Some are better with sticking to a diet
Some are better with sticking to a vitamin routine
Some are better being punished for non-compliance

I say, thank GOODNESS there is something for everyone

Talk is going around again about my favorite high protein recipes, so I'm moving these back to front and center where they belong... Enjoy!
Published
Sugar Slut, step back!  My fabulous recipes sank back to page 2 and people were having trouble finding them, so here they are, y'all!  RNY's reading this, you can make substitutions for lower fat varieties of some of these things.

I've been getting many requests for my trail mix recipe lately, so I thought I'd post it here for all to see:

Fabulous Ricotta Fluff Stuff
1 large container of ricotta cheese
1 box  SF jello instant cheesecake pudding
dollop or two of sour cream (to taste)
A little bit of milk to lighten it up (about a cup-add last and gradually)

Mix it all up and enjoy however you want it.  I love it with strawberries!  It's a great fruit dip or just eating straight out of the bowl. 

Fabulous Trail Mix
Base mix
1 jar peanuts
1 jar sunflower kernels
1/2 bag raisins or "berries and cherries"
1/2 small bag chocolate chips.
1 small bag macadamia pieces
1 small bag pecan halves

To this, I might add other nuts depending on what's on sale (walnuts, cashews, more pecans).  I've also varied the fruit, too, so play around.  Try to keep the proportions the same.  It's so easy to load up the sweet stuff, but it's the nuts that are so valuable here.  The balance makes the perfect sweet and salty snack and my daily breakfast.  If proportions are kept, it's about 32g of protein for 8 oz.

Fabulous Custard -- full of protein, easy on new post-ops ~delicious!
3 cups milk
3/4 cup splenda
4-5 eggs (depending on size)
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)
handful of coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 375'.  Beat eggs, nutmeg and vanilla together in baking dish.  On the stove, bring the milk and splenda just to a boil, then stir together to the eggs.  Bake for 25 min
NOTE:  when the milk is coming near to a boil, you'll get a little foam on the top.  Remove this foam before stirring into the eggs, or it will get a weird texture on top.

God Bless Paula Deen for flourless peanut butter cookies!

1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla
1 cup Splenda

Mix and roll into balls (about walnut sized) and flatten with fork dipped in Splenda.  Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.  

TIPS
-Do NOT overocok -- they will get crumbly since there's no gluten
-Peanut butter is naturally low sugar - the low sugar kind only reduces it by 1g per serving.
-If you're picky about artificial sweeteners, I've done a 3/1 with splenda and sugar to cut the after taste and it's good.  Presently, I do full-splenda in the cookies, and roll in regular sugar and that's good too.  I've also added semi-sweet chocolate chips to shake things up. 

Post Date: 10/31/07 5:21 am
BOO!!!!!!
Sorry, being it Halloween and all, I just had to do that

In fact, it was almost about NOW that I was arguing with the nurses about keeping on my Halloween socks through surgery, since it was the only piece of Halloween I was going to get for the day.    They appeased me for a few minutes and let me keep my black socks with skeletons and glowing red eyes.  They got me good and stoned with that IV and only THEN did they remove my  contraband socks.  First lesson -- never trust nurses to go against policy

Recovery was easier than I expected it to be (I was basically expecting to wish I was dead).  I was amazed as I was able to get up and walk only hours from being hacked on.  It was surreal, sore and darned uncomfortable, but that morphine pump worked its magic indeed!  I went home three days later, once again surprised at how mobile I really could be so soon.  Yeah, I could move, but did I want to?  That was way too much trouble.  I was very listless for about 4-5 weeks.  I didn't want to concentrate on anything, not even television, however I didn't nap much either.  I also just wanted to be left alone.  My family was there like minutemen waiting to dote on me, but I assigned them chores instead so they could feel helpful and I could feel peace, LOL.  Funny how on that 5th week, though, my energy returned, and just in time for Christmas shopping!  I would go in 3-4 hour spurts through the mall or stores, then come home and sack out.  It was working for me.  I went back to work after new years and hit the ground running.  My manager told me not to schedule myself for anything just in case I wanted to cut out early and go home my first couple weeks back.  Much to his and everyone else's surprise, I never needed to take him up on that offer, and they all think I'm tough as nails now.  Second lesson -- Never let them see you weak if you can help it.

Eating was a chore at first.  My first week home, I was choking down my vitamins, all the water and almost all 100g of protein.  I never knew consumption could be so unsatisfying.  Nothing tasted good at all, not even drinks.  I discovered regressing to modified versions of my childhood favorites was key for me.  I started making decaf sweet tea and green koolaid with spenda and that got me able to get in all my water.  I never did like any of the protein supplements.  SF CIB was the only thing I tolerated without making a yuck face, and even that got old.  I then found ProStat64, which packed in 15g in one little bitty ounce, so that was my salvation until I was able to eat enough protein.  It was about 5 months before I started finding any enjoyment from food.  I would set reminders in my Outlook calendar at work reminding me to take vitamins and to eat.  Imagine that -- needing to be reminded to eat!  I learned to listen to my body.  It wold me when it was digesting.  It told me (only once) when it was hungry - then if not fed, wouldn't want to eat anything for the rest of the day.  It also told me when it was done eating (a couple hiccups or nose runs).  Lesson three -- Learn and listen to your body's signals

During the rest of year one, I was dropping a clothing size every 6-8 weeks.  As I've preached out here many times, I worked the consignment shops and thrift stores to replace my wardrobe, and am now VERY GOOD at it.  From what I kept on account at my favorite consignment shops, I was able to replace my wardrobe (work and weekend) for about $100.  The only thing I paid full price for was undergarments.  As the boobies deflate, I highly recommend Lane Bryant's Balconette bras.  They are molded and padded.  I'm still a D cup, but the padding helps keep the shape and nobody knows when I'm cold.  Lesson 4 -- Don't hold too tight to your old clothes, either.  Your confidence level soars when you're wearing your true size and you KNOW you look good.  The compliments that come when you're wearing clothes that fit help with the mental boost too.   I remember at my 1 year Surgiversary, I was right around a size 12 or Large in shirts.  During year two, I didn't lose much more weight, but my body kept readjusting.  Today, I'm hovering between 140 and 150, and wearing sizes 6, 8, and a couple small running 10's.  I still marvel over my size small flannel jammies, or anything I own that's a size small.  Sometimes, I still hold my clothes up and stare at them in awe, amazed that they fit ME.  You have to understand, I NEVER wore sizes this small.  I NEVER lost any significant amount of weight.  I just kept gaining and gaining, hitting a plateau whenever I would diet/exercise (but not lose).  This idea of dropping weight still fascinates me.  I'm pretty sure I'm leveled off, because I've been between 140 and 150 for around 8 or 9 months now.  I see some of my Switch Siblings losing even more weight, and part of me wishes I would keep losing, but I have internal conflict that I know I won't look healthy if I do.  I see the drive, but fortunately, common sense is keeping me steady.  I also promised my mom that if I hit 135, that I would seek the pancreatic enzymes to aid absorption.  So far, the closest I've come was 140.2.  

So, here it is 286 was my highest recorded weight, 272 was my surgery weight, and my current weight hovers around 145, give or take.  Not too shabby for a gal of 5'4.5".  I still come out here on OH about every day.  The legacy peeps helped me out so much that I only feel it my duty to stick around and help people along the same way.  I still learn a thing or two myself sometimes.  

For all of you newbies out there, if you have ANY questions, private or public -- as some  people have learned, nothing is overasked, too personal, TMI or too gross with me.  I'll give it to you straight if you can handle it.  

Other FAQ's and discoveries from my own experience:
Gas and poo are directly related to what I consume, and quite controllable.
Once you break free from the plus sizes, you change sizes every 10 lbs
Christmas cookies are gas makers
Prime Rib is one of the easiest meats to eat
Any meat is easier to eat if there is a sauce or gravy to accompany it
If you feel overfull, try popping a couple grapes or pineapple chunks.  It lightens the load for some bizarre reason.  Some well cooked soft veggies do the same thing
Pizza is best eaten with a thin and crispy crust (yes, I still love pizza)
Desserts are best shared and will keep you out of trouble