LAWLS Bookstore

Friday, December 28, 2012

Cheers 2013 Free Gift!

Cheers 2013 Free Gift


Hey Everyone! The LivingAfterWLS General Store has a cool Freebie to celebrate good health in 2013! The Cheers 2013 free gift (with purchase) includes 5 servings of health promoting beverages and a Four Rules refrigerator magnet. Be sure to click "Add to Cart" to enjoy this gift, $3.25 Value! And you can use your MERRY2012 to save an additional $3 off purchases of $29 or more. Shop now for your 5 Day Pouch Test support, Cooking with Kaye, Carb Monster Soups and Hair Loss Recovery.

LivingAfterWLS General Store

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

2012 Holiday Greeting from Kaye & LivingAfterWLS

Webpage View




Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Rustic Chicken Caccitore from Cooking with Kaye

 Rustic Chicken Cacciatore; page 164 Cooking with Kaye. A very good moist crockpot meal full of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. Family friendly and low cost-per-serving. Try it! From Cooking with Kaye, "Cacciatore is a traditional hunter’s stew made of poultry with vegetables including onions and mushrooms simmered in tomato sauce. Using prepared marinara sauce makes this recipe simple and delicious. Rather than serve this meal with rustic bread or pasta try serving it with spaghetti squash for a healthy low-carb alternative that suits our Protein First diet."


Join the Cooking with Kaye Pinterest Board and share your recipe images and ideas. Learn more HERE:

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Automatic upgrade to Priority Shipping when you order Cooking with Kaye. Receive in time for Christmas. From LivingAfterWLS General Store:




Learn More:
Cooking with Kaye

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Is Your Food Budget in Overdraft?

From LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest 12/11/2012

Food Budget in Overdraft?

What you need to know now! 

Chocolate is a favorite holiday splurge.
Thank you for joining me for this Weekly Digest. With the holidays in full-swing many of us are surrounded with temptation that is sure to upset our weight management efforts. Sometimes I feel like all the temptation is nothing more than a punishment; a steady reminder of the things I can no longer enjoy, or at the very least, things should not include in my diet. It has been 13 holiday seasons since my gastric bypass surgery and I have not marked a single one without splurging on some tempting treat that I know is not part of my healthy weight loss surgery diet. Some years I have indulged more than others. And many splurges have made me ill with too much sugar, dairy or dietary fat for my little system. As each year passes I like to think I get a little wiser in my carefully selected food splurges.

Account Overdraft:  Many years ago I had a college roommate, who like all of us, was on a tight budget. One night we came home to find her enjoying a prime cut beef steak with side dishes and dessert: this was a grand departure from her usual meal of ramen noodles and tuna fish. "What was the occasion?" we asked. She explained she was out of money and when she bought her groceries she knew she would overdraft her checking account. With that she declared, "If I'm going to overdraft my account it is going to be on something really, really good that I can totally enjoy."

While I don't agree with my former roommate's fiscal management I do get her point. If we transfer the philosophy from our bank account to our dietary account it makes sense that an "overdraft" should be on something extraordinarily good, not the mediocre or mundane.

In this Digest we present some of the best expert tips for managing our dietary bank account and making room for splurges during this time of holiday excess. I hope some of the hints are useful to you as you manage your account this holiday season. Thank you for joining me and remember, we are all in this together!
Cheers!
Kaye Bailey

Link to the Digest in our Archive:
Digest 12/11/2012  

Good news in fight against childhood obesity

As reported in the New York Times on 12/10/2012:

Obesity in Young Is Seen as Falling in Several Cities

PHILADELPHIA — After decades of rising childhood obesity rates, several American cities are reporting their first declines. 

The trend has emerged in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, as well as smaller places like Anchorage, Alaska, and Kearney, Neb. The state of Mississippi has also registered a drop, but only among white students. 

“It’s been nothing but bad news for 30 years, so the fact that we have any good news is a big story,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, the health commissioner in New York City, which reported a 5.5 percent decline in the number of obese schoolchildren from 2007 to 2011.
The drops are small, just 5 percent here in Philadelphia and 3 percent in Los Angeles. But experts say they are significant because they offer the first indication that the obesity epidemic, one of the nation’s most intractable health problems, may actually be reversing course. 

The first dips — noted in a September report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — were so surprising that some researchers did not believe them. 

Deanna M. Hoelscher, a researcher at the University of Texas, who in 2010 recorded one of the earliest declines — among mostly poor Hispanic fourth graders in the El Paso area — did a double-take. “We reran the numbers a couple of times,” she said. “I kept saying, ‘Will you please check that again for me?’ ” 

Researchers say they are not sure what is behind the declines. They may be an early sign of a national shift that is visible only in cities that routinely measure the height and weight of schoolchildren. The decline in Los Angeles, for instance, was for fifth, seventh and ninth graders — the grades that are measured each year — between 2005 and 2010. Nor is it clear whether the drops have more to do with fewer obese children entering school or currently enrolled children losing weight. But researchers note that declines occurred in cities that have had obesity reduction policies in place for a number of years. 

Though obesity is now part of the national conversation, with aggressive advertising campaigns in major cities and a push by Michelle Obama, many scientists doubt that anti-obesity programs actually work. Individual efforts like one-time exercise programs have rarely produced results. Researchers say that it will take a broad set of policies applied systematically to effectively reverse the trend, a conclusion underscored by an Institute of Medicine report released in May. 

Philadelphia has undertaken a broad assault on childhood obesity for years. Sugary drinks like sweetened iced tea, fruit punch and sports drinks started to disappear from school vending machines in 2004. A year later, new snack guidelines set calorie and fat limits, which reduced the size of snack foods like potato chips to single servings. By 2009, deep fryers were gone from cafeterias and whole milk had been replaced by one percent and skim. 

Change has been slow. Schools made money on sugary drinks, and some set up rogue drink machines that had to be hunted down. Deep fat fryers, favored by school administrators who did not want to lose popular items like French fries, were unplugged only after Wayne T. Grasela, the head of food services for the school district, stopped buying oil to fill them.

Read Full Article in New York Times: Childhood Obesity Rates Decline

Saturday, December 08, 2012

Book Bundles Make Great Gifts!



Protein Power PLUS Book Bundle: Save 20%


Our new money saving Protein Power Book Bundle includes the newly published "Cooking with Kaye: Methods to Meals; The Protein Counter (2011) and for keeping track of your calorie intake and exercise output the Ultimate Pocket Diet Journal. Eating adequate protein and record keeping are proven effective means to lose weight and keep it off.

This bundle makes a terrific gift for someone just out of surgery. Bundle it today and save 20% off the publisher suggested price. Free Goody Bag & Four Rules Magnet with Bundle ($3.95 Value). Track your nutritional intake and caloric expenditure - Record keeping is a proven tool for lasting weight loss and weight maintenance. Bundle includes: Cooking with Kaye (November 2012); 3rd Edition Protein Counter (2011); and Ultimate Pocket Diet Journal. Complimentary Goody Bag and Four Rules Magnet with Bundle.

Protein Power Plus Book Bundle: SKU #LAWLS-PPBB2
Suggested Publisher Price: $51.95 - Purchased Separately: $44.95
Bargain Bundle Price: $40.95 - (Save $11.00)


Shop the LivingAfterWLS General Store


Save more with $3 Off Coupon!

Save even more with coupon. Enter MERRY2012 and take $3 off all orders of $29+. You've taken care of the rest, now take care of yourself and be your best with LivingAfterWLS!


Friday, December 07, 2012

Holiday Foods that Derail Weight Loss Goals

The Naughty List of Holiday Food from WebMD


This 15-slide WebMD presentation takes a quick look at holiday foods that may derail our best weight management efforts. Now, you know me well enough to know I don't care to assign food moral attributes such a "naughty" or "nice" -- food is food. Removing the moral labels gives us a more rationale attitude about the things we select to provide nutrition.  With that in mind, take a look at these foods which may not support our nutritional and weight management goals.

For holiday recipes that support our weight loss surgery health goals take a look at these two "Cooking with Kaye" email newsletters from our archive.

Classic Cooking with Kaye: Recipes we Love Year After Year

Cooking with Kaye: New Classics to Love


Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Bundle Bargain - Save 25% off Top Books


LAWLS Bookworm Bundle Save 25% and build your WLS Library with quality publications! Exclusively sold at LivingAfterWLS Kaye Bailey's work is internationally acclaimed and supported by bariatric centers, nutritionists, support groups,

and people just like you doing their very best LivingAfterWLS with bariatric surgery.
Bundle includes: 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual 2nd Edition (2012); Day 6: Beyond 5DPT (2009); Cooking with Kaye-Methods to Meals (2012). Over 250 recipes; 600 pages of effective empowerment supporting your healthy weight management. Publishers suggested retail price $82.95 - Save $21 with bundle.
Free goody bag with purchase ($2.95 value).

SKU #LAWLS-BWB3
Suggested Publisher Price: $82.95 - Purchased separately $72.95
Bundle Price: $61.95 - Save $21.00!
Add Bookworm Bundle to Cart.



Are Kaye Bailey's Books available on Amazon or Barnes & Nobel?

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Collaborating on Pinterest: Cooking with Kaye

 In my new cookbook, Cooking with Kaye: Methods to Meals published Nov. 20, 2012, I invited you to join the Cooking with Kaye board on Pinterest to share your images and experiences as you create and personalize recipes from the book!  You can check out the Cooking with Kaye board here:

Pinterest Cooking with Kaye

Follow the Invite Instructions to join the boad and collaborate in building a terrific collection of recipes using the methods and recipes from this cookbook that focuses on eating delicious protein first meals in support of healthy weight management with surgery.

Get your copy of Cooking with Kaye here:
LivingAfterWLS General Store Books




Featured Recipe:

Oven Braised Swedish Meatballs

Page 150: Cooking with Kaye

Oven Braised Swedish Meatballs - Prepared 09/14/2012 from page 150 of Cooking with Kaye. I love this recipe, especially the traditional flavors of nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom. One or two meatballs with a scant amount of egg noodles is quite satisfying to the little pouch and provides 18-36 grams protein. Ground beef and ground turkey sausage make a succulent main dish the entire family will love!

As described in the book: "The traditional flavors of nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom set these meatballs apart from the typical bland meatballs and gravy one might find at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Gently braised in the oven the meat is moist and tender and the sauce is rich and creamy."

Have you created this dish yet from Cooking with Kaye? Did you like it? Make any adjustments? Share your comments & photos here!


Thursday, November 29, 2012

One Day Left for November Coupons

One day left to take advantage of November "Thank You" savings in LivingAfterWLS General Store:

November Coupon Codes: Two Great Offers!
November is a month of gratitude and we are more grateful than ever for the support and loyalty we enjoy with our LivingAfterWLS General Store Customers and Neighbors. It pleases us to offer two different coupon codes this month, a token of our appreciation of you. Please use the coupon that gives you the best bargain and enter the code at checkout. Only one offer per order, please. Happy Thanksgiving!

PS-Use these coupon codes to purchase your copy of Kaye Bailey's new cookbook, Cooking with Kaye: Methods to Meals. LEARN MORE
 
THANKSTWO2012 - Take $2 off orders of $29 or less
Save $2.00 off any order, no minimum. Enter code THANKSTWO2012 at checkout. Showing gratitude to our LivingAfterWLS Customers.
 
THANKSTEN2012 - Take 10% off any order of $29 or more.
Enter code THANKSTEN2012 at checkout. Showing gratitude to our LivingAfterWLS Customers.
 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Holiday Hotlines - Cooking help just a call away


For those of you asking - here is the link to last week's LivingAfterWLS Digest - and the list of hotline numbers for cooking questions and emergencies. Keep this at hand ----just in case you run into questions or problems while fixing your Thanksgiving meal. Be safe and Enjoy!

Helpful Cooking Hotlines


To see the full digest go here: LivingAfterWLS Digest Nov 15

Monday, November 19, 2012

Cooking With Kaye- Available Now!!!

Cooking with Kaye --- Tomorrow is the big day!! I am so excited for the publication of my new cookbook - Methods to Meals: Protein First Recipes You Will Love! It is out tomorrow! All of our early reservations will go out in the US Priority Mail so you should have them by Friday! If you haven't reserved your copy yet click on the link to our store. We are shipping all books Priority Mail through the end of the month so you'll get your order super quick.

Use Coupon Code: THANKSTWO2012 to save $2 off order.

Cooking with Kaye






Introductory Price: $23.95
Complimentary "Four Rules" magnet with each order ($1.95 value)
Low Introductory Price Guaranteed through 12/31/2012
(Publishers Price: $27.95 - Save $4)
SKU #LAWLS-CWKM2M
Reserve my copy of Cooking with Kaye

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Savings Now! Great Savings Coupons

November Coupon Codes: Two Great Offers!

November is a month of gratitude and we are more grateful than ever for the support and loyalty we enjoy with our LivingAfterWLS General Store Customers and Neighbors. It pleases us to offer two different coupon codes this month, a token of our appreciation of you. Please use the coupon that gives you the best bargain and enter the code at checkout. Only one offer per order, please. Happy Thanksgiving!

PS-Use these coupon codes to reserve your copy of Kaye Bailey's new cookbook, Cooking with Kaye: Methods to Meals. Your reserved copy ships to you on November 20!
THANKSTWO2012 - Take $2 off orders of $29 or less
Save $2.00 off any order, no minimum. Enter code THANKSTWO2012 at checkout. Showing gratitude to our LivingAfterWLS Customers.
 
THANKSTEN2012 - Take 10% off any order of $29 or more.
Enter code THANKSTEN2012 at checkout. Showing gratitude to our LivingAfterWLS Customers.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Beyond the Plate at Thanksgiving

Now Online: Weekly Digest
Feasting Season: The Bigger Picture Beyond the Plate

Thank you for joining me for this Weekly Digest. As we are nearing Tha
nksgiving Day and the feasting season of the next several weeks today the Digest takes a look at the greater picture of our feasting traditions. I hope you will find our feature article insightful. As I researched the traditions and customs of food gatherings I came to understand that these big holiday meals symbolize community and human experience beyond the individual plate. While the feasting can feel overwhelming to us after bariatric surgery we can find ways to participate as part of the group while meeting our individual needs and restrictions. Feature Article. And while the feasting traditions continue, newer traditions present opportunities beyond the table. Take a look at the Turkey Quest article and tool to help us find charitable and volunteer opportunities in which to participate. And finally, in homage to the ubiquitous pumpkin I share a cookie recipe from Diabetic Living. Make and share these delicious cookies this week and feel good about contributing a healthy option to your holiday menu.

HOTLINES!
As the holiday nears we have gathered some terrific hotline resources for your cooking questions and emergencies including Butterball Turkey Talk and the US Department of Agriculture. Keep this reference list at hand ... just in case.

Thank you again for joining me, remember, We are ALL in this together. I wish you and the people you celebrate with a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Cheers!
Kaye Bailey
 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Staying Healthy During the Holidays

From Whole Story: The Official Whole Foods Blog

Body
So, you’ve recovered from your Halloween sugar crash and you’re committed to better eating habits for the holiday season. There’s just one problem: mom’s sweet potato casserole covered in butter and marshmallows… or grandma’s ultra rich pumpkin pie… or all of that leftover Halloween candy! Okay, maybe we’ve got a few problems on our hands here.
Roasted Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Pears
Many traditional holiday foods are high in sugar, fat and salt — and the sheer length of the modern holiday season (does it seem to last from Halloween to New Year's?) can exhaust even the best of dietary intentions. Here are a few suggestions for staying health-focused during this time of year.

Cooking & Entertaining
Split Pea SoupWhen creating meals for your loved ones, keep in mind that they may share your holiday eating woes. Don’t be afraid to substitute some favorite classes with updated healthful, delicious holiday recipes. You may find yourself creating new faves among your family and friends. A meal prepared from a wide range of delicious, natural, and whole fresh foods is one of the greatest gifts you can give friends and family.

A great starting place for menu planning is to choose recipes that feature seasonal vegetables such as leafy greens, winter squashes and root vegetables. Plan to always serve a green salad and plenty of vegetable and whole grain side dishes with your holiday meals. Speaking of whole grains, try working more of these into your holiday baking. Most recipes will produce great results with half the amount of all-purpose flour replaced with whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour.

At Parties
When you’re not deciding the menu, staying on a healthy path can prove more challenging. We’ve got tips for navigating the nutritional landmines of holiday parties.
Eat a healthy, filling snack or small meal before heading out; it's easier to make sensible food and drink choices when you aren’t famished.

Once you’re at the party, think about portion sizes. Choose a smaller plate when you head over to a holiday buffet, and have just a spoon or two or a single slice of each offering. Emphasize vegetables and whole grains on your plate with larger portion sizes, which will help you feel satisfied and boost your nutrient intake.

Also, if asked to share a dish for a holiday meal, party or potluck, make it a healthy one! This way you'll always have at least one great option to fill up on. You can try one of our excellent holiday recipes, or even visit our prepared foods department and look for Health Starts Here-labeled dishes.

Just at Home
Romantic Rice BowlSince holiday parties and celebrations tend to derail normal eating habits, too, commit to healthy eating during non-holiday related meals during the season. Base your meals around fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant-based proteins and avoid processed, salty, sugary and fatty foods. You’ll enjoy splurges more if you know you’re balancing them out with a healthy foundation.

And don’t forget, health is more than just food. Stick to a good exercise plan, and try to add some fun activities like skating, sledding, hiking and walking to your schedule. Take a walk with family after big meals, integrate activity into the party plan, get people moving!
Last but not least, remember to relax, get enough sleep, have some laughs and enjoy the season!

What are your tips for staying healthy during the holidays?  We’d love to hear what helps you!

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Thanksgiving Classics we Love

Cooking with Kaye Newsletter November 8, 2012
Link for Full Newsletter with 10 Recipes

Kaye's Kitchen: 
Greetings Neighbors! 
 
Can you believe we are two weeks away from Thanksgiving?  I have started planning the menu for our family dinner; my favorite holiday of the year. And I'm sure many of you are doing the same. This time of year I enjoy receiving emails from my LivingAfterWLS Neighbors who often ask, "Kaye do you remember that one recipe you gave us, it had something like..." and I get to look back at our growing collection to find an old favorite recipe. Today I'm proud to publish some these favorite classics again for you. Maybe they will be new and find a place on your table, maybe they are an old favorite and you are glad to be reminded of them. Either way I know you will enjoy them because they are delicious and reliable and have stood the test of time.

To those affected by recent weather disasters I send out my deepest care and concern with hopes that each day brings recovery, comfort, and security. I hope that despite this hardship and adversity we may all find something for which to be grateful.

I wish a blessed Thanksgiving to our LivingAfterWLS Neighbors. May your day be filled with gratitude as you embrace the people and traditions most important to you.

Sincerely,
Kaye


And remember, you can always find great LivingAfterWLS recipes online in our Kitchen!

Holiday Weight Gain:
Are you worried about holiday weight gain? Be sure to check-out the November 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin that is loaded with tips and techniques to avoid holiday bulge. 


Cooking with Kaye: Methods to MealsWe have other exciting things happening this month! On November 20, 2012 my new book, "Cooking with Kaye: Methods to Meals" will be published. This collection of 134 Protein First recipes has been many years in the making and I am thrilled with the result. You can reserve your copy today at the guaranteed lowest introductory price and it will be in the mail to you on November 20th. I know this will become a family favorite resource for great meals everyone can enjoy.  Learn more.


Introductory Price: $23.95
Complimentary "Four Rules" magnet with each book. ($1.95 value)
Low Introductory Price Guaranteed through 12/31/2012
(Publishers Price: $27.95 - Save $4)
SKU #LAWLS-CWKM2M

Friday, November 02, 2012

NO! to Holiday Weight Gain

5 Day Pouch Test November Bulletin - in our archive today!
Link Here: November 5DPT Bulletin


Too busy for the 5DPT?

That's Okay! You can still use techniques and tricks to thrive during the Feasting Season. 


November 2012

This is your year to say NO! 
to holiday weight gain.


Greetings Neighbors!

Fall Flowers

To all of our Neighbors affected by Superstorm Sandy I send my heartfelt wishes and prayers for your safety and health. My heart aches for the suffering and destruction brought about by this act of nature. I am supporting your recovery efforts with a contribution dedicated to all LivingAfterWLS Neighbors to the American Red Cross. May peace be with us all.

This November 5DPT Bulletin is all about taking little steps to manage our weight with surgery. There is no question that the 5 Day Pouch Test has helped thousands of people get back on track with their WLS goals. One reason for this success is that the plan forces us to look at the very basics of the WLS lifestyle and return to the behaviors that helped us lose weight initially out of surgery. Sometimes all we need is a reboot, a reminder, an ah-ha moment of rediscovering a tool or technique we may have forgotten. Today's Bulletin is loaded with tools and techniques that work in our weight management and we can use them as part of a successful 5 Day Pouch Test or a less-dramatic reboot.  I know I need the occasional back-to-basics refresher course; I hope you will benefit from my experience.
Be sure to check-out today's Featured Recipe:Turkey Filled Colorful Peppers. Enjoy this on Days 4 or 5 of the 5 Day Pouch Test or anytime on Day 6!

We are all in this together!

You are more powerful than you think and
You Can Do This!

Kaye


Link to Bulletin



Thursday, November 01, 2012

Taking Reservations!


Cooking with KayeCooking with Kaye:  

Methods to Meals
Protein First Recipes You Will Love
Now Taking Advance Reservations

Kaye Bailey's highly anticipated cookbook.
134 Irresistible Recipes - Tips & Hints - Nutritional Wisdom
Introducing Kay'e "Pace of Preparation"
Publication & Shipping Date: November 20, 2012
Kaye Bailey's all-new highly anticipated cookbook Published Nov. 20, 2012. "Methods to Meals: Protein First Recipes You will Love" features 134 all new recipes and detailed techniques to take you beyond the meal to create recipes you and your family will love. Hard-back, comb binding, 196 pages. Must have for any WLS household. Introducing Kaye's new "Pace of Preparation" to identify recipes that meet your time schedule and serve your dietary needs. Meals for the blended household (WLS & non-WLS eaters), couples, singles, all of us. Introductory price guaranteed through December 31, 2012. Reserve your copy today!

Supporting your weight loss surgery health management goals one delicious meal at a time.


Please note: Cooking with Kaye will ship US Mail on the publication date: Tuesday November20, 2012. All otheritems in your order will ship within 48 hours of our receipt of your paid order: You only pay 1 shipment fee: Our low Cooking With Kaye: back coverFlat Rate Shipping fee of $4.95 - All Orders!. Most orders ship US Priority Mail or US First Class Mail. You will receive an email providing the ship date, estimated delivery date, and tracking number when we prepare your order now and when we send Cooking with Kaye on November 20. We are honored to serve your LivingAfterWLS needs. View our shipping policy.

Introductory Price: $23.95
Complimentary "Four Rules" magnet with each order ($1.95 value)
Low Introductory Price Guaranteed through 12/31/2012

(Publishers Price: $27.95 - Save $4)

SKU #LAWLS-CWKM2M

Reserve my copy of Cooking with Kaye

LAWLS Customers-Urgent Notice: Shipment Delays


Urgent Notice!

DELIVERY DELAYS DUE TO SUPERSTORM SANDY: Update November 1, 2012
The US Post Office has advised LivingAfterWLS that postal operations are currently in the recovery phase in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy that struck the eastern seaboard at the close of business Monday, October 29. Numerous locations were left without power and many offices remained closed through Wednesday, October 31. Numerous trucks -- Mail Transport Equipment (MTE) -- were also decomissioned due to major flooding, high winds, and power outage. The post office reports that "recovery phase" mail pieces are moving slower than normal and that electronic tracking status has been adversely affected. Please allow an additional 4-5 business days for destination delivery of all mail pieces. LivingAfterWLS is working with our local post office to ensure packages to our customers are routed properly and we anticipate by mid-week (November 7) packages will arrive promptly at your door. Thank you for your understanding at this time.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Your Brain on Sugar

It gives you a rush, messes with your mind, and always leaves you wanting more - and now researchers are calling for the government to regulate the sweet stuff like a drug.
 
Is sugar worse for you than, say, cocaine? According to a 2012 article in the journal Nature, it's a toxic substance that should be regulated like tobacco and alcohol. Researchers point to studies that show that too much sugar (both in the form of natural sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup) not only makes us fat, it also wreaks havoc on our liver, mucks up our metabolism, impairs brain function, and may leave us susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, even cancer. So far, no federal action has been taken (advocates blame industry lobbyists), and experts say simply raising awareness isn't enough, especially when 80 percent of our food choices contain sugar. "It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion," says coauthor Laura Schmidt, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.
 Nevertheless, after the shock of hearing the news, many of us shrugged and turned back to our cupcakes. Yet, truth is, women in their 20s and 30s may already be feeling the effects of too much sugar without even realizing it. Here, the most common sugar-induced issues and how to beat them to prevent long-term damage—and feel your best right now.

STRESS EATING For a pick-me-up, you may feel the urge to inhale a bag of M&M's or scarf down a box of cookies. But the impulse goes deeper. To examine the hold sugar can have over us, substance-abuse researchers have performed brain scans on subjects eating something sweet. What they've seen resembles the mind of a drug addict: When tasting sugar, the brain lights up in the same regions as it would in an alcoholic with a bottle of gin. Dopamine—the so-called reward chemical—spikes and reinforces the desire to have more. (Sugar also fuels the calming hormone serotonin.)
THE FIX In times of stress, dieters are more likely to binge, studies conclude. That said, a cookie once in a while (say, twice a week) is fine, but on most days go for oatmeal with brown sugar, suggests Jeffrey Fortuna, Ph.D., a health and behavior lecturer at California State University, Fullerton. The whole grains fill you up and the sweetness is just enough to release serotonin.

INEXPLICABLE WEIGHT GAIN You stay away from burgers and drink diet soda. But sugar—both real and artificial—is the secret saboteur. When the pancreas senses sugar, the body releases insulin, which causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen for energy. Eat too much at once, though, and insulin levels spike, then drop. The aftermath? You feel tired, then crave more sustenance to perk up. Faux sugars don't help. "Artificial sweeteners travel to the part of the brain associated with desire but not to the part responsible for reward," says Dr. Gene-Jack Wang, a researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. Nor do they trigger the release of the satiety hormones that real sugar does, so you're more likely to consume more calories.
THE FIX Feed sweet cravings with fruit (the fiber will help keep insulin in check), and sub in sparkling water for diet soda. If you must indulge, go for a small snack made with real sugar, and eat slowly. Add fruit or yogurt to feel fuller and prevent a crash.

BRAIN FOG Blanking out in the middle of a meeting? Research out of the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that sugar forms free radicals in the brain's membrane and compromises nerve cells' ability to communicate. This could have repercussions in how well we remember instructions, process ideas, and handle our moods, says Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, Ph.D., author of the UCLA study.
THE FIX Stay under the USDA limit of 10 teaspoons (40 grams) of added sugar a day. Read labels and available nutrition information at chains: A 16-ounce Starbucks vanilla latte and Einstein Bros. bagel will max out your day's allotment! A wiser choice: black coffee and plain yogurt with antioxidant-rich blueberries and walnuts, sweetened with honey.

AGING SKIN Sugar causes premature aging, just as cigarettes and UV rays do. With young skin (generally under 35), when skin support structures collagen and elastin break down from sun or other free-radical exposure, cells repair themselves. But when sugar travels into the skin, its components cause nearby amino acids to form cross-links. These cross-links jam the repair mechanism and, over time, leave you with premature wrinkles.
THE FIX Once cross-links form, they won't unhitch, so keep sugar intake to as close to zero as you can. "It's the enemy," says Dr. William Danby, a dermatologist with Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire. Avoid soda and processed pastries and trade sugar packets for cinnamon—it slows down cross-linking, as do cloves, oregano, ginger, and garlic.

A SLUGGISH WORKOUT Muscles need sugar for fuel, so carbs (which break up into glucose, a type of sim-ple sugar) can kick-start your morning jog. But fruit or prepackaged snacks touting "natural sweeteners" contain just fructose, which is metabolized in the liver, not the muscles. The result: bloat, or even the runs.
THE FIX A glucose-packed snack with just 4 to 8 grams of fructose—it'll help increase glucose absorption, says Dr. Richard Johnson, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver. Try a sports drink like Gatorade or trail mix with dried fruit an hour before your workout.
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Fall Sale - Save at LivingAfterWLS General Store

Current Coupon Code: FALL2012
Save $2.00 off any order - No Minimum
Shop Now - Coupon Expires 10/31/2012












Lasting Success Book Bundle empowerment and know-how for WLS success
Put the Power of the Pouch in your hands with Kaye Bailey's two best selling books plus the highly effective Ultimate Pocket Diet Journal. Our customer favorite Lasting Success Book Bundle includes The 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual (2008); Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test (2009); and The Ultimate Pocket Diet Journal (by Alex Lluch 2006). 600 pages of inspiration, motivation, empowerment & know-how to get you on track with WLS and keep you there! Great recipes, inspiring hints and proven secrets! Spoken in Kaye's compelling voice of compassion and "You Can Do This" spirit. Great bundle ensuring your lasting success with Weight Loss Surgery.

SKU #LAWLS-LSBB
List price: $66.95
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Recipe Archive: Chicken with Apple Stuffing

From our Recipe of the Week Archive: October 21, 2007

There is no question that boneless skinless chicken breasts play a leading role on the post-weight loss surgery plate. It is easy to rely on this ubiquitous food for clean lean protein that is healthy and quick to prepare. It is also easy for this food to become monotonous. Often we find ways to pretty up the outside using fresh herbs, spices and vegetables to add flavor and variety. Today's Recipe of the Week takes a different approach: moist and healthy fillings tucked inside the breasts to improve flavor and texture while adding variety to our menus. Give these recipes a try and enjoy your lean clean protein in a whole new way.

Chicken Breasts with Curried Apple Stuffing

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped celery
1 3/4 cups chopped peeled Granny Smith apple (about 3/4 pound)
1 3/4 teaspoons curry powder, divided
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 (10 1/2-ounce) can low-salt chicken broth, divided
4 (4-ounce) skinned, boned, chicken breast halves
3/4 cup apple juice
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions:
Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add apple and 1 teaspoon curry powder; sauté 3 minutes or until apple is tender. Stir in raisins, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1/3 cup broth; cook 4 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Spoon apple mixture into a small bowl; set aside.

Cut a horizontal slit through the thickest portion of each breast half to form a pocket. Stuff about 1/4 cup apple mixture into each pocket.

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from skillet; set aside.

Add 3/4 teaspoon curry powder, remaining broth, apple juice, and garlic to skillet. Bring to a boil; cook 5 minutes or until reduced to 1 cup.

Combine cornstarch and water; stir well. Add to broth mixture in skillet; stir with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Return chicken to skillet; cover and simmer 2 minutes or until heated. Serve sauce with chicken.

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast half and 1/4 cup sauce. Per serving: 240 calories; 30 grams protein, 5 grams fat (1 saturated), 22 grams carbohydrate and 2 grams dietary fiber.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

You, Your Mood, and the Scale

Thank you for joining me for this Weekly Digest. We hope you enjoy the new lighter look of our weekly newsletter. This new look is part of an overall redesign of the LivingAfterWLS web suite including the 5 Day Pouch Test and the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood. As our new design unfolds I look forward to introducing you to new features and easier navigation that I hope will improve your LivingAfterWLS experience.

The new weekly digest will include a Feature Article, a column In the News, a new Featured Recipe, and informative briefs and Quick Notes along the left sidebar. You can expect to see a similar format in our Cooking with Kaye and 5 Day Pouch Test newsletters.

Today's featured article looks at the emotions we invest when monitoring our WLS progress exclusively by bathroom scale. Our news article looks at a new study that indicates WLS supports long-term improved health (hopefully most of us knew that already from our own experience). And don't miss today's Featured Recipe: Chicken and White Bean Soup! It is easy and Delicious and will most certainly tame any carb monster!  Thank you again for joining me, remember, We are ALL in this together.

Cheers!
Kaye Bailey

View the complete Weekly Digest in our Archive: Oct 16 Weekly Digest

Another Study Implicates WLS in Substance Abuse

Weight Loss Surgery Boosts Risk For Substance Abuse

Patients who have had bariatric weight loss surgery could be at an elevated risk of substance use (alcohol, cigarette smoking, drug use) following surgery, especially those who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, who seemed to be at a higher risk for alcohol use after surgery.

This report, published in Archives of Surgery, describes previous studies that relates bariatric weight loss surgery candidates to individuals addicted to other substances such as nicotine and alcohol. These candidates suffer from binge-eating disorder and display addictive personalities, therefore after their weight loss surgery (WLS), they may replace overeating with a different substance. Patients have been advised to explore these effects before undergoing surgery

Alexis Conason, Psy.D., of New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, and colleagues, examined survey responses from 155 patients (132 women) who underwent weight loss surgery, and signed up after an informative session at a bariatric surgery center.

The participants underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (100) or laparoscopic gastric band surgery (55). All patients answered questionnaires to evaluate eating behaviors and substance use before their operation, and at one, three, six, twelve, and 24 months following surgery.

Patients documented noteworthy increases in the amount of substance use (a combination of drug use, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking) 24 months after surgery. Specifically, the authors saw that participants reported a meaningful increase in the prevalence of substance use from the time of the surgery to 24 months after surgery. Also seen was significant increases from one, three, and six months to 24 months following their operation.

Furthermore, those who had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) reported a meaningful jump in the frequency of alcohol use from the period before surgery to 24 months afterwards.

The authors concluded:


"Based on the present study, undergoing RYGB surgery appears to increase the risk for alcohol use following WLS. Risks and benefits should be weighted when recommending LRYGB surgery to patients who may be at increased risk of developing problems with alcohol after WLS, such as those with a personal or family history of alcohol abuse or dependence."


Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News Today

Monday, October 15, 2012

Spiced Pumpkin Soup | Dashrecipes.com

Did you guys see this recipe yesterday in the Parade Magazine? Another terrific Pumpkin Soup recipe. I'm going to try it and add some shredded leftover roast turkey. I will keep you posted! The nutritional on this (without added turkey) are 110 calories; 6grams protein; 15grams carb; 2.5 grams fat. 



Spiced Pumpkin Soup | Dashrecipes.com

Here is the link to the very popular 5 Day Pouch Test Pumpkin Sausage Soup.



Thursday, October 11, 2012

Free Shipping Flash Sale - Act Quick & Save!

Greetings!


Happy 10-11-12!!

In celebration of consecutive numbers in today's date we are pleased to offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders placed in the LivingAfterWLS General Store for the next 48 hours. Just like consecutively numbered dates our FREE SHIPPING happens only rarely - Take Advantage Now! 

--No Coupon Needed
--No Minimum Offer

It's as easy as 1-2-3 or 10-11-12 to enjoy this exclusive offer for our loyal customers as we celebrate LIVING after WLS!  Enjoy!

Kaye

*Regretfully, we are no longer able to ship orders outside of the US.  Please see this change to our shipping policy here.

Shop Now!!
Sale begins noon eastern time 10/11/2012 and ends noon eastern time 10/13/2012.

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

5DPT Forms - Working Now

Have you experienced a technical error trying to download our new 5 Day Pouch Test Journal forms? Sorry about that. The web guys have it fixed and it you can click the link and get the PDF of our all new 2012 5DPT form. The original form is
still there as well, if you prefer. As always, all off our downloads are free for your personal use. Let me know if you like the old form or the new form. You Can Do This!!
This new and improved journal is a companion tool to the brand new 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual - 2nd Edition published July 2012.  
All New 2nd Edition- July 2012
5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual 5DPT Manual 2nd EditionThe complete 5 Day Pouch Test plan including inspiration, instructions, and recipes in Kaye Bailey's classic empowering style. 180-page easy to read paperback with hints, tips and encouragement that enables you to take charge of your weight loss surgery tool. 2nd Edition includes new guidelines from the FDA, USDA, and the ASMBS. 16 new 5DPT recipes; more FAQ’s; more inspiration from Kaye. Improved format. Same great plan shared with Kaye's encouragement and enthusiasm. Same low first edition price $22.95. Get back on track with Kaye! You Can Do This!
View Table of Contents

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Have you met your WLS goals?

Monday is a new month and the beginning of the last quarter of 2012. Have you met your Weight Loss Surgery #WLS Goals yet this year? Maybe it's time for the 5 Day Pouch Test - the tried, tested, and proven, back to basics plan for all baria
tric procedures. Get your supplies at the LivingAfterWLS General Store and we'll help you get back on track. Use Coupon Code FB2012 at checkout and take $3 off your order - no minimum. Ok -Let's do this! Monday is Day 1 for me! And I am looking forward to soft gentle soups and getting back in control! Join me!

LivingAfterWLS General Store - 5 Day Pouch Test Support

5 Day Pouch Test bargain bundle

Customer Favorite 5 Day Pouch Test Bargain Bundle
5DPT Bargain Bundle

The Works! Everything you need to do your very best with the 5 Day Pouch Test!
--5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual 2nd Edition (2012)
--Feed the Carb Monster Soup Mixes (16 Servings - 2 Mixes)
--Emergen-C Bundle pack (7 Servings)
--FREE -- Goody Bag that includes samples, fun stuff, and worksheets to get you off to a great start on the 5 Day Pouch Test. Save 15% when you purchase the bundle. Ships UPS Priority Mail so you can get back on track right away! SKU #LAWLS-5DPTBB
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Octoboer 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin - Lots of Water

The October 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin is available for your reading and reference purposes. Check it out here in our Archive: October 2012: 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin
Below is the introductory article. 

Greetings Neighbors!
In the September 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin we discussed Protein First, the first of our four WLS rules. As reported, many of us are not getting enough protein. I was pleased to hear from so many of you who were inspired to increase your protein intake and you noticed the results on the bathroom scale. Congratulations to all of you! Even if we do not need to do the 5 Day Pouch Test, we almost always can do a little something different that improves the results we are a getting with our healthy weight management. If you missed last month's bulletin you can check it out here: September 2012 5DPT Bulletin.
Coffee Protein Smoothie
Does coffee count?

This month we move to Rule #2 - Drink Lots of Water.  The advice to drink lots of water is universal across the diet spectrum. Water flushes toxins, including the body fat we shed, improves circulation, promotes skin health, brain function, kidney function -- the list is long. With all the great benefits that come from drinking lots of water you'd think it would be easy to get it done. But drinking lots of water every day can be very challenging.  The more we drink, the more we eliminate (not always convenient). Water is tasteless and can seem tedious. There are many other better flavored beverages tempting us. And then there are the liquid restrictions: no water with meals; no water for 15 to 30 minutes before and after meals. And what actually counts as water?

It is really confusing!

It seems like almost everyone has their own standard for what counts as water and what doesn't.  Even from one bariatric center to the next it is difficult to get a consistent answer about how much water we need and what counts as water. Over the years I've come to my own conclusion about what "counts" as water for me. First, water counts. Next, if there are nutrients in the beverage such as Green Tea or a protein drink, I count it toward my fluid intake. One glass of red wine with its health promoting antioxidants counts -- four glasses of red wine do not count. Coffee with protein powder blended in counts; black coffee doesn't (because of the caffeine).  I aim for 60 to 80 ounces of water or countable fluid a day. This puts me in the bathroom about every 2 hours and I am able to maintain my weight without frustrating water weight gain or false weight loss.

I imagine that is the real bottom line regarding water intake is answered with this question:  What does it take to help us feel our very best? It will be different for each one of us but it certainly helps to learn what is working for others traveling this not-so-easy WLS terrain. I hope you will find some nuggets of helpful information in this month's 5DPT Bulletin. Thanks for joining me!

We are all in this together!
You are more powerful than you think and
You Can Do This!

Kaye

"Keep learning. Use the 5 Day Pouch Test and beyond to continue your education about health, nutrition, weight management, and living after weight loss surgery. Continued education works to keep us informed, trying new things, and renewed hope that lasting remission from our medical disorder is achievable. Seek knowledge from reputable publications and from peers. This process of support and learning becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as we benefit from the give-and-take of a generous spirit. Learn, teach, and share. We are in this together."
~Kaye Bailey - 5DPT Owner's Manual 2nd Edition, p.29

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Addiction, Transfer-Addiction, You & WLS

LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest: 09/19/2012
Hello and Welcome!

Today I address the topic of addiction and transfer addiction after weight loss surgery. I have been asked many times to offer an opinion on this topic and have avoided it because I am not trained in the field of addiction medicine. True addiction is serious and may be life threatening - it is not simply a word we can toss about glibly as an excuse like "I'm addicted to chocolate".  We are doing the weight loss surgery community an injustice when we presume to diagnose addiction without taking the proper clinical steps for assessment, screening, and then treatment. Addiction is serious business.  I hope the information in this Digest is useful to you as you consider this topic in relation to our collective weight loss surgery experience.

Read the full newsletter:

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Remembering & Honoring


We join you in remembering and honoring those whose lives were taken.
Dear LivingAfterWLS Neighbor,

While our usual motto at LivingAfterWLS is to celebrate the moment, "Stop and look where you are - You have arrived"  today we join you in taking time to reflect on the 11th Anniversary of a day none of us will ever forget. Let us come together to grieve, to remember, to honor, and to express our gratitude to those who demonstrated what it is to be a hero, and to pledge ourselves to live in honor of their bravery.

In Remembrance,
Kaye Bailey & LivingAfterWLS Team
LivingAfterWLS

Friday, September 07, 2012

WLS - What is the real goal?

From the LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest August 6, 2012
Link to Digest in our Archive


The Real Goal:  
Improve your health;
Celebrate Your Journey  
Petals of Light by Kaye Bailey

Remember, obesity is a chronic disease, like diabetes or hypertension. In a sense, patients are struggling against their own body's coordinated effort to stop them from losing weight.

Acknowledge the challenging nature of weight control by adopting problem-solving responses to goals that are not fully met. Remember, the examination of circumstances leading to unmet goals can lead to new and more effective strategies.

Improvement of one's health is the goal of obesity treatment.

Use simple charts or graphs to summarize changes in weight and  the associated risk factors that were present at the time treatment for obesity was sought. Looking at the big picture -- beyond body weight -- is motivational in one's ongoing quest to improve health.
--National Institutes of Health

View online LivingAfterWLS Digest September 6, 2012

Get back to Protein First with 5 Day Pouch Test

Are you struggling to manage your weight or lose weight with weight loss surgery? Maybe you are not eating enough protein. Check out the September 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin for little hints that make a big difference in your success.  Here is one of them:


Measure Portions:
We worry so much about the reading on the bathroom scale and so little about the reading on the kitchen scale.
 
The only way to know exactly what we are serving our self is to measure and weigh portions.
 
Eyeballing hasn't worked for us in the past. Leaving it to pouch control doesn't necessarily work. Weigh protein, 3 to 4 ounces per meal. Measure soup, 1/2 to 1 cup per meal. Count bites: 2B/1B Rhythm - 2 Bites Protein to 1 Bite Carbohydrate. Monitor water, at least 64 ounces a day. Measure food and water intake as vigilantly as we measure body weight on the bathroom scale - one becomes the other.
We are so ready to celebrate or agonize over a few ounces changed on the bathroom scale, yet so indifferent to measuring our meals on the kitchen scale. Can't we see the two are intrinsically related and one affects the other?


September 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin

LivingAfterWLS Coupon: FALL2012 - Save $2 Off Any Order



Save on 5 Day Pouch Test Publications and Supplies


Is your health at risk because of Rule #1?

From the September 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin

Greetings Neighbors!
How much protein have you had so far today?
  
 "As a group, we are not eating enough protein and this shortfall is putting our health at risk."

Protein & Fruit WLS Perfect Meal We know that after weight loss surgery we should follow a high protein diet. We call this "Protein First" - the first of the Four Rules of WLS. Mainstream studies of people managing their weight without bariatric surgery continue to indicate a diet high in protein supports weight loss and weight management in addition to promoting health.

WebMD recently reported, "Diets higher in protein and moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise are often purported by experts to reduce blood fats and maintain lean tissue while burning fat for fuel without constant hunger sidetracking dieters." Researchers don't understand exactly how protein works to turn down appetite. They surmise that it may be because a high-protein diet causes the brain to receive lower levels of appetite-stimulating hormones. It may be due to eating fewer carbs and/or the specific protein effect on hunger hormones and brain chemistry.

How Much Protein Do You Need?

The experts are now suggesting dieters eat 120 grams of protein a day to get the potential weight loss benefit. They advise advancing protein intake gradually, "If you want to increase your protein intake, do it slowly over the course of a week.  To be on the safe side, check with your doctor before adding large amounts of protein to your diet."

120 grams = 20 ounces or 1.25 pounds protein/day

Bariatric centers are less precise in their protein recommendations. In fact, a 2008 study reveals nutritionists recommend anywhere from 60 to 105 grams of protein a day for patients following a 1,200-calorie diet. The recommendations vary so much that there is confusion in the WLS population about how much protein we need. What we do know is that as a group, we are not eating enough protein and this shortfall is putting our health at risk.
In 2011 a leading researcher and bariatric specialist reported, "We found that there have been few studies on protein intake recommendations for bariatric patients. Dietary protein ingestion among this population tends to be inadequate, potentially leading to a loss of lean body mass, reduced metabolic rates, and physiological damage. Conversely, a protein-rich diet can lead to increased satiety, enhanced weight loss, and improved body composition. The quality and composition of protein sources are also very important."

We need to turn this trend around. Today's 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin takes a look at how we can use our 5DPT experience as a catalyst to following and enjoying a high protein diet and the health benefits and weight loss that accompany it.  As we turn the page on summer stepping into autumn let's use the enthusiasm of "back to learning" to make a new commitment to the goals and health objectives that we valued so much when we underwent surgery in the first place.
We are all in this together!
You are more powerful than you think and
You Can Do This!

Kaye

Link to the bulletin: 5DPT September