shaunda

Ingredients: 2lbs ground beef or ground turkey 1 cup white or brown rice (optional) 1 cabbage head 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 cans diced tomatoes 1 can Tomato sauce salt, pepper, season to taste Bring large pot of Water to boil. Core the center of the cabbage and place the entire head of cabbage in the pot of boiling water. Using two forks gently pull apart the cabbage leaves. Remove each leaf out of the pot as soon as it is separated. You don't want the leaves to cook in the boiling water. Mix together the hamburger or turkey, rice, onion, seasoning. Take each cabbage leaf, place the hamburger on the leaf, roll and place in a deep casserole dish. I use my deep.lasagne casserole. Layer the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes on top of the cabbage rolls. I also chop up the remaining leaves and put that on top. Sometimes I will add some green Beans on top too. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Sprinkle a little Parmesan on it if you like. Sometimes I hollow out bell peppers, zucchini (large diameter) or tomatoes and stuff those too. Another option is to cook in the crockpot but you have to be careful not to over cook because it can become mushy. Hope you and yours enjoy it as much as my family does.

I made salsbury steak out of frozen turkey patties and fat free gravy. I added sauteed onions and mushrooms. I mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes and cooked string Beans. Low fat low cal meal for the whole family. They still don't know they ate cauliflower.

I had a half cup of homemade chicken and noodles. 7 weeks post op

I posted my before and one year pics. I have lost 142 pounds

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I posted my before and one year pics. I have lost 142 pounds

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I posted my before and one year pics. I have lost 142 pounds

I had a salad with fat free raanch. Didn't feel like cooking tonight. I feel like I'm eating the same food over and over again.

Well I am 9 days post op....but lets start from the beginning.
First I must say I NEVER thought I would do this. I had thought about it several months after having my second child, I was at my heaviest it seemed impossible. I finally called the doc found out some information and called my insurance....finding out it was covered 100% besides my co-pay of $200 and a $50 charge for the nutrition book. So I gathered my information and asked my husband what his thoughts were. His only questions were "What are the risks?" and "Is this what you really want?" I had my first doctors appoint, nutrition class, and psych eval on Oct. 23rd.
Leading up to the surgery I was terrified, not about the changes that I was going to have to make BUT the surgery itself and thinking the what if's. I was so afraid something would happen to me. Leading up to my pre surgery diet I went out for a few of my favorite meals, sushi, prime rib, and pizza. I did indulge a bit only because I knew it would be a long until I could "taste" any of this food again. In retrospect I wish I would have had Subway too, darn. Oh well.
The morning of the surgery, Nov. 25th, I was more calm then I expected. My husband and I got our girls ready and brought them to daycare together. We waited for the surgeon e for awhile. When the anesthesiologist arrived he explained it all to me, asked if I had questions and then said he was going to give me a shot to make my ride to the OR more comfortable. LOL........my husband said within second I said WOW I feel like I have drank WAY to much and laughed, he kissed me and they rolled me off. They had 1 1/2 booked but it only took 45 minutes, the surgeon told my husband it went really well.
Waking up in recovery was the most painful experience EVER. My chest hurt so bad from all of the CO2 I could not bear it, they did an EKG because of how much pain I was in. My husband stayed with me until the girls had to be picked up from daycare. I was in terrible pain for the first 48 hours, not from the incisions just the CO2 still, which moved to my back now. I had a heating pad and kept pushing the pain meds so I could fall asleep. I passed the leak test, it was horrible...the taste of that iodine is horrible. Afterwards I could drink Water, broth, and Jello.........everything went down really easy just small sips.
I arrived on Monday and left Wednesday. The first night home was hard but each day got better.
I lived off Soups the last week, but honestly I have a new love of split pea Soup. I add Protein Powder to all jello/pudding I have made at home and I save my evening snack as a greek frozen yogurt for a bed time sweet treat. Now I am 9 days out had a scrambled egg for Breakfast, yogurt for lunch, crockpot chicken and cooked carrots for dinner. My first real meal, it was AMAZING.I feel I have been lucky because since day 4 I have been able to water as I did pre surgery...no issues at all, no sipping necessary.On a side note... I am not always hungry I have to force myself to eat, but I know I need the Protein.
Today I had a follow up with my doctor and dietitian. Since the pre-surgey diet I have lost a little over 20lbs. I have no regrets in adding this tool to my arsenal of loosing this weight. I can not wait to be a healthier me.
Much love to everyone!

Omg. I found you guys. I really needed you over the holiday. I ate cake. First time since surgery. I did not know about the change.

Thanks Nicole. I need a new picture. I will get my son to take one. I purchased a pair of American eagle jeans size 10. I think I could've done a 8. Congratulations on your weight loss. My husband is doing the sleeve in December. He got jealous!

Thanks Nicole. I need a new picture. I will get my son to take one. I purchased a pair of American eagle jeans size 10. I think I could've done a 8. Congratulations on your weight loss. My husband is doing the sleeve in December. He got jealous!

I haven't posted in a while. Every thing has been great. My current weight is 159 pounds. I feel awesome! Ten months out and I've lost 136 pounds.

I haven't posted in a while. Every thing has been great. My current weight is 159 pounds. I feel awesome! Ten months out and I've lost 136 pounds.

I haven't posted in a while. Every thing has been great. My current weight is 159 pounds. I feel awesome! Ten months out and I've lost 136 pounds.

I haven't posted in a while. Every thing has been great. My current weight is 159 pounds. I feel awesome! Ten months out and I've lost 136 pounds.

I can't wait to try spaghetti squash. I love all squash so I'm excited. Time to go grocery shopping!

We're all doing awesome! I'm 96 pounds down. Surgery Dec 5.

We're all doing awesome! I'm 96 pounds down. Surgery Dec 5.

We're all doing awesome! I'm 96 pounds down. Surgery Dec 5.