Two servings.
1 cup low fat or part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 or 3 packets Splenda
1/2 to 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1/2 to 1 tablespoon baking cocoa (or 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar-free
chocolate syrup)
Mix as desired, put in 2 serving dishes, chill, and serve. If using
chocolate syrup, you can pour on top instead of mixing in, if desired.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Gastric Bypass is No Quick Fix
Gastric bypass is no quick fix
By Heather L. Connors
Times Herald-Record
hconnors@th-record.com
Weight-loss surgery is not a magic pill.
That's a point doctors try to drive home to those who are looking
for a surgical fix to their obesity problem.
"It's crucial they change their lifestyle, their eating habits,"
says Dr. Edward Yatco, a clinical instructor at Westchester Medical
Center in Valhalla and a bariatric surgeon at Obesity Surgery
Associates in Hawthorne.
"This is not the easy way out. It's a major surgery that comes
with significant risks and possible complications."
Unfortunately, this message can get lost in the glow of success
stories and miraculous "after" pictures.
In reality, a surgical procedure like gastric bypass (which
retools the digestive system to allow for less calorie absorption) or
the newer Lap-Band (which involves using an adjustable band to limit
the amount of food the stomach can hold) is just the first step in a
process that includes many lifelong adjustments.
And not just concerning food.
Prior to surgery, physicians like Yatco and fellow bariatric
surgeon Dr. Dominick Artuso make sure – via seminars, nutritional
counseling, one-on-one meetings and psychiatric evaluations – that
their patients are prepared to handle all aspects of life post-
surgery. Teens, which Artuso has been seeing a little more lately,
will go to counseling for six months to ensure they understand what
bariatric surgery means in the long term.
Social events, which are often centered around food, might become
a bit awkward.
For gastric bypass patients, a lack of vitamin and mineral
absorption might result in temporary hair loss.
Taking comfort in food will no longer be an option.
"Emotional eaters have to find other ways to deal with stress,"
Yatco notes.
And that's where another part of the weight-loss schematic can
play a key role.
Support groups – many of which are offered through a bariatric
surgeon – are really important, both doctors say. At these meetings,
issues are addressed that go way beyond the loss of food as a friend.
"These people can experience stress in their personal
relationships" as a result of the weight loss, Yatco says. "The
patient's spouse may feel threatened by their newfound confidence. A
spouse might also be jealous that the patient is now getting more
attention from the opposite sex."
He's even had patients tell him that they've had friendships end
because they were no longer the "fat friend," and thinner friends
were resentful of having to share the limelight.
"All these other issues that popped up – we didn't predict them
when we first started doing this," Yatco says. "Now they're becoming
more and more prevalent in patients."
In the end, most patients adjust and are happy to watch the pounds
melt off. And many of them are sorry for only one thing, Yatco says.
"Their only regret is that they didn't do it sooner."
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/10/12/cover12.htm
This information while educational, is not meant to replace the advice
of a health care provider.
Also as in all weight loss programs, "results not typical"
By Heather L. Connors
Times Herald-Record
hconnors@th-record.com
Weight-loss surgery is not a magic pill.
That's a point doctors try to drive home to those who are looking
for a surgical fix to their obesity problem.
"It's crucial they change their lifestyle, their eating habits,"
says Dr. Edward Yatco, a clinical instructor at Westchester Medical
Center in Valhalla and a bariatric surgeon at Obesity Surgery
Associates in Hawthorne.
"This is not the easy way out. It's a major surgery that comes
with significant risks and possible complications."
Unfortunately, this message can get lost in the glow of success
stories and miraculous "after" pictures.
In reality, a surgical procedure like gastric bypass (which
retools the digestive system to allow for less calorie absorption) or
the newer Lap-Band (which involves using an adjustable band to limit
the amount of food the stomach can hold) is just the first step in a
process that includes many lifelong adjustments.
And not just concerning food.
Prior to surgery, physicians like Yatco and fellow bariatric
surgeon Dr. Dominick Artuso make sure – via seminars, nutritional
counseling, one-on-one meetings and psychiatric evaluations – that
their patients are prepared to handle all aspects of life post-
surgery. Teens, which Artuso has been seeing a little more lately,
will go to counseling for six months to ensure they understand what
bariatric surgery means in the long term.
Social events, which are often centered around food, might become
a bit awkward.
For gastric bypass patients, a lack of vitamin and mineral
absorption might result in temporary hair loss.
Taking comfort in food will no longer be an option.
"Emotional eaters have to find other ways to deal with stress,"
Yatco notes.
And that's where another part of the weight-loss schematic can
play a key role.
Support groups – many of which are offered through a bariatric
surgeon – are really important, both doctors say. At these meetings,
issues are addressed that go way beyond the loss of food as a friend.
"These people can experience stress in their personal
relationships" as a result of the weight loss, Yatco says. "The
patient's spouse may feel threatened by their newfound confidence. A
spouse might also be jealous that the patient is now getting more
attention from the opposite sex."
He's even had patients tell him that they've had friendships end
because they were no longer the "fat friend," and thinner friends
were resentful of having to share the limelight.
"All these other issues that popped up – we didn't predict them
when we first started doing this," Yatco says. "Now they're becoming
more and more prevalent in patients."
In the end, most patients adjust and are happy to watch the pounds
melt off. And many of them are sorry for only one thing, Yatco says.
"Their only regret is that they didn't do it sooner."
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/10/12/cover12.htm
This information while educational, is not meant to replace the advice
of a health care provider.
Also as in all weight loss programs, "results not typical"
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday Thirteen
 |
1. Get the kids ready for school & make lunches 2. Pick up my friend and her 2 boys 3. Drive everyone to the bus stop (5 minute drive) 4. Drop my little guy off at preschool 5. Clean the house 6. Prepare for my Brownie meeting 7. Pick up the little one from preschool 8. Pick up the older 2 from the bus stop 9. Hold my Brownie meeting (18 girls ages 6-8) 10. Make dinner for my family 11. Homework with the older 2 12. Get everyone ready for bed 13. RELAX! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Update
Since my last post I have lost another 6 # and I'm down to 135 and a size 8. It's still coming off, but slowing down now. I am 9 months post op and the "honeymoon" is just about over for me. I have to start being more diligent about what I am eating.
Right now I am having a tough time with all the Halloween candy in the house. I find myself grabbing a piece here and there. Some of it makes me sick, but there are kinds I eat with no ill side effects.
I had also slacked on my vitamins, but just started taking all them again. My problem is that it is ALOT of pills to take throughout the day. I will be going to have my blood work done again soon.
Right now I am having a tough time with all the Halloween candy in the house. I find myself grabbing a piece here and there. Some of it makes me sick, but there are kinds I eat with no ill side effects.
I had also slacked on my vitamins, but just started taking all them again. My problem is that it is ALOT of pills to take throughout the day. I will be going to have my blood work done again soon.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Time Flies!
Wow, ever since the kids started back at school the days are just flying by. I just realized it's been a long time since I've updated my blog.
So here goes my update...
I am down to 141 lbs, for a total lost of 76 lbs so far! WOOHOO! I'm wearing a size 10 and medium clothes. I'm feeling great.
I recently started taking iron supplements and upped my b12 to 5000 mcg a day. I'll have to wait until my next labs to see if my numbers are going back up. I'm feeling better though.
So here goes my update...
I am down to 141 lbs, for a total lost of 76 lbs so far! WOOHOO! I'm wearing a size 10 and medium clothes. I'm feeling great.
I recently started taking iron supplements and upped my b12 to 5000 mcg a day. I'll have to wait until my next labs to see if my numbers are going back up. I'm feeling better though.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Another week
Tuesday I went for a job interview as a waitress at a local restraunt. I have a friend who works there and she said that the manager said they are going to hire me so I'm waiting anxiously for the phone call.
Yesterday was very stressful. Our electric was shut off since I couldn't pay it. I had to call my mom and ask for help, which I really really hate doing. But with 3 small kids in the house I didn't have much choice.
As of this past Monday I'm down to 152. I'm feeling more and more like my old self. The me I was before I gained all the weight.
Yesterday was very stressful. Our electric was shut off since I couldn't pay it. I had to call my mom and ask for help, which I really really hate doing. But with 3 small kids in the house I didn't have much choice.
As of this past Monday I'm down to 152. I'm feeling more and more like my old self. The me I was before I gained all the weight.
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