Vegan Gumbo

Delicous and very good for you!  I've heavily adapted this recipe from Emeril Lagasse's Chicken & Smoked Sausage Gumbo.  The vegetable ingredients are totally negotiable.  I've swapped in mushrooms, tomatoes, or zucchini and it always comes out delicious.

1 cup vegetable oil (or your favorite plant oil)
1 cup all-purpose flour (or whole grain flour) 
1 1/2 cups chopped onions 
1 cup chopped celery 
1 cup chopped bell peppers
 1 package of Tofurkey Italian Sausage - cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices 
1 1/2 teaspoons salt 
1 tsp cayenne
1 cup of Textured Vegetable Protein
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro leaves
1/2 cup chopped green onions

2 tsp paprika (smoked paprika if you have it)
Fresh cracked pepper
1 tablespoon of minced garlic 
1 tsp onion powder (optional)
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon of dried oregano
1 tablespoon of dried thyme.
Salt to taste if you prefer.
6 cups vegetable stock or water
2 cups of cooked brown rice.

Directions

1. Combine the oil and flour in a small pot over medium heat. Stirring slowly and constantly for 15 - 20 minutes  minutes, make a medium brown roux, the color of light peanut butter. 
2. Saute the tofurkey sausage, onions, celergy and bell peppers in a large stock pot with a few teaspoons of your favorite plant oil.  Saute until onions soften and the sausage browns a bit, then add the vegetabel stock/water.  Add spices, cilantro/parsley and textured vegetable protein.  Bring to a simmer.
3. Once the roux is a nice light brown (careful, once it starts to burn it burns fast), add it to the stock pot of gumbo.  Add it slowly and be careful as it will bubble up some.  Stir well and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes.  Remove the bay leaves if you can find them.  (I end up just warning everyone that they're in there.)
4. Serve in bowls over rice, topped with the green onion.

Vegan Pesto Mayonnaise

Adapted from The Healthy Hipster's Recipe

This is a delicious spread for just about any sandwich that you would use mayo for flavor.  The only adaptations for the recipe are due to what I had on hand.  It's so delicious that I wanted to share it with you.  All credit for this goes to The Healthy Hipster!

1/4 cup dried basil (or 1 cup fresh)
1/4 package silken tofu
1/2 cup cooked garbanzo beans
1 tsp almond butter
1 tbsp almond milk
2 tsp spicy brown mustard
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp salt
fresh ground pepper to taste

Blend until smooth.  Keeps in the fridge for about 5 days.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Shake

Adapted from The Vegan Stoner's Oat Shake Recipe

Blend together:
12 ounces of almond milk
1 banana, chopped and frozen
1 apple, sliced
3 tablespoons of peanut butter
1 cup cooked old fashioned oatmeal
2 scoops of soy protein powder - vanilla

Makes 2 full glasses of shake.  Share with a friend or save one for later!

I replaced the soy milk with almond milk due to my own preference.  Feel free to use soy instead if you wish.  Instead of the pinch of cinnamon that the original recipe calls for, I added the peanut butter to give the shake more calories and good fats from the nuts.  Vegans sometimes struggle to get their calories in and nuts are a great way to get some healthy fats.  The original recipe didn't call for adding protein, which seems to be a big oversight.  Getting enough protein every day is vital!

Eating Out With Realistic Portions

No, I didn't eat this all by myself!

Shortly after weight loss surgery, when I would go to eat out, I would order a cup of soup, a house salad or some small appetizer.  More often than not, I had leftovers to take home.  Those first few months you can't eat much, so keeping your portion sizes under control is fairly easy.

After a while, it's possible to eat more and restaurants are more than happy to oblige.  Portion sizes for meals at most restaurants are 2-3 times the correct size.  Eating twice the food that you should is not a great way to lose weight or maintain your weight loss.  Fortunately, I have developed a few strategies that are simple and work for me.

1. Split a meal with someone.  It's cost effective.  It always surprises the waitress, but no one needs to eat that much food by themselves.
2. Eat the foods that "don't keep well" first.  Anything that will turn soggy or will not reheat well gets eaten first off my plate.
3. Declare aloud and to yourself that you're done eating when you feel full.  Stop eating, no more nibbling at this point.  This is a hard one for me.
4. Ask for a to-go box for your leftovers as soon as you can flag down the waitress once you've decided that you're full.

My Providers

I'm posting this in case this information is helpful to people considering weight loss surgery.

My health insurance company at the time of my surgery: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Empire.  My approval only took a few months and was pretty painless.
www.empireblue.com

My surgeon:  Doctor Moran.  Doctor Moran's office hosts free informational seminars about the three types of weight loss surgery he performs, the positives and negatives of each and the journey to getting approved for weight loss surgery.  They give you very detailed information about your pre and post dietary needs, especially for the first few months after surgery.  If you go, make sure to write down that Melissa Moritz referred you so that I get some free vitamins!
http://alasurgery.com

My nutritionist:  Jennifer Hunt.  Jennifer is right on track with her recommendations and I highly recommend that anyone looking for help with their diet in the Raleigh area contact  her for an appointment.  Most insurance companies will pay for a few visits per year to a nutritionist.
http://healthydietsinc.com

150 lb Goal Met!

Healthier & Happier

I hit my goal weight this morning. I now weigh 150 lbs.  According to the government and my health insurance company, I am no longer overweight but at the top edge of "normal".

Spicy Sausage and Bean Soup

I made this soup on the fly the other day with ingredients on hand.  My friends were impressed, so I thought I'd share the recipe!

Ingredients

• 1 lb of spicey sausage
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cloves of sliced garlic
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3-4 cans of beans various beans of your choice
• 4 cups chicken broth 
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons caynne pepper
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions

1. If using ground sausage, break into small pieces.  If using sausage in a casing, slice into 1/2 inch coins.
2. In stock pot, saute sausage, onion and garlic in the olive oil until sausage is browned over medium heat (approximately 5-7 minutes).
3. Deglaze pan by adding 1/2 cup of chicken broth.  Add the beans.
4. Stir in spices, pepper sauce and soy sauce and simmer for 30 minutes to incorporate the flavors and heat the soup.

1 Year Out, 15 lbs From Goal

165 lbs and dress shopping!

Tomorrow will be one  year from my surgery.  I was hoping to hit my goal weight of 150 lbs by then, but I will not make it.  I am at 165 lbs this morning and that is fine.  I know if I had worked harder and joined a gym, I could have made the goal on time.  Fortunately, this is a life long change for me and I know that I am still making progress.  My weight loss has slowed down significantly and I will have to put forth more effort if I want to hit my target weight.

My first Ralph Lauren!

Down 100 lbs and Wearing Size Medium Shirts!

Down from 280 on day of surgery to 180 lbs now!

I'm now officially down 100 lbs from the date of surgery.  I'm also no longer Obese, but rather Overweight.  Bought my first size medium shirt the other day.  Progress is wonderful!

My new "sexy boots" rock!

Stalled at 185 lbs

Stuck at 185 lbs.

I've been hanging around 185 for a month now.  This worries me quite a bit.  I've been eating out far too often.  Currently, I walk 4-5 days per week.  I'm going to be adding bicycle riding to my routine to try to move off this plateau. 

New Dating Profile Photo!

On the plus side, I have taken new photos and am starting to see a bigger difference in myself.  I'm quite happy with my body when I'm fully clothed now but looking in the mirror naked is rather depressing due to the loose skin and saggy breasts.  I really hope some of this bounces back during the next year.

I had to include one with my cat, Venus

Down 120 from my Highest!

I'm down 89 lbs from the day of my surgery.  Extra Large shirts are fitting nicely now and I'm wearing size 18 jeans!  It is nice to feel better about myself out in public.  I still hate what I see in the bathroom mirror before I get dressed though.  Hopefully I get past that emotional barrier as I get closer to goal.

Below 200 For the first Time in Over a Decade!

230 lbs - I'm down 30 from this photo now!

Woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise.  The number on the scale didn't start with a 3 or even a 2.  I'm at 199.6 and couldn't be more thrilled about it!

Weight Loss Photo Collection

More Photos of my progress!

230 lbs, clothes shopping!

220 lbs, dressed as an Axe Murderer for Halloween.

220 lbs, Camping and Hiking.

White Bean Stew

Adapted from TheStoneSoup.com

1 yellow or white onion chopped2-3 cloves of garlic
2 cans of white beans, pinto beans, lima beans or other beans (14 oz each)
2 cans crushed tomato or tomato sauce (14 oz each)
2-3 zucchini and/or yellow squash sliced into coins
2 tablespoons smoked paprika (or regular paprika and a tablespoon of liquid smoke)
1 bag washed baby spinach leaves
1 cup of fresh, chopped cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons of olive oil

1)      Drizzle extra virgin olive oil into a large sauce pan, then caramelize the onion and the garlic.
2)      Place beans and their canning liquid, tomato, zucchini/squash and paprika (and smoke) in large saucepan.
3)      Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes until the zucchini is soft.
4)      Add spinach and cilantro.  Continue to cook, stirring, until the spinach is just wilted.  About a minute or so.

It's a pretty thick stew and is very filling.  The recipe makes quite a few servings though, so it might work better to try to scale down the recipe for gastric bypass patients that don't have families to help them eat it.

Many Milestones

Down to 235 lbs!

It's amazing how often we hit milestones while losing weight.  Keep yourself motivated, don't take your accomplishments for granted!

Some milestones I've hit
Dropping from 4x to 3x to 2x in shirt sizes
Wearing "Real Jeans"  instead of stretch jeans with an elastic waistband
Hitting my "college weight" on the scale
Not looking ridiculous wearing a belt
Going on my first hike ever
Seeing a waist in the mirror
Noticing my collar bones
Walking for an hour without breaking a sweat
Noticing on a rainy day that my body in stir crazy, craving exercise!
Buying heeled boots
Enjoying going clothing shopping
Catching guys checking me out

240 lbs Exactly!

What a nice surprise this morning!  My scale read 240.0, on the nose!  It is hard to believe that I'm down 50 pounds since my surgery.  It has been almost 12 weeks.  I get compliments from friends and co-workers who have noticed the weight loss.  Once in a while I get a glimpse of myself in a mirror and can see a change, but most of the time I don't see a big difference.

I'm losing a few clothing items due to my shrinking size.  This is a good thing, but it means I need to do some clothing shopping eventually.  A co-worker that is at his year anniversary for his WLS suggested going to Good Will to find clothes for now, since I am not at my goal weight yet.  I'll get around to it soon, hopefully!

Going Very Well!

280 lbs, my weight just prior to surgery.

I had almost no problems advancing myself through the six stages of foods and have hardly had any problems with foods so far.  It still amazes me that I can feel very hungry, eat a few bites and suddenly feel over full.  The past few days I've been packing small lunchables for work and I can't finish them in one sitting.  It's crazy to think that I can't eat as much as a small school child, but I guess that's what it takes to loose the weight.

Walking at work has been a great way to keep myself motivated and moving.  Half an hour on my lunch break is just enough time to walk around the sidewalks here and "feel the burn".  I try to take lunch early so that it's not too hot outside yet when I go out to walk.  I figured that since I'm not really eating a lunch (a few bites at my desk hardly counts) and I know that I am at work five days a week, this is a perfect way to get the activity time in.

Pureed Foods

Advanced myself to pureed foods yesterday.  The tuna salad I made was the most delicious thing ever.  Or maybe it's just that I'm tired of yogurt and smoothies already.  I put a can of tuna (including the water), a tablespoon of lite mayo and 4-5 dill pickle slices into the blender.  It was amazing.  Tonight I had pureed chicken.  I put the chicken, a little chicken broth and a spoon of lite mayo into the blender.  Yum!

My incision sites are healing well.  The two smallest ones seem "deeper" and are healing more slowly than the rest.  I got a nice card from Rex Hospital today.  I need to write them back a thank-you letter.  The nurses there were very kind during my stay and did what they could to make my time there more positive. 

First Post-Op Appointment

Things are going very well.  I've been advanced to the stage two foods (full liquids such as protein shakes, yogurt, sugar free pudding).  I had a lovely walk to this morning and spent the afternoon shopping for fresh fruits to make shakes with.

My Story

Before Weight Watchers and Gastric Bypass - 310 lbs approx

I grew up in a home with very poor eating habbits.  We hardly ever had fresh produce in the house or juice.  The foods we had were mostly sweet cereals, milk, soda, sweet snack foods, chips and microwavable foods.  My family ate out very often, sometimes as often as three times in a single day.  Needless to say I was not getting the nutrition I needed and had very little self control when I moved out as a young adult.

Dieting had been something I had been doing off and on since before I was overweight.  I'm pretty sure dieting helped me become overweight.  A few months of denying myself practically everything that I wanted to eat and then binging on those terrible foods afterwards was not healthy.

At 30, I saw my scale tip at 311 lbs.  I knew I had to do something.  Through weight watchers I was able to get myself down to 278 lbs.  I was only in weight watchers for a month or two but stuck with the plan  for about 4 months.  Then I kept the weight off for about a year, balancing myself between 280 and 285.  It was nice to be making healthier choices most of the time and the change wasn't that difficult.  It just wasn't enough.

My family has a history of many medical problems, most of which are weight related.  I decided that I needed to do something more direct about my weight and take care of my health now before I have problems.  In fact, I have had several doctors and medical personel looking at my test results before surgery and they all remarked how healthy I am!  Let's keep it that way!

I went to Dr. Moran's Office for their free seminar on weight loss surgery options.  I love the Raleigh Center for Weight Loss.  They offer the seminars for free to show people what both gastric bypass and lapband surgeries entail and give you the information on each.  Dr. Moran and his staff provide you with the pros and cons of both surgeries and let you decide which one is best for you.  They'll advise you but the decision is ultimately up to you.

After a series of medical tests:  sleep study (I had a mild type of sleep apnea), blood work, chest x-ray, barium swollow, and an ultra-sound, I was approved by my insurance for the surgery.  I have Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield.  I more than exceeded their requirements for a high BMI to qualify for the surgery.

On June 9th, 2011 (Thursday morning) I had my Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure.  I had high blood pressure after the surgery and the medical staff at Rex Hospital made sure that I was stable before they sent me up to my room in the surgery recovery wing.  The staff at Rex Hospital are very familiar with weight loss surgery patients and are great at taking care of them post surgery.  I had a rough night Friday Night with nausia and dizzyness caused by dehydration but by Saturday morning I was feeling 90% back to myself.  I was walking the halls of the hospital wing, teasing the nurses that I was making a break for it, showering myself, dressing myself, packing my bags and then I was released Saturday afternoon.

When I got home, I was disappointed that I had actually gained a few pounds while in the hospital.  I have to assume that this was due to water weight gain (since I was dehydrated the staff at Rex kept me on a fluid IV drip up until the time I left).  I was also a little bruised and puffy around my stomach (as to be expected).
Today is Tuesday, June 14th and I'm down a few pounds from where I was before the surgery.  I'm back to 280.2 pounds.  Basically everything I lose from this point forward will put me ahead of where I was by dieting on weight watchers last year.

I've spent the last few days sorting clothes and doing laundry.  I found out that I have 15 pairs of jeans to shrink into!  15 pairs of jeans - 3 that I was wearing pre-surgery, 1 that needs a button sewn to it, and 11 pairs of jeans waiting for me to shrink into them!  I got excited looking at some of the nice looking clothes that I already own that are just a few sizes too small for me to wear right now.  It'll save me money at first by being able to wear these.  Many of them look brand new and I'm sure that a few were on clearance sale but never fit me.

This first week on clear liquids is going well.  I'm drinking a lot of crystal light (the lemonade is awesome).  Hot tea has always been a favorite of mine and I'm enjoying the decaffeinated teas I've been drinking this week (a packet of splenda makes them more awesome!).  I also found out that I am allowed to drink ISOPURE protein shakes this week.  I find that the shakes are not that great without fruit or milk, but that comes next week.  I'm very lucky that the Food Lion grocery stores here are having a BIG sale on fruit this week.  I'm going to pick up a bunch, wash them, chop them, zip lock bag them and freeze them for next week's protein shakes.

I feel like I'm at the start of a very positive and healthy journey that only result in great changes for myself.