Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have officially lost 100 pounds since surgery!!! Not too shabby for 5 months. So all together with my pre-surgery loss i'm down 150 pounds.
I don't really have much more to say, but i wanted to share a couple recipes with you that I have found online...


Cloud Bread (flour free bread)

3 eggs, separated

3 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, cold

1/2 teaspoon Splenda granular

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Pinch of salt

.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, with very clean beaters, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar for 3-4 minutes – or until very stiff peaks form and they are almost turning dry. Set aside.

With the same beaters, in a large bowl beat the cold cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the egg yolks, Splenda, and salt for 2 minutes until light yellow.

Gently fold one-third of the egg whites into the yolk mixture to lighten. Fold in the remaining whites until all fluffs disappear, but be careful not to deflate them.

Mound into desired sizes on the prepared baking sheet Bake for 30 minutes – depending on size. They should be a deep golden brown and crispy to the touch.

Immediately loosen with a pancake turner and allow to cool for a few minutes on the pan. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag.

OATMEAL-COTTAGE CHEESE PANCAKES

1 cup oatmeal, ground (measure BEFORE grinding in a food processor)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3-4 tablespoon Splenda Granular
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl combine the ground oatmeal, baking soda, salt, Splenda, and spice. In a small bowl whisk together the eggs, cottage cheese, milk, and vanilla. Pour egg mixture into dry ingredients and stir, just to moisten.

Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat. Spray with vegetable cooking spray. Drop 1/3 cup of batter into pan and fry until golden on the bottom. Flip and continue cooking for another 2 minutes or until firm. Makes approx 8 pancakes.

These are excellent topped with some sugar free jam...yummy!!!

Snack Attack

Tonight I was looking for something to snack on, and I found 2 cans of chick peas in my cupboard but I didn't feel like making hummus so I went searching for an alternative. Let me tell you, WOW, these little buggers are DE-LISH.....give them a try you won't be sorry

Chickpeas are low in fat, a great source of zinc, folate and protein!! They are also very high in dietary fiber and hence a healthy source of carbohydrates for persons with insulin sensitivity or diabetes.

Roasted Chickpeas

1 can Chickpeas
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Basil
Parsley
Garlic Powder
(whatever spices you want really)

Rinse and drain chickpeas. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Spread on a cookie sheet

Bake at 400 for 45-50 minutes. Turning every 15 minutes. Watch them in the last 5 minutes so they don't burn. They turn into a nut-like little treat that is weight loss friendly

Dangerous CURVES Ahead

Today I bit the bullet and joined Curves. This is something I have been wanting to do for some time now.
Last week we went to check out the new YMCA in Trenton, but I was ready to walk out the minute I walked in. It was far too big for me, too many people, machines too close together, too many skinny women and not enough fatties..lol. That same night I went to Curves in Brighton and got a tour there and knew immediately that this was the place for me to join.
I went today and had my consultation, the trainer was amazing and showed me how to use all the machines, and I joined for a year.
It is really a good work out, I was beat after and I didn't even do the full 2 rounds. I'll have to work up to that, considering I haven't done any kind real exercise since College and even then it was just walking to school everyday.
Most of the machines were very easy to use, the only ones I had troubles with were the leg presses because my tummy is big and it was getting in the way. The Squat machine was the other one that I didn't like, they call it the "Beast" lol.
I couldn't get over how friendly the staff as well as the other members were, everyone made me feel very welcome, and man they encourage you. But they don't push you to do more than you can handle which is nice. You don't' have to feel ashamed if you have to quit early.
The lady that was working with me told me that she knows exactly how I feel about anxiety because she suffers from the same thing, she said that she spent months in her house just like I did. Its nice to know that people understand and don't' think you are crazy.
Anyway, I'm very excited about this new part of my journey and I think I'm going to have a blast

On the Road Again

This isn't really a weight related post, but its something i'm very proud of. This past weekend I drove my car for the first time in just over 3 years. Man what a feeling, it was such a rush to finally be behind the wheel again. I was nervous, excited, scared, anxious, I think I experience just about every emotion possible.
I started to not be able to drive when I was having my panic attacks. But then my weight got so out of control that I couldn't fit behind the steering wheel comfortably. Its been months since I was able to get rid of my seat belt extender, but it wasn't until last weekend that I was ready to tackle driving. I even had to move the seat UP!!!. Darren was with me, and I think I confused the hell out of Griffin who was in the back seat and I'm sure wondering why I was in Daddy's seat.
I'm definitely not ready to drive my car by myself, but if I continue to practice with Darren or someone else in the car with me , I'm sure I'll get there eventually

Moody Missy

So in the last few weeks I think my mood swings have improved drastically. ( Darren may have another opinion.lol )
I went to see a psychiatrist and she suggested crushing my medications, thinking that I wasnt absorbing enough of my anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. I did this for a total of 4 days, of which I spent in bed stoned out of my tree. I decided that the crushing wasn't making anything better, sure I wasn't moody, but I wasn't conscious either.lol
I tweaked my pills on my own, and so far so good. I haven't had any huge melt downs in a couple weeks, so we will see how it goes.
I'm still moody in the sense that I will cry at the drop of a hat, but the anger/rage seems to be under better control.

Update

I went to a Doctors appointment this past week and I have lost another 25 pounds. I can now wear jeans for the first time in about 3 years, and I have gone from a tight 6x top to a nicely fitting 3 or 4x depending on where it is from.
I have a jacket that I bought in May that is a 6x and its is waaaaay to big now. Darren can actually fit in the jacket with me...lol
I have been getting migraines daily around 6-7pm, My doctor thinks its because I'm not getting enough liquids, (still having a hard time with drinking) but she has ordered blood work just in case to make sure all my levels are OK.

I have a couple of recipes to share with you. The first is Iced Tea, I've never made homemade iced tea before this this was amazingly tasty. I just filled a pot with water and boiled, then added 8 decaf tea bags and let it steep on the stove for about 1/2 hour on low heat. Poured that mixture into a pitcher and added the juice of one orange and one lemon. Filled the pitcher up with cold water, added enough splenda just for it to taste perfect. I dont like it too sweet, i want it to still taste like tea. Then I added a sliced up orange and a sliced up lemon. This was so refreshing.

The next is a recipe I found in an old Weight Watchers magazine that I picked up at a thrift store. Its Spice-Oat Muffins, and they were very very good. I substituted Splenda brown sugar for the brown sugar that it called for because I don't do sugar anymore. Darren even liked these :)

Spice Oat Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup rolled oat, quick cooking
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk
• 1/2 cup dried cherries (or cranberries, whatever you prefer)
• 1/4 cup fat free egg substitute
• 2 tablespoons canola oil (or vegetable oil)
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.

3. Combine the flour, cornmeal, oats, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center.

4. Combine the buttermilk, cherries (or cranberries), egg substitute and oil in a small bowl, beating with a whisk until blended. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, folding with a rubber spatula just until the flour mixture is moistened.

5. Fill the muffin cups evenly with the batter; sprinkle with the remaining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon sugar and the wheat germ (I just love wheat germ, don't you?). Bake until a toothpick intserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes.

6. Cool in the pan 5 minutes. Unmold the muffins and cool completely.

***I had no idea what Cinnamon Sugar was, so i just mixed up some Splenda with Cinnamon. Then for the topping I again did Splenda with Cinnamon and Wheat germ***

An interesting site

Here is something interesting I found for anyone who is considering WLS

http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/patients/benefits.htm