Cooking with Kaye: Pumpkin Lovin'

Link to Cooking with Kaye

 

Just Published: Cooking with Kaye Pumpkin Lovin, our recipe newsletter. Check out the newsletter online in our archive: CWK: Pumpkin Loving.  Thirteen healthy and delicious recipes.

 

"Greetings: 

Halloween is here and so begins the "Feasting Season."  Have you picked up on the news reports the last few weeks? Americans are expected to spend $2 Billion on candy this year for Halloween treats. According to big box stores customers have been stocking up for nearly 5 weeks now and will return again to replenish their candy supplies before the little costumed door knockers come calling on Thursday night.

It is no wonder we are confounded by so much temptation. Nobody wants to feel left-out of the Halloween hoopla but we know the consequences of a candy fest can be catastrophic for us. In today's Cooking with Kaye I've turned the focus away from candy to a more nutritious part of the season: Pumpkin. Once relegated to pies pumpkin is now a mainstream ingredient in savory dishes, warming beverages, and health-promoting dishes. Pumpkin is an excellent source of dietary fiber at nearly 4 grams per 1/2 cup canned. Pumpkin is rich in beta carotene, vitamin A, and iron and low in sodium. The mild flavor lends itself to all manner of preparation.

Fans of the 5 Day Pouch Test have consistently praised the Low-Carb Sausage Pumpkin Soup as a plan favorite recipe. Pumpkin soup is remarkably good. In today's Cooking with Kaye I've shared a basic pumpkin soup recipe with several variations to keep your appetite pleased and under control. Give them a try! Also check-out our delicious Jack O'Lantern Peppers - what fun this treat makes for the whole family. And don't miss the informative article on sugar free candy and the affect on WLS patients."

 

Link to Cooking with Kaye

 

PS- - Chances are you'll come across some form of popcorn today. This can be troublesome for us potentially causing immediate digestive distress or leading to increased snacking that turns to "slider food." Take a look at this article  How to Eat Popcorn After WLS and indulge wisely."

Halloween Treat Sale at LivingAfterWLS!

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Pregnancy, breastfeeding & the 5 Day Pouch Test. Can they be friends?

Image courtesy ABC News

In a Facebook group we have a friend who is a breastfeeding mom and needs to gain control of blood sugar issues, shared earlier this week that she took the 5DPT plan to her nutritionist and received approval to follow the 5 Day Pouch Test.

Our FB Friend did everything EXACTLY RIGHT.

First she had a beautiful baby, then she decided to do something to restore her own health, energy, and nutritional balance knowing she must be healthy in order to take care of her baby. Her WLS tool in place she found the 5DPT, learned it, and then like every piece of health advice we hear says -- she asked her health care professional if this plan was right for her. Together she and her nutritionist agreed on a dietary plan to suit the new mom's needs and those of her child. Well done.

A couple comments in the original conversation need a bit of clarification from me -- I developed this plan with the help of medical experts and people on the front lines - US - it was first published in 2007. While the 5DPT was not written for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers it can be used as our FB Friend is using it. The reason I do not address this special group of WLSers is because it is very difficult to find a WLS patient and a OB/Gyn/Ped nutritionist willing to test and "experiment". Especially in the early stages of program development. Think about a time when you may have had an infant after WLS, and if someone had said "Wanna try this thing for 5 days to see what it does to you and your baby?" Hell No! So without a study group I have valid research to present. No test group, no control group.

However -- I have worked with 8 nutritionists who have guided over 300 women through the 5 days successfully. They use the existing plan and their professional nutritionist helps them make adjustments to insure the health of mother and baby. LivingAfterWLS does not have a 5DPT ***FOR*** pregnant or lactating mothers. But we do offer the advice to take it to your nutritionist and use it as one of the tools for your best health for you and your little one.

If you follow me closely you know I have high regard for the UnJURY medical grade protein products and use them in many high protein recipes. I am not a paid spokesperson - I just think they have top quality dietary support for us after WLS. Experts agree. Please link to this article on their website to learn more: Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Protein Intake

Weight Loss is not a Competition

Featured in today's 5 Day Pouch Test Bonus Bulletin
Link to Bulletin in our Archive: 5DPT October Bonus Bulletin

"Thank you for joining me for this Bonus edition of our 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin. I've watched and participated in the WLS community now for many years observing patterns and trends as they come and go. One pattern that has held consistent is the uptick in competitive weight loss come the fall season. While it may be unpopular for me to say so - matters of health are not competitions.

Matters of health - including weight management - are personal initiatives necessary to improve one's own quality of life and wellness.

I understand the drive to join challenges promoting weight loss or fitness accomplishments. And when used to strengthen bonds between people with like-minded goals these organized pacts are powerful motivators. But when challenges become measures of success or failure based on another person's weight loss compared with our own weight loss the benefits turn to detriments that ultimately cause feelings of failure or inferiority.

Because the competitive talk is so loud this time of year I invite you to take a look at this topic I first addressed in 2011. Please thoughtfully consider the role competition is playing in your weight loss and weight management efforts. You have the right to include in your life things to support and promote your health and discard the things that derail your health. I am your champion in doing the best you can to live well after weight loss surgery. 

I hope you enjoy this bonus bulletin and I wish you the best today and always!  Sincerely,

Kaye Bailey"

Read the Bulletin

Contest Winner! Splenda Sweetened Pumpkin Bars

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars 

This is a recipe contest winner with a 4+ star rating at Splenda Brand. com found here: Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars. Pumpkin is a rich source of vitamin C and beta carotene. These came together quite quickly and had nice plate appeal -- and no leftovers!

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups flour
1/4 cup SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend
1/2 cup SPLENDA® Sugar Blend, divided
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
3/4 cup light margarine
1 package (8-ounce) container fat free cream cheese
3 eggs
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13X9x2-inch pan with foil and spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine flour, SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend, half of the SPLENDA® Sugar Blend For Baking, oats and walnuts. Cut in the margarine with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Press all but one cup of the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool.

Beat cream cheese, eggs, the remaining half of the SPLENDA® Sugar Blend For Baking, the pumpkin and the pumpkin pie spice until it is well blended.

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the pre-baked crust and sprinkle with the 1 cup of remaining crust and the chocolate chips.

Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Lift from pan to cool. Cut into 24 bars. Serves 24: 1 bar each. Per serving: 150 calories, 4g protein, 5g fat, 21g carbohydrate, 12g sugar.

Have you missed our LivingAfterWLS Newsletters?

Recent changes to gmail may have you missing our terrific LivingAfterWLS Newsletters including Weekly Digest, Cooking with Kaye, and 5 Day Pouch Test monthly bulletin.
 

Technical Note for our Gmail Subscribers

Gmail's inbox has changed again. To help you navigate the changes, we've taken a closer look at the service's new customizable tabs. Designed to make your inbox more approachable, tabs organize your incoming mail into categories, giving you an at-a-glance look at what's new.

We take great pride in our LivingAfterWLS emails and maintain an 85/ 15 percent ratio of editorial content (85%) to promotional content (15%). Our promotional content provides revenue so we may offer our newsletters free. In some instances the new Gmail tab may file our newsletters under Promotions rather than placing them in your Primary tab. The technical news site Mashable has a terrific tutorial on customizing your tabs so you can find our emails and other important correspondence where you expect to see it. Link to the Tutorial 

Think twice before you snack to boost metabolism

Considering a snack to boost your metabolism? Not so fast. There is a much more efficient way to boost metabolism to promote weight loss and enhance mood. Learn more in our LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest: Change your health destiny

"In today's Weekly Digest we focus on Rule #4 of the Four Rules: Daily Exercise. For me this is the most challenging of the Four Rules, it just seems so difficult to include daily exercise into my over-scheduled schedule. But there is something so basic, so easy, so inexpensive that we can do daily and it will completely change our metabolism, our mood, our weight loss results. That thing is walking. Study after study confirms that a little walking goes a long way to improve our health and weight management efforts. Today's Digest is full of information and inspiration to get us moving, one step at a time, in the right direction. I am already excited to get out and get walking!"

The claim is often made that we need to eat every 3-4 hours to boost our metabolism. However, I've found this leads to snacking on foods that do not necessarily boost metabolism. Eating lean protein may boost metabolism because it is a high-thermic food (requires more calories to digest than the calories it provides). If we are following the Four Rules and eating Protein First our metabolism is already boosted by diet. A better way to sustain high metabolic burn is to include physical movement in our activity throughout the day. Consider this the next time you are inclined to boost metabolism with a snack.

Link to the Digest: Change your health destiny

Get 'em where you shop! LivingAfterWLS eBooks

Now available everywhere in eBooks!

LivingAfterWLS is pleased to announce that our publications by Kaye Bailey are available in eBook format for your portable reading and reference pleasure. Check them out in the LivingAfterWLS General Store. Or with one of our eReader Partners: Amazon Kindle; Barnes & Noble Nook; Kobo ; iTunes Store, Google Play and Primedia eLaunch Bookstore.  eBooks are an excellent option for our readers outside of the United States! LivingAfterWLS General Store Amazon Kindle  ~  Barnes & Noble Nook  ~  Kobo  iTunes ~  Google Play  ~ Primedia eLaunch *Prices may vary by store, please find the perfect option for your enjoyment.

Shop the LivingAfterWLS General Store for eBooks!

Weekly Digest: Boost Your Metabolism this Easy Way!

LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest:

Change your health destiny

Walking is like magic at boosting metabolism

In today's Weekly Digest we focus on Rule #4 of the Four Rules: Daily Exercise. For me this is the most challenging of the Four Rules, it just seems so difficult to include daily exercise into my over-scheduled schedule. But there is something so basic, so easy, so inexpensive that we can do daily and it will completely change our metabolism, our mood, our weight loss results. That thing is walking. Study after study confirms that a little walking goes a long way to improve our health and weight management efforts. Today's Digest is full of information and inspiration to get us moving, one step at a time, in the right direction. I am already excited to get out and get walking!

Link to Digest: October 21, 2013

Featured Articles:
October Theme
Walking: The Disease Fighter
High Protein Diet Promotes Fat Loss
Boost Your Metabolism Fast: Walking
Tips for Walking Safely
Recipe: Tuna & White Bean Salad
Neighborhood Closure

Don't miss an issue of our LivingAfterWLS Weekly Digest. Click the subscribe link in the left column and join our list. Your privacy is valued and information is never shared. Join us!

The Sun has set on the Neighborhood

Stern Tough Love on Snacking

5 Day Pouch Test August Bulletin:

Tough Love on Snacking

I hope this newsletter finds you warm and well this second week of October. Thanks for spending time with me in our monthly 5DPT Bulletin.

Today we continue our discussion of the Four Rules - we are at Number 3: No Snacking. It's a tough one and I dare say most of will or have struggled with snacking following weight loss surgery. And, as you will see from the articles in this newsletter, not all bariatric centers follow the same Four Rules that include no snacking. But what is consistent, across the front lines of those of us living with weight loss surgery, is that out-of-control snacking on poorly chosen foods leads to a stall in weight loss and may possibly lead to weight gain. So please, take a look at the information here and revisit the information you were provided at the time of your surgery. Find your personal position on the "No Snacking" rule based on knowledge, experience, and environment -- it is the most empowering thing you can do for yourself in this ongoing battle of weight management in a world where it is much easier to be fat.

If you haven't heard, the LivingAfterWLS publications, including the 5DPT Owner's Manual, are now available as eBooks. Check your favorite store or visit the LivingAfterWLS General Store to learn more. Enjoy!

I wish you the very best today and always!

CHEERS!
Kaye

Link to the full bulletin

Neighborhood - Do you want it back?

Hello all you FRIENDS of LivingAfterWLS. I need some help here.

My company, LivingAfterWLS, needs to decide by Tuesday if we bring the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood back or say goodbye our Safe Haven Circle of Friends online community forever.  Please respond to this post "Like" if you would like to see it back and if you would participate in the community. 


Just a point of history - the Neighborhood was started in 2006 and thrived for many years. The Neighborhood is an Invision Power Board powered online support community for weight loss surgery support and empowerment and membership requires registration.  The Neighborhood was a safe place to separate WLS discussions from the "Full Monty" of our life so often displayed on bigger social sites. Lasting friendships were established in the Neighborhood. In fact - many of you who connect here on FB met and made friendships in the Neighborhood. We enjoyed an active and supportive 5 Day Pouch Test forum as well as forums for all procedures, surgeries, and a multitude of interests. Membership exceeded 10,000 from around the world.

However we lost participation during the early wave of bigger social media destinations like FB and Twitter. We also noticed a remarkable trend that people tend to move on from WLS networking at about 3 years post-op, weary of the topic or frustrated with the hard work of losing weight "the easy way". I am fully aware some people left the Neighborhood as they took exception to me personally or my administrative decisions. I also know there were clicks forming and negativity festered in many threads. Please don't post or message me on these issues: I will not respond. 

Our community has been offline for myriad technical difficulties including spammer registrations and hostile attacks by hackers earlier this year. I have struggled with my own indecision. It is personally exhausting to manage an online community from a tech standpoint, an interpersonal communication management standpoint, and weariness of the WLS topic. Job burnout, don't ya know?  But I also know the valid and vital role it played in so many lives and I know it was a good and worthy online meeting place for like-minded people wanting healthier lives empowered by WLS and the strength and support of one another.

So what do you think? Bring back the Neighborhood or say goodbye forever?

FYI: Service Disruption in LivingAfterWLS Store

Hey Everyone:


Just thought I'd share that we've experienced a 4-day Internet Outage due to a freaky early fall snow storm - yes SNOW! We are super-duper backed-up in answering emails to our support@LivingAfterWLS.com account regarding our eBooks. We are hustling to get the emails answered and the eBooks delivered to customers. We are also working to process all "hard product" orders as quickly as possible and have upgraded all packages to PRIORITY shipping due to this unfortunate (and really disruptive) service outage. Thank you for your patience. I look forward to getting caught up with the group - Missed you all. Here is how KeepHerKitty spent her days during the web outage: