Saturday, February 5, 2011
My Life's Biggest Project: Cut out the gut
My Life's Biggest Project: Cut out the gut: "I know that I've talked a lot about surgery in my posts, but as Americans we want results fast and when we don't get them we just stop. Usin..."
Cut out the gut
I know that I've talked a lot about surgery in my posts, but as Americans we want results fast and when we don't get them we just stop. Using weight loss surgeries tends to be a default plan mmore and more all the time. Technology has us spoiled. We are so use to getting what we want when we want it so fast that my generation has a tendency to just not want to work hard for anything. If we weren't given good genes we just say eff it. That is why surgery seems to be more and more appealing all the time. I speak from personal experinece when I say that surgery (not that I've had cosmetic or weight loss surgery of any kind. I am strictly speaking about general surgery) is absolutely no fun and not something that should be considered lightly at all.
The reason I bring up surgery again is because I see it in articles all the time. Just today there was an article in the Suntimes talking about it. I will copy bits and pieces of it so that you can read personal stories about it from different people. I think that it is something that should be researched and deeply thought out before making that kind of a decision. I also think that it should be a last resort after you have dedicated yourself to changing up your eating habits and good old exercise. So without further ado this is what the article had to say. You can make up your own mind about it.
The reason I bring up surgery again is because I see it in articles all the time. Just today there was an article in the Suntimes talking about it. I will copy bits and pieces of it so that you can read personal stories about it from different people. I think that it is something that should be researched and deeply thought out before making that kind of a decision. I also think that it should be a last resort after you have dedicated yourself to changing up your eating habits and good old exercise. So without further ado this is what the article had to say. You can make up your own mind about it.
Dr. Jeffrey Rosen: Surgery a tool, not a cure
"In some ways, Dr. Jeffrey Rosen sees the weight struggles of pop singer Carnie Wilson as a prime example of how tough such battles can be. In 1999, with her small frame carrying 300 pounds, Wilson was in the news for having gastric bypass surgery. While she got down to 150 pounds, she has gained a good portion of weight back, and her weight woes remained in the tabloids. Late last year, she was fired as a spokesperson for a diet plan after she didn’t stay on it and didn’t lose weight."
"As Rosen sees it, any successful fight to control weight means lifestyle changes. And a measure such as gastric bypass surgery is 'a tool to help improve someone’s health, not a cure,' he said." Rosen is the lead surgeon at LifeWeigh Bariatrics and LifeWeigh Health & Fitness, which has offices in Downers Grove and Merrillville, Ind. He’s been performing weight-loss surgeries for more than 12 years. While there are risks with any surgeries, Rosen said, statistics show that weight-loss procedures are as safe as gall bladder surgeries."
"Wilson helped draw attention to and popularize the gastric bypass procedure; and from 2000 to 2003, Rosen said, his office was quite busy. Insurance companies became more restrictive in allowing claims in 2003, Rosen said, and there was a significant drop in business. However, in the last three years, many companies have eased restraints for obtaining weight-loss surgery and related treatments, which Rosen said can run from $10,000 to $50,000. Rosen said insurance firms are realizing that allowing such procedures can have a return on investment in just two years, the savings coming from reduced medical bills related to health issues of being overweight."
"What Rosen’s office stresses is a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss that includes working with registered dietitians and setting up an exercise plan along with doctor visits. In fact, LifeWeigh works with people who seek to lose weight without surgery, too."
Becky Firszt: A teacher learns a new lifestyle
"Lifelong Elgin resident Becky Firszt, 33, has been married for eight years and is the mother of two young children, Emma, 7, and Drew, 4. It’s because of her family that Firszt, a fourth-grade teacher in Elgin School District U46, decided to have gastric bypass surgery."
'“I decided I wanted to be involved with my kids, and I couldn’t keep up with them,” Firszt said. “I was unhappy, and I was always tired.”'
"Her feelings were tied to her weight and the ensuing health issues brought on by it."
“I have always been thick, but when I was a kid, I was involved in cheerleading, basketball and marching band in high school, which helped to keep my weight down,” she said. “I really struggled with losing weight after I had my kids. I could not drop any weight, and I kept packing on the pounds.”
"At 5 feet 5 inches tall, Firszt reached 300 pounds. She says she “finally decided to go ahead with the process after I came to find out I had Type 2 diabetes. I was so disappointed with myself being 32 and having this disease. How could I have done this to myself?”
"In August, Firszt had gastric bypass surgery and has lost 75 pounds thus far.
“Insurance insurance did pay for 90 percent, but I had to jump through a lot of hoops,” she said. Getting used to the diet was the biggest challenge, Firszt said. “The eating process after surgery was hard,” she said. “The surgeon puts you on a slow, progressive six-week diet. Each few weeks, you slowly add more food to your diet. The first few weeks were hard. I was so sick of eating pudding and Jell-0. But now I can almost eat anything (in small portions), and I am happy.”
"She also has been walking to get fit and soon will be adding some weight training to her exercise routine. Since surgery, she said she now has the diabetes under control. “This process has shown me how much I missed and to seize every moment of the day. Carpe diem!” she said."
There are several more personal stories in the article and I suggest you read them. It is a good article and important to hear what others have gone through. I hope that if you are considering this as an option at all you talk to people and research hard. I have lots to do so I'll let you go for now. TTFN...Ta-Ta-For-Now :)
Friday, February 4, 2011
My Life's Biggest Project: Are you ready for some football
My Life's Biggest Project: Are you ready for some football: "Oh Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner. Some people wait and wait for this day to come. I love super bowl parties and activities, b..."
Are you ready for some football
Oh Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner. Some people wait and wait for this day to come. I love super bowl parties and activities, but unless the Minesota Vikings or the Dallas Cowboys are playing I really truly could care less. I say this because I'm a college football fan. I really just want my Sooners to win everything, especially games against the Texas Longhorns, beyond that I don't really care so much about football. I however do enjoy the super bowl game for the pop culture side of everything.
You know what I'm talking about. The thing I love the super bowl game for is the advertisements and the half time show. What would the world be like without Janet Jackson's ta-ta scandle? I need to see what the next big thing will be that goes down in NFL history. I doubt there will be any female flashing due to the fact that the half time show is supposed to be performed by Usher, Slash and the Black Eyed Peas, unless Fergie decides to get down with her Feralicious self. Maybe Er-sher will have his shirt off the whole time. He's good for that you know.
The other thing that goes with football is of course snacks and beer. Allow me to tell you first how many calories you take in from normal football party favorites. Then I will offer some healthy options. I don't really know how hopping your parties will be on Sunday, but if you can get some peeps over this is some food for thought.
Normally people have things like Tortilla chips and guacomole (one of my favorites), well this little snack will cost you about 172 calories for about a one ounce serving of torilla chips and 21 grams of serving of guac. Buffalo wings are normally a thing seen at the parties and one wing with bleu cheese (which I think I would substitute for ranch) will cost you a total of 220 calories. One slice of cheese pizza will pack on about 240 calories. Those cute little pigs in a blanket add up to about 470 calories for only five of them. What is a football game without getting to throw one back, well one 12 oz can of Bud Light is going to add up to be about 110 calories and if you don't want any alcohol and decide to have a soda instead that will cost you approximently 140 calories for just one 12 oz can. So basically what I'm telling you is that if you have one of each of these things your entire caloric intake will be 1,352.
I found the answer to all of your problems in an article that gives you recipes for zucchini blossom quesidilla with guacomole dipping sauce, chile-baked fries and a sour cream dressing. First you need to collect you some ingredients which I will tell you what of and how much. Then we will discuss the directions word for word from the article. Here it goes.
You will need to go to the store and get the following:
5 avocados, cubed
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 head garlic
5 zucchini with squash-blossoms, grated or cut into slices
1 block cheese of your choice, grated
2 poblano peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 red bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 green bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 yellow or orange bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 jalepeno peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
5 eggs, beaten
3 lemons, sliced
5 limes, 2 juiced for guacamole, 3 sliced for bubbly water
3 oranges, sliced
1 bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 bunch dill, chopped
1 bunch chives, chopped
Farmer’s Market (if possible) bought chips and salsa
1 bag of tortillas
1 teaspoon chili pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoon spicy mustard
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon hot sauce, or more if you like it spicy
2 liters of your favorite bubbly water: Soda, tonic, or sparkling
Butter
Salt/pepper to taste
Now here are the directions:
Zucchini Squash-Blossom Quesadillas: Slice the zucchini and squash-blossoms as thin as possible, or grate them into large, thin slices. Grate cheese. Add a little butter to a saute pan and allow the tortilla to slightly brown on one side. Add cheese and squash-blossoms to the quesadilla on one side. Fold the tortilla and brown on both sides. Repeat for the number of guests attending. Slice quesadillas into triangles. Serve with guacamole.
Guacamole: Cube five avocados. In a bowl, combine with Farmer’s Market bought salsa and chopped cilantro. Add one teaspoon of chili pepper and cumin, or match to your taste. Mash ingredients together with a fork or large spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste and the juice of two limes. Combine, refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve. Bonus Tip: pick up some chips from the Farmer’s Market too, in order to help finish off this yummy guacamole.
Chile Fries: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Your breading station will consist of three dishes. The cup of flour is the first station. You beaten eggs, milk, two tablespoons of flour and spicy mustard will be combined for the second station. In the third station, add the Parmesan or Romano cheese to the bread crumbs, with salt and pepper to taste. Drag your sliced peppers through station one, two and three: coat each slice first in flour, second in egg mixture, and third in bread crumb topping. Roast your coated chile fries on a nonstick baking pan for about 18 minutes; shake and toss them once during cooking time so as not to burn them. Remove from oven, allow to cool, and serve with the sour cream dipping sauce. For more ideas on the big game day, see more Rachael Ray recipes here.
Sour Cream Dipping Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine two cloves of grated garlic with one cup of sour cream. Loosen with a splash of milk. Add in the white wine vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Mix in finely chopped fresh herbs: parsley, dill and chives. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve alongside you chile fries for extra dunking and dipping pleasure!
Instead of beer and soda you may just decide that you want something besides high quality H2O. Here is a healthy option:
Fruit-Infused Bubbly Water: In a large pitcher, combine your water with slices of lime, orange and lemon. You can separate the fruits into three different pitchers or combine them all in one, whichever you prefer. Test the taste: if it’s not sweet enough, add two tablespoons of sugar. Refrigerate and allow the mixture to combine the flavors for 30 minutes. Enjoy this super special drank...lol.
No matter who you are rooting for, I hope you are looking out for yourself. Try this out and let me know how you like it. I myself don't really care who wins. May the best team win :) If you have any other suggestions for good fooseball snacks let me know! Until then...bye bye bye!!!!
The other thing that goes with football is of course snacks and beer. Allow me to tell you first how many calories you take in from normal football party favorites. Then I will offer some healthy options. I don't really know how hopping your parties will be on Sunday, but if you can get some peeps over this is some food for thought.
Normally people have things like Tortilla chips and guacomole (one of my favorites), well this little snack will cost you about 172 calories for about a one ounce serving of torilla chips and 21 grams of serving of guac. Buffalo wings are normally a thing seen at the parties and one wing with bleu cheese (which I think I would substitute for ranch) will cost you a total of 220 calories. One slice of cheese pizza will pack on about 240 calories. Those cute little pigs in a blanket add up to about 470 calories for only five of them. What is a football game without getting to throw one back, well one 12 oz can of Bud Light is going to add up to be about 110 calories and if you don't want any alcohol and decide to have a soda instead that will cost you approximently 140 calories for just one 12 oz can. So basically what I'm telling you is that if you have one of each of these things your entire caloric intake will be 1,352.
I found the answer to all of your problems in an article that gives you recipes for zucchini blossom quesidilla with guacomole dipping sauce, chile-baked fries and a sour cream dressing. First you need to collect you some ingredients which I will tell you what of and how much. Then we will discuss the directions word for word from the article. Here it goes.
You will need to go to the store and get the following:
5 avocados, cubed
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 head garlic
5 zucchini with squash-blossoms, grated or cut into slices
1 block cheese of your choice, grated
2 poblano peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 red bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 green bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 yellow or orange bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 jalepeno peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
5 eggs, beaten
3 lemons, sliced
5 limes, 2 juiced for guacamole, 3 sliced for bubbly water
3 oranges, sliced
1 bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 bunch dill, chopped
1 bunch chives, chopped
Farmer’s Market (if possible) bought chips and salsa
1 bag of tortillas
1 teaspoon chili pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoon spicy mustard
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon hot sauce, or more if you like it spicy
2 liters of your favorite bubbly water: Soda, tonic, or sparkling
Butter
Salt/pepper to taste
Now here are the directions:
Zucchini Squash-Blossom Quesadillas: Slice the zucchini and squash-blossoms as thin as possible, or grate them into large, thin slices. Grate cheese. Add a little butter to a saute pan and allow the tortilla to slightly brown on one side. Add cheese and squash-blossoms to the quesadilla on one side. Fold the tortilla and brown on both sides. Repeat for the number of guests attending. Slice quesadillas into triangles. Serve with guacamole.
Guacamole: Cube five avocados. In a bowl, combine with Farmer’s Market bought salsa and chopped cilantro. Add one teaspoon of chili pepper and cumin, or match to your taste. Mash ingredients together with a fork or large spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste and the juice of two limes. Combine, refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve. Bonus Tip: pick up some chips from the Farmer’s Market too, in order to help finish off this yummy guacamole.
Chile Fries: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Your breading station will consist of three dishes. The cup of flour is the first station. You beaten eggs, milk, two tablespoons of flour and spicy mustard will be combined for the second station. In the third station, add the Parmesan or Romano cheese to the bread crumbs, with salt and pepper to taste. Drag your sliced peppers through station one, two and three: coat each slice first in flour, second in egg mixture, and third in bread crumb topping. Roast your coated chile fries on a nonstick baking pan for about 18 minutes; shake and toss them once during cooking time so as not to burn them. Remove from oven, allow to cool, and serve with the sour cream dipping sauce. For more ideas on the big game day, see more Rachael Ray recipes here.
Sour Cream Dipping Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine two cloves of grated garlic with one cup of sour cream. Loosen with a splash of milk. Add in the white wine vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Mix in finely chopped fresh herbs: parsley, dill and chives. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve alongside you chile fries for extra dunking and dipping pleasure!
Instead of beer and soda you may just decide that you want something besides high quality H2O. Here is a healthy option:
Fruit-Infused Bubbly Water: In a large pitcher, combine your water with slices of lime, orange and lemon. You can separate the fruits into three different pitchers or combine them all in one, whichever you prefer. Test the taste: if it’s not sweet enough, add two tablespoons of sugar. Refrigerate and allow the mixture to combine the flavors for 30 minutes. Enjoy this super special drank...lol.
No matter who you are rooting for, I hope you are looking out for yourself. Try this out and let me know how you like it. I myself don't really care who wins. May the best team win :) If you have any other suggestions for good fooseball snacks let me know! Until then...bye bye bye!!!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
My Life's Biggest Project: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
My Life's Biggest Project: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise: "I went to my doctors appointment today and even though my incision site has come open the doctor said that it was alright and that I should ..."
Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
I went to my doctors appointment today and even though my incision site has come open the doctor said that it was alright and that I should be all healed up in about three weeks. That was completely agitating news to me. The doctor probably thought that I was being a drama queen, but correct me if I'm wrong is it not abnormal to have a hole in one's back. I don't feel like having an open incision is the most healthy thing in the world, but then again I'm not a doctor. So who knows he may know what he's talking about.
After getting this news I decided to go to the mall and walk around because I am sick of being cooped up in the house. My friend Chrystle and I walked around the mall for a while, then we went to Hobby Lobby and probably spent like four hours there, no lie. I found all kind of knick knacks to put in my house, but the problem is that I no longer have any wall space so I'm kind of limited on what it is that I can purchase in terms of house decor.
The ride home was interesting because there was ice all over the roads and more people felt like coming out of their houses later in the day. Once Chrystle and I got back to my house we watched the newest episode of Grey's Anatomy and then I figured it was dinner time. After heating up some grilled chicken on my George Forman grill we decided that a side of some kind would have been good, so I found one that would be great to have. The important thing to remember in a busy day we still need to make good choices. Rachel Ray posted one of her 30 minute meals that I figured I'd share with you. Read it, try it and tell me what you think.
Kale and Portobello Mushrooms
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (26)
Filed under: Vegetables, Kale, Vegetables, Mushroom, more
RECIPE RATINGS & REVIEWS(26)
Cook Time:12 minLevel: EasyYield: 4 servings
Recipe Tools:
Print Recipe
Get Card
Save Recipe
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 portobello mushroom caps, sliced
1 1/4 pounds kale, stemmed and chopped
Salt and pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste, about 1/4 teaspoon
1/2 cup dry Italian red wine
Directions
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with extra-virgin olive oil. When the oil is hot, add mushrooms and cook until dark and tender. Add kale and turn with tongs to wilt. Season the mixture of mushrooms and greens with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add wine and deglaze the pan. Reduce heat to low and cook greens 5 minutes longer then serve
After getting this news I decided to go to the mall and walk around because I am sick of being cooped up in the house. My friend Chrystle and I walked around the mall for a while, then we went to Hobby Lobby and probably spent like four hours there, no lie. I found all kind of knick knacks to put in my house, but the problem is that I no longer have any wall space so I'm kind of limited on what it is that I can purchase in terms of house decor.
The ride home was interesting because there was ice all over the roads and more people felt like coming out of their houses later in the day. Once Chrystle and I got back to my house we watched the newest episode of Grey's Anatomy and then I figured it was dinner time. After heating up some grilled chicken on my George Forman grill we decided that a side of some kind would have been good, so I found one that would be great to have. The important thing to remember in a busy day we still need to make good choices. Rachel Ray posted one of her 30 minute meals that I figured I'd share with you. Read it, try it and tell me what you think.
Kale and Portobello Mushrooms
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (26)
Filed under: Vegetables, Kale, Vegetables, Mushroom, more
RECIPE RATINGS & REVIEWS(26)
Cook Time:12 minLevel: EasyYield: 4 servings
Recipe Tools:
Print Recipe
Get Card
Save Recipe
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 portobello mushroom caps, sliced
1 1/4 pounds kale, stemmed and chopped
Salt and pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste, about 1/4 teaspoon
1/2 cup dry Italian red wine
Directions
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with extra-virgin olive oil. When the oil is hot, add mushrooms and cook until dark and tender. Add kale and turn with tongs to wilt. Season the mixture of mushrooms and greens with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add wine and deglaze the pan. Reduce heat to low and cook greens 5 minutes longer then serve
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My Life's Biggest Project: Snow Day Part Deux
My Life's Biggest Project: Snow Day Part Deux: "This weather is insane! So OU has canceled campus again for tomorrow and that would make it three days in a row as of now. We started back t..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)