only4me

To give credit where credit is due, I did get this recipie online at Recipe: TOMATO BISQUE It is an excellent recipie

Here is a family favorite of mine. You can omit the oil and just saute the onions in some Water until translucent. Also, any of the milks used are wonderful. You can even use evaporated skim milk. Tomato Bisque 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 2 onions-chopped 1 clove garlic minced 1 15-oz. can whole tomatoes 2 cups vegetable stock, chicken stock is also excellent, and more traditional) 1/4 cup uncooked rice salt and pepper 1 Tablespoons chopped basil (or 1 tsp pesto 1/4 tsp dried tyme 2 cups half and half (or 1 cup milk mixed with 1 cup heavy cream) or (2 cups milk) several dashes of Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce Garnish: thinly sliced basil leaves or minced parsley Melt butter in a large saucepan and stir in the onions and garlic. Sauté until soft and golden over medium-low heat. Pour in the entire can of tomatoes, stock, rice, salt, pepper, basil, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, partially cover, and simmer for about 30-35 minutes. Puree the soup in a blender, solids first, then pour back into the saucepan. Stir in the half-and-half, splash in the hot pepper sauce, and taste for seasoning. Heat the soup just to a boil, and then ladle into bowls. Garnish with sliced basil leaves or minced parsley.

It has been a glorious day off!!!!!!!! Although, I had so many errands to run with my kids, Camp, jobs, prep class for upcoming regents, dropping off at friends, going to the store. My Goodness!!!!!! I didnt get out of the car until after 2- It was a revolving door on the passenger side!!! But then again I do have 4 kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other than that I have been napping since 2pm. I am so justifying it -- tired from back to work, still recouperating, its a rainny day....Well, all three are correct!! Jackie---Yea!!! Down 2 sizes!! Chimboree--Yea!! Baggy jeans!! Where was that Chicken Salad recipie from Lynette????

Goodmorning everyone, and It is a rainny morning on Long Island NY today! No outside walking for me thats for sure. I have my post op on Monday and I am excited to see where Im at. I can tell that my clothing is getting loose, and I am feeling much better these past few days. I have to really monitor how fast I eat or I am in pain, but it is like pavlovs dog....I am learning the lesson!!

Hello Everyone, I am just passing through tonight, I had another 10 hour shift today and I am exhausted. It was much easier to get through today than it was on Tuesday, but I am very tired and going to sleep. I was able to catch up and read all the posts untill now, but I am so tired I cant keep my eyes open to respond, I am off tomorrow and will catch up with everyone. Goodnight

I meant to say less that a 1/2 cup total

Lynette, I know I said I was going off for the night, but I just finished a load of laundry and thought let me check my Lucky 7's........I am getting adicted to you all!!!!!!!!!!! I only added a little dried basil and a pinch of garlic salt, I didnt want it to be to spicy (like oregano) because I was afraid of the chest pains, and burping.......But to tell you the truth, since I ate that meal.....I feel fantastic. Like I needed more that just a full liqiud state (like the shake)- the ricotta had some body to it and I really have handled it well. I couldnt eat the whole thing, which was less than 1/2 total with the ricotta, skim and sauce combind. I left about 1/4 of what it made. Im planning on having it for lunch tomorrow at work.

Good evening to all, It really hard to keep up with everyone now that I have started work. Today was not so bad as it was only a 5-hour shift. I had a really bad night last night, Could not sleep-has a lot of the chest pains from not taking my time with my meals, I am going to bed early tonight!! I tried something-new tonight......Tonight was Pizza night. Very hard night for me in this house. So, I took 1/4 cup ricotta cheese, skim milk to thin it to a liquid consistency and heated it until it was very warm. When it came out I put just a spoon full of Tomato sauce in the center of the bowl and swirled the tomato through the ricotta "soup". Topped it with a little Italian spice........took very little spoonfuls and really enjoyed it. I really felt like I was having something substantial!! and very flavorful!!!!! As far as these protein shakes.................I am amassing a collection of ones I can’t tolerate..............I got some of the injury Strawberry...adding that to the pile. I couldnt even choke that one down. I now have the unflavored that I have to try...I am a little skeptical!!! I am switching to slimfast. At least I know that I can get that down. Im going to say goodnight for the rest of the day. I really have to get to bed early, and I am having mommy/daughter time with my youngest, Lily.

Hello from a weary me!!! Today was very tough...Thank God I only have to work 5 hours tomorrow. I work in a very small Dental Office. I am the only one who is cross trained and can do Office Management as Well as assisting with patient care. So my shoes are not easy to fill with one person. When I took the week off for surgery, everything fell to one person so I really needed to be back today, but I am really shot. I had such a hard time getting my meals in, and taking my time drinking them. So I have that spasms again tonight in my chest. Mango- I have been having the chest pains also- when I called my Dr. they said that it sounded like I am drinking way to fast and that I am having spasms in my esophogus. Which after today, I do believe that to be accurate for me. You should call your Dr. office and ask about your situation. Jackie- as you read above, there is no-one else to work. I am lucky that it happens to fall on my weekend off, so after Thursay I dont have to be back to work until Tuesday. Goodnight all--Sorry I couldnt get back to everyone...But Ssankoffa, Lynette, Chim,Cazulay, NewCC, Kathy, Indigo.....My best wishes ...... Have a great day tomorrow!!!!

Becky, I know what you mean. Im not sure Im "hungry" or I just am craving the actual act of eating. What I wouldnt do just to chew something.. Gum is not helping.

I cant even catch up right now, I am still at work 2 more hours to go and I am exhausted. I dont know what I could have been thinking that I could do a 10 hour shift 8 days after surgery. I felt great this morning, but I have been dragging for the past 2 hours. I just want to go home and lay down!!!!!!!!! I have a 5 hour shift tomorrow!!! and another 10 hour one on Thursday------CRAP!!!!!!!!!

Chimoree- You absolutly should have posted about your walk. I in no way felt obligated to sponsor you, I was excited and happy for you! I really wish you the best and you are walking for such a wonderful cause. You are walking for us!! This is something that has effected all of us, and Im sure that we are all greatful for your participation. Did anyone see 'Big Medicine" last night. There was a woman who was banded and her Dr. Stated that people who are banded lose on an average 3-5 lbs per MONTH. It is a much slower weight loss than GB (this we all knew, but I was thinking more that 3-5 per month)!!!

kacee- thanks for the response. I did call my MD and they said that I most likely was drinking to much in a sip and it was causing esophogeal spasms. I have since been taking it really slow and things have improved.

I meant meals were painfully slow!!!!!!!

ShannonRT-We were banded the same day---Welcome Chimboree-Yea for you with the obesity walk. I would love to sponsor you. PM me! Lynette-What a wonderful welcome at work. You must be very well loved and respected. Kudos for the excellent review!--I bought the protien powder from Walmart. I bought vanilla- not to good alone but then I tried mixing it with orange chrysal light....Creamsicle!!! it was not bad. Kathy- I made the pumpkin soup for dinner tonight. I was so warm and creamy and just lovely.. I really enjoyed it. Very satisfying!! Frustrated-my food tv buddie!-- made a recipe of the Barefoot Contessa for my husband tonight. It so easy and he loved it. What a nice presentation!!---Killed me to do it and not be able to taste it, but my time will come!!! Laurend- Yea for your Air Conditioning. If I had to live without that I would go crazy!!! Casulay- Sorry about your frustrated first day. Seems like you have a plan and things will come together. Forgive-Sorry about how you are feeling. Remember we are in this for the long haul. Things will turn around and you will see that scale move in the right direction. Keep following your meal plans and you will see results. Shannon9227- Yea 10 lbs!!!! Cate- your dinner sounds like a feast to me. As for me, I called the Dr. Office about the black and blue port from my sneezing fit....very noramal......Also, the pain in the chest I am feeling sound like esophogeal spasms. I am probably drinking to fast. The PA said to drink no more that a 1/2 tsp at a time. So I went out and bought a baby spoon and drank my shakes like that!! Had a better day but meals were painful.

Sanskoffa- I was us all night walking that floor- every 2 hours I got up. I never saw anyone walking the halls. We must have been on different schedules. I did call Dr. Giess' office and spoke to one of the PA's who said I did the right thing by going back to clear liquids and taking a prilosec. She doesnt want me to stay on the prilosec after today and see how I do. She told me to only take 1/2 of a teaspoon of liquid at a time. I am doing much better today.

Goodluck to everyone going back to work tomarrow- I only got a week off!!!!!! I have to go back to work on Tuesday!!!! I work in a very small Dental Office and I told them in order for me to go back I have to sit behind the front desk only. There was no way I could assist with patients for the next few weeks. They agreed so I am going back to a 10 hour shift on Tuesday!!!!

ssankofa73--You have to be careful!!!!!!!! I hope you are not going to get sick. I am craving Chewing!!!!!!!!!! I would love to just be able to crunch something. I am calling Geisses office tomorrow. I was feeling so sick when I woke up. My stomach and espogus felt like they were lying in acid all night long. I had to take a prilosec......I couldnt eat or drink anything until it all settled down. I stayed with clear liquids today. Right now I am having 4 oz of sf pudding. I hope it doesnt bother me! I also cannot walk to 30 mins. You seem to be healing alot faster than I am. My husband sat my kids down today because they have not been letting me rest like I should have and only my youngest (she is 10) has helped me. The others just want me to drive them places (which Im not supposed to) and do things for them. I am still very sore!! One of my steri strips fell off. Just a scar underneath- I dont know what they used..

Snaggletooth and Sunshine, I feel so close like we have bonded!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha- over Paula Dean!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and what about her hunky sons.

ssankofa-good for you. I am still not able to get all of the shakes in. I am doing well with the water, but I cant get in more that 3-4 oz of the shake. I dont want to make myself uncomfortable.

Snaggletooth---I love Paula....Dont you just want to roll everything in flour and fry it after you finish watching her. She is just so adorable. Even prior to surgery I would feel guilty eating some of the things she made...But I cant stop watching.......

Something Is Happening To My Computer....it Is Just Posting On Its Own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snaggletooth---Let me finishe that sentance......OH MY

snaggletooth-OH

Help, I had a little sneezin fit today and all of my incisions are killing me, expecially the Port. The port incision has a black and blue mark around it. I really dont think it was there before my sneezing!!! I have been really lying down and taking it easy since that happened.