It is the day before surgery and I am filled with anticipation, excitement, nervousness, inpatients and most of all HUNGER. Today I can only have clear liquids. No protein shakes, no cheating even a little. I just keep reminding myself that it is just one day. One measly day of this and then it all gets better tomorrow.
I am in the process of packing my hospital bag and trying to decide what to take. In all likelihood I will only be there a day, two at the most. Which means I do not really need to bring that much with me, but I like to be prepared. I will probably pack my latest crochet project and maybe a book. I toyed with bringing my ipod but have decided against it. They tell you to not bring any valuables, which I understand but I will be bringing a few. I will have my dad or stepmother keep them until I am in my assigned room after recovery.
Also not to be overshadowed by my surgery date is my 3rd wedding anniversary, or as my husband calls it our Anni-ween. It is hard to imagine that it has been 3 years, the time has really flown by so quickly. It is a bit hard since he is still up in Canada and I am down here in Texas. But that will be fixed soon and then next year we will be together on our anniversary.
So many wonderful things have happened to me in the month of October. So it only seems fitting that I make a change for better health during this time of year.
Random posting of the events of my life. Mostly about my two dogs and my honey Ed.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Some WLS Pureed recipes
Here are just a few recipes I was provided in my info packet.
Basic Meat Stew
2 tbsp oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes
1/3 cup flour
3 cups liquid (water or vegetables juice)
4 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut up
5 medium carrots, scrubbed and cut up
Heat oil in large size heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Coat the meat in flour and brown in oil. Add the liquid and cover tightly. Simmer over medium heat for 1 1/2 hours. Add potatoes and carrots. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Puree stew in food processor or blender until smooth. Store in fridge for up to 2 days or in freezer for 2-3 months.
Makes 20-25 food cubes
Serving size: per 4.65 ounces
Calories: 139... Protein: 13 grams... Total fat: 4.21 gram.
*********************************
Combination Dinner
1 cup cooked meat (beef, chicken, fish, ham, etc)
2/3 cup cooked veggies
1 cup stock
Place in blender or food processor. Puree and freeze into ice cube trays.
Serving size: per 2 ounces
Calories: 36... Protein: 5 grams... Total fat: less than 1 gram.
********************************
Pureed Legumes
1 cup any legume (black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, navy beans, pinto beans, black eye beans. lentils, etc.)
3 cups water
3/4 cup nonfat milk
rinse 1 cup of any legume. Soak in water overnight or bring to a boil for 2 minutes, cover, and then allow to sit for 2 hours. Drain off the soaking water or cooking water, then add 3 cups fresh water and bring beans to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until beans are tender (30 mins-2 hours depending on legume). Skim surface often as beans are simmering. Puree with 3/4 cup non fat milk. Freeze in ice cube trays.
Serving Size: per 2 ounces
Calories: 28... Protein: 2 grams... Total fat: less than 1 gram.
**************************************
Orange and Cream Protein Smoothie
2 cups vanilla fat free yogurt
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup skim milk
3 scoops protein powder
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. It you would like a thinner smoothie, just add more skim milk to blender until desired consistency is reached. Keep in fridge for up to 2 days or 1 month in freezer.
Makes 24-28 1 oz servings.
(can also be made into a popsicle by placing mixture in ice cube tray and then inserting a toothpick into center of each cube before freezing.)
Serving Size: per 1 ounce
Calories: 32... Protein: 4 grams... Total fat: less than 1 gram.
*************************************
Basic Meat Stew
2 tbsp oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes
1/3 cup flour
3 cups liquid (water or vegetables juice)
4 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cut up
5 medium carrots, scrubbed and cut up
Heat oil in large size heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Coat the meat in flour and brown in oil. Add the liquid and cover tightly. Simmer over medium heat for 1 1/2 hours. Add potatoes and carrots. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Puree stew in food processor or blender until smooth. Store in fridge for up to 2 days or in freezer for 2-3 months.
Makes 20-25 food cubes
Serving size: per 4.65 ounces
Calories: 139... Protein: 13 grams... Total fat: 4.21 gram.
*********************************
Combination Dinner
1 cup cooked meat (beef, chicken, fish, ham, etc)
2/3 cup cooked veggies
1 cup stock
Place in blender or food processor. Puree and freeze into ice cube trays.
Serving size: per 2 ounces
Calories: 36... Protein: 5 grams... Total fat: less than 1 gram.
********************************
Pureed Legumes
1 cup any legume (black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, navy beans, pinto beans, black eye beans. lentils, etc.)
3 cups water
3/4 cup nonfat milk
rinse 1 cup of any legume. Soak in water overnight or bring to a boil for 2 minutes, cover, and then allow to sit for 2 hours. Drain off the soaking water or cooking water, then add 3 cups fresh water and bring beans to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until beans are tender (30 mins-2 hours depending on legume). Skim surface often as beans are simmering. Puree with 3/4 cup non fat milk. Freeze in ice cube trays.
Serving Size: per 2 ounces
Calories: 28... Protein: 2 grams... Total fat: less than 1 gram.
**************************************
Orange and Cream Protein Smoothie
2 cups vanilla fat free yogurt
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup skim milk
3 scoops protein powder
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. It you would like a thinner smoothie, just add more skim milk to blender until desired consistency is reached. Keep in fridge for up to 2 days or 1 month in freezer.
Makes 24-28 1 oz servings.
(can also be made into a popsicle by placing mixture in ice cube tray and then inserting a toothpick into center of each cube before freezing.)
Serving Size: per 1 ounce
Calories: 32... Protein: 4 grams... Total fat: less than 1 gram.
*************************************
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Lots of changes.
Life has gotten complicated and busy!
In late June I moved from Canada back to Texas. Hubby will come later once we get his immigration started and completed. That is the most frustrating thing at the moment. I feel like the government tries to make it as confusing and complicated as it can. However, we will get it handled one way or another.
For now I am staying at my Dad & Stepmother's house. You never realize how much you like your own place until you move in with others. It is not that they aren't welcoming, they are very much so, but when you are used to doing things your own way in your own place it is hard to go into someone else's house where they do things a bit differently, okay a whole lot differently and feel totally 100% at home and comfy. Not to mention we don't really know each other that well, that adds in a different element as well.
**********
When I first arrived I started in on the job hunt. I applied everywhere almost and the response was always the same. "Thanks, but no thanks." I guess my years out of the working world were going against me. Soooo I was becoming quite frustrated. Then my dad came home and talked to me about this job he had heard about kinda where he works. Dif office building but same "company" basically. The catch is I have to study computer techy stuff, specifically A+ certification stuff. It is a help desk job for military techs. I don't have to be the one to go and fix the computers, I would just have to take incoming calls and make "tickets" to send to the different tech groups. I need to know enough to know how to direct the issues to the right group and to assist with some basic computer related issues.
I have been studying for a month I think. My head is swimming with geek squad like stuff. LOL But I am finding I like it very much. I have even done some minor stuff on my own computer. The pay and benefits for this job are really great. Once I finish studying I have to take a certification exam. Once I pass that I can apply for this job.
******
The other major event going on is my surgery. I am about to go through a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy which is weight loss surgery. It is a major step but with my health issues losing weight successfully has become extremely problematic. My dad had gastric bypass 5 years ago and has done really really well. He has been great support for me, answers all my questions, encourages me to do lots of research etc. If all goes well this week then more than likely my surgery will be early next week. I only have one more thing to do before the surgery and that will be easy. I have already been on the pre-op liquid protein diet for 2 weeks and have lost 23 lbs.
******
The last thing to mention is that this past Saturday (Oct 15th), my son, the one I gave up for adoption when he was born, turned 18. I have been waiting for this day since I handed him to the adoptive parents. I realize that it doesn't mean he will contact me this very second but the records are now open to him and whenever he chooses he can find out about me and decide when/if he would like to contact me. This excites and frightens me.
As you can see there is so much going on. It is hard to wrap my head around it all but I do feel like the future is filled with good things.
In late June I moved from Canada back to Texas. Hubby will come later once we get his immigration started and completed. That is the most frustrating thing at the moment. I feel like the government tries to make it as confusing and complicated as it can. However, we will get it handled one way or another.
For now I am staying at my Dad & Stepmother's house. You never realize how much you like your own place until you move in with others. It is not that they aren't welcoming, they are very much so, but when you are used to doing things your own way in your own place it is hard to go into someone else's house where they do things a bit differently, okay a whole lot differently and feel totally 100% at home and comfy. Not to mention we don't really know each other that well, that adds in a different element as well.
**********
When I first arrived I started in on the job hunt. I applied everywhere almost and the response was always the same. "Thanks, but no thanks." I guess my years out of the working world were going against me. Soooo I was becoming quite frustrated. Then my dad came home and talked to me about this job he had heard about kinda where he works. Dif office building but same "company" basically. The catch is I have to study computer techy stuff, specifically A+ certification stuff. It is a help desk job for military techs. I don't have to be the one to go and fix the computers, I would just have to take incoming calls and make "tickets" to send to the different tech groups. I need to know enough to know how to direct the issues to the right group and to assist with some basic computer related issues.
I have been studying for a month I think. My head is swimming with geek squad like stuff. LOL But I am finding I like it very much. I have even done some minor stuff on my own computer. The pay and benefits for this job are really great. Once I finish studying I have to take a certification exam. Once I pass that I can apply for this job.
******
The other major event going on is my surgery. I am about to go through a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy which is weight loss surgery. It is a major step but with my health issues losing weight successfully has become extremely problematic. My dad had gastric bypass 5 years ago and has done really really well. He has been great support for me, answers all my questions, encourages me to do lots of research etc. If all goes well this week then more than likely my surgery will be early next week. I only have one more thing to do before the surgery and that will be easy. I have already been on the pre-op liquid protein diet for 2 weeks and have lost 23 lbs.
******
The last thing to mention is that this past Saturday (Oct 15th), my son, the one I gave up for adoption when he was born, turned 18. I have been waiting for this day since I handed him to the adoptive parents. I realize that it doesn't mean he will contact me this very second but the records are now open to him and whenever he chooses he can find out about me and decide when/if he would like to contact me. This excites and frightens me.
As you can see there is so much going on. It is hard to wrap my head around it all but I do feel like the future is filled with good things.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Stay tuned...
It's been a while since I posted. But stay tuned some blogging coming up really soon. Lots going on so lots to talk about...
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