Lynette1962

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Almond Peach Delight
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ½ -1 cup frozen peaches, ½ tsp almond extract, ½ tsp cinnamon
 
Apple Cinnamon
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ½-1 cup of chopped frozen apple, 1 tsp cinnamon
 
Apple Pie Delight -- YUMMY 
1 scoop of vanilla powder, 1 peeled and cored apple, cut into pieces, 1 ½ cups of milk,
½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, 5 Ice Cubes, Microwave the apple pieces for 2 minutes on high. Add all ingredients to blender, puree for 30 seconds.
 
Apple Smoothie
½ cup milk, skim, ¼ cup yogurt, plain, fat free, no added sugar,(greek yogurt will add additional protein!) ¼ cup applesauce, no added sugar, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, pinch cinnamon, pinch nutmeg, ¼ tsp. vanilla extract, 4 ice cubes, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds. 
 
Apricot Fantasy
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, 1- 2 small apricots, ¼ cup raw almonds
½ tsp almond extract, Ice
 
Banana Almond Creme
1 Banana, ½ Cup Milk, 10 Almonds, 1 scoop powder, 5 Ice Cubes
 
Banapple Blast
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ½ small green apple, ½ frozen banana
½ tsp cinnamon
 
Banana Bread Shake
2 scoops protein, 1 Banana, ½ Cup Quaker Oatmeal (cook with boiling water), ¾ Cup Kellogg's Bran Flakes, 1 Bottle of water, Sugar, Brown Sugar or Artificial Sweetener to taste.
 
Banana Cheerio Quickfast
1-2 scoops of chocolate powder, 6-8 ounces of water, 4-6 ice cubes, 1 banana, ¾ cup cheerios, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute. 
 
Banana Delight
8 oz water, ½ banana (frozen), 2 oz protein of choice, 2 tsp flax seed oil
 
Banana Split
Mix one serving of vanilla or chocolate according to directions. Then, add 1 ripe banana, ¼ cup chopped pineapple, 4 frozen strawberries and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds.

 

Berries & Cream Shake
1 Scoop Vanilla powder, 1 Scoop Ice, 1 Lil Can Of Pineapple Juice (cook with boiling water), 1 Handful Of Mixed Berries.
 
Berry Good Shake
Mix 2 scoops of Raspberry Yogurt and protein powder, 4 strawberries, 15 blueberries
16 ounces of nonfat milk, ½ cup of ice cubes.
 
Berry Madness
1-2 scoops of vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups water or skim milk, ¼ cup of frozen or fresh strawberries, ¼ cup of frozen or fresh blueberries, ¼ cup of frozen or fresh, raspberries, add ice for extra thickness
 
Blastoff
1 single tall espresso shot, 12 oz milk, 2 scoops vanilla powder, scoop ice
 
Blueberry Blaster
1-2 scoops of vanilla powder, 6-8 oz of water, 4 to 6 ice cubes, 20-30 blueberries, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute.
 
Blueberry Dream
10 oz water, ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1.5 oz protein of choice, 2 tsp flax seed oil, 15 drops liquid stevia (optional)
 
Blueberry Vanilla Pear
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½ cup frozen blueberries, ¼-½ cup chopped pear, Ice
 
Blue Mango Heaven
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼ -½ cup frozen mango, 1/3-½ cup blueberries
 
Breakfast Boost
Blend 8 oz of orange juice with a half-cup non-fat, plain yogurt, half a banana, one serving of protein, 1 tbsp flax seed oil, four frozen peach slices and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.


Breezy-Freezy Shake
1-2 scoops of vanilla powder, 1-1 ½ cups of  water or skim milk, 1 cup reduced fat mango yogurt, ¼ of frozen pineapple, ½ -1 banana, Add ice for extra thickness
 
Carnation Instant Breakfast Smoothie
¼ cup orange juice, 100%, ½ cup milk, skim, 1 package Carnation Instant Breakfast, vanilla, no added sugar, 1 scoop Any Protein, 4 ice cubes,  Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.  
 
Cherry Ripe
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½  frozen banana, ¼-½ cup frozen black cherries

 

Chocolate Almond Delight
10-12 oz water, 15 raw almonds, ½ tsp coconut extract, 1.5 oz chocolate powder, Stevia to taste (optional), 3-5 ice cubes (optional), (first, blend the almonds until creamy smooth in ½ the water, then add the rest of the ingredients)
 
Chocolate Banana Crunch
Mix one serving of chocolate according to directions. Then, add one banana and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds. Then, add four low-fat chocolate wafers, blend at low speed for ten seconds, and server.
 
Chocolate Banana Shake
1-2 scoops chocolate powder, 6-8 oz water, 4-6 ice cubes, 1 banana, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute.
 
Chocolate Coffee Shake
Mix 2 scoops of Milk Chocolate protein, 1 cup of skim milk, 5 ice cubes, 1 cup of water
1 spoonful of instant coffee,
 
Chocolate Dream
½ scoop Chocolate powder, ½ scoop Vanilla powder, 8 oz milk, skim, Stir ingredients together or use shaker cup. 
 
Chocolate Fudge Shake
2 scoops chocolate powder, 2 tbsp chocolate fudge sugar free pudding mix, 8 oz water
5 large ice cubes, tiny silver spoon (optional), Blend powder, pudding and water, add ice cubes, blend till crushed, with ice slivers still un-melted, pour into insulated cup (makes
about 16 oz) and eat it with a tiny silver spoon.
 
Chocolate Lovers
12 oz water, 1 tsp cocoa powder, 2 tbsp low fat sour cream, 10-15 drops liquid stevia, 2 oz protein chocolate flavor, 2 tsp flax seed oil
 
Chocolate Strawberry Blast
1-2 scoops of chocolate powder, 6-8 ounces of water, 4-6 ice cubes, 8 strawberries, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute.
 
Chocolate Vanilla Swirl
½ scoop chocolate powder, ½ scoop vanilla powder, splash Vitamite, splash water, Ice,
 
Choco-Banana Nut
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½  frozen banana, 1 tbsp of raw cashew butter

Chocolate Mocha
½ cup milk, skim, 1 1/3 Tbsp General Foods International Swiss Mocha Instant Coffee, sugar free, 1 scoop Chocolate powder, 4 ice cubes,  Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.   
 
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
Mix one serving of chocolate according to directions. Then, add 1 heaping tbsp of all-natural peanut butter and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.  (maybe use PB2?)

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Supreme
12 oz. Water, 4 ice cubes, 1 tbsp heavy whipping cream, 1 tbsp natural peanut butter, 2 scoops chocolate powder
 
Cinnamon Roll Supreme
Mix one serving of vanilla according to directions. Then, add ½ tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp fat-free Butter Buds and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.


Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake
2 scoops vanilla, 1 tbsp sugar-free instant vanilla pudding, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 packet artificial sweetener, a few dashes butter flavor sprinkles or butter-flavor extract, 8 oz. water (or low-fat milk), 3 ice cubes, Add all ingredients to blender, whip, and serve.
 
Coffee Lovers Delight
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½ cup raw almonds or cashews, 1-2 tsp instant decaffeinated coffee
 
Creamsicle
¾ cup orange juice, 100%, 1 package, Carnation Instant Breakfast, vanilla, 1 scoop protein powder, 4 ice cubes
 
Creamy Coffee Ice Cream
1 scoop of vanilla powder, 13 oz ice cubes, 3 oz water, 2 tsp ground coffee, Blend the ice cubes until you get a snow. Add the protein, the ground coffee, the water and blend for 5-10 minutes to a smooth consistency. Freeze 30 - 60 minutes for thicker ice cream.
 
Creamy Peach Smoothie
1-2 scoops of vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups water or skim milk, ¼-½ cup of frozen peaches, ¼-½  frozen banana, ice for extra thickness
 
Double Deluxe Chocolate Fudge
Mix one serving of chocolate according to directions. Then, add one packet of Swiss Miss fat-free hot cocoa mix and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.


Eggnog
1 scoop Vanilla powder, 1 cup skim milk, ¼ cup egg substitute, 1 Tbsp Instant, pudding, vanilla, sugar free, dry, ½ tsp. vanilla extract, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.  Chill, and then stir prior to serving.   
 
Eye opener
1 scoop protein powder, 1 tsp instant coffee, 12 oz ice cold water, 2 ice cubes and blend

 

Fat Burning Peaches and Cream
8 oz water, 1 ripe peach, 2 tbs. low fat sour cream, 8 drops liquid stevia (optional)
1.5 oz protein of choice
 
Frozen Chocolate Banana
12 oz. Water, 4-5 ice cubes, 1 banana, 1 tbsp heavy cream, 2 scoops chocolate powder
 
Fruit Freeze
½ cup skim milk, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, 5 strawberries, frozen, no added sugar, 2 peaches, frozen, no added sugar, ¼ cup pineapple, canned, packed in juice, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer.   
  
Fruit Smoothie
2 scoops strawberry, 4 large strawberries, blueberries ( a small handful), water (just a few drops), ½ cup ice, Splenda, Start off by crushing the ice in the blender and then gradually add the fruit and enough water to get it smooth. Finish off with the two scoops of whey and enough Splenda to make it sweet.
 
German Chocolate Cake
12 oz Water, 4 ice cubes, 1 tbsp heavy cream, 1 tbsp cream of coconut, 2 scoops chocolate powder
 
Ginger Bread Man
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 graham cracker, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 capful vanilla, 12oz water, 4 Ice Cubes ,Blend 45 seconds
 
High Energy Shake!
10 oz water, 10 strawberries (Fresh or Frozen), 1 tbsp flax seed oil, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 heaping scoop protein, Stevia to taste (optional), 2-3 ice cubes (optional)
 
Hot Cocoa
1 cup milk, skim, 1 scoop Chocolate powder, Heat milk in microwave on high power for 90 seconds or until desired temperature is reached.  Stir in Matrix 5.0 until dissolved. 
 
Hot Cocoa
1 cup milk, skim, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, 1 packet hot cocoa, sugar free, Heat milk in microwave on high power for 90 seconds or until desired temperature is reached.  Stir in Matrix 5.0 and hot cocoa until dissolved.   
Iced Café Vienna
1 cup milk, skim, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, 1 2/3 Tbsp  General Foods International Coffees Café Vienna, sugar free, 4 ice cubes, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds. 
 
Iced Latte      
1 cup decaffeinated coffee, chilled, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, 4 ice cubes, Place all ingredients in blender.  Blend until smooth.   
 
Juicy Lucy
10 oz apple juice (can use orange/blend), 1 scoop ice, ½ large banana, 4 frozen strawberries, 2 scoops vanilla powder

 

Key Lime Pie
Mix one serving of vanilla whey according to directions. Then, add 2 tbsp frozen lime juice, one graham cracker (four small squares) and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.


Melon madness
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½ cup frozen watermelon
 
Mocha Shake
6 oz. Water, 4 ice cubes, 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream, 6 oz. coffee*, 2 scoops chocolate powder, *You may use 12 oz. coffee and no water for an extra pre-workout or morning kick!
 
Nada Colada Protein Shake
2 scoops vanilla, ½, cup pineapple-orange juice*, ¼ tsp rum extract, ¼ tsp coconut extract (or 2 tbsp shredded coconut), 1 packet artificial sweetener, 4 oz. water (or low-fat milk), 3-6 ice cubes, Low-carb version: Omit juice and use ½ tsp sugar-free pineapple-orange drink mix (dry). Increase water or milk to 8 oz, Add all ingredients to blender, whip, and serve.
 
Oatmeal Meal Replacement Shake
1 cup dry measure oatmeal, cooked in water and cooled, 2 scoops vanilla, 3 dashes cinnamon, 1/8 cup sugar free maple syrup or equivalent amount brown sugar replacement, 1 tbsp chopped almonds (or flaxseed oil or natural peanut butter), 12 oz water or low-fat milk, Add all ingredients to blender, blend, and pour into cup. If your short on time, just use dry oatmeal or oat flour.
 
Orange And Cream Delight
1 Bottle of Orange Gatorade, 1 scoop Vanilla, Simple, yet tasty!
 
Orange Creamsicle
1-2 scoops of vanilla powder, 6-8 ounces of water, 4-6 ice cubes, 1-2 peeled oranges, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute. 
Orange Vanilla Shake
Mix 2 scoops of Vanilla, 8 oz Orange Juice, 4-5 ice cubes, 1 tsp Vanilla, ½ banana, 2-3 frozen strawberries, 2 packets of sweetener,
 
PB&J
Mix one serving of vanilla according to directions. Then, add one heaping tbsp of all-natural peanut butter and four frozen strawberries. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve

 

Peanut Brittle Protein Shake
2 scoops vanilla, 1 tbsp sugar-free instant butterscotch pudding mix, dry 1 tbsp natural peanut butter, chunky, 8 oz. cold water or lowfat milk, 3-6 ice cubes This mimics peanut brittle only in taste. Add all ingredients to blender, blend, and serve. I like to add the peanut butter in last so it stays a little chunky, just like the peanut brittle it is replacing.
 
Peanut Butter And Banana Shake
2 scoops Vanilla, 100g almond flakes, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 500ml skim milk, half banana, 1 tbsp honey
 
Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffle
2 scoops chocolate powder, 1 tsp peanut butter, 16 ounces nonfat milk, ½ cup ice cubes
 
Peppermint Oatmeal Shake
Mix 2 scoops of Milk Chocolate Protein, 1 cup sugar free vanilla ice cream, 1 cup oatmeal, 2 cups non-fat milk, ½ cup water, a splash of peppermint extract!
 
Piña Colada
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ½ -1 cup frozen pineapple pieces, ½ tsp coconut extract
 
Pina Colada Passion
12 oz. Water, 4 ice cubes, 3 scoops vanilla powder, 1/3 cup Pineapple chunks
2 tsp Coconut extract
 
Pineapple Blast
4 ice cubes, 12 oz. Water, 2 scoops vanilla powder, ½ cup pineapple chunks
 
Pineapple Power
1 cup of pineapple juice, 3 strawberries, 1 banana, 1 tsp of yogurt, 1 scoop of your choice of protein
 
Plum Ice Shake
Mix 2 scoops of Vanilla, 1 ripe plum, juice of 1 lemon, 16 oz of ice water, ½ cup ice cubes.
 
Protein Power Carnation Instant Breakfast
1 cup milk, skim, 1 package Carnation Instant Breakfast, no added sugar, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein, 4 ice cubes , Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.   
 
Protein Power Crystal Light
½ cup Crystal Light, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein, 2 Tbsp Cool Whip Free, 4 ice cubes, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.
 
Protein Power Plus Carnation Instant Breakfast
1 cup milk, skim, 1 package Carnation Instant Breakfast, no added sugar, 2 scoops Any Whey Protein, 4 ice cubes, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds. 
 

Protein Power Orange Frostie
½ cup orange juice, 100%, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein, 2 Tbsp Cool Whip Light, 4 ice cubes,  Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.   
 
Protein Power Pineapple Smoothie
2/3 cup pineapple juice, 100%, ½ cup cottage cheese, fat free, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein
Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.  Strain through a fine mesh strainer.   
 
Protein Power Strawberry Carnation Instant Breakfast
1 cup milk, skim, 1 package Carnation Instant Breakfast, no added sugar, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein, ½ cup strawberries, frozen, no added sugar,  Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.   
 
Protein Powered Vegetable Juice
1 cup tomato or V-8 juice, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein, Blend or use a shaker cup to mix well.  Pour over ice or blend with ice.   
 
Protein Shake
1 cup skim milk, 2 tsp safflower oil, Several pieces of ice, 1 banana, 1 package of Carnation Instant Breakfast, (any flavor--strawberry, chocolate, cappacino, French vanilla, chocolate malt), Mix together in blender until ice is completely crushed and mixed well.
 
Protein Tower of Power
Mix two servings of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry according to directions, and three ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.


Pumpkin Spice Latte
1 scoop Vanilla powder, 1 tbsp Canned Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling), ¼ tsp Apple Pie Spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice), ½ cup Skim Milk, 2 tsp Splenda or Equal (add more or less to adjust sweetness), ½ cup Water, 1 tsp Instant Coffee (regular or decaf), Heat water in microwave (below 130 degrees) then, mix in instant coffee Add: -Coffee (as prepared above), milk, canned pumpkin, Vanilla powder, apple pie spice and sweetener in blender -Blend until combined (about 30 seconds) -Heat in microwave
until warm or serve over ice Fun Extras: -Serve with a cinnamon stick -Top with 1 tablespoon of cool-whip (sugar free or regular) and sprinkle with Apple Pie Spice
 
Quick Start
3 oranges (fresh juiced only, NOT canned or bottled, 6 drops liquid stevia (optional)
1 oz protein of choice
 
Raspberry Chocolate Thick
1-2 scoops of chocolate powder, 6-8 ounces of whole (or 2%) milk, 6 ice cubes
8 raspberries, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute. Pour into a tall glass. Drink or eat with a spoon!
 
Raspberry Rhubarb Magic
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½ cup frozen chopped rhubarb, ¼-½ cup frozen raspberries

 

Rise and Shine
½ cup orange juice, 100%, ¼ cup yogurt, vanilla, fat free, no added sugar, ¼ banana, ripe
3 peach slices, frozen, no added sugar, 2 scoops Any Whey Protein, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.  Strain through a fine metal mesh strainer. 
  
Rock N' Roll Protein Shake
1 cup water, 1 big scoop vanilla powder, ¾ cup natural yogurt, 1 banana, 1 tsp of flax-seed oil, 2 tsp of honey,
 
Root Beer Float
1 can Diet A&W Root Beer, 1-2 tbsp Heavy Cream, 4 ice cubes, 1-3 scoops vanilla powder
 
Root Beer Float
Mix one cup of diet root beer, that has gone flat with one scoop vanilla powder, and it tastes like a root beer float!
 
Simply Peachy-Keen
1-2 scoops vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups water or skim milk, ¼-½ cup of, frozen peaches, Add ice for extra thickness
 
Strawberry-Banana Frost
Mix one serving of strawberry according to directions. Then, add 1 ripe banana and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.
   
Strawberry Berry Berry
1 scoop Strawberry powder, 4 strawberries (frozen or fresh), ¼ cup blueberries, 1 cup cranberry juice, 1 cup ice or crushed ice, Put all ingredients into blender and mix to desired consistency., Serve cold.

Strawberry Cheesecake
Mix one serving of vanilla according to directions. Then, add three tbsp of Jell-O's no-bake, reduced-fat cheesecake mix, three low-fat vanilla wafers, and four frozen strawberries. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.
    
Strawberry Chocolate Milk
2 Scoops Strawberry powder, 1 Scoop Carnation Fat Free Hot Cocoa, 14 oz water
Mix in blender with ice for a "shake" or shake in shaker for a more, milky consistency

Strawberry Delight
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼-½ cup frozen strawberries, ¼ cup frozen mango slices
 
Strawberry Nut Shake
Mix 2 Scoops Vanilla, 1 cup fat-free strawberry yogurt, 6 shredded macadamia nuts.
 
Strawberry for Protein Dummies
10 frozen strawberries, ½ small banana, 1 scoop powder, 8 oz Water, 1/3 cup Carnation Nonfat Dry Milk, Splenda to taste

 

Strawberry Savior
4 scoops vanilla powder, 8 oz water, 1 strawberry yogurt, 3 frozen strawberries
1 tsp flax seed oil,  
 
Super Slimmer
8 oz water, 1 tbsp flax seed oil, ½ ripe peach (peeled), 6 frozen strawberries
1 heaping scoop protein, Stevia to taste (optional)
 
Super Vanilla Shake
½ cup milk, skim, ¼ cup yogurt, plain, fat free, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, 1 scoop Any Whey Protein, 4 ice cubes, Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.   
 
Tangerine Cream
12 oz. Tangerine Diet Rite, 4 Ice Cubes, 1-2 tbsp heavy cream, 1-3 scoops vanilla powder
 
The Best Protein Shake Ever
2 scoops chocolate, 10 Ice Cubes, 12 oz fat free milk, 2 tbsp fat free vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter, 2 tbsp hazelnut coffee, 1/8 cup caramel ice cream topping, You can add more or less caramel topping, depending on how sweet you want your shake.
 
The Best Overall Tasting Homemade Protein Shake
16 oz skim milk, 2 cups no-fat cottage cheese, 3 scoops vanilla, ½ cup non-fat, reduced-sugar vanilla yogurt scoop of your favorite fruit, Splenda or Sweet-n-Low to taste (about 2 packets), Handful of Ice, Blend together and chill. 
 
The Hulk
2 scoops vanilla, ½ tbsp sugar-free pistachio pudding mix, 1 mint leaf or a few drops peppermint extract (optional), 1 few drops green food coloring (optional), 8 oz cold water or low-fat milk , 3-5 ice cubes, Add all ingredients to blender, blend, and pour into cup. This tastes great without the mint so don't worry if you don't have it around. The shake is a light green even without the food coloring but if you want it green (like The Hulk!), you'll need a few drops.
 
Tropical Fruit Freeze
Mix one serving of strawberry according to directions. Then, add ¼ cup frozen, unsweetened peaches, ¼ cup pineapple, and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.
     
Thick Banana Protein Shake
1 cup skim milk, 2 tsp. safflower oil, Several pieces of ice, 1 banana, 1 package of Carnation Instant Breakfast, (any flavor–strawberry, chocolate, cappuccino, French vanilla, chocolate malt), Mix together in blender until ice is completely crushed and mixed well.
 
Tropical Pleasure
8 oz water, ½ tsp pineapple extract, ½ tsp coconut extract, 1 tbsp heavy cream
½ frozen banana, 1 heaping scoop (1 oz) of Egg Protein, Stevia or Agave to taste (optional), 2-3 ice cubes (optional)

 

Tropical Treat
8 oz water, ½ banana (frozen), 2 tbsp low fat sour cream, 1 tsp coconut extract
10-15 drops liquid stevia (optional), 1.5 oz. protein of choice (vanilla flavor)
 
Two Berry Delight
1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries, ½ cup raspberries, ½ cup water, 1 cup ice, 1 packet of sweetener, ½ cup milk, 1 cup orange juice vitamins or protein powder, Put all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until smooth. Add ice and blend to give it a frozen smoothie consistency
 
Vanilla Banana Creamy
1-2 scoops of vanilla powder, 6-8 oz of water or whole (or 2%) milk, 6 ice cubes, 1 banana, Mix in a blender on medium for 1 minute. Pour into a tall glass. 
 
Vanilla Coffee Delight
10-12 oz. low-fat milk, 2 scoops vanilla protein powder, ½ cup low-fat coffee flavored ice cream, Add all ingredients in blender. Blend and enjoy.
 
Vanilla Nut
1 scoop vanilla powder, 1 ½ cups skim milk, ¼ cup raw organic oatmeal, 1 tbsp raw cashew butter, ½ tsp cinnamon
 
Vanilla Shake
½ cup milk, skim, ¼ cup yogurt, plain, fat free, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, 4 ice cubes
 Put all ingredients into blender.  Blend on high for 45 seconds.   
 
Vanilla Yogurt Smoothie
1 cup plain, fat free yogurt, 1 scoop Vanilla powder, ¼ cup milk, skim, Place all ingredients in blender.  Blend until smooth.   
 
Whey Egg Nog
Mix one serving of vanilla according to directions. Then, add ½ tsp ground allspice, 1 graham cracker (4 small squares) and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.
 
Wild Berry Boost
2 scoops vanilla, 8 raspberries, 4 strawberries, 15 blueberries, 16 ounces nonfat milk, ½ cup ice cubes
 
Yogurt Smoothie
Blend 1-2 scoops of Any Whey Protein into your favorite no added sugar smooth yogurt flavor and ½ cup milk.  

 

 

Over the past few weeks I have been dealing with some old demons.  It started @ Christmas when I was tempted with chocolate and found that not only did I NOT dump but I did not get migraines when I ate a little chocolate.  So everyday for a period of 2 weeks, I would eat a little chocolate.  Best of all, I did not gain any weight.  I was on cloud 9.  

Then January approached and by mid January I was down to 119....I felt great and very cocky about my eating habits.  I felt I could eat anything and I would not gain weight.  I started to eat potato chips, sun chips, granola bars, cookies, crackers, rice cakes and @ work, there were jubes and jelly beans at the front desk that I would grab a few of every day.  I am now up to 120.5.  

I feel huge and my body image is suffering.  I feel out of control of my eating and the emotional eating has returned. Last night I ate a bag of rice cakes, half a bag of crackers, some ice cream and I felt ashamed of myself for the lack of control.  I hate that I have allowed myself to walk down this dangerous road again.  I hate that I do not dump when I eat something that I should not.  I am disgusted with myself that I have worked so hard to change my eating habits and I am allowing all this poison back into my healthy body.  I should know better - but the emotional eating has returned.  I risked my life for this surgery and I am throwing this gift that I was granted away.  

I love being able to go into regular stores to buy regular size clothing and I am letting food win this battle

I will WIN this battle .......today the insanity will STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Well I thought I would chart my weight for another year to keep track of any significant loses/gains. My eating has all but returned to normal and I am snacking between meals.  I do not feel as though I am depriving myself.  I can even eat chocolate, something I couldn't do before surgery because of my migraines. I do not eat a lot of chocolate nor do I snack on fattening foods, I still have not eatten candy (ie: licorise, allsorts, jubes etc.)  - but some days I do feel like I eat too much. I continue to weigh myself daily as I am so concerned about gaining weight.  I am currently wearing a size 4 and I am pleased with this.  I don't really want to get below 115 AND I don't want to get above 125 - so that is my range that I would be content with.  As of Dec 31/12 I weighed 121pounds. 

Dec 31/12 = 121

Jan 16/13 = 119,  Jan 31/13 = 120.5

Feb 28/13 = 122

March 31/13 = 121.5

April 20/13 - my weight has remained pretty consistent since the beginning of the year.  I am able to maintain between 120 - 124 pounds and my eating habits have returned to normal.  I try not to weigh myself daily although some weeks this is more difficult than other's.  I have shared my weight loss surgery with a few co-workers and they all seem supportive of my decision.  

I still have difficulty with some foods (ie: pasta, rice, chinese food) and have the feeling of an elephant sitting on my chest when I eat to quickly.  I continue to induce vomiting when I am extremely uncomfortable and occasionally when I have overeaten.  This week I went to Bulk Barn and purchased approximately 50 cents worth of jubes ....I would estimate there were about 25 jubes.  By the time I ate them I felt sick to my stomach although I did not dump....I forced myself to vomit when I got home but literally nothing came up.  I still have the desire to "hord" my food and the emotional eating continues, especially when I am bored and lonely.  

One evening this past week I woke up to terrible gas pains - I am not sure if it was a "dumping" episode but it certainly had similiar symptoms to my past dumping episodes.  

I know longer struggle with having my picture taken.  I enjoy trying on clothes and feel comfortable with my size.  Although I have sagging skin and the fat has all but disappeared in my breasts ...these are the scars I carry of my obesity and I try to celebrate my new body rather than focus on the negative aspects of my old body.  

Everyday I am thankful for the opportunity that this surgery has given me to enjoy my healthy NEW  lifestyle. 

August 30/13 = 124.5 

It's been a while since I have written anything but I continue to weigh myself almost daily to help manage my weight.  

Some hours/days/weeks are more difficult than others.  

I know I am eating more "junk" type food as my pouch seems to handle these types of food easier, BUT my ulcer does not agree and has been acting up more.  

I continue to induce vomiting if I have that horrible pain in my chest, the one that feels like an elephant is sitting on me.  Again, some days are better than others.  

I am forever thankful for this surgery and continue to work on my emotional eating issues.  

December 29/13 = 125.5

It's been about 4 months since I have written anything but as I wrote in August, I continue to weight myself almost daily to help manage my weight.  

Some days are more difficult than others and this holiday season has been much more difficult than last Christmas as my body has been able to handle sugar and sweets better (unfortunately) than last year. 

I continue to induce vomiting if I have that horrible chest pain.  

I still struggle with body image even though people call me "tiny", "skinny", and most recently "my little elf".  

I am able to wear the same clothing as last winter which is a huge success and I enjoy going out and trying clothing.  

I did not go for my 2 year check up at TWH as they did not call and I did not go for the blood work they requested.  

My highest weight since August was 129 (only for 1 morning) and my goal is to keep my weight under 125.  I find that if I keep my sugar and carb intake under control, I can keep my weight under 125.  

I will continue to monitor my weight and my goal is to start walking on a regular basis beginning in January/14.  

As I reflect this past year, I thought putting into words/number's would be a good way to share my weight loss accomplishment in 2012.

Jan 1/12 = 185 pounds/BMI 36.1 = obese category.

Weight loss in Jan/12 = 10 pounds, Feb/12 = 6 pounds, March/12 = 7 pounds, April/12 = 5.5 pounds, May/12 = 7.5 pounds (reached Overweight category May 14/12), June/12 = 6.5 pounds, July/12 = 4.5 pounds, August/12 = 4.5 pounds, Sept/12 = 3.5 pounds, October/12 = 0 pounds, November/12 = 4.5 pounds (reached Normal BMI in November), December/12 = 4.5 pounds. 

Dec 31/12 = 121 pounds/BMI 23.6 = normal category.

 

I fucking did it..... Down 100.5 pounds. 

Today's weight = 127 ANDDDDDD I have a Normal BMI 

 One year ago I was undergoing my RNY surgery @ Toronto Western Hospital, prior to my 2 weeks of Optifast I weighed in @ 227.5 with a BMI of 44.3.  I was wearing size 18W and was struggling to fit into my clothes but determined not to have to buy larger clothes.  I was diagnosed with high choloesteral, had high blood pressure, my resting heart rate was over 90 and was constantly aware of how I looked and felt about my body and body image. 

Today, one year later, I weigh 129.5 with a BMI of 25.1. I no longer have high blood pressure, high choloesteral, and my resting heart rate is in the mid 70's.  I walk with my head held high with confidence and can fit into a size 4 or 6.  I continue to lose weight although it has slowed down signficantly as maintaining is now my focus.  

I have lost a total of 98 pounds and I am very proud of myself.  
I am 2 pounds away from 100 pounds and .2 points away from a normal BMI. 

Things I have not eaten in the last year include:
-red licorise, allsorts and other previously beloved candy
-sugar free or regular pop
-ice cream cones OR sundae's from McDonalds (a regular staple to my pre-RNY surgery diet)
-Mento's (OMG was I addicted to these)
-I no longer crave Lay's BBQ potatoe chips and can have them in the house (yes I did try them - but didn't like them and only had 1 chip)
-chocolate and chocolate cookies (although I do love the chocolate protein bars)
-my love for peanut butter has all but diminished 

Things I still have difficulty eating include:
-steak
-chicken
-pasta (although I can eat lasagna)
-scrambled eggs (although I can eat hard boiled, quiche and fried)
-haven't tried pork products yet (not a big pork eater anyway)
-spicey foods still upset my pouch 

Things I have learned:
-chew, chew  and chew or my pouch will not be a happy camper
-food does not = happiness
-I do not need to buy everything that fits anymore
-I am glad that I took pictures along my journey and I encourage everyone to do the same (they speak volumes, especially when you are in a plateau phas)
-surrounding myself with support has made this journey much easier
-drinking water and liquids is VERY important
-listening to my body is VERY important, talk to the nurse when things don't feel right (I have been diagnosed with an ulcer and am now on medication - pouch is very happy now)
-RNY is a tool, I still have to make wise choices regarding what I eat, what I drink and whether or not I exercise

 Today I celebrate a decision that I made this day last year that will impact me for the rest of my life. I thank each and everyone of you that have encouraged and supported me during this journey....I am also full of emotion as I look at these pictures remembering the pain (both physically and emotionally) of being obese, the decision to have weight loss surgery and the ongoing daily decisions i make to fuel my body with healthy foods.

 Food for Thought
by Carol Signore, MAT, LMFT, FAED

What will life be like without compulsive overeating? Lucy a pre-op, asked me a powerful and interesting question. A compulsive overeater, she thought that her "compulsivity" might be hard to give up after surgery. As excited as she was about her upcoming surgery, she was genuinely concerned about what her life would be like without overeating, and she wondered where all that compulsivity would go. What a great question!

Compulsive overeating covers us up
Eating lots and eating often seems to fill us up, but it serves our emotional appetite not our physical hunger. We aren't actually that hungry, but we feel hungry, so eating helps us gain control over our lives when we are needy.  Compulsive overeating crowds out healthier ways of coping. As we rely on it more and more exclusively, it depletes our repertoire of coping strategies. It seems effective in the moment. We get attached to it. Giving that practice up forever is a daunting thought?although not all pre-ops see the challenge as clearly as Lucy did. In the end, compulsive overeating actually covers us up more than it fills us up, and it makes it tough to know what we really need. Compulsive eating seems to help us manage stress and soothe powerful feelings, but it is more likely to increase our levels of stress and even intensify our feelings of being out of control.

Eating is a complicated experience. The social and pleasuring implications of eating go way beyond the fuel it provides. For most of us, our earliest experiences of feeling loved and cared for were enjoyed in the arms of our mothers while eating. Compulsive overeaters learn to reach for food to obtain that feeling of nurturing again and again when life feels empty or boring, happy or sad, or like it is just missing something. Eating can also be a way to celebrate. Lucy saw it as a special, secret time just for her. She chose a secret food and ate it ravenously. The social rewards of eating are completely lost when eating is practiced alone like this. That?s why, when Lucy finished an episode of compulsive overeating, she didn't feel nurtured for long. She was quickly filled up with self-hatred and shame. Compulsive overeating takes much more than it gives. The fix is temporary and the harm is long term.

Dangerous Substitutes
Weight loss surgery trims our ability to overeat by giving us a small pouch/stomach, but it is unlikely to reduce our head hunger or dampen our appetites for love and nurturing. Without overeating, as Lucy rightly predicted, we are exposed to all our deepest needs and compulsive feelings. We fully feel the stress we've been covering up with food. It can be very scary at first. If you truly observe yourself at this stage of your recovery, you will probably be surprised at how quickly you attempt to substitute new compulsive behaviors for overeating. Try to avoid substituting new cover-up behaviors. It's important to learn to feel and manage your feelings without covering them up. Get help if you need it; many of us do. If you work through this rocky emotional period well, you can use your weight loss surgery as a springboard to build healthy new ways of coping and being in your life. Surgery can't repair an abusive childhood or revitalize a bad marriage. It can't put reward in an unrewarding job or excitement in a life that's grown dull, but it can provide a unique opportunity for you to get started doing those things for yourself.

Substitutes for overeating abound. Some look harmless but may not be. Here are common substitute behaviors to avoid.

Purging
The urge to self-induce vomiting is very strong for some WLS patients?especially in the early post-op months. Once this habit is begun it can be very hard to stop. Patients with histories of bulimia are at particularly high risk. Some medical issues early in recovery can cause vomiting, but they are rare, and should not be expected. Most of the time post-ops can and should control their vomiting by eating appropriate quantities of food and chewing it slowly and thoroughly. The pain that follows overfilling the pouch or eating too fast is an important teacher. Don?t shortcut that lesson by removing the evidence you need to feel and remember that you chose to eat too much or too fast.

When self-induced vomiting becomes habitual it is very dangerous, and, as any bulimic knows, purging is powerfully addictive. If it happens more than twice a week over several weeks you should seek professional help as quickly as possible.

Clothes Shopping
Shopping for clothes is a terrific high for many bariatric surgery patients. Some have never been small enough to buy normal sizes in regular stores, so reaching that goal is momentous. It's important to celebrate such milestones and to buy new clothing that fits well and feels good. Clothing that looks good and makes us feel attractive can provide a helpful boost of confidence for our morphing bodies.

Post-ops should be wary, however, of the potential for overindulgence in clothes shopping and the return to compulsivity that can develop around this behavior.  Overindulging in clothes is a close relative to overindulging in food; both are cover-ups. Newly slim post-ops may be drawn to clothing as a way to prolong the attention their weight loss initially generated and may now be waning. They may feel seduced by the excitement that surrounds the world of fashion and clothing. It's easy to be caught up in this thin obsessed western culture and clothing may feel like an important ticket into that world. Beware! The world of fashion is a world plagued with eating disorders. Weight loss surgery aims to move you toward health. Your love and acceptance for yourself does not depend on your size or the style of your clothing. New clothes seem to provide an emotional fill-up, and as with other behaviors that become compulsive, the temporary relief heightens the need for repeat fill-ups. Dependence is established on that need for more. The real need is for self-acceptance and balance. Using clothes shopping to cope with feelings is a dangerous path back into compulsive behavior. Enjoy your new clothes and size as just one part of the many ways your new body is changing and enjoying better health.

Spending Money
Spending money on anything to cover up your real feelings or problems is another way to substitute for overeating. Overspending, like overeating, seems to sooth us for a short time and temporarily helps us manage our emotions. New toys, electronic gadgets, CDs or DVDs, trinkets from the mall or souvenirs from trips can pile up around us like insulation. What are we trying to cover up? This is the time to figure it out. There can be a very addictive quality to spending money regardless of the items purchased. For big wallets, compulsive spending might mean more furniture, more art, more antiques, newer cars, etc., but any new acquisition that gives us a brief lift or a momentary respite from reality can begin a pattern of spending that becomes compulsive. Spending feels exciting and dangerous at the same time. Sometimes you can feel your heart pounding as you pull out your credit card. Those are powerful feelings, and all that adrenalin makes you feel very alive, but spiraling spending can be devastating to long-term security and financial health. Find your excitement in simpler ways and learn to know and love the new person your WLS has uncovered.

Relationships
Long years of morbid obesity and social ostracism leave many post-ops with powerful feelings of low self-esteem. Even after WLS our old fears of rejection will battle with our longings for acceptance. In the absence of compulsive overeating to sooth such intense and conflicted feelings, the emotional ride into recovery is likely to be rocky. Surgery can help patients acquire a more normal looking body but the transition into better self esteem and real body acceptance is much more complicated.

Adults who were morbidly obese as teens will not easily forget the profound isolation they endured. Anger may assert itself in aggressive ways. Personalities that were unflappable and compliant before surgery seem to rise up in righteous indignation afterwards pushing away anyone who tries to get close. Friends and family will feel this wrath and resent being targets of this rage. Some post-ops will be tempted to throw out old relationships along with their larger clothes and start anew. Sometimes pre-op relationships are toxic enough to warrant this but it?s important to go slow here. Relationships that were rocky before surgery will probably get rockier and may eventually have to be abandoned, but relationships that were solid before surgery will likely weather the transition and be even better in the end. Post-ops need to take their time and be sure to make wise choices. Friends and family are never perfect but they are precious resources; protect them from your swirling emotions until you arrive at a calm and stable place in your recovery. You need to understand your anger and compulsive urges and develop lots of new effective coping strategies. It will take at least two years?or even longer for many. 

Substance Abuse
Alcohol is a high-risk substance for all bariatric patients. Most discover the change in their tolerance for alcohol early in their recoveries. Patients who have persistent dumping syndrome will find it uncomfortable and unpleasant to drink at all. Others may enjoy a new and pleasant sensation of intoxication that they have not experienced before. Post-ops need to exercise extreme caution with alcohol.

Alcohol and other drugs can anesthetize some of the powerful feelings that patients notice after surgery; these substances also reduce normal inhibitions. This is a dangerous combination for people who are trying to get used to life without their old and best coping mechanism: overeating. Recovering patients need to feel, and cope in healthy ways, without covering up. Even a small portion of alcohol can cover up important feelings, obscure danger and induce a very vulnerable and impaired state after surgery.

Alcohol intoxication is short lived for most post-ops. A small drink has a big impact but can disappear quickly. Post-op drinkers have trouble adjusting to these new parameters. Some patients may try to drink small amounts over longer periods of time in order to sustain the new feeling of intoxication they are enjoying.

Driving risks will be magnified more than normal for post-ops under the influence of alcohol. People who are used to feeling safe after one or two drinks at a meal will no longer be able to operate their cars safely using that formula. At the same time it is easy to underestimate these risks because the amount of alcohol consumed seems so small.

Sex
Most people dream that after WLS they will finally realize the love and happiness their morbid obesity and disfiguring weights denied them before. Some patients are keenly disappointed when broken marriages don't revive after surgery and romance is more elusive than they imagined. A cautionary word about dating and sex is especially important. 

Adolescence and young adulthood are the times when most people explore their sexuality and look for life partners. But as we noted earlier, post-ops who were morbidly obese during adolescence are apt to be very inexperienced in matters of sex and dating, and may have very weak or inadequate social skills when it comes to sharing intimacy.

New daters often misread the cues and signals of their peers. They may unknowingly reach out to inappropriate partners when seeking physical and sexual acceptance. They didn't learn how and weren't taught the rules at the normal developmental stage of life. It's awkward and difficult to try to learn these skills later in life when everyone else already knows them. It would not be surprising to find adult post-ops engaged in dating scenarios more common to teens than adults. Risk-taking increases when sexually stimulated people experiment carelessly without their old coping strategies.

For a person who has had little positive sexual experience, the sense of suddenly being sexually alluring to another can be very exciting, seductive, and terrifying all at once. Powerful needs that have gone unmet for years will cause enormous pressure and may propel people into sexual experiences they are not prepared to have. New sexual appetites and behaviors are best explored slowly and carefully. If sex is used as a way to satisfy empty feelings and unmet longings it can easily become a compulsive substitute for overeating and block the formation of a wider, healthy range of coping skills. Promiscuity can develop and jeopardize the formation of healthy intimate relationships. In extreme situations a recovering patient may unwittingly place themselves in the very real danger of becoming the victim of an assault or a sexually transmitted disease.

Compulsive Computer Use
The internet is a natural pitfall for post-ops because they use it so extensively when researching their surgery and establishing their post-op support networks. It sometimes becomes a new best friend, or a habit-forming substitute for food and eating. Recovering overeaters also fall into excessive computer use to zone out or to cover up their feelings of loss or stress just as they did with food before surgery. The computer can be a lifeline for patients who are isolated or live in rural areas and many patients will want to take advantage of the enormous array of help available online but it's important to put appropriate boundaries around the time spent on the computer. It's possible to get so caught up in the online world that the real one slips away. Computer use becomes excessive when it interferes with business at work or with family at home or when it keeps us insulated from being fully present in our new lives. Instead of learning and practicing new coping strategies we substitute compulsive word processing, emailing and chatting for compulsive overeating. The first time the substitute fails to be effective overeating will be waiting to return. 

Exercise
Exercise is important for post-ops, as everyone should know, but exercise should be part of a thoughtful plan with moderation, consistency, and an appropriate goal in mind. I emphasize appropriate because exercise is about better fitness and health, not about losing weight. Unfortunately it is easy for compulsive overeaters to set unrealistic expectations for exercise, especially in the first few months after surgery. The set-up is very dangerous. The novelty of surgery generates high levels of excitement early in recovery, but failing to stay with an unrealistic exercise regime can throw a tender new life style far off course. Our old patterns of behavior with food resurface quickly almost as if they have been waiting in the wings. Failing at over-exercising translates quickly into failing at all exercise and eventually failing at recovery altogether. If we fail at extreme exercising we must be one of the hard-core losers who just can't do it. We throw our baby surgical tool out with the exercise bathwater and then wonder why surgery didn't work.

Another concern is the bounce-back regain. Some patients who engage in a strenuous exercise routine over the first post-op year will lose more weight than their body is able to maintain. As soon as the strenuous exercise routine ends (and it almost always does) patients experience a 10 or 15 or even 20 pound bounce back. The bounce back precipitates a crisis of faith in surgery and a panic about regain. Dieting and yo-yo restricting begin out of habit and patients find themselves in the familiar territory that fueled their morbid obesity in the first place.

When establishing a post-op exercise routine, emphasize how great exercising makes you feel. It should make you feel good! It?s hard to find the time for this important part of life but exercise shouldn't hurt?and it shouldn't ruin the day if we do or don't do it. Exercise can become a very cruel overseer if we espouse the no pain, no gain philosophy. That kind of exercise begs us to quit.  It also sets a very negative tone for the day if it feels like an obligation instead of a contribution we make willingly. It's a little like excessive-compulsive weighing on the scale. It's important to keep an eye on the scale on a regular basis, but if your day is completely colored by the numbers on the scale or the number of reps or sit-ups, then something is out of kilter.

Some would argue that compulsive exercise is healthy better than compulsive eating. They fantasize about cultivating exercise as a new and healthy addiction. Don't fall for that trap. Obsessions and addictions are never healthy and anyone who thinks they are has never seen the pain in the eyes of a young anorexic running in place, alone in her darkened room at night, or the frenzy of a binge-eater with no more ice cream.

Compulsivity doesn't disappear
Compulsivity is a main ingredient in the morbidly obese person?s lifestyle. Surgery doesn?t make it go away. We need to learn to manage our compulsiveness in healthy, constructive ways. Compulsivity is likely to linger for most post-ops. It will be very tempting to substitute other compulsive behaviors to fill the space over-eating occupied before surgery. We will have to learn to recognize our pressing urges, and plan effective ways to deal with them and with the feelings associated with them. Compulsive and addictive behavior is not healthy. When any activity or substance becomes compulsive or excessive we need to figure out why. When compulsivity begins intruding on our normal routines or begins stealing time and money that belongs to our work, our families, and our friends, then something's wrong.

Gastric bypass surgery gives us a tool to battle back and makes it possible to triumph over obesity, probably for the first time, but we must learn to use it well.

What will fill you up?
So you and I and Lucy will still need to deal with our compulsive behaviors after surgery. The answer to her excellent question about where all that compulsivity goes after surgery is clear. Nowhere! I told her that her recovery time is the time to develop a better understanding of what things and behaviors really fill her and are healthy for her. I urged her to be realistic about her own compulsivity and needs. I suggested she make lists of the dependable joys in her life. I suggested she pay closer attention to the times she felt happy and fulfilled. Her friends and loved ones could help her identify them too. I told her to write down these small joyous moments. We all need to see more of our good and celebrate it. We need to plan to change the things that need changing and get started. Catalogue specific things that have helped you to ward off anxious moments or get through food-filled obligations in the past without losing control. Write your own book of 101 things to do instead of overeating. Weight loss surgery can inspire your efforts but effort will still be needed. Use your precious post-op honeymoon to put your recovery first and make it solid. Get the help you need to do it right. Fill yourself with love and hard work and success. 

Just a little food for thought!

I dumped ........
on a popsicle....I had eaten several of these popsicles before and I am not sure why I dumped on the popsicle that evening.  

Perhaps I ate it too fast ????
But I could feel my stomach giving me signs to stop eating it but I continued....next time ....I will listen to my stomach. 

At first I wasn't sure if I was dumping or not....severe stomach pains - very similiar to labour pains but no fever, no explosive poops but the pain.... OMG . 

I was afraid to go out for a walk incase I had to use the bathroom but I had to walk to try and get rid of the gas....
I was doubled over in pain which lasted just over 30 minutes...

It was NOT fun.....
Lesson learned.....listen to my stomach !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Father's day...2012 = reaching my goal weight of 145

Honestly I thought I would be more excited but as the scale read 145 it was more like "finally"....and I wonder how much more I will lose?

Perhaps that is a good thing...it's not the end of a diet mentality like I have had in the past where I have gone out and eaten everything in sight to celebrate....and the weight gain road returned the minute I hit the victory lap. I can't do that now....my new tummy won't allow that.

But I do feel empty emotionally....like the journey has ended...

-This is new and strange terrority for me
- I have only maintained my weight loss once and for only 1 year (a 50 pound weight loss prior to getting pregnant  and that was over 19 years ago). 
- I am questioning if I want to lose more, if so, how much? 

What now ??????????????