Fiddleman

Here's a recipe for Sesame chicken! I live it because it's Sooo tasty and yet healthy with lots of Protein. The chicken stays really moist and is great paired with lightly salted in the shell edamame. From a slightly modified Pintrest weight watchers recipe. 4 raw boneless skinless chicken breasts, 6 oz each 1/4 cup flour 1 tsp Kosher salt 1 tsp ground black pepper Sauce 2 Tbsp soy sauce 2 Tbsp maple syrup (you can sub brown sugar or the half brown sugar half Splenda stuff if you want) 2 Tbsp Water 2 Tbsp dry sherry 2 tsp fresh chopped ginger 2 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder ( easy to make your own mix- look online for a recipe) 2 Tbsp white sesame seeds 2 Tbsp peanut oil Combine sauce ingredients (soy sauce, maple syrup, water, sherry, sesame oil, ginger & five spice) in medium bowl and whisk thoroughly to meld flavors. Set aside. In a small pan, over medium heat gradually toast sesame seeds until they take on a light golden color. Take off heat and set aside. Preheat wide skillet on medium high on the stove with peanut oil added into pan when hot. Take your chicken breasts and cut them into about 1 inch chunks. Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish and use the mix to coat the chicken on all sides a few pieces at a time, shaking off excess flour, then place in preheated skillet Repeat until all chicken pieces are coated and added to hot pan. In a hurry? Try adding flour mix to gallon size ziplock bag and add chicken pieces. Seal bag, and shake until pieces are thoroughly coated, remove from bag and add to skillet- attempt to shake off excess flour off chicken on the way to the skillet. Brown the chicken on each side until golden brown (will smell like fried chicken!). Once all pieces are golden on multiple sides, add the sauce mixture (still on med high heat) and stir as sauce thickens- about 1-2 min. Add toasted sesame seeds and stir to coat chicken. Serve and enjoy! Will serve 4 pre sleeve folks, will make lots more for you post sleeve folks. Did someone say leftovers for lunch?

I had a little trouble figuring out correct forum to place this topic so it goes here in "Rant and Raves" because it is a bit of a rave. My MIL was an RN before retirement and likes to keep up on medical studies. She and I were talking about (WLS (VSG) last night and she said WLS (VSG) changes the DNA. My first response was "what....?" and then " how is this possible?" She explained that there was a medical study done in Iceland where they said WLS (VSG) changes the genetic coding in a person's DNA such that the genes responsible for a predisposition of obesity are no longer present in future generations (read: children). Wow, that is powerful! Effectively it means you can expect to have beautiful and athletic children if WLS (VSG) does the same for you. All the genetic precursors like ineffective BMR are effectively reprogrammed. Now I am wondering if the results of this medical study also apply to alcohol, drugs and other addictive predispositions that are passed through DNA.

I have two areas of pain at my lower ribs on front right and left side that mysteriously showed up last week. Have not injured either of these areas. After some googling, others with similar symptoms are indicating costochronditis. Maybe some inflammation issue or some other internal issue. Some even said ulcer may cause this. I have stopped taking nsaids about the same time this pain mysteriously appeared. Just a coincidence that the two happened at the same time, but I really do not think there is causation or correlation. Otherwise feeling good with energy and keep an active fitness schedule 6 days a week of running and cross fit. Anyone know anything about this who is in the medical field? I really do not want to pay the PCP yet another visit and pay yet another copay.

It looks like it is not an issue to get too concerned about and will remedy on its own or with OTC meds.

That is so innovative and creative. Love it!

A moment of silence while we mourne yummy popcorn we are not able to eat any longer...

The peach green tea fountain drink that Panda Express has is amazingly good and zero calories. So good. If I were a new post op, I would be drinking this all the time to meet water requirements. That flavor would make it pretty easy.

Certainly was fun! I enjoyed feeling like a celebrity for 15 minutes.

I got my hair cut at gene Juarez today at the mall. First time spending that much on a haircut. I got the popular cut like Aaron Eerkhart (sp?) as president on "Olympus has fallen." It is for my WLS Center photoshoot tomorrow. Anyways, I am getting checked out left and right walking down the mall, even with my wife at my side. I don't know whether to enjoy this or not, but secretly liking it. Boosts my ego a little. Lol. Not used to it, but hey, not too bad. Don't know if it is all haircut or partly from all the strength training over last 2 months. Either way, it is all good...

Moose munch is my nemesis as a popcorn lover!! My self control may wane if I get a box for Christmas.

I currently lift and train hard 2x a week @ cross fit with PT (T, Th) which leaves me a little sore the following day for when I do cardio @ home. My cardio is currently M, W, F and S and consists of running for 30 min to 1 hour depending on routine (5k, 10k , HIIT). I am starting to wonder if I should back off on the cardio some and add more strength training days. My goal is to find a good healthy balance of weight lifting and cardio to remain fit with a nice athletic build. I do not want all the cardio from running to eat away at my muscle gains. Before I started to lift, running really leaned out my upper body, essentially eating a lot of my lean muscle. I was at goal, but hardly had any muscle in biceps, triceps, deltoids, lats and so on. Weight loss is done and I have been lifting consistently for 2 months in order to reshape body. It is working!! Long term lean muscle is going to help me keep at goal and give some flexibility with eating plan. I have put on 10 lb of lean muscle since starting cross fit training. I am thinking about replacing some cardio day with an @home strength training DVD like Bob Harper inside out or Jillian Michael ripped. Eventually I will increase cross fit days in a month or two, once I transition into open gym format instead of PT sessions. What are your thoughts about weight lifting versus cardio based on my thoughts above?

By the way, my photo shoot is 330 pm so we will not be overlapping. Good luck!

Yes, but it slides really easy meaning your sleeve will not feel restriction from eating it. I had a small popcorn at the theatre a month ago just to see if I could eat it. I could. The whole bag. And it was not even as good as I remembered it. At least I know now how easy it is to eat and, best of all, I don't like it all that much. Left me feeling nasty greasy on the inside too. I was chugging veggy drinks later that evening to detox it out of my body. That being said, I would still probably love pirates booty and caramel popcorn so am not going to eat those. Just my two bits on it.

Here comes the 100 page cheeseburger flame fest, it is making an effort to come back from forum cemetery!

Survived the whole day with evil apple crisp taunting me. Made it!

Just show up and smile. needless to say, I am out shopping for some trendy clothes right now. First major clothing purchase since finished weight loss and the bill is going to be high.

According to your DOS, you are about 2.5 months post op. How does the carbonation in the beer feel to your sleeve? Does it go down ok or do you get tight in the chest? I had my first post op white wine at month 6. today I can enjoy a long island, but only one. i have a drink about every 2-3 weeks when out with my brother or friends. As long as you are following the alcohol guideline of your doctor and it is not causing you pain, then kudos for you, especially if you are in part of the country where it is sizzling hot today. Not here in Seattle though. 50 f and drizzly. It was actually cold outside yesterday and I had to wear a heavy coat!

How did you feel at 104? Did it have a huge drain on your health and energy? Or did you feel pretty normal? to the OP: I seem to stop losing by just eating a lot daily. Body weight in Protein every day from dense meats, shakes and bars. However, I am also pretty active and need the food to refuel for next cross fit or running session. If I ever have your problem, which could theoretically happen, I know just the food I will start eating: met-rx big100 Protein Bars. Those are awesome and have 420 calories. I actually secretly hope I have this problem so I get to eat the big100 bars.

Agree 100% in your view. By the way, there is a rave and rant forum for these type of posts.

I agree that weight gain from grazing is something you must be on alert for after your stomach returns to normal ( month 6 for me). Eating small portions of dense protein every 2-3 hours really helps for me, but I am also pretty active so need the protein. It is a constant learning experience to balance eating for nutrition and satiety versus weight management. Just be aware of your goals and try and make good decisions. This goes a long ways to keeping you in a place of balance. Also being active on VST and attending support meetings is really helpful because there is strength in numbers. Try to avoid eating processed foods and those that are high in simple carbs ( even 2g) as they can trigger your eating instinct.