Starwarsandcupcakes

Another work day so more packed meals! Green smoothie- spinach, kale, unsweetened almond milk, frozen strawberries, chocolate protein powder Triscuit thins with some harvest chicken salad- chicken, thin sliced red onion, celery, reduced sugar craisins, diced apple, pecans and almonds in a dressing of light Mayo, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup with some spices an egg white omelette with a spinach gruyere chicken sausage, onions and sun dried tomatoes my trusty thermos with vegetable soup and then another (there’s already one in the coffee mug with espresso) protein shake for coffee and my beef bouillon packet. Also, I always pack a couple protein bars, a shelf stable soup, and other snacks in case I don’t eat (not in the mood for) what I packed and adjust my calories accordingly.

I take almost all of my goodies to work. I usually leave with empty containers. Doctors and nurses are really good at hitting up free sweets. 😂

The recipe is pretty straightforward and I think it could easily be adapted with low carb flour and sugar options like swerve but haven’t tried. I did omit the vanilla and used maple flavor for the bars itself and I know there are sugar free maple flavored syrups on the market that could be used for the glaze. And my secret for not having to actually cook bacon is the real bacon crumbles you find in the aisle with the salad topper stuff. 😂

I always love baking things I can swirl or that have swirls- these brownies, cinnamon rolls, jelly rolls, cinnamon swirl bread… it brings me joy.

I felt the need to bake today so most of these will be off to work tomorrow with coworkers- cheesecake brownies, chocolate peanut butter marshmallow fudge, crumb top apple pie, maple bacon bars, no bake cookies, coconut macaroons and sugar cookies with mini M&Ms mixed in.

I called mine on Christmas Eve to tell him I couldn’t poop. 😂 He told me to go with the nuclear option…. It was the best Christmas poop ever! Also, it’s never too late to call if you’re worried- the surgeon office should have an on call service to call you back with urgent issues.

Following the advice of your bariatric team. Every person and program is different. What suits one of us doesn’t suit everyone. Like for myself- I’ve also had 3ft of my small intestines removed because of a hernia so I malabsorb calories and their nutrients. So sticking to what you’re saying I would end up with malnutrition issues and be sick.

I’m almost 2yrs out from my VSG and a little over 13 months out from a VSG to RNY (gerd) revision and the hunger pangs do get better after being on more solid foods. With VSG it doesn’t take away all the receptors for ghrelin because they’re all over the stomach but does remove most of them as the stomach is greatly reduced in size. Staying hydrated really helps as does trying to keep yourself distracted. I also found saving a meal or snack for about 30 minutes before bed really helped me stay asleep longer so I wasn’t waking up hungry.

Lunch was gardien sweet and sour porkless bites with mixed veggies and brown rice. Total 307 calories. Ate all of it (and made 2 others like it for lunches later this week) Dinner is a very tasty yet super filling burrito bowl from HotHead- Double steak on lettuce with banana peppers, pineapple, fajita veggies, cholula, sweet teriyaki sauce, and pico. Total calories for the whole thing is 397 (46g protein!) so I’m guessing (and tracked) 139 calories. I might go back to it later before bed as a snack…. Or eat a mini Godiva roasted almond dark chocolate bar (found them at Walmart)….

Salad for dinner. I must’ve still been full from “lunch” because I just couldn’t eat much. Hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, romaine and balsamic reduction. Would’ve been 135 calories if I had eaten the whole thing.

Kids have been begging me to cut up the watermelon that’s been on the table for over a week so I did and we had pulled BBQ beef (Lloyd’s because I don’t BBQ) on king’s Hawaiian slider buns, coleslaw (I poured the dressing on the bagged coleslaw mix. 😂🤷‍♀️), watermelon and Brazi bites (a frozen ready to bake version of Brazilian cheese bread) one of which I ate while making kid plates. For what I ended up eating it came out to about 215 calories.

I ended up eating some non-dairy brownie Ben and Jerry’s and pretzel thins with jalapeño cheddar dip to make up the lacking calories yesterday. So far today I’m at a protein shake and a packet of protein tomato soup. 🤦‍♀️

I went fabric shopping today (11 fat quarters and 29 yards of fabric!)so made a lazy dinner or a fake chicken patty, roasted red pepper dressing, and mixed vegetables tossed with garlic powder, onion powder, and tajin. Also posting calories for the meal and day. And yes, I had Cheetos and a protein iced coffee for breakfast (and ice coffee with skim milk and protein bar for lunch).

It’s the gel in between the layers. You can throw the bottle in the freezer so your drink isn’t watered down. I’ve never done it though because cold drinks set off my gag reflex.

Another work day another “packing all my meals” picture. -Green smoothie (almond milk, kale, spinach, blueberries and lemonade protein powder) -water bottle, protein shake, and beef bouillon packet -romaine and tomato salad with a spicy boca chik’n patty and “dang” red pepper hummus dressing - vegetable soup (like yesterday’s) and triscuit thins -oikos blended strawberry Greek yogurt and a mint chip fit crunch bar.

If you haven’t guessed I have a thing for soup. I ❤️ soup. This one is vegetable soup made with chicken bone broth and TON of veggies (onions, celery, bell peppers, cabbage, garlic, crushed tomatoes, okra, green beans, peas, carrots, corn, lima beans, and potatoes). Ended up eating 2 bowls the same size for about 230 calories. For a grand total of 615 calories today so I’ll need to figure out something later because I’m staying up tonight so I can sleep for work tomorrow.

2 of my nerdlings are diehard mushroom fans so I made beef stroganoff for dinner and since I reheated the pasta in the sauce I picked it out of my plate which a very willing (😱) 6yr old ate. The white stuff is pineapple fluff- sugar free vanilla pudding, milk, cool whip, pineapple (I used a fresh one), and sweetened flaked coconut…. Not as great as I remember. Total at about 250 calories. And seeing as I’m only at 510 calories for today I’ll have to figure out something even though it’s almost bedtime. 😩 So a before, a leftover pasta and an after.

I’m glad I don’t have this problem or if I do get stares or smiles I’m completely oblivious to it. 🤷‍♀️ Unwanted attention makes me uncomfortable because I’m never sure how to respond.

Made soup (again)! This time it was this copycat recipe of Panera’s autumn squash soup. I omitted the cream cheese and used fat free evaporated milk instead along with an entire can of pumpkin purée because what am I gonna do with a half a can I’m bound to forget in the fridge?! I also couldn’t find my nutmeg and instead used pumpkin pie spice and way more cinnamon than it called for but still good.

I used to be a member of the clean plate club and now I prefer the clear conscious club. It’s taken a long time (and some therapy) to realize that leaving food behind isn’t disrespectful or that the food was bad (most of the time it’s not even when I cook. 😂) Sure, I make some questionable food choices but I’m human and sometimes I want ice cream for dinner because well, I can. Restriction means it now lasts a month for the pint instead of one mindless binge with other food on top of it. I’m also still trying to figure out what foods do what with my restriction, even a year out from VSG to RNY revision as I’ve also had some small intestine removed that tried to kill me. Plus, I like being able to see different foods I may not have tried or find some amazing new recipes from everyone who posts.

My work foods for today- 🍍green smoothie with kale, spinach, pineapple, lemonade protein powder, and soy milk ☕️ protein shake for coffee beef bouillon packet 🥗 Romaine lettuce with cherry tomatoes, grated parm, turkey slices and Olive Garden light Italian dressing 🍅 Kale, feta and sun dried tomato mini Frittata (mostly followed this recipe except added 1/4c. each more feta and milk and 1c(ish) more kale and baked in a muffin tin instead of a skillet) 🍆 Pesto marinated roasted eggplant and roasted cherry tomatoes 🍑 no sugar added peaches, Greek yogurt, and cinnamon almond cookie bites Also my diet Arizona ice tea, lemonade crystal light, and Diet Pepsi(s) along for the ride Thankfully, the laundry stayed home to haunt me upon my return!

Salad and goat cheese Mac and cheese (that I found on clearance for $.50 a box!). Most of my kids had their salad with Mac and cheese and baked chicken legs (one is just Mac and a side of cucumbers 🤷‍♀️). Anyway, I was expecting more from the Mac and cheese in terms of flavor. It was just meh. Also, I had a BUNCH of Thai basil so I made some Thai inspired pesto with the basil, sriracha, peanut oil, pecans, olive oil, a smidge of toasted sesame oil, and garlic. I’m currently marinating sliced eggplant in it to roast tomorrow night for dinner along with some buttermilk marinated chicken for the kids. I also have plans for a sun dried tomato, basil, and feta frittata for my lunches for work this week.

GNC lean shakes. I bought the Girl Scout cookie flavors and I use them in my coffee when I work. They’re great at room temp but might be a little sweet on their own or right after surgery. Syntrax nectar powders- they have an individual packet variety pack you can try. They mix well with water or as part of a smoothie. Bariatricpal beef bouillon packets- I take one with me every day I work. 70 calories and 15g of protein plus it’s a savory option.

If I don’t finish something and I know I won’t eat it later I offer it to a kid before tossing if no one wants it. Usually it makes it into a stomach and not the bin. The only things I find myself really saving are quart jars of soup from when I make it and on occasion the random stuffed pepper or beans as I’m the only one who eats those in my house.

Things I still use almost 2 years out- protein shakes- I have one almost daily in my coffee as creamer food scale- if I’m not confident in portion or need a reset to stay in maintenance then I use it, otherwise I’ve gotten pretty good at eyeballing it (I’ve used a scale for years before surgery for baking and portioning dough). blender- I use it almost every day. I make a green smoothie with spinach, kale, almond or soy milk, frozen fruit and protein powder. Travel mug- I enjoy warm liquids more than cold so I have broth almost every day along with coffee (not mixed together) so the mug keeps things warm. My C3PO thermos- holds 10oz so it’s perfect for soups (I eat soup a lot!) and it fits great in my lunchbox standing up. Blender bottles- these are more for portability than mixing as I might have the balls somewhere in a drawer 🤷‍♀️ They just make it easy to take my smoothie or a blended coffee with me on the go. As you go along you’ll eventually find what works for you and keeps you successful. I think it varies a bit by person but the end goal is the same- being healthy.