♕ajtexas♕

These are my babies!
 
Atticus, Black Mouth Cur. He is the biggest baby in town.
 
Hank, Blue Healer. Gill's dog, follows her around the whole time she is here.
 
Sophie, Dachshund. Daddy's baby (but he won't admit it) and the BOSS of all the dogs!
 
Bugsy, Rat Terrier and Dachsund mix. My baby, he is with his best friend Smokey the cat.

Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.
 
How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.
 
I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:
 
1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight
 
2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight
 
3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight
 
4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight
 
It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.
 
My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.

I see a lot of newbies asking what they can have during this or that stage of the pre/post op diet. Doctors give different diets to different patients; however the foods on the different stages are often very similar. Here are the 4 stages I had during my post op diet (straight from my post op paperwork):
 
Stage 1: Clear Liquids
· Water
· Broth or the clear liquid poured off of soup (strain out solids, no creamy soup)
· Black coffee (may be sweetened with artificial sweetener; preferably decaf)
· Clear juices (not OJ ~ it’s not clear); 100% juice (not from concentrate)
· Crystal Light
· Sugar-free Jello (with no solid fruit)
· Sugar-free Popsicles
· Gatorade/Powerade
· Herbal teas (caffeine-free)
 
Stage 2: Liquids
· All clear liquids
· Protein shakes (low-fat, low-carb)
· Fat-free milk
· Orange Juice
· Low-fat instant breakfast mixes
· V8 juice
 
Stage 3: Full Liquids
· All clear liquids
· All liquids
· Apple sauce
· Oatmeal/cream of wheat (thinned)
· Smoothies
· Low-fat creamy soups (strained out solids)
· Puréed soups/vegetables
· Low-fat, low-sugar pudding
· Low-fat, low-sugar yogurt
· Puréed fruit
· Low-fat ice cream/frozen yogurt
 
Stage 4: Soft food (aka Mushy)
· All of the items on the liquid food list
· Tuna/egg/chicken salad
· Well-cooked mushy vegetables (no stalk or crunchy vegetable)
· Thinned scrambled eggs (if tolerated)
· Baby food
· Soft, over-cooked pasta
· Soft canned fruit (in natural juice)
· Thinned mashed potatoes
· Soft sweet potatoes/yams
· Thinned oatmeal
· Greek yogurt
· Thinned low-fat refried beans
· Low-fat cottage cheese
· Soft/rip bananas
 
This is just what MY doctor had for ME. Your doctor will have different orders. I wanted to post this list to give an idea of some of the things on each list.
 
I hope this helps.

I have been having difficulties with my eating for about a week, I blogged about my lunch episode on Friday. When I say difficulties I mean, I’ve been getting acid reflex (first time since being banded) and I get a lump in my throat from time to time. I have been able to eat and drink, but it’s been more challenging.
 
Over the weekend I decided I needed to see my doctor and find out what was going on. Either I am being paranoid or something isn’t right.
 
So, I was on the phone to my doctor’s office first thing this morning and fortunately they could squeeze me in this morning.
 
Upon arriving I was escorted to the x-ray room. Martha (the x-ray tech and support group leader, who is also banded) said, “What are you doing here girl?”
“I’m either paranoid or something isn’t right”, she laughed and said let’s find out.
 
We did a barium swallow and as my doctor said, “It looks perfect.”
 
“So, I am paranoid?”
 
“No, you are aware of your band and something changed.”
 
“So what am I doing wrong? Why the acid reflex now?”
 
“Could be you irritated your band in some way or it could be that you need a fresher on the basics. Size of your bit, how much you chew, time between bits. Maybe you need to get that egg timer back out that we gave you at your first post op visit.”
 
“Funny, just last night at dinner my husband had to tell me to slow down on my bits.”
 
We talked a little more and I was on my way feeling so much better. End result is something wasn’t right and that something was me. I was slipping back into old habits.
 
It’s time to dust off that egg timer, cut my bits smaller and chew, chew, chew. Everything I tell newbies to do.

And it is very easy to make. Here is my favorite recipe
 
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
 
1 Can chickpea/garbonza beans (15oz)
1/3 cup tahini (See note below)
¼ cup lemon juice
2 Tbs olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ - ¾ cup roasted red peppers
 
In a food processor, combine beans, tahini, lemon juice and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add red peppers and garlic until desired consistency.
 
I calculated the nutritional information based on ¼ cup serving:
Calories 154
Total Fat 11g
Sodium 190mg
Total Carbs 8.4g
Dietary fiber 3.2g
Sugars .9g
Protein 5.1g
 
Tahini is sesame seed butter. I find it with the peanut butter or in the international isle of the grocery store.
 
Enjoy!

And it is very easy to make. Here is my favorite recipe
 
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
 
1 Can chickpea/garbonza beans (15oz)
1/3 cup tahini (See note below)
¼ cup lemon juice
2 Tbs olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ - ¾ cup roasted red peppers
 
In a food processor, combine beans, tahini, lemon juice and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add red peppers and garlic until desired consistency.
 
I calculated the nutritional information based on ¼ cup serving:
Calories 154
Total Fat 11g
Sodium 190mg
Total Carbs 8.4g
Dietary fiber 3.2g
Sugars .9g
Protein 5.1g
 
Tahini is sesame seed butter. I find it with the peanut butter or in the international isle of the grocery store.
 
Enjoy!

I have been having difficulties with my eating for about a week, I blogged about my lunch episode on Friday. When I say difficulties I mean, I’ve been getting acid reflex (first time since being banded) and I get a lump in my throat from time to time. I have been able to eat and drink, but it’s been more challenging.
 
Over the weekend I decided I needed to see my doctor and find out what was going on. Either I am being paranoid or something isn’t right.
 
So, I was on the phone to my doctor’s office first thing this morning and fortunately they could squeeze me in this morning.
 
Upon arriving I was escorted to the x-ray room. Martha (the x-ray tech and support group leader, who is also banded) said, “What are you doing here girl?”
“I’m either paranoid or something isn’t right”, she laughed and said let’s find out.
 
We did a barium swallow and as my doctor said, “It looks perfect.”
 
“So, I am paranoid?”
 
“No, you are aware of your band and something changed.”
 
“So what am I doing wrong? Why the acid reflex now?”
 
“Could be you irritated your band in some way or it could be that you need a fresher on the basics. Size of your bit, how much you chew, time between bits. Maybe you need to get that egg timer back out that we gave you at your first post op visit.”
 
“Funny, just last night at dinner my husband had to tell me to slow down on my bits.”
 
We talked a little more and I was on my way feeling so much better. End result is something wasn’t right and that something was me. I was slipping back into old habits.
 
It’s time to dust off that egg timer, cut my bits smaller and chew, chew, chew. Everything I tell newbies to do.

I see a lot of newbies asking what they can have during this or that stage of the pre/post op diet. Doctors give different diets to different patients; however the foods on the different stages are often very similar. Here are the 4 stages I had during my post op diet (straight from my post op paperwork):
 
Stage 1: Clear Liquids
· Water
· Broth or the clear liquid poured off of soup (strain out solids, no creamy soup)
· Black coffee (may be sweetened with artificial sweetener; preferably decaf)
· Clear juices (not OJ ~ it’s not clear); 100% juice (not from concentrate)
· Crystal Light
· Sugar-free Jello (with no solid fruit)
· Sugar-free Popsicles
· Gatorade/Powerade
· Herbal teas (caffeine-free)
 
Stage 2: Liquids
· All clear liquids
· Protein shakes (low-fat, low-carb)
· Fat-free milk
· Orange Juice
· Low-fat instant breakfast mixes
· V8 juice
 
Stage 3: Full Liquids
· All clear liquids
· All liquids
· Apple sauce
· Oatmeal/cream of wheat (thinned)
· Smoothies
· Low-fat creamy soups (strained out solids)
· Puréed soups/vegetables
· Low-fat, low-sugar pudding
· Low-fat, low-sugar yogurt
· Puréed fruit
· Low-fat ice cream/frozen yogurt
 
Stage 4: Soft food (aka Mushy)
· All of the items on the liquid food list
· Tuna/egg/chicken salad
· Well-cooked mushy vegetables (no stalk or crunchy vegetable)
· Thinned scrambled eggs (if tolerated)
· Baby food
· Soft, over-cooked pasta
· Soft canned fruit (in natural juice)
· Thinned mashed potatoes
· Soft sweet potatoes/yams
· Thinned oatmeal
· Greek yogurt
· Thinned low-fat refried beans
· Low-fat cottage cheese
· Soft/rip bananas
 
This is just what MY doctor had for ME. Your doctor will have different orders. I wanted to post this list to give an idea of some of the things on each list.
 
I hope this helps.

And it is very easy to make. Here is my favorite recipe
 
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
 
1 Can chickpea/garbonza beans (15oz)
1/3 cup tahini (See note below)
¼ cup lemon juice
2 Tbs olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ - ¾ cup roasted red peppers
 
In a food processor, combine beans, tahini, lemon juice and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add red peppers and garlic until desired consistency.
 
I calculated the nutritional information based on ¼ cup serving:
Calories 154
Total Fat 11g
Sodium 190mg
Total Carbs 8.4g
Dietary fiber 3.2g
Sugars .9g
Protein 5.1g
 
Tahini is sesame seed butter. I find it with the peanut butter or in the international isle of the grocery store.
 
Enjoy!

This seems to be one of the most popular questions in the forums. Weight stalling is normal but there are things that your body needs in order to continue to lose weight that some never think are important.
 
Sleep is a big factor in weight loss. You need a full 8 hour nights sleep in order to lose weight. Why? Because while you are sleeping your body is revitalizing its self and removing toxins from your body. When you don't get a good nights sleep your weight loss can slow down or stop completely.
 
Water intake. In order to help flush fat out of your body, you need to consume large amounts of water daily. 64 ounces or more. It also helps with water retention when you are drinking enough water.
 
Your bowels need to move. If you are not having bowel movements on a regular basis that is added weight that needs to come out. Take something to help relieve the constipation because protein causes constipation.
 
Stress. If you are stressing out over not losing weight you are only making it that much harder to lose any weight. Stress has been a key factor in no weight loss.
 
Salt intake. If you are eating a lot of lunch meats, soups, and other things loaded with salt you are retaining fluid.
 
Not enough protein. If you are not eating the recommended amount of protein and filling yourself with carbs then of course you won't lose weight. Protein is vital in burning fat. If you're not eating enough then your weight loss will stall also.
 
Exercising too much. If you are burning 800 calories a day exercising and only consuming 800 calories then you will not lose weight. Your body will hold on to every ounce of fat because you are not giving it enough fuel to function. Exercise in moderation about 30 minutes every other day. Your body needs a recovery period from exercise. You don't need to go to the gym 7 days a week to lose weight.
 
Lastly plateus happen and sometimes they last for weeks or months but this is not the time to throw in the towel. Its the time for your desire to lose weight to shine. Eventually your body has no choice but to drop the pounds it is holding on too.

Why should you feel guilty about eating something. Isn't that the way we used to feel before being banded. Over eating on Sunday before the start of your Monday diet. If you are eating something that makes you feel guilty then why over indulge and eat it.
 
This journey is about learning new habits not holding on to the old ones. Being made to feel guilty about any decision in life whether it is about food or anything else is a very bad feeling one should never have. If you are about to sit down and eat a chocolate bar or a piece of pie but after you eat it that guilt trip settles in, then why put yourself through that process over and over again.
 
One day I sat down and I was looking at my snacks for the day and when I entered them in on Spark People (because I like that site much better then My Fitness Pal) holy toledo, even though I was only eating a thousand calories for the day, at least 350 to 400 were in snacks. Not that the snacks were bad because it was 100 calories for greek yogurt, 170 for a protein bar and so forth, the guilt of what I ate snack wise floored me and made me feel guilty. I never wanted to feel that way again about food.
 
I don't want to feel guilty so that is why I do not eat high calorie snacks anymore. Some apple slices, craisins, low fat cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs and so forth. I keep my snacking calories under 250 so I don't have to feel guilty. I love anything with sugar but I can't eat it because I can't just have one and then the guilt settles in.
 
Pleasure should never be compared to guilt or associated with guilt. You make your decisions to eat things so why feel guilty. We have all failed at something in life whether it be having an aweful relationship with food, family, mates, children.
 
I don't want my eating life to be full of guilt because in all reality in this part of the game I am eating to fuel my body not fuel my mind on taste. My mind played enough aweful things in my life as far as my relationship with food goes.
 
Think before you eat and ask yourself "is this going to make me feel guilty after I eat it"? If the answer is yes then get rid of it. You don't need guilt to be in your life over something that won't matter in ten years.
 
TTFN

Betrayal comes from many aspects of our life. From friends, family, spouses and children. Everytime you are betrayed by people you love it hurts. So why with the band do you betray yourself by eating things you are not supposed to and in the long run feeling guilty and hurt by your decisions.
 
Life isn't always easy and we have enough stress without letting the band stress us more. It's supposed to help us feel better about ourselves not feel miserable.
 
As the new year approaches, stop betraying yourself with the band. Follow your instructions that you were given and even if your weight loss is slow, a pound loss is a loss no matter how you look at it.
 
I betrayed myself for years with tons of food, feeling miserable, feeling overly full and depending on food to get me through rough times. I stil have rough times, but I don't use food as another means to betray myself. I use it to make myself feel good by getting rid of the horrible self image I had when I was almost 300lbs.
 
Sometimes it's not easy dealing with problems without the comfort of food but I have learned to stop letting meaningless things get on my nerves.
 
Happy New Year with a new attitude about band life!

If my day is really busy I will eat lunch at my desk and continue to work. This was the case today.
 
My lunch was meat & cheese rolled up and baby carrots, had this many times. So I’m eating and working….about half way into lunch I get the soft stop feeling. Okay, I stop. I then get the heavy chest feeling, something is trying to go down. This feeling stayed with me most of the afternoon.
 
At 4pm I made myself a cup of hot tea, black tea with cream & splenda (It’s the English in me). I’m sipping my tea and I get the soft stop feeling….hummm, never got that with liquids before. I wait a few minutes and take another sip, get the soft stop feeling again. This time it’s followed up with saliva building in my mouth.
 
TO THE BATHROOM I GO!
 
Yep, I pb’d that tea right up along with carrots (sorry if TMI). Well, I guess I got stuck at lunch and finally got it out 4 hours later…..
 
My Yellow Rose (my band) started talking to me after that & this is what she said, “See what happens when you don’t chew your food enough. See what happens when you don’t pay attention to what you are eating. See what happens when you eat too fast.”
 
Wow, wasn’t expecting that. But, hay it happens. Sorry Yellow Rose, guess I won’t be eating that Mahi Mahi I planned for dinner. ..
 
“Nope, I want liquids. I’ll teach you not to chew your food!”
 
So, I am having a protein shake for dinner.

These are my babies!
 
Atticus, Black Mouth Cur. He is the biggest baby in town.
 
Hank, Blue Healer. Gill's dog, follows her around the whole time she is here.
 
Sophie, Dachshund. Daddy's baby (but he won't admit it) and the BOSS of all the dogs!
 
Bugsy, Rat Terrier and Dachsund mix. My baby, he is with his best friend Smokey the cat.

These are my babies!
 
Atticus, Black Mouth Cur. He is the biggest baby in town.
 
Hank, Blue Healer. Gill's dog, follows her around the whole time she is here.
 
Sophie, Dachshund. Daddy's baby (but he won't admit it) and the BOSS of all the dogs!
 
Bugsy, Rat Terrier and Dachsund mix. My baby, he is with his best friend Smokey the cat.

Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.
 
How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.
 
I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:
 
1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight
 
2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight
 
3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight
 
4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight
 
It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.
 
My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.

Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.
 
How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.
 
I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:
 
1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight
 
2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight
 
3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight
 
4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight
 
It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.
 
My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.

Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.
 
How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.
 
I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:
 
1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight
 
2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight
 
3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight
 
4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight
 
It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.
 
My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.

Is my band too tight? How many times do we see this question? A lot so let’s talk about it.
 
How tight you have your band is a personal preference. No one (including your doctor) can tell you how tight it has to be. This is something you have to decide for yourself. Personally my band is loose. The last time I had an x-ray my doctor commented that I didn’t have very much restriction. Oh well, it is what works for me.
 
I have had 2 unfills because I felt my band was too tight, but I know now that it wasn’t. So how do I know if my band is too tight? I ask myself these questions:
 
1. Can I get water/liquids down okay? If YES not too tight
 
2. Are my bites the size of a nickel or smaller? If NO not too tight
 
3. Do I chew my food at least 30 times before swallowing? If NO not too tight
 
4. Do I wait 1 minute between bites? If No not too tight
 
It appears that my eating habits cause me to think my band is too tight. When I eat correctly I have no problems.
 
My advice to anyone wondering if their band is too tight is, evaluate your eating by asking yourself my four questions.

Most people when dieting want to do everything fat free but I do not. Our bodies need healthy fats in order to funciton properly. I buy full fat mayo made with olive oil not the crappy mayo. I also use full fat salad dressings but only a small amount and yes I use real butter.
 
Fat free, well it does not taste good either at least to me. If I am eating a lot of salads I will buy the Walden Farms Italian which is calorie free, fat free and sugar free. I will use the Chipolte Ranch and Italian and the Balsamic Vinegar which all taste good to me. Some of their dressings are really blucky because how can anything taste good with no calories or fat in it.
 
I try to keep my fat intake to a minimum of 35 to 40 grams a day though. Your body craves fat and when you do eat it, it helps with keeping you satisfied. Yes I do eat a piece of bacon once in a while with eggs. I also on occasion take a teaspoon of olive oil, which doesnt taste so great but it does help getting in good fats and helps with hair and nails also. The benefits of olive oil are endless.
 
I don't believe in a fat free diet intake. We need good fats just like we need good carbs and large amounts of proteins for our bodies to work properly.

I am not sure where the phrase was coined but "living large" no longer has negative connotations for me! I used to hear that and think instantly of my size. Now it is about how I want to live my life.
 
Only 3 weeks post op and I already am feeling like a new person. I feel much more confident in myself and am already feeling revitalized and a renewed outlook on the future.
 
I have found myself wandering the clothing aisles at stores and not dreading looking at size 22 but venturing down a few sizes thinking that will be me soon!!!! I had heard the "BMI" term used over the years and never gave it much thought before this surgery. Now, I am excited by that #. I have had two visits with the surgeon post-op so far and the # has dropped from 50.5 to 45.5 already! If I can make that significant of a difference in it in just weeks, imagine months from now!!!
 
I have found strength to not long for my (former) favorite foods, even when they smell and look so good within my reach. It is actually quite empowering to have that will power now. I am not saying I will never mess up, but that "flub" doesn't have to define me and doesn't mean I am completely off the wagon. It just means I need to make better choices for my next meal. Heck, people that are healthy and thin overeat or indulge from time to time. It's all about moderation and being accountable to myself.
 
I know I can do this. Admittedly, the first couple days I had a few "feel sorry for myself" moments but I got myself into this and I need to get myself out!
 
My goals are not to look like Cindy Crawford or Kim Kardashian. My goals are what will make me feel good, not worrying about going to events where there may be a turnstyle, not having to retake photos all the time because I don't like how I look in them, getting off BP meds, hopefully ridding myself of sleep apnea and then all the little things - enjoying going clothes shopping in the misses (not women's) dept, not tiring as easily, crossing my legs (cannot wait for that, even if it isn't good for your circulation), and my goal for next summer - going to the amusement park I have avoided for years!!!!
 
No time for pity parties ~ time to start LIVING LARGE!!!

Someone said that to me today. I was back at work ...granted I was at home but I could do my job in a closet and no one would notice...LOL. Any way I was on the phone with one of my employees and she asked how I was recovering from my surgery... She doesn't know it's nature..but anyway I told her I was really surprised at how well I was doing albet I would like to feel a little less tired....but she said...well happy people get good results.
 
It got me to thinking.... And of course there are exceptions to this rule of thumb...but do you believe it?

Hello
I am a very weird eater. Recall the movie, When Harry Met Sally? Well I eat worse than Sally. My food never touches, I use a different plate for each item, in my house. I dislike more foods than I like. I hate fast food restaurants, my poor grandsons, they get sit down restaurants with me. I never use condiments, never tried salad dressing or soups, so why am I over weight? I love bread!! I could eat 2-3 bread baskets full of wonderful breads in a restaurant with either oil or butter. Then eat my meal. Since having the band, I am so good. I do try the breads but a very small piece and stop. I also would always have ice cream either in a restaurant or at home almost everyday. I have had maybe 2-3 small tastes of my husband's since the band. I am really trying and so far so good. I guess it took me 62 years to wake up and say, STOP, being the overweight Arlene. I can move much better. Because of back problems, I can't stand in one place for more than a few minutes, weight loss will not cure that. I am not as tired as I was and I still have a lot to lose. I hope to be a onederlander within the next week or two. That would be F'n awesome. Yes, I have a potty mouth, that comes with me where ever I go.
Have a wonderful Boxing Day, all.

I never thought the day would come, that I could eat and not gain weight but it has. I have been very strict with my lapband but did have some goodies over Christmas because I love to bake.
 
Waking up and stepping on the scale to see it not go up was a great feat in its self as I remember always gaining 10 to 20lbs from Halloween to the new year.
 
I cooked a lot of food for Christmas but I put so little on my plate of everything. A spoon full is satisfactory to me now not 4 helpings.
 
It's funny how things have changed for me in the aspect of food. I don't love it anymore, its just a need to keep living. It's what keeps me healthy now and not what makes me miserable.
 
Every time I ride past a fast food joint, I cringe. It somehow sickens me to think I use to like that crap. How eating a six hundred calorie burger with 3 days worth of fat in it made me happy.
 
I enjoyed my turkey this year because if I never could cook anything in this world, I make the most to die for turkey that is perfectly moist and seasoned all the way through.
 
My desert yesterday was some sugarfree jello with whipped topping and I enjoyed it because I got real whip cream to put on top of it.
 
I ate some chocolate and it really didn't taste so good to me because I haven't had sugar in ages. I don't eat sugar anymore. I hardly eat meat either but it tasted good.
 
Today I return to my journey of eating normal again and knowing I won this year it didnt' beat me.

I Cooked a fab dinner for my Inlaws, hubby, one of our daughters and the light of my life her 18 month old daughter. Even though I am less than week post op from the tt and bj surgery I started early and rested in-between chores. Polishing the silver was more strenuous than I expected but I didn't push it and was fine. I did have someone clean this week so didn't have to worry about that... But the shopping and cooking was all me. We had rib eye steak w bernaise sauce, sauteed caramelized onions and mushrooms, twice baked potatoes, Lima beans, green beans, carrots, my speciality spinach salad, rolls and apple pie, vanilla pudding pie laced with chocolate and homemade cookies.
 
Since I am maintaining and healing from surgery I decided I would really enjoy a few more bites then normal since I cooked all my favs...well except the Lima beans...bleckkkkk. So the eating commenced and I ate about 2 oz of meat, a teaspoon of the mushrooms and onions, a few green beans, 1 carrot, and about a 1/4 c of salad. I also had about 1/4 of the potato and one cookie.... I was amazed... I seriously couldnt eat any more...
 
I love my band. I will never gain the weight back... Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night....