What's so bad about Fried Food?

Here's an interesting discussion from the Neighborhood about fried food after Weight Loss surgery - take a look and link to the Neighborhood to add your thoughts and ideas!

Question from deb728: "Now I know fried food is bad for you in general. But is there a specific reason that we as weight loss people can't eat it? I would never eat a cheesteak or anything super greasy again, but sometimes I'm like holy cow I want chicken nuggets. So I was just wondering why can't it be like everything else-a couple french fries or chicken nuggets like once every two months?"

Kaye's Answer: "Hi Deb -- Thanks for asking this question! As you mentioned, in general fried food is bad for us from a general health standpoint. A 6-piece serving of fried chicken tenders contains 401 Calories; 16g Protein; 8g Fat; 57g Carbohydrate. The FDA calculates this at 3 1/2 starch/bread servings and 1 lean meat serving -- clearly not something fitting a "Protein First" meal. Its easy to figure out how we have become "obese nation" when you consider many children are weened from the bottle right to the fast food fried chicken pieces.

Now, since you had RNY you are dealing with not just the nutritional facts above, but a malabsorptive procedure. That means you no longer have an abundant supply of gastric enzymes needed to digest foods high in fat. Because fried chicken pieces are high in fat and carbohydrate you are at risk of dumping syndrome when eating them. In fact, many people are baffled when they experience classic dumping symptoms after eating fried fatty food. So that's the second reason to avoid fried foods, including fried chicken pieces or my personal favorite, fried cheese! Yeah, I've tried that and not had good results. sick0022.gif

But there is a rainbow here in this cloud of bad news!!

You can cook at home a reasonable "mock" chicken nugget and be quite happy in your pouch, your mouth, and your brain (no guilt!) Take this recipe for Parmesan Crusted Chicken and make a great meal. Once you get familiar with the method you can experiment with herbs or coatings to keep things fresh. Instead of serving it with the classic fries or onion rings add some salad or fresh fruit and berries. I think you will be quite happy with your effort!"

Happening in the Neighborhood

Good things are happening in the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood - Our weight loss surgery safe haven circle of friends. Check out some of the great conversations we are enjoying today and join us!

Celebrating our Neighbor's Hard Work!
Diana is down 17 pounds in two weeks following the 5 Day Pouch Test & Day 6 way of LIVING!

Unofficial Sleep Survey
Kim wants to know how all of the Post-Ops are sleeping. Please take part in my unofficial survey in order to help cure me of my curiosity. I may sleep better with the knowledge! Take her quick and painless survey here.

Spring Fitness Training Group
Lots of run and walk events coming up in May! Join our Neighborhood team training group and share your hints, tips & enthusiasm as we all get ready to particpate in fun physical activities in the warm months ahead!

Driver's License - Did you fudge on your your weight?
We're taking a survey: Is your driver's license a factual document including height, weight and hair color or is it a work of fiction written by an optimist?

Popcorn -- Do or Don't
What have you been told about eating popcorn after weight loss surgery? Is snacking on this "healthy snack" a do or don't after weight loss surgery? Interesting discussion!

Fun Friday
Gwenda is Back! Get ready for another round of fun at our weekly Neighborhood game where we get to know our Neighbors and have the chance to win fabulous prizes!

Bookworm Bundle - Save 20% at LivingAfterWLS Store

Build your LivingAfterWLS Library with our Best Selling Books and save 20% with a Bundle Purchase! Bookworm Bundle includes:

5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual by Kaye Bailey List: $24.95 Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test by Kaye Bailey List: 29.95 The Neighborhood Cookbook edited by Kaye Bailey List: $20.00 500 Pages of Information, Inspiration, Motivation, Recipes to support your long-term success with weight loss surgery. $74.95 Value --- for $59.95 SAVE 20% Free Goody Bag with Bundle! BUY NOW!

Day 6 Birthday Dinner Triumph!

This is my plate from Jim's 68th Birthday Dinner April 26, 2010. I served Jalapeno-Salmon Burgers on whole grain buns (I went topless - bun wise, that is!), Baby Romaine Salad with tomatoes, avocado & Parmesan; Long Grain & Wild Rice Pilaf (from a box-Near East); fresh strawberries and German Chocolate Cake for Dessert. Total cost per plate was $8.05 and I enjoyed 1/2 my salmon burger for lunch today. I had only a bite of the cake, Jim enjoyed about 1/2 a normal slice -- we have quite a bit of that left since neither of us eat sweets very often. (Temptation looms - but I will be strong!) The cake was more for the ceremony than for nutrition.

I was out of town attending meetings most of the day yesterday so I needed to grab something in Park City on my way home that would keep well for the 90-minute drive and I could put together quickly once I arrived home later than normal and more tired than normal. So shopping objective was convenience, freshness, cost, ease of preparation, and presentation. I had 15 minutes to do the shopping!

Why this is a Day 6 Meal:

The centerpiece of this meal is the salmon burger. At 4 ounces/patty each contains 28g Protein and is rich in omega 3 fats - the good fat. I chose to eat mine on the bottom half of the whole grain bun with a spread of Miracle Whip Light. Jim took his burger top-on. I purchased the salmon patties ready-to-cook at Whole foods "Daily Special" for $2.49/pound so each patty was only $2.50. I pan seared them over medium-high heat in a small amount of canola oil from the pantry. Before I started cooking the salmon patties I cooked the rice per package directions. I used Near East brand Long Grain & Wild Rice Mix, serves 3 (1 cup each) at $0.90/serving. As you remember from the Day 6 starches such as rice or pasta can be included as condiments in our Daily Intelligent Eating Plan - That meant about 1-2 Tablespoons for me. Jim, however, took a full serving of about 1 cup cooked rice.

While the salmon cooked I "plated" the salad of greens, tomatoes, avocado and Parmesan cheese and garnished with a few plump fresh strawberries. It took about 8 minutes for the salmon patties to cook (4 minutes per side) and during the last part of cooking I toasted the buns under the broiler. I lined a baking sheet with foil, placed the open buns on the foil and lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Toasting took about 90 seconds.

I want to illustrate here that we can quickly and economically respect our Day 6 goals, even on special occasions.

For this occasion it was my luxury to be able to get help from the grocery store. (We live 40 miles out on the range away from such convenience -this truly is a luxury shopping day for me!!). By taking advantage of the Daily Special salmon patties my main protein was ready-to-cook and delicious at just $2.50/serving. Buying & Cooking 4 servings when we only needed 2 means that I have leftovers for both Jim and I later this week (I already ate my leftovers from last night!) So I've cooked once, we will eat twice. The fresh produce made a easy and nutritionally balanced low-glycemic side dish (salad) and the rice was a convenient and healthy whole grain option for Jim and a nice "condiment" for me. The German chocolate cake was more for show and for Jim than for nutritional need. Understanding this is part of our "Intelligent" Day 6 eating. German chocolate cake is the only sweet Jim has ever expressed a fondness for (ranch kids didn't grow up on sweets), so once a year he gets it. I was right-happy with a taste chased with a fresh strawberry - and that choice allowed me to feel "Triumph" not remorse.

Here is the cost workup on the Birthday Dinner:



The Daily Intelligent Eating Triumphs concept teaches us that every single day we have opportunity to feed our body well. It doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming or stressful. I know you are out there doing this for yourself and your families and it makes me so proud! So please, join the fun and share how you are making every day Day 6!

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test

Ham & Egg Casserole for Dinner

A wonderful dinner casserole that sneaks in some extra veggies but still very high in protein. Delicious fresh or reheated the following day.

Ingredients:
1 pound zucchini, sliced (about 4 medium)
1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
6 eggs
1 cup (8 oz.) low-fat (1%) cottage cheese
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 ounces cooked lean ham or turkey ham, diced (about 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup (2 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

WLS Friendly Egg Recipes

Directions:
In large skillet over high heat, cover and cook zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and garlic, until spinach starts to thaw, about 3 or 4 minutes. With fork, break spinach apart. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is crisp-tender, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain well. In large bowl, beat together eggs, cottage cheese, and seasonings until well blended. Stir in ham and cooked vegetables.

Lightly spray 12 x 7 1/2 x 2-inch baking dish. Pour in egg mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake in preheated 350ºF oven until knife inserted near center comes out clean, about 25 to 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Great recipes in our LivingAfterWLS Publications by Kaye Bailey

Poached Eggs over Sauteed Spinach Greens

I like this recipe simply because it is a change from the same old hard-cooked egg. It is easy to make and showy to present - a great weekend brunch dish.

Prep and Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
4 chicken eggs
1 tsp light vinegar (rice, apple cider, or white wine)
about 4 cups water
1 cup thinly sliced green onion
6 medium cloves garlic, sliced
4 cups fresh baby spinach
4 tablespoons chicken broth (divided)
juice & zest of one lemon
salt and black pepper to taste


Directions:
Bring water and vinegar to a fast simmer in a skillet large enough to fit eggs. Make sure there is enough water to cover eggs.

While water is coming to a simmer, heat 1 tablespoon broth in a separate stainless steel 10-12 inch skillet. Sauté sliced green onion in broth over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add garlic slices and continue to sauté stirring constantly for another minute.

Add baby spinach, remaining broth, and lemon juice, and simmer covered on medium low heat for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Spinach will wilt down considerably.

When done season by tossing with lemon zest, salt and pepper. Divide mixture among 4 plates.

In the boiling vinegar water poach eggs until desired doneness. This will take about 5 minutes, or just until the white is set and the yolk has filmed over. Remove from vinegar water with a slotted spoon and place on top of greens.

One egg and ¼ of the spinach mixture is a serving. Adjust to your WLS needs.

Birthday Gift for You in the General Store

Yesterday was my 44th Birthday and I'm sending a big cyber-hug of THANKS to all my LivingAfterWLS Neighbors and Friends who have taken the time to wish me Happy Birthday! I am simply overwhelmed with your love and kindness. Thank you!

We have made it possible in the LivingAfterWLS General Store to give back this weekend as both my husband and I celebrate our birthdays. I'm personally including with each order my own recipe for Parmesan Chicken and enough You Have Arrived Italian Blend seasoning to make it! Consider it my gift to you for your kindness and loyalty to the LivingAfterWLS project. No coupon code necessary - I'm sending this with all orders placed April 21-April 26. Thank you for celebrating this birthday with me! I'm looking forward to a healthy happy year with you.

While you are shopping please take advantage of our coupon - Enter SPRING in the coupon box at checkout and save $2.00 off your order - no minimum purchase required!

FREE with ALL BOOK PURCHASES -- Goody Bag that includes some of our LivingAfterWLS Worksheets, the 5 Day Pouch Test handy reference card, a sweet laminated "You Have Arrrived/Four Rules" Wallet Card and product samples! Fun Stuff!!! Items are top quality and may vary with what we have on hand! Fun for Everyone!
LivingAfterWLS Books

FAQ: Credit & Debit Cards -- The LivingAfterWLS General Store accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards and PayPal payment options. PayPal is the verified secure gateway by which our payments are processed, but not the required form of payment. When placing an order enter the CAPTCHA (funny letters and numbers) in the PayPal gateway box to proceed then click the link on the left side of the page that says "Don't have a PayPal Account? Use your credit card or bank account to continue" -- Click the word "Continue" to make a secure payment with your credit or debit card. Your secure purchase is guaranteed.

Shop Now!

Our products are carefully selected with you in mind - Thank you for allowing us to serve you. More than being an online merchant I consider myself and LivingAfterWLS a steward of the weight loss surgery community. It is an honor to be in your service. May you have a fine weekend and enjoy your best life LivingAfterWLS!

Sincerely,
Kaye Bailey

Find me on Facebook and Follow me on Twitter

It's My Birthday!

Carbonated Beverages & Weight Loss Surgery

As seasonal temperatures climb it is tempting to reach for a cool refreshing carbonated beverage. Kaye explains why as weight loss surgery patients we are discouraged from including carbonated drinks in our diet.

Fresh Strawberries with Creamy Lime Custard

This is a terrific company-worthy dessert that makes great use of springs ruby jewels: strawberries. You can substitute lemon or orange for the lime if you prefer.

Ingredients:
8 oz fat free sour cream
1/2 cup fat free sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp lime peel zest
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
3 cup fresh sliced strawberries

Directions:
1. In a medium size bowl, combine the sour cream, milk, grated lime, and fresh lime juice and mix well.

2. Spoon 1/4 cup of the lime custard into 4 dessert bowls. Top with 3/4 cup of strawberries and place a 2 tablespoon dollop of custard on top.

Serves 4. Per serving: 200 Calories, 7g Protein; Trace Fat; 42g Carbohydrate.

More WLS Friendly Berries & Fruit Recipes

Sugar Substitutes For Beginners

As weight loss surgery patients we are constantly seeking knowledge about sugar and sugar substitutes so we can make the best choices for our health and metabolic systems. I came across this article by Rachel Smith of Sugar Subtitutes and found it accurate and informative regarding sweetening products available to consumers. I think the use of sweeteners, including sugar and sugar substitutes, after surgical weight loss is the personal choice of the patient. It is appropriate for a patient to consult with their bariatric care team, nutritionist in the decision making process as well as being informed of the options available and personal taste preferences. This article is a good start for learning what is available to us.

Learn more in the LivingAfterWLS Library: Diet, Nutrition, Vitamins

Sugar Substitutes For Beginners
By Rachel J Smith

Sugar substitutes have been around for many years, but historically have only been found mostly in commercial products found in supermarkets. However, over the last few years, the range of sugar substitutes have increased and are now readily available and affordable for every day cooking. So lets get started with what options are available for the every day home cook.

If you are like most cooks, you probably already use honey in your kitchen. The are great to use since honey also contains good nutrition, especially manuka rated honey. Honey crystals have also become popular as an alternative. However, as a low sugar alternative, honey still contains the same amount of sucrose as table sugar. So if you're cooking for a family member who requires a low sugar diet, then perhaps honey will not be suitable. Many celebrities have been turning to Agave Nectar recently, but some quick research will show you that this alternative also contains the same level of fructose as table sugar.

Then there are the supermarket brands, such as Equal (Nutrasweet), Sweet n Low, and Splenda. These either contain sucralose, dextrose, sacharrin or aspartame, which by themselves can be up to 200 times more sweet than sugar. For that reason it can be quite difficult to cook with these 'artificial' sweeteners, as amounts used vary between different recipes, and converting all your recipes can be time consuming. Of course, you may have already read about the health issues raised against the companies manufacturing these products. However, they are readily available, and have FDA approval (Food and Drug Administration). Personally, I don't use them anymore, since they can be hard to work with due to their fine granularity.

One of the latest products to come out over the last few years has been Stevia, made from stevia plants mostly located in south america. However, most of the products that I have tried have been either too bitter to use, or have a slight after taste, which my family notice every time I've cooked with it. About a year ago, a product called Truvia was brough out, which is a mix of Rebiana (like Stevia) and Erythritol. While it does taste quite good, the Rebiana is still quite noticeable in the mix of the recipes. It's not a bad alternative if your family do not notice it, since it's readily available.

Since we're talking about Erythritol, lets go into detail more about this sugar substitute. Erythritol belongs not so much to 'artificial' sweeteners as it's made with a natural fermentation process from fruits. This process creates many of the sugar alcohols, which are becoming more popular with the users who refuse to use the supermarket brands. Many of the sugar alcohols such as Eryhritol and Xylitol can be found in health stores, as they do have FDA approval under the category GRAS (generally regarded as safe).

The easiest thing I have found about Erythritol and Xylitol, is that they are so easy to use for cooking. Erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar, but Xylitol is 1 for 1 with sugar. No more adjusting recipes! Both can be bought in bags of 1 lb, or 3lb from health stores, and both have the same granularity and 'feel' as normal sugar. Just a note that these sugar alcohols can absorb a lot of water, so you might need to add more water if your baking something like cookies.

So which one do I choose?

Personally I've been using a lot of pure Erythritol. Simply because it's easily absorbed by the body, and will not cause a laxative effect or bloating. Even though Xylitol IS easier to use, but just to be safe, I like using a sugar substitute with the least side effects. Also the advantage of Erythritol is that it's effectively zero GI, unlike all the other sugar substitutes.

* Just a note that if any member of your family is allergic to fermented products, then sugar alcohols may not be suitable, since they are made with a fermentation process *

Hope you have all found this article useful. Check back soon for more of my articles as we go through how to use each sugar substitute.

Rachel J Smith is a proud home cook and enjoys trying out new products to make her recipes more healthy for her family. She is a contributing member of SugarSubstitutes.org. Their website can be found at http://sugarsubstitutes.org

Article Source: Sugar Substitutes For Beginners

Marian the Librarian-LivingAfterWLS Curator

As we have amassed a great collection of knowledge here at LivingAfterWLS (dating back to the original blog post in 2005) it has become increasingly apparent that a means is necessary to organize this data making it readily available for the benefit of all. Not long ago I learned of a curating service expert at the daunting task of organizing, indexing and referencing our vast body of knowledge here in the Neighborhood and all electronic stations of LivingAfterWLS. What a relief! We have often said that we are the pioneers in the front lines of Living after weight loss surgery -- but if our knowledge is lost or disorganized it has forfeited its value.

Enter Marian the Librarian. Online you will see the personality "Marian the Librarian" offer links to previous discussions, articles or relevant postings as deemed appropriate by the curating team. In addition you will see the curator "Marian the Librarian" post notice of new content in other social media owned by LivingAfterWLS such as our LivingAfterWLS YouTube channel or LivingAfterWLS Blog, Twitter or Facebook pages.

Meet Marian the Librarian our Neighborhood Curator

As any good Librarian, Marian will quietly point us in the direction of valuable content, but will not offer personal opinion or comment. You will visually recognize her by the Avatar posted above and know that the links she provides are valid LivingAfterWLS links and authentic spammer-free content. I am looking forward to what she pulls up from the list of over 150,000 posts here in the Neighborhood -- I know there is lots of great content down deep just waiting to be rediscovered.

ASK MARIAN:
If you have a specific question you would like Marian to address -- research questions only -- Please post it to this thread:

Ask Marian the Librarian

More Protein Quick Recipes

Originally posted 2/24/2009

Protein Quickies: Recipes for Real Life

In today’s You Have Arrived Newsletter (subscribe here) we presented five “Protein Quickies: Recipes for Real Life.” The recipes are so terrific, all taken from Women’s Health Magazine, that I’m sharing three more recipes here in the LivingAfterWLS Blog. They are all protein dense with a reasonable serving of nutritious complex carbohydrates. Enjoy!

Chicken Braised in Soy Sauce and Lemon
Brown bone-in chicken pieces in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Remove from pan. In same pan, stir in some chopped garlic. Add 1/2 tablespoon minced lemon zest, a pinch of cayenne, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/3 cup water; stir. Add the chicken, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, turning the pieces once. Add lemon juice and more soy sauce to taste.

Grilled Cod with Basil Dipping Sauce
For sauce: Combine 2 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 Thai chili (seeded and thinly sliced), and 1/2 cup sliced fresh basil. Season 1 pound of cod with salt and pepper. Cook, turning once, until cooked through (8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness). Serve with the sauce.

Baked Eggs with Spinach
Preheat oven to 350°F. In boiling salted water, cook 2 pounds of spinach for 1 minute. Drain, cool, squeeze out excess liquid and chop. Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a baking dish, and add spinach, and toss to coat. Spread out spinach, making 8 nests. Crack 1 egg into each and top with salt, pepper, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until yolks are just set and whites are solidified.

Fun Friday - Four Squared

Hey Neighbors -- Happy Fun Friday in the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood!!

LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood

I still haven't heard from Gwenda -- Could she be tied up this long??? Seriously, I know she is dedicated to caring for her ailing aunt and has limited internet access so I'm stepping in with a Fun Friday again this week. As soon as I post here I'll pop in on April 9 Fun Friday and select the winners! It was a great game and what I have read so far was quite enjoyable.

Fabulous Prizes -- See our Past Winners in the Fun Friday Hall of Fame

Today is April 16th which is the number 4 squared (4x4=16) -- So I found a Four-Square Quiz for today's Fun Friday! Four Questions with Four answers each! Quick and Easy! Let's get playing!!!! To win prizes follow the link below and participate in the Neighborhood - Your LivingAfterWLS Safe Haven Circle of Friends.

Four-Squared Quiz Game
Please provide Four Answers for each of Four Questions!!


Four movies I can watch over and over:
1-
2-
3-
4-

Four places I've lived:
1-
2-
3-
4-

Four websites I visit daily:
1- (I think we all know the correct #1 answer here LOL!)
2-
3-
4-

Four of my favorite WLS-Friendly "Protein First" dishes:
1-
2-
3-
4-

Daily Intelligent Eating Triumphs

KayeBailey — April 15, 2010 — Kaye enthusiastically shares her "Daily Intelligent Eating Triumphs" concept with those who have undergone surgical weight loss including gastric bypass, gastric banding and gastric sleeve procedures. She empowers and uplifts with her authentic belief in people and their ability to thrive making healthy choices each day.



Get Kaye's Book Today

5 Ideas for 21g Protein Meals

We know the rule: WLS Rule #1 Protein First. That means after any surgical procedure to control our weight we are supposed to get most of our calories from protein. A 2008 study of bariatric surgeons indicates they are suggestion anywhere from 60 grams of protein a day to as many as 105 grams of protein a day -- depending upon the surgeon and the patient. At a minimum, that means we need about 20g per meal three times a day. Without falling back to protein bars, shakes or powders I offer some quick meal suggestions that come in at 21 grams of protein and a volume of 1-cup or less food.

Remember, protein is a good source of amino acid and energy for your body. Not only that, it requires more energy to process protein than the other nutrients (fat or carbohydrate) so your metabolism goes into high-octane burn when you feed it protein. That is how it causes weight loss and sustains weight maintenance. When you eat protein the dietary carbohydrates and fat your body previously stored as body fat for "a rainy day" must be used for energy to sustain metabolic process. So enjoy those protein grams and put your body in high metabolic burn!


1. Tuna Salad: 3 Ounces StarKist Tuna Salad Sandwich-Ready mixed with 1 hard-cooked egg, 4 baby carrots. Mix tuna salad with chopped egg, serve with baby carrots (avoid high calorie veggie dip - not necessary). Calories 180; 21g Protein, 9g Fat, 4g Carbohydrate. Add seasonal berries or fruit as desired, but make certain to follow the 2B/1B Rhythm (2 Bites Protein/1 Bite Carbohydrate).

2. Turkey Wrap: 2 ounces deli turkey breast slices (low sodium), 1 ounce Swiss cheese, 1 teaspoon mustard, shredded lettuce, chopped tomato. Stack or roll ingredients; serve chilled. Calories 180; 21g Protein, 9g Fat, 7g Carbohydrate. Change this up with any deli meat and cheese you enjoy.

3. All American Patty Melt: 3 Ounces extra-lean beef patty, grilled with 1 ounce American cheese melted on top served with 1 teaspoon each ketchup & mustard and 1/4 cup fresh cucumber slices. Calories: 322; 23g Protein; 24g Fat (11 Saturated); 4g Carbohydrate.

4. Salsa Chicken Melt: In a microwave safe container heat 3 ounces cooked shredded chicken with 1 tablespoon of salsa for 90 seconds. Top with 1 tablespoon low-fat sour cream (optional) and 1 tablespoon diced avocado (optional) or ready-made guacamole. Enjoy warm. Calories: 125. 21g Protein; 4g Fat (1 saturated) 2g Carbohydrate. A great use of left-over chicken, turkey, pork or beef.

5. Meatballs to Go: Place three (1-ounce) frozen cooked meatballs in a microwave safe lunch container. Top with 1/3 cup ready-made pasta or spaghetti sauce (your choice - I like the screw-top jars for easy use and storage once opened); 1/4 cup cottage cheese and 1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover container & secure carefully: I place in a zipper bag to prevent spill damage if taking as "brown bag" lunch. Allow to thaw in refrigerator until lunch time, then cook in microwave oven on medium-high until hot throughout, 2-3 minutes. Enjoy warm. Very filling without the "pasta-load". Calories: 325; 20g Protein; 14g Fat (6 Saturated); 8g Carbohydrate. (You can make several of these meals in advance and freeze taking the frozen meal on the day of use. Simply thaw at room temperature until lunch and cook as directed).

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test is my new book that has great tips like these for following a high protein diet in order to maximize the effectiveness of our weight loss surgery tool. Learn more.

Fun Friday: It's All about Change

Are you ready for some good times?

Then join us for the LivingAfterWLS Fun Friday weekly game where we answer questions, get to know one another and win fabulous prizes! This week our question is presented by our fun and daring Fun Friday Hostess DarlingGwenda from Down Under who asks the evocative and provocative question "How has weight loss surgery changed your life?" There are no boundaries here, from the simple sublime to the greatest of grand, tell us about the change in your life since weight loss surgery! Go here to play:

Fun Friday March 26, 2010

For a look at our past prize winners visit the Fun Friday Hall of Fame 2010! You can link there to the original quiz game conversations and have a good laugh! As you will see, Fun Friday is a great way to jump in and participate in the Neighborhood, your weight loss surgery Safe Haven Circle of Friends.

Other areas of interest:
Weekend Wanderings! Weekend LIVING Thread Join our new Ambassador of Weekend Living Denise & Share your Weekend Wanderings

Spring Party Accountability Challenge The most supportive group in town, set your goals, stay accountable, be empowered!

5 Day Pouch Test Support Join others doing the 5DPT and get back on track. Together we can do this!

Day 6 Accountability Beyond the 5DPT - Daily Intelligent Eating Triumphs - Join us!

Fans: New Seasons of the Biggest Loser Our favorite get-fit TV show!

Community Kitchen Recipe Sharing & Cooking Ideas

LivingAfterWLS and The Neighborhood is your online resource for ALL surgical gastric procedures to help arrest obesity through weight control. We offer support for patients of gastric bypass, gastric banding, gastric sleeve, gastric revision and all others. Please join us!

Lap-band patients go here: Bandit Buddies

Gastric-Sleeve patients go here: Heart on Your Sleeve

Veterans of stomach surgery go here: Voice of Vetrans

We look forward to seeing you soon in the Neighborhood!

Grapes and the Low-Glycemic Index

Neighborhood Question:
Regarding Low Glycemic Index Fruits & Vegetables: What about grapes? They are different on each list I've found. I don't have them as an ingredient in anything, but sometimes when I have to have something, instead of reaching for chips, I go for grapes.

Kaye's Answer:
Grapes - They are a crafty fruit so innocent and delicious yet such a real trouble maker when they mix with the wrong crowd!

Denise - this is a very good question. I did go back to my research file on GI fruits & vegs to make sure I reply correctly based on what my original research uncovered as I did recall some very specific things about grapes. My primary research source is The Glycemic Index and I use their tables because they are world's leading authority on glycemic index and endorsed by the American Diabetic Association. http://www.glycemicindex.com/

On the GI index grapes have a GI value of 53 ranking them a "LOW" GI Value. That means they have low impact on glucose levels. One cup is considered a serving size. At first glance this would make them a suitable fruit for patients of gastric surgery, but front line research tells us a different story -- grapes are beautiful fruit of the Gods just waiting to slip down into our little pouches and morph from healthy fruity snack to spiteful little slider food and dumping disaster. Here's what happens: Grapes are good for us and low calorie, so we don't measure portion size. We enjoy each grape, one by one, which is mostly water and fructose, in unmeasured portion as a snack, so there is no buffer to slow the absorption of fructose through the esophagus or intestinal walls of the pouch. We can eat a copious amount of grapes because as fast as we are enjoying them they are sliding right through the stoma - we never achieve fullness. Unaware of the dramatic glucose load this puts on our body we continue to enjoy our healthy snack when at once the slam hits us and we are in glucose overload distress - dumping. (I believe Kim has a few stories about dumping on silly old grapes!) This can happen with banded patients as well who have followed a lean protein diet and developed a low tolerance for glucose surging.

So the short answer, though low glycemic, grapes are a fruit to enjoy very cautiously. As a snack I suggest measured portions, no more than one cup in a single serving. Make your grape snack a mini-meal and include a one ounce serving of deli meat and one ounce serving of low fat cheese.

Consider grapes as "ingredient" food, not just a snack. Here is a classic Southern Style Chicken Salad that makes wonderful use of grapes in the main dish. The high protein count in the recipe will prevent a glucose overload from the grapes.

You Have Arrived Classic Southern Chicken Salad

Dressing:
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup Miracle Whip Light
1 teaspoon You Have Arrived Signature Blend
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Salad:
2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, chopped and chilled
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup green seedless grape, sliced
1/2 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Bibb Lettuce, leaves separated into six cups - one per serving

For Dressing: In a medium bowl using a whisk whip the whipping cream until fluff. Fold in Miracle Whip Light, You Have Arrived Signature Blend and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

In a large bowl toss together cooked chopped chicken, chopped celery and sliced grapes. Add dressing and fold together gently until combined. Chill until serving, may be prepared to this stage one day ahead. When ready to serve divide chicken mixture evenly among lettuce cups, garnish with toasted sliced almonds and chopped fresh parsley. Serve chilled.

Serves 6. Per serving: 363 Calories; 27g Protein; 24g Fat (5g saturated);11g Carbohydrate; 2g Fiber; Rich in Vitamin B12 & Niacin.

More of this discussion in the Neighborhood

Day 6 Checklist - Nurturing Checkup

Hello Neighbors & Day 6 Enthusiasts!

As you know part of our "Day 6" way of life is closely monitoring how we nurture our bodies nutritionally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. In the Day 6 book this is covered at length and on Page 122 there is a daily checklist to help us monitor how we are doing so we can celebrate our progress and make improvements or corrections when necessary. This worksheet is available for free downloading as well to make it easy for your daily nurturing.

Day 6 Daily Checklist

Please make use of this simple tool - I know it is useful to me in the daily quest for better Day 6 living and I think you will find it helpful too. Let me know what you think!

Have a well-nurtured day! And join us in the Neighborhood to share your Day 6 experience!

Avoid these 5 Day Pouch Test Mistakes

Corned Beef & Food Safety

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Many of us will be preparing and serving corned beef in celebration of St Patrick's Day today. As a quick refresher here is the US Department of Agriculture's Fact Sheet on Corned Beef and Food Safety. Make sure you are familiar with all safety measures to avoid any unpleasant food incidents that would disrupt your celebrations! Have a great day!


Corned Beef and Food Safety
For USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline, the approach of spring usually means that St. Patrick's Day dinner preparations across the country will spark many questions about the safe handling, storage and preparation of corned beef and all the trimmings. But food safety involves more than the "luck of the Irish."

What is "corning"?
Corning is a form of curing; it has nothing to do with corn. The name comes from Anglo-Saxon times before refrigeration. In those days, the meat was dry-cured in coarse "corns" of salt. Pellets of salt, some the size of kernels of corn, were rubbed into the beef to keep it from spoiling and to preserve it.

Today brining—the use of salt water—has replaced the dry salt cure, but the name "corned beef" is still used, rather than "brined" or "pickled" beef. Commonly used spices that give corned beef its distinctive flavor are peppercorns and bay leaf. Of course, these spices may vary regionally.

Package Dating and Storage Times
Uncooked corned beef in a pouch with pickling juices which has a "sell-by" date or no date may be stored 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator, unopened. Products with a "use-by" date can be stored unopened in the refrigerator until that date.

Drained and well wrapped, an uncooked corned beef brisket may be frozen for 1 month for best quality. It's recommended to drain the brine because salt encourages rancidity and texture changes. The flavor and texture will diminish with prolonged freezing, but the product is still safe. After cooking, corned beef may be refrigerated for about 3 to 4 days and frozen for about 2 to 3 months for best quality.

Preparation
Corned beef is made from one of several less tender cuts of beef like the brisket, rump or round. Therefore, it requires long, moist cooking. Keep food safety in mind when preparing corned beef. It can be cooked on top of the stove or in the oven, microwave or slow cooker.

Corned beef may still be pink in color after cooking. This does not mean it is not done. Nitrite is used in the curing process. This fixes pigment in the meat and affects the color.

Allow the brisket to stand for about 10 minutes after removing from the heat. This will make it easier to slice, and it is best sliced diagonally across the grain of the meat.

Cooking
The USDA does not recommend one particular cooking method as best. Following are methods from various sources. The cooking times are based on corned beef that is not frozen at the time of cooking. "Fork-tender" is a good indication of doneness, but use a food thermometer to be sure. For tenderness and texture, cook until the corned beef reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 °F or above.

• OVEN: Set the oven for 350 °F or no lower than 325 °F. Place brisket fat-side up. Barely cover the meat with water—about 1 inch—and keep the container covered throughout the cooking time. Allow about 1 hour per pound.
• STOVE: Place brisket fat-side up in a large pot and cover it with water. Bring the water to a boil; then reduce the heat and simmer, allowing about 1 hour per pound. Vegetables may be added during the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking. Cook vegetables to desired tenderness.
• SLOW COOKER: If using root vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots, put them in the bottom of slow cooker. Place brisket on top of vegetables (if using) or in bottom of cooker. Add about 1-1/2 cups of water or enough to cover meat. Cover and cook on high setting for the first hour of cooking. Then cook for 10 to 12 hours on the low setting or 5 to 6 hours on high. Cabbage wedges may be added on top of the brisket during the last 3 hours of cooking.
• MICROWAVE: Calculate cooking time at 20 to 30 minutes per pound. Place brisket in a large casserole dish and add 1-1/2 cups of water. Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap and microwave on medium-low (30 percent power) for half the estimated time. Turn meat over and rotate dish. Microwave on high for remainder of time or until fork tender. Vegetables may be added during the final 30 minutes of cooking.

Cooking Ahead
Some consumers prefer to cook corned beef ahead of time. It is easier to cut uniform slices when corned beef is cold. Cooking ahead also makes it easier to reheat and serve
later.

After cooking a whole corned beef, cut it into several pieces for faster cooling—or slice it, if you like. Place the beef in small, shallow containers and cool it in the refrigerator quickly.

Leftovers
Any corned beef left over from a meal should be refrigerated promptly—within 2 hours of cooking or reheating. Use cooked-ahead or leftover corned beef within 3 to 4 days or freeze 2 to 3 months.

Four Must Try Recipes from the Neighborhood

We are always looking for great weight loss surgery recipes that are economical, delicious, family friendly, and easy for our busy schedules. Over the years we've collected some great recipes in the Neighborhood Kitchen - here are a few that are getting quite a bit of attention lately. Just click the link to go directly to the recipe and let's get cooking!

Taco Lasagna by Beverley
"Made this on the weekend for my hubby's birthday everyone loved it. I had it for lunch again today and it tasted even better than last night."

Sour Cream Chicken Engiladas by smiles93536
OK so we all know that Mexican food is not the best type of food to eat. It is loaded with fat and calories...and ooo sooo good. I found another recipe and made it for dinner tonight. It is a keeper and will fulfill any jonsing you will have for Mexican food. A serving is 2 enchilada's and I ate both of them. I used the low carb taco size tortilla's so I am assuming that the carbs and calories are a wee bit less. Either way...it was within my caloric allowances.

Navy Bean Salad by ~Jane~
I've been playing in the kitchen this week! I tweeked some recipes from my grandmother, Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart, then I added some LAWLS You Have Arrived Finishing Salt and ZOWIE did it turn out nice!

Chicken Pizza by Steph Cott
It's Delicious! No crust, lots of vegetables. A great Day 6 and Beyond recipe. The chicken, once pounded cooks quickly. There is no reason to pre-cook. Keeps preparation and cleanup simple.

To get your copy of the ORIGINAL Neighborhood Cookbook shop the General Store.

Happy Anniversary Neighborhood!

2009 All Star Award - Email Newsletters

We have just learned that LivingAfterWLS has been awarded the Constant Contact 2009 All Star Award for Excellence in Email Marketing! That means the emails we provided to our LivingAfterWLS community free of charge meet the highest standards of excellence in the email marketing industry! I am so pleased with this and thrilled that we can continue to share with you, our loyal readers, quality material of interest, meeting the high standards you have come to expect. It is a beautiful day in the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood!

LivingAfterWLS publishes three inspiring email newsletters that promote personal responsibility and positive self-empowerment as a means to succeed long-term with surgical weight loss. They are free to email subscribers whom we treat with respect and privacy never selling our list.

You Have Arrived is our flagship newsletter published twice monthly. You will find inspiring and motivational articles in addition to topics on nutrition, fitness, healthy cooking and bariatric news.

Recipe of the Week is our once weekly cooking and nutrition newsletter. Each week you will find great family friendly recipes using fresh healthy ingredients that will please your palate and enhance your well being while being mindful of the specific need of surgical weight loss patients.

Free 2009 Best of Cooking with Kaye Download
21-Page Download; 28 of your favorite Kaye recipes from 2009

Download Now

5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin is our monthly motivational newsletter that supports our back to basics program, the 5 Day Pouch Test. This program is for those who feel they are not fully using their weight loss surgery tool and is useful for those who have stalled weight loss, or perhaps regained some weight.

Sign up for Award Winning LivingAfterWLS Newsletters

LivingAfterWLS
Email and Website Privacy Policy

We have created this email privacy policy to demonstrate our firm commitment to your privacy and the protection of your information.

Why did you receive an email from us?

If you received a mailing from us, (a) your email address is either listed with us as someone who has expressly shared this address for the purpose of receiving information in the future ("opt-in"), or (b) you have registered or purchased or otherwise have an existing relationship with us. We respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings.

How we protect your privacy:

We use security measures to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of data used by our system.

Sharing and Usage

We will never share, sell, or rent individual personal information with anyone without your advance permission or unless ordered by a court of law. Information submitted to us is only available to employees managing this information for purposes of contacting you or sending you emails based on your request for information and to contracted service providers for purposes of providing services relating to our communications with you.

How can you stop receiving email from us?

Each email sent contains an easy, automated way for you to cease receiving email from us, or to change your expressed interests. If you wish to do this, simply follow the instructions at the end of any email.

If you have received unwanted, unsolicited email sent via this system or purporting to be sent via this system, please forward a copy of that email with your comments to abuse@constantcontact.com for review.

Fun Friday & Anniversary Party - Good Times!

This month (March 10th to be exact) marks the 4th Anniversary of the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood! Please join us in celebrating this important milestone:
LivingAfterWLS 4th Anniversary

Are you ready for some good times?
Then join us for the LivingAfterWLS Fun Friday weekly game where we answer questions, get to know one another and win fabulous prizes! This week our question is presented by our fun and daring Fun Friday Hostess DarlingGwenda from Down Under who asks on behalf of Jeanne from SD, "What was the thing that you wanted to do most when you lost weight?" Go here to play:

Fun Friday March 5, 2010

For a look at our past prize winners visit the Fun Friday Hall of Fame 2010! You can link there to the original quiz game conversations and have a good laugh! As you will see, Fun Friday is a great way to jump in and participate in the Neighborhood, your weight loss surgery Safe Haven Circle of Friends. And just saying, not wanting to brag or anything, but last week I was a co-winner with Joy from NY! I told you it's a fun game! And did I mention there are fabulous prizes?

Other areas of interest:
Winter Heat Accountability Challenge
5 Day Pouch Test Support
Day 6 Accountability

LivingAfterWLS and The Neighborhood is your online resource for ALL surgical gastric procedures to help arrest obesity through weight control. We offer support for patients of gastric bypass, gastric banding, gastric sleeve, gastric revision and all others. Please join us!

Lap-band patients go here: Bandit Buddies
Gastric-Sleeve patients go here: Heart on Your Sleeve
Veterans of stomach surgery go here: Voice of Veterans

We look forward to seeing you soon in the Neighborhood!

For help navigating the Neighborhood click the Guidelines tab in the top toolbar for complete instructions.

CHEERS!
Kaye

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The Neighborhood Statistics:
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Registered Users: 8512
Total Posts: 148539
Busiest Time: 1668 users were online on 1st March 2010 - 07:12 AM

Happy Anniversary Neighborhood!

My how time does fly! This month (March 10th to be exact) marks the 4th Anniversary of the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood! Many of our Neighborhoods had not yet "Arrived" back in 2006 when the Neighborhood was born! And here we are today celebrating together in the common quest for health, wellness, friendship, knowledge and stewardship all sharing the common connection of weight loss surgery. The Neighborhood is billed a "Safe Haven Circle of Friends" and from behind the scenes we actively work to protect our community from invasion by hackers, spammers and those with malicious intent to harm or destroy our borders. More importantly, from the front side of the Neighborhood our steadfast citizens protect one another in a self-ordained Neighborhood Watch where Neighbor protects Neighbor and compassion is served-up kindly and regularly. It is often expressed that there is no other place like The Neighborhood on the Internet. And that, my dear friends, is because of the Neighbors, each and every one of you. I am so humbled an honored that many of you have made this your destination and your home in your weight loss surgery journey. When we first opened the community gates to the Neighborhood in 2006 I was skeptical at best and told my advisers I would try it for a year but doubted it would take hold. Now, four years later, I cannot imagine my weight loss surgery experience without the Neighborhood and without each and every one of you. Thank you for being here.

Please join me in a big cyber round of party0002.gif applause party0002.gif for the NEIGHBORS! Anyone can put-up an online community, but the community is only as good as the members it serves. And that is what makes the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood a true safe haven circle of friends.

Cheers to you my good Neighbors!!

Come join us - Be Our Neighbor

Day 6 Recipe: Chicken with Apples & Blue Cheese

The Details:
Page 154 of Day 6: Beyond 5 Day Pouch Test
2/27/2010
4 Servings.
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Estimated Cost: $12 or $3.00/serving

The Review:
Changed recipe slightly to use one cut-up roaster chicken rather than boneless-skinless chicken thighs (this was a better bargain in this week's grocery flier. So seasoned chicken with You Have Arrived Poultry Blend and baked in 375F oven for 35 minutes while cooking the apples/onions in skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Topped with chopped walnuts and dried cranberries for nutritional boost of omega 3 fats and antioxidants. Served blue cheese crumbles on side as Jim likes a very small amount of blue cheese while I prefer a more generous amount. Delicious supper. Served green salad with apple slices, green onion, chopped walnuts and dried cranberries with choice of dressing. Full meal hitting all the necessary flavors for satiation: savory, salty, sweet, sour. A perfect Day 6 meal!!! Made my leftovers in to a take-n-go salad for today's lunch! Perfect!

Fun Friday in the Neighborhood

Are you ready for some good times? Then join us for the LivingAfterWLS Fun Friday weekly game where we answer questions, get to know one another and win fabulous prizes! This week our question is presented by our fun and daring Fun Friday Hostess DarlingGwenda from Down Under - She wants to know five things on your Bucket list. Go here to play:
Fun Friday February 26, 2010

For a look at our past prize winners visit the Fun Friday Hall of Fame 2010! You can link there to the original quiz game conversations and have a good laugh! As you will see, Fun Friday is a great way to jump in and participate in the Neighborhood, your weight loss surgery Safe Haven Circle of Friends.

Other areas of interest:

Winter Heat Accountability Challenge

5 Day Pouch Test Support

Day 6 Accountability

LivingAfterWLS and The Neighborhood is your online resource for ALL surgical gastric procedures to help arrest obesity through weight control. We offer support for patients of gastric bypass, gastric banding, gastric sleeve, gastric revision and all others. Please join us!

Lap-band patients go here: Bandit Buddies

Gastric-Sleeve patients go here: Heart on Your Sleeve

Veterans of stomach surgery go here: Voice of Vetrans

We look forward to seeing you soon in the Neighborhood!

For help navigating the Neighborhood click the Guidelines tab in the top toolbar for complete instructions.

CHEERS!
Kaye

The 5 Day Pouch Test---AGAIN!

by Kaye Bailey
Since the publication of the 5 Day Pouch Test plan in August of 2007 I've done the plan roughly four times a year or once a quarter. It seems contrary to what I preach --that the 5DPT is not a fad diet or a quick weight loss gimmick-- because each time as I share, online, my romp through the 5DPT it appears I do it far more frequently than I advise. Today I'm taking a moment to explain myself, to cover my tracks and to a little 5DPT talking.

First, to keep the 5 Day Pouch Test plan fresh we need to introduce new recipes. While I can assess a recipe on paper the best way to know if it satiates the body and mind is to include it in a full run of the 5DPT. Each time I do the 5DPT there are new recipes on the menu that you may (or may not) see published in the Bulletins and in future editions of the Owner's Manual. I will never offer recipes that I have not personally tried in the actual 5DPT format, so that is one reason I need to do the test at least 4 times a year. It is more like a science experiment for me these days than a "get back on track" program because, in all honesty, I have my eating game fairly well under control. It helps having to be accountable to my LivingAfterWLS family! Thank You!

Second, like yours, my life is a frantic world moving at rapid pace and there is a certain comfort to be found in plain old predictability. I was on the run for the first 20 days of February and while my eating did not get out of control it was not consistent or healthy. My water intake was hit-n-miss and I overlooked some vitamin doses. Looking at the calendar this week I thrilled at the prospect that I could be hopelessly boring and consistent with my meals. Protein First. Lots of Water. Warm comfort soups and soft proteins. Oh how I looked forward to pampering my pouch. At this point it isn't about losing weight or getting back on track for me; its about just slowing down, nurturing my body, taking a rest from the frantic and just being at ease with my pouch and my body. Hard to find fault with that. Like most things it is easy to say "I want to take it easy on my pouch this week," but it is another thing to say, "I want to use the 5DPT to help me take it easy on my pouch this week." Having a goal and a plan always helps us get to where we want to go.

Finally, We are all in this together. Many people look to me for guidance as they find their way back to basics with the 5 Day Pouch Test. It is my humble honor to occasionally join so many others in this quest for better health, better control, stronger empowerment as we together make our best lives with weight loss surgery. A swim coach who never dips a toe in the water cannot understand the current against which his athletes swim. And so it goes for us, if I never do the 5DPT then I cannot understand what current others must strive to overcome. We are in this together and I'm in the thick of things with you. It is so nice for me to have you here knowing we never have to travel this journey alone.

So onward we go! I've just finished some Tomato-Basil Carb Monster Soup and it was filling and delicious and delightfully predictable! If I sit really still I think I can hear my little tummy humming a happy tune.

CHEERS!

Pumpkin Shrimp Soup

Kelly at Facebook asked for a reprint of this recipe - since I'm doing the 5DPT starting today I was glad to be reminded of another great soup. Hope you enjoy!

Pumpkin Shrimp Soup - Another 5DPT Great!

Day 1 & 2 Liquids
The Low-Carb Pumpkin & Sausage Soup recipe is a favorite of seasoned 5 Day Pouch Testers. (Page 69 of the 5DPT Owner's Manual or online here: 5DPT Recipes). Recently I came across another pumpkin soup recipe that showed great promise: but first I needed to calculate the nutritionals and give it the family taste test. It is smooth as silk and delicious. The numbers are great too, being much lower in fat than the sausage recipe. Shrimp and whole milk provide protein while the pumpkin and other vegetables provide complex carbohydrates to keep the Carb Monster away. Give this refreshing change a try and I promise it will be part of your Day 6 menu rotation in the cold months to come! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium onions, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Old Bay Seafood Seasoning
1 (14-ounce) can fat free reduced sodium chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree, no added salt
1 cup whole milk
8 ounces cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined (if frozen, thawed)*
freshly grated nutmeg for garnish, optional

Over medium-high heat in a large soup pot, melt butter and cook the onions, carrots, and garlic, covered until tender, about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the Old Bay Seafood Seasoning and 1/2 cup of the chicken broth. Working in batches puree the cooked vegetables in a blender or food processor following safety guidelines for processing hot food (see article below). Return vegetable puree to cooking pot. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to puree the soup).

To vegetable puree add the remaining broth, pumpkin puree, milk and thawed drained shrimp. Heat gently to a low simmer, not boiling, and allow to cook 5 minutes until soup thickens slightly and is warm throughout. Serve immediately in measured 1 cup portions. Garnish each serving with a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg.

Serves 4. Per 1 cup serving: 245 calories, 19g protein, 23g carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 5g fat.

For leftovers reheat in the microwave on low to avoid overcooking the shrimp.

*Canned shrimp, crabmeat, or salmon would work equally well in place of the frozen shrimp if necessary. Just make sure you have 8-ounces of seafood after draining the liquid.

Visit the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood for more WLS Recipes

Headaches With the Weight Loss Surgery High Protein Diet

Why do we suffer from headaches when we transition from a high-processed carbohydrate diet to a high protein diet? Many weight loss surgery patients are asking this.

There are, actually, several reasons for headaches when abiding a high protein, low carb diet. More importantly, there are several little things we can do to relieve the headaches:

First, when we transition from a processed carbohydrate diet to one rich in protein as advised by most weight loss surgery (bariatric) doctors and dieticians we increase our intake of tryptophan. A short list of foods high in tryptophan includes cheese, meat, nuts, and soy. Ingestion of tryptophan releases serotonin in the brain, which is considered a vasoconstrictor: it tightens our blood vessels. In modest amounts this helps us feel good; but in greater amounts to which we are not accustomed it causes headaches.

To balance the increased tryptophan (an amino acid - good thing) intake we should include appropriate complex carbohydrates in our weight loss surgery eating rhythm: 2B/1B (2 Bites Protein/1 Bite Carbohydrate). Here are some smart food choices for your weight loss surgery diet::

Carbs:
apples
artichokes
basil
bean sprouts
beets
carrots
celery
cranberries
cucumbers
green beans
pears
spinach
squash

Fat:
olive oil

Protein:
lamb
lentils
tuna
turkey

Next, we absolutely must be certain to supplement our diet with essential vitamins and minerals, and in this list I personally include herbal supplements that centuries of human use have proved beneficial to our health and well-being. Please review the list of supplements:

Feverfew: 200-300 milligrams daily

Ginger: 1,500 milligrams taken in 3 (500-milligram) doses daily

Magnesium: 1,000 milligrams a day (WLS post-ops are known to be deficient of magnesium)

Calcium with Vitamin D: 1,000 milligrams daily

Vitamin B6: 50-100 milligrams daily

Vitamin B Complex as prescribed by your doctor, oral, sublingual or injected

If you wake in the morning with a headache I encourage you to have a serving of Emergen-C. I strongly believe Emergen-C is healthful to us because in a single dose you get 60mg magnesium, 200mg potassium; 60mg sodium; 50mg calcium carbonate; (your electrolytes); in addition to vitamin B6 and B12; vitamin C, niacin, thiamin, zinc, and few others. Our little gastric bypass and gastric-banded tummies can absorb this supplement rapidly and it is not difficult or painful to take. If you have not tried Emergen-C please do. As a note, continue your regular vitamin regimen when taking Emergen-C. Use this water soluble product to get just a little extra nutrition.

If your headaches are chronic and you suspect more than the weight loss surgery high protein diet please keep a headache diary in an effort to identify the cause of the headaches. Dr. Alex Duarte suggestions tracking these things:

Diet - Diet and food allergy is the most prevalent cause of headache.

Hormones - Fluctuating hormone levels are known to cause frequent headache.

Weather - Changes in barometric pressure and other weather conditions can trigger headaches.

Stress - Frequent cause of headaches.

Change in Routine - Disruption of regular routine (such as change in diet) is known to cause headache.

Dental Problems or Endodontic surgery are known to cause headaches

Sensory Stimuli - sight, smell, and hearing can cause headaches.

Hypoglycemia causes headache.

Herbal remedies for headaches are, in my opinion, more effective and less disruptive than chemical OTC remedies. Try supplementing your diet with Feverfew, Ginger, Ginko Biloba, Chamomile, Capsaicin, and/or Valerian.

Learn from others who are battling headaches as a result of the weight loss surgery high protein diet: LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood

Kaye Bailey 2010 - All Rights Reserved

Kaye Bailey is an internationally recognized writer, speaker and weight loss surgery advocate. She is the author of the highly successful weight loss surgery back to basics plan: 5 Day Pouch Test and the 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual. Her follow-up book, Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test, was published in December 2009. It provides guidance for long-term weight and health management with all bariatric surgical procedures. Ms. Bailey is known for her powerful "you can do this" manner and her belief in the power of personal responsibility. She is the founder of LivingAfterWLS, LLC parent company to the LivingAfterWLS.com and 5daypouchtest.com websites. Supporting both websites is the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood, an online compassion-driven community for weight loss surgery, gastric bypass and gastric banding patients.

LivingAfterWLS

The LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood Online Community 5 Day Pouch Test

Article Source: Headaches With the Weight Loss Surgery High Protein Diet

Facebook Connections

Social Media is the buzz these days - it is how we give and receive much of our communication. In the spirit of the times LivingAfterWLS and has several destinations for connecting with other like minded folks who are pursuing health and obesity recovery with weight loss surgery. Follow these links to connect with us on Facebook:

Kaye Bailey Profile Page

LivingAfterWLS Facebook Neighbors

Official 5 Day Pouch Test Facebook Group

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test Group

Sweetest Month! Chocolate & Strawberry Challenge

A repeat of the March 2009 Challenge -----

I'm going to give you and assignment and because I know you do very well with specifics I will be very detailed with this assignment. Are you ready for the challenge? OK, take a moment before you continue reading this and think about all the reasons why you can do this assignment. Do not allow one single "I can't do this" thought into your beautiful brain, ok????

The assignment:
Please go to your grocery store and purchase two items:
1 quart of fresh strawberries (they are looking really good this time of year)
1 jar sugar free chocolate syrup (or 1 bar of 70% cocoa dark chocolate)

Next - think about these beautiful berries that are full of vitamin C, fiber and carcinogen fighting phytochemicals. Putting these strawberries in your body is a nurturing gift. Think about that today, but don't eat the strawberries just yet. Just focus on how sweet and succulent they will taste and how you will kindly nurture your sweet cravings with this wonderful food. Think about how you will feel as you eat them and how you will feel in the morning knowing you did not give you body food that made it sick and sluggish. Remind yourself that you deserve to feel healthy and in control of your eating and you are capable of being healthy and in control of your eating.

What you are doing is creating that "mental storm of enthusiasm" for nurturing your body with smart food choices.

Now, tonight when the sweet craving hits I want you to wash 6 strawberries in cold running water. Dry them gently with a paper towel and arrange them on a pretty plate. If they are large cut them in bite-size slices. Drizzle them with the sugar free chocolate syrup -- not too much -- just a drizzle. Then find a comfortable place without distractions to sit and enjoy each bite. If you like, invite your boyfriend to join you with YOUR refreshment and kindly ask him to respect you by not having his chocolate in front of you. Enjoy every single bite and reflect on how good it feels to treat yourself in a nurturing and healthy manner.

This is a treat and a ritual you can do every night. If you chose to get dark chocolate instead of the syrup just melt one or two ounces on low in the microwave and dip your berries into the creamy chocolate that is actually low in sugar and rich in antioxidants.

Will you take this assignment????

Join me!! Let's give that sweet tooth something to smile about!

What's the Fuss about Day 6?

My goodness? What is this "Day 6"?

What is the fuss all about.

Read here

Then join us! We are in this for life and so are you.

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test

Kaye's follow-up to the 5 Day Pouch Test
-220 Pages
-66 All-New Recipes
-Inspiration & Encouragement
-Knowledge & Empowerment

On Sale $25.95

Order Today & Save More


*Enter Coupon Code 2010STORM and save $4.00 more at checkout!
Coupon Expires 1/21/2010

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test is Kaye Bailey's follow-up to her powerful 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual, which has helped countelss thousands get back on track with their weight loss surgery. In Ms. Bailey's generous spirit of compassion and belief in others she shares her secrets for working with the surgical weight loss tool, not against it, to achieve optimum success and long-term weight maintenance. No gimmicks. No quick fixes. Just simple common sense delivered in the powerful "you can do this" style we have come to expect from Ms. Bailey.

In Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test Ms. Bailey invites readers to consider their relationship with the word diet as she introduces a revolutionary new concept for nurturing a strong and reasonable respect for food.

Day 6 is the way-of-life weight loss surgery patients will follow if they want to control their weight for the rest of their lives.

"This is the book I wish I had read before having surgery in the first place - it would have made all the difference in my success or failure."
-- Alyce Pittaway, Laparoscopic GastricBypass 2002

SKU#5662212

Connections: Support Matters with Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss is never easy - with or without weight loss surgery - and it is more difficult when we try to go it alone. The Internet has provided us numerous opportunities to connect with others who are traveling this journey of weight loss surgery. Here are a few of my favorite destinations for support, encouragement, understanding and empowerment! I'll see you there!



LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood
Now over 8,000 members strong the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood -- Our Safe Haven Circle of Friends -- is your premier online destination for support, friendship, encouragement, understanding and empowerment with weight loss surgery. We address all surgeries including gastric bypass, gastric banding and gastric sleeve. Our members include post-ops of 20+ years and pre-ops looking into surgery and newbies in the wonderful first year of discovery. You belong here - we have room for you. Be sure and check out these hot spots in the Neighborhood:

You Have Arrived Alumni Club: Connect with other weight loss surgery patients who are at the same stage as you. Simply look for the year of your surgery and join the conversation in the "Class of" sub-forum. All surgical procedures can participate in each "Class of" sub-forum. Let's share our collective experience and support one another who are near the same stage in the journey.

Accountability Challenges: Do you do better when held accountable? We all do! This is a great place to step-up to the plate and take accountability into your own hands. Seasonal accountability challenges - a place where we account to one another for the goals we set for ourselves. Also, check out the Day 6 Accountability conversation and stay on track for better health and a better you!

Community Kitchen: Share recipes, cooking techniques and ask questions. We are all in the kitchen together and this is a great place to learn, socialize and find out what's for dinner tonight!

Fun Friday: Just for FUN! LivingAfterWLS's Favorite weekly game where you have a chance to share something about yourself, not necessarily weight loss surgery related, and win fabulous prizes! Real life prizes sent in the mail taking the mundane out of the mailbox. DarlingGwenda is our Hostesses and each week she entices us to share a little tidbit in this get-to-know-you game! Join us!

Facebook offers us a chance to quickly check in with one another while enjoying a broader environment of social networking. We have three groups there to support our LivingAfterWLS way of life -- Join us! And "Friend Me" Kaye Bailey Facebook Page

LivingAfterWLS Neighbors: An outreach social network for Kaye Bailey's LivingAfterWLS community and Neighborhood. Please join us to share your surgical weight loss surgery experience, celebrate your health, support others and rejoice in living. This group was created by Kaye Bailey and officially sanctioned by LivingAfterWLS, LLC.

5 Day Pouch Test: An outreach social network for Kaye Bailey's widely successful 5 Day Pouch Test (copyrighted and owned by LivingAfterWLS, LLC.) Please join us to share your 5 Day Pouch Test experience, celebrate your health, support others and rejoice in living. This group was created by Kaye Bailey and officially sanctioned by LivingAfterWLS, LLC.

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test - The official group! Pursuing health, wellness, & weight control beyond Kaye Bailey's 5 Day Pouch Test. Helpful hints, recipes, connections, living. Stay on track with your weight loss surgery tool. You Can Do This!