RECIPE INDEX

Hey guys, if you are looking for some recipes that are weight loss friendly, I created a recipe index. It is located on the left side on the blog. the title of the link is:

Food for thought recipe index

If you have a recipe you would like to add, just let me know!

Have a great day!

End of Summer Bash ~ The Lunch Bunch & Dinner Club

This last week, I got a new toy. An electric smoker. Now this is the 3rd one I have owned over the years. Not because they are cheap, but because I wear them out.

A group of us (The Lunch Bunch & the dinner Club), are getting together for an End Of The Summer Bash today. Kinda like we did back in Feb. for The Bariatric Chef Throw-down. Now, everyone is suppose to bring food, so, I am bringing Smoked Chicken! It's now 9:00 and I've been up since 4:00 preparing food. Gee, I love to cook!

Some one asked me the other day how I could have WLS and still love to cook! It's who I am, I'm a foodie!!!!! And I always will be. So, that;s why when I do cook, I try to keep it healthier for my family and I. But I also like to experiment with food. My train of thought since surgery has been, "Food for thought and moderation too!"

Here are the items I am bringing to the party:

Smoked Chicken

Blueberry Custard Pie

Marvelous Mocha Cheesecake

If you get a chance, head over to Food for thought and moderation too! and check out all the recipes we have posted!

Have a great day!

The winds of change...

Well, it seems my life is always in some type of transition. The transition du jour involves church.

Beth, RJ and I have been going to New Life Baptist for a little over a year now. While we love the people there, something is just not right.

New Life is a church on the cusp. Though they want to be a dominant force in the Inglewood community, they are still a little closed off with their thinking. The people there are fantastic. I remember several of them from Riverside Baptist where Beth and I got married. So, on one hand it is a very nice and homey church. On the other hand, I'm concerned. It seems like every opportunity that is presented that involves growth is shot down.

When we started attending last year, it was so nice to see familiar faces every Sunday morn. But that was about it. About 4-5 months ago, the pastor mentioned the opputunity to join forces with a local Hispanic church that was looking for a home. In my mind I saw New Life as a growing, ever changing church that was going to live up to it's name...New Life. That did not happen!

The Hispanic church came and started their own service, only renting meeting space. What was supposed to be a joint service once a month, has only happened one time. Maybe I am a little jaded with my train of thought, but something is just not right.

Onto another thought about the church. I have a 10 year old that does not want to go, because he is being bullied by the pastor's son. As much as I have tried to teach RJ about turning the other cheek. He is not happy there. Before you jump to concl;usions, I have spoke to RJ about this, as well as the pastor. I long for the days of a youth group like we had at Riverside. Jay Victory was a man you had a vision for young people and the trials that they were going through. The youth leadesrship at New Life is not real strong. They have people who attend to the department, but that is it. If you know me, you know my heart is with the youth of the church. I have volunteered several times to help out, but am told no, or we don't need you at this time.

For most of my Christian life, music has held a very special place in my heart. When I am singing a special on Sunday morn, I feel the spirit of God right beside me, singing right along. If I am in the choir, it is the same feeling . There is nothing like worshiping my Savior through song. Our music ministry at New Life is lacking tremondously. We had an iterim Minister of Music before Christmas, and that's when I became active with the choir. In Jan., the church decided to let Mike go, and start the search for a new Minister of music. Here it is August, and a search has not even started. this is a big part of who I am, and it needs to be mistered to.

I guess when it comes down to it, I am not happy in our present situation. Both Beth and I have prayed about this for a while now. It seems God is leading us in another direction. New Life has served a purpose for me though. It reminded me of the love, fellowship, and importance of forgiveness! It has taught me the importance of keeping my life Christ centered. It has taught me that I have a family that needs to have Christ in their lives. I hold no hard feelings to the church, in fact I have been blessed to be a part of it! But it seems it is time to move on.

I have a favor to ask though...Several of you (the 2 or 3 that read my blog), have family or friends at New Life. I plan on talking to Brother Brian this week sometime to tell him how we feel. This blog is just a journal of my thoughts and feeling. I'm asking that you keep us in prayer during this time of transition. Please pray for my family and I as we seek God's will in all that we do!

Want you take me to.....funkytown!

Want you take me to funkytown!

Want you take me to.............

ONEDERLAND!!!!!

For the first time in over 39 years, I am below 200! This is a day that I have been waiting on forever. I could not resist taking a picture to document those feet! I mean this feat, LOL!

For all those that are struggling with your decision, let me tell you this...Breathe! It is worth the changes that you must make. It has been worth it in every facet of my life!

Now I think I need a pedicure to make my toes look a little better! LOL!!!Have a great day folks.....I am!!!!!!

MSNBC: The miracle weight loss that isn't

An acquaintance over at Obesity Help posted this article :

MSNBC: The miracle wieght loss that isn't

In my friends post, she said she was concerned simply because she was 8 days away from surgery. It sounded like she was having 2nd thoughts. Been there, done that, and got the t-shirt! None the less, she was worried!

This was my response to her:

For years I was a meat cutter with H.G. Hills. Every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas some news channel would run a story on the risk or problems involving you holiday turkey. That is what this article made me feel like. Like there was something wrong with what I was doing.

Yes there are risk! No lie, no sugar coating it, no making it into a happily ever after fairy tale. But aren't there risk involved with walking across the street? Flying in an airplane? Drinking the water from your kitchen faucet?

My question is this, and it is the same question I asked myself before my surgery. What are the risk involved with living my life in an extremely obese body? Would I live to be 65? Would I live a fairly productive life? Would I see my son grow into an adult? Probably not!

So, there are risk, but the benefits I have gained so far have out weighed the risk. I have lost 165 pounds, my wife has lost 185, and my sister has lost 169. Do you have any idea what this does for my family? WOW!

The article said that 1 in 4 would suffer from complications. don't focus on the negative. Look at the positive...3 out of 4 would not! SUPER!

My suggestion...take a deep breath and live everyday to it's fullest. Enjoy whatever time on God's marvelous little planet you have!

I'll be lifting this person, along with all other new ops up in prayer for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery! And I can't wait to hear how your new self is doing! YEAH!!!!!!!

Tankful Tursday !

Hey guys!

It's time for Tankful Tursday! A day where we can rejoice and shout from the rooftops all that we are Tankful for. It's a great alternative to wasting away in a sea despair and darkness! So, who's ready to get ouot of thier funk? I know I am!

Last week was a pretty rough one for me. I found it very hard to find even one thing to be Tankful for. Now I know it should not be that way, but it was. I really don’t know what even made the week the way it was. A cloud of depression hung over me like a storm that would not stop!

As I was contemplating (I love that word, it’s a fancy way of saying, “My brain is working hard”), about how hard things were, a song came on the radio. It was one by a Christian group called “Casting Crowns”. The name of the song is “Praise you in the storm”. What a lovely sentiment, that in the midst of trials and tribulations, you can still reach out and see the good! As hard as it is, sometimes we just need that little push through the gloom toward a new day. Well this song did it for me!

Here is the chorus for the song:

And I'll praise you in this storm

and I will lift my hands for

You are who You are

no matter where I am

and every tear I've cried

You hold in your hand

You never left my side

and though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

If you’ve never seen or heard this song, click here! (Praise You In The Storm)

So, what am I Tankful for on this Tankful Tursday?

I am thankful for a God you reaches down and wipes those tears away. A God who is right beside me, no matter what. A God who loves me and sees me for who I am.

I am Thankful for my wife and son who are the world to me!

And I am Thankful for the benefits that this surgery has brought to me!

Peaches!

Last week I talked about going to the Farmers Market in Nashville. Well we bought some freestone peaches that were absolutely remarkable. In other words...yum! I had eaten maybe one or two this week and noticed they were getting a little ripe. what a better way to use them, than Peach Ice Cream! Yeah!

Now we are not talking normal peach ice cream, it's all about protein around here. So we came up with a Protein Peach. It turned out really well!

Protein Peach Ice Cream

Ingredients

2 cups Hood Calorie countdown Milk

1/2 pureed peaches

1/2 cup diced peaches

1/3 cup Splenda

1 Tbsp DaVinci Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup

2 Scoops BSN Lean Dessert Whipped Vanilla Protein

Directions

In a bowl, mix together milk, Splenda, and vanilla syrup until blended well. Add pureed peaches and stir together. Mix in 2 scoops of vanilla protein using a hand mixer on high. This will make your mixture nice and frothy! Pour into your ice cream maker and follow your manufacturers directions for use. 5 minutes before ice cream is finished, pour the reaminder of the diced peaches into the mix ansd finish freezing. When ice cream is done, it will be like soft serve. You can eat it then, or pack in an air tight container and stick in freezer to ripen. Top with a dollop of Sugar Free Cool Whip if you would like!

Enjoy!

Here are some links to other Protein Ice Creams I have made:

Chunky Monkey Protein Ice Cream

Strawberry Caramel Protein Ice Cream

Pistachio Protein Ice Cream

Cookies & Cream Protein Ice Cream

Peach Protein Ice Cream

I'm tired !

Wow! What a weekend!

I spent Saturday at one of the most unique, and in RJ's words "boring" festivals I have ever been to. We went to the Tomato Arts Festival in East Nashville. Now, I was hoping for tomatoes and other assorted summer vegetables. What we got, was a parade of people dressed like tomatoes! Oh yeah, a really out of tune band led the parade! Well, at least we got some exercise.

When we left the Tomato Festival, we went to Farmers Market. Now, it's been years since I've been to the market, but what a blast! RJ and I walked a lot further than we have in the past. And we got some really fresh fruits and veggies.

We bought some peaches, which were delicious!

We also picked some tomatoes, jalapeños and onions which Beth made into pi-co DE gallo! Yum!!!

When I saw green tomatoes, I could not resist! If there is one thing in the south that signifies summer...it's fried green tomatoes! Now, I have not had them since surgery, so we will see what kind of gastro intestinal distress the grease will cause.

And for some reason, I could not resist the watermelon and cantaloupes! This is what I call eating good in the neighborhood!

Now that was on Saturday! Sunday was just as busy. will it ever slow down? Who knows! Anyway, we had a joint service at church today. Several months back, we retired out part of our church to a local Hispanic church that was looking for a home. So, today we met together for the first time. What a beautiful service. We had 4 baptisms, praise and worship, communion, and ended up with dinner on the grounds.

Beth and my class had to supply desserts. So we did a Sugar free Sour Cream Pound Cake with strawberries. The recipe can be found by clicking on the picture!

After church we came home and prepared dinner for Beth's mom and dad. Yesterday was Beth Mom's 66th birthday. We joked and told her that she had a full house...08/08/2008...8's and 6's! She had requested a cheesecake, so we obliged by making her my Strawberry Shortbread Cheesecake! Once again, click on the picture for the recipe!

I think I need to go back to work , just to get some rest!

Fun Friday !

http://view.break.com/534274 - Watch more free videos

Tankful Tursday !

Every once in a while, God shows us all we have to be Thankful for. It is such that I present this story as my Tankful Tursday post. The video that you will see, will probably bring tears to your eyes, but how truly Tankful are you?

For me, every single breath I take I am thankful for! There but for the grace of God go I! Thanks Bronie for sharing.

Have a wonderful day!

A son asked his father, "Dad, will you do a marathon with me?"

The father, despite having a heart condition, says, "Yes."

They went on to complete the marathon together. The father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, "Dad, let's join the Ironman together." To which, his father also said, "Yes."

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. Held every fall in the US city of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the race encompasses three endurance events; a 2.4 mile (3.8 km) ocean swim in Kailua-Kona Bay, a 112 mile (180 km) bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hawi and back, and a marathon (26.2 mile, 42 km) along the coast of the Big Island (from Keauhou to Keahole Point to Kailua-Kona); finishing on Ali'i Drive.

Father and son went on to complete the race together.

Childhood Obesity~Feeding Self Esteem

With the Walk From Obesity right around the corner, and the focus being on childhood obesity, I thought this article was very appropriate. It comes form the "What's New at OH Blog". It's kinda long, but really throws some common sense ideas about setting examples for our children (and others). Hope you enjoy!

Kid Talk FEEDING SELF-ESTEEM

My office manager brings her pug, Harley, to the office every day. Harley greets patients as they enter, begs for treats and lies in the sun. He no longer soils the carpet. He is the perfect dog.
My patient Joe arrives for his session a few minutes late, but stops to greet Harley and praise him. “Aren’t you a good dog?” he says. “Yes you are, yes you are.” He enters my room and proceeds to tell me how frustrated he is with his “lazy, fat eight-year-old son” (his words, not mine) for his insensitivity in demanding time with his father as soon as Joe arrives home. I comment that he treats the dog better than his son. Joe remains quiet for a moment or two and then starts to weep.

I watch my friend as she holds her new granddaughter. I watch as she praises her and brags about her. Like most babies, she is mostly unremarkable, but to my friend she is special—or at least she is special so far, for I also watch this friend complain about her own daughter’s shortcomings. It is hard to remain perfect for long.

I see Jane, a college freshman, during her Thanksgiving break from school. She is a former patient of mine and asked if I could squeeze her in while she was in town; I agreed, anxious to see how she was doing. I ask what she’s learned and she reports, “It turns out that everyone doesn’t put tissue paper in their dresser drawers.” I’m puzzled. She goes on to explain that in her house everyone put tissue paper as a liner in their drawers, and so she expected that the world did so as well.

Self-esteem is not built in an instant, but over a lifetime. It is built by each experience we have. Each of us grows up in a family that helps us to interpret the world around us and teaches us what to expect, not only from others but from ourselves as well. Since our view is determined not by the world at large, but by the relative smallness of our families, the view we develop is inherently flawed. How tolerant our families are of disparate thoughts or ideas helps to shape how flexible and well adjusted we become. It is the family’s worldview and its view of us that contributes to the developing self-esteem of each child.

No psychologist expects that any family will always be supportive and loving. No psychologist expects that any family can always do the right thing. The goal is to be “good enough.” We hope that the majority of interactions between children and their families are positive enough to enhance their self-esteem. Just as the flavor of a stew comes from the mixture of ingredients in it, our self-esteem comes from a mixture of our experiences.

Few issues seem to summon such strong feelings as the issue of weight. Unlike other aspects of the self, our physicality is immediately observable. Our preoccupation with slenderness, perpetuated by both medical and fashion concerns, is evidenced by our view of obesity. Obesity implies failure: failure to control one’s impulses and failure to control one’s flaws. It leaves one open to ridicule on many levels, and it leaves us vulnerable to prejudices and discrimination as well. Is it any wonder that it becomes a flash point between parent and child?

Sally comes to me referred by her pediatrician for depression. She is significantly heavier than a 10-year-old should be and is tormented by her classmates. Her obesity limits her mobility and diminishes her attractiveness as a friend. She cannot jump rope or play dodgeball as well as the others. She reads better than most and can have an adult conversation, but these characteristics are largely overlooked by 10-year-olds.

As we begin to explore her family dynamic, we start to see that she is tormented at home as well. At school the tormentors seem cruel, while at home they seem hurtful, but well-meaning. Sally’s parents have been unsuccessful at helping her to lose weight and are embarrassed that their failure is seen by the entire world.

They have offered to buy her a special gift if she would just lose weight. They have put up charts on the refrigerator to reward her appropriate choices. They have bought her a special dress in a smaller size and hung it in the closet for her. They have brought her to special doctors, and now even to me, a psychologist, hoping that I can “shrink” her (pun intended).

What they have not done, and what they resist doing even now, is to look at their behavior as well as Sally’s. This family has always used food as a substitute for interaction. Sit with Sally as she does her homework or provide her with milk and cookies as she sits alone? Read her a book at bedtime or give her a “treat time”? Go for a walk with her or pop in a VCR tape? Sadly, they have always made the wrong choice in these and in countless other situations.

Remember, no one interaction defines self-esteem, but a pattern of interactions does. Also, remember to separate your child’s behavior from your feelings about your child and about that behavior. Continuing to love children while disapproving of what they have done is a difficult but all-important parenting skill. You continue to love your children when they have a cold, do you not? You continue to love them if they get diabetes, do you not? Yet see them gain weight and disapproval flows from you like soft serve from the machine.

Looking at the big picture, it is not a surprise that obese children come from obese families. If the conditions for obesity are prevalent, it is hard to remain thin. Family genes, easy accessibility to snack foods and a worldview that links food with soothing will win out.

Now the skeptics I know will say, “What good is it if I change my house when the world doesn’t change?” I’ll tell you this: few children become obese because of what they eat outside their homes and families. Change what is available at home, change attitudes about food, increase exercise and replace treats with interaction and your children’s self-esteem, not their weight, will soar.

HARLEY SAYS:
1. Reward me with kindness and affection, not with food.

2. Take me for a walk instead of giving me a chewy.

3. It’s hard to think about anything else when there is a cabinet full of treats.

4. Apples are as good as cookies.

5. Teach me by example.

Michael Sakowitz, PhD, a Clinical Psychologist, specializes in the treatment of WLS patients. He can be reached in New Jersey at 973-696-0800 or in Arizona at 602-904-3448.

Corey R. Glynn, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Pilates Instructor, specializes in working with WLS patients. She can be reached in Arizona at 602-904-3448.

Oh No !

Well, it had to happen sooner or later! the dumping fairies have paid me a visit, and boy did they pack a punch!

We had a get together today with my family. It seems we get together about every 2 to 3 months to celebrate birthday's. With 3 of my immediate family having had weight loss surgery, we all try to keep evil foods away from the table. Most everything we ate was very pouch friendly. I was even surprised when my sister in law said she had brought sugar free ice cream and toppings! WOW, she really kept us in mind!

Beth had made a sugar free peach cobbler, so I thought um-mm, peach cobbler and ice cream! I'm in heaven. Let's just say after eating my fantastic dessert, I was not in heaven! In fact, the flames of hell were nipping at my feet. I felt nauseous, my heart was racing I was sweating! Oh no, the dumping devil was sticking his pitchfork right in my gut! It was so bad, I went out to the truck and laid down. That's right, 95 degrees in the shade and I was curled up like a new born pup just a shaking!

Things settled down after about an hour, but I still felt like I had gone 10 rounds with Muhammad Ali!

The bad part...on the way home Beth asked what I wanted for dinner! UGH!!!!!

A New Blog!

It's football time in Tennessee! Well, this year I have created a new blog for my son's football team, The Madison Titans. Instead of posting on Bald Is Beautiful about the football season, I thought I would create a new blog just for that. So, if you are interested in how RJ and his team mates are doing this season, just travel over to MadisonTitans.com and see what is happening!

Support! It's what a body needs!

Support has got to be the single most important aspect of my weight loss journey. Without support, I have no idea where I would be, or how much I would weigh. All I know is I have a great support system.

First and foremost, I have my wife. Not only is she doing this with me, she actually is the one that pointed me in the right direction.

My family is hugely supportive! There are 3 of us in the immediate family that have had weight loss surgery. My wife, myself, and my sister. Between the 3 of us, we have lost a total of 517 pounds in less that a year and a half! WOW!!!!! My mom and dad are right there pushing us and offering encouragement as we need it!

The readers of my blog are real and amazing people with words of praise and support! I owe a lot to several people who read my blog, but one really sticks out. Her name is Susy and she is just plain wonderful. I love the honesty and candor that this young lady offers up! Keep up the good work Susy, you're looking fantastic!

My weight loss family! This includes all my friends on the Obesity Help Tennessee Board. These are the people I check in on each and averyday. Without the encouragement and offers of help, there would be many who would have failed! Everyone on the boards are awesome about jumping in when needed. This last week on OH, there were some really thought ptovoking post dealing with issues we deal with. If you are inclined, just click on the links to read what we talked about:

Do you have what it takes to succeed?

Gluttony-Do you suffer from it?

Where do you struggle?

What's in your cup?

These are the types of questions and discussion that can help you succeed!

Just recently, several of us have started an email support group. A simple way to stay connected and discuss issues that pop up through out the day. Like when someone you work with brings in a Banana Split Cake, and how you feel about it. It's great to be able to reach out to someone who knows what you are talking about.

Support ~
To bear the weight of, especially from below.
To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.

To keep from weakening or failing; strengthen

Do you have support? If not, may I suggest the words of Diana Ross:

Reach out and touch,

Somebodys hand

Make this world a better place

If you can!