Sometimes it is a blessing (rave) and a curse (rant) to live with a gourmet chef wife as a post op. she really loves cooking and loves to share her masterpieces with others ( her love language).

As a post op, there is a definite focus that is required to stay on plan and live that healthy and active lifestyle. It is so hard sometimes. For example, this morning it is a curse (rant) that she made some apple crisp dessert for her plant sale she is going to. It has layers of brown sugar crisp, cream cheese, apple pie filling, crumb top and caramel embellishments on top. Made from scratch of course. Oh how I want a piece! She even left some here for my brother while she is off at the event today. Going to stay strong though because I made it this far with being a good post op eater. Hard!!

It is also a blessing (rave) that she can make gourmet healthy dishes. For example last night we had a chicken curry casserole that has chicken, cream of mushroom, Indian spices, chile pepper chopped broccoli and a few other ingredients. Typically, we used to eat that with rice and cheddar cheese on top. however, I now can eat about 1/3 a cup of this dish without the rice and cheese and get high Protein, good veggie serving and it is full of yummy Indian flavor. My wife and brother eat it with the rice and cheese. She is also very good at making other healthy gourmet dishes.

Maybe she could post some of those healthy recpies on here. The chicken dish sound amazing!

Here's a recipe for Sesame chicken! I live it because it's Sooo tasty and yet healthy with lots of Protein. The chicken stays really moist and is great paired with lightly salted in the shell edamame. From a slightly modified Pintrest weight watchers recipe.

4 raw boneless skinless chicken breasts, 6 oz each

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp Kosher salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

Sauce

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp maple syrup (you can sub brown sugar or the half brown sugar half Splenda stuff if you want)

2 Tbsp Water

2 Tbsp dry sherry

2 tsp fresh chopped ginger

2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder ( easy to make your own mix- look online for a recipe)

2 Tbsp white sesame seeds

2 Tbsp peanut oil

Combine sauce ingredients (soy sauce, maple syrup, water, sherry, sesame oil, ginger & five spice) in medium bowl and whisk thoroughly to meld flavors. Set aside.

In a small pan, over medium heat gradually toast sesame seeds until they take on a light golden color. Take off heat and set aside.

Preheat wide skillet on medium high on the stove with peanut oil added into pan when hot.

Take your chicken breasts and cut them into about 1 inch chunks. Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish and use the mix to coat the chicken on all sides a few pieces at a time, shaking off excess flour, then place in preheated skillet Repeat until all chicken pieces are coated and added to hot pan. In a hurry? Try adding flour mix to gallon size ziplock bag and add chicken pieces. Seal bag, and shake until pieces are thoroughly coated, remove from bag and add to skillet- attempt to shake off excess flour off chicken on the way to the skillet.

Brown the chicken on each side until golden brown (will smell like fried chicken!). Once all pieces are golden on multiple sides, add the sauce mixture (still on med high heat) and stir as sauce thickens- about 1-2 min. Add toasted sesame seeds and stir to coat chicken.

Serve and enjoy! Will serve 4 pre sleeve folks, will make lots more for you post sleeve folks. Did someone say leftovers for lunch?

Gosh darn it. My husband was on my phone again and logged me out- try to post a recipe and he gets the credit!

Oh yes....it's a struggle. I'm not a gourmet chef by any means, but a good cook, and I love to entertain. I was known for my fabulous meals and gatherings. Now I joke with people they are getting what I can eat, very little of not much, lol. Seriously, I try not to let it change me too much, while still managing my eating like I should. I do struggle, and I find if I put one toe in the water, the desire to jump all the way in is definitely there! It's surely a work in progress, and I know I will always battle food. You did good by avoiding the apple crisp. For me, sweet things are crack. One little taste drags me right back down that path I don't want to go, and it seriously takes me a couple of days to detox from a small amount of contraband, lol! I really wanted to be able to have an occasional treat and not have it rule my life, but at this point, it looks like that's not possible. Congratulations Fiddle, for your strength

Well I can relate we own a bakery and my husband is a baker so everything is centered around food! Gladly I have a different job during the week so I don't have to look at good but it's hard every event is focused on food the taste etc.

Well I can relate we own a bakery and my husband is a baker so everything is centered around food! Gladly I have a different job during the week so I don't have to look at good but it's hard every event is focused on food the taste etc.

Oh my you win for having it the hardest! My hat is off to you, I would not be able to cope with a bakery in the family!

My wife owns a bakery and is a great cook. I thought it was going to be tough helping her on the weekends but I have been fine. Her regulars are asking how I am losing weight living with my wife. I tell them she starves me when I get home. Lol. She has tailored most of her cooking at home to accommodate our new healthy lifestyle. However, I still love the smell of her freshly baked coconut cream pound cake and German chocolate cake. Although I haven't even tasted a crumb. She said she is so proud of me.

My wife owns a bakery and is a great cook. I thought it was going to be tough helping her on the weekends but I have been fine. Her regulars are asking how I am losing weight living with my wife. I tell them she starves me when I get home. Lol. She has tailored most of her cooking at home to accommodate our new healthy lifestyle. However' date=' I still love the smell of her freshly baked coconut cream pound cake and German chocolate cake. Although I haven't even tasted a crumb. She said she is so proud of me.[/quote']

Wow, that would be terribly difficult. Coconut creme pie is so good.

She definitely test my resolve and self control. On the weekend I even act as her baking assistant. My reward comes when we get home for being so strong willed. I know my triggers and haven't even eaten her sugar free items.