After having my surgery cancelled last month due to the abrupt closure of my hospital's bariatric practice, I have a new date at another hospital in the area and can hardly wait for the time to fly by. I'm scheduled for gastric bypass on February 21. Any other February peeps out there?

1 hour ago, BlueParis said:

@BlueParis

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend and that all those far enough north got to see the boreal lights.

I live in Oklahoma. I seen the lights clear last night. I've never seen that before except in pictures.

On 5/10/2024 at 2:16 PM, gracesmommy2 said:

oh and did you like the roasted edamame ??

I added it to my Subscribe and Save, so I won't get it for a few more days, but I can't wait to try them!

In the meantime, I have a new obsession: whipped cottage cheese ranch dip!

You take regular cottage cheese and put it in your food processor or blender and blend until it's super creamy, like a thick sour cream or almost a cream cheese. Add ranch seasoning powder (or probably any favorite dip seasoning) and eat with raw veg. I've made the dip with Greek yogurt before, but I like this even better. It doesn't have that yogurt taste so it feels more like "real" dip. I love that it has 14g protein when made with 1/2 c cottage cheese, compared to only 2g in a comparable amount of hummus. It also takes a long time to chew all the veg, so it makes a great snack in the evening, especially if you like something when watching TV.

14 minutes ago, NickelChip said:

I added it to my Subscribe and Save, so I won't get it for a few more days, but I can't wait to try them!

In the meantime, I have a new obsession: whipped cottage cheese ranch dip!

You take regular cottage cheese and put it in your food processor or blender and blend until it's super creamy, like a thick sour cream or almost a cream cheese. Add ranch seasoning powder (or probably any favorite dip seasoning) and eat with raw veg. I've made the dip with Greek yogurt before, but I like this even better. It doesn't have that yogurt taste so it feels more like "real" dip. I love that it has 14g Protein when made with 1/2 c cottage cheese, compared to only 2g in a comparable amount of hummus. It also takes a long time to chew all the veg, so it makes a great snack in the evening, especially if you like something when watching TV.

I've been making dip like that, too. I've used the Lipton soup mixes... onion and veggie are the ones I've tried. It's good! I hope you like the Edamame. I got some of the Sea Salt flavor and do like it a lot.

39 minutes ago, NickelChip said:

I added it to my Subscribe and Save, so I won't get it for a few more days, but I can't wait to try them!

In the meantime, I have a new obsession: whipped cottage cheese ranch dip!

You take regular cottage cheese and put it in your food processor or blender and blend until it's super creamy, like a thick sour cream or almost a cream cheese. Add ranch seasoning powder (or probably any favorite dip seasoning) and eat with raw veg. I've made the dip with Greek yogurt before, but I like this even better. It doesn't have that yogurt taste so it feels more like "real" dip. I love that it has 14g Protein when made with 1/2 c cottage cheese, compared to only 2g in a comparable amount of hummus. It also takes a long time to chew all the veg, so it makes a great snack in the evening, especially if you like something when watching TV.

I'll have to give this a try as well. When I have a sweet potato I usually get some Greek yogurt add some pepper and ranch seasoning. Never thought about blending cottage cheese.

Edited May 12, 20242 yr by RonHall908

1 hour ago, NickelChip said:

In the meantime, I have a new obsession: whipped cottage cheese ranch dip!

Ohhhhh, totally gonna try this. I’ve made it with Greek yogurt but going to try this version. And with French onion soup mix also like @LisaCaryl. Yummy! If you guys like chip like things, if you take hormel turkey pepperoni and microwave them for like 1 to 1 1/2 min the microwave they get crunchy like chips and are salty. I eat a serving of them with tzatziki (cedars brand in only like 35 cal per serving) or now will try the cottage cheese dip. Gives you a salty chips and dip like snack and if you do the turkey pepperoni (I’ve used both turkey and regular and they taste the same once you microwave them) it’s only 70calories and 9 gm of protein for 17 “chips” . then you could still do some veg for healthier food but get another bump of protein in. ?

Oh wow, French onion dip is my downfall. That sounds so delicious.

I had some big reusable parfait cups in my cupboard with two sections to them, where you could do your yogurt and berries in the big section and then keep your granola or nuts in the other to keep them crisp until the last minute. I used 4 of these to portion out the blended container of cottage cheese dip into 4 servings with about 8oz of carrots, cucumbers, mushrooms, red peppers, and tomatoes. Turns out that for an evening snack, I actually can only eat half. Which is fine. That gives me a week's worth of veg already prepped. Once the ranch dip is used up, I'm doing French onion! And I'm going to try those pepperoni chips. I also want to make some kale chips. Those are so tasty. I need an air fryer. I think I want to replace my toaster oven with one that has the air fryer built in, but I keep waffling on which brand to get.

1 hour ago, gracesmommy2 said:

Ohhhhh, totally gonna try this. I’ve made it with Greek yogurt but going to try this version. And with French onion Soup mix also like @LisaCaryl. Yummy! If you guys like chip like things, if you take hormel turkey pepperoni and microwave them for like 1 to 1 1/2 min the microwave they get crunchy like chips and are salty. I eat a serving of them with tzatziki (cedars brand in only like 35 cal per serving) or now will try the cottage cheese dip. Gives you a salty chips and dip like snack and if you do the turkey pepperoni (I’ve used both turkey and regular and they taste the same once you microwave them) it’s only 70calories and 9 gm of Protein for 17 “chips” . then you could still do some veg for healthier food but get another bump of protein in. ?

I eat the turkey pepperoni as a snack while at work. Never thought to microwave them into crispy chips.
Also, speaking of the Cedars brand. Have you seen the Dark Chocolate Hummus dip they have? I slice some banana's or strawberries and use it as a chocolate dip. I also sprinkle some monk fruit sweetener on it.

On 5/11/2024 at 11:48 PM, RonHall908 said:

Also, speaking of the Cedars brand. Have you seen the Dark chocolate Hummus dip they have? I slice some banana's or strawberries and use it as a chocolate dip. I also sprinkle some Monk Fruit sweetener on it.

No, I haven’t seen it! I’ll try that. I have a huge sweet tooth. Ty!

@NickelChip love my air fryer, I use it for everything! You should definitely get one once you figure out which one you want .

@NickelChip I resisted getting an airfryer for ages ( in quite a snobby french food way I must admit) but now I have one I wouldn't live without it ! Go for it!

If not it's still raining and cold in Athens ...

Ok I need everyone’s coping strategies for dealing with being so cold the whole time.

It’s 16 C ( 60 F) this morning in athens. I’ve « burnt » through all the warm clothes I bought with me so will have to drop laundry to be done today. Because I have a whole week left here.

Yesterday a collègue touched my hand as I was passing him some papers and audibly gasped at how cold I was and asked if I was okay and then gave me his jacket to put over my knees during the meeting so I know it’s not all in my head.

I have the heating on and a hot water bottle for night but I just can’t warm up.

Im pretty sure I must be very anemic right now and will check that with blood tests when I get back home.

I know I sound like a broken record but I’m just really really struggling with being so freezing the whole time. It’s miserable. My hands are so cold I’m having issues typing for work …

3 hours ago, BlueParis said:

Ok I need everyone’s coping strategies for dealing with being so cold the whole time.

It’s 16 C ( 60 F) this morning in athens. I’ve « burnt » through all the warm clothes I bought with me so will have to drop laundry to be done today. Because I have a whole week left here.

Yesterday a collègue touched my hand as I was passing him some papers and audibly gasped at how cold I was and asked if I was okay and then gave me his jacket to put over my knees during the meeting so I know it’s not all in my head.

I have the heating on and a hot water bottle for night but I just can’t warm up.

Im pretty sure I must be very anemic right now and will check that with blood tests when I get back home.

I know I sound like a broken record but I’m just really really struggling with being so freezing the whole time. It’s miserable. My hands are so cold I’m having issues typing for work …

I would be of no help here. Even as a little kid, I would get into trouble for going outside in the snow without a jacket, because I would get hot from moving around with having one on.
If someone sleeps next to me when I'm asleep I'll go into heater mode and get so hot sometimes I sweat. I need to have a fan on to sleep or I'll get too hot. I would say if it weren't for your whole body being cold and just your hands. That maybe you have circulation issues in your hands. But that doesn't sound like the case. You mentioned you will be coming to the States and Canada later for work. There's a lot of hunting gear that has battery operated heaters in jackets, gloves,socks and I do believe some pants. The colors wouldn't be appealing, but you would be able to keep warm. Sorry you are having this issue. I hope it gets better.

Edited May 15, 20242 yr by RonHall908

3 hours ago, BlueParis said:

Ok I need everyone’s coping strategies for dealing with being so cold the whole time.

It’s 16 C ( 60 F) this morning in athens. I’ve « burnt » through all the warm clothes I bought with me so will have to drop laundry to be done today. Because I have a whole week left here.

Yesterday a collègue touched my hand as I was passing him some papers and audibly gasped at how cold I was and asked if I was okay and then gave me his jacket to put over my knees during the meeting so I know it’s not all in my head.

I have the heating on and a hot water bottle for night but I just can’t warm up.

Im pretty sure I must be very anemic right now and will check that with blood tests when I get back home.

I know I sound like a broken record but I’m just really really struggling with being so freezing the whole time. It’s miserable. My hands are so cold I’m having issues typing for work …

I‘m so sorry you’re struggling with the cold. I’m afraid I’m one that also goes out in the winter with no coat, but mine is due to adrenal insufficiency. I’m always running hot which is a curse in itself. As RonHall said they do have the heated jackets etc here that a battery goes in the pocket. I bought one for my husband a few years ago and he loves it. They do come in black so you wouldn’t be stuck in camo or bright orange and I believe some of the women’s jackets are even fitted so it might be an option for you to stay comfortable. I bought one on Amazon. I hope you get some sunshine and warmer weather soon. Here in Kansas we’ve had several days of clouds and rain. I don’t suffer from being cold but it sure doesn’t motivate me to do much.

Have you tried layering your clothes, get good thermal undergarments to wear under your clothes and always try and make sure that your shirt tucked in at back to stop cold seeping in, probably not as easy in business attire…..you can also get some of those fingerless gloves that will keep your fingers free for typing . I often carry those hot pocket things that you can get in camping stores that can warm up your hands too.

im a cold freak and have always felt the cold so probably only going to get worse for me

7 hours ago, BlueParis said:

Ok I need everyone’s coping strategies for dealing with being so cold the whole time.

It’s 16 C ( 60 F) this morning in athens. I’ve « burnt » through all the warm clothes I bought with me so will have to drop laundry to be done today. Because I have a whole week left .

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. It does not sound fun at all. I would definitely check with the doctor when you get back. If you’re anemic, then they can help with that by giving you iron. Have you been taking your blood pressure? I know when mine got very low. I was just feeling all out of sorts.

when I get super cold like that, have to run my hands under very warm water, especially my wrists that often helps get rid of the chill that’s in my bones. Doesn’t seem to matter how much I bundle up sometimes that chill is just so deep. Also wearing gloves and a hat, keeping hands and the head warm.

Thanks all for your support, it's seems silly to write to you all as relative strangers, but apart from my partner I haven't disclosed my surgery to anyone so you folks are "my people" right now!.

I'm slightly less cold this evening and had a blood test at lunch time ... (I'm not a doctor but I do work in the healthcare field and I'm actually at an EU medical conference here so got a collègue to write me a script for one). the results are through and, I am as I thought very anemic, so much so that I have an iron infusion booked for tomorrow ( Amen to the pan european health insurance system!!) . And @LisaCaryl you also hit the spot - I have low blood pressure too - but thats not that unusual for me - doctor I spoke to said I should try and rest up a bit and take things easy.

(Sort of made me laugh because after full days of conf here I have zooms late evening with my US teams because of the time difference and also found out yesterday that I get back to Paris and then after one night have to go straight to the UK for a week for more meetings ... in my 3 months (90 days) since surgery I've had a total of 23 nights at home .... C'est la vie )

I have tomorrow and Friday to get through and then my partner is flying out for the weekend and we'll go to the islands where I hope I'll have more sun!

I'll layer up the best I can and will deffo see if when I'm in the US I can get some more thermal wear just in case I'm still feeling chilly , @RonHall908 @Noelle74 I'm sure I'll find a Parisian way to rock a hunting style! Or I could just go for a classic Elisabeth II look

The issue I have at the moment is work attire - I have to sort of dress "smart" and because I've lost weight so quickly in the last three months ( My three month "surgerversary" is tomorrow) I've gone from a european size 44 (US size 14 / UK 16 / Aus 18) to a european size 38 ( US size 8/UK 10/ Aus 12) I'm relying on wrap dresses and cardigans with tights that just aren't cutting it warmth wize. I have to upgrade my sheer tights to woollen ones and get some thermal t-shirts to wear under my dresses as per @Briss72 suggestion ( congrats at getting under 100kg @Briss72 and I'll for sure stock up on some handwarmers for my pockets).

I have a free morning tomorrow after my infusion and will see what I can buy without spending too much money as I'm still loosing weight pretty in a pretty linear way and hope it will continue for another few months so don't want to spend much on temporary clothes!

Here is my weight chart (in Kg) since surgery which I'm very happy with so far... and even with all the being cold and a bit miserable, I know this was the best choice for me and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat and regret not booking surgery earlier! The first drop from 95-91 was my presurgery diet and just after surgery my weight went up ... but it's being going down steady since - I'm just on the brink of having a normal BMI - green zone!

Now that was a very long post! Once again, thanks for everyones support, and sorry for being a bit of a negative nancy from time to time!

Edited May 15, 20242 yr by BlueParis
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