Kekeboo

Im not near my goal weight and this past year I let my emotions dictate whether or not I was going to follow "the dietary rules". I'm proud of the weight that has come off but I know that I chose not to do better. I don't do "do-overs" or resolutions, I can only wake up every day with a prayer of strength against my addiction to food. Now, with that said I do have a goal to learn to cook healthier. My southern roots tend to creep in and well, everything taste better with butter or gravy on it. Oh oh.... Let the judgement begin. I can't change what I don't admit to. My band is at a good fit right now, my problem is my consistent desire to want this for myself. I spent soooo many years feeling undeserving of so much, it's a constant battle to look past myself and see what others see in me. I'm starting to feel desirable again and I'm so excited to see my husband. He's been deployed since sept 2,2013 and will be home in a few weeks. He's only seen my face and I have lost about 15 lbs since he left. That was with 2 major holidays, thanksgiving and Christmas. Anyway, I don't blog or post often. I just needed to see my feelings in writing. Happy New a Year Blessings!!

Speaking with my surgeon last Friday we talked about organic vs whatever I find in the store. I let him I am unemployed now and pricey special foods for a family of 5 is just not in the budget. So he gave me website to checkout called greenpolkadot.com I not sure if there is a "the" in front or not....anyway, This site is awesome for those looking for great priced organic food. I am still looking at all the things they have, but I'm just not sure if organic is worth the trouble. I know, I know there are some on here that probably only eat organic..God bless, good job. I'm not knocking it, I'm curious about it. The commissary carries organic fruits and veggies, I may start with that and see how it goes. Anyway, just wanted to share the website with ya'll.

I normally wake up around 6am everyday. Today it was almost 10am before I crawled my butt out of bed. I guess my body finally said "enough". I drank my coffee and realized it was too late for breakfast. Oh well, gotta keep going. Went to the movies with the family, we saw Boom, it was cute. I ate some tortilla chips with cheese and jalepenos. We left so fast I didn't have time to prepare a snack pack for me. I didn't drink anything since I don't drink soda and I have a huge issue with paying for water when I can fill up at home. Breakfast: Sleep Lunch: Jimmy Dean Delights turkey/egg/cheese quesadilla Dinner: mexican casserole. Yummy!! salad Snack vanilla protein shake with a squirt of orange MIO....even yummier!! Tastes just like a creamcycle.

It is, I am drinking more of them now with the rainy weather. Everything seems to get stuck right now. Today we have some sunshine, still cold...but I was able to eat a banana....very slowly.

I'm in love!!

I'm not crazy about any of the shakes so I add flavor to them. Vanilla shake: add a squirt of orange mio for a orange creamcycle taste. Or strawberry mio is good on it as well. I add frozen berries and a little Trop50 orange juice to the unflavored mixes. There's a lot you can do to add flavor.

I get stuck quite often. I am still trying to get the bite size right. I started eating with a baby spoon. It helps. I ate something the other day and got stuck. I ate it again today smaller bites and chewed thoroughly. It went a lot better. Try smaller bites. That was part of my surgeons instructing. And he was right.

keep your head up, stress will affect the way you eat with or without the band. Although its a stressful time, defintely take time to care for yourself. Once this has passed you don't need the stress of dealing with your health. prayers for you

Oh hello Monday!! Looking forward to a geat week. This week I am going to start logging my excercise, I have to admit that i have slacked off a little....okay, ALOT. I have nothing better to do, so excercise should be alot easier. I don't work, all my kids are in school...my house is pretty clean ALL the time. Not that I don't enjoy a clean house, but it's become my hobby. Thank you Pinterest for the challenges you have given me. Yes, I can clean my whole house with venagar and baking soda, and I can cook a full healthy meal for a family of 5 in less than 30 minutes. Let see what's on the menu today. Breakfast: Jimmy Dean Delights turkey,egg, cheese quesadilla Lunch: Progresso Light chicken pot pie soup Dinner: turkey dog with coleslaw Snack: Creamcycle protein shake Drinks; Coffee water with MIO 48 oz Decaf green tea Multivitamin Vitamin D3 Vitamin B

I don't eat nuts or popcorn, my surgeon said not to. So I am always looking for something to bring to the movies or on our long drives. I don't eat out anymore because it's not worth it. I don't enjoy watching everyone eat stuff i can't, so I would rather eat at home and spend my money on doing fun stuff. Some things I pack: low fat string cheese turkey pepperoni homemade low carb peanut butter cookies I always like to have a protien shaker with my protien powder in it, then I just add water and a squirt of MIO. Homemade gummy worms..I don't make these often, but they are sooooo good. 1/2 cup cool tap water 3/4 cup granular Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda 1 packet unsweetened Kool-Aid mix, any flavor 5 packets unflavored gelatin I also like to make cheese crackers out of kraft american cheese. I don't worry about the fat content in it since I only eat one slice when I make these, and I don't make them often.

I blended light progresso soups....all of them. Taste the same if not better with some.

It's cold and gloomy out. Looks like a great day to grab a couple of movies and heat up the soup pot. Well, not exactly true, I am going to pop open a can of Light Progresso soup, Chicken pot pie. Yummy. Breakfast: 1/4 c quinoa 1egg 1 pat of light butter, salt and pepper Lunch: Like I said....Soup Dinner: beef stroganoff made with low fat cream of mushroom soup, llight sourcream and whole grain egg noodles. Gonna throw some green peas in it and a side of broccoli

Needed something different and I practically live on Orange flavored MIO. So I mixed it in a glass of fat free milk and then added 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder blended with ice in my magic blender. Soooo yummy!!

I love the weekend. I am home all week, some days till after 5 pm by myself. The weekend comes and the house is full of my kids, thier friends and my husband. I have people to tlak to. Yay!! Breakfast: Poached egg with quinoa Lunch: chili mac with low carb noodles Dinner: Hmmmm, well for the family it's going to be london broil, corn on the cob and mashed potatos For me: CAROLYN'S POOR MAN'S LOBSTER 4 ounce fresh or frozen haddock fillet * Water 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons granular Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda 1 tablespoon light butter, melted Garlic or garlic powder, to taste Place the fish in a deep-sided skillet. Add just enough water to cover the fish. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Use this much vinegar, salt and Splenda per fillet. Boil 5-8 minutes or until the fish turns white and feels firm but isn't flaking. Remove the fish from the water with a slotted spoon. Place on a broiler pan and broil 2 minutes per side to dry out the fish. Combine the melted butter and garlic powder; serve the fish dipped in the garlic butter. Makes 1 serving Can be frozen * A 4 ounce fillet will yield between 2 1/2 and 2 3/4 ounces of cooked fish. I think I will have steamed spinach with it.

I wasn't given a carb #, but I was told to stay away from white stuff...potatoes, rice, flour, white bread,etc... and incorporate whole grains into my daily meals.

Too much protein can cause kidney issues. there are no benefits to having more than your body needs. A good equation to figure that out is your weight X .48 = daily protein intake. It's not fool proof, but it's what my surgeon gave me.

I wish we had a Trader Joes here, Whole Foods is very expensive and a 40 min. drive.

I couldnt get up my stairs for 2 days without excruciating pain, so I just sponge bathed and bought waterless shampoo.

I'm all for low carb. but do make sure you are getting enough water, the first thing you will lose is water weight and that will affect your kidneys as well as the high protien. And be sure to eat your veggies, some people have misconceptions about what a LC lifestyle is, it's not all meat. I have nothing negative to say about it, to me its like any weightloss plan...there are pros and cons to all of it. Just be informed before starting one. Research, research, research.

Well said, I also see it as jealousy for not having the courage to change or absolute fear to change. Being fat may not comfortable, but it was my hiding place. I had to dig deep for the courage to change. It was scary, but so well worth it.

Yep, same here. It was about 5 days post before i felt that way. Once I started the mushy foods it began to subside. Your doing great!!

My nutritionist told me that the fibers in iceburg lettuce bond back together after its chewed and swallowed which can cause it to get stuck. Some people my tolerate it, some won't. Romaine lettuce and spinach have a different texture (as well as a healthier option) and "may" not get stuck like iceburg.

I like to take recipes and turn them low carb. For example: I buy the green enchilada suace can and follow the recipe on the back. I use low fat ingredients with it and instead of tortillas, I use sliced deli turkey. For lasagna I use low fat ingredients and then I use deli sliced roast beef and I make lasagna rolls with the sliced roast beef, place them in a 9x13 with a little sauce at the bottom and topped with sauce and low fat cheese and bake. I like genaws.com She is strictly low carb, NOT low fat. So I just convert everything to low fat.

So reread menu..I am craving the grits, I love them with a little salt and light butter, maybe a pinch of cheese. Yeah, that's a problem I love them too much and they go down easy leaving me with a crap load of carbs. I decided to make quinoa with a little salt, light butter (no cheese), poached an egg and it was better than grits'n eggs. Better choices.

I was there.... I remember after my surgery I thought "how do they do it?" I still cant get full, I would wonder around the kitchen, open the fridge, close the fridge, open all the cabinettes and sigh... What the heck was I looking for? It was just habit. I was used to eating allllll day. I would eat when i wasn't hungry, but I just needed that comfort. Then I would lay in bed at night and say that's it, tomorrow will be different. I am gonna stick to my diet." I would be good for 24 hours, or atleast for breakfast. Then I would see how well I did and want to reward myself with food. I had to find new ways of rewarding myself. Food is not a reward, its a necessity. I stll have the urge to walk around the kitchen, but now I try to be productive. I reorganize or clean out a drawer, the pantry, the fridge. I have a bracelette that i buy a new charm for at every 10 lbs I lose. It's my reminder of what I have accomplished. Its nothing expensive, just something to have. My menus arent very exciting, I guess with the limitations and restriction I have, I am basically just trying to get food in my body. Breakfast: Chai tea Poached egg wih grits Lunch: Tuna with light mayo and dill relish over 1/2 c lettuce and cucumber Dinner: chili mac made with low carb noodles. I can only eat about 3/4 c. of food, and I stay full for several hours. Snack:4 oz. protien shake...Mocha, only because I like them. Small low fat, low sugar yogurt Multivitamin water with MIO Green tea