What's on your workout playlist?

Mornin'.  I'm on a slight uptick on the scale.  I'm not too happy about it because I'm doing everything I'm supposed to.  Eating slower (thanks for your responses on my last post).  Stayin' within my calories.  Workin' out.  Measuring food.  WHAT GIVES??  The scale has me up 3 POUNDS!!!  I told myself to only weigh on Fridays because I would fluctuate on a daily basis, so I weighed yesterday, was up one, weighed again this mornin' and up two more.  I just need to hang in there...

Yesterday, my family and I went to the park and the boys played some football while I got in some exercise.  I walked about 2 miles is 40 minutes (I plan on eventually being able to run).  I have no idea if that's good time but it's more exercise than I've done in years and my legs are feelin' it today.  But I felt great.  When we got back me and my youngest son did about 20 minutes of Just Dance 2 on Wii.  So I feel pretty good about the exercise I got in yesterday.  I love to listen to music and it helps me make my walks more exciting.  My favorite is anything Katy Perry or Black Eyed Peas...I LOVE THEM and any time I hear either of those two it makes me want to dance.  So that's basically what my playlist consists of with a few others in the mix.  I mostly listen to modern and classic rock but I need music that'll pump me up for workouts, that's why I'm kinna lost on what else to add.  Here's a sample of what I listen to while I'm walkin':

• Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
• You and I - Lady Gaga
• California Gurls - KP
• The Time - BEP
• Imma Be - BEP
• Meet me halfway - BEP
• Miss You - Rolling Stones
• Can't Get No Satisfaction - RS
• Sail - Awolnation
• Last Friday Night - DP
• Alone - Heart

When I'm out and about I can always come up with stuff I need to download, but when I sit down at my computer to do it, I'm at a loss...

So what's on your playlist? 

(Sorry I haven't posted any recipes lately, my diet consists of smushed chicken and veggies right now, nothing exciting...)

What is this?

Hey Bloggers!!  Happy Friday :)  Well not Happy Friday to me since I've been stuck at the same weight since last Friday...sigh.  (I've decided that I'm only weighin' on Fridays)  I know that I'm not supposed to worry about weigh loss during this time but I can't help it!  I'm actually up .7 since I've been on mushies (3 days) but who's counting?? Of course I count the points when I'm down though LOL.  I've only walked 3 xs this week so I know I need to get that up.  I do pretty well on my water but I've always done well with that.  So is this typical?  The move from liquids to mushies is obviously more calories, but I was only taking in about 500-600 on liquids and now I'm ranging from 800-1000.  Did you hit a plateau during this transition?

In addition to that, I think I can feel my band now.  I don't know what it means, I guess this is the part where have to figure out what the signs are tellin' me.  It's like I can feel the food move through my band.  It doesn't hurt, it's just kinna uncomfortable.  Is this normal?  Am I taking too big of bites?  I can't imagine it's me not chewing my food well, since it basically disintegrates in my mouth right now.  Am I eating too fast?  Maybe it's just 'cause I'm still healing?  Do you even know what I'm talkin' about?

Insights...please.

Chill of an early fall

It's about 60 degrees in the great state of Texas right now and I am LOVIN' it!  Hopefully, it'll stick around for a while.  I live in an area of the US where you northerners laugh at us because we consider 60 as COOOOLD LOL.  But it's nice.  Comin' from a 100+ degree summer and an even worse August, where you're drippin' with sweat just walkin' to your car in the parkin' lot, I look forward to this time of year.  I embrace it.  

On another note, I am now officially 2 weeks post op and I am feelin' fantastic!  100% back to normal except that I still cannot sleep on my stomach (and do not sleep well on my back or side, might I add).  I did move to mushies today and I'm goin' back to work tomorrow.  It was nice chewin' my food because I am tired of drinkin'!  I did have my protein shake for breakfast but for lunch I had 2 turkey meatballs my mom made for my hubby while she was here and 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes (no, I don't know if there's an E or not, so shoot me).  I don't any have restriction but I took small bites, chewed at least 20 times, and have been full and satisfied throughout the day.  I then had a late snack of 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt (love this stuff) with splenda and a small amount of honey and I am not interested in eating anything else.  My doc said specifically, "if you are not hungry, don't eat", so I'm not.  

(I'm currently watchin' X Factor and this little girl Drew is so amazing!!!)

So, in light of the wonderful chill in the air, I just had to put on some chilli.  They just go together.  It's in the crock pot now and i'll let it cook overnight so it'll be good and ready for me to pack my lunch in the AM.  Since I am banded, I decided to try something a little different...black beans.  So this is a vegetarian meal, and a lot healthier than your standard chilli.  And, since it's cookin' overnight, it'll be nice and mushy for me tomorrow! 

Black Bean Chilli

2 big cans of Black Beans

1 standard can of Black Beans 

(or 5 standard size cans)

2 medium zucchini

1 cup of mushrooms

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 white onion, chopped

2 Alarm Chilli (I have no idea if this is something that is just in the south, if so, any chilli kit should do)

Mix all in Crock Pot, set on low and cook for about 8 hours, and Voila'!

Nutrition Facts for 1/2 cup serving (has about 12 1/2 cups)

Calories    109

Fat            1g

Carbs        14

Protein       7g

Enjoy!

The nerve...

Effin A$@&#% just left to get some ice cream......the nerve.

*UPDATE* I should really give DH more credit...this is what he came home with.

150 Calories
2g    Fat
5g    Protein
14g  Sugar (that's kinna a lot but with the very little I've had in the past 3 weeks, I think it'll be okay)

Week 2 Post Op Essentials

Happy Saturday!  Today's been a pretty productive day so far.  House is clean and laundry is done, there isn't much to do really since I've had so much time off.  Actually, I can't remember the last time I've been this caught up on laundry.  It's really a nice feelin'.  Although, I think that my days wishin' that I could be a domestic engineer (as one of my fellow bloggers called it) are diminishing by the day.  I.AM.BORED.  I'm usually pretty crafty but with holiday travels in the near future and everything that comes along with it, there isn't a lot of extra mula for me to spend on my lost hobbies.  I'm scheduled to go back to work this Thursday, I can't say that I miss my job, but I am kinna ready to get back into the swing of things.  My only concern is with my bra.  See, I'm well endowed blessed, and I've got a nice incision right on my bra line and I haven't been able to wear one since the surgery.  I wore one yesterday, but I felt that my bra was just rubbin' the scab off and it got pretty irritated.  Ewww.  So hopefully, I'll be all ready to go by Thursday. 

I'm still enjoying my Week 2 since I love soups so much, and I'm really enjoying cooking and trying new recipes.  But I'm getting pretty hungry.  I can't wait to get on mushies and then being able to start workin' solids in soon after that.  I'll actually be on solids come Thanksgiving, plus I have zero restriction, and I won't have a fill until 11/29.  I have to say that I am excited about that, ya know, being able to eat at Thanksgiving and all, but I'm really anxious for this restriction I hear y'all talkin' about.  Cause I don't have it!  :(

Yesterday, I tried my hand at some Tomato Basil Soup and it was fantastic!  My hubby even liked it and he never enjoys Tomato Basil Soup.  Of course, I had to bribe him with a delicious unhealthy grilled cheese sandwich, but still, he ate it and loved it.  Since these soups are not high protein, I'm still drinkin' a shake at dinner time to meet all my protein or I'll have a small cup of Greek yogurt.  The soups are low enough in calories so I think it's okay.  I actually understand now why they make Chicken Stock flavored protein powder.   So if you have some, add it to some water and pour in the soup instead of the chicken stock.

Tomato Basil Soup

3 lbs of Roma Tomatoes

1 28oz  can of Roma Tomatoes (with juice)

3 cups of Chicken Stock

1 cup of Fresh Basil leaves (chopped)

1 tspn of Fresh Thyme

6 garlic cloves

2 white onions (chopped)

3 tbsp of EVOO

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Cut Roma tomatoes in half, toss with 1 tbsp of EVOO, salt and pepper and layer on baking sheet.  Roast for 45 min.

Saute onions, garlic, 2tbpn of EVOO on stove top until onions start to brown.  Add chicken stock, can tomatoes with juice, basil, and thyme.  Once tomatoes are done roasting, add them to pot including all juices from pan.  Let boil and simmer for 40 minutes.  Season to taste and puree when done.

This makes about 16 1/2 cup servings. 

Nutrition Facts for 1/2 cup:

Fat             5g

Calories    95

Carbs         9

Protein     3g

Here are some essentials for Week 2:

• Anything from Week 1 
• Sugar Free Pudding
• Campbells Soup at Hand - I don't puree them, I just drink them.  I just make sure to chew anything chunky real well, but they are also extremely small.  I also have no restriction so I'd just listen to what your body is tellin you
• Sugar Free Applesauce
• V8 soups
• Greek Yogurt 0% milkfat -  it's packed with protein, just add a packet of stevia and a little honey or pureed fruit and it's great!
  

My Entourage

Mornin'!  I'm now 8 days post op and I am feeling pretty darn good.  My port area is still pretty tender so I'm bein' pretty careful with that area due to my last squashin' episode.  But I'm feelin' back to normal.  Along with all this normalness (it's a word now, k?) is none other than my arch enemy...The Appetite (duh duh duh).  It's not back with a vengeance....yet, but I have a feelin' thats right around the corner.  But then again, I was really expectin' this whole post op experience to be torture, and it hasn't, so maybe it's not goin' to be that bad. 

I would like to give a shout out to My Entourage...

See, they follow me everywhere (hence entourage), to the bathroom, to blow my nose, to do the dishes, wash clothes...everywhere!!  I wish I could've gotten a better picture of them but the white one (Owen, Maltipoo) is scared of the camera, seriously he starts convulsing just like when it storms.  I guess he thinks its the evil lightning man coming back to strike him???  So this is the best pic I could do with both of them.  I also have a cat that likes to join the entourage when she wants to be a part of the clan.  This was not one of those times. 

So back to my shout out...I was really concerned about their behavior around me during recovery.  They love me...no, they LOVE me, and that's not being conceited.  They sit, stand, walk, and sleep wherever I do and a lot of the time its usually ON me, rather than beside me.  I thought I would have to ward off their oncoming pounces that sometimes usually land on my belly.  But I never did.  They have been amazing.  It's like they know mommy's tummy is hurt!  Even Dixie (the boxer), who has NO IDEA how big she is, is so gentle and will just slowly crawl up next to me and just snuggle. 

They've been like my own personal stuffed animals, ya know, like when you were a sick kid and needed something like that.  I love 'em.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Have any of you ever had a belly button ring?  Did you ever have to take it out and then tried to put it back in and got light headed and nauseous because it freaked you out?  Anyone.......????  (Hopefully someone knows what I'm talkin' about lol)  What happened to me today kinna reminded me of that.  I've actually been feelin' much better these past two days and I bent over to pick up clothes to put in the wash and I smushed my insides too much!!  Ugh, I squeezed, what I guess was my port area, a little too much and felt it tug, on something (I'm guessin' my muscle)...it hurt and it made me real uneasy.  Other than that little episode I've been feelin' so much better.  I did take some pain meds because my port area is extremely sore now and has swollen again.  I really hope I didn't do anything bad to it...that would be just my luck if I did.  

Good news, if my scale is correct (I say this because I should really splurge and get a new one) I've lost a total of 18lbs!!!  This includes all the weight I've lost since about 2 months before pre-op.  See I went through 'Last Supper Syndrome' for about, oh, the first four months of my doc visits so I lost nothing and probably even gained a few.  Then about month five I really started transitioning into healthy eating and I lost about 5lbs just doing that.  So YAY me!  I'd really like to put a tracker on the side of this blog so I can record it but I need to figure out how to do that.  (help would be appreciated)

Aaaaand...it's week 2, purees.  I can't tell you how excited I am about this week.  Not only do I get to eat sip something thick, but I get to sip on soup and I heart soup.  So I made me a big bowl of Low Fat Broccoli Cheese Soup (I wanted broccoli for a reason) and it was good ...no it was PERFECT!  My hubby was still able to enjoy it and I just pureed my little 1/2 cup.  I also cooked it all day in the Crock Pot so everything was extra mushy.  

Low Fat Broccoli Cheese Soup

1 head of broccoli, chopped
1 can of FF Cream of Chicken soup
2 cans of FF Cream of Celery soup
2 cups of Soymilk
1/2 chopped onion
4 oz. of 2% Velveeta Cheese
1 cup of FF Kraft Cheddar Cheese
1 cup of Chicken Broth

Mix all ingredients together in Crock Pot, cook on Low for about 4 hours.

Nutrition facts for 1/2 cup serving:
Calories:  84
Fat:          2g
Carbs:      9g
Protein:    6g

Has anyone tried any of my recipes??  Are they helpin'?