voiceomt2002

I look like a commercial! You know the ones where the person holds out their too-baggy clothes to show the "gap" between waistband and belly? That's me! My formerly-favorite jeans slid off my hips and hit the floor in a puddle recently. My daughter laughed and said, "Guess we're breaking out the sewing machine, huh Mom?" My wedding ring now resides around my neck on a silver chain after I almost lost it down the kitchen sink while doing dishes. I feel so naked! But the biggest triumph happened this morning. I have a pair of leather jeans that were my "goal" jeans for the past ten years. Ten years! The friggin' things cost $200 in 1997, and I was going to wear them "someday." Today was that day. They slid on, past my thighs. I gasped and pulled a little more. They came over my butt, as if it were greased. My face broke out in a sweat. I tugged the two front halves together, wondering if I could get it buttoned. YES! Then, the final test --the zipper. I grasped the zipper pull with shaking fingers and lifted. ZIP! All the way up! I stood looking in the mirror with my mouth agape. The leather jeans not only fit, they were comfortably loose! I didn't have to lay on the bed to zip them or breathe in shallow pants to avoid breaking the zipper. They fit. Really, really fit. My husband, watching from the chair, applauded. I'm still stunned. I don't have anymore "goal" clothes left. I'm done. I may still be overweight and no where near a correct BMI, but I've surpassed every goal I set. I guess this means I need new goals. Or a new set of pants. Okay, a new set of pants. LOL! I guess we are breaking out the sewing machine. :confused:

Was I skeptical when I saw rice in this recipe? You betcha! However, this is wild rice, and you're talking a little bit of rice spread on 36 appetizers. When you need a fast, cool, and cheap appetizer, this wins hands down. Since I can't get the image to resize smaller, here's the URL: http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u323/voiceomt2002/Recipes/Recipes--%20Appetizers%20and%20Party%20Foods/LCPinwheelAppetizers.jpg See if you agree with me.

Was I skeptical when I saw rice in this recipe? You betcha! However, this is wild rice, and you're talking a little bit of rice spread on 36 appetizers. When you need a fast, cool, and cheap appetizer, this wins hands down. Since I can't get the image to resize smaller, here's the URL: http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u323/voiceomt2002/Recipes/Recipes--%20Appetizers%20and%20Party%20Foods/LCPinwheelAppetizers.jpg See if you agree with me.

I may have posted this before. If I haven't, I'm sorry. This may be the ultimate bandster food-- ground meat, cheese, and tasty enough to keep feelings of deprivation as a distant memory. Now, I have to admit I've skipped buying different kinds of ground meat and stuck to 2 lbs of ground beef. Sorry, it's cheap! Also, to "dice" the bacon, I cheat and use my kitchen shears. Someone told me to only partially defrost the bacon and chop it then, but I'm not too bright in the morning and handing me a sharp object before noon isn't wise. LOL! Enjoy!

I may have posted this before. If I haven't, I'm sorry. This may be the ultimate bandster food-- ground meat, cheese, and tasty enough to keep feelings of deprivation as a distant memory. Now, I have to admit I've skipped buying different kinds of ground meat and stuck to 2 lbs of ground beef. Sorry, it's cheap! Also, to "dice" the bacon, I cheat and use my kitchen shears. Someone told me to only partially defrost the bacon and chop it then, but I'm not too bright in the morning and handing me a sharp object before noon isn't wise. LOL! Enjoy!

So true. We're food addicts, emotional eaters, etc. We have to face our demons.

I've been substituting cottage cheese mixed with a little Splenda and my choice of flavoring. Now DH can pig on ice cream and I have something in my dessert bowl, too. LOL!

This recipe originated at SavingDinner.com. However, I had to alter some portions of it to make it reasonable for bandsters. I personally encourage the use of the Body Clutter Menus from SavingDinner.com. With minor alterations, most can be used by bandsters. Bandster Slow Poke Jambalaya Serves 6 (If they eat tiny portions. For hungry adults, double this recipe) 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped onion 1-1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato 1 cup chopped celery (or if your band won't take celery, substitute a teaspoon of celery salt) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 T. dried parsley or 2 T. fresh parsley, chopped fine 1 tsp. Dried thyme 1 tsp. Oregano 1/8 tsp. Cayenne pepper (Note: We like it hotter, so we added 1 tsp. Toni Chachere's creole seasoning) ½ tsp. Salt (omit if you used the celery salt) 4 oz. Smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces 8 oz. Boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces (we used 4 pieces of skinned chicken thigh because we didn't have chicken breasts and thighs are cheaper) 2 cups low sodium beef broth (or homemade, as we did) ½ lb. Cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. (DH recommends getting the kind with tails off, but that's up to you. The tails do add flavor, believe it or not, so they're worth the extra trouble) Separate: 1 cup cooked brown rice In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the shrimp and rice. Give it a stir, cover, and cook on low at least 6 hours. Add shrimp and cook for another 20-30 minutes. For non-bandsters, a bit of rice in the bowl, then pour their serving over the top. Bandsters don't get rice. These nutritional values are for a serving with rice: 232 calories 7 g. fat 25g Protein 16g carbohydrates 3g dietary fiber 93 mg cholesterol 474mg sodium

This recipe originated at SavingDinner.com. However, I had to alter some portions of it to make it reasonable for bandsters. I personally encourage the use of the Body Clutter Menus from SavingDinner.com. With minor alterations, most can be used by bandsters. Bandster Slow Poke Jambalaya Serves 6 (If they eat tiny portions. For hungry adults, double this recipe) 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped onion 1-1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato 1 cup chopped celery (or if your band won't take celery, substitute a teaspoon of celery salt) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 T. dried parsley or 2 T. fresh parsley, chopped fine 1 tsp. Dried thyme 1 tsp. Oregano 1/8 tsp. Cayenne pepper (Note: We like it hotter, so we added 1 tsp. Toni Chachere's creole seasoning) ½ tsp. Salt (omit if you used the celery salt) 4 oz. Smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces 8 oz. Boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces (we used 4 pieces of skinned chicken thigh because we didn't have chicken breasts and thighs are cheaper) 2 cups low sodium beef broth (or homemade, as we did) ½ lb. Cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. (DH recommends getting the kind with tails off, but that's up to you. The tails do add flavor, believe it or not, so they're worth the extra trouble) Separate: 1 cup cooked brown rice In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except the shrimp and rice. Give it a stir, cover, and cook on low at least 6 hours. Add shrimp and cook for another 20-30 minutes. For non-bandsters, a bit of rice in the bowl, then pour their serving over the top. Bandsters don't get rice. These nutritional values are for a serving with rice: 232 calories 7 g. fat 25g Protein 16g carbohydrates 3g dietary fiber 93 mg cholesterol 474mg sodium

While my personal life is still a bit of a mess with DH still out of work, I finally stopped stress eating. My daughter has provided all the buddy system I needed, and I've begun to drop weight again. It's been funny. The jeans I loved and carefully altered to fit me at my top weight dropped off my butt a month ago. LOL! They now reside on my sewing table, sans the added material, waiting for tailoring to my new size. As of this morning, I weight 228 lbs, a size I've not seen in over ten years. I've lost almost 60 lbs in six months! Despite minor health issues left over from carrying around all that bulk for so many years, I'm fit as a fiddle. I don't think about walking around a grocery store whereas once it was an onerous and painful journey just to buy groceries. Do I have skin batwings on my arms and resemble a Shar Pei puppy? You betcha! I'll have to get pictures of my garden, once the heat advisory here in Florida breaks. For now, it's Father's Day. We're having Jambalaya, and I have no worries. (No, I won't eat the rice! LOL!) Yes, after I've checked out this new recipe and made bandster adjustments, I'll post it. Lena

Glad you liked the Cioppino, ImaLuckyDog! The jambalaya will post in a few hours.

I'm not an inspiration, BG. In fact, I've had a bit of a rough time, with a couple of months of barely losing five pounds. I've faced many issues like learning the band doesn't solve personal issues like stress eating. I'm still in the "obese" range as far as the medical community is concerned. (sigh) And I still have all those weight-related co-morbidities to solve, though some like blood sugar issues and high cholesterol have gone away. I"m learning the band is no miracle cure, but getting it has been the turning point I can look back to and say, "I made the decision and took my fate in my own hands."

Next week is one of those weeks that will test me and my band. Two of my daughters and two of my grandchildren will live here with DH, Dante, and myself. Our grocery bill just doubled. Thank goodness, it's only temporary. However, in the meantime, I must return to dollar-stretching meals like casseroles, shepherd's pie, pot pies, lasagna, chili, and stews. Fortunately, there are low-carb and band-friendly solutions to these problem recipes. I'll start with the one everyone quite rightly fears-- lasagna. This is a challenge, with its layers of pasta. However, there is a solution, and fortunately, it's available right now. Zuchinni! Yep, the ol' zukes, sliced lenthwise on my mandoline (v-slicer, not the musical instrument) become thin, flexible substitutes for the thick, gooey pasta for even cheaper! Hooray! Notice that the recipe I posted is already not really a BAD one for carbs at 27g per serving. By using a few slabs of zuke on one end (one corner does the trick), I can have the same sauce, cheese, and deliciousness as my family with no feelings of deprivation or extra work making two meals. (I am not a masochist!) I'd love to buy one of those ceramic pie birds to mark which end is mine, but until then cutting into the lasagna and serving whatever appears on the correct plate is fine. Cut in one end and find pasta? That's the family's side. Find zukes? Mine! LOL! Yep, I'm looking forward to this.

KayVee, right click on any recipe you like. Your computer should give a popup screen. Choose "Save As" and save to whereever you like on your computer.

Thanks Lucky and Delivered! That Jambalaya worked very well. In fact, I'm going to recommend doubling the recipe for a family of four. Stay tuned.

My daughter (DD3) has moved in with us. She's 24, and hadn't been able to find work in her field in Denver. Hence a desperation flight to us filled with hope. Since she works in the same fields as my DH, we have hope they'll motivate each other. DD3 has another motivational point in her favor. Like me, she tends to be overweight. She's 5'10" and weighed a couple of pounds more than I did when she arrived. Immediately, she saw the benefits of dieting with me on the buddy system. We've each lost four pounds! Woohoo! This is going to work!

My daughter (DD3) has moved in with us. She's 24, and hadn't been able to find work in her field in Denver. Hence a desperation flight to us filled with hope. Since she works in the same fields as my DH, we have hope they'll motivate each other. DD3 has another motivational point in her favor. Like me, she tends to be overweight. She's 5'10" and weighed a couple of pounds more than I did when she arrived. Immediately, she saw the benefits of dieting with me on the buddy system. We've each lost four pounds! Woohoo! This is going to work!

Love that last picture, BG! LOL!!

ROTFLMAO!!! Girlfriend, you have no idea how much I needed that laugh. Thank you!

::Raising my hand:: I know darn well why I'm not losing weight and it has nothing to do with the band. It's my fault I'm being a naughty bandster. I'm trying to correct the problem despite the saboteurs who eat naughty foods in front of me, but I'm not saying they put a gun to my temple and made me eat the stuff, either. It's called personal responsibility.

Hi Kathy, Here's a link to all my recipes: Pictures by voiceomt2002 - Photobucket To copy any one of my recipes like the too-small Lasagne recipe, simply right click on it and "Save as" to your computer. Then you can click on it on your own computer and it will appear in a larger size. The numbers are calories and carbs. My doctor, the wonderful Dr. Michael Baptista, prefers that his patients monitor both calories and carbs, even after surgery. So, I went through all my cookbooks and wrote those numbers prominently. (I'm 50, and after so many hours in front of a computer writing, my eyesight isn't good.) I'm still compiling the cookbook. Upon occasion, the original recipe needs minor alterations. For instance, tonight DH and I have altered a Crock Swiss Steak recipe. The original was bland and the large chunks called for in the recipe made me have a nasty PB. However, we decided it was worth a second attempt, since the meat itself was tender and the one-step cooking method a delight to a busy working person like myself. Coming up this week is an altered version of Shepherd's Pie, Chicken Pot Pie, and Chicken and Dumplings. These "feed a crowd on a budget" recipes only require minor reworking, with the dumplings being the biggest challenge. (DH just dramatically put a hand over his heart and swore to sacrifice his taste buds in the name of good eats for bandsters. LOL!)

Good for you, sweetie!! Rock on!

Next week is one of those weeks that will test me and my band. Two of my daughters and two of my grandchildren will live here with DH, Dante, and myself. Our grocery bill just doubled. Thank goodness, it's only temporary. However, in the meantime, I must return to dollar-stretching meals like casseroles, shepherd's pie, pot pies, lasagna, chili, and stews. Fortunately, there are low-carb and band-friendly solutions to these problem recipes. I'll start with the one everyone quite rightly fears-- lasagna. This is a challenge, with its layers of pasta. However, there is a solution, and fortunately, it's available right now. Zuchinni! Yep, the ol' zukes, sliced lenthwise on my mandoline (v-slicer, not the musical instrument) become thin, flexible substitutes for the thick, gooey pasta for even cheaper! Hooray! Notice that the recipe I posted is already not really a BAD one for carbs at 27g per serving. By using a few slabs of zuke on one end (one corner does the trick), I can have the same sauce, cheese, and deliciousness as my family with no feelings of deprivation or extra work making two meals. (I am not a masochist!) I'd love to buy one of those ceramic pie birds to mark which end is mine, but until then cutting into the lasagna and serving whatever appears on the correct plate is fine. Cut in one end and find pasta? That's the family's side. Find zukes? Mine! LOL! Yep, I'm looking forward to this.

This looks like dessert to me! I haven't got any granola bars, but I'll be a sprinkle of nuts would work with less carbs. Pumpkin & Granola Parfait 1 serving View Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 container (6-ounces) plain low-fat yogurt 2 teaspoons honey (I subbed Splenda) 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice 1 whole-grain crunchy granola bar, crumbled 1/2 cup canned pumpkin Directions Mix together yogurt, honey and pumpkin-pie spice. In a bowl, layer yogurt mixture, granola-bar crumbs and pumpkin. Delicious! This isn't cheating! Woohoo! Okay, be reasonable! 1/2 cup is plenty