Rebecca (Becky) A.

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I thought I would stop by quickly to see how things are going and to let my friends here know that if you are looking for me just check out Facebook.  Look for Becky Wagner Anaya.  See ya there. 

The Top 10 Feelings That Sabotage Your Diet

posted at Diet.com by DrRogerGould @ 7:00am ET on August 3, 2009

Emotional eaters use food to deal with their feelings. It doesn’t matter what those feelings are. They may start using food as a coping mechanism to deal with their most intolerable feeling and then after awhile they are using food to deal with any, and every, feeling. Here are the top 10 feelings that sabotage your dieting efforts. Each one includes a proactive action you could take instead of eating away the feeling. 1. Loneliness When you’re lonely, food can feel like a friend, a companion, or even a lover. Eating helps pass the time but it never provides what a person can. Instead of eating away loneliness, ask yourself how can you connect with new people, make new friends, or reach out in a new way. 2. Defeat When you’re defeated and hopeless, you can’t be bothered to take the time and effort to eat right. Instead of eating when you’re feeling despondent, remind yourself that you do indeed care by doing something life-affirming. This can be anything from helping someone in need to seeing a beautiful piece of art. 3. Fear Fear has triggered many a craving. It is a most uncomfortable feeling and can leave you with a sense of powerlessness. Instead of eating give your fears a reality check. Worries can be used to help you figure out what kind of plans you need to put in place to prepare for whatever future might be frightening you. 4. Disappointment Food can feel like a great consolation prize when life isn’t giving you your fair share. Instead of eating use your disappointment to get clear about what you really want in life. What steps do you need to take to get there? 5. Frustration When you can’t figure out how to do something, food can feel like a solution to the intense agitation you’re experiencing. Instead of eating, take a breath, or a walk, or just sleep on it. You might find that the answer you’re looking for comes effortlessly when you surrender the struggle. 6. Anger Anger can feel overwhelming and scary. Food can feel like the perfect way to stuff fierce words inside. Instead of eating, find an outlet for your anger. When the sparks die down there is usually some important information behind the rage you feel. 7. Self-Hatred Feelings of self-doubt and a negative inner voice can give way to bouts of overeating. Eating actually distances you from yourself. Instead of eating, use your self-doubts and criticism as a red flag reminding you that you need to give yourself some tenderness, love, and care. 8. Happiness It’s not just negative feelings that can make you eat. It can be positive ones, too. Eating when you’re happy can be a way to deflect the good things going on for you. Instead of eating, practice taking in joyful experiences. Own them, cherish them, and be grateful for them. 9. Anxiety Anxiety is probably the one emotion responsible for most eating disorders. The jittery, jumpy feeling of anxiety makes it physically uncomfortable. This discomfort can make food seem like a simple solution to settle a belly full of butterflies. Instead of eating, look for real ways to soothe, comfort, and calm yourself. Anxiety is an unavoidable part of life, but you have many options for how to deal with it. 10. Depression When you’re depressed you might not be able to muster up the effort to nurture yourself with good food and exercise. Simply getting out of bed can be an effort. Instead of eating, take one loving action for yourself. This could be prayer, getting support, or sitting in the sunshine. Overeating reinforces your depression. When you stop feeding feelings, your feelings can provide you with essential information that guides you. See how you can use your emotions to propel you forward instead of using emotional eating to keep you stuck. You might find that not only is it easier to stick to your diet, but your whole life starts working better, too.

I saw this on the forum today and had to add it to my blog as a reminder to myself and hopefully to help others as well.

 

 

I am way behind on posting and since I am suffering from a sinus infection I thought this would be a good time to post a reminder about drugs that can damage the pouch.  I have also had a bacterial infection on my right foot so have not been able to walk much.  I am fighting a gain of about 7 pounds.  I think I have been eating too many carbs lately so I will be watching this more carefully.  I have my 3 year checkup with Dr. Juarez's office in three weeks.  I am excited about coming up to my 3 year surgiversary.  It is hard to believe that three years had gone by already. 

DRUGS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE POUCH:  

Advil		Motrin
Aleve	Clinorial	Nalfon
Amigesic	Darvon compounds	Naprosyn
Anacin	Disalcid	Nayer
Anaprox	Dolobid	Orudis
Ansald	Erythromycin	Oruval
Anthra-G	Equagesic	Pamprin-IB
Arthropan	Feldene	Percodan
Ascriptin	Fiorinal	Ponstel
Aspirin	Ibuprofen	Rexolate
Asproject	Indocin	Tandearil
Azolid	Ketoprofen	Tetracycline
	Lodine	Tolecin
Bufferin	Meclomen	Uracel
Butazolidin	Midol	Voltaren

ALL NSAIDS are also included in the above list. (See below.)   Bextra                                     Celebrex                                Vioxx Also OK is 81 mg daily of enteric coated aspirin if prescribed by your PCP   DRUGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE:  

Benadryl	Glycerin Suppositories	Safetussin
Colace	Imodium AD	Sudafed
Dimetapp	Milk of Magnesia	Triaminics (all)
Dulcolax Suppositories	Peri-Colace	Tylenol
Fleet Enema	Phazyme	Tylenol Cold Products
Gas-X	Robitussin	Tylenol Extra Strength

  I want to help everyone understand the reason NSAIDS are dangerous for us. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just that they are “pouch burners” as the industry wants us to believe. It goes much deeper than that. According to an article published in the June 1999 New England Journal of Medicine, NSAIDS, once absorbed into the blood stream cause a chain of chemical reactions that affect the prostaglandins and this in turn reduces the production of mucus in the GI system. The mucus is what lines our GI system and protects our pouch and intestines from damage.   If the mucus production is reduced, this would allow ANYTHING, including eating something with too sharp of an edge or food that are too spicy, to inadvertently begin a marginal ulcer. The best answer is to avoid NSAIDS at all cost. Taking an H2 receptor drug, such as Prilosec, Prevacid or Nexium is only a bandaid and no guarantee it will protect you.   If you are desperate to try an NSAID, I would recommend Arthrotec since it has a prostaglandin compound in it that tries to prevent the chemical reaction mentioned above, but you are still at risk for marginal ulcers anytime you take an anti-inflammatory.

I saw this on OH today and thought I would post it here for future reference.

Say cheese for the health of it!

If you have always heard that cheese is “bad” for you, this information may make you smile. Cheese can be a healthy addition to your diet when you follow a few simple guidelines.

But, what if you are trying to watch your sodium or cholesterol intake? What if you are pregnant? What if you are lactose intolerant? Be informed about cheese and happy cheese hunting!

Eating cheese benefits you
An ounce of cheese (equal to four dice) is considered one serving and provides 200 - 300 mg of calcium. Most adults, ages 19 to 50, need 1,000 mg of calcium per day and adults ages 50 and older need 1,200 mg of calcium per day. Since milk is one of the main ingredients, cheese also provides a good source of protein and vitamin B₂, riboflavin. (Information from American Dietetic Association)

Watching your sodium or cholesterol?
Even though cheese can be high in cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat, that doesn't mean you need to avoid cheese altogether. However, it is important to pay attention to the type and amount of cheese you eat.

• If you like to eat hard cheeses like cheddar, look for "fat free," "reduced fat" or "low fat" on the label.
• When looking for soft cheeses, low fat (1%), part-skim or light products are available.
• You will even find low fat, low cholesterol cheese selections in your grocery store. They generally have 50 - 75 percent of the fat in whole milk cheeses. Experiment with some of these to find a brand you like.

One warning, when a recipe calls for melted cheese, avoid using fat-free cheeses; they don't melt consistently. Instead use a low-fat brand or reduce the amount you add to the recipe by half.

The sodium content of cheese tends to be high. Make sure to read the labels of cheese packages to determine if you are eating more than 2,400 mg of sodium a day. Foods considered high in sodium have 400 mg or more of sodium per serving.

Moderation is the key, but that means different things to different people. One good way to watch your diet is to limit the amount of whole milk cheese you consume for special occasions and regularly eat reduced fat or fat-free cheeses.

Cautions for pregnant women
Certain soft cheeses can become contaminated with a bacterium called Listeria. If you become sick from this particular bacterium, your baby could become sick too. To ensure your baby's safety, eat hard cheeses instead of soft, or cook soft cheeses until they are boiling (bubbling).

A brief list of soft cheeses:

• feta
• goat cheese
• brie
• camembert
• blue-veined cheeses such as roquefort
• Mexican style soft cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, queso de hoja, queso de crema asadero.

Lactose intolerance
There are different degrees of lactose intolerance and it varies from person to person. Some people with lactose intolerance can consume lots of dairy products before experiencing any discomfort. Others with more severe lactose intolerance experience distress after eating one bite of a product containing dairy. You should experiment with foods if you suspect you are lactose intolerant and determine your own intolerance.

So how does cheese fit into a diet of a person who is lactose intolerant? Interestingly, as cheese ages, the lactose contained in the cheese is gradually transformed into lactic acid, and lactic acid causes no distress in people who suffer from lactose intolerance. The longer a cheese is aged, the less lactose it contains. Therefore some lactose intolerant people will have no trouble (and some will have less trouble) eating aged cheeses.

Commonly aged cheeses:

• asiago
• cheddar
• gruyere
• parmesan
• reggiano
• romano

Soy cheese
Some new cheese alternatives are made primarily from soy milk and come in a variety of flavors. They can be found in the produce department of some supermarkets. One warning, do not assume these products are 100 percent milk free. If you suffer from a milk allergy, you should know that the
milk protein is sometimes used to make these soy-cheese products.

Not much new here other than struggling with some weight gain.  I had my lab work done and my thyroid is high once again.  I am on the highest dose ever now and hopefully once it is in my system it will help with the water weight gain, fatigue, and the constipation I have been experiencing.  Otherwise, life is good. 

Not much new to report.  I am still managing to stay around 160. 

On Jan 31, 2009, St Lukes had a Graduates Reunion and I was a model for the day.  It was so much fun.  I am not one to get up in front of a bunch of strangers and was not sure that I would be able to do it.  To my surprise I was not nervous at all and I myself feel I did a great job showing off the clothes and myself!!!!  It was fun talking with the other models and hearing about their experiences with the weight loss.  I even ran into someone from Tucson and made a new friend.

The first month of 2009 is almost over.  When I look back and reflect on this past year, I wanted to take the time to recognize the blessings that have happened to me this past year.   Some blessings were not so good but most were the greatest ever.

--After 17 years of living with my best friend, we decided to tie the knot.
--Being introduced as "stepmom".
--Having my daughter disappear from my life and more than likely to "drugs".
--Gaining a granddaughter as a daughter.  I am in the process of adopting her.
--Had plastic surgery, and got to my goal weight of 160.   I am enjoying the fact that I can now belt my pants or wear hipster belts over tops and dresses.
--dealt with the death of three dear friends.
--finally enjoy shopping for myself and being able to wear tops with no sleeves, even though my scars still show.
--met lots of great people who have had WLS and are becoming great friends.
--weighing less than I can ever remember weighing in my life and going from a size 28W to an 8-10.  I wore a size 10 ring...now 6 1/2; 48DD bra.....now a 36DD; size 10W shoe....now a 9 1/2 medium; size 14 panties......now a size 6; 
--Loving comments like:  Nana, you are so much more fun now that you have lost weight or I didn't recognize you!!!!!

This is truly a wonderous adventure for me.  I still have a hard time learning to try new styles of clothing on, or not going for the dark colors when shopping for clothing.  I have to remind myself that I can walk farther and I don't have to park so close to the building anymore.  I still struggle with occassional snacking and have to remind myself that I must take my vitamins, eat slower and chew, chew, chew the food.

WLS is NOT the easy way out!!!!!!! 

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. 

Variation for fluff:  Do whatever flavor of pudding you like and add a little milk to get the texture you like.

Warning:  Walmart's ricotta is very grainy in texture and never mixes to anything smooth and creamy.  Tasty, but strange.

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.

 

Christmas was such a joy this year.  One granddaughter has a birthday on the 23rd so I took off work and took her and her sisters to see "Twilight".  We had a great time and enjoyed the movie.  On the 24th we made about 2 dozen luminaries to put out in front of the house for Christmas Eve and it looked so pretty.  Then it rained on Christmas Day so they were ruined for the rest of the season. 



We drove to Phoenix on Saturday to visit with two of the boys.  Joe enjoyed it the most because he was able to see his great grandson for the very first time.  The little guy even let him hold him and didn't want us to leave without him. 



I had kind of a "WOW" moment.  My oldest granddaughter told me, "Nana, you are so much more fun now that you have lost the weight".  That made my day.  I am really enjoying my grandchildren so much more these days.