Hey everyone!

Good morning all!

Just thought I would drop in and say Hi to all my "bloggin buddies" today. We had a wonderful Christmas this year. For the first time since Beth and I have been married, we did not go into debt for gifts! What a good feeling to say, this is it. If we did not have it it on Christmas Eve, they did not get it as a gift! Hopefully this will make the first few months of 2009 a little easier!

We had a great meal this year, did not eat to much, and actually saw the scales move for my wife! It has been a long 6 months since she has seen any weight loss, but this week alone, Santa was very good to her!

Here is a link to a few new recipes we tried, and man they were good!

Spiral Sliced Ham with a sugar free glaze

Cranberry Orange Cheesecake (sugar free of course)

Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce

All of these recipes are posted over at my food blog:

Food 4 Thought & Moderation 2 !

I hope each and everyone of you have a great and glorious day!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Well, Christmas has come and gone. The wrapping paper is picked up, or at least it should be. The kids have already worn out their new toys, if they can get them away their parents long enough. And that last piece of sugar free pie has pulled an Elvis and left the building, it sure was gooooooood!!!!!!

I know I'm a little late with this, but I wanted to wish all my fellow bloggin buddies a Very Merry Christmas and the thought of a Happy New Year. It has been a year since my surgery and I could not be any happier. My health is right where it should be. I am no longer taking any medications. I am sleeping through the night, no sleep apnea or acid reflux!!!!!

Below is a video of myself and my families progress through this last year. In all total, between my wife, my sister, my brother-in law, and my self, we have lost over 680 pounds in the last year and a half! A weight loss family in transition is what we are!

Once again, Merry Belated Christmas and a Happy and Productive New Year!

Have yourself a very merry Christmas!

Well, Christmas has come and gone. The wrapping paper is picked up, or at least it should be. The kids have already worn out their new toys, if they can get them away their parents long enough. And that last piece of sugar free pie has pulled an Elvis and left the building, it sure was gooooooood!!!!!!

I know I'm a little late with this, but I wanted to wish all my fellow bloggin buddies a Very Merry Christmas and the thought of a Happy New Year. It has been a year since my surgery and I could not be any happier. My health is right where it should be. I am no longer taking any medications. I am sleeping through the night, no sleep apnea or acid reflux!!!!!

Below is a video of myself and my families progress through this last year. In all total, between my wife, my sister, my brother-in law, and my self, we have lost over 680 pounds in the last year and a half! A weight loss family in transition is what we are!

Once again, Merry Belated Christmas and a Happy and Productive New Year!

Sleigh Ride ~ Enjoy!

I saw this over at Melting Mama's blog and thought it was a really fun entry, so I totally stole it from her! Sorry MM!

Merry Christmas!

SANTA SCOTT

Relient K - Sleigh Ride from gotee on Vimeo.

Merry Christmas from QUEEN!

~ Transformers ~

If you could see a glimpse of who you were 12 years ago, and compare it to who you are now...would you see a change?

This past weekend, my wife and I had the privilege of getting together with some old friends! A lot of us actually keep up with all the familial happenings through our blogs, as well as Crackbook...I mean Facebook! So, it was like we haven't missed any time together. But it has also been several years since we have seen each other in person.

These people mean so much to me. They were a part of who I was, before I became a husband, a father, and who I am now. I've worshiped, prayed, ate, played...you could name it! These friends were my family!

Have they changed? With a resounding answer I say NO! Have I changed? Maybe physically. But I am still the same person that I was then. It was the same as last week with the Santa suit. Once I put the suit on, I was Santa, maybe not as heavy as I was , but I was still Santa!

I guess the point of this post is this...As we (weight loss surgery patients) go through the transformations of who we are becoming, make sure you take the old person with you. Leave the fat guy behind, but take your personality, your laughter, your spiritual well being with you!

What did I learn from this weekends Christmas party? I'm not as young as I once was! In days past, this group has been known to roll the Pastors house, steal Halloween decorations from friends yards and hold them ransom, eat live gold fish, stuff 38 marshmallows in their mouth at one time (that's a whole nother post...right Michelle?). You name it, we did it, all in the name of good, clean, fun!

What was different this year? We all had children, and we had to leave a lot earlier than we did before! LOL!!! It was evident we missed quite a few from this bunch, and they were truly missed! I can't wait to see some of them as they travel in from Louisiana for the Christmas holidays!

Oh yeah, the picture at the top of the page is from Beth and I's second date. It was at Greg's house on Halloween of 1995. It was also the same house we were at Saturday night! The other is the Christmas pic we had done this year!

So, have I changed...only with age!

Christmas Favorites: Weight Loss Friendly Recipes

SF Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
1 Cup Splenda
1 Large Egg
1 Cap Vanilla Extract
Pinch Salt

Directions

Mix Everything together. Place in 1 tbsp. mounds on a cookie sheet. Bake until lightly brown around the edges.Makes 12 Peanut Butter Cookies

Nutritional Info *

Servings Per Recipe: 12 * Amount Per Serving * Calories: 146.7 * Total Fat: 11.1 g * Cholesterol: 17.7 mg * Sodium: 18.2 mg * Total Carbs: 6.1 g * Dietary Fiber: 1.3 g * Protein: 5.2 g

SUGAR FREE EGGLESS EGGNOG

Bariatric Eating Recipe Box~Holiday Foods

Ingredients

5 cups milk
1-2 cups ff half & half (depending on how thick you like it)
One 4-serving-size sf vanilla instant pudding powder
3 tablespoons Splenda granular
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg (fresh is BEST!)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons brandy or rum extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Whisk all together and let chill for at least an hour. May need to add more milk if you like it thinner.

Warm Cranberry Sipper

Bariatric Eating Recipe Box~Holiday Foods

The perfect drink for a crisp fall evening while sitting on the porch contemplating how post op life has changed your world. It is also great servd cold over ice during those warm summer months.

Ingredients
½ cup Splenda

2 whole cinnamon sticks

10 whole cloves

2 cups Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice – Splenda sweetened

1 cup orange juice (I used low sugar from Krogers)

Directions

Combine Splenda, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves with 2 cups of water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add cranberry and orange juice, reduce heat and simmer ten minutes. Ladle into mugs and serve.

Nutritional Info
Makes 5 cups - Per ½ cup:

Calories 40, fat 0g, carbs 5g, protein 0g

Tuscan White Bean Dip

Bariatric Eating Recipe Box~Holiday Foods

Use fresh sprigs of rosemary to garnish this zesty combination of delicate cannellini beans, herbs and spices. Serve with assorted Crostini Toasts, Pita Chips, or Bagel Chips.

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, sliced

1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary, or ½ teaspoon dried

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Two 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, or great northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon red wine or cider vinegar

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepperKosher salt (use kosher salt in the kitchen as the flakes have great flavor)

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium low heat. Slowly cook the onions and garlic for 5 to 6 minutes until soft, stirring constantly. Add the rosemary and smoked paprika and cook an additional minute. In a food processor, blend the cannellini beans, sautéed onion mixture, vinegar, red pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt until smooth. Slowly add the remaining olive oil. Add additional salt and lots of black pepper to taste.

Transfer to covered bowl and chill to allow flavors to blend. Bring the dip to room temperature before serving – about twenty minutes - so the flavors of the ingredients come out.

This dip is also crazy delicious when baked in a medium oven proof dish at 325 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes, until bubbling around the edges.
Makes 2 cups.

Nutritional Info

1/4 cup portion:

Calories 59, fat 2g, carbs 6r, protein 2.5g

Maxine's Christmas Wish

A friend of mine over at Obesity Help posted this. Even though I'm no Maxine, I thought I would share it with you!

Merry Christmas To All My Friends

If I were ol' Santa, you know what I'd do

I'd dump silly gifts that are given to you

And deliver some things just inside your front door

Things you have lost, but treasured before.

I'd give you back all your maidenly vigor,

And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure.

Then restore the old color that once graced your hair

Before rinses and bleaches took residence there.

I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted

So things now suspended need not be uplifted.

I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back

Till you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks.

I'd remove all your wrinkles and leave only one chin

So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease on your skin

You'd never have flashes or queer dizzy spells

And you wouldn't hear noises like ringing of bells.

No sore aching feet and no corns on your toes

No searching for spectacles when they're right on your nose.

Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny

From a doctor who thinks you're a nervous old granny.

You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you take.

And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache.

Yes, if I were Santa, you'd never look stupid

You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of a cupid.

I'd give a lift to your heart when those wolves start to whistle

And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle.

But alas! I'm not Santa. I'm simply just me

The matronest of matrons you ever did see.

I wish I could tell you all the symptoms I've got

But I'm due at my doctor's for an estrogen shot.

Even though we've grown older this wish is sincere

Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year!

Holiday Survival Plan ~ When it comes to food!

I got this in an email from work, and thought it had some pretty good information. Just thought I would share!

Have a good day!

HOLIDAY FOOD WITHOUT THE BLOAT

All that good food! It can be so overwhelming sometimes during the holidays. In keeping with the theme of moderation, we've listed some holiday survival tips below.

1. Focus on weight maintenance vs. weight loss
Now is not the time to diet. Don't set yourself up for failure by trying to strive for goals that will be unattainable. Instead, focus on staying where you were prior to the holidays and try to relax -- you'll get going again once the New Year's Eve ball has dropped.

2. With that said… Plan on NOT dieting after the New Year
First of all, restrictive diets don't work in the long run -- they increase your loss of lean body mass vs. fat, slow down your metabolism,increase anxiety, depression, food preoccupation, and binge eating, and make weight re-gain more likely.

3. Be physically active every day
Don't let travel plans or time visiting with family deter you form fitting exercise into your day. Take a brisk walk, jog or bicycle if you can't get to the gym or do your normal, longer routine. Simply moving like that can help relieve stress, regulate appetite, and burn up extra calories from holiday eating.

4. Eat a light snack before going to holiday parties
Don't arrive hungry enough to eat everything in sight. Instead, eat apiece of fruit, a small carton of yogurt, or a string cheese before You go. Drinking water will also curb your appetite. This approach will also help you avoid binging on foods that are higher in fat and calories.

5. What's your plan?
Consider where you'll be, who you'll be with, what foods will be available, what foods you really want to eat vs. those that you could probably do without, and what your personal triggers for overeating might be. Once you've weighed (no pun) all of that, make a plan for how you'll eat in various situations. You'll be more likely to succeed.

6. Avoid recreational eating.
While some foods are more calorie-dense than others, no food will make you gain weight unless you eat too much of it. At parties and holiday dinners, we tend to eat (or keep eating) beyond our body’s physical hunger simply because food is there and eating is a “social thing.”To avoid recreational eating, consciously make one plate of the foods you really want. Eat it slowly--enjoying and savoring every tasty bite.Then, when you’re done, pop a mint or stick of gum in your mouth, get a tall glass of water and sip on it throughout the night, or position yourself away from the buffet table or food trays to keep yourself from overeating.

7. Reduce the fat in holiday recipes.
There are plenty of low fat and low calorie substitutes that are amazingly tasty. Try using applesauce in place of oil in your favorite holiday breads; use egg substitutes in place of whole eggs; try plain nonfat yogurt in place of sour cream. Magazines are full of reduced calorie and reduced fat holiday recipes. Give them a try, and share your cooking creations with friends and family.

8. Choose your beverages wisely.
Alcohol is high in calories. Liquors, sweet wines and sweet mixed drinks contain 150-450 calories per glass. By contrast, water and diet sodas are calorie-free. If you choose to drink, select light wines and beers, and use non-alcoholic mixers such as water and diet soda. Limit your intake to 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per occasion. And, watch out for calories in soda, fruit punch, and egg nog as well.

9. Enjoy good friends and family.
Although food can be a big part of the season, it doesn't’t have to be the focus. Holidays are a time to reunite with good friends and family,to share laughter and cheer, to celebrate and to give thanks. Focus more on these other holiday pleasures, in addition to the tastes of holiday foods. The important thing to remember is balance and moderation. It’s OK to eat too much once in a while. Just relax, enjoy the holidays, and remember what the season is all about.

10. Maintain perspective!
Overeating one day won't make or break your eating plan. And it certainly won't make you gain weight! It takes days and days of overeating to gain weight. If you over-indulge at a holiday meal, put it behind you. Return to your usual eating plan the next day without guiltier despair ?

Source: www.snac.ucla.edu

Santa's still worried, but it's a good thing!

Santa is still worried, but not to the extreme he was yesterday. Also, it is a good thing to worry about!

I picked up my suit yesterday and things went well. As soon as I got to RIP, I checked out Santa's workshop. Just to make sure things were in order. My elves had decorated it up really nice! It looked like we were all ready for pictures and visits!

Off to the dressing room I went. The suit fit as I expected it would. And the only people who noticed that I was a little different from years past, were the ones who knew me from years past! LOL!

My fears were really for nothing. The kids were just excited about seeing Santa. The suit did not inflate as I feared it would. I guess my big thing was that as soon as I put on the suit, I would be like one of those Macy's balloons on Thangsgiving...huge and full of hot air! OK, I'm still full of hot air!

I told Beth when I picked up the suit, that I was going to be the same person I am day in day out! Just cause I was dressed in a red suit, with a white beard, I was still Santa Scott! Losing weight has not changed who I am, it has only changed what people see. And what they see is still me, just smaller!

Thanks for all the kind words yesterday, it truly helped me be the person that I needed to be! You guys and gals are truly unique and special!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, the worry part....I've got to figure out which pillow I need to carry to work today! Santa needs some stuffing!!!!!

Santa Scott

Skinny Santa?

One of my favorite movies at Christmas time is Miracle on 34th Street. Not all the remakes, but the original with Edmund Gywnn and a young Natalie Woods. I think it is one of my favorites because of the innocence that is shown. Not only through the eyes of a child, but through the eyes of people who believe!





For over 33 years, I have played Santa Claus in various venues. Now, none of them have been at the malls or anything like that. It has been at private parties, church parties, or in private homes on Christmas Eve.


It all started when I was 16 years old. Yes, I have always been able to fill the shoes, or pants for that matter of Santa. Being a rather large teenager allowed me to wear the suit without any padding. When I was 16, one of the customers in the grocery store where I worked came in all mad and frustrated. It seems the Kindergarten teacher told her 5 year old that Santa did not exist. Mom said if she could find someone to come to the house dressed as the jolly old elf, she would pay them. One of my co-workers volunteered me. The mother of the child in question went straight to the rental shop and rented a suit for me to wear. At that point, a love for Christmas was born. I played Santa for Amanda that evening, and went on to play Santa for her and her own children as the years went by.


One year I played Kris Kringle for a National Guard Unit that was being shipped out to the Gulf for Dessert Storm. That was probably the largest group at over 325 kids!


One of my most memorable stints as Santa was for an organization known as the Hope Center. The Hope Center is a group of churches that came together, threw out denominational lines and said it was time for the family of God to help! Twice a year they come together and feed, clothe and provide for the homeless in one of the surrounding counties where I live. This particular year, a young girl of 4 asked if Santa could bring her Dad back. I assumed her dad was in jail. When I asked her where her father was, she told me he had died. Once again, I thought the worst, that he was killed in a drug deal gone bad, or something to that effect. During further investigation, I found out that he indeed did die during a drug deal, but he was an Innocent bystander! He was pumping gas, while his daughter was asleep in the back seat. I looked down at that little girl and said, "Honey, Santa can do a lot of things, bu he can't do that". I went on to tell her that if Santa knows anything, he knows that her dad was in heaven, at the right hand side of God, and was pointing down and saying, "Jesus, look, that's my Little girl down there and I love her". Yes, I did wipe the tear away from my eye as she walked to get her gifts!


I tell you all this because I am worried! Tomorrow and Tuesday, I will play Santa for about 120 children at the Organization where I work. This will be the first time since surgery a year ago that I will put on the red suit! Let's talk a little about body image here. Santa is a big guy, with a belly that shakes like a bowl of jelly when he laughs. Let's face it, my belly full of jelly is no longer jolly! I know that persona plays a big part in who Santa is. It is not only the overweight person in the suit, but Santa is a big guy!





The morbidly obese Santa above. Tomorrow I'll post a picture of the average size Santa!


Who knows, maybe I'm worried about nothing. I feel that when I put on the suit, I will magically inflate to my old self. That scares me, cause I don't want to inflate to that person. Is there such a thing as a skinny Santa?


Let's just hope my Ho, Ho, Ho does not come out s He, He He!


I'll let ya know how it turns out!

Obesity Help TN Forum Christmas Party

We had our Obesity Help, Tenn. Forum Christmas Party the other night and what fun it was! All together, we had 13 weight loss surgery patients. We have lost 1526 pounds! WOW, what a remarkable event!

This is a pretty big gathering for us. We even had people come to Nashville from the Gatlinburg area of East TN, that's about a 4 hour drive just to party! Anyway, we had fun. There were several new people who showed, as well as some old friends that we got to reconnect with.

One of the highlights of the evening was a presentation of a check to Joel Malone. Joel is a Professor at Middle Tennessee State University. He has a heart for students with weight problems and really goes out of his way to help them. One of the ways he attempts to help is through an organization that he and his wife have put together called Shape IQ. They go into strength training using the resistant bands that are so popular. Now to get to the point, Joel applied for a grant from the Walk From Obesity for his Shape IQ organization. We had the privilege of awarding him with a check for $5000 this evening! We were just glad that he was able to attend our event!

Click on the picture with the red ornament to see the slide show of pictures that I took!

Hope you enjoy!

Merry Christmas Guys!

Now, I will say this is not my dog, but I thought it was pretty hilarious! My dog is below the video, and she can be down right hilarious at times also! Notice the eyes through the cheese bag. She got the bag on her head, even though I told her that it was not a toy. Kids, what are we gonna do with 'em?

Hey Guys & Gals! Merry Chrsitmas to ya!



Wanted to give you some informnation about our upcoming Tennesse Forum (Obesity Help) Christmas Party! I know I am ready for a get toghether with my weight loss peeps! Below you will find some information that my wife has posted over at Obesity Help:



It's begining to look a lot like...



...Christmas, Every where we turn... As you read this, think OH NO What is she up to NOW!!! WELL..... The OH TN FORUM Christmas party is in two weeks folks, YES, TWO WEEKS! And there is so much to do between now and then. It is my wish that all of you turn out for our fun and fellowship as we celebrate a wonderful time of year. We will need a few items to help us though. And since the colors of the season are red and green, I think it would be nice to follow in that custom. We need plates, cutlery, napkins and cups. I'm sure I have left something off, so if you think of it, let me know. We are asking that each person, couple, grouping bring two plates of food to share. Finger foods, deserts, etc. Please remember that most of our guests will have had some form of WLS, but we will have others who have not had WLS there also. We have access to a punch bowl and I would like to make a WLS friendly punch. If you have a recipe for one, please PM me.



We will also be playing the Dirty Santa game with ornaments, so bring an ornament per person and let the swapping begin!!! This was a BLAST last year.



We need an aproximate head count of who will be at our bash, so please drop a line here or PM myself, Cheryl Parker or Melissa Maxwell (Melissa #1) and let us know if you can make it and how many people you will be bringing. (Leave a comment here if you can make it!, Come Susy, you and Derrell are more than welcome!) The more the merrier. Please remember this is an adult occasion. Adult children are welcome, but please, no one under 18.



The dress for the evening is semi-formal to formal, giving all of us a time to shine!!!! Even the bald ones!!! BWAHAHA



Looking forward to hearing from all of you. See you on the 12th of December at 7:00 p.m. (7-9)



Here are directions to the church:




View Larger Map

Healthy cooking substitutions

I found this little piece of information over at the following blog:

The Pitter Patter of Losing Pounds

She is a very entertaining blogger who contributes a lot of Weight Watcher style recipes. Check out her blog sometimes, very informative!

To Replace Oil or Margarine In Baking:
* Apple sauce may be used in cakes, cookies, and other sweet baked goods to replace oil or margarine.
* Prune Puree may be used to replace the oil. To make it, puree in blender 6 ounces prunes, 1 cup water, and 2 tsp. vanilla.
* Mashed or pureed tofu can replace oil in other (non-sweet) baked goods.
* Flax meal can replace all or some of the oil in a recipe. The substitution ratio is three parts flax seed meal for every part oil or fat you are replacing. For example, for 15 mL (1 Tbsp.) of fat to be replaced, use 45 mL (3 Tbsp.) of flax seed meal. Baked goods with flax as a fat replacer tend to brown more quickly than regular recipes, so you may have to modify normal cooking times.

To Replace Oil In Dressings and Sauces:
* Replace oil in dressings with one of the cornstarch-water recipes--Thick Water or No-Oil Oil.
* Blend silken tofu into the rest of the ingredients for a creamy dressing or sauce.
* Mix ground flax seeds into hot water. Start with hot water in the amount of oil the recipe calls for and add ground flax seeds to it one teaspoon at a time, stirring constantly, until the mixture is almost the consistency of oil. Allow it to stand and cool for a few minutes; it will thicken more as it cools.
* Blend cooked white beans into sauces or dressings to replace oil or dairy ingredients. Use the same amount of beans as oil called for.

To Replace Eggs in Baking
*Eggs are used in baking for leavening and for binding. The type of substitute you need depends on how the eggs are used in the original recipe and on how many eggs are used. Flat foods such as pancakes do not always depend on the eggs for leavening, and often you can omit the eggs completely and just add a tablespoon of water per egg or one of the binder ingredients listed below. If you are unsure whether or not eggs are used for leavening, you can always err on the side of caution and add an extra 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder to the recipe.
*When a recipe calls for three or more eggs, as many cake recipes do, the eggs provide substantial leavening and need to replaced with something equally leavening. In many cases, the results of using egg replacers for more than three eggs will not be satisfactory.

The following are substitutes for one egg:
*A flax seed mixture : Mix 15 mL (1 Tbsp.) flax seed meal (ground flax seeds) with 45 mL (3 Tbsp.) water in a blender to substitute for one egg. This acts as a good binder in recipes.
Half a small banana, mashed, is a good binder. Gives pancakes, muffins, and quick breads a subtle banana flavor.
* 1/4 cup of any kind of tofu blended with the liquid ingredients in the recipe acts as a binder. Light or reduced-fat tofu cuts down on the fat and calories in the finished product.
*1/4 cup of applesauce, canned pumpkin or squash, or pureed prunes are binders. These give baked goods a heavier texture, so you may want to add an extra 1/2 tsp. of baking powder. They can also flavor the finished product, so use with caution.
*Use an egg-replacer powder such as Ener-G to replace the eggs in baked goods. 1-1/2 teaspoons mixed with 2 tablespoons of water.
*Here's another Ener-G type egg replacer: Mix together 1 tsp Baking Powder, 1/2 tsp Baking Soda, 2 Tbsp Flour, 3 Tbsp Water
*A heaping tablespoon of soy flour or bean flour mixed with a tablespoon of water. This mixture works similarly to vegetarian egg replacer.
*2 tablespoons of cornstarch beaten with 2 tablespoons of water. This, too, works much like vegetarian egg replacer.
*In any recipe where the eggs are used for leavening, consider increasing the amount of baking powder or baking soda called for while using one of the binders. Do this with caution, as too much leavening can affect the taste and the consistency of baked goods.

How to Sauté or Stir-fry Without Oil:
*With a good nonstick skillet or wok, you can stir-fry or sauté without any oil. Simply heat your skillet before adding the food. You may add a tablespoon or more of water or broth to prevent sticking. Stir often. Covering the pan will make vegetables cook faster.
*Onions taste terrific when they are browned or caramelized in a non-stick skillet. You may need to lightly spray or wipe the skillet with oil beforehand. Make sure the skillet is hot before you add the onions and stir constantly, being careful not to let the onions burn. This can take several minutes, but it lends a delicious richness to low-fat recipes.

Thanksgiving Update !

Well, here I am again!

A day late and a dollar short. Sorry about the lack of blog enteries lately. It's been really hectic around the O'Neal house. I'm just glad football is over. The downside to that is...I have 1 week to get all the DVD's and Calendars ready for the banquet. One of these days, I'm gonna learn to say NO!!!!!


We had a great day at my parents house on Thanksgiving. I really have to give my mom and dad a lot of credit! They have been my biggest cheerleaders during this weight loss journey. I truly believe we all need that!


It was also an oppurtunity to get together with my sister and brother and theor respective families! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that my sister got married, and now she tells me she and Jim have been married for 27 years! What's up with that!


Anyway, when Beth, Melissa and I get together, we take a pic, just to journal the progress we have made. Below is a progression since last Christmas.














Oh yeah, in the first picture I was at 315 pounds (my highest was 365). In the last picture I am at 189 pounds! My lowest since about 4th grade!


I'll be posting more pictures later today. We are getting ready to g to Church, and then I'm taking RJ to the movies. This will give Beth a little time to herself. We are going to see "4 Christmases".


I will say this...next year at Thanksgiving, I'm going shopping! I have spent the last 3 days painting our living room! YUCK! More to come...

Turkey Day Strategies

HOW TO ENJOY YOUR TURKEY DAY
WITHOUT all the GUILTY FEELINGS

No need to beat yourself up; just follow these ideas for a healthy balance, and a guilt free day.

Burn extra calories beforehand

1)If you have a workout routine, add a few minutes of walking or other cardiovascular exercise to it between now and Thanksgiving. If you don’t have a workout routine, a simple daily walk is a great thing to start.
2)You can also burn extra calories during your daily routine. For instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator; walk during lunch; park further away from the office or at the far end of the parking lot (usually a normal option this time of the year) when shopping; and walk in place, do crunches or lift hand weights while watching television.

Turkey Day eating strategies

We know this is a hard thing to do, but don’t come to Thanksgiving dinner with an empty stomach. Eat small meals earlier in the day so that you don't come to the Thanksgiving meal hungry.

Instead of trying to limit yourself to one serving, take a small serving so you can have seconds. Fill up on things like turkey, vegetables or other dishes that are lower in fats and calories.

Prioritize your desserts. Allow yourself to have dessert, but ask this: "What do I really like and where do I want to spend my calories?" Don’t just fill up the plate. If you like everything, take small (bite sized) portions of everything.

Finally, try to take a brief walk before Thanksgiving dinner and a short walk afterwords. It’ll keep your metabolism going.

Remember – don’t beat yourself up if you go a little overboard. Just work harder before and after the holiday! Remember this is not a good time to start a weight loss program.

The best idea is to simply work to maintain your current weight. If you manage that you are a winner.

Turkey Day Strategies

HOW TO ENJOY YOUR TURKEY DAY

WITHOUT all the GUILTY FEELINGS

No need to beat yourself up; just follow these ideas for a healthy balance, and a guilt free day.

Burn extra calories beforehand

1)If you have a workout routine, add a few minutes of walking or other cardiovascular exercise to it between now and Thanksgiving. If you don’t have a workout routine, a simple daily walk is a great thing to start.
2)You can also burn extra calories during your daily routine. For instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator; walk during lunch; park further away from the office or at the far end of the parking lot (usually a normal option this time of the year) when shopping; and walk in place, do crunches or lift hand weights while watching television.

Turkey Day eating strategies

We know this is a hard thing to do, but don’t come to Thanksgiving dinner with an empty stomach. Eat small meals earlier in the day so that you don't come to the Thanksgiving meal hungry.

Instead of trying to limit yourself to one serving, take a small serving so you can have seconds. Fill up on things like turkey, vegetables or other dishes that are lower in fats and calories.

Prioritize your desserts. Allow yourself to have dessert, but ask this: "What do I really like and where do I want to spend my calories?" Don’t just fill up the plate. If you like everything, take small (bite sized) portions of everything.

Finally, try to take a brief walk before Thanksgiving dinner and a short walk afterwords. It’ll keep your metabolism going.

Remember – don’t beat yourself up if you go a little overboard. Just work harder before and after the holiday! Remember this is not a good time to start a weight loss program.

The best idea is to simply work to maintain your current weight. If you manage that you are a winner.

Gobble, Gobble!

Just a short update to wish each and everyone one of you a"Happy Thanksgiving Day"!

May this coming year be a BLESSED year full of happiness, compassion for your fellow man, and an overwhelming desire to live life to it's fullest!

Now, step away from the table before you eat to much!




"Happy Gobble Day!"

Bariatric TV: The new station is on!

I'll say it every week:

"You Freaks Rock!"

Hey Bald Is Beautiful readers (all 3 of you), if you have not seen BTV, you need to check it out! Toni & Lynda are awesome. They put the 411 out the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Wait a minute, I think they could make a movie by that name! Clint Eastwood could play a weight loss surgery patient. "Go ahead Protein, make my day!" Sorry, I couldn't resist.

If you don't see yourself in the way they define FREAKS, that's OK. I myself felt as if these 2 were spying on me it was so real!

Anyway, you need to hop over to their site and check out each of the episodes so far! Especially the definitions of FREAKS! There are only 4 so far. New ones come out each Friday.

www.bariatrictv.com

Toni & Lynda, keep up the good work!

Bald-Is-Beautiful loves ya!

Here are the links to episodes so far:

#1 What is BTV, Melting Mama and a protein drink recipe.

#2 Why am I a FREAK?

#3 Protein Protein, Protein

#4 Peer Support Baby

3 to 1 !

When I had my surgery, I was given the following rule of thumb:

"Eat your protein first, then if you have room for anything else, go for it (green beans, etc...)."

Then at a support group meeting one night I heard the ratio we should be following when loading our plates should be "80% protein, 20% other". Now both of these rules are really good and steadfast ways, but sometimes my math challenged brain gets in the way. I find it hard to discern how much of this, and how much of that!

While watching my new favorites in the world of WLS Video's (Bariatric TV: Lynda and Toni !) I learned a whole new process!

When eating, don't worry about bringing out the calculator to figure percentages. Eat 3 bites of protein for every one bite of good carbs! WOW, how simple is that!

An example would be:
3 bites of chicken - 1 bite of green beans
3 bites of fish - 1 bite of broccoli

I think you get the idea! So the next time you sit down to dinner, remember the rules that your Doc or Nut has set forth:
small bites, chew, set the fork down between bites, and the new one 3 to 1!

Have a good day!

2 New Websites

Morning All!

Yesterday while enjoying a day off, Veterans Day, I am a State employee! I played around on the web a while and found 2 relatively new websites. One was very inspirational and the other just down right amusing yet full of knowledge!

Inspirational: Weight Loss Surgery Channel
Really nice website that post a 90 video clip daily to inspire and help us in our Weight Loss journey.

Amusing: Bariatric TV
2 of the cutest and funniest people I have seen in a long time. Both have had WLS and use their knowledge and humor to keep us going! Check out episode #2 and tell me if you are a freak! I proudly proclaim I am!!!!! In fact, I am reveling in my Freakedness!

Have fun!

Is SPAM a WLS approved product?

Well, is it?

In my honest and obscure opinion it is! Hey, it is only 174 calories per serving and 7 grams of protein. So, does it work for you?

No, it is not a healthy choice in the world of foods! But it is something I use on a daily basis! I use SPAM to help me decide on goals. Right now, you are probably scratching your head and saying WHAT THE ?

So, here goes my train of thought. This is something I learned several years ago and it has stuck with me. Kind of like SPAM does when you eat it.... It sticks right in the ole bread basket!

"S"... stands for small and specific! When we set goals, do we try to set it so far out that we can't reach it? No! We set our goals within reason. Quitting cokes before surgery can be done cold turkey. It is probably easier to cut back a few at a time. I know when I quit smoking several years ago, I kept a piece of paper in my pocket and wrote down when I had a cigarette. At that point, I would set a small goal of waiting an hour before smoking another one. Then it would be 2 hours before the next. I kept my goals small and specific and eventually quit smoking.

"P"... stands for practical! Practical can be defined as: Of, relating to, governed by, or acquired through practice or action, rather than theory, speculation, or ideals. Practicing what we preach comes to mind! Everyday, we have to set our minds on staying the course, making good decisions in the food we eat. Practicing our new lifestyle on a regular basis. If we screw up, guess what? We are only human, and tomorrow is a new day!

"A"... stands for achievable! Why reach for the stars when we know we can't get there? Are my goals achievable? When you decided to have weight loss surgery, what were your goals? Have you re-evaluated them since surgery? I know I have. My Doc says I should weigh in at a goal of 180 pounds. I trust my doc and believe he sees that as an achievable goal for me!

"M"... stands for measurable! Track everything! That is the one piece of advice that I can believe with all my heart. By keeping tabs on my calories, my carbohydrates, and the food I eat, I can truly see if I am doing anything wrong! A friend of mine recently started gaining a little weight back. When she went to her spreadsheet to look at things, she could pinpoint where the weight gain started! Tracking helps us to identify where we make mistakes, but also helps us to stay successful!

I heard this a while back at a support group meeting at Baptist Hospital. I only hope I can get is right:

"Goals not written down, are nothing more than dreams !"

So, when you set your plate for the day, are you going to include a side of SPAM along with those dreams?

Have a good day!

Something Fun !

How much have you lost?

Your weight loss =

1 pound = a Guinea Pig

1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts

2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs

3 pounds = an average human brain

4 pounds = an ostrich egg

5 pounds = a Chihuahua

6 pounds = a human’s skin

7.5 pounds = an average newborn

8 pounds = a human head

10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year

11 pounds = an average housecat

12 pounds = a Bald Eagle

15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs

16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain

20 pounds = an automobile tire

23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year

24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream

25 pounds = an average 2 year old

30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year

33 pounds = a cinder block36 pounds = a mid-size microwave

40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg

44 pounds = an elephant’s heart

50 pounds = a small bale of hay

55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner

60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)

66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year

70 pounds = an Irish Setter77 pounds = a gold brick

80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape

90 pounds = a newborn calf

100 pounds = a 2 month old horse

111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year

117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11”)

118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica

120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month

130 pounds = a newborn giraffe

138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year

140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year

144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4”)

150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary

187 pounds = an average adult man

200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds

235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger

300 pounds = an average football lineman

400 pounds = a Welsh pony

Thanks Bette B. for the inpiration and the permission to cut and paste over here at the Bald Is Beautiful !

I almost forgot...I have lost an average 2 year old and the Complete Oxford English Dictionary! That's what the picture at the top of the page represents!

Who's next?

PB2 Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

A friend of mine sent me a pretty cool website the other day, Desserts Magazine: For people who eat desserts first!. I found a recipe for Flour less Peanut Butter Cookies, and thought I could modify to meet my lifestyle food choices. Now, once again, I could make or eat this everyday, but it was nice for a treat. Most of the time we make new food recipes, we usually take them to my in-laws. This way, they are not in our house tempting us!

These were pretty good, though a little bit dry and crumbly. I just might add a little liquid next time!

Hope you enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

1 cup PB2 prepared peanut butter

¾ cup granulated Splenda

1 large egg, slightly beaten

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup Sugar Free Chocolate Chips

½ cup roasted pecan halves

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottoms of two 12-by-18-inch sheet pans with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, stir the peanut butter, sugar, egg, baking soda and kosher salt until combined. Stir in the chocolate and peanuts.

Using a small, greased ice cream scoop, measure out the dough in teaspoon sized balls. Place the dough on the prepared pans, spacing them 2 inches apart.

Bake on the middle shelves of the oven, rotating the pans 180 degrees halfway through the baking time, until lightly golden and spread to a puffy mound, about 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool completely on the pans on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to week. Yields: 24 cookies

Butternut Squash Soup

Beth went out for lunch a couple of weeks ago and talked about the Butternut Squash soup she had. I saw this one over at Bread & Honey. So, I thought I would make it for her. I did modify it according to what I had in the house, but it is still the same recipe!

I love food blogs, and Bread & Honey is one of my new favorites. Summer Allen-Gibson is the creator of Design is Mine, as well as a mum, illustrator, and baker. She spends large portions of her days buried in cookbooks and trying out new recipes in her kitsch-filled kitchen. Alicia Lynn Carrier is a 24 year old mom, freelance photographer, and nerd. She loves food, spending time at home, and taking pictures of stuff in people's houses. Her website is here.

Very yummy after spending a "cold" day at the football field!

Hope you enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup

1 butternut squashes

1 poblano pepper

1 small yellow onion

1 whole head of garlic (I will be roasting garlic again!)

8 ounces baby carrots

3-4 cups of vegetable or chicken stock.

Preheat your oven to 375ºf.

Slice squashes lengthwise, so you can scoop out the seeds. You can cut them down a little more if you'd like, to fit on your pans and maybe cook a little faster. Drizzle with olive oil, salt lightly, and place on a baking sheet in the oven. You know what? Do i need to describe the whole process? Everything gets drizzled in olive oil and roasted at the same time in the oven. I wrap the onions, shallot, and garlic individually in tinfoil, and leave the seeded, halved pepper on a baking sheet, along with the carrots.

Keep an eye on the pepper and remove when it becomes blistery and begins to blacken. Just peek in on everything every once in awhile and make sure nothings burning. Pull things out as they finish (The peppers will finish first, then the carrots, then the shallot probably, then the garlic, then onion, then butternuts, probably.) Just keep poking everything until it's mushy. Let everything cool so you can handle it easily, and heat up your stock while you wait.

Bust out your blender or food processor, and put a large pot aside for the finished soup. Begin blending the ingredients (duh, don't forget to peel your butternut) in steps, adding warm stock as needed to get it smooth. Dump it all in the big pot and stir it up really well, adding more stock if necessary to thin to desired consistency. Put over heat if necessary- letting all the ingredients cool can leave you with a lukewarm soup. Serves 3 or 4

Holiday Stress Busters

I work for an organization that teaches positive behavior management to families. One of the ways we do this is through a series of strategies that help parents to implement the things they are learning into day to day life.

While attending a support group the other day, we talked about ideas to help us alleviate holiday stress. As WLS candidates, we understand that stress eating something that is so real it’s scary! I thought about it a little more and wondered how could I use the strategies that I teach to parents in my oh so real situation. So, here goes!

1) Expectations. Now in the scheme of things, this could mean telling your family what you are going to bring for dinner, instead of them expecting you to cook the whole holiday meal. How about journaling your expectations of yourself. This could be a great way of holding yourself accountable.

2) Rewards & Incenttives. Take a moment to reward yourself during this holiday season. When you meet those goals you’ve set, take the opportunity catch yourself being good!

3) Choices. Instead of making several desserts for the holiday table, make just a couple. We always go overboard with candy making this time of the year. This season, we are cutting back to 2 or 3 choices.

4) When..Then… Contingency statements are a good way to accomplish those goals you have set up. Ex.: “When we walk after dinner, then we can sit back and relax”. “When you finish with your sugar free dessert, then you can play a family oriented game”.

5) Planning! Before your holiday affair, take a moment and plan your menu. This will give you the chance to cull out some of the extraneous foods, and prepare more healthier options.

6) Reasonable Expectations. Everyone is different. So expectations for me will be different from you. What are some reasonable expectation when it comes to you and the holidays.

7) Stay calm. We all know that stress can trigger an out of body experience when it comes to food. Take some time for yourself. When those moments of fatigue, anger or exhilaration become to much…walk away! If things become to hectic…ask for help! Don’t let these stressors get the best of you.

8) Quiet time. This is an opportunity to discuss the good and bad things that happened ove4r the holiday. Take the thoughts you came up with and go ahead and try to work them into the next shindig!

Holiday stress can be a killer on healthy lifestyles, but does it have to be that way! I don’t think so. Take some time and see how you can avoid those dreaded “HOLIDAY STRESSORS”!

Have a good day!

Support and Recipes !

Once a month I attend a WLS support group held at Baptist Hospital here in Nashville. This is something that I truly love! Not only for the support that is there, but because of the spirit, friendship and compassion that the group leader has!

Paula (the support group moderator), is probably one of th nicest people you will ever meet! She has a way about her that automatically makes you feel welcome! Her personality just overflows with a sugar free sweetness that is beyond compare! It's almost like being in the same room with Paula Deen, but with less butter!

Last nights topic was Holiday Stress and ways to avoid it. One of the things that I suffer from is "stress eating". When the going gets tough, the tough wants to eat. So it was nice to listen and learn from a group that understands the disabilities that effect me!

Paula and her able bodied assistant Freddie ( another one of my close WLS peeps), served us food last night that no one would know was sugar free and a little healthier for us! Let's see, we had Sugar Free Egg Nog, Triple Layer Pumpkin Pie, and Sugar Free Pecan Pie. The purpose of this meeting was to show us ways we could sit down at a holiday table and still enjoy those once in a blue moon treats with our family.

We were also provided with a handout that gave me good articles to read, as well as links to some recipes that we could make for Thanksgiving or Christmas!

Bariatric Eating

Bariatric Eating Recipe Box

Before And After Help

Paula also included a link to my blog because of the recipes that I have posted. Now, a lot of these recipes are not created by me, but ones that have been tried by me and my wife. We also include recipes that friends around the world have sent to us. Here is the link to my recipe blog, and the recipe index:

Food 4 Thought & Moderation 2 !

Food 4 Thought Recipe Index

You can also find this link on the left hand column of this blog:

I hope everyone enjoys the recipes and if you ever need anything, leave a comment here with your email address and I'll get back to ya!

Have a great day!

2 Recipes from Bariatric Eating

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced in 1/2 inch cubes
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
Kosher salt & freshly grated black pepper
2 tablespoons finely diced onion
2 tablespoons chopped, toasted pecans
1 tablespoon dried cranberries, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Dressing:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar free honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place diced sweet potatoes in a shallow baking dish. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir to coat. Roast for 25-30 minutes or just until fork tender. (Over cooking will cause them to be mushy when you stir them into the remaining ingredients.) Allow to cool slightly.

To make the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, sugar free honey, salt, black pepper, and chipotle pepper. Transfer potatoes to a medium bowl. Stir in onions, pecans, cranberries, and parsley. Drizzle with dressing and gently stir until coated. Serve either warm, room temp or cold.

Makes 6 servings
Per Serving:
Calories 154
Protein 1 g
Fat 6 g
Carbs 13 g
Sugar 5 g
Sodium 52 mg


Spiced Pumpkin Flan

Ingredients:
Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 cup Costellini’s Sugar Free Cinnamon Bliss Syrup
¾ cup Splenda Granular
½ teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground clove
4 large eggs
One 15-ounce can Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling which is already sweetened)
One 12-ounce can evaporated low-fat milk (not sweetened condensed milk)
Whipped cream sweetened with Splenda, OR Reddi Wipp

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly spray a one quart deep round or square baking dish with the vegetable oil cooking spray, pour in the Cinnamon Bliss syrup and place in a large roasting pan.

Mix the Splenda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a small bowl. Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Blend in the pumpkin and the spice mixture. Gradually blend in the evaporated milk.

Gently ladle the filling over the syrup into the prepared baking dish. Pour very hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the dish.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a thin knife instered near the center of the custard comes out clean. Carefully remove the baking dish from the hot water bath. Cool to room temperature then chill.

When ready to serve, run tip of sharp knife around edges of flan in baking dish to loosen. Place large serving platter over top of flan, and flip in one quick motion. Gently tap baking dish until baked flan releases onto platter.

If unmolding the baked custard scares you, flan can also be served from baking dish by spooning portions into dessert dishes.

Top flan with whipped cream and serve.

Makes eight ½ cup portions
Full portion:
Calories 84
fat 3 g
carbs 8g
protein 7g

Slow down and smell the...

...food you are eating!

It seems that was the rule of thmb yesterday. My wife spent most of yesterday having different test and procedures done. This was because of trouble swallowing. As most of you know, after RNY surgery, we have a tendency to have what is called a stricture.

Well, the good news...no problems! The bad...Our bariatric Doc did some chewing of his own! He presented Beth with 3 rules that she needed to follow:

1) Slow down and chew your food!
2) Take smaller bites!
3) Don't drink 30 minutes before or after a meal!

We strictly adhere to 2 of the 3 rules. So, not to bad right?

What is coincedental is an article I read yesterday at Lose Weight Find Life ! I found that is was pretty interesting that eating your food fast result in obesity! Who knew!

Here is the article in it's entirity:

LONDON (Reuters) - People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday.

The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world.

The World Health Organization classifies around 400 million people as obese, 20 million of them under the age of five. The condition raises the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems.

For their study, Hiroyasu Iso and colleagues at Osaka University asked more 3,000 Japanese volunteers aged 30 to 69 about their eating. About half of the men and a little more than half of the women said they ate until full. About 45 percent of the men and 36 percent of the women said they ate quickly.

Those who said they ate until full and ate quickly were three times more likely to be fat than people in the "not eating until full and not eating quickly" group, the researchers found.

They cited as causes both the availability of cheap food in big portions and habits like watching television while eating.

To counteract the "supra-additive effect" of speedy or glut eating among children prone to obesity, parents should encourage them to eat slowly and in calm surroundings, the study found.

(Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Dan Williams)

Clean your plate club !

I found this article while reading the numerous blogs I peruse. It came from Weighty Matters.Thought you might find it interesting:

Mindless Eating's and USDA's Brian Wansink, one of my favourite researchers, has released some preliminary results from a study he's been working on.

He's been looking at kids who belong to the so-called Clean Your Plate Club and has found that preschool aged members ate 35% more fruit loops than non-club members when given an unlimited portion.35% more is a lot! Think maybe the Clean Your Plate Club might play a role in childhood obesity?

The study will be published down the road in the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

His advice?Same as mine. If your kids aren't cleaning their plates perhaps you ought to be offering them smaller portions, or better yet - ensure your child tastes all the foods you offer and then allow them to determine how much they want.

Disband the Clean Your Plate Club!!!

Here is my response as posted on Obesity Help Tennessee:

When Beth had surgery last year, things changed around our house. We all started eating smaller portions, the plate size we ate on changed, and the type of food we ate changed. I honestly believe this is what caused RJ and I to lose weight on our own!

Since then,I had surgery, so all of the above stayed true for me. Things changed! But they also changed for RJ. His plate size went up, the amount of food we gave him increased, and so did his belt size.

We are guilty of being overseers of the "Clean Plate Club". Not on purpose mind you, but guilty! When we would make plates for dinner, Beth and I would have RNY size portions of the meal on a salad plate. RJ would have "Hungry Man" size portions of the same meal. Even though we were eating healthier, he was eating heftier!

Then the dreaded question always came..."What are we having for dessert"? Unfortunately, our response was always the same, "It does not matter what we are having for dessert, you have to clean your plate before you can have any"!

What the H**L was going on in my mind? Clean you plate! So, RJ would force down all the food on his monster size portion of a meal, just to make room for dessert. Thus increasing his weight, pant size and girth! We would rationalize how we felt by saying something like, "It's OK, he plays football".

Since then, we have made some adjustments to our lifestyle. RJ eats on the same size plate as us. He receives the same size portion as us. But, he always has the option for more if he wants it. Most times, he's happy with what he receives the first time around. So, we are still members of the "Clean Your Plate Club". It's just a salad plate instead of a monster size plate!

Recipes from East Tennessee Lunch Bunch

This recipe came from one of my dear friends in East Tennessee. Recently we went to the Gatlinburg are of Tennessee for a get together with several weight loss surgery friends. This was one of numerous attempts at starting a Lunch Bunch Support Group in the East. Above is the group picture of all that were in attendance that day.

Marilyn and Ron were our host, and also the ones who made these delicious recipes! Hope you enjoy!

No Sugar Added Fresh Apple Cake

Ingredients

3 eggs

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil

2 cups Nature's Crystals sugar substitute (Splenda will NOT work)

1 1/4 cups low carb flour (I use almond flour)

1 1/4 cups self rising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 large apples, cored and grated (I use Granny Smith and grate them in food processor)

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts

1/4 cup I can't Believe its not Butter

1/2 cup Nature's Crystals Brown Sugar Substitute

1/3 cup skim milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pam or Baker's Secret a rectangular pan or bundt pan. Blend eggs, applesauce, oil and white Nature's Crystals until creamy. Mix baking powder, soda and salt into almond flour and then into self rising flour and add to batter a little at a time. Batter will be very stiff. Fold in apples and 1 cup nuts.

Bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Let cool 30 minutes, then remove from pan if a bundt pan was used.

Topping:Melt the I Can't Believe its not Butter, the brown sugar substitute, and the skim milk in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to boil for 2 minutes, add remaining nuts and boil another minute. Pour over cooled cake.

Nutrition

18 servings

202 calories per serving

12 g fat

12 g carbs

6 g protein

Sugar Free Bread Pudding

1 1/4 loaves French or Italian bread without seeds

6 eggs-room temperature

3/4 cup Natures Crystals (Splenda will NOT work)

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Tear bread into bite size pieces early in day and allow to sit in air stirring every once in a while so that all the bread gets dry. Spray Pam in a large rectangular pan. After bread has dried out, slowly pour milk over it until saturated. Add sugar substitute. Add eggs and mix with a spoon. It is important that the eggs are room temp and that you do not mix with a mixer. Once eggs are incorporated, pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. It will puff up like a soufflé. While baking make sauce of your choice. Serve

Sauce

1/2 cup I can't Believe its not butter

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup Nature's Crystals Powdered sugar substitute

1 egg

Directions

Melt butters in saucepan, add sugar substitute and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Beat egg in another pan. While whisking egg, slowly add a little of the hot sauce to temper eggs and prevent them from scrambling, then return all to the pan and cook for another minute.

White Chocolate Sauce add 3 pumps of DaVinci Sugar Free White Chocolate syrup.

Praline Sauce add 2 pumps of DaVinci Sugar Free Praline Syrup and 1 pump DaVinci Sugar Free Caramel Syrup and 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

Cinnamon Dolce Sauce, add 2 pumps sugar free cinnamon syrup and 1 pump toasted marshmallow syrup.

Nutrition

White Chocolate Sauce

16 servings-2 Tablespoons

226 calories

12 g fat

20 g carbs

7 g protein(with 2 tablespoon praline sauce)

Praline Sauce

16 servings-2 Tablespoons

247 calories

14 g fat

20 g carbs

7 g protein