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