My husband was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. He might come home late next week, but we don't know for sure. In the meantime, I haven't been eating well. I'm still not eating well. It has been a long 9 plus months since I've run to food for comfort. But here we are again.
I think part of the problem, besides for me being stressed, is that I am alone. When he is gone, that is it, there is just me in this house. A person to hug and/or sit with would be nice. I have family twenty-five minutes away, but it is not the same. I don't even feel like putting in the effort to go see them. I just want to stay home... but I want someone here with me. A distraction, a comfort, a friend.
At least tonight and tomorrow I will busy like crazy. I signed up over a month ago to cook for church this weekend. Usually the two of handle it well, now I will do it alone. But I am almost grateful, though I will be a little frazzled getting it all done too. It will keep me busy and distracted. If it could also keep me from eating what I will be cooking that would be nice too.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
9 Months Post-Op
I've been 9 Months Post-Op for a couple weeks now. But I finally got a picture taken that wasn't in my pajamas! The shirt is a little big on me and I need a haircut, so ignore that, but overall I don't think I'm looking that bad. I've lost 136 lbs total now.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Recipe: Cincinnati Chili
I used to enjoy Skyline Chili pre-op. So a few weeks ago, I saw a can in the grocery
store and looked at the nutritional info, it wasn't too bad, so we bought it. I couldn't finish a 2/3 cup serving. It was
horribly salty. I remember it being so much better. So I thought, why not try and make
something similar myself. I love a bean-less chili to save on my carbs. Although, truth
be told I love a bean chili too.
I browsed recipes, but there wasn't one that was exactly what I was looking for. So I made some alterations and a trial of two different versions. The result is the recipe below, both my husband and I agreed that this is the version we liked the most.
You may be tempted to add salt when cooking, but don't! Between the broth and the tomato sauce, there really is enough sodium in this recipe for flavor.
1 1/4 lbs 93/7 ground turkey
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
15 oz can beef broth
1 cup water
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 oz unsweetened baker's chocolate
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
Nutritional info will vary based upon brands used.
I browsed recipes, but there wasn't one that was exactly what I was looking for. So I made some alterations and a trial of two different versions. The result is the recipe below, both my husband and I agreed that this is the version we liked the most.
You may be tempted to add salt when cooking, but don't! Between the broth and the tomato sauce, there really is enough sodium in this recipe for flavor.
Cincinnati Chili
Makes five 2/3 cup servings.1 1/4 lbs 93/7 ground turkey
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
15 oz can beef broth
1 cup water
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 oz unsweetened baker's chocolate
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 bay leaf
Directions:
- Place ground turkey, onion, water, and beef broth in 3 quart sauce pan. It will fit in a 2.2 quart pan, but you have to be more careful mixing and I had some spatter from the simmering on the stove when I use the smaller pan.
- Turn the heat to medium-high. Break up the meat into small pieces with a sturdy wooden spoon, or I used a wooden wok paddle. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Add all remaining ingredients. Stir well. Simmer for 45 minutes or until as thick as you want. I make ours pretty thick as you can see from the picture.
- Remove bay leaf and serve. We like it topped with finely shredded cheddar cheese, but it is not necessary to enjoy chili.
Nutritional info will vary based upon brands used.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 5.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| calories 213 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 9 g | 14 % |
| Saturated Fat 3 g | 15 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 80 mg | 27 % |
| Sodium 531 mg | 22 % |
| Potassium 236 mg | 7 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 7 g | 2 % |
| Dietary Fiber 2 g | 8 % |
| Sugars 3 g | |
| Protein 23 g | 47 % |
| Vitamin A | 16 % |
| Vitamin C | 8 % |
| Calcium | 7 % |
| Iron | 15 % |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
 |
| I forgot to take a picture until I was already eating, oops! |
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Calcium
I am supposed to take 500 mg of calcium 3 times a day at least two hours a part and at least two hours from my prenatal (multi) vitamin which contains iron. Calcium hinders the absorption of iron and some kinds of medications, so iron should also be taken two hours away from any dairy products. I take my iron at bed time, which is well after my 6:30 pm dinner time. But back to calcium...
Our bodies can only absorb 500 mg of calcium about every two hours, hence why I must take 500 mg 3x a day to get my doctor recommended 1500 mg a day. That is more than the average person is supposed to intake in a day, but since RNY patients have malabsorption as a side effect of surgery we need the additional calcium to make sure we get enough. The portion of the small intestine that is bypassed is normally where most of our calcium is absorbed.
To aid our bodies in the absorption of calcium, we need to keep a good vitamin D level as well. Vitamin D assists our body in absorbing calcium and it also helps the kidneys break down and reabsorb calcium that would otherwise leave our body with our urine. I read that taking vitamin D can also help prevent kidney stones in this manner. Vitamin D3 is the most easily absorbed by our body, followed by vitamin D2. My doctor does not recommend taking plain vitamin D.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential is having strong bones and teeth. Having higher levels of calcium and vitamin D has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing some diseases including osteoporosis and certain cancers, respectively. More than likely, no matter the type of calcium supplement you find, it will include vitamin D, because the manufacturers know that the vitamin D will aid the absorption of calcium. That does not mean you have to take calcium and vitamin D at the same time however. As long as your body has a sufficient level of vitamin D, whether absorbed through your skin from the sun or internally from a pill, your body will be better at absorbing the calcium.
That said, there are several types of calcium. There are three types I will be addressing: Calcium Citrate, Calcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate.
Calcium Citrate is the one I have been told to take. It is the most easily absorbed by our bodies and since WLS patients already have a difficult time with this, it only makes sense. It can be purchased in the form of pills, chewables, liquid, and soft chews (not gummies). I have taken three. It tends to be the most expensive of the three types.
Calcium Phosphate is often included in other calcium supplements, though I have yet to see a supplement that is pure calcium phosphate. It is the second most easily absorbed. It is less expensive than the calcium citrate and the cheapest liquid calcium I can find is a blend of the two. It is a liquid brand recommended by my doctor.
Calcium Carbonate is the only calcium I have been told to not take at all. Our bodies have a hard time absorbing it and it must be taken with an acid, like orange juice, to break it down. Also, it may cause gas or constipation. From talking to other people, I know many doctors still recommend that their patients take calcium carbonate. However, per my doctor, studies are showing that for WLS patients calcium carbonate is not an effect choice. Of course, calcium carbonate is the cheapest and most plentiful calcium out there. It come in the form of pills, chewables (Tums/Rolaids), chews, liquids, and gummies.
Now, let's go back to calcium citrate. As I said, I've taken pills, liquid, and chews. In pills, you can find standard size and petite. The standard size is so big I can't get them down, but I have always had issues with taking pills. Other people are probably just fine with them. The petites are swallow-able, but on the down side you have to take two. So that means waiting an extra half hour between the pills and increases the number of pills you have to take per day by 3. I've also found that some brands of the pills tend to upset my stomach. Pills are, of course, the least expensive way to go for calcium citrate.
In liquid, I have tried multiple brands and flavors purchased both locally and online. For me, since I have issues with pills, this seems to make the most sense so I went out of my way to find and try as many as I could. The bottles can get pretty pricey, the ones I tried being in the range of $7.00-$13.00. I did see some that were even more expensive, but since it wasn't financially feasible for me, I didn't bother trying them. Since I have to take it 3x a day, a bottle lasts roughly 10 days. For most bottles, that was ten days of dreading taking the calcium. All but one brand, was total yuck to me. Other people have left reviews online where I bought them saying they loved it, so obviously that is just me. The one brand I take is Wellesse Calcium & Vitamin D3 Natural Citrus Flavor. It is widely available online and can be found in several stores including Walmart in the pharmacy area. At my Walmart it is $6.97 a bottle. At Amazon.com, if you buy a two pack it is $6.23 a bottle plus free shipping with orders over $49. At Vitacost.com, it is $6.23 a bottle with free shipping on orders over $49, also, sometimes the website emails me coupons for additional savings. As a side note, there are 2 g carbs, 0 sugars per dose of Wellesse calcium, it contains vegetable glycerin, corn dextrose and sucralose.
The last of the three I've tried: chews, which up until 2 days ago when I read the carb count, were by far my favorite way to take calcium. My very favorites chews are Calcets Creamy Bites in Lemon Cream. Always looked forward to them it was like a little piece of dessert. Then I finally read the label and saw that per chew there are 8 g carbs and 5 g sugar. Sadness ensued. They also come in chocolate which I did not like. At my local drugstore, they cost $11.69 a box that lasts ten days. So definitely not a cheaper option.
Bariatric Advantage are my husband's favorite brand and way to take calcium. They are available at Bariatricadvantage.com and at some specialty pharmacy stores. They come in Chocolate, Caramel, Raspberry, Lemon, Strawberry, Coconut, Tropical Orange, and Peanut Butter Chocolate. I tried the chocolate and the caramel and did not care for either one, that said I would still like to try the coconut, tropical orange, and chocolate peanut butter. I would try the lemon too, but they only come in the 250 mg size which has way too many carbs for me. My husband likes the raspberry and strawberry the best. They come in 250 mg (take 2 per dose) for $12.95 for a 10-day supply, or in 500 mg for $32.50 for a 30-day supply. The 500 mg do tend to be grittier than the 250 mg. The 500 mg have 4 g carbs per dose and the 250 mg have 10 g carbs per dose (5 g per chew).
There is also Celebrate Soft Chews in Berry, Chocolate, and Caramel. They are available at Celebratevitamins.com and at some specialty pharmacy stores. Online you can get a 30-day supply for $29.95 or a 90-day supply for $87.95. I have not tried this brand, but my husband has. He found them to be a bit chalky compared to Bariatric Advantage. They have 5 g carbs per dose.
Finally, chewables can be found at both Celebratevitamins.com and Bariatricadvantage.com, I have not tried either. Celebrate has them in multiple flavors. A 30-day supply is $19.95 and a 90-day supply is $42.95 with free shipping on orders over $100. There are 2 g carbs per dose. It seems pretty comparable both in carbs and price to Wellesse, so I may still try these. Bariatric Advantage has multiple flavors as well. A 30-day supply is $24.95 and a 90-day supply is $51.95. There is only 1 g carb per dose, but since they are more expensive, no free shipping, and the flavors available are less appealing to me, I probably won't try these.
7/18/16 Edit: I have since tried Celebrate chewables, and it is almost solely what I use now. I love the Orange Burst flavor. I tried the Cherry Tart and thought they tasted like cough drops. To me, that is nah-nah, but my husband liked them. We haven't tried the Berries & Cream flavor. The first time I ordered through Amazon.com and unfortunately there were many broken pieces in the jar. The last time I ordered from Celebratevitamins.com and they came with much better packing and only a couple were broken.
Our bodies can only absorb 500 mg of calcium about every two hours, hence why I must take 500 mg 3x a day to get my doctor recommended 1500 mg a day. That is more than the average person is supposed to intake in a day, but since RNY patients have malabsorption as a side effect of surgery we need the additional calcium to make sure we get enough. The portion of the small intestine that is bypassed is normally where most of our calcium is absorbed.
To aid our bodies in the absorption of calcium, we need to keep a good vitamin D level as well. Vitamin D assists our body in absorbing calcium and it also helps the kidneys break down and reabsorb calcium that would otherwise leave our body with our urine. I read that taking vitamin D can also help prevent kidney stones in this manner. Vitamin D3 is the most easily absorbed by our body, followed by vitamin D2. My doctor does not recommend taking plain vitamin D.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential is having strong bones and teeth. Having higher levels of calcium and vitamin D has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing some diseases including osteoporosis and certain cancers, respectively. More than likely, no matter the type of calcium supplement you find, it will include vitamin D, because the manufacturers know that the vitamin D will aid the absorption of calcium. That does not mean you have to take calcium and vitamin D at the same time however. As long as your body has a sufficient level of vitamin D, whether absorbed through your skin from the sun or internally from a pill, your body will be better at absorbing the calcium.
That said, there are several types of calcium. There are three types I will be addressing: Calcium Citrate, Calcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate.
Calcium Citrate is the one I have been told to take. It is the most easily absorbed by our bodies and since WLS patients already have a difficult time with this, it only makes sense. It can be purchased in the form of pills, chewables, liquid, and soft chews (not gummies). I have taken three. It tends to be the most expensive of the three types.
Calcium Phosphate is often included in other calcium supplements, though I have yet to see a supplement that is pure calcium phosphate. It is the second most easily absorbed. It is less expensive than the calcium citrate and the cheapest liquid calcium I can find is a blend of the two. It is a liquid brand recommended by my doctor.
Calcium Carbonate is the only calcium I have been told to not take at all. Our bodies have a hard time absorbing it and it must be taken with an acid, like orange juice, to break it down. Also, it may cause gas or constipation. From talking to other people, I know many doctors still recommend that their patients take calcium carbonate. However, per my doctor, studies are showing that for WLS patients calcium carbonate is not an effect choice. Of course, calcium carbonate is the cheapest and most plentiful calcium out there. It come in the form of pills, chewables (Tums/Rolaids), chews, liquids, and gummies.
Now, let's go back to calcium citrate. As I said, I've taken pills, liquid, and chews. In pills, you can find standard size and petite. The standard size is so big I can't get them down, but I have always had issues with taking pills. Other people are probably just fine with them. The petites are swallow-able, but on the down side you have to take two. So that means waiting an extra half hour between the pills and increases the number of pills you have to take per day by 3. I've also found that some brands of the pills tend to upset my stomach. Pills are, of course, the least expensive way to go for calcium citrate.
In liquid, I have tried multiple brands and flavors purchased both locally and online. For me, since I have issues with pills, this seems to make the most sense so I went out of my way to find and try as many as I could. The bottles can get pretty pricey, the ones I tried being in the range of $7.00-$13.00. I did see some that were even more expensive, but since it wasn't financially feasible for me, I didn't bother trying them. Since I have to take it 3x a day, a bottle lasts roughly 10 days. For most bottles, that was ten days of dreading taking the calcium. All but one brand, was total yuck to me. Other people have left reviews online where I bought them saying they loved it, so obviously that is just me. The one brand I take is Wellesse Calcium & Vitamin D3 Natural Citrus Flavor. It is widely available online and can be found in several stores including Walmart in the pharmacy area. At my Walmart it is $6.97 a bottle. At Amazon.com, if you buy a two pack it is $6.23 a bottle plus free shipping with orders over $49. At Vitacost.com, it is $6.23 a bottle with free shipping on orders over $49, also, sometimes the website emails me coupons for additional savings. As a side note, there are 2 g carbs, 0 sugars per dose of Wellesse calcium, it contains vegetable glycerin, corn dextrose and sucralose.
The last of the three I've tried: chews, which up until 2 days ago when I read the carb count, were by far my favorite way to take calcium. My very favorites chews are Calcets Creamy Bites in Lemon Cream. Always looked forward to them it was like a little piece of dessert. Then I finally read the label and saw that per chew there are 8 g carbs and 5 g sugar. Sadness ensued. They also come in chocolate which I did not like. At my local drugstore, they cost $11.69 a box that lasts ten days. So definitely not a cheaper option.
Bariatric Advantage are my husband's favorite brand and way to take calcium. They are available at Bariatricadvantage.com and at some specialty pharmacy stores. They come in Chocolate, Caramel, Raspberry, Lemon, Strawberry, Coconut, Tropical Orange, and Peanut Butter Chocolate. I tried the chocolate and the caramel and did not care for either one, that said I would still like to try the coconut, tropical orange, and chocolate peanut butter. I would try the lemon too, but they only come in the 250 mg size which has way too many carbs for me. My husband likes the raspberry and strawberry the best. They come in 250 mg (take 2 per dose) for $12.95 for a 10-day supply, or in 500 mg for $32.50 for a 30-day supply. The 500 mg do tend to be grittier than the 250 mg. The 500 mg have 4 g carbs per dose and the 250 mg have 10 g carbs per dose (5 g per chew).
There is also Celebrate Soft Chews in Berry, Chocolate, and Caramel. They are available at Celebratevitamins.com and at some specialty pharmacy stores. Online you can get a 30-day supply for $29.95 or a 90-day supply for $87.95. I have not tried this brand, but my husband has. He found them to be a bit chalky compared to Bariatric Advantage. They have 5 g carbs per dose.
Finally, chewables can be found at both Celebratevitamins.com and Bariatricadvantage.com, I have not tried either. Celebrate has them in multiple flavors. A 30-day supply is $19.95 and a 90-day supply is $42.95 with free shipping on orders over $100. There are 2 g carbs per dose. It seems pretty comparable both in carbs and price to Wellesse, so I may still try these. Bariatric Advantage has multiple flavors as well. A 30-day supply is $24.95 and a 90-day supply is $51.95. There is only 1 g carb per dose, but since they are more expensive, no free shipping, and the flavors available are less appealing to me, I probably won't try these.
7/18/16 Edit: I have since tried Celebrate chewables, and it is almost solely what I use now. I love the Orange Burst flavor. I tried the Cherry Tart and thought they tasted like cough drops. To me, that is nah-nah, but my husband liked them. We haven't tried the Berries & Cream flavor. The first time I ordered through Amazon.com and unfortunately there were many broken pieces in the jar. The last time I ordered from Celebratevitamins.com and they came with much better packing and only a couple were broken.
Friday, March 4, 2016
The Best Ever!!!
It strikes me as I search Pinterest for recipes that there are so many recipes of different versions of single thing that are labeled "the best ever" or just "the best." I know it is subjective. Each person has their own preferences and hence their own "best" version. To each their own as they saying goes.
But how can I possibly decide what is "the best" for me. I almost feel like I could never decide. I would need to try each recipe and taste test, and even then, somewhere out there, there could be something better. If I find something I love and stick with it, maybe I will miss out on possibly the best version ever of it because I settled for something I thought was already the best.
This almost sounds like an argument for people who refuse to stay with one person.
I am always trying new recipes, looking for new recipes, dreaming up new recipes, etc. I have folders on my desktop of recipes separated by type, down the the specifics of say chocolate chip cookie, or snickerdoodles. And each folder has multiple snickerdoodle cookie recipes I want to try. And I want to try making them all in one day, so I can try each one and say, okay of these recipes, this one is the best. That doesn't mean I will stop looking for new recipes though.
I always intend to post recipes on here, and I occasionally do, but I really should more often. It probably won't be the best ever recipe though, because who am I to decide that?
But how can I possibly decide what is "the best" for me. I almost feel like I could never decide. I would need to try each recipe and taste test, and even then, somewhere out there, there could be something better. If I find something I love and stick with it, maybe I will miss out on possibly the best version ever of it because I settled for something I thought was already the best.
This almost sounds like an argument for people who refuse to stay with one person.
I am always trying new recipes, looking for new recipes, dreaming up new recipes, etc. I have folders on my desktop of recipes separated by type, down the the specifics of say chocolate chip cookie, or snickerdoodles. And each folder has multiple snickerdoodle cookie recipes I want to try. And I want to try making them all in one day, so I can try each one and say, okay of these recipes, this one is the best. That doesn't mean I will stop looking for new recipes though.
I always intend to post recipes on here, and I occasionally do, but I really should more often. It probably won't be the best ever recipe though, because who am I to decide that?
Thursday, March 3, 2016
My Life is Crazy
I reached another goal today! I now weigh 225 lbs! Hopefully, there will be no gain, though I know fluctuation is possible and I am at 225.0 lbs exactly. It still feels good to be able to say it. It took me a week longer than I wanted it too, but again I was sick and went carb crazy with the medicines, so there you go. I still haven't taken a 9 month post-op picture. I decided I want to look good in my next picture. Every time I have dressed up, there has been no husband around to take the picture. Sad, he never sees me dressed up. I thought about it yesterday as I was dressed up for two interviews. I didn't dress until after he left and by the time he got home at 7 pm I was already in my pajamas. I am going to have to make a point of dressing up for him ,and getting him to take a picture!
Hubby has a follow-up appointment for his gallbladder surgery today. Overall he is doing great, but we think one of the incisions is infected. Should be an easy fix, clean it up, take an antibiotic, voila!
I interviewed for an administrative office assistant and for a scheduler position. I think both interviews went well, but I feel better overall about the scheduler position. While I have to talk on the phone, there is not a whole lot of interaction with people in person. For the admin position, I would have to be more of a people person, and I'm not. Never have been. Don't foresee becoming one. Just the thought of the job duties I was told about during the interview gave me anxiety, so you know the job is going to stress me out. I really hope I get the scheduler position, not the highest paying, but not stressful either.
Of course, I still longingly think about the position at the library. I applied at the beginning of February, no call yet. I was told that it is a long process and they usually post a job 2-3 months before they plan on someone starting. So there is still hope, and it pays quite well. So well that even if I get the scheduler position, I don't think I will be able to say no to the library should they call. I've always wanted to work there too... books!
I amthinking about planning on going back to school this fall. So I am trying to consider jobs that will work with that schedule. Also, starting a restaurant. I can't even go into details.
Nephew #2 is coming over tomorrow and spending the entire weekend with us. Will I get sick? We'll see. We are also cooking for church on Saturday and Sunday because there weren't enough volunteers this month. My life is crazy.
Hubby has a follow-up appointment for his gallbladder surgery today. Overall he is doing great, but we think one of the incisions is infected. Should be an easy fix, clean it up, take an antibiotic, voila!
I interviewed for an administrative office assistant and for a scheduler position. I think both interviews went well, but I feel better overall about the scheduler position. While I have to talk on the phone, there is not a whole lot of interaction with people in person. For the admin position, I would have to be more of a people person, and I'm not. Never have been. Don't foresee becoming one. Just the thought of the job duties I was told about during the interview gave me anxiety, so you know the job is going to stress me out. I really hope I get the scheduler position, not the highest paying, but not stressful either.
Of course, I still longingly think about the position at the library. I applied at the beginning of February, no call yet. I was told that it is a long process and they usually post a job 2-3 months before they plan on someone starting. So there is still hope, and it pays quite well. So well that even if I get the scheduler position, I don't think I will be able to say no to the library should they call. I've always wanted to work there too... books!
I am
Nephew #2 is coming over tomorrow and spending the entire weekend with us. Will I get sick? We'll see. We are also cooking for church on Saturday and Sunday because there weren't enough volunteers this month. My life is crazy.
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