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CAN'T COMPLAIN!

About nothing. Life is going according to the plan. I had my first Bone Scan done and my T Score was .02 points away from perfect. Considering that this time last year, I was Vit. D defficient, and ostioarthritis in my hip, knee, and back, DAM I think I am doing VERY well. I never miss a dose of vitamins, I am faithful to my commitment.

I cut my hair. I love it. I am not experiancing any hair loss, I just wanted to have a new look. I use to go get a new do when I was persuing wls, and everytime I thought I would get approved, I would get a new style. Only to be dissappointed when the insurance would deny me, but I always said " It all starts with a new do!" Now, I waited 3 months after surgery, and truly am leaving any memory of the old me behind.

I am not mourning anything of my old life. I am grateful for each day I have. I even hate going to sleep now because I think am wasting livable time. I spent the better part of my life feeling like shit, and now that I feel good, there is a whole lot of living to do.

I have noticed I am much more pickier on the type of people I surround my self with. I am very impatient with the people that like to make ALL the excuses why not to be healthy, or not to excercise or not quiting smoking, and whine, whine, whine. I don't have time to put up with that. So if I don't talk to you any more, you need to think about it.

I feel like the chain is broken. I have fought an uphill battle, and now I am finally winning. It feel's beyond FABULOUS. Never to look back, only going forward. If I spent time looking in my rear veiw, surely I would crash....

Well, that is it for now, until next time I update. ..

Out and feeling fabulous. I cannot get over the fact that I have lost this much weight in this short amount of time, and eating normally on top of it...

Here is my month by month play...

May 2, 2008, sw was 284,.. No complications, text book. Liquids, did not want to do both or popsicles only water. Had really bad acid reflux, so had to take acid reducer.
10 days from surgery, bad gas bubble, went to hospital, it dissapated, and I was fine. They thought it was pneumonia, but the ct scan was negative...

1 month out, and down 46 lbs, could not believe it.. Drinking 100 oz of water, soft foods.. Like cottage cheese, apple sauce, protein shakes.. I got sick from body fortress, which surprised me, as I was taking it before surgery.. But I had an acid issue, so that changed my taste buds.
 I thought my super enchanced smell would NEVER go away but it did at 6 wks. (THANK GOD!!0
2 months out and down 63lbs, eating as normal as anyone could ask for. I was accepting that fat was my friend, therefore eating bacon, not vegan, and changing some of the ways I was eating to support more fat. I can eat up to 6 oz of anything at one setting, and have surpassed my surgeon's requirements of 120 grams of protein on most days.
Healing on the scar is complete. No more twinging or pulling. And the numb is in place. Feels weird, but it is my sexy DS scar.

3 months out: Eating normal, feeling like the energizer bunny, starting working out at 2 months, and have worked myself up to an hour, and sometimes more on most days of cardio/strength training.. And I am starting something new: Zumba dancing! I am really excited about it.
Down 70lbs. - 9 more inches, for a total of 46 inches gone forever! Have not had to take ANY meds beside Vitamins, Acid reducer, and minerals since I was 2 weeks out..

I love my DS! I would not change this for anything in the world. I feel extremely blessed. And I pay hommage every day, as life is a blessing, not a garuntee.

And that is my update. So for anyone reading this, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into,  research research research....  Because one choice for someone else may not be the right one for you. You need to weigh out the pro's and con's. And to do that, you need to know THEM. So ask questions and get yourself INFORMED before you make a choice.
Who want's to go through 2 wls's?  IMHO

!!!!!!!I  <3 MY DS!!!!!! Not just LOVE my DS, but I am HAPPY. And that is the difference.... ;)

Today was a super fun day with the gals and hubby's.. We played bingo over at the Fiesta in Henderson. (sorry we missed you Sherry :( ) We didn't win, but we all had a great time, as usual... W

Consumed - Weighty Conversation: Don't Measure Your Self-Worth

By Michelle May, M.D.

Do you allow a number on your bathroom scale to make or break your day? Wouldn’t it be absurd to let the temperature, the date or the Dow-Jones determine how you feel about yourself or how your day will go? They’re all just numbers but for some, weight has the power to change a mood and ruin a morning.

The scale does not measure your self-worth. It simply measures the weight of your tissues (including your bones, muscle and fat) and substances that are just passing through (like water, food and waste). Your weight can fluctuate dramatically depending on time of day, hormones, when you last ate and other factors – none of which have anything to do with your value as a person.

Weight a Minute

When you’re losing weight gradually (clearly the best way), you may not see significant changes in your weight day to day, and perhaps even some weeks. Further, when you exercise you’ll build muscle and lose fat so although the numbers might not change, your body composition is improving. If you’re depending on a needle on a scale to tell you how you’re doing, you may feel discouraged and tempted to give up even though great things are going on inside.

Weighed Down

Have you ever said to yourself…

• I did so well this week. I deserve a treat!
• I was so good but I didn’t lose any weight. I might as well eat.
• I don’t have to weigh in until next week so I’ll splurge now and make up for it later.
• I was terrible this week and I still lost weight. I guess I don’t need to be as careful.
• I only lost a half a pound. It wasn’t worth it.

These thoughts are counter-productive to weight management. Further, although it can be motivating, losing weight can also be scary. Maybe a part of you doesn’t believe you deserve it or that you’ll gain it back so you sabotage yourself.

Weigh to Go

Some people weigh because they want to be held accountable. Accountable to a metal rectangle on the floor and a three digit number?
The goal is long term weight management without restrictive dieting – not answering to a judge and jury. Focus on the process not the outcome.

Why Weight?

Your weight is a surrogate measurement of your body fat so it’s helpful for monitoring long term changes. Newer body fat scales are helpful but are only useful over time.

Your weight can also be used to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) which is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. (Caution: BMI can be misleading in highly muscled individuals.) Check the easy BMI calculator at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. BMI can help you and your health professional assess your risk for common conditions associated with excess weight. Even though BMI is widely used these days, it is only one piece of information.

Weight Around

Your waist circumference is another number your doctor might want to measure. A waist circumference over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women is associated with metabolic syndrome and may increase your risk for certain diseases including diabetes and heart disease.

Take the Weight Off Your Shoulders

• Be honest about how the numbers affect you. If knowing your weight tends to backfire, put your scale under the sink or out in the garage.
• Decide how often you need to weigh yourself. Some people prefer to be weighed only when they go to the doctor but for most people once a week or even once a month is a good.
• You never need to weigh yourself more than once a day; if you do, you’re playing games by measuring meaningless physiological fluctuations.
• Let go of old benchmarks. You may never again reach your wrestling or wedding day weight but you can live an active lifestyle and make conscious choices that will serve you now.
• Don’t weigh yourself to confirm what you already know. When you’ve been mindful of your choices, don’t take a chance that the scale will give you an answer you didn’t expect and derail your confidence.
• Don’t use the scale to punish yourself. When you know you’re off track, focus on the changes you’ll make rather than beating yourself up.

No Weigh

A man I met at a conference recently said, “I don’t need a scale; I have pants.” I smiled at the simplicity and accuracy of his method of monitoring himself. A few ounces won’t make a difference but a few pounds will determine how comfortable he feels. Look for other ways to assess your health and progress too:

• Resting heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol or fasting blood sugar
• Minutes of walking, steps on your pedometer or pounds of weight you’re able to lift
• How do you feel? Tune in to your energy level, mood and stamina

Weigh Your Options

A scale is an external device that doesn’t accurately measure what’s going on inside your body or your head. If you’re been consumed by the numbers, skip the scale for awhile, set new goals – and remember, meaningful change can only take place from the inside out.

Michelle May, M.D. is a recovered yoyo dieter and the award-winning author of Am I Hungry? What to Do When Diets Don’t Work. Find additional articles and resources at http://AmIHungry.com/.

It was a great visit with gals yesterday at the Sundance Grill at the Silverton. David and I enjoyed everyone's company so much!! Jan, Dana, Sherry are all fantastic. What an inspiration to have them in my life. Thank you!
Looking forward to our next outting.

• 5 eggs, separated
• 2 cups almond meal
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Zest and juice of one lemon
• Artificial sweetener equal to 1 and 1/4 cups sugar

Preparation:  Add 4 scoops of your favorite protein powder. I use Body Fortress, Vanilla.

Grease springform pan or 10" round cake pan. Lining bottom with parchment also helpful. Heat oven to 325 F.

1. Whisk egg yolks until light in color.

2. Beat the rest of the ingredients except egg white, ending with the almond meal. It will be very stiff at this point.

3. Beat egg whites until at a soft peak.

4. Combine one third of the egg whites with the rest of the mixture to loosen it up.

5. Fold the rest of the egg whites in, and put in greased pan.

6. Bake for about 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely in pan.

Nutritional Information:Each of 8 servings has 2.5 grams effective carbohydrate plus 3 grams fiber, 9 grams protein, and 185 calories.

Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Cookies with Almond and Flaxseed Meal
(Makes about 15 cookies, adapted from RecipeZaar.)

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups almond meal (I use Bob's Red Mill brand)
2 T flaxseed meal (I use Bob's Red Mill brand)
1 cup granular Splenda
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla (I use Mexican vanilla)
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

Put on a plate for rolling cookies:
2 T Splenda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

In large mixing bowl, beat margarine with electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add half the almond meal, Splenda, flaxseed meal, egg, vanilla, baking soda, and cream of tartar and blend well with mixer until thoroughly combined. Beat in the rest of the almond meal. Cover bowl and chill several hours, or as long as overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine 2 T Splenda and ground cinnamon on plate. Use a tablespoon to scoop out dough, then roll into a small ball and roll in Splenda/cinnamon mixture. Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. (I used a fork to smash the cookies down, which is optional.)

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cookies are slightly firm and starting to brown. (I got distracted and baked them a few minutes too long, but they still tasted great.) Cookies will get more firm as they cool. These cookies are a bit more crumbly than regular cookies, but I thought the crisp texture was really nice. Cookies will keep for a few days, or can be frozen for a few months.
 

Italian Chowder RecipeCreamy and cheesy come together for one incredible taste


Top of Form
Bottom of Form From, "Atlanta Cooknotes," published in cooperation with your Daily InBox newsletter.

INGREDIENTS:



6 cups chopped zucchini
3 cups chopped onion
1 (16-ounce) can tomatoes, drained and chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon sweet basil
1/8 teaspoon thyme
1/2 cup water
1 (16-ounce) can corn, drained
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
8 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cups boiling water
1 stick butter
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2-1/2 cups milk
1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup half and half cream
TO PREPARE:

In a 6-quart kettle, put zucchini, onion, tomatoes, parsley, salt, pepper, basil, thyme, and 1/2-cup water. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Vegetables should be tender but firm. Reduce heat to simmer. Add corn, lemon juice, and Tabasco sauce. Add chicken bouillon cubes which have been dissolved in the boiling water. In a separate pan, melt butter and blend in flour to make a roux. Using a whisk, gradually stir in milk. When mixture thickens, add cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Stirring constantly, add milk-cheese mixture to the vegetable pot. Add cream and heat, but do not boil. More milk may be added for thinner chowder.


Here is whats for dessert.....

I made home made ice cream with my fisrt ever ice cream maker!

! cup milk
1 cup half/half
1 cup heavy cream
1 packet of sugar free pudding postachio mix
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 dash of salt
2 eggs
3 scoops of protein unjury no flavor

Bring all ingredients to a soft boil then turn stove off. Whip it good until there are no more lumps.
Pack it in the ice cream tin. Pack as usual with rock salt and ice, churn for 20 minutes. Open top of ice cream can and pour your "goodies" in. I put multi colored miniture marshmellows, whoopers and some M & M's, pecan's and almonds. Close top and churn for another 20 minutes. Then freeze as normal, eat when ready.

OMG it is SO good!!!!! I can't beleieve I am eating this! Yum... 24 grams of protein, at least and I have no idea about the calories, but who cares!!!

 I applaud myself. For the first time  ever, all my hard work is paying off. And I feel like a  million bucks. I can't stop smiling and accepting all  the changes so far. I am over the moon...... I just needed to say that... I am so fabulous!!!!

I know I said no pics til later, but hey, I am not leaving the sexy DS scar to be the last thing you remeber about me... Plus, I feel so "new", I have to share,lol...