Random Stuff

Yesterday was hellish....it's TOM (is that TMI?), sometimes I get so tired during that time....I mean that can't think, it feels like you're walking through cotton, can barely move one foot in front of the other bone numbing tired.

And I wish I was exaggerating.

I still had to work.  Then take kid number 1 to PT.  Oh why? Because I basically suck as a mother and a nurse.  He twisted his ankle while I was at work so my mother-in-law drove him to the ED in the hospital where I work and I met them down there.  He was expressing 8/10 pain, while he was doing this I was behind his back shaking my head and rolling my eyes....she gave him some Advil and off to x-ray he went. No break (yay) but after a couple of hours he still insisted his pain was 8/10 -- which freakin' screams 'drug seeker' even if that drug is Advil....and given my family history with alcohol and drugs AND the experience I have with certain patients (jaded much?) I dismissed his pain and did a lot more eye rolling.

Well, it's not a sprain, it's freakin' nerve damage.

So yeah, 8/10 pain, totally appropriate.

Oh and my insistence on ice -- worst thing evah!

Yes, I am the mom/nurse that sent the same kid to school with Pneumonia and told him to suck it up -- this was after three days of keeping him out of school. The school nurse called and suggested I take him to the doc...he was out the rest of the week.

He's so going to need therapy....but all during PT last night he kept asking the PT to remind me I was wrong about the ice -- and he had that grin on his face -- I think he'll be alright.

Oh back to last night, before PT was Chipotle, because did I mention I was tired? I had chicken with fajita veggies and black bean bowl -- no rice, no cheese and mild salsa with a little bit of guac. -- another digression here -- what are your favorite diet/bariatric friendly meals when going out? This might be a future post :D -- okay then after PT we went to Dairy Queen since a percentage of the proceeds from last night go to the elementary school where the youngest goes.  I love those nights because it's fun to see other school families supporting the school and the local community. I did not order anything, but did take two bites of the younger's blizzard...chocolate covered pretzel blizzard um YUM.

Then got home about 8, crawled into bed of no less than three blankets and armed in a sweat shirt, pajama bottoms and thick warm socks -- when will it be Spring....my gosh it's been so cold! And promptly fell asleep.  I didn't even get to see how they finished the remodel on whatever was on HGTV at that time.

This post is totally random, because I'm also about to share with you something random and funny that happened to be the other day:

 random doc told me I looked like Susan Sarandon...which I don't -- but I'm wondering is this a compliment, because she's pretty or NOT because she's like older than my mother (she was born in '46 -- my mom would kill me if I told you when she was born, but it was after '46) here's how it went down...
doc: you look familiar
me: yeah, i have one of those faces
doc: no you really look familiar
me: I don't think we've met before
doc: (hmmm, starts to leave room, comes back) Susan Sarandon, you totally look like Susan Sarandon
me: wow, never heard that one before (my mistake, because now doc being a doc has to be RIGHT)
doc: (proceeds to ask all those around us) she looks like Susan Sarandon doesn't she
people around doc, who don't want to tell doc he's wrong: yeah, sure (look at me like he's nuts)
me: well, that's not a bad thing, I think
doc -- apparently satisfied and leaves so I can have my meeting

The celebrity I usually get described as is Ricki Lake (I have no idea how she spells her name) and not the skinny Ricki either.  But hey, I'll take Susan -- she's very pretty -- and I'm going to go with he meant a younger Susan Sarandon :D.

It's FRIDAY

woot
Have a great weekend blogland friends.

What? Two Posts in a week?

Another what did I eat in a day....it happens to be a good day -- well sort of! 

So I'm giving up my presweetened yummy goodness creamer and going for the fat-free half and half and sugar free hazelnut syrup.  It's good...it's not the same, but it's good.

I had to work until 8 pm last night so I had to pack everything with me.  I really do believe one of the keys to success in this weight loss journey is through planning.

Breakfast as I got in to work (well a little after since I forgot my lunch bag -- so much for being prepared -- thankfully I have an awesome husband and he brought it to me) -- two turkey sausage patties and blueberries and strawberries.

 The registered dietician gave me this idea, plain greek yogurt and your favorite dip mix which for me is a dill mix, sometimes I go with a ranch mix. Then some cut up vegetables.  I love veggies and dip but needed my protein with it and this was the way to do it.  It's also a way to get some of that yogurt in without going sweet.

 Has any one tried these yellow grape tomatoes...OMG they are so sweet and so yummy and I love these black bean burgers -- I try to a couple non meat meals in during the day - especially plant based ones with eating so much protein it's hard to get in those fruits and veggies and as any mother knows we need those fruits and veggies..

 Because part of my day was sitting in meetings, this was a good grab and go snack.

These are all my meals that I took to work with me.  I'm glad I work in an office with a fridge and a microwave, it does really make it easier to follow my mean plan....Because those 12 hour shifts on the floor would take much more planning....and definitely wouldn't be able to take time to eat my meals as it would be shoving nuts in my mouth between patients.

Confession -- even though I planned grab and go for my meeting, I stopped by the hospital cafeteria and bought a medium chai latte. It's a bit dangerous because you just have to swipe your badge and they take it out of your check.  I burned my tongue though so that was my penance.

What this day netted?
874 calories
122 g of carbs
63 g of protein
and
drum roll
82 whopping grams of sugar (damn chai latte -- it was really good though)

Wednesday Weigh In -- um not

Ugh, I've been off the reservation BAD about my eating and I'm afraid to get on the scale.

Today is another day!

And I woke up with the best of intentions of getting my flabby body on the elliptical and just.couldn't.do.it.

I'm in a funk and am having a bit of a hard time getting out of it.  Sometimes it just takes so much energy to work full time, be a mom of kids in activities, a wife, running the household, being a friend. Frankly, I've been sucking at all of these things.  Also sucking at taking care of myself.

My sister has fallen off the wagon and is drinking ... drinking a lot. This might have something to do about it?

A new job? I have no idea what I'm doing -- I hate that. Being smart is my thing.  Because it isn't being pretty or sexy (I'm not ugly, I'm just not, whoa, check her out awesome -- more bring home to your mother pretty and appropriate -- the kind of pretty where women and gay men find me pretty - Lesbians and straight men, not so much).

bleh
ugh
meh

Soooo, today I'm going to work hard in getting out of my funk. It's going to be a really long day at work -- which will give me an opportunity to NOT eat in front of the TV after work until bed time.

I did get my hair done yesterday -- I went short -- I love it. Here's a picture. Keep in mind, I really suck at those mirror shots -- not really a skill I'm feeling a need to perfect though.

Now that I have cheek bones and a jaw line again I feel good about going short.

Here's to restarting, getting back on that horse, starting over and getting it done!

A day of food in pictures

First off, update on my new position as a Bariatric Coordinator. I kind of love it, and I kind of think I'm good at it.  After meeting with some patients and going to support group there seems to be an overwhelming need for people to know how to organize their day of eating.  I know some of you out there in blogland have had posts where you do this (and I've pointed a couple of patients to your blogs to show them -- not to my blog, because well that would cross a professional line :D). Anyhow, since this seems to be a theme I'm going to do another post -- and encourage you to do the same.  

A couple of my choices are 'do what I say, not what I do' kind of choices. But I'm including it to show I'm not perfect, no one out there has to be perfect -- just mindful.

 So, let's just say I start my day out not perfect.  I'm not a eat in the morning kinda gal.  I know I have to get some calories in to 'rev' up my metabolism.  I also know I'm not supposed to have caffeine (two reasons, - it's a stimulant and it can cause ulcers, especially in people who've had the sleeve procedure). So I have one cup of regular and one cup of decaf, with some low fat flavored creamer.  Another no-no - no drinking your calories.  A little TMI here, the last three days I've been adding Miralax to my coffee...let's say one of the side affects of eating this way is having a bit of constipation -- I'm glad to say the Miralax-latte is working for me.

This is where I do well. I plan all my meals in the morning and pack them away and take them with me.  I think I would have more success during the weekend if I do this then too -- maybe I'll try this weekend.  Yesterday I had to pack extra because we had a support group (are you guys going to support groups? They're so helpful) and I had to take that into consideration.  So at 8am I had ham, string cheese, and half an orange, at 11am I had a stuffed pepper, at 2pm I had some more ham, string cheese, and orange cherry tomatoes and at 5 pm I had strawberries and a protein bar.  Oh, I also pack my calcium citrate and D.

Got home at 730 and I was spent. The family was at the older son's baseball game and I was alone and getting to watch Grey's Anatomy without interruption -- so I did a couple of no-no's here, I ate in front of the TV and I didn't make great choices...I had a bag of 100 calorie popcorn (that I shared with the dog -- another no no -- no feeding the dog from the coach - but I love to watch her catch popcorn in her mouth -- I'm easily entertained). I also had a spoon full of peanut butter and when Jason got home he made himself a snack of really yummy cheese and crackers so I had some too.

Then I went to bed.

My total intake:
1224 K-cals
103 g of carbs (should probably be lower)
86 g of protein (on target)

AND
IT'S FRIDAY! WOOT.

So if you're looking for a blog post idea, I encourage you let us know how you plan your day! I think the information would be greatly appreciated.

Wednesday Weigh In and Stuffed Mexican Peppers Recipe

Starting Weight: 320
Last Recorded Weight 221
Today's Weight 219
Last week, lost 2 lbs
Total weight loss, 101lbs (yeah baby)

Now the fun stuff....I make these yummy stuffed peppers and get this, only 112 k-cals a serving. The kids absolutely love them (they eat two though). I used to make these with rice and tons of cheese, so I scaled it back a lot and added some 'hidden' veggies making them much healthier.

Stuffed Mexican Peppers

1 pound low fat ground turkey (93% fat free)
1 15-oz can of black beans - drained
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes - not drained
1 4-oz can of green chilis
1 sweet onion, coarsely chopped
1 zucchini, finely chopped
1 cup of finely chopped muschrooms
1 package of taco seasoning
1/4 c of water
1/2 2% cheddar or mexican blend
8 red peppers, cut in half length-wise and cored

Ooops, forgot to add the onion to my picture above.... 

 Brown onion and turkey together

 Once browned add tomatoes, chilis, 1/4 c of water & taco seasoning, bring to boil and then reduce heat to low and let simmer give minutes. Then add, chopped mushrooms, zucchini and beans. Slice peppers in half length-wise, core them and placed on Pam-sprayed baking sheet.

 Ooops, forgot to put the cheese in my picture ingredients...stuff peppers with turkey mixture and top with cheese.

 Place in preheated 350 oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes....I kept trying but couldn't take the picture fast enough to see the oven read 30 minutes...so it's a second short of what it should be.

 There's enough meat to have two family meals, so we freeze half for another time

 Here's me -- the cook...you never see pictures of the cook and I love my apron.

I served the family two servings with some pineapple...I just had one, there were plenty of veggies so I didn't have a side. It was so filling! and did I mention only 112 calories.

Oh it makes 16 servings (or 8 for now, 8 for another time).

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (197.9 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 112 Calories from Fat 26

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 2.9g 4%

Saturated Fat 1.0g 5%

Cholesterol 19mg 6%

Sodium 220mg 9%

Total Carbohydrates 12.8g 4%

Dietary Fiber 4.5g 18%

Sugars 5.1g

Protein 9.2g

weigh-in, work, oatmeal recipe -- hodgepodge post

I think that post surgery weight loss honey moon is over....
I've really only lost three pounds this month.
I need to work harder to do it.
I know I will get there, I'm not really discouraged, just a little sad and frustrated, but realistic and still hopeful.

Here are my numbers
Starting Weight: 320
Last Recorded Weight 224
Today's Weight 221
Last four weeks, lost 3 lbs
Total weight loss, 99 lbs

So since my stomach virus a couple weeks back when I got to 101 pounds lost, I fluctuated between 220 and 224 (so frustrating). I am down to 221 and feel that's a more real number than my post-virus loss was. My 9 month appointment is coming up in two weeks and I so wanted to be under 200 by then. Short of losing 21 pounds in two weeks, I'm thinking this isn't going to happen. I'm hoping I'll be under 200 by my year appointment.

This new job is kicking my behind! There's so much to learn and so much to do...frankly, I feel a little over my head. But this is how I always feel with a new job.

So I made some really yummy-stick-to-your-ribs steel-cut oats the other day and thought I'd share the recipe. Excuse the pictures, it doesn't look as appetizing as it really tastes :D. It's not the best protein choice out there, but sometimes it's nice to have some cereal type breakfast and this one reduces my guilt a bit.

1 cup of steel cut oats
4 cups of water
1 cut up apple
1/2 cup of almonds (slivered or sliced)
2 tablespoons of almond butter
4 tablespoons of brown sugar
cinnamon to taste

Boil water, add almonds and oatmeal, reduce to low heat and cook 10 minutes. Add almond butter and apples and cook another 10 minutes. Before serving add sugar and cinnamon.  I remove my portion before adding the sugar and I add some 'purevia' - a natural sugar substitute. 

With the Sugar

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (124.0 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 337 Calories from Fat 130

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14.4g 22%

Saturated Fat 1.0g 5%

Sodium 2mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 44.7g 15%

Dietary Fiber 12.2g 49%

Sugars 10.4g

Protein 10.1g

Vitamin A 1% • Vitamin C 5% Calcium 10% • Iron 13%

With out the Sugar and 1/4 c of almonds instead of 1/2 c

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (120.6 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 261 Calories from Fat 89

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9.9g 15%

Saturated Fat 1.1g 6%

Sodium 18mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 39.5g 13%

Dietary Fiber 8.4g 34%

Sugars 6.6g

Protein 9.3g

Vitamin A 1% • Vitamin C 5% Calcium 8% • Iron 15%