Mini Me Wanna~Be

Do you ground your own flour, or do you buy it already ground? And when useing it if it calls for a cup of flour do you use the same amount in the almond, flaxmeal, coconut?? and what have you found with baking, ive read you have to add something to make it sticky like xantham or guar gum, which do you prefer? Thank you in advance :} Katrina

I do not have Celiac but I do have a lot of other health issues which most of them are auto-immune diseases. I’m not going Gluten free because of "the fad" I’m doing it because I have been told Gluten is the reason for a lot of my pain and inflammation. I don't eat bread or Pasta except a bit once in a very great while and have no problems cutting those out. But I am finding there is gluten in all sorts of things I would never think had "wheat or gluten". What I’m trying to get info on are other people who have actually had to cut Gluten out of their lives either because of Celiac or having Gluten intolerance. What they have found to be an easier and more useful way. I don’t need recipes, I’m hoping once I learn the basics and am no longer so confused that I will be able to change my recipes into being gluten free. In a lot of the books I have found and info on the net, they tell you “What Gluten is what to avoid and give a crap load of recipes that I would never use. So I’m just looking for some “REAL PEOPLE” experiences with this. Thank you all in advance for any help you are willing to give on your experiences, trials, failures, what your family and other people will actually eat that aren’t also GF. Katrina

I had an idea for the past couple years that I had Gluten Issues but I was trying to get everything else in my life on track and get my weight down. I have Diabetes (Insulin dependent), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, RA, OA & Psoriatic arthritis and a few other issues. Well now 1 year after Gastric Sleeve surgery and 93lbs down I am having enough issues with the Gluten that my Dr says I need to go Gluten Free. Does anyone have any experience with these issues and have any words of wisdom you'd be willing to share? Also I know there are a butt load of sites out there that have GF recipes, but what im having issues finding are places to get GOOD & CORRECT information about it and about all the new and different flours out there and other ingredients that I will now need to use. I live in a small town and there aren't many "Health" food stores to get info from. I would love to hear any help you are willing to offer to make this easier and less confusing for me. katrina_thatsme@hotmail.com Thank you in advance :} Katrina

I have one and we use it everyday. I have bought expensive ones and cheap ones before and I like this one the best. My only complaint was I wish it would have come with 2 big bullets instead of 1 big & 1 small. I have just been to lazy to go order another one.

OK, silly maybe stupid question: I was sleeved in February still learning the thing my new tummy likes, doesn't like and just simply wont tolerate. My question is, If I eat it and throw it up within 10~15 minutes do I still count it? I have been eating and throwing up a lot lately and am not sure what to do here. Please offer your opinion's. Thank you in advance :}

I was given an electric pressure cooker by my Mom, she loves her's but cooks and eats thing's I can't. I need your help with idea's, recipes and what not. We eat a lot of chicken, ground turkey, some steak and pork. If you all would be willing to send me some recipes so I can use my new gadget I would be very grateful. I also have a crock pot/slow cooker that I would love to use more often. Thank you all in advance for any help you can give me :} If you would like you can email me @: minimewanna-be@hotmail.com. Thank you, Katrina }!{

Lisha73: I didn't start using the smaller silverware until a couple months after my surgery but since I have been using them I have noticed that if we end up at the Mother in laws or Brother's for dinner and I used "regular" silverware I am feeling it real quick. I seem to eat MORE than I should be and for some reason faster than I need to be. Since I have started carrying a set with me I can honestly saw I see a difference in how I feel and how much I eat. If I knew how I would post a picture of them on here I would. Good Luck to you :}

I tried to get some toddler silverware but it is almost as big as regular silverware, so I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and bought some of there cocktail silverware. I also have a Beall's/Burke's where I live and they had some really "adult" looking little cocktail spoons & forks sets. I now have enough to have a set at work, my Mom's and I carry a set in my purse for when we eat other than at home. I have noticed a difference using them. Good luck with your journey :}

I had surgery on Feb 19th and I still cannot eat scrambled eggs, I did try a fried egg and a hard boiled egg & egg salad the other day and I did fine. It doesnt make sense to me but maybe something changes the egg when scrambling. I would try egg in other forms and then every couple weeks try a scrambled egg, thats what im doing. Good luck in your journey :}

I had surgery with Dr. Umbach Feb 19th and I love him and his staff. He's a fantastic and caring man :}

I had my sleeve done on Feb 19, 2013, I still cannot eat scrambled eggs they kill me. Seems like they get stuck going down and end up always coming back up and then Im miserable for a couple hours. I have been craving egg so I thought I would tried a fried egg, just did it in a tiny bit of margarine and couldn't believe how good it tasted and it went down fine and stayed down. I don't know if the cooking of the egg changes it and makes it harder for me or if it's just me. I have been afraid to try a soft or hard boiled egg til now I think I am gunna give them a try. Will wait a little longer to try a scrambled egg again. I hope it's just a "me" thing at this point I have always loved scrambled and my husband makes amazing scrambled eggs :}

I have tried a few but have not had good success. I have no idea how much to add, so with my finished product im not sure if it's yucky cuz I didn't put enough or I put too much. So if any of you can give us measurement guidelines that would be awesome. Thanks in advance

IN NEED OF ADVICE/HELP: I work in retail & wear a pedometer every day, it counts & tracks how many steps I take thru the day, miles I walk & calories I burn. Do you think I'm cheating if I count the calories I burn thru the day & log the info into MFP or should I only be counting calories I burn with the extra walking I do after work?? MFP doesn't track steps or miles so I just take the # of calories Ive burned off my pedometer & list under walking 2.0 slow pace to the closest match. Im pretty new at all this "exercise stuff" & dont want to be cheating myself. I got sleeved on Feb 19, 2013 and want to use my tool in the best way I know how too to get healthy. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read & help me out?

what an awesome job, you are such an inspiration. If you don't mind me asking how did you handle lose skin on your way? I started at 297lbs had surgery on 2/19/12 am now at 239lbs. As my husband says I have always been "solid" as I say was built like a brick s**t house and as im losing the weight im starting to feel squishy so im assuming im going to end up with some loose and hanging skin. I do walk 5+ times a week and do whatever else I can do unfortunately a gym membership is not in my budget currently so im just looking for some helpful info as to what others found helpful in the loose skin department. Again you are truly an inspiration to me I am so happy for your success

I know there are several different ways of getting protein, but with the powders is there really any difference between pea, whey, soy or hemp? I live in a little town that doesn't have very much for health stores and they have a mixture of those 4 proteins so I'm wondering if ones better than the others & why? I had surgery on 2/19 & have been having issues getting my protein in & am looking for so different options Any help you can give would be great. Thanks in advance for your info :}

It's been a rough & frustrating road for me since surgery with losing and seeing movement on the scale, but I weighed in today which is my normal weigh day of the week and I was very surprised to see the scale read 245.6. I was so surprised I made my Easter goal. I am very grateful for all of the people here that have been a motivation for me. Thank you all :} I hope you all had a wonderful day with family and friends

I did pre op diet for 17 days b4 surgery they call it lean & green. I was allowed 2~3 protein drinks/shakes a day and either chicken, turkey or fish/seafood & a green veggie for dinner. I started my journey out at 297 now at 256 now but from surgery day I weighed 255 a week later I weighed 267 (gained 12lbs) and as of today 256. so still 1 lb above surgery weight :{ I understand the whole "stall" thing but the 12lb gain, that im frustrated about.

Do everything "right" is the issue for me, I have no clue what the "right" thing is. The NUT I saw was no help what so ever, she didnt give me any guidelines on how many calories to eat, grams of protein to get per day. Im assuming these #'s will change the further along I get but I need to know the right now things. Only thing I got when I walked out of her office was Don't drink 30 b4 30 after eating and @ least 64oz liquids a day.

Right there with you :{ I had my surgery on Feb 19th and still weigh MORE than I did the day of surgery, please explain that to me :{{. I have been so frusterated and mad at myself cus I feel like I'm doing something wrong but then I tell myself what the heck could I be doing wrong I'm eating 700 calories a day getting in @ least 40g Protein and all my water most days. I know for sure b4 surgery I was eating way more than 700 calories. If you get some words of wisdom please share with me cuz this scale is pissing me off and about to find a new home in the bottom of a dumpster. I wish you all the luck and success on your journey :}

Yes & No, there are a whole list of things that I could eat B4 surgery that I can't eat now. I used to be a huge spicy foods eater and now I can only do a bite or 2 and my tummy's saying NO, NO, NO you don't. I haven't been able to eat cottage cheese at all since surgery. My taste buds have changed so much things now are super sweet, super sour. Even my nose is more alert to smells I would have not noticed b4 surgery. My 2 favorite flavors of Crystal Light make me throw up now even just one swallow, which sucks cus I bought a boat load of those b4 surgery. I am hoping after time and my tummy isn't new anymore and I can eat some of my pre surgery favorites. But ultamitly it's for my good if my tummy doesn't come back around to liking it then I guess it was meant for me not to eat :} Good luck with your journey

I thought the same way and them I started telling myself "KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE" I had surgery on 2/19 I have cooked almost every night and yes I want to sample but I keep saying to myself is this bite worth it??? Then I tell myself nope and move on. I hope you find something that helps you get thru it. The weight loss for be is so much more important than a bite or drink of anything there is out there. :}

fatrosie have you found it at a regular retail store or do you have to buy online? I'd appricate any info you can give please :}

@Leeann71, its frustrating me because I am eating 700 calories a day, I know for sure my b4 surgery calories were way higher and the week after surgery I gained weight. I cant even wrap my head around how thats even possible to gain. I see all these stories of people losing 10, 15, 20 the 1st month after surgery and I gain. just a little frustrating to me but I will get thru it im sure.

Sdonovan78 at least your losing and your scale is moving. I had surgery on 2/19, 2 days after surgery I weighed 255 a week later I weighed 264 and this past Sunday morning I weighed 256. The most calories ive had in a day since surgery was 700 Im getting in all my liquids most days and been averaging between 60 & 80 grams of Protein a day. Im so frustrated with myself, makes me sad to think this isn't going to work for me espically since they removed 85% of my damn stomach :{ I know ive lost something because people who know & didnt know I had surgery have commented that ive lost weight and a couple pairs of pants fit differently. But I want to see it on the damn scale too or im going to get rid of it and just weigh once a month at Dr apt. If anyone has any words of wisdom I'd be open to it. Thanks in advance in taking the time to read this :}

I use a toddler spoon or a tea spoon (the one witht the long handle). I have been looking for some more so I have 1 at work and at my Mom's so I don't have to carry a spoon and fork in my purse all the time. However I am having an issue finding them where they are smaller than adult silverware, no wonder our kids are so over weight....lol I haven't bought the plastic sets only because with the plastic forks you can't stab any kind of meat. If you find a place to get them please let me know and I will do the same. I have been using them since b4 surgery and I do find my bite's are smaller and that's good now that im 3 weeks out cus big bites are not my friend :}