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I'm more than 5 years post op now and I've always been a bit of a foodie. I often joke that I was like a Jewish Paula Deen before surgery. Not meaning to toot my own horn, but I have been a pretty good cook for many years. The thing is that much of what I made was very similar in many ways to the types of things Paula Deen made. When you cross someone who was raised in the south with someone who has a Jewish heritage, you have a recipe... or many recipe that are laden with fats and carbs.

When I was considering surgery, I wondered if I would ever be able enjoy cooking and more than that eating again. Well, more than 5 years after my surgery, the answer is a resounding yes. I have to say that I don't eat or cook diet food. I want whatever I eat to be wonderfully flavorful and not a second rate substitute in terms of flavor or texture. This is a large part of what has allowed me to maintain my weight. I have found ways to eat what I want, enjoy it and maintain my weight. That said, I must admit that I have made a number of changes and adjustments in the ways that I prepare foods. Sources such as Cooking Light have been invaluable to me as I have learned leaner and lighter techniques that allow me to enjoy old favorites as well as broadening my horizons as I've added new favorites to my repertoire.

Below, is a recipe for Breakfast Quiche Bites. They are a great way to get in the protein in a flavorful, yet healthy way. I often tweak it one direction or another, but the premise is the same for them. Consider trying these as a way to enjoy a wonderful breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also know that they travel and reheat well. While they are great for breakfast when you are in a hurry, I often have two of these with a salad for dinner.

Breakfast Quiche Bites from Cooking Light

Starting Sizes:
Pant:24
Shirts:3X
Shoes:10.5 wide

Current Sizes:
Pants:24
Shirts:3x
Shoes:10.5

How do you feel? Tired, depressed, scared

Any WOW moments?
When I looked at a current picture and relized how big i actually was. I knew there was a reason I never took pictures of myself.

Do you have any concerns? My concern is what if I gain the weight back once I have the surgery. What if things change between me and my husband. what if i die during surgery? i am also concerned that I will not be able to lose the rest of the weight to get the surgery. i probably wont be able to rest until I have gotten to my goal wight. Then maybe I can stop worrying. Maybe.

I recently was watching a show on TV that had a counselor on the show who was addressing self image issues. They had a couple of women write down the things that they tell themselves about how they look. Many of us might be able to relate to litany of comments they made about 'thunder thighs', 'muffin tops', 'bat wings', 'turkey necks', etc... After writing them down, the ladies where then asked to tell the other person that they had 'thunder thighs', 'muffin tops', 'bat wings', 'turkey necks', etc... Each of the ladies were intensely uncomfortable about doing so and when asked why they were so uncomfortable, they said because they wouldn't want to say such mean things to stranger, much less a friend. Then, the counselor asked them why it was okay to be so mean to themselves, when they wouldn't consider being so mean to a friend or stranger? Both women agreed that they might reconsider before making such disparaging remarks to themselves about themselves. 

Next, they asked them to look at themselves as though they were looking at a friend or stranger and then describe themselves from that perspective. They both provided much more gentle, compassionate, and complimentary assessments of themselves.

I think it's important that we consider that what we say to ourselves about ourselves. What we tell ourselves helps to shape how we see ourselves in literal and figurative terms. How we see ourselves also often makes a difference in how treat ourselves and take care of ourselves. 

Once you move into the maintenance phase of your journey, life creeps back in and it can be harder to maintain the focus that we had when we were in the weight loss phase of our journey. I have found that as we get back to 'real life' it can be harder to deal with the struggles of day to day life without slipping back into the old habits that can undo all of the hard work we've done to get the weight off.  

Okay... So let's start with a success and struggle...

Struggles -- Staying in an Extended Stay hotel for a couple of months without the cooking tools or foods I'm used to having. No scales to check my weight. EXTREME STRESS... and I'm a stress eater.

Success -- At first, I had trouble finding my balance, but eventually I was able to find that I could make and reasonable and nutritious meals most of the time and.... drumroll... I didn't gain any weight. I was sure I would put on some weight with all of the stresses.

So, come on, share some of your struggles, successes and coping mechanisms. 

We all learn from one another... I hope you will share with me.

Hey Betty, 

I'm so glad that you have joined our group and I really look forward to getting to know you. I'm sorry that I didn't respond earlier. I have been out of town for a couple of months and haven't  been on as much I should.

I really look forward to getting to know you. 

All the best,