voiceomt2002

For those who didn't see the blog, my assistant Selena had a teddy bear I'd made her. She gave away that bear to an autistic child going into the hospital. Here is the replacement bear I'll send. I've named it, "A Pearl Beyond Price" because that's what Selena is, and not only to me.

For those who didn't see the blog, my assistant Selena had a teddy bear I'd made her. She gave away that bear to an autistic child going into the hospital. Here is the replacement bear I'll send. I've named it, "A Pearl Beyond Price" because that's what Selena is, and not only to me.

Julie.Ann and several others told me about online food journals like sparkpeople.com, thedailyplate.com and fitday.com. I've been keeping a print food journal for over two years, but the ink and paper costs were eating me alive, to be honest. Finally, I looked at the three I mentioned and decided on fitday.com. That's a personal choice! I don't advocate any one brand. However, I'm now totally converted to online food journals after just three days. At first, I was frustrated by searching for my specific food I'd injested, especially when it came to recipes. Finally, I started using the Custom Food option when I couldn't find what I needed or wanted to use a recipe's nutrition info. Whew! Much better. Funny thing is, I'm staying on my diet better now. Maybe it's that whole "I know nothing on the net is truly private" paranoia, but I'll take what works. I never fudged on calories or carbs in my journal, but this way ensures a certain level of honesty. Today, I'll probably break my diet --again. This time, in a good cause. I'm driving down to St. Augustine to visit my Mom. Mom's a underweight very eccentric retired artist. (Yes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in the creativity department. She painted with color and glass, I paint with words.) I'd better take notes of what I eat. Better put a notepad in my purse.

I sew. I sew a lot. Not only do I make my own clothes, I make teddy bears, quilts, costumes, and occasionally the odd decorating item. Yes, I'm one of those annoyingly creative people who have to decorate anything that holds still long enough. A few months ago, I made myself a beautiful white jacket out of silk brocade covered in white-on-white phoenixes. I loved that jacket, but had to put it away when cold weather struck. This morning, I needed to make some decisions on what to wear for a trip to visit my mother in St. Augustine. Mom, who is a blonde size 6 soaking wet, dresses to kill and doesn't look her age in the slightest. She also hasn't seen me since the day of my surgery. If you've seen my "before pictures" here, you know we don't look a thing alike. Needless to say, my feminine sense of competitiveness makes me want to dress up as best I can when I go shopping with Mom, especially since she prefers some pretty exclusive little establishments. Anyway, I pulled out that gorgeous jacket and decided to try on a pair of black jeans and black silk shirt I've not worn in years because I couldn't stuff my fat body into them. The jeans not only slid on, the shirt was too big! I screeched and ran out to show my roomie, a gay man named Dante. The jeans were loose and almost baggy, and Dante rejected the shirt. "Honey, you look like you're a little girl trying to wear Mommy's clothes. Do I need to take you shopping?" (giggle) I'm still wearing the outfit on Saturday if Mom's free to go out, but I think my proud grin will outshine whatever Mom wears. Guess I'll take in the shirt, though. Good thing I know how to sew.

I got another NSV tonight. I put on an old favorite sleeveless pajama set for lounging around the house and the pants just slid around my hips and almost off my butt to the floor. I juggled my cell phone and managed to grab the pants before they hit the floor around my ankles. Another thing on my own growing pile of "tailor this down" mending. However, I have one sewing project that tops everything. My assistant, Selena, is down sick with the flu. She telecommutes from NJ, and I of course telecommute from here in FL. Selena and I chatted by email about a promotion, but she was so sick she had to go lay down. I told her to go cuddle the teddy bear I'd made and sent her last year. Selena answered, "I can't. I have a friend with an autistic son who went in the hospital for surgery. I gave him my bear to make him feel better." You know I'm making her a new teddy bear ASAP. Such selflessness deserves the best bear I can make. It'll be soft baby blue flannel with faux pearls in a necklace and "earrings." I've named it "A Pearl Beyond Price." She's earned it. I'm getting all sniffly just thinking about it.

Hooray for you, Peanut! I know it's silly, but I'm a little envious of y'all that get fills. You're "adjustable" and I'm stuck. (pout) Lena

I have a lawn you can mow down here in Florida. (Hopeful look) Lena

ROTFL! Points to your DH. That's a good one.

Okay, I admit I got cocky. I'd been losing weight steadily and decided I did not need to keep track of what I ate anymore, not even carbs. After all, I can only fit a teensy amount in the pouch, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong! It's not the amount, it's what I eat! Sure, I stay away from the starchy foods still. (Oh potato, I barely knew ye!) However, I've been very naughty on the sweets. The methyl-ethyl-bad stuff for a diet sweets. Yeah, I'm a junkie who backslid. I haven't gained a pound, but I stopped losing. I deserve to be flogged!! I'm printing out my log sheet and I'm back on the wagon. I probably have a few days of carb withdrawal ahead of me. This is gonna hurt, but I did it to myself. Lena

I sew. I sew a lot. Not only do I make my own clothes, I make teddy bears, quilts, costumes, and occasionally the odd decorating item. Yes, I'm one of those annoyingly creative people who have to decorate anything that holds still long enough. A few months ago, I made myself a beautiful white jacket out of silk brocade covered in white-on-white phoenixes. I loved that jacket, but had to put it away when cold weather struck. This morning, I needed to make some decisions on what to wear for a trip to visit my mother in St. Augustine. Mom, who is a blonde size 6 soaking wet, dresses to kill and doesn't look her age in the slightest. She also hasn't seen me since the day of my surgery. If you've seen my "before pictures" here, you know we don't look a thing alike. Needless to say, my feminine sense of competitiveness makes me want to dress up as best I can when I go shopping with Mom, especially since she prefers some pretty exclusive little establishments. Anyway, I pulled out that gorgeous jacket and decided to try on a pair of black jeans and black silk shirt I've not worn in years because I couldn't stuff my fat body into them. The jeans not only slid on, the shirt was too big! I screeched and ran out to show my roomie, a gay man named Dante. The jeans were loose and almost baggy, and Dante rejected the shirt. "Honey, you look like you're a little girl trying to wear Mommy's clothes. Do I need to take you shopping?" (giggle) I'm still wearing the outfit on Saturday if Mom's free to go out, but I think my proud grin will outshine whatever Mom wears. Guess I'll take in the shirt, though. Good thing I know how to sew.

Yep, plateau'd for about a week and a half before the scale moved again. Totally freaked me out. Part of it was my fault. I made some bad food choices and stopped doing a food journal. Apparently, I need the journal. Someone on my blog (I'm too tired to go look right now) recommended an online journal. I chose fitday.com, though the commercial for the program is getting annoying. Between getting back on the wagon with good food choices and being concious of my trigger situations, I've lost two more pounds. (Hope they stay lost!) Guess I just can't get complacent. Lena

Heaven forbid if I start dressing like my beloved DH. I adore him, but the man has the most appalling taste and prefers to wear his faded, torn tee shirts everywhere! Lena

This was surprisingly tender, but I did cut the beef extra small. I'd imagine ground turkey could be substituted for those watching the fat grams.

This was surprisingly tender, but I did cut the beef extra small. I'd imagine ground turkey could be substituted for those watching the fat grams.

Thanks for the encouraging words, Julie.Ann. I checked sparkpeople.com, but I've already been using another log and was reluctant to switch. Maybe I'd better reconsider.

This should more correctly be called: The Fill Appointment with no fill. That’s right, I didn’t get a fill. Since I’ve lost 8 lbs of pure body fat, I’m not hungry, and eating correctly Dr. Baptista feels I’m one of the bandsters who walks out of the hospital already at or very near the “sweet spot” and may never need a fill. (Happy Dance!!) As long as I continue to lose 1-3 pounds a week, I may never need a fill, but if I do, he’ll be monitoring me and will let me know! Now for the semi-sorta-bad news. When he did my surgery, he found two hernias. The hiatal hernia, he corrected as he commonly does. However, there was a hernia lower he cannot repair at this time. I must reach at or near a normal BMI of 25 before that surgery has a hope of being successful, because it’s not far above my navel, where the overweight abdominal fat would possibly rip and tear his work. That’s fair, even if it means I have this weird lump in my abdomen for a year or two. After all, I have a minimum of 100 pounds to lose before I come close to my healthy weight range. Not like I’ll be in a bikini before then anyways.

Thanks, Handrews! I'll be doing a bit of traveling by car in late April, and I hoped to take a picnic basket with these included.

Scotch Eggs [/url]Servings: 6 Notes: Scotch Eggs are a great way to use leftover Easter Eggs and are one of my favorite foods, although I don't indulge in them too often. Since they are delicious hot or cold, they make a wonderful addition to a picnic. Ingredients: 6 hard boiled eggs 1 pound spicy sausage meat 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme 1/2 teaspoons dried basil 1/2 cup flour, divided 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 2 eggs, beaten oil for frying Instructions: Peel the eggs and set aside. Mix sausage and spices in a small bowl. Divide sausage into 6 equal portions, set aside. Mix breadcrumbs with salt, pepper and paprika, set aside. Dry each egg with a paper towel, then roll lightly in flour to coat. Take one portion of sausage and using hands, shape a coating around the hard boiled egg, completely enclosing it (see photos). Roll in flour again, then dip in beaten egg then roll in breadcrumb mixture. Repeat with remaining eggs. Heat about 2-3 inches of oil in a large skillet. Fry eggs, turning frequently, until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels. Let cool slightly before serving. To serve, cut each in half and serve with some good mustard.

LOL!! Normally, I do too. This recipe is one of my "special occasion" recipes I make for picnics and camping. You can also substitute ground turkey for the sausage to reduce the fat. Tell you what, Shamrock-- Why don't you try baking the eggs instead of frying and let me know? I'd be curious.

Forgot to note that you can substitute crushed fried pork rinds for the bread crumbs. I whirl up a bag in my food processor and use the results just like bread crumbs for a no-carb substitute that adds a mild bacon flavor to foods.

Scotch Eggs [/url]Servings: 6 Notes: Scotch Eggs are a great way to use leftover Easter Eggs and are one of my favorite foods, although I don't indulge in them too often. Since they are delicious hot or cold, they make a wonderful addition to a picnic. Ingredients: 6 hard boiled eggs 1 pound spicy sausage meat 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme 1/2 teaspoons dried basil 1/2 cup flour, divided 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 2 eggs, beaten oil for frying Instructions: Peel the eggs and set aside. Mix sausage and spices in a small bowl. Divide sausage into 6 equal portions, set aside. Mix breadcrumbs with salt, pepper and paprika, set aside. Dry each egg with a paper towel, then roll lightly in flour to coat. Take one portion of sausage and using hands, shape a coating around the hard boiled egg, completely enclosing it (see photos). Roll in flour again, then dip in beaten egg then roll in breadcrumb mixture. Repeat with remaining eggs. Heat about 2-3 inches of oil in a large skillet. Fry eggs, turning frequently, until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels. Let cool slightly before serving. To serve, cut each in half and serve with some good mustard.

Good luck, Wendy!

It's not a No-Carb diet lipstix64, but it is very low carb by order of my doctor. He insists on all his patients staying below 30g of carbs a day. It's difficult, but not impossible. Like JustMel1957, most days I eat the protein first, then the veggies. I do avoid most fruits, but I figure they're better than snarfing down chocolate.

I was on that plateau for at least two weeks, and it's been murder on the old self-esteem. However, I knew part of it was my own fault. I have no willpower, and a few tasty high-carb items were dangled in front of me by the usual suspects --my family of saboteurs. I went for the treats like a shark after seals. (sigh) I've since started losing again, but it's not easy to get back on the wagon. I know I don't need a fill. I'm still only eating a little bit at a time, and I pay dearly if I eat too fast or big chunks. It's what I put in my mouth that counts, not how much. Today was a good day: B: 1 egg-sausage casserole "muffin" 2 coffee with SF creamer L: 1/2 c whipped turnip deluxe S: 2 string cheese D: 1 c. green chili 1 banana The only thing naughty was the banana. Oh, well. It's better than my grandchildren insisting I share their Valentine's Day fudge. (sigh) Lena

::Applause!:: Honey, I'm with you! Those itty bitty seats are for those whose weight doesn't crush that hard triangle into sensitive areas made for other things, thank-you-very-much! My exercise bike at home has a wide, comfy seat made for big butts. I take it for leisurely spins while I watch DVD's that distract me from the pain I'm putting myself through. Lena