Strawberry Lemonade Protein Smoothie

       Happy Spring y'all! I am so excited that Springtime is officially here in Memphis! I just wish someone would tell the weather to straighten up! There are rumblings in my office of snow tomorrow! When I lived in Michigan, I couldn't wait until the snow started to melt, which sometimes could be April/May, and the flowers would bloom. The crocuses were my first signal that Spring was approaching! Now that I'm in Memphis, the daffodils bloom in February and we get snow and mostly rain off and on. Winter is quite ambiguous, maybe even bi-polar! Summer used to be my favorite season in Michigan. It was finally warm enough to swim in Lake Michigan and  the days were longer. It makes me think of the lyrics to the song that stated "Summertime, and the living is easy". This really is the truth in MI! No snow to shovel, windows to scrape and it is much safer to drive!

       When the weather starts to get warmer I start getting the urge to drink a lot of cold beverages again! After a week of eating egg white omelettes with lean ham and mozzarella for breakfast, my taste buds decided they had had enough of the savory. I decided I wanted something lighter for breakfast this morning so I searched the fridge and came up with this lovely idea! This smoothie is so creamy and refreshing! I want to grab a cup of it and spend the morning reading on the front porch curled up in the Adirondack chair.
       This recipe is made with ingredients that you may already have in your fridge! I love recipes like this since I live about 15-20 minutes from the closest grocery store! 

Recipe:
(Makes 1-2 servings)
1 cup Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
1 cup Fresh Strawberries, stems removed
3/4 cup ice cubes
2 tsp. lemon zest
1-2 Tbs. Splenda or stevia (to taste)
(Optional) 1 scoop Unflavored Protein powder (or flavor of your choice)

Mix all in a food processor or blender and enjoy!

What are your favorite Springtime treats? I have just discovered that I now love asparagus! I used to hate it before surgery, but now I can't get enough of it! Leave a comment for me! :)

Featured Member Spotlight!

       Last June, I discovered a website called rnytalk.com . It is a fantastic resource for those who are considering Gastric Bypass surgery, and those who have already had the surgery. I found it a few months before my surgery. It is a discussion board that covers just about any topic you could imagine that is related to GBS. I found it so helpful pre-op and post-op. I don't really have any close friends in my area that have had the same surgery as myself, so this board was a lifesaver for me. It is filled with a range of people. It has been a great source of help for me during this gastric bypass journey. There are people to answer my random questions with their experience and others who can help encourage me when I've reached a milestone or help me through a plateau! I really enjoy answering the questions of people who are pre-op or who are newly post-op. 
       A few weeks ago, I received an email asking if I would like to participate in the Member Spotlight. I answered some questions and I was featured in the newest RNY Talk Newsletter! 

Here is a copy of the article:

Member Spotlight: Baker_gurl!
This month’s spotlight is on Baker_gurl, aka Emily from Memphis, Tennessee. At 5 feet 8 inches and 350 pounds, Emily had tried several times to lose weight on her own, but couldn’t keep it off. She had wanted the gastric bypass surgery for a few ye ars. Finally, her new job as a department associate gave her insurance last year, and she thought, “This is finally my time to make a change!" She got the gastric bypass in August of 2012 and is now at 260 pounds, nearly halfway to goal weight of 150 pounds!

One of the ways her life has changed is that she is learning to love exercise! Emily goes to water aerobics and zumba regularly, and now challenges herself on the treadmill and elliptical by slowing increasing the time and resistance. She’s also change her eating habits, of course, and she’s discovered how important it is to keep a food journal. She uses MyFitnessPal to log food and check the nutritional facts before ordering at restaurants. Emily has had to conquer her sweet tooth and “find the discipline to turn down dessert on a daily basis;” she’s learned that she “can indulge in other non-food ways.”

One of her great moments was seeing 299 on the scale! It had been eight years s ince she had been under 300 pounds. She also enjoyed discovering that previously too-tight clothes that were in storage were actually too big by the time she tried them on!

Emily logs into RNYTalk most days for information and inspiration. She relies on the community because she doesn’t know anyone in her real life who is a gastric bypass patient. She can learn from RNYTalk members who are going through the same changes as Emily. She also loves the “product reviews, tips and advice” from members who are further along.

Emily says that “you really have to be committed to making lifestyle changes to succeed. This is a long term process, not a quick fix! There will be plateaus, but you have to expect them and continue to work hard to pass them. Don't give up during these hard times!” She knows that “everyone makes mistakes during this process. What is important is that you truly learn from your mistakes and don't do the same thing again! Also, r ealize that you are not alone in this process! There is always someone here to help if you have a question/problem.”

Emily, thanks for all of your advice and support in this newsletter and on the boards. Congratulations on your success so far, and we’re all cheering for you as you get closer to goal weight. Thanks for being in the spotlight!

       I recommend this website to anyone interested in more information about GBS! Please check it out. I am a registered user with the name baker_gurl.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust Recipe

       I have been searching for low carb recipes since the nurse at my 6th month check up said I should try to limit carbs to help accelerate my weight loss. Pinterest has been very helpful in this endeavor. It is filled with all sorts of low carb recipes and ideas. Honestly, up until this point, I didn't really consider my carb count. I have been tracking my nutrition and calorie count on My Fitness Pal, but didn't pay much attention to how many carbs I was consuming each day. I have a serious sweet tooth and that sort of makes me a carbohydrate junkie! Add to that the fact that I don't have a problem eating bread or sweets like some bariatric patients and it can be a problem! 
       While searching pinterest, I found many recipes that stated I could substitute cauliflower for potatoes or for wheat in bread recipes. I found a recipe a while ago for a cauliflower based pizza crust, but had filed it away in my to make someday recipe file. I decided last night to finally make the recipe. I used a bag of frozen cauliflower florets from Kroger. You can also use fresh, but this was very convenient and was only $1 a bag versus $2.99 for a head of fresh cauliflower. I would say this recipe is pretty easy, but needs to bake a while and then be flipped over and baked for a little longer to crisp up the edges. 

Here's the recipe:
Adapted from: Sugar Free Mom
Cauliflower Pizza:

• 1 head cauliflower, washed, dried or 4 cups chopped (I used 1 12 oz. bag, frozen)
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup egg whites or 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Marinara sauce
• Desired toppings (I like ham and pineapple)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut cauliflower into bite size pieces steam for 20 minutes until just tender. (Can microwave for 7-8 minutes instead). Place cauliflower in food processor and pulse until the size of rice. Pour riced cauliflower into a large bowl and add Parmesan cheese, egg whites, and seasonings. Mix well then spread mixture onto baking sheet or pizza pan until about 1 inch thickness. Bake for 30 minutes until browned on top. Invert over onto the other baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake another 10 minutes until browned. Spread marinara, sprinkle mozzarella, and desired toppings over the top and broil for 1 minute until melted. Let rest 10 minutes. Slice into 8-12 pieces. This pizza is more tender than a wheat based pizza, so you may have to eat with a fork. I honestly could not taste the cauliflower, nor could Mike who hates the taste of it. If it passes his taste test, it can fool any picky child! It was so delicious and it was nice to feel like I was indulging in normal food again. I will be making this recipe many times again! This can also be made into bread sticks by removing the marinara and pizza toppings and shaping it into a rectangle on a baking sheet. The original recipe from Sugar Free Mom made it as bread sticks. 

These are a few of my favorite things!

       When I was preparing for surgery, I was very excited, but wasn't quite sure which products I would really need after the surgery. I tried to search online on forums, check out youtube and ask the doctor. This helped a lot, but sometimes you just have to go through the surgery and try to test out products yourself. I was blessed to have my boss go through the process for the gastric sleeve before me. While these two surgeries are not the same, they do share similar qualities. So, I'm going to give you the lowdown on what products worked well for me.
       Why don't we start with protein! There are so many different options here. I started with pure protein from Target before surgery. The Frosty Chocolate flavor of this brand is ok. It doesn't dissolve well when stirred with a spoon, so a blender bottle or an actual blender is necessary. Also, it is much thicker with 8 ounces of milk than other protein shakes. I would not recommend the Creamy Vanilla variation of this pure protein! I found the taste of it very strong, artificial and unpalatable! I tried many different brands before I found one that I like the most. I have tried Optimum Nutrition now in three flavors (chocolate mint, double rich chocolate and French vanilla Creme) and it is by far the superior whey protein! 

The vanilla flavor tasted like melted rich vanilla ice cream. For some reason, it is difficult to find a vanilla protein powder that doesn't taste artificial. Optimum Nutrition has done well at creating a natural tasting, not too sweet vanilla flavor. One of the best things about this company is the wide variety of flavors they offer! I have found some of the best deals on this brand at Vitacost . This site is fantastic at offering low prices, a large variety and great sales! 

       For those of you that are far enough along to eat protein bars, I have found a great brand! It seemed like an endless search to find a protein bar that had a high protein count, low carbs and tasted good. I researched online and found that many people love the Quest Protein Bars. I have tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter, Apple Pie, Coconut Cashew, cinnamon roll and Chocolate Brownie flavors. My favorite so far is Cinnamon roll with Chocolate Peanut Butter in close second! The bars are unconventional. They look like a bar of taffy. They are best heated in the microwave for 10-20 seconds before you eat them. This makes them warm, chewy, and incredible! They have recently developed a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor with real dark chocolate chips, which I haven't tried, but have heard is amazing! I really like this brand because it is low sugar and in some of the bars, only uses natural sugar substitutes. They also have a good amount of fiber.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - YUM!

       Another very important essential is a daily bariatric multivitamin. When I first started out post op, I took O'purity vitamins from Unjury. These are one a day vitamins specially formulated for bariatric patients. They are quite large and hard to chew. You can get a 90 day supply for about $42. When I went to my 6 week appointment, my nutritionist recommended a new vitamin that was more affordable. It is from Procare Health called Bariatric Chewable. It is still one a day, but it is only around $30 for a 90 day supply. It is smaller than a dime and it is easily chewable. I have been taking these since about 3 months out. I find that I prefer them to the O'purity. They have everything that O'purity has nutritionwise, plus more Vitamin A. **These are not an "all in one" vitamin! You will still need to take your calcium citrate and B12! I buy my Calcium Citrate from Walmart. They offer a large 300 ct. bottle for $7.96 and I also buy my B12 there. I can find a 200 ct. bottle for around $3. 

       In October of last year, I started going to water aerobics classes. These classes were both fun and challenging. I was welcomed in by the class members and it has helped me stay dedicated and learn to love exercising. This was such an important step! I had to find something that I found interesting to keep me going back to the gym. The class was fun, but was also challenging. I also really enjoy Zumba! It seems like I am at a party, which is actually one of the goals of Zumba! I can't stop laughing and smiling during class. Sometimes, I'm laughing at myself, honestly, because I have two left feet. I love Zumba because at every class I've been to, there are all types of people. It helps to make me feel comfortable. It has also always been all women too, which adds another level of comfort. 

This combines two of my fave things: Zumba and Seinfeld!

6 Months!

      I went for my 6 month check up today at St. Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss.  As I reflect on these last 6 months I realize my life has changed tremendously...for the better! As I was filling out the entrance form, I realized I no longer have to be ashamed at my lifestyle! Before surgery, I did not exercise, but filling out the form now, I can proudly say that I exercise 5-6 days a week and I'm looking for ways to increase the difficulty! I actually enjoy working out now! I never would have said that before! I have started to look online for workout plans to boost my cardio. A big trouble area for me is my stomach and hips. I really want to start focusing on working out at a higher level to hit my target heart rate and burn the maximum calories! I downloaded a few workout plans from Women's Health to work some new exercises into my routine. I also want to incorporate more strength training into my workouts. 

       The nutritionist took pre-op pictures and after 6 month pictures and measurements. 

So far, I have lost:

Chest: -12 inches

Waist: -11.25 inches

Hips: -8 inches

       I met with the nutritionist first. She asked me how everything was going. I described my typical meals to her, how long and what type of exercise I was doing, and what vitamins I was taking. I asked her for information about the support groups. I want to start participating in some of the groups. I am active in the online discussion forum, rnytalk.com , but thought it may be helpful to get to know some people in my area that have had surgery. I don't know anyone locally close in age that has had gastric bypass and it would be nice to have some friends that could relate to all the changes I have been making. 

Next, I met with the nurse. She went back over my vitamins and thankfully, all my labs came back normal. I made an appointment to come back to the Doctor on at the 1 year mark. I am so excited for what this next 6 months will hold! I know that it will be filled with many good things, more weight loss and many more adventures!

6 Months and 1 day post op!