bigmamaAfrica

I always loved cheeseburger pie (from the back of the bisquick box) and figured I would share my healthy version:
This recipe serves 8.
1 lb lean (93% lean) ground beef
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 small tomatoes
1 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Original Bisquick mix
1 cup skim plus milk
2 eggs
If you want to even lessen the fat and calories more, you can use heart smart bisquick and egg whites


Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion (season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.) over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese. In small bowl, stir bisquick, milk and eggs with fork or wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate. Slice Tomato and cover the entire top of the pie. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean
Here is the nutritional information based on the above ingredients:
1 Serving: 181 calories; 6.12g of fat; 10.86 carbs; 3.54 sugars; 19.91 Protein
Hope you all enjoy!!!

I have a recipe for Chocolate-Peanut Butter Protein Bites. They are yummy little balls of goodness.
Take two scoops of chocolate Protein mix, 1 cup natural PB and any other mix-in you might like (oats, raisins, mini choc chips, etc) Mix this all together and form into bite-sized balls.
I keep mine in the freezer and unthaw when needed. Nice protein packed treat!

Overall given the increases in meats and cheeses and nuts in my grocery shopping- my monthly bill has definitely gone up! I have also decided its way too expensive to buy Protein powder in Africa so when I'm done with this pack its off my shopping list. My budget on going out has remained more or less the same - just i always have a doggy bag now! Or my poor partner has finishes my plate! Lol
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We are actually at the local market right now stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Aside from staples, I also like to test the locally grown fruits that are only found in this country. Much cheaper than the grocery shops.
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I am always out the door B4 breakfast so must make and carry mine with me.
For quick gathering, I enjoy some mornings to have Cottage cheese with fruit and stevia, or even cheese for a more savory taste.
The mornings I go the gym B4 work and breakfast, I make and pack Protein shakes, and with all the different varieties I can think up to get Protein and carbs at right levels.

I buy the grilled chicken from Trader Joe's and just chop up 3 ounces in the morning. 90 calories, 0 carbs, 19 grams of Protein and it takes under 2 minutes to prepare. Hard to beat.

Since I know this is going to be a big question for people, I'm creating a list of Protein sources for vegan and vegetarians and in no particular order:
Green peas
Quinoa
Nuts
Peanut Butter
Beans
Chickpeas or garbanzo Beans
Tempeh
Tofu
Edemama
Hemp
Chia seeds
Sesame seeds
Seitan
Yogurt
cheese
eggs
Lentils
Milk
Black Eyed Peas
TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein)
Cottage cheese
Buckwheat
Hummus
Spirulina
Any more?

Dang.....I had a whole list of things but they are not vegetarian!
My favorite snack is something I really never cared much about before surgery. Bacon! I love bacon now. There is nothing better than a piece of baked crisp salty bacon. Mmmmmm......

Maybe nuts, hummus, edamame Beans and edamame Pasta, nut butters ,
"Better than beef" is a fairly decent substitute for ground meat recipes. (Got it at target)
Yogurt, eggs, extra Protein milk, protein bars....lots of tofu. Baked, breaded, soy sauce flavored..
Just a few suggestions to get ya going
Good luck!

I live alone and I'm spending wayyyyyyyyy less money than I used to. Also, the food delivery app I used to use like 5x/week sends me emails telling me they miss me as a customer - NSV!

I spend about the same but we're a family of 5 and my kids are growing so they eat more to make up for what I can no longer eat. The only thing special I buy for myself is Protein powder/shakes otherwise we all eat the same healthy meals and Snacks.< /p>

I stopped losing weight a few weeks ago. I guess I need to join the gym again. Sigh. I hate exercising.

This is going to be long so if you don’t care about the story part, skip to the bottom for the numbers.
I never thought I would be here, post-op from WLS surgery, especially a surgery that removed most of my stomach but here I am, and I am thrilled to be here.
I grew up in a healthy, athletic family, really athletic, at the Professional level. We had healthy food and some not so healthy comfort food, but always real food in the house. I was always athletic, but slightly overweight growing up. Then in college, I started to yo-yo. My weight would change between 20 and 40 pounds. Then I had a baby, BOOM. I gained 70 pounds with the pregnancy and never lost it. I started working with Tech Startups in the dot com era and we had all the perks. Free food, free alcohol, all day every day. I moved up the ladder and with all the five star hotels came high calorie free meals. Extensive business travel meant eating out 5-6 days a week 3 times a day. On the days at home the eating out continued because I was so exhausted from the work week.
I was healthy with low to normal blood pressure and not diabetic most of this time. I was a healthy fat person for a long time until I wasn’t. I was active. I exercised, I could walk circles around even my thin friends in a mall. Then 10 years ago, diabetes. It was easily managed with pills and diet, so it didn’t create drastic changes. I never took it very seriously because I was never really extreme in my high sugars. Then about 4 years ago it seemed like things took a turn, I could never lose more than 20 or 30 pounds. My ability to exercise and be active seemed to diminish. Carrying all that weight was finally catching up to me and my body was breaking down and suffering. Then last year, high blood pressure came. After taking high blood pressure meds for 2 weeks that made me sleepy and made it almost impossible to run my business. I decided to have WLS.
I had researched and looked at WLS for years. I read WLS forums and talked to people, but always talked myself out of it. I finally decided that even if I died on the table that was better than dying slowly. So I knew I was ready. I went through the process very quickly. Almost not trusting myself to drag it out and I felt a real necessity to get the weight off quickly. I went from my first visit with the surgeon to surgery in 8 weeks. BCBSIL was wonderful and the whole process was fast and easy for insurance approval.
Another deciding factor that WLS would work for me, was because the post-op diet was something I was already familiar with. Low carbing? Sign me up. I had been an avid low carber off and on with varying levels of success for years. I realize now that the reason I was never successful was I gave up in stalls, but with the sleeve there is no giving up during a stall. I have always enjoyed low carbing because for me it makes my mind sharper, it is like doing coke or Adderall (no, I have never done either but I have been told the experience in great detail multiple times from multiple people). I have never viewed it as a punishment but a perk.
My issue prior to surgery has always been Portion Control. I skipped meals, focused on work and then would be ravenously hungry, and consume a whole days plus worth of calories all at once, or maybe in 2 meals. Even low carbing and eating healthy I would eat huge amounts. A 12 to 16 ounce ribeye is 900-1300 calories.
I was lucky to have an uneventful, rapid and easy recovery. I had very little pain, went back to work as soon as I came home (I work for myself), and stopped taking the pain meds within 36 hours of surgery. I met my Protein goals after the 2nd day. I eat all of the foods I enjoy, just in small quantities. I was lucky in the sense I never ate or liked a lot of the things that people have issues with giving up post-op. So I don’t have issues with avoiding them. I gave up sugar years ago to try and control my diabetes. I gave up alcohol for the same reason. I was already years out from either of these things when I had surgery so I didn’t have to give them up post-op.
Okay that is by backstory and how I got to the point surgery and why I felt it would work for me. This is where I am now.
Numbers
The weight I have on here is the weight when I first went to the Dr. It is not my actual highest weight.
HW 377
SW 358
CW 231
Total weight lost 146, 134 since first surgeon visit, and 127 since surgery.
Inches lost
Measurements in Inches
Bust (fullest part of bust):
20
Pecs (just above the bust line):
15
Ribs (top of rib cage just below the bust) :
21
Waist:
25.5
Abdomen:
22
Hips:
17
Right Upper Thigh:
8.5
Right Lower Thigh:
9.5
Left Upper Thigh:
8
Left Lower Thigh:
10.5
Right Calf:
2
Left Calf:
2.25
Right Upper Arm:
6
Left Upper Arm:
5.5
Total 172.75
I wore a tight size US Womens size 28 plus and a comfortable size US Womens size 30 plus. Now I wear a Misses 14/16 I am almost to a 12.
I have boundless energy to match my personality. I am so active in my everyday life in big and small ways. I don’t hurt all over anymore at the end of the day like I did before. I thought that was natural, because I had been so heavy for so long, I didn’t think there was a different way to feel, I thought that was norm. Now I know the difference. I feel like I have taken 20 years off my age.
So that is my story, if you read it all, thanks. I hope it can help someone. Obviously I am still not done. I need to lose at least another 50 pounds and once I get there I am going to evaluate and see if I want to lose another 20 or 30. I never thought that would be an option, to get my weight that low, but I think now it is a possibility.

@@Chrysalis77
I have long natural hair, I always feel like I need a nap after washing my hair.

Me and my side kick. I was sleeved on Mar 30th. I live in Abidjan, Ivory Coast (West Africa).
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I have quit twice in the past 2 yrs.. Both times cold turkey. Between pregnancy and nursing I was not smoking for most of 2014/15.. My second quit phase was right before the Sleeve surgery in March. Had my last ciggie week before my op. My wife smokes (heavily) and so the first few days is always rough on both of us..I'm sensitive to the smell and her always going for a cigarette just irks me! Lol. But, it gets better. I just redirect my attention - thank goodness for toddlers! Going out can be hard (alcohol n cigarettes are a match made in heaven).. But luckily, my alcohol consumption in general has drastically reduced... Again.. Could be the toddlers! So my advice is have very exhausting young children in the house at all times! Lol
On a serious note though - don't be nervous, you will be ok. It so commendable that you're even starting early. You're planning for success. Even without WLS, quitting is always the best choice for your health. Good luck
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I do think you are likely too worried about it at this stage. Mostly because you are worried about disappointing them. It should be about you. You are the one working very hard to get yourself healthy.
Sometimes worrying about things like that actually triggers the need to run to food. I would suggest maybe talking to a therapist about your feelings because if they are getting to you now, they will certainly get to you once your body changes and you have to deal with that and head hunger.
Most people do not realize exactly how much change you go through after Bariatric surgery. It is a significant change and it impacts everyone around you.
For example my husband tends to still eat like crap stopping at fast food restaurants for meals. I never ever ever eat fast food. I cannot stomach it, the idea of it is gross. That makes it difficult when we are on the road and need to grab something to eat.
Because I chose this for myself, I tend to make sure that I am careful about inconveniencing others so I will always find something to eat regardless of where we go. I am also careful to have a Protein bar on me.
Hopefully you get the idea. I chose this for me an honest it is ok to be selfish for a while.
Lose the 10lbs for yourself because it will make your surgery safer for you. If you are hungry there are lots of options for a small Protein healthy snack. Have a Greek yogurt or an ounce of nuts. Just measure and track so you know where you are at any given time.
Tracking helps to hold yourself accountable and most of all it helps in making better choices.
I use Myfitnesspal and it works great.
Best of luck to you!

The ricotta bake recipe that's now famous in the wls community is simple to make and really....really good! It's a good "transition" food that helps you get back in the habit of chewing, and while it's already relatively soft the chewing is more of a "practice" than a necessity.
The other things that helped me and are easy to make in large quantities so they last a few days are various Soups with some textured ingredients that are soft but give you the feeling of "solid" foods, of which Beans, tofu and eggs being the most versatile I think...along with veggies of course. I would chop the veggies rather small, and after cooking for an extended period of time, they were soft enough to eat easily as they would soften quite a bit.
Experiment....check out the recipe section here and on some other sites, like http://skinnytaste.com / http://seriouseats.com / http://wlshub.com
Just sift through the recipes to find ones that are easy to make and that can be made in large batches and either eaten over the course of a few days or frozen for easy meals down the road.
Best of luck!

I also second that! Tell people. It keeps you in check and it also lets them know why you may be a little testy..
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@@cassandramarie93 I thought of one more thing......tell everyone you know that you've quit! When I first started the quit process I told myself I wasn't going to tell anyone I knew, but then I realized I was doing that because I didn't want anyone to know if I failed......So as soon as I figured that out I told everyone I knew....plus I put a big announcement on Facebook....so everyone helped to hold me accountable.....so my advice is to not keep it quite!!! Good luck!!

Quit several times during the year before my surgery, as my date got closer I just said that's it no more. It's been 9 months now. I could probably pick a cigarette up and smoke it with no problem but I really don't ever want to go back there. I did have to quit coffee and alcohol too at the same time. I started working out a lot too. Smoking and exercise don't really go together.. Good luck, you got this, it's so worth it!!
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I started the BariatricPal forums to create a safe place for everyone in the weight loss surgery community. It is for pre-op and post-op patients, for patients of all types of WLS, and for anyone who supports the WLS community. I want you to be able to come here for advice, encouragement, support, and information without worrying about being judged.
I have a zero-tolerance policy for rudeness, and you can see the guidelines in the Forum Rules.
Recently, there have been several instances of members being disrespectful or downright rude. Examples include:
Stating or implying that a poster is doomed to failure or not ready for WLS because he or she asked a certain question or is engaged in a certain behavior. Telling people that your way is the only way, and any other way means the member deserves WLS failure. Discriminating against “newbies,” such as letting a newbie know that you don’t think he or she will succeed, or asking only “vets” to reply to a certain thread. (Reminder: you can always choose not to follow the advice of someone you deem unqualified to give it). The vast majority of BariatricPal members do a phenomenal job making BariatricPal the warm, friendly community that I dreamed of when I started it. Thank you! Besides being sure to be polite and respectful, here are some additional ways to help.
If you see an offensive post, please consider the following.
You do not need to respond. Instead of giving a rude answer and escalating the situation, you can simply choose not to answer. You can report the post by clicking on the “Report” option under the post. A forum moderator will look into the situation and may delete the post or ban the member if the member continues to post inappropriately. You can send the member a private message explaining that you felt the post was inappropriate, and explaining why. In many cases, you may be surprised that the member did not even realize he or she was being rude. Please also think twice before you respond to any questions or other posts. It is possible that you could write a post that is genuinely meant to be helpful, but the person could accidentally interpret your post the wrong way. Try to remember that:
It is very difficult to communicate a specific tone in writing. You may write something that you think is helpful and understanding, while someone reading it might take it as bossy or judgmental. Emoticons such as smiley faces can help. You can also add a sentence to explain that you are only offering a suggestion or sharing your own experience and that you are not trying to judge the OP. The OP might be in a vulnerable situation. They may be panicking about a worrisome symptom. They may be in turmoil about whether to get WLS. They may be freaking out about a stall. When they’re upset, it’s easier for them to misinterpret your well-meaning post. Thank you for doing your best to keep the environment at BariatricPal positive, encouraging, and open. We all need a place to go for help and support, and I want the entire weight loss surgery to feel comfortable using BariatricPal for advice and encouragement.

Same topic, different heading...
It's old...
It's tired...
It's not gonna change...
It's the internet for f*cks sake...
If you CHOOSE to let this shit get you down then you deserve to be down...
If you don't like what's been said, find another forum where they tell you what you wanna hear...
Or better still, turn your f*cking computer off, get off your fat arse and go for a walk...
Honestly, it's sh*t like this that keeps me away...
Speaking of away...

People of all ages, creeds, religions etc congregate here. With one issue (I am making an assumption here) in common, a desire to lose weight through WLS or maintain a weightloss from existing WLS.
We are from all over the globe experiencing different surgeries, different surgeons in different countries.
Some of us are in pain, frightened and worried. Either trying to make one of the biggest decisions of our lives or trying to deal with the aftermath of such a decision.
Kindness is key, so is compassion and grace.
However, the above may look and sound different to each human here!
I read what I want, I say what I want, I learn loads and have made new friends.
If people need to leave to keep themselves safe, then the rest of us need to respect that. The same way if a person asks a question, even if it is about a stall or drinking beer two days out, we need to show a respectful silence or look away.
Everyone is valuable. Everyone here has different personalities and styles.
There is little point in becoming offended whether it be because of someone being snippy on a thread or someone asking us to play nicely together!
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I am not sure why all the negativity seems to prevail here, and that people constantly say "well I'll just leave the group, then". Expecting respectful and civil behavior from adults is not unreasonable! No one should be treated poorly because they lack information or describe an experience that differs from another. I don't think being a "veteran" should be an excuse to be mean or condescending. It's not that hard to be supportive or simply ignore something that you find offensive or ignorant. If I have ever offended anyone with an insensitive remark, I readily accept responsibility for my comments and offer my apologies.
Just *another* opinion.