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.