Staying healthy daily...

Shelly's Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake...

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Shelly's Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake (aka Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties™)

1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk)
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Chocolate Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoon Peanut Flour (aka PB2, aka defatted Powdered Peanut Butter)
2-3 cubes of Ice

Whiz in blender till smooth. Top with a squirt Sugar Free Land o Lakes Whipped Cream and shaving of SF Chocolate, optional.

Protein Snack...

Found Sugar Free Chocolate Chips...decided to try this snack, yummy!

August 18th...

Went to my 1 month check up, lost 13 more pounds. Talked about wanting more energy, exercising 5 days a week, more water and more protein. Goal right now is try to lose 30 lbs. in next 2 months! I can do it!

Today's Work:

Chickens cage cleaned-thanks to my boys.
Area swept up- thanks to Carson.
Peaches peeled- thanks all minions. I sliced and froze peaches.
Peeled oranges for vinegar spray.
Did a mound of dirty dishes.

Now to make more homemade laundry soap and other homemade items.
Then, knitting. Chicken is in crock pot for supper.

Amanda's husband, Sean Ironmonger, sews these amazing project bags. 

His Etsy shop is: The Guy Who Sews. This one was a gift. I love the chicken theme!!! 

If she is a he what do I do next? I love my chickens, but sadly can not have a rooster.

My daughter is always beautiful. I love this red color Lauren!!!

Pumpkin Protein Bar Recipe...

Downloading Healthy Protein packed recipes! Going to make Jamie Eason's Protein Pumpkin Bars tomorrow, after I pick up some Xylitol first. Hoping they freeze well, because I can't eat them yet....


Jamie Eason’s Pumpkin Protein Bars

Nutrition (without walnuts): 1 square = 47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g protein
Nutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein




½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal)
1 - 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 ½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. ground clove
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 large egg whites
1 - 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin
2 C oat flour
2 scoops vanilla whey protein
½ cup almond milk
½ C chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
1.      Preheat the oven to 350.
2.      Spray a 9 X 13 Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.
3.      Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.
4.      Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated. Spread batter into the Pyrex dish and bake for 30 min.
5.      Makes 24 squares.

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yesterday stuff...

Went to Olde Towne in the morning and bought some fresh blueberries (making frozen yogurt blueberries). Then, Dar and Wendy picked me up and we went to Starbucks for coffee and chit chat. Weather was gorgeous, so we sat outside and gabbed away!

 

 

Thank You Dar for my GORGEOUS shawl in my favorite color

and for the Somerset Life and adorable a Pug card! You made my day

My Protein Coffee Shake!!!

 

After WLS- Eating Out...

The best way to keep complete control of your diet is to cook meals at home, and for this reason, you should prepare your own food as often as possible after weight loss surgery. However, all of us sometimes find ourselves eating in a restaurant, and it is almost always possible to do so without straying from the guidelines of your bariatric diet.
When you find yourself dining out after bariatric surgery, keeping tips like these in mind will help you choose something that meets your dietary needs:

1. Browse the menu online.

These days, many restaurants post full menus on their websites. If you know the restaurant you’re going to, head online before you go to look for something that will work for you.

2. Check the whole menu.

Don’t limit yourself to the entrees—you may find a healthier option in the appetizer menu. Though the small portions of the kids’ menu may seem sensible, these items are often too high in calories and fat to be good choices.

3. Pick protein first.

Make sure that whatever you order will have both protein and nutritious vegetables, and remember to eat your foods by order of their importance:

• Three bites of protein first
• Two bites of non-starchy vegetables
• One bite of carbohydrate

4. Stick with what you know.

Some foods may unexpectedly cause discomfort when you try them for the first time after weight loss surgery. Choose something you’ve eaten recently without trouble to make sure your body will be able to tolerate what you order.

5. Watch for high-fat buzzwords.

When you see one of these terms, it generally means that fat has been added:

• Battered
• Fried
• Crispy
• Sautéed
• Cheese sauce
• Butter sauce
• Hollandaise sauce

For duodenal switch patients, who will need to eat more fat after surgery, not all of these terms will need to be avoided. However, “battered,” “fried” and “crispy” are all good indicators that a food contains trans fats, which will need to be avoided after DS surgery.
For those who have had gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or gastric banding, it’s a good idea to steer clear of the terms above and instead look for low-fat terms like:

• Broiled
• Poached
• Roasted
• Steamed
• Charbroiled
• Dry grilled

6. Swap for healthier options.

Look for ways to make healthier food substitutions whenever possible. For example, if your meal comes with a side of French fries, ask if you can swap them out for steamed vegetables.

7. Share a meal.

Splitting your order with someone else is an easy way to cut down portion size.

8. Order sauces on the side.

If your food comes with a sauce or dressing, ask your server to put it on the side instead of directly onto your food. This way, you can determine how much to put on.

9. Get a to-go box immediately.

The portion sizes at any restaurant will be too big for you to eat in a single sitting. Ask your server to pack up half of your meal in a to-go box before it arrives to limit the amount of food on your plate.

10. Avoid pre-meal snacks.

Many restaurants serve bread or tortilla chips before a meal, but these will fill up your limited stomach space with low-nutrition carbohydrates. Skip them and wait for the entrée.

By keeping tips like these in mind, you can have a healthy, worry-free night out at any restaurant.

(taken from Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas)

Post Op appointment...

Dr. Fontana is tickled by my success so far. He said I lost 14 lbs since HE has had me as a patient on my liquid diet and realized how much I lost before even seeing him. (36 total). He said in 6 months I should be at 1/2 my Goal Weight and in 10-12 months...GOAL!!!

He said I can start driving again, exercise 15 mins a day for a week, then bump it up each week until I am at 45 minutes. I am now o...n Stage 3: soft foods and start protein drinks for breakfast other 2 meals protein is to come from food. Eat tiny bites, slowly. Start on white fish. Chicken can start next week. Increase H2O! Back on vitamins too and Gall Bladder meds.

Oh, and allergies seem so much better! Yay me! I go back in 3 weeks.

Happy and feeling Fabulous!

July 12th-18th...

12th- Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes!I am relaxing in my Lazy Boy, sleeping mostly, taken a few small sips of water here and there. Pain meds help, but also make me sleepy.

13th- out like a light all day!

14th- Still working on recouping. Still on pain meds. Happy and blessed to have a husband who is a wonderful 'attendant' and not complaining. Friday is my post op appointment. Thank you for all these birthday wishes and recovery wishes.

15th- Feeling a tad better. Sponge bath helped, but I'm back in pjs. Stomach is super tender. Need more water today, because dehydration comes on fast! Not liking Pepcid since I have to take it crushed!!! Tired of liquids. HUNGRY!

16th-Walked upstairs by myself this morning...progress! Feeling better each day. Missing my weekly activities: gardening, canning, Farmers Market Auctions, Knitting w/ friends, crafting, Thrift Store shopping, Summer Activities w/ the minions....

17th- Making my grocery list for Stage 3 that starts tomorrow once I see my Doctor for my post op visit. Funny how my taste buds have changed. Soooo looking forward to being able to try some more normal foods again. I know I have to take it slow though, gosh- even a larger swallow of water can hurt.

18th- Lost another 5 pounds as of Monday. Will find out tomorrow how much more since then.

Surgery Day- July 10th....

 

Almost ready. Waiting for Anesthesia.

 

Looking very Loopy AFTER Surgery...woah!

 

Hey, Lala...it worked!!!!!

 

The entire surgery was easy peasy.
The Hospital Staff,
My Surgeon,
the Anesthesiologist,
the Nurses
...everyone rocked!

But I don't remember when I was on pain meds,
So very sorry Zoe and Pop and Megan, Ro and John!!!

July 9th, Getting ready for surgery...

Tomorrow is Surgery Day...

Chillin'. Drinking Coffee. Surfing Pinterest.

Tomorrow I go in to the hospital for Bariatric Surgery.

started the liquid diet July 3rd...

So far I have lost approx. 25 lbs. on my own and should lose some more this week, since I'm on the pre-op liquid diet.
(20-30 grams protein, but spread amongst 3 liquid meals).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

They gave me 4 stages of foods:

1st stage- all done in the hospital, basically liquids only after they test everything out for leaks, etc...
(no real protein).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

2nd stage-Liquids, Dairy, adding Protein Powders, Cream of Wheat, grits, unsweetened oatmeal. No fruits or veggies. Do this until 1st week post op visit.
(60 plus grams protein daily).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

3rd stage-Adding eggs, fish, poultry, lean deli meats, non-fat refried beans, vegetarian soy products, black bean burgers, low fat cheeses, peanut butter, hummus, etc..Introducing No sugar added fruits. Can have unsweetened applesauce, small banana, and Non-Starch, Non-Stringy Soft cooked veggies. Do this for 3 weeks.
(60 plus grams protein daily).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

4th stage- same as stage 3, and Adding whole grains, whole wheat pasta, fruits and veggies (after 2 months into stage 4), and then follow through with healthy small portions rest of my life.
(60 plus grams protein daily).
64 oz. plus liquid daily.

Got the CALL!!!!!!....

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Surgery has been scheduled!

Tomorrow, July 1st-
I have another class and more labs
...
Wed., July 2nd-
I have DR. Fontana's PreSurgery physical

Thurs., July 3rd-
I go on my liquid diet & stop all vitamins

and.....
Thurs., July 10th- MY SURGERY!
(2 days before my birthday)!

I'll either be in the hospital or coming home from the hospital on my birthday and I don't care, because I am stoked I am finally having surgery!!!!!!

 

 

June 13th...

Class was great! They gave us dumb bells and a pedometer to keep. Had lunch afterwards at Chipotle and got fitted for a pair of Brooks at Running Etc.

close to surgery...

Update Weight Loss Surgery info...

Dr. Fontana thinks I'll do better w/ the Gastric Sleeve instead of the Bypass. He said they generally use Bypass for patients with Diabetes and/or High Cholesterol and I have neither. He said I have a few classes to attend and then they can schedule a surgery date.

BTW...I lost 5 more pounds!

1.) Information Session for Sentara -done (had that tonight!)
2.) Insurance Program Fee $195 (Chesapeake didn't have this) and Appointment w/ new Surgeon- calling in the morning
3.) Medical Studies- done
4.) Education Programs- alt...hough done via Chesapeake, I now have to go through Sentara's programs...ugh!
5.) Pre- Auth for Surgery- as soon as they call
6.) Pre- Surgical Visit- as soon as they call

Got the classes booked. Will be all done June 13th
and wait for the pre-op call and surgery date!

 

No Regrets now~

Surgery stuff...

Now that I have to make the switch to Norfolk General instead of Chesapeake General...here's what's added on my TO DO list BEFORE they will schedule me for my surgery.

1.) Information Session for Sentara -done (had that tonight!)
2.) Insurance Program Fee $195 (Chesapeake didn't have this) and Appointment w/ new Surgeon- calling in the morning
3.) Medical Studies- done
4.) Education Programs- alt...hough done via Chesapeake, I now have to go through Sentara's programs...ugh!
5.) Pre- Auth for Surgery- as soon as they call
6.) Pre- Surgical Visit- as soon as they call

IF they are kind to me and give me early Doctor appointments and get ALL my paperwork from Chesapeake General, Docs, etc... I should be ready early June...otherwise it could take MONTHS! One good note: The Psych is the SAME person I have already seen...whew!!!!

Rant in Session...

WARNING:

RANT IN SESSION------------------>>>>>>

Been on the phone ALL morning (and still on my phone), making phone calls regarding switching my surgery over to Sentara now, since Chesapeake didn't have a clue as to what was going on fo...r the last 2 months!!!

I had to contact:

1. Psychologist-for record of evaluation
2. GYN- for Pap Smear and Colonoscopy test results
3. Mid Atlantic Imaging- for Mammogram results
4. Set Life -for a 2 month REFUND ($88) for now not using their facilities for exercise AFTER surgery- which Sentara will more than likely have me use their facility instead.

Still waiting on GYN and SET LIFE to call me back.....argh!!!!
Have to make a run to the Post Office and stop by the store to pick up a few things....do not want to take phone calls from Docs during these errands, since all my paperwork is on my desk. Come on people! Call Back!!!!

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