My Husband the Cook

Guest post from: Kent Lara
My husband has recently really gotten into cooking. I have always been a fan of the Food Network, as we have direct star TV. I will often try recipes that I have seen on that channel. As a stay at home mom, I do most of the cooking at our house. However, in recent months my husband has become more interested in trying to cook as well. About three months ago I went out of town to visit my parents, and my husband was in charge of dinners for the kids for two nights. He decided to try a couple of recipes that I had left for him from the Food Network, and he found that he really enjoyed cooking. He now has volunteered to cook on Monday nights, and every Monday night he tries a different recipe from one of his favorite Food Networks chefs. He has two separate shows he has begun to record on our television that he uses for ideas. He is actually very good in the kitchen. I have to say, it is nice to have him in the kitchen once a week.

Speaking of Wicked

Talk about wicked (here's a nod to the previous guest post) I just discovered Popcorn Indiana. Maybe I've been under a rock but I just found it. I've always liked popcorn so I guess it's not a huge surprise.

It comes in difference flavors. I swear the kettle corn tastes just like the stuff you get at a fair. And the cinnamon sugar is awesome. There's a drizzled cinnamon sugar but that would be really pushing it as far as calories in my view.

So far it hasn't been a trigger food. I can pour a bowl and be happy. And I haven't rushed out to the store for a refill when the bag was empty. Let's hope it doesn't develop into an obsession ;)

If you haven't tried it yet check it out.

Embracing my inner witch for Wicked

Guest post written by Cynthia Fenton

I've always loved the movie the Wizard of Oz. I thought that it was just downright magical. I can't even think of how many times I watched it in the first 10 years of my life, much less during my entire life! So when I heard about the play and book Wicked, I wasn't so sure about it. I would just hate for someone to mess around with the source material of my favorite movie and making it into something different. But I read the book and ended up loving it.

I've put it off for the longest time just because my schedule hasn't allowed it until now, but I'm finally going to see the play on Broadway in a few weeks! It's such as exciting time to think about going to see it. I've been looking up reviews and ticket prices for it online. When I was doing that about a week or so ago, I ran across the site HearingAids.Miracle-Ear.com. I read through it a little bit and decided to go and get fitted with some hearing aids. That's something else that I've been putting off for the longest time too.

I know that I'm really going to love the Wicked play.

Surviving the Holiday with VSG

It's been a great Memorial weekend so far and I'm still working my VSG. LOL We've had house guests since last weekend. The visitors changed over to a new group Friday, it's starting to feel a little like a hotel here.

I was afraid all of this entertaining would put me off track with my new found resolve to use my VSG and lose weight again. However, now that I'm back in the habit I'm finding it easier to eat and drink the right things than I expected. It's all about timing.

Yesterday's example:

Breakfast
Cooked traditional breakfast for the group. I ate scrambled eggs first and found it easy to ignore the biscuits. It works best when I remember to eat protein first.

Lunch
Laid out makings for sandwiches with sides of deviled eggs and coleslaw. As I was setting out the sliced deli meats I rolled up some turkey breast and provolone. While everyone was slathering mayo on bread I ate it, it really is a fav of mine, and didn't miss the bread.

Happy Hour
My treat for the day was a vodka mixed with diet 7UP. Pretty tasty and much fewer calories than a tequila sunrise LOL.

Dinner
This was an easy one. Hubby brought home fresh caught grouper which I prepared simply with a huge salad.

Snack
My usual night time snack is cheese, so I didn't break tradition. Dr. Oz says it's a great bedtime snack and my VSG tummy loves it.

So see, it's possible to entertain and not eat the wrong things!

Birthday Hooplah

Thanks for the post, Arthur Lawrence

I'm one of those lucky or unlucky people, however you want to look at it, whose birthday falls on a national holiday. It's not Christmas, which would be the worst, but my birthday is March 17 which also happens to be St. Patrick's Day. In my opinion, it always works out well since St. Patrick's Day is such a big party day, and people are already looking to have fun even though sometimes they forget it's my birthday. This year, I'm planning a big party followed by a night out on the town, and I've been sending out evites through my Clearinternet to try and make sure there's a huge crowd there. It's not that hard to get people together when they're already trying to drink heavily, so the author in my favor! I always have to make sure to get some kind of button or banner, otherwise people don't realize I'm celebrating my birthday! I suppose there are much worse days for your birthday to fall on!

Gastric Sleeve and Staying Focused

I admit it, I've been in denial over my gastric sleeve. I gained some weight back and I kept trying to pretend otherwise. And that I didn't know why. But I do know why.

Eating isn't the problem. I still have a small little gastric sleeve and can't eat much at a time. I'm so used to seeing my food on a small dessert plate I'm shocked when I see a "regular" size plate of food. I usually eat around 4 of my "meals" a day.

Drinking IS the problem. It's the one thing I can do without restrictions with my gastric sleeve. And I have indulged. From lattes, to iced coffee, to alcoholic drinks I have been on a binge.

The point isn't how I'm managed to work around the calorie restriction built into my gastric sleeve, it's the fact that I did. All of us who have a VSG or are considering it have food issues. We need to be aware of what we are doing and not think that our VSG is a cure all. It's all about being conscious of what we are doing and not using food as a crutch.

OK, back to drinking....my Crystal Lite!! LOL

VSG and Being Complacent

After you've adjusted to life after VSG it's easy to become complacent. I know I did. And I think that is the reason for my recent weight gain.

The time right after my VSG was exciting, I was focused on eating right and watching the pounds melt off. Once I was where I wanted to be I gradually moved away from thinking about how I was eating and got back to life. Moving on was a good thing. I always wanted to be able to let my weight fade into the background. However, my VSG didn't resolve my issues with food and I still need to be vigilant. I kind of forgot that.

My weight gain has awakened me to the fact that I can't eat and drink whatever I want with no consequences. Over time I've gradually learned the tricks to eating and drinking more than I should. I used that to fall back into old habits of using food to sooth, cope and entertain myself.

I've got some work to do but I'm ready. I have a super tool in my gastric sleeve and I'm going to use it!

The Gastric Sleeve Journey Continues

I'm baaaack! After a long silence I've decided to come back to my gastric sleeve blog. There are primarily two things motivating me.

• I still receive comments here asking me for updates and to explain what life is like this far out after gastric sleeve surgery.
• I need some motivation!

At a little over 3 1/2 years out from my weight loss surgery I find myself slipping. Don't panic, I haven't gained it all back. But I have found myself putting on a few pounds, around 15 to be exact. And while I know how to work my VSG and drop the weight, motivation has been a problem.

I think reconnecting with the gastric sleeve community will get my head back into the game. Like most people who have a weight problem, staying motivated is the name of the game. I need the connection to others with the same problems to help me along. Along the way I hope to be able to help others who are facing the same problems. It's all about helping each other, right?

Let's get this party started!

Bowling for Health

Guest post from: Bruno Smith

Being big boned, I've never had a taste for exercise, but I didn't have the kind of stamina to play sports like basketball or football. I had tried playing a few pick up games in order to get the ball rolling, but after a few plays I was so spent that I couldn't continue. Everyone was overly nice about me quitting, but that per se was it's own kind of humiliation. Recently, my doctor recommended a less strenuous activity like bowling to get me started.

Since I wanted to avoid people wondering why some guy was all alone bowling over and over again I decided to make it a late night activity. I found a local bowling alley that's open till the wee hours of morning and I've been making the drive over every night for the past few weeks. I've been pretty cognizant to remember to set my home security alarm from InHomeSecurity.com before I leave and I've already been able to play more and more games in a row without having to rest. I'm surprised at how much I enjoy bowling. I've even worked on my technique and can spin the ball like the professionals do. Even though I've actually been getting less sleep before my afternoon shift starts, I've found I have more energy at work. I still have to cut the snacks and whatnot, but I feel like I can meet my New Year's resolution of playing an entire basketball game.

Checking In 3 Years After VSG

I've ignored this VSG weight loss surgery blog for a long time. And that's probably a good thing. It shows that I moved on with my life after my VSG and my weight is no longer a focal point of my life.

What prompted me to pop back in was a recent comment someone left asking questions. I remember how it was to discover that a vertical sleeve gastrectomy was even possible. I remember being desperate to find information and people with first hand experience. That is why I have maintained this blog even though I no longer write on it. I hope my experiences posted here will help answer question for those searching for them.

It has been three years since the VSG. I rarely ever think about it. It's simply my way of life. I have a small stomach and I eat less. There was always a nagging doubt that my stomach would stretch back out and I would be back where I was. It hasn't happened. There have been bumps in the road. I got careless at one point with liquid calories. Liquids go down very easily. Since I eat what I want, my attitude carried over into drinking whatever I want. When the realization hit that my clothes were getting tight I backed off and things went back to normal.

Having a VSG is a great tool. There's never been a second of regret. I have no side effects to deal with and only 5 little scars to remind me of the surgery. If you are considering this type of weight loss surgery do your homework and find what's right for you. I still highly recommend the VSG forum at ObesityHelp. There are people there at all stages.

Good luck on your journey!

Sleeve Gastrectomy and Stopping Weight Loss

This post is in response to a reader's comment. She asked me if I was able to stop my weight loss after the gastric sleeve. Her concern is that she would loose too much weight and be unhealthy looking.

I have not heard of anyone having a problem with stopping their weight loss after a sleeve gastrectomy unless they have a medical problem. I know of a person who was one of the rare people who had difficulty keeping all food down after the surgery. She was on the verge of getting too thin. However, her body finally adjusted and she became able to tolerate food. Once this happened, she was able to stabilize and even gain a little back.

My personal experience was that I eventually reached a point where my weight stabilized. This happened when I was close to my goal and I was happy staying at that weight. I could have cut my calories a little and lost more.

If I overeat on high calorie foods I can gain weight. Occasionally this happens. But then I can cut back and loose those few pounds. I keep a close eye on it now. Having this type of weight loss surgery allows you to be in control of your weight loss.

Hopefully this answered the question. If not, ask me another one!

Obesity Surgery in Mexico

Obesity surgery is a proven method of improving lives and heath but a lot of insurance companies still deny coverage for it. When they do cover obesity surgery they often only cover gastric bypass and not other forms such as gastric sleeve.

If you are in this situation and need to pay for weight loss surgery yourself, cost is a real factor. The good news is that obesity surgery in Mexico and other countries is much less expensive than here. It sounds scary but I know a lot of people who have successfully had it done in Mexico. You need to check out the surgeon and hospital carefully just like you would do here. But don't let the idea of going outside of the US for obesity surgery scare you, it's a viable option.

Baby It's Cold Outside

A wave of Canadian air has been paying us a visit. I don't mind the snowbirds but please leave your arctic air at home! :) I can't seem to get warm and have been looking longingly at infrared suanas.

Actually I was looking at an infrared sauna to see if it might help my husband's back. At this stage I will consider buying him anything that might help with the back pain from a herniated disk. There is still no date in sight for surgery to correct it. The far infrared saunas are supposed to help with a lot of physical problems. I am going to do some more research on it before I make any decisions.

Diet Food Delivery, Now That's Convenience

I have said before that I am for any kind of diet or weight loss program that works for you, not just weight loss surgery. I was talking to a friend who is interested in one of the diet food delivery programs. One of her main problems is that she doesn't cook so she eats out a lot. She heard about these programs and thought that it would be a solution for her. She asked me to help her find a program.

After a little looking around I found BestDietFoodDelivery.com. It has extensive information on the top diet food delivery services. The companies covered are Medifast, Nutrisystem, Diet to Go, Zone, E-Diets and Bistro MD. What I especially like about the site is that user contribution is encouraged. There are posts from people who have used the various diet food delivery services with their thoughts and experiences regarding them.

After reading through the site I can see where a diet food delivery program can be a great way to lose weight. You don't have to stress about making food selections and counting calories. It takes the problems of shopping and cooking out of the equation. The dieter can just pop their entre into the micorwave and enjoy their meal. It even looks like a great time saver. I think that once my friend makes her decision she is going to enjoy her diet food delivery plan.

Life after Gastric Sleeve

I have gotten away from hanging out on the sleeve gastrectomy board on Obesity Help. It seems to be part of the progression after weight loss surgery. At first you need the support of fellow vsg people. You need others going through the same thing to compare experiences with. But as your gastric sleeve becomes a way of life and you get used to your new body you move on.

We often call our surgery day out new birthday. It's when we start a new, healthier life. I compare my whole experience so far to an accelerated childhood. I went from my birthday when I was very needy, to childhood where I gained confidence and leaned about my world, to adolescence where I began separating myself from my weight loss surgery family, to adulthood where I am independent.

I no longer think about my sleeve gastrectomy on a daily basis. I no longer think about what to eat or how to eat. It is all second nature for me. I just live my life like anyone else.

It Happens at Any Age

When I was a teenager, I thought only teenagers had acne and that it would magically go away as you got older. Boy was I wrong. I have a dear friend fighting it even now and she is in her late 20's.

Fortunately, treatments have improved since I was a teenager. LOL Let's hope so! The murad acne complex is helping her. I hadn't heard of murad acne treatments before. But then, I'm not really up to date on a lot of things. I really should step away from my computer every now and then. Anyway, she is having success with the acne complex and I thought someone out there might need the information.

WLS Friendly Recipe

It's been a while since I posted a weight loss surgery friendly recipe. I don't really think of my recipes as gastric sleeve friendly any more, it is all kind of second nature to me now. I cook foods that I know I will be able to eat. For me that means moist meats. I still do not tolerate dry proteins like dry chicken or pork. But I don't really like them to begin with so why try to eat them and upset my little gastric sleeve tummy?

This recipe is a crock pot favorite with both my husband and myself. It is super simple. I just eat the meat but for others I serve it over pasta. You could accomplish the same thing by cooking it slowly in the oven. Try 325 degrees, covered for about 3 hours or until very tender.

Beef pot roast, whatever is on sale
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I like Classico roasted garlic and onion)
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Place everything in the crock pot. Cover. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours. It will be falling apart tender. Shred with a fork. Serve over pasta.

I hope ya'll are having a fantastic weight loss day!

Handling Stress After Weight Loss Surgery

I had my vertical sleeve gastrectomy 16 months ago and I have successfully lost 100 pounds. I have been wondering lately how much I would currently weight if I had not had the surgery.

It has been a difficult year. My husband had his second heart bypass in 11 months in November. The first one failed. I have felt a lot of emotions and dealt with a great deal of stress over the past year.

Before my weight loss surgery I always turned to food for comfort. If I was sad, or lonely, or stressed, food was my solution. My gastric sleeve changed all of that. I will not say that the change was always welcomed by me. There were times when I wanted to eat and felt very frustrated that I could not. What I will say is that I am glad that my weight loss surgery forced me to deal with problems in a different way.

I am certain that without my gastric sleeve I would have piled on more weight this year, probably another 20 or 30 pounds. My high blood pressure would be even more out of control. Who knows what other health problems would have developed. I am grateful to have had my weight loss surgery when I did.

I'm Experimenting, Look Away!!

The blog is looking stale to me so I am experimenting with new templates. You may see some weird stuff going on so feel free to ignore it for a few days! LOL I look different since my weight loss so the blog should as well. Hopefully it will have a fresh new look when I get done with it. If not, then at least I tried!

Happy New Year Everyone

I wish all of you a very Happy New Year. The economy may be in a nose dive but what the heck, we're skinny, right? LOL At least we are eating a lot less this year so the grocery bills aren't what they used to be.

I don't want to get all serious here, but I do have some thoughts about how the sleeve gastrectomy has seen me through some difficult times. I promise to be back later to blog about it.