Appreciation

I'm learning what that word means when it comes to food. Before I would enjoy flavors of things but not as often as I could have or should have. The reason I bring this up is because on my journey I'm not only learning moderation when it comes to food, but I'm seriously learning to appreciate the taste of foods. Case in point is my snack just now. Now, keep in mind it wasn't the best choice, but I wanted it and allowed myself to have it with no guilt.




The package out of the vending machine had 2 in it.
I had HALF of one, and the flavor was so amazing. I was craving yellow cake with chocolate icing and it hit the spot 100%. I took small bites and really enjoyed the flavors and by the time I was done, it didn't matter at all that the other half and other full cupcake were given to a co-worker. I was full and content and had a delicious taste in my mouth.

So here is a big KUDOS to appreciating and savoring the flavors of things.

What did that say??

Good morning and Happy Monday ladies (and gents if there are any reading). It's weigh in day and I had to do it 3 times before I believed the scale. I lost 5 pounds this week!!!! I'm sure some of it was being sick, but I'll take it. My jeans are getting so loose that I can pull them down without having to undo them at all. My bras are too big and my shirts aren't straining across my belly roll like they were a month ago. I'm kinda having a hard time realizing that this is really happening. I mean, I know I had the band, but I've never experienced this kind of loss before so it's kinda surreal. So, go me and my 5 lbs!! That's 22 lbs since surgery 5 weeks ago. :::shaking my head::::

I'm still sick and it's worse than we thought 2 weeks ago when the dr. did the check up on me. I have pneumonia AND bronchitis and he put me on a steroid inhaler that makes me so nauseated I can barely function, and some antibiotic with sulfur in it which also makes me sick. Ugh! I just want to be able to sleep without pain and breathe without choking to death.

My mom moved out of my house this weekend into her own place. I'm so excited for her and this new page in her life, but I'm sad, jealous and lonely already. I'm a mama's girl thru and thru and she is my best friend and it's hitting me really hard. Instead of going into her room to chat once Peyton was in bed last night, I wandered thru the house and eventually went to bed with no one to talk to. :( Her place looks great tho, all new paint and the furniture is set up and looking wonderful. We thought Peyton would have a hard time, and so far he has done great because we are leaving the bedroom door open so he can see her room empty and know she isn't there. I'm sure once he gets in trouble with us, or doesn't want to go to bed one night and startings screaming for Nana, then it will click and hurt for him. I'm hoping and praying that just doesn't happen.

Ok, it's monday, I'm at work and for some strange reason, this 5 lb loss, partnered with my yummy breakfast sandwich and full strength coffee, I'm ready to work and get this work day over with.
Have a great day! Muwah :*

Pictures

Ok, here is my hair with blonde and red highlights.




And now dark...






Opinions???????

Also, my pedi from last night. You can't see them, but there are little crystals in the middle of the flowers.

Food Monster

Who is that woman walking thru the office looking for chocolate? Who is the woman with the forever growling stomach? Oh yeah... it's ME! WTF?! Auntie Flo is kicking my ass and taking names right now. I was soooo hungry all damn day yesterday it was unreal. I'm not meaning like head hunger, I mean growling stomach and pains hungry. So what did I do? For the first time in my life, I fed myself when I was hungry and only till I was full. YAY! I still felt like a pig-whale (made up word i use a lot). Here is what I chomped on all day yesterday, let me know what you think.

B- 2 eggs w/ cheese
S-mini caramel rice cakes
L- healthy choice lunch
S- more rice cakes
S- handful of almonds
S- white cheddar cheezits
D- 3 honey BBq & 3 regular chicken nuggets, 2 fried green tomato slices
S- chocolate covered blackberry, glass of milk.

Holy shit batman. I swear with every ounce of my ass that I only ate when I was hungry. I'm guessing my body is like, i'm working hard here to produce this monthly flo, feed me? LOL

So today I feel more in check and I packed my lunch bag accordingly.
B- 2 slices jennie-o turkey breast, 2 boiled eggs, coffee
s- no sugar added yogurt, string cheese
L- healthy choice lunch
S- peanut butter protein bar
D- broiled fish w/ rice

Ok, enough food talk for now. I'm going to post some pics tonight of my new hair. I'll try to find a before with all the blonde in it so you can see the difference and tell me what you think. My BFF and I are going to dinner and to get pedi's tonight, so you just may get a photo of my cute Flinstone feet as well.
Have a great day!

Delish!

I just had this for lunch. I'm full, it was yummy and the nutritional info is good in my eye anyway.It was a great balance of carbs, protein, veggies and dessert. My local store has them 5 for $10, I'm going to get more tonight!



Calories-340
Total Fat (9 g) 14%
Saturated Fat (2 g) 10%
Trans Fat (0 g)
Cholesterol (25 mg) 8%
Sodium (530 mg) 22%
Vitamin A 6%
Calcium 15%
Total Carbohydrates (49 g) 16%
Dietary Fiber (8 g) 32%
Sugar (15 g)
Protein (16 g)
Vitamin C (50%)
Iron (10%)

Where does a month go?

Morning my beloved blog readers. It’s Monday and I’m back at work for the first time since being in bed all last week with pneumonia. My lungs feel weak, I’m sooo sore from coughing and the dust in my office isn’t helping. Ok, just wanted to get that bitching out of the way. LOL
Today was weigh in day and I was down 1 pound. Aunt Flo came on Saturday so I was expecting my first gain, but still had a loss so I’m happy with that. My mom and I did take my one month measurements last night and OMG I was excited. Some areas changed, others didn’t but that’s to be expected. I had a all over loss of 8 inches, BUT my girls (BOOBIES) went from 67 inches (from nipple around the back) to 55 inches. WTF?? I could tell my cup size had gone down but DAMN GINA! (Old Martin reference for those who didn’t get it, lol) I want to lose my double chin and my belly roll, not my nice breasts. Oh well I guess, it comes with the territory. I want to buy a VS bra like you ladies have been doing, but I think I'm still too big around the chest to do that. Don't they only go up to like 40? I'm still a 44. Hmmm


I can’t believe it’s been a month since surgery. I’m still having some pain around the port area if my pants sit weird, and I’ve only had 2 PB episodes, so I guess it’s been successful so far. I’m still not eating white bread or steak but I’m being careful with everything else and it’s working. I had my first bratwurst since surgery yesterday and OMG it was heavenly. My family was shocked that I could eat it, they kept asking me if I was full. LOL
Work is calling, so I’ll update again tonight. Toodles!

Pneumonia

Yes ladies, I have pneumonia. After almost a full day of chest x-rays and a long visit with my primary Dr. I was diagnosed with it. This would explain why I've been hacking my lungs and other innards out since surgery. Thankfully it's the walking kind where there is no fever to put me in the hospital, but bad enough that I'm in bed with heavy duty medicine and a inhaler. I can't seem to breathe enough to get into deep sleep so I'm frickin exhausted. I haven't felt this terrible in such a long time and I *hate* being out of commission like this, not in control. Ugh!
Just wanted to update. My bed is calling me and my eyes are burning from lack of sleep. I will catch up on all of your blogs soon, promise!

xoxo

First Milestone

It's Monday ladies. Normally for me that would mean a crazy morning of getting the guys ready, followed by a hurried shower and a fast drive to work. However this morning I was greeted with a surprisingly calm morning. I went to do my morning bathroom business and remembered that it was weigh in day. So out came my beautiful glass scale and naked as the day I was born, on I went. 3 tries later I was crying and calling for my husband. What did it say? Was I still asleep? Did it REALLY say I was 299? Did it really tell me on this calm Monday morning that I would NEVER again have a 3 at the beginging of my weight? Holy shit Batman! My mom and I jumped on her bed and I cried and felt calm and successful. Total weight loss is 17 pounds ladies. 17 pounds that after 5 years of doing Weight Watchers and every diet under the sun, I was not able to lose. So regardless of the downpour on the way to work, I had a pep in my step that hasn't been there for awhile. Go me, go me, go me! And thank you Dr. Scott for doing a great job!

Speaking of the Dr. (well kinda), my last bit of surgical sutures came off last night so my belly button is 100% healed (here I come swimming pool). Most of my bruising is gone and other than some port pain when I wear jeans, I'm feeling good.
I did have a PB issue yesterday after attempting to enjoy some refried beans from taco bell. It wasn't the beans that did it, it was the extra red sauce I had them add to kick up the flavor. Well my pouch didn't like the spices apparently and about a hour later I was in agony in the bathroom. One ginormous PB later, and I was passed out with my burning throat on my bed. Good Times!

Here is my food for today..so far.

B- 2 eggs, 1/2 english muffin w/ laughing cow cheese
s- 1/2 english muffin w/ laughing cow cheese
L- 3 mini slices of pork roast w/ sugar free BBQ sauce, mini cup unsweet applesauce
S- 2 bites worth chocolate pudding
D-?

Apparently my body isn't ready for white bread or tortillas yet. I seem to do ok with cornbread, english muffins and crackers. Chicken hasn't been a issue, neither has tuna or fish or hamburger. I'm not ready to try steak yet, but you can bet your booty that I'm having at least part of a bratwurst for labor day with some mustard.

The other night my sister and I went to the movies to see The Time Travelers Wife, which was so good. She got popcorn without butter and I had about 4 kernals and just didn't want anymore. Weird. She also got me a cherry ICEE and I had about half before feeling nauseated and stopping. It was my first non piggie experience at the movies. YAY!

Ok, I think I've rambled enough today. They just raised our quotas at work today so I better get on the ball so I can keep the job I love.

Toodles!

Sick, weight and AMAZING RECIPE!

Hello ladies. Sorry it's been a bit since I posted last. I've been feeling like a steaming piece of dog shit the last few days and haven't felt like posting at all.
This morning however, I feel up to doing a update, so here I am.

Since surgery (3 weeks ago today) I have had a nasty deep chest cough. I used my little breathing thing they sent me home with and succeeded with that, but still couldn't get the hacking and little green phlegm balls to stop coming up every 2 seconds. This past wednesday I called the exchange at 9pm because I wasn't even able to keep food down because I would start coughing and puke. They said to try Mucinex for that night and yesterday and see if it helped clear it up. Um....no. It helped get the stuff up and out, but didn't subside the coughing at all. I called them this morning and am waiting for a call back. Wednesday night the dr mentioned doing a CT scan today to check for pnumonia, so I guess that's what I'm sitting around waiting for the call back on. Ugh! All I want at this point is a good night's sleep without breathing and coughing over and over. End of rant.... :)

I know my weigh in day is Monday morning, but with being sick and not being great about my amount of food intake, I wanted to see how I was doing and I was down another 2 lbs! I'm not going to record it because I'm still waiting for Monday morning, but in just one pound, I will have gotten into a different number range. I know that is vague, but for the people I know IRL that read this, I don't want to say the number just yet. You know what?? Screw that. I'm sure the peeps that read it love me anyway, so let's go balls to the wall and say it. I was 300 this morning. In just one pound I will be in the 2's, something I havent been for over 2 years and I'm so fucking excited that I'm cursing (SORRY)! So there it is peeps, love it or leave it, but PLEASE don't spread it around. :P

I have another recipe that I tried and made me tear up in delight. It's a quiche recipe (not Amy's, sorry I didn't like that texture) and it's AMAZING! Here it is, you HAVE to try this....
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Deep Dish Quiche

1 deep dish pie crust, thawed but raw
4 eggs
1 cup half n half (i used fat free)
1/2 cup parmesean cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
bacon bits and chopped deli ham (use whatever meat you like here, diced really small)
veggies (i sauteed zuchinni and mushrooms in olive oil with garlic)

Preheat to 400 degrees.
Sautee veggies.
Layer in this order. Meat, cheddar cheese, veggies.
Mix together eggs, half n half and parmesean cheese and pour mixture on top evenly.
Bake on a cookie sheet for 35 mins then let set on stove top for 10.

AMAZING! I had a 1/4 for lunch and a 1/8 for breakfast. It reheats wonderfully and all the flavors together are just wonderful. I got the pie crusts at the store in a two pack so I'll be making it again this weekend with different meat and veggies. Please let me know if you make this. It was super easy and super delicious.
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Vitamins-Just a quick note on them. I read rave reviews for the Celebrate chewables so I bought them in Cafe Latte flavor because i like coffee. I am a big puss about taking pills so I haven't been and thought it might help me get better faster from this chest thing. Um...can we saw NASTY? I knew ya could. OMG! My mom stood by with a trash can and I had a watery mouth after chewing that nasty ass thing. It was like coffee grounds in my mouth and the aftertase was worse. I had to chase the flavor with a glass of milk. Yuck! So I went to the pharmacy and got a multi vitamin for her liqua-gel tab, got those suckers home and they are HUGE! I mean, horse pill huge. But at least they have the same vitamin equivalent to the chewables. I took one this morning, it hurt going down but didn't get stuck or make me puke, so I will take these for now. If anyone is interested in the rest of the $40 bottle of chewables please let me know. The seal is broken but I only ate one and didn't tamper. Just comment and they are yours.

Now I'm sitting around, playing online and waiting for the Dr to call back with whatever orders they have. Pray for the best if you pray.

Love ya's!

Recipe!

I made these for dinner last night and they were heavenly. I topped them with a small dab of sour cream and devoured two for dinner. Enjoy!

Parmesan Tuna Patties

Ingredients:
1 (6 oz) can light tuna
1 tablespoon reduced fat mayonnaise
1 large egg or 1/4c egg substitute
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
¼ c. breadcrumbs (i used Italian)
1 dash garlic powder
1 dash salt & pepper

Directions:
Drain tuna. Blend all ingredients in a medium size bowl and form into patties. (1/4 cup/patty) Fry in oil (I use olive oil, but you may use cooking spray) until brown on edges. Turn. Fry until done.

Recipe makes 4 patties.
Per patty: 89 calories, 11.5 grams protein, 5 grams fat
Made w/ egg substitute: 78.5 calories/11.5 grams protein/3.5 grams fat

Weigh in, back to work and OUCH!

Hello! Today was my first day back to work since surgery. Good Lord am I T-I-R-E-D. Seriously. I knew it was going to be hard for several reasons. One, I was used to snacking all day long at work and ordering yummy lunches with the gang. Two, I didn't require a nap before surgery. And three, I so underpacked my lunch that I was starving by 4pm, had a teaspoon of peanut butter and was VIOLENTLY sick when I got home at 5.
I stood over the sink with spit running out of my mouth (sliming im assuming?), while my stomach did this contracting thing and I burped and gagged alot. Then it was all over. Out came the peanut butter along with some not so tasty stomach acid and some of the tea I had drank right after lunch. My throat was burning, my nose was running and my poor little boy was at the door saying "Mommy, you gonna make it?" and being totally serious. I have read a LOT about post op stuff and knew what to expect, but this was intense. My mom was all concerned and apologetic and my response was?? "Well mom, of everything I've attempted, that is the ONLY thing to make me sick so far, so I'll take it" Good attitude right? Tell that to my bleeding throat and my sore abs. LOL

Anywhoooo. I had my weigh in today and I was down 1 pound. Normally I would be like WTF??? But really, with the addition of somewhat solid foods I expected a small loss, and in staying in a positive frame of mind, at least it was a loss and not a gain. So I'm down 14 lbs since surgery and people at work today said they could tell. I think they were just being nice, but hey I'll let 'em.

I'm not posting any pics of the two shirts I got at WalMart saturday because really, they aren't anything to write about. Just something to replace a couple of short sleeve stained shirts I was wearing pre-op, and cheap $10 shirts that don't flatter at all. They just cover the massiveness (word?) that is my chest and keep my belly roll from dominating the view from the front.

My in laws are here for their weekly visit (oh joy...blech...LOL) so I need to go "spend time with them". I'm going to try making the quiche again tonight, with milk this time Amy :) I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Toodles.

Help!

Am I eating too much? I feel like it, but don't get that sick or uncomfortable feeling at all when I eat. I'm being paranoid and promise to get over it soon. LOL
Here is what I had yesterday.

B- 2 scrambled eggs w/ cheese, 1 turkey sausage patty(small)
L- 2 oz grilled salmon, 2 grilled shrimp, 1/4 cup mashed potatoes w/ sour cream
D- 2 oz hamburger patty, 2 grilled shrimp, 1/4 c mashed potatoes w/ sour cream

????

Shopping...

So my BFF Beth and I are going to go clothes shopping today for her kids for school. We plan to hit Kohls and maybe even WalMart. She and I are the same size right now and like shopping together for clothes because if something doesn't fit well on one of us, or doesn't look good, it usually flatters the other one. I'm more hourglass shaped and she is more of a apple shaped. I'd love to have her legs, they are muscular and look great in shorts. Anyways...I've decided since I'm going back to work this Monday, that I want at least one, if not two new shirts for work. I wear the same old 5 or 6 tshirt/polo style shirts each week and just rotate days and it's getting kinda old. Also I know the peeps at work are expecting me to come back looking fabulous so I better look at least a little different right? :)
When I get home later I will take pics of what I get (if anything) and post again.

P.S I really want some eggs right now but I just had a big cup of coffee and can't eat yet. Does this get easier? This whole, not drinking and eating at the same time thing? I really thought the lack of soda would do it, but nope, it's this. Ugh!

Oink Oink

I feel like a total pig. I feel like I ate all day long. And really ladies,in all reality,I didn't eat half of what I normally would have pre surgery. The reason I say this is because of the amounts of what I ate and could eat today. I'm sure if my band slipped I would have known, but I have to be honest that I'm kind of worried.
This is what I pigged on today.

B-2 scrambled eggs w/cheese, 2 slices deli turkey
L- 1 cup mashed potatoes w/cheese and sour cream
D- 1/2 c. pulled pork w/ bbq sauce(i know,i know), 3 bites of mac n cheese
S- small handful of cheddar pretzles (the dry cheese kind by Rold Gold)
S- 1/2 c more of pulled pork w/ bbq sauce

Can you say OINK? All together now. Good Lord in heaven. I ate so much today. The scary part for me is that I only ate when I felt hunger pains and ate till I felt comfortably full. I also know I'm eating out of my phase and that is probably a really bad thing to do, but in my mind, if I can keep it down and don't go crazy, why not?

I need advice, words of wisdom, or even a bitch slap to get me back on some kind of track. Anyone? Anyone? Buehler???

Playing dress up...

Ok so I was thinking today about how a year from now I want to wear a little black dress and some killer heels and go out with the girls and just look fabulous. I have NEVER worn a little black dress and havent worn a dress in public at all since my wedding and that was a long dress that covered the nastiness that is my legs.
So here is what I found that fit my fantasy, just thought I'd share it.




It has a deep V in the front and in the back and has rhinestones around the waist. It's only $32.99 on amazon.com.


Shoes $62.99 on amazon.com


Opinions????

First group meeting

Howdy! I had my first group support meeting thru the weight loss institute at my hospital and I have to say, I really liked it. I met some wonderful people and seeing them at all stages was great. The average weight loss for 6 months was about 70 lbs. I'll take it!! :)

Not much else going on today so I'll post my food journal and get off here.

B-Nothing. Really tight feeling.
L- 1/2 c leftover chili w/ sour cream
S- some cheezits
D- 1/2 cup mashed potatoes and 2 slices deli turkey

I've had about 60 oz of water today and forgot to take my vitamin until just now.
Goodnight all, I'm stuffed from dinner and ready for sleep. Now if I could just get my 3 yr old to stop screeching and into bed I'd be gravy.

Food Journal for Tuesday

Just popping in for my food journal for my first full day of phase 2.

B- Coffee w/ sugar free creamer, 1 scrambled egg w/ slice of colby jack
L- String cheese
S-Mini soft serve ice cream cone
D- 1cup homemade chili, 1/2 cornbread muffin w/ lite butter
S- blue bunny ice cream bar

Not to shabby looking for a 15 hour day.The chili I made was FULL of beans and lean hamburger so it was packed with protein. I did add a small dollop of sour cream (insert the Daisy commercial here, lol) and it made it creamy and not so spicy on my pouch.

Have a good night everyone!

I'm a dummy..and a recipe

So I sautee all my veggies, and assemble the quiche and lick my chops the whole time it was cooking only to take it out of the oven and it was almost black on top. I was like WTF? Apparently I forgot to add the 2 cups of milk to the egg and bisquick mixture and it turned into one hard biscuit with veggies on the bottom. :(
I'm going to try the recipe the right way in a few days for breakfast.

I forgot earlier to share the sweet treat I got myself at the store. I LOVE dark chocolate and raspberry together and when i saw these in the store I didn't care that they were almost $5 a box for 10.



They are small but very yummy and I ate mine quicker than I should have. The only thing I forsee as being a problem is not drinking when I eat. My throat gets very dry and I just have to have a drink. Hmmmmm....


Recipe: Amazing Pink Sauce and Pasta

1 jar spaghetti sauce (if you use two jars, use more cream cheese)
1 block cream cheese-room temp
1 cup parmesean cheese
italian seasoning (or the herbs you like)
garlic pepper to taste
salt to taste
thawed meatballs (i use turkey, but whatever you want)
pasta-whatever kind you prefer


cook pasta, drain and add a few sprays of butter spray and mix to avoid sticking together.

Cut room temperature cream cheese into small cubes and add to pot over medium heat. Add parmesean cheese and stir until starting to melt together. Add pasta sauce and all seasonings until sauce is creamy looking. Let simmer for 5 minutes stirring to avoid burning. Add meatballs to sauce and simmer a few more minutes until meat is heated thru. Top pasta with sauce.

~~~~~~~~~~
My mom and I love this sauce so much we dip our garlic bread into it over and over. It's so creamy and delish that it's great for company too. If anyone makes it let me know!

Goodnight!

First post op visit, weigh in and FOOD!

Happy Monday.I haven't said that for awhile but today has really been a good Monday so far. Last night was the first night of true sleep I've had since surgery, woke up rested and ready for my weigh in.I'm down another 3 lbs, so 13 since surgery.WOOHOO! I will NEVER be that weight again and that in itself makes the day great. I also had my first post op visit today and the Dr. had only good things to say. My incision site is healing great, i'm cleared for phase 2 of food (hell yeah, texture baby!)and all other activities as long as I don't overdo it. The only restriction that places on me is lifting my 3 yr old because he weighs 40 lbs, but that's ok. My first fill is Sept 10th.
So after my visit I went to the store and got some zuchini and mushrooms as well as some olive oil so I can sautee some veggies for the quiche that Amy posted on her blog.If you would have asked me 6 months ago that I would be giddy to eat eggs I would have rolled my eyes at you and laughed,but damnit I'm giddy about eggs, cheese, mashed potatoes, milk and all the phase 2 foods. Also knowing that phase 3 is only 2 weeks away makes me pretty darn happy too.
While I write this I am jamming to Man in the Mirror by MJ, eating some feta cheese and green olives and singing at the top of my lungs. Nothing better happen to damper my monday happiness or I'll go nutso on their/it's ass. LOL

I wanted to do something to make myself feel more like a woman and less like a bored house patient so I went and got my highlights done yesterday. I did more blonde in the front than normal because it's still summer and I wanted that sunkissed look. Now keep in mind, my hair is naturally auburn and I kick it up with a more red/brown tone normally, so this blonde is very different for me. I'll take pics tonight after my shower and see what you all think.

(Now singing Ghetto Superstar by Mya/Wyclef Jean) Ghetto superstarrrrrr, that is what you are......

I'm always looking for recipes so if any of my followers have any please send them or the link my way ok? I also promise to post any I try wether I like them or not.

I'm going to sautee my veggies and get my bake on so I'm posting now. Toodles!

P.S I haven't craved soda at all, wierd!!!!!!