. I earned these blisters and burns in the best way possible.
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Homemade Mayonnaise

Ever looked on the side of your mayonnaise jar and wondered why there needs to be preservatives and ingredients you can't pronounce? I did. So, I wondered what would happen if I started making my own. Then I discovered the joys of using my own flavored oils, vinegars, and spices to create special mayonnaise just for certain recipes. One of my greatest triumphs was when I made basil mayonnaise for sandwiches. Yum! Try it!  
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Homemade Herb Vinegars

This is a quickie trick that can develop into an obsession, I'm warning you. LOL! I've been doing this for about fifteen years, but I've been growing my own herbs and veggies that long or longer anyway!   It all started with a Purple Ruffles Basil plant. I loved that plant with its gorgeous purple leaves and mild basil taste. Then I read about making herbal vinegars by simply warming up your choice of vinegar, pouring it into an easily corked bottle (new cork, please!) and then adding herbs. I gave it a shot with white vinegar and a clear bottle that had once held wine. I was rewarded with a vinegar that slowly turned into the loveliest shade of purple and was a delight on any salad! I practically wept that winter when we used the last, knowing I'd have to grow more purple ruffles basil before we'd have more. My family made me promise to make several bottles, but it wasn't to be. My DH lost his job, and we ended up moving to Denver. We did without our purple basil vinegar for two years before I found another and successfully grew it again.   Now, you can get fresh herbs in any local grocer's produce section at almost any time of year and make many different kinds of vinegars! Tarragon vinegar is a delight! Regular basil vinegar is delicious!   What do you do with this liquid treasure? Salad dressings made with oil and vinegar. Marinades often call for vinegar. Homemade mayonnaise calls for vinegar. Some sauces call for vinegar, and one of the most delightful tricks on the planet is sliced cucumbers soaking in vinegar in the refrigerator on a hot summer day.
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Guilt-Free Midnight Snacks

Midnight Snacks   Are you a night owl who sometimes gets the midnight munchies? It's okay to add a late-night snack to your meal plan, particularly during Phase 1 of the program when you're still getting your hunger and cravings under control. Frequent snacking can help stabilize your blood sugar and insulin levels, according to Dr. Arthur Agatston, leading preventive cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet Supercharged. Here are some tasty late-night snack ideas, suitable for all Phases:   Celery sticks with hummus or natural, no-sugar-added peanut butter
I still have trouble accepting that it's okay to have peanut butter. (grin) Still, making these and having them handy with the raw veggies in a serving-size ziploc baggie means I grab what's most convenient (the baggie). Raw veggies
Lean deli meat roll-ups
Yummy and again, easily rolled up and available. Part-skim mozzarella cheese stick
These are great! Least likely to leave something visible in your teeth, so perfect for the on-the-go Nuts such as almonds, peanuts, or pistachios, but stick to one serving — about 15 almonds, 20 peanuts, or 30 pistachios — since too many nuts can impede weight loss
For me, this is one of those "betcha can't eat just one!" foods. A handful of nuts of any kind just doesn't satisfy me, but don't let my love of nuts influence you. Again, those snack-sized baggies come in very handy for portion control. Fat-free or 1 percent cottage cheese with salsa or chopped cucumber
I've not tried salsa or chopped cucumber in my cottage cheese. I grew up thinking of cottage cheese as a sweet, so I dip out a serving (about 1 cup) and add Splenda and flavored extracts to taste. Dry-roasted or boiled edamame (green soybeans)
Edamame is a recent addition to my snack repetoire, and I love them! They're as addicting as popcorn. However, let me add here that I'm a lucky bandster who can --in small quantities-- injest popcorn with no harm done. I enjoy spicing up my popcorn with cheese, ranch dressing powder, or creole seasonings. Popcorn and the more expensive edamame are the basis of my "no-guilt thinking snack" when I'm writing during the day. Fat-free or 1 percent milk
Let me add in here that, IMHO, sometimes a snack attack is not hunger but thirst. I use the same technique I did to quit smoking to get away from unhealthy snacks. Always acknowledge the craving's existence, but wait thirty minutes and drink something instead. Sometimes a glass of milk or an icy Crystal Light will do the job. Plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt
The worst and biggest craving in our house is for ice cream. My DH could eat the high fat, high calorie stuff and still look like a stick. So, for me plain yogurt and the aforementioned cottage cheese are diet salvations. By using the myriad of flavored extracts available online, such as Watkins Products, I can have everything from chocolate to pina colada (pineapple, coconut, and rum extracts, combined) without breaking my diet. Remember, nuts are allowed! A strawberry on top makes it festive. Who says you can't play with your food?     Lena Austin http://www.LenaAustin.com http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com  
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Good News/Bad News --Unexpected Hospital Visit

Advice from an old fart of 49: Never, ever EVER say the words, "chest" and "pain" in the same sentence, or you're risking a minimum of four days in the hospital if you use them in the same paragraph. (grumble) In these days of CYA, doctors will automatically consider you a pincushion and a guinea pig for every test known to God and man, just to make sure they don't get sued. And this was an efficient military hospital.   I'm quite literally black and blue on both arms, both sides of my neck, both legs, and my belly. I'm not kidding. I look like a hideous science experiment. Because of all the tests they wanted to run I literally never got a breakfast, and sometimes didn't get lunch. I've lost five pounds, have sores from an allergic reaction to the adhesives in the EKG pads all over my torso, and until last night I hadn't had more than three hours of sleep at a stretch.   If I hadn't been in the habit of exercising three times a week, I doubt I would have survived that damned nuclear stress tess and I'd still be tethered to an ICU bed by a Mongolian cluster f*ck of wires.   Thank all the gods for nurses and Navy corpsmen. They are angels of mercy, kind when they can be, and quick when they can't be. Two, Greg and Naomi, will be characters in my books because they earned immortality in a positive way. Both Greg and Naomi went out of their way to be as kind as possible, even bending a few rules for my comfort.   Diagnosis: erratic angina. Translation: We have no idea why her chest hurt.   The good news came yesterday. My DH and I both got interview phone calls. DH went to his almost immediately, and was called back for a second interview on Monday! Whoopee!   My interview is tomorrow. If I'm very, very lucky, I might be the Trend Teacher at my local JoAnn Fabrics store! (Yes, BG! I get to show off all my craft skills. LOL!)   Good thing I lost those extra five pounds. I'm proud of the way I look, now!
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Gardening as Exercise or Sore Muscles and Blisters

Ow! Ow! Ow! That's me, trying to sit in my office chair this morning. I've been doing a walking program and riding my exercise bike for awhile now, so I decided to indulge in a form of exercise that gave me a lot of pleasure in the past-- gardening.   I'm a Square Foot Gardener, as recommended by the Get Rich Slowly site. I SF Gardened for the past ten years, off and on. More off than on because of my weight and the fact that we moved a lot. Now we own a home, and I've lost enough weight to feel energetic again.   SF Gardening has several advantages, if you prepare properly. Because all the gardening is done in raised 4'x4' squares, there's less back-breaking labor weeding. Even I can reach easily into the center. This means I never compact the soil by walking on it.   However, all that ease later means you must do things right the first time. All it takes is a bit of preparation. I began last year by raking up all the leaves that fell in my yard and bagging them up. I allowed the leaves inside to rot, waiting for them to turn to delicious, nutritious leaf mold my plants would love to snack upon. I also started a compost bed and ordered a (free) pile of wood chip mulch from a local tree service. One year later, and all is ready.   So, Dante and I got out there and dug our first bed. We dug down a minimum of 12", then built a wooden box to give us a full 24" of space to fill with a mix of soil, peat, compost, leaf mold, and nutrients. I couldn't have done all that last year. Wheeling the wheelbarrow from where the bags of leaves had been stored, hauling barrows of half-composted wood chips, dumping and mixing, as well as helping build the wooden box would have half killed me. However, we had but one day to do this. The forecast called for rain all weekend, so Friday was our only chance.   We finished and put away the tools just before dinner, tired and proud of ourselves. The bed is full of rich, black soil that is so perfectly friable, it's gorgeous. If the rain stops as predicted on Sunday, we'll stack the decorative bricks around the wood and mark our squares for planting.   This morning, I'm feeling the effects of all that hard work. Everything from the neck down hurts. However, we've done it. Now we can plant those nutritious vegetables for as long as we own this house. (Hopefully, until the day we die.) Maybe this fall, we'll start a second bed, but that's all we'll ever need.   Right now, my muscles say, "Honey, right now you couldn't lift the shovel. Better wait." LOL! Guess this means I'd better wait a few more days before I weed and mulch the flower beds. Thank goodness it's raining as predicted.
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Friends and Family Joining in the Fat Fight!

I was surprised when our roomie came running into the living room on Wednesday night. He's normally a somewhat dignified guy. "Lena!! Your diet works even for those not trying to diet!" Seems the pants he had on were a pair he'd not worn in several years. LOL! Dante's now a dedicated low-carb dieter-who's-not-dieting.   Then my youngest daughter calls from Colorado. "Mom, I've got only 25 pounds to lose before I can join the military. Tell me more about this low carb diet thing." Seems she's taking over the kitchen of her roommates and making them all go low carb! Even the guy who normally can get away from diets because he's allergic to some vegetables can't escape. Low carb is meat, dairy, and THEN vegetables. He can't escape! Muahahaha!!   Even I discovered the joys of eating in a restaurant with friends. We went on a quilting day trip to St. Simon's Island in Georgia. At a lovely seafood restaurant, the only thing not breaded, fried and/or full of calories was a crab cake. One-half 5oz appetizer cake, and I was full! I was so proud.   More later! Today, I'm going to a medieval faire in full regalia! LOL!
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Fresh Tomato Salsa

Summer's coming! Who needs all those high-calorie ketchups? Not us! Let's go light and get our fresh veggies on our grilled meat.
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First Goal Down! 100 pounds to go

Hooray!! I stepped on the bathroom scales this morning and beheld a sight I've not had in years -- 249 lbs. First time I've been below 250 lbs since early in this decade, like 2002.   My next goal is ambitious. I'm going to try for 225 lbs by June. That's a little over 1.5 pounds per week for 16 weeks.   June is my birthday month, and my DH will be out of training before then. I'm hoping he'll earn at least as much or more than what he earned at his old job. We haven't been able to celebrate birthdays in recent years. I'd like to do so, even if it means going to the steakhouse and eating a teeny bit off DH's plate. (grin) That's celebration, just to go out.   I think I'll set my goals like this all the time. Every 3 months, I'll shoot for a reasonable goal that will keep me working toward that someday of looking like that picture in gold again. (sigh)
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Dumpster Diving in the Back of the Closet

I ran a very unscientific poll among my friends. Most of us have what I call "the dumpster pile" in the back of the closet somewhere. It's that pile of clothes you can't wear because you gained weight, but you refuse to give up those beloved bits of wardrobe.   I had four outfits in my "dumpster" along with assorted jeans and a few shirts my fat arms were too uncomfortable to wear. Driven by desperation, I rummaged through that pile yesterday, hoping against all hope that I'd hidden a few pieces of warm clothing in there. (We're having a hard freeze here in Florida --something few of us are prepared to face.)   I pulled out a much-beloved denim duster and jeans combo. I bit my lip and tried it on. Not only did the jeans slide on, I had to adjust the belt! (Faint) Warm, warm, warm!   The doorbell rang. I had a moment of panic and slipped on my clogs before racing to the door.   Whew! UPS man delivering another package of promo items. "Wow, Mrs. A! You've lost weight! Looking good! I know it ain't clean living, ma'am. My wife reads your books."   I laugh, sign his electronic thing, and tell him I have a new LapBand.   His jaw drops. Seems his wife wants one. Now he's anxious to tell her and pulling out his cell as he hops back in the truck.   I go back to my fashion show in my closet and reap two more outfits out of the dumpster pile. A darn good day.   Lena
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Do I Hear an Echo?

I've uploaded a few recipes recently, but I've gotten very few comments about them. I do appreciate feedback.   Do you like them? Would you prefer I didn't do this?   Any requests?   Lena
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Day 7 After Banding-- A Clothes Conundrum

OMG, more weight has fallen off me like I’m a melting snowman or something. For the first time in at least two years, when I stepped on my bathroom scale I didn’t have to do the math: “Hmm…Okay, when it passes the zero, that’s 260…so add what the scale says to 260…” Okay, so the scale says I weigh 257 lbs as of this morning. That’s still a significant loss since my banding. Call me vain, but I’m most concerned about my clothes. I’m still swollen enough to need my “fat clothes” yet they hang off me like a clown suit anywhere but up front. Perhaps I’d better take a bit more time choosing my outfit today, since I have a visit with Dr. Baptista and a weigh-in. I’d love to wear a certain suit I’ve not put on my body in two years, but I’m scared of being disappointed and humiliated again. Last time I tried to don this beloved denim suit, I couldn’t slide the pants past my thunder thighs, and the duster couldn’t get around the granny flab in my upper arms. Can we say "humiliation?" Yeah, I know. We all can. (sigh) Maybe I’d better resign myself to a personal fashion show with three piles: 1) Too big, 2) Too Small, and 3) What do you mean it fits?
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Day 5 Post-Op-- The Treasure (?) in the Closet

I'm laughing at myself this morning. Last summer I made a pair of lounging pants, only to discover I'd gained more weight and couldn't fit into my new creation, with the lovely pale blue and sparkly stars. Disappointed and disheartened, I folded the pants and put them on the "after surgery" pile. :confused:   Today, I looked at my five remaining soft loose pants that are bagging off me and sighed. I'm so sick of those pants. A glint of pale blue and stars caught my eye. Hope shot through me. Dare I? I looked around like a kid stealing cookies. Why not? With trembling hands, I pulled out the lounging pants.   They were loose! OMG! They look like clown pants on me! :thumbup: Later, after I've worked a bit, I may just pull down that whole "after surgery" pile to see what other treasures await me. Some still won't fit. I've got sizes in there from 18-24, reflecting all my years of yo-yo dieting. Maybe...just maybe...   Lena
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Day 17- The Amazing Taste of Hot Dog Crumbs LOL!

I've been good. Really. Yesterday was the first day I could have solid foods, and I chose a hot dog. The first I cut up in bites I'd consider small for my two-year-old granddaughter. (sigh) It didn't stay down fifteen minutes. :thumbdown:   Then my brilliant DH suggested I chop a second hot dog finer using a mini-food processor I had. By golly, it worked. It stayed down. (happy sigh) Okay, so I'm desperate for real food, okay? LOL!   Tonight is an herb-crusted salmon, so I know that will stay down if I eat it slowly. Eating a la russe will definitely be important tonight. I'm going to attempt to eat a brussels sprout or two.   I'm on a voyage of food discovery now! LOL!
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Day 16- Solid Foods Maybe-Maybe Not

Okay, so it's 3:30 AM and I have insomnia. Not because of anything band related, just life issues. You know, finances, family --the usual stresses.   Today, in theory, I'm supposed to start re-introducing full solids into my diet. I think I'm going to go verrrry slowly. Most meats still won't pass my stoma. Last night was the first time I got chicken past my stoma without it being chopped into ittty bitty bits. I can eat fish and scrambled eggs, but I'm leery of trying anything more solid in the way of proteins.   Veggies OTOH go down fairly well. I only yarked up rutabaga fries recently, and that wasn't so much of a surprise. Those things are a bit fibrous. Guess I'd better mash my rutabagas for another couple of weeks. I can deal with that.   My DH got a hard lesson in shopping with a bandster yesterday. He's been going to school on weekends for the past couple of months, so my roomie had the lesson first. DH discovered just how many "methyl-ethyl-bad-stuff" foods there are for a bandster in the grocery store. He'd bring a possible meal to me and I'd have to point out why I couldn't have it, like pasta in a stir fry mix. Finally, he got so frustrated he gave up and let me stroll around until I found the ingredients for the Chicken Diane recipe I'd had in mind all along. He pouts, but gets his starches on the side instead of in the main dish like I used to cook.   He says he's afraid of what I'll do to adapt many of our favorite recipes to my new lifestyle. He's right to be afraid, somewhat, but less than he thinks. I've already made some adaptions and he barely noticed or complimented me. (snicker, snicker)   Some adaptions he will notice, as soon as I'm sure I can have beef and pork. For instance, a family favorite around here is due for a severe makeover. Piggybank Pork Bake will no longer have cream of mushroom soup and egg noodles. I'll make my own mushroom sauce (Thank you Alton Brown)and the "noodles" will be zuchinni cut into long strips with a vegetable peeler or my V-slicer.   My pantry is ready! Fried pork rinds already replace bread crumbs, a spaghetti squash will be baked today for "spaghetti noodles" for a special dish, cauliflower has already been steamed for rice and potatoes, romaine lettuce is a yummy replacement for bread in sandwiches, and cream cheese awaits my many low-carb cheesecake recipes instead of pies and cakes.   As a last thought, I'm writing myself a note. After I allow a cheesecake to cool, cutting it up into the correct portions and freezing the portions I won't serve that night works very well. I've still got two Crustless Red Velvet Cheesecake portions left over from before New Year's in the freezer.   Back to bed!
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Day 13 -- Where'd the Spiders Go?

Okay, another small non-scale triumph from shower time. I'd already noted my feet did not swell nearly so much lately, despite a lot of walking lately. I'd grinned and moved on. That was expected. The doc had promised, and it was true. Cool beans.   What I didn't expect was what I saw --or rather, didn't see-- when I dried my legs this morning after my shower. Where'd the spider veins go? My feet, ankles, and legs used to be covered in blue and red spider veins and varicose veins, as if my three-year-old granddaughter had colored me with her magic markers.   One particularly nasty set of both varicose and spider covered an area the size of two silver dollars on my right leg, on the inside calf. It's almost gone! Yes, there's a pale blue bruise, but nothing compared to the hideous mark I've worn for years. :smile:   Excited and curious, I replaced my right leg with my left on the toilet top where I'd been drying my legs. My left has been the bane of my existence for two years. Without warning, the ankle and foot would swell until I'd burst blood vessels on my instep. Even those are reduced in size and color! :cool2:   Holy moley! Can this all really be happening, or am I dreaming?
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Day 12 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Fridge

Tonight I cooked a meal I couldn't have: pork chops with an apricot sauce, despite the fact it's low carb. My healing isn't done, and even chicken still presents difficulties passing the stoma.   While my DH and roomie attacked the "normal" food, I hummed happily and turned to the fridge to find some mushies.   Then I stopped.   I was shocked to realize I wanted the veggies, but no meat. Was I nuts? Didn't I want a nice juicy slab of animal? Uh, no. Not really.   I pondered this while I pulled out the kale, rutabaga, and broccoli I'd cooked a couple of days ago, deliberately overcooking them to the correct "mushie" stage. Tsking over the limp and soggy state of the broccoli, I chose it first. Zapped in the microwave, that serving lasted me about the same amount of time as the guy's massive portions. (I'm really getting into this serving myself a la russe --one course at a time.)   The guys piled back into the kitchen and scooped great big second helpings while I daintily picked up the kale and warmed it in the microwave. Dante, my roomie, helped himself to a bit of the kale with me, but my carnivore husband disdained the veggies.   By the time I'd finished my "dessert" of mashed rutabaga with a bit of Splenda Brown, the guys were burping and patting their stomachs happily. (snicker) Yes, they're both "manly men." They show appreciation by acting like apes.   I'm still a bit surprised at myself four hours later. If I'd wanted protein, there's eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, and even some Spam. (It's a mushie meat that passes my stoma. Compared to chicken, it slides down easy.) I don't want it.   I'd better think about a protein drink or something.
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Day 11 After Banding-- It's the Small Things

Wow, it's only 8 AM on a Monday, and I'm already experiencing the effects of being banded.   First, I awakened on my stomach. As a tummy sleeper, finding myself comfortable in that position was a huge relief. I stretched until I felt my back do the Rice Krispie "snap, crackle, pop!" Whew! I've needed to do that for a long time.   I was also incredibly thirsty. I think I may already be less in need of my CPAP machine. Perhaps I'd better make an appointment with the specialist for more than a little finger stick this time. I'd love to get rid of the CPAP. It's been a friend who kept my marriage and heart from failing, but I'd really like to not be Darth Vader at night.   Shower time! I'm normally a "quickie" bather. Get in, get out. But today, I looked down and wondered if I might be able to reach my toes without using a stool to prop my feet on. So, I bend down, soap laden scrubbie in hand, and washed my feet! I did a toe touch! Then I almost palmed the shower floor! Holy moley! It's been two years since I could do that!   I'm growing my hair out. You'd never know from the picture I display here, but for the past couple of years, my hair has been close-cropped to my head. With all the hospital time and medications, the shoulder-length hair I prefer was a serious problem. So, I chopped it off. A cap of curls was much cooler and easier. Now, I'm growing my hair again. It feels so weird to actually comb wet hair and wonder if I'll sport bangs today or get it out of my face. I gave away almost all my clips, clamps, and ponytail bands. All I have left is one brown clamp and one black leather rose ponytail band. Guess I'd better build up the collection.   Later, after I've written a bit on my latest book, I think I'll take a break and go through all my sewing patterns. My roomie Dante is a part-time tailor, and he's about to lose his mind in his eagerness to dress me up like a life-sized Barbie doll. (sigh) The big nut case dragged me out to the sewing area yesterday and presented his grand scheme for my complete new wardrobe. I almost ran screaming. LOL! Guess I'd better get used to it.
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Dancing in the Rain

I found a quote yesterday that I've made my own in this time of hardship for my family.   "Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."   Since my banding last January, we've had a horrible time with my DH losing his job in March, the threat of foreclosure, a cancer scare, more medical issues, and even a death of an infant recently.   Through it all, we've tried hard to keep our chins up. It hasn't been easy, and we've been forced to use pills like Tylenol PM to help us sleep despite our physical and mental pains.   I won't say there haven't been good things like my daughter coming to live with us. There have been. They just got overshadowed. Still, we kept fighting and trying to find positives.   Now there's a tiny ray of hope on the horizon. DH got a job offer last week. He's in the pre-hire process, and we live on pins and needles, waiting for the phone call that will tell him what time to come in on the 8th. Until then, we refuse to celebrate. We're scared to even bake him a small cake. Cross your fingers, pray, light candles, or whatever is your way of thanking the Creator for me.   We're still dancing in the rain, and praying we don't get struck by lightning.
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Country Pork Stew

Country Pork Stew   Serves 4 generous portions   Ingredients: 1 tsp olive oil 1-1/2 lbs pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1” cubes 1 cup chopped onion 4 cloves of garlic, pressed or equivalent from a jar 1 tsp. Dried sage Black Pepper, to taste ½ cup dry white wine (or ½ cup white grape juice combined with 1 T. cider vinegar) 1-3/4 cups low sodium chicken broth 2 T. tomato paste ¼ tsp. Ground allspice   Note: While these directions are given for an electric skillet, you can use a Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid. An electric skillet gives very even heat, and has a useful simmer setting, but not everyone has one.   Heat the olive oil in the electric skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork cubes and onion, sautéing until brown, about 4 minutes. Add remaining ingredients in the order given, stirring a moment before adding the next. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover, and walk away for one hour. It’s done when the pork is fork tender.   Nutrition: 284 calories 7 g fat 42g protein 7g carb 1g dietary fiber 111 mg cholesterol 380 mg sodium   Exchanges: 0 starch, 5.5 lean meat, 1 veg   Weight Watcher points: 6   Low Carb serving suggestion: Serve over either Cauli-Rice or any version of Faux-tay-Toes.   This recipe was adapted from a recipe provided by www.SavingDinner.com. Highly Recommended!!
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Confessions of a Stress Eater

I used to be a stress eater. I'd suck down anything in my path like a Hoover whenever stress struck.   Only a month and a half after my surgery, my DH lost his job. For six months, we struggled while he desperately searched for work. Finally, for six months we thought he had a good job, but the economy hit us in the face again, and he lost that job too. My DH now has a "long term temp" job. It's something.   During all that stress, I had to keep working. I'm a writer, and that means I work at home. It's even more difficult to meet a deadline or stay on a strict food regimen when there's a bored, depressed man around. Even though I can only write for a few hours a day before my brain explodes, he still made my work difficult with constant interruptions.   Needless to say, at first I learned to get around the band. No I won't tell you how. Just accept it can be done. When I stopped losing weight, I knew I had to find an alternative to eating.   What did I do when there was no money for extras? I became a stress quilter. I belong to a quilting guild, and one of their main functions is to make quilts for charity. When I couldn't afford fabric, I could always ask the guild member in charge for another quilt set to make for charity. At one point I had two sets running simultaneously!   Anyway, my point is that if you were a stress eater before surgery, you'll still be one after surgery unless you find alternative means of handling stress. Clean house, garden, take up a craft, or train for a marathon. Whatever you choose to do to handle stress.   Like it or not in this world, stress happens. I've been forced to get very good at handling stress. I've quilted, embroidered, sculpted polymer clay, and walked off nearly 100 lbs from when I stepped on the scale at my PCP's and nearly fainted to learn I was 297 lbs. Now at 198, I've still got a way to go, but I'm closer than I've been in 25 years.   DH has a job. We still have our house, and now I've got to go mow the lawn. I'm happy to do it, considering I once was in a wheelchair because of my weight. :thumbup:
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Comfort Food Mushies-- Herbed Tomato Soup

I don't know about you, but Tomato Soup is one of my comfort foods. This recipe allows me to still have it and lose weight.   I'm way too lazy to peel my own tomatoes, but it's nice to know I could. I'll also use my food processor. I know very few people besides Ina Garten who own and use a food mill.   While I've not tried to do it yet, I may even attempt making this into a Cream of Tomato Soup by adding in a cup of cream just before serving.  
voiceomt2002

voiceomt2002

7
 

Cashew Chicken

Because I'm allergic to nuts, I substituted water chestnuts. It worked very well.   New bandsters-- be very careful. I had problems with chicken every time it was overdone and stringy.
voiceomt2002

voiceomt2002

5
 

California Vegetable Cheese Bake

California Vegetable Cheese Bake (3 Points)   4 cups frozen carrot, broccoli & cauliflower blend, thawed 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (can use frozen chopped onion) 1 (10-3/4 oz) can Healthy Request Cream of Mushroom Soup 1/4 cup (one 2-ounce jar) chopped pimiento, drained 1-1/2 cups cubed Velveeta Light processed cheese   Spray slow cooker container with butter-flavored cooking spray. In prepared container, combine thawed vegetables & onion. Add mushroom soup, pimiento & cheese. Mix well to combine. Cover & cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Mix well before serving.   140 calories, 3 gm fiber, 4 gm fat 13 gm protein, 13 gm carbohydrate, 236 mg sodium, 373 mg calcium (3 points per 2/3 cup serving)
voiceomt2002

voiceomt2002

1
 

Breakfast or Dessert? Pumpkin and Granola Parfait

This looks like dessert to me! I haven't got any granola bars, but I'll be a sprinkle of nuts would work with less carbs. Pumpkin & Granola Parfait 1 serving View Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 container (6-ounces) plain low-fat yogurt 2 teaspoons honey (I subbed Splenda) 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice 1 whole-grain crunchy granola bar, crumbled 1/2 cup canned pumpkin Directions Mix together yogurt, honey and pumpkin-pie spice. In a bowl, layer yogurt mixture, granola-bar crumbs and pumpkin. Delicious! This isn't cheating! Woohoo! Okay, be reasonable! 1/2 cup is plenty
voiceomt2002

voiceomt2002

3
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