Milestones, the words!

Milestones

I thank Wendy, Greg, Kristin, and Dr. Brader for allowing me to speak tonight.

Now, a little background on me.

My name is Lee Feldman

I was born in 1953, in Philadelphia, raised in Levittown.

I have two grown children and 3 grand kids, with another on the way.

After getting married in 1976, we moved many times and finally ended up in East Petersburg, where we have been since 1992.

I was involved with the Lions Club, East Petersburg Fire Company, and the East Petersburg Day Committee, all volunteer.

I have driven some kind of bus since 1974 for my main source of income.

I am/was a Disc Jockey since 1994 or so.

I have played guitar since I was 11.

My hobbies are music, listening and playing, researching my past, including finding old friends and acquaintances through the Internet, riding my Honda Helix, and writing my memoirs.

I am 5’7” tall.

When I started my quest to lose weight and keep it off, I weighed in at over 305 pounds. I have lost weight many times, but have never been able to keep it off.

I had my surgery on July 31^st.

I now weigh in around 230 and my goal is to go all the way back down to 155, which is what I weighed when I got married 32 years ago.

I feel great!

So, what is my definition of a milestone?

A milestone along the road marks the starting point in a journey. Every mile, there is a new mile marker showing how far you have gone, and how much further you have to go.

If you want to go 5 miles, you have to pass by markers 2 through 4 in order to get to mile marker 5.

The mile markers may go by un-noticed, but the milestones I want to concentrate on here, are the ones that affect you. These are the ones you notice along the way.

Unlike a road that has a beginning and an end, this type of journey has a starting point, but it can go on as long as you are here on earth.

Your decision to get the surgery is milestone zero. This is the point where you decided to finally lose the weight and keep it off for life. But more than this, it is the point that you will change your life forever. You are not going back in time; rather, you are starting over, with a very good chance of success.

Your surgery date is mile marker zero. This may or may not be a milestone for you.

A mile marker is a point along your path.

Look for the first thing you will remember for the rest of your life. That’s the Milestone.

A Milestone is a memory on your journey.

The points along the way from mile marker one are:

• The hoops you have to jump through with the insurance company to qualify for the surgery.
• Deciding whether to tell your friends and loved ones about your decision.
• Preparation for the surgery.
• Changing the way you think about foods.
• Planning exercise.
• Gathering the items you need for after the surgery.
• Making the decision to do it right this time.
• Reading everything you get instead of just putting it aside.

Your milestone is something that you decide. In order to get there, you have to travel along a path that is different from everyone else, and yet, there are many who are on this same journey. You are not alone.

Something simple:

• Your pants are too big

• You aren’t recognized by a friend you haven’t seen for awhile

• You fit into a booth at the local restaurant

• You buy a pair of shoes that tie, instead of slip ons.

• You are able to stand up from the couch without moaning, or planning ahead.

• You can climb into the back seat of a car.

• You no longer have to buy double or triple X clothing.

• You can actually fit into an airplane seat and actually fasten the seatbelt.

• You can trot up the stairs without causing an earthquake, or getting out of breath.

Here are some ideas for you to think about.

• If you were shy, will you still be that way?

• If you used coping mechanisms to hide your emotions, will you be able to let go of them? How will you do that?

• Will you still get angry at the same things?

• What are you going to keep and what will you discard? What are you going to change?

• Will you still think of yourself as fat?

• Will you ever think of yourself as “normal”?

• Will you let anyone stop you, or change your mind?

• Will you stay here, or will you move and start over?

I can hear myself say “oh, I would never do that!”. Or, “I really don’t like to do that”. That’s my coping mechanism at work. I was really saying, “I’m too fat” or out of shape to do that.

So what do you really want to do that you couldn’t do before? When will you be able to do it?

I think that milestones may be different for younger people than with older folks like me.

I am starting over, with more energy, the ability to do more than I could in years, yet, I have experiences and excess emotional baggage than the younger folks.

I would like to hear from those younger people so I can get a feel for the differences and similarities.

I am listing my email and blog address. I would like as many people as possible to contribute to the blog so that we can help each other through what will be an exciting journey, not without it’s roadblocks, and potholes.

Please feel free to write to me. I will keep your names private unless you give me permission to publish it.

I would like to see recipes, ideas for exercise, stories, milestones reached, and if you would like to meet with others to celebrate your achievements.

I have already gotten some great ideas from some Post surgery people. I would like to get more. We all need all the help we can get.

Someday soon, I will be able to leave the nest and walk on my own through the world.

I wish you all that same great feeling.

I like to Cook!

Over the next few weeks or so, if I can get the time and energy, I will be modifying this website to cater more closely to Bariatric and Celiac needs. I may also expand it for other medical conditions, but that may be a bit of overkill.
I only have so many hours in the day to do things, and I am goofing off on the computer instead of working out. I am going to break that chain right now.
The website was started by a good friend, and it is a generic catch-all recipe site. You can log on and post your recipe, or copy one for yourself.
The ads are what keep it going. If you buy something through one of the ads, then the owner makes enough to keep it going. It is not really very lucrative, but it wasn't meant to be.
The owner gave me control of it, and I will decide what I want to do when the time comes.
In the meantime, if you send me recipes, I will be able to continue to eat.

www.ilike2cook.com

Catch all post!

This post is my catch all in order to catch up. I will bullet the highlights, and maybe fill in the details over the weekend.

• I reached a new milestone this afternoon. I am going to write down a schedule for the next few weeks, taking into account the holiday. I am hoping it will help me stay on track and accomplish some of the great things I am capable of doing. I am ADD and find that I am goofing off too much. I get lots of stuff done, but my mind is moving so fast, and I am frustrated.
• I have 3 books in my head and will try to write down the first one over the next month.
• I have 2 songs that a friend has co-written with someone else. I told him i would finish them so we could record them and release them to the world.
• I have not started my exercise program as I should have two weeks ago. I have to find a way to carry a portable recording device with me so that I can start walking, and eventually, jogging. I may have the device with me now, but I have to check. If not, I will have to improvise because I can't spend the money to do that.
• I have to develop a website with a friend so I can start to make money.
• I am on a job search. I have a friend doing my resume for me and I have to decide where to go with it when it is finished. He is the guy that I started the other blog for.

Ok, next....

1. The new links I posted about music, are for another friend. He has an indie music website, and has found some great new talent. If you go to the website (www.ilike2rock.org), you can download a toolbar that will play a variety of songs. You can decide if you like it for yourself. For myself, I enjoy hearing new music that I have never heard before. There are too many stations out there playing the same old thing over and over....how boring.
2. Michael Paul is a guy who is an up and comer in the music business. He has written to me for a while, and I offered some suggestions to him. I like his stuff, and enjoy hearing a good writer as well as performer. I dare you to tell me I am wrong. If we are lucky, he will become mainstream and everyone will be that much richer for hearing him.
3. Resume resume is the thing I started for my friend. I wrote the initial post and then decided he was right and deleted it. I have time to finish it another time. In the meantime, if you need a resume that will get you a job, email me and I will put you in contact with him.

One thing I forgot to mention about the meeting last night. It was the first time in years that i was able to stay on my feet for over an hour. Wow!
Now, I promised myself to clean off the 6 foot work table tonight, so that's what I'm gonna do.

Last night's meeting

Things worked out well last night. I will be posting the written part of my talk, and will try to figure out how to post the powerpoint of the other speaker.
The room was packed again, and I couldn't get out to spend time with the post people once we split into groups.
I was able to run the powerpoint program while I was reading the other information, so people were able to read and hear two different ideas at the same time. After I was finished with my talk, I moved to the picture part and the people enjoyed the jokes I threw out there.
So often, informational meetings are dry and somewhat boring. I try to add a bit of levity to break things up.
I am hoping some of the folks there will join the blog and share their experiences.
Bariatric Patients are all aiming towards the same goal, which is losing weight and keeping it off for life. We are all on a different path, however. We are all doing it for different reasons. We all are arriving at different times. We are successful at different levels.
So, it will be worth it to hear from them and compare notes.

Meeting reminder again

I will be speaking tomorrow night along with Elaine M Neidert, MSN, APRN, BC, M*O*U*S*E (sorry, couldn't resist!),who will be speaking on the subject of Self esteem.
Our talks will fit together nicely, and you might even stay awake for both of them.
If you are interested in pre surgery information, the meeting should be right up your alley, even if you don't bowl.
I will stay around afterwards as I always do in case you want to ask anything about what it feels like, or anything else on your mind.
You can send me an email also if you would like. I will give you my side of the story.
Things change everyday. They didn't used to do that before.
I was so used to losing ground everyday, and now, it's just the opposite. I am moving forward everyday.
I just bought T shirts in Large, as well as some thermal underpants and shirts. I never needed them before, but now, I feel the cold.
Tonight, I ran a load of wash, and put it in the dryer, did the dishes, made dinner for myself, and am waiting until my Wife gets a little closer to home to make her dinner.
6 months ago, I would have left the wash alone, as well as waiting for the dishes to fill the sink before doing anything about them. And, I would have stuck something in the microwave for dinner. Then, I would have raided the fridge for some junk before eating a full meal.
I'm heading off now to get a cup of decaf prepared as listed in another thread below. Then, I will watch some TV before finishing up the wash and putting the dry dishes away.
I have energy now that I didn't ever think I would have again.
Wow!

The List!

1. Finding the right foods and variety.
With the Celiac Sprue, life becomes a bit complicated. I have had dreams where I started to eat something the had Gluten in it, and then went into a panic trying to get it out. It is a constant thing for me to concentrate on both the correct amount of protein, making sure it is gluten free, and having enough fiber.
I go through periods where I have a certain food every day until I can't stand it anymore. Now, however, I am learning to look for variety. Things happen that open up those doors for me.
Over the holidays, I will be looking at cookbooks, and making a list of possible things for me to eat on a regular basis.
The world spins too fast sometimes, so it is tough for me to want to take the time at the end of it, to prepare something. So, I have to prepare foods when I have the energy, and save them.
We still eat out on the weekends as a means of breaking up the usual patterns of the week. I do all the cooking right now because my wife is working overtime and doesn't get home until late. So, eating out is a good way to take a break and learn what I can eat and can't. We have a great Italian restaurant close by and they make all kinds of foods, not just pizza and subs. So, I read their menu and find something new almost every time I go.

2. Exercising.
This is the toughest for me. I find that starting a program is as hard as quitting smoking is for some folks today. I just can't get started.
What makes it worse for me is that my wife doesn't exercise because of her health and won't go with me for support. She doesn't really support anything else I do either, so it feels like I'm being rejected by my best friend after all these years.
I never was one for running on a treadmill, or using equipment. I have it in the basement, but the weather hasn't been all that bad recently, so I would rather go outside than down to the dungeon.
Yesterday, my Son came over with his work truck and I helped him clean up the yard for the winter. I had been raking the leaves into a pile, but I hate putting it into bags. The bags are clumsy for one person, and a real pain to fill. It's not fun.
I raked all the leaves into a pile around my Silver Maple in the back yard. He came over and sucked them all up with a machine that chops them, and spits them into the back of his truck.
One of his friends grabbed a backpack blower and did the rest of the leftover leaves into more piles. They got the whole lawn.
My Son also cut and trimmed all the bushes. He cleared out the ones from the front bay window in order for us to see out better and for any sunlight to get in. The areas around the bushes got raked too and cleared out a pile of stuff.
Then, he hauled it all away.
I helped by taking Esmerelda for a long walk over to the park to play, and then bringing her home (nice guy, I am). Then, I helped grab some of the bushes that he cleared out. I also did a little raking.
He helped out the neighbor next door by sucking up his leaves, and he hauled them away.
So, I got a long walk and some bush carrying and raking done. I had to take a nap afterwards, but I felt good.
So, I did get some workout, and warmed up a bit, but it was not a formal workout. I continue to lose weight, and feel good, but I am worried that I will get lazy and not get into shape.
Today, it is raining, so I might spend some time finishing my verbal presentation for the meeting next week, and send off a copy to my partner who is also giving a talk.

My Picture

How about sending off some before and during pictures to me so I can post them.
My new profile picture is from about a month ago when my webcam was working. I have to use something a lot in order to remember how they work. This is true of my webcam.
Anyway, I am wearing an extra large T shirt, and I am now wearing large or even mediums. So, the pocket on that old T goes just about down to my belt!
I love losing weight like this!!!!
On another note, I am finished with the pictures for my presentation next week at the support group meeting. I just started editing the notes.
I know the pre surgery folks will have lots of questions, so I will make time to listen to them and answer the best I can. I know I had lots of questions. It made me feel a little less apprehensive after the Post surgery people answered them.
Dr. Brader did great job as did the other team members. They still do. I ask them questions even today.
So, now I have this huge Powerpoint Presentation, and I can't figure out how to condense it to send it through email. AOL restricts the size, and my winzip is mysteriously missing.
Paul, I know that you are reading this. Maybe, you can send me a hint?

Yippie, I survived!

The birds flew around while we ate yesterday.
I had turkey - no problem. I ate the Dark Meat and it was soooo good.
I had stuffing. Celiac didn't let me know it was there, so I got away with it. Good stuffing, although it was about a tablespoon.
I had asparagus. Yummy.
I had cranberry sauce. The kind that comes out of a can and looks like jelly. I was concerned it might be too much sugar, but again, I survived.
I had smashed Potatoes. There were pieces of unsmashed in it, along with a mushroom gravy, and it was scrumptious.
Dessert? Nope.
I ate slowly and was full after about 15 minutes. I didn't eat all that much, but I enjoyed every bite.
We got to play with Lilly afterwards, and I had fun watching her eat. She doesn't use utensils yet, but is so delicate in picking things up and carefully placing them in her mouth. So cute.
She crawled all over us, and played peek a boo. Such a happy kid.
On the way home we stopped at a Dunkin Donuts for coffee, but they were closed. We made it to a Turkey Hill in York, and stopped there for some coffee. I got my usual decaf, and enjoyed every drop. My wife did the frothy stuff with extra flavoring.
Today is Black Friday. Were broke so we will ignore it for the most part. I hate crowds anyway.
I am going to finish raking leaves into a pile and my son is supposed to come over and clean them up for me. I put that at 40% chance of happening.
I am letting my wife sleep in this morning, so I will go get breakfast and then go outside.

Adsense and goof

I goofed.
I wasn't supposed to click on the ad, but I couldn't resist. Now, I think the world is going to come down upon me, and I might even be famous for 15 minutes or so.
The adsense police are on their way right now to arrest me and force me to watch the ad that I clicked on for the rest of my life! Oh no!
The adsense ads are fairly unobtrusive, and someone might even be interested in them. If you find one interesting, click on it and they might send me a check for a few pennies every 10 years or so.
I have been working on the content of the blog without worrying too much about how the damn thing worked. So, I signed up for adsense and then promptly forgot about it.
Today, I finally started reviewing things about the blog other than the color scheme, and I made a few changes. I learned a few things, but I'm still not up to speed on a lot of things in this crazy world of blogging.
So, if I ever become bedridden and can't go outside and enjoy life, I will take the time to learn this stuff.
If I don't, screw it all. I'm just gonna write and not worry about the frills, bells, and whistles!
Happy Thanksgiving again!

Happy Thanksgiving Milestone

This is my very first Thanksgiving.
I am going to see my daughter, son in law, and grand daughter.
We are going to eat turkey.
I had trouble eating chicken, and I imagine I will have some trouble with turkey too, but we will see.
I will put aside my celiac diet for one day too. But, there will be other foods there that I can eat, so any wheat products will be small portions.
This is a milestone for me. Since food has decreased in importance for me, will I be able to concentrate on other more important things?
I guess I'll find out in a few hours.

Food Choices

I'm looking for new stuff.
It's tough sometimes to remember what I can't eat because of all of the restrictions. So, I tend to forget that I can eat something, but I can't eat something else.
I started eating small amounts of potato chips last week. They are Gluten Free, and the ones I get are usually salt free too. I don't get the ones cooked in lard, even though they taste good to me.
Snack foods and crunchy stuff is my favorite. If I don't have something crunchy with a meal, I feel like I missed something. Celery, or carrots don't do it for me. It has to be crunchy like potato chips. I only eat 3 or 4 of them, so it's not that big a deal. It's just that I feel satisfied after eating them. I always save them for last so I can get the maximum crunch! :)
So, next, I will be compiling a list of foods so I can refer to it in case I get stuck. My memory is terrible, and if I don't write things down, I forget. Or, did I say that already?
I still don't like veggies, but if they are mixed into the food, I can tolerate them.
I still need more fiber than those who eat wheat and flour products.
I had rice based pasta last night, for the first time since my surgery. I loved it. It really added to the eating experience.
I'm looking forward to getting more feedback here so I can expand my food list. I need new ideas.

Coffee recipe

I have been taking lots of things for granted, so I started to think about stuff, and came up with something I have been doing for years. I thought I would pass it on to you.
I combine things.
You already saw my coffee and oatmeal combo, now for something to drink.
That way, I feel like I'm treating myself to something special, and many times it is.
So, here is one of my specials, along with suggestions for variations.
I guess it should be noted that this works well with bariatric people because it has extra protein in it.
If you are on a diet, or your doctor has given you restrictions, be careful with my recipes. Some are loaded with stuff you may not want to eat.

Coffee:
1 cup of decaf coffee
1 packet of sugar free instant breakfast
1 packet sweet and low
2 teaspoons of liquid creamer (Coffee mate with chocolate, or other flavors are fine)
(If you are not a choco-holic like me, you may use vanilla flavored instant breakfast)
I make a pot of coffee every morning and let it cool. Then I heat it in the microwave and drink it all day. I know coffee has caffiene, even the decaf, but I can live with that. Chocolate has caffeine too, thank God!

Heat the cup of coffee for 1 minute, 20 seconds in the microwave
Add the instant breakfast, and sweet and low. Stir until dissolved.
Pour creamer into coffee.
Drink and enjoy!
Tip:
I like to use a ceramic mug because it also heats up in the microwave as well as the liquid inside of it. That way, my hands stay nice and warm while drinking.

Stop the presses!
I found a variation that I was not aware of. Feel free to add a scoop of vanilla, or chocolate protein powder to the coffee in place of the instant breakfast. Make sure you stir it up very well. It will make a super drink, especially if the coffee is hot. Try it and let me know.

Great weekend

After having a very interesting weekend, during which I broke my Celiac diet, I still feel good.
I don't plan to do it too often, but I now know I can if I have to.
I went home to Levittown one last time, and don't know if I'll ever go back again. I always thought that if I won the lottery, the one thing I would do would be to buy all 3 homes that I grew up in there.
Instead, I didn't win, so I took pictures of them and posted them on my facebook.
I got to visit two old and dear friends. One taught me how to play guitar when I was 11 or so. The other stood by my side through all of my trials and tribulations.
I took pictures of my old school, and some street signs. This is an effort to tie up loose ends in mind, and I still have a few left to go.
I am not getting ready to die, I am living! The stuff in my head is organizing itself, and for the first time in years, I am thinking clearly. I still can't remember names half the time, but that's ok.
I got home and went to see my friend play in a new band last night too, thus proving two things to me:
1. I can go somewhere and be able to control my energy levels, so I don't collapse.
2. I can enjoy myself again.
I almost have the presentation together for the meeting. I need to figure out how to zip the powerpoint file so I can send it out. It is too big for AOL right now. I'll keep working on it.
Time for bed.

Next meeting

December 4, 2008 is the next meeting, held at the Lancaster general health campus on Harrisburg Pike.
7pm to 8:30pm.
I think we will be meeting ahead of time to walk. If you would like to walk, meet at Dr. Brader's office at 6pm.

Milestones coming up

I will be one of the featured speakers at the next Bariatric Support group meeting, at Lancaster General health campus.
I will be talking about milestones.
Originally, a milestone was a stone that was placed along the road every mile, so that people would know how far they've journeyed.
My milestones will change that definition just slightly.
I won't give out the information I will speak about in December, so you will have to show up and pay attention.
I did write about this in an earlier entry on this blog, so fee free to review.
Suffice it to say that there are things happening to me that I never expected. Not just in the things I do, but in the way I react to things. I am also starting to notice a change in the way people who don't know me, treat me.
I am the same person inside, but people see a much thinner version of me on the outside.
I am trying to do up a PowerPoint presentation for the meeting to keep things fun. I am finding almost everything I need on the Internet, and I look forward to seeing the reaction to my presentation.

Who am I?

I looked in the mirror this morning, and I realized I don't know who I am. Listening to Glenn Beck on the way home from the Chiropractor didn't help either.
Now, I have to figure out who I am.
Thanks, Glenn!
I know what I am not.
I am not a fat man anymore.
I am not a kid anymore.
I am a scared older man.
I am happier than I have been in awhile....well maybe years.
I walk funny.
I talk quieter. I don't have to show off to call attention to myself anymore.
I react less externally than I used to.
I am able to see thing more clearly than I could even a year ago.
I was waiting to die a year ago. Now, I am looking forward to living, and I am even living as I write this.
Things I didn't consider 6 months ago, I am reconsidering. Can I really do this if I want? Most likely, the answer is "YES"!
I am going outside to chop the leaves, and I just got back from the chiropractor. Before, I would have taken a break to recover.
I am looking for myself.
I am looking for myself.
I am looking for myself.
I think I see myself now.

Starting over, again and again.

Yesterday, I spent in the basement. I have been exercising by carrying things up and down the stairs all week. I took my music equipment downstairs, one piece at a time, and brought up boxes and bags of stuff I am going to throw out.
If I took everything up at once, the trash guys wouldn't take it all, so I bring it up a few pieces at a time.
I am making slow but steady progress.
I also had a conversation with my wife while she was down there, and we cleared up a few things.
The phone rang and it was one of my kids, and I let her do the talking while I got on my treadmill, and then went over to the Total Gym. I have it set up for light work. I can use it for heavy work too, but this allows me to get a longer workout. I do more reps with less weight.
I pulled on that thing for what seemed like forever. I was tired when I got off, and figured I would be really sore today, but I got out of bed at 6:30am and feel fine.
The cold weather is taking it's toll on my joints. I walk like an old man when I first get up from the couch, or have been sitting anywhere for awhile. Then, I start to loosen up a bit.
I walk funny now too. I am so used to dealing with the swinging belly, that I can't walk straight. My legs are busy trying to compensate for what isn't there anymore.
My wife can't walk with me, so I have yet to go out and really talk a long walk to see what I can do. I hit the treadmill, a little, and now around the house, I walk back and forth a lot. I actually get up and do what I have to, where before I would just stay seated if I forgot something.
I still have the mental block that I am fat and can't do stuff, but I have been steadily fighting that.
So, every morning now, I get out of bed, and start over. It's a good feeling most of the time.
How about you?

New links

All of the links here are on my sidebar under links. Enjoy!

From time to time, I will add links and try to remember to explain them a bit and why they are here.
Some of them may not seem to be relevant to Bariatric Surgery, but they are to the Post people.
For example:

www.ilike2rock.net

I have started to clean up my life. I need a few things for my brain and general sanity. One of them is new music.
ilike2rock.net is a site that has all indie artists. Once you register, you can access and critique various new bands and artists. These people are all trying to make a name for themselves. There are many different venues.
The site was created by a friend here in Lancaster County, who has been trying to help promote new artists for a few years.
If you go there, check out "Project 43". This is a group of musicians, who have NEVER met! They probably never will. They are from all over the world. They play together using the new technology. Amazing.
ilike2rock.net allows me the escape when I need to concentrate on something more enjoyable. When I am too tired to do anything else, or when I need to know there is so much more in this world than lying/cheating politicians.

www.pandora.com

Register, sign in, and type in the artist or song you want to hear, and pandora will play that song/artist, and then continue to play song in that genre. You can rate the songs, and add as many "stations" as you want. I listed 20 artsts I like from various genres, and then combined them into a random list. Then, while I am cleaning the house, or exercising, I can listen to the music. You can ban songs so you don't have to listen to anything you don't like. And, it doesn't get upset if you quit in the middle.

When you are stuck, and just can't seem to walk away from the computer, click on the link "This is the end". Nuff said......

Saving money

I have been saving tons of money on food, but am still open for bargains.
So, I thought I would pass on a few here and if you find any, let me know.
First of all, this isn't a bargain, but it is good sense.
I need to maintain my protein levels. One of the way to do that is to buy meat. There is a local butcher that buys beef from the local farmers. This beef doesn't have any of the usual additives, steroids, hormones, etc.. It is all just pure beef raised locally.
He sells the beef by the quarter or half, or full cow. I have read where he will store it for you in the cut that you want, or you can buy it and store it yourself. The price per pound is not as expensive as you might think.
He will also arrange it the way you want. So, if I order 50 pounds of ground beef, he will use the beef I pick, and split it into the portions I want.
I have an industrial freezer that I bought 25 years ago, and it can hold a half cow if I choose. Something to think about.

Next: The wholesale club.
I belong to BJs over in Centerville. They have a good general selection of food. I can buy it and store it and use it as I need.
I buy the large containers of paper products (Towels, Kleenex, Toilet) and store them in the closet. It will take me a year to go through the toilet paper, and it is cheaper in quantity.
They sell products you could get at the supermarket in quantity that is cheaper than the supermarket. The portions are the same size, but they sell more of them bundled together. For example, since I like to make chili, I can buy a case of canned tomatoes, in 3 different varieties. I can store them in the basement and get what I need as I need them.
Where the supermarket sell a pack of 6, BJs sells 18. Frozen items are good this way. I have 2 Perdue chickens for my rotisserie whenever I need them.
They have a lot of different items there for my wife's menu too. Yogurt by the case is better than paying more for individual pieces. I can get my fiber one yogurt in 18 count. Saves going to Weis once a week.
I buy the pain killer of my choice in 500 count bottles. Lasts a long time.
I can buy a 3 pack of shaving cream that lasts a year or more. Tooth paste, brushes, light bulbs, and bottled water too.
They have a Verizon store where I bought my bluetooth and some other accessories.
They will let you wander around and even let you buy if you sign up.
I would go to all of the clubs before you make your choice. All of them have gasoline, so that isn't a big consideration. BJs works for me, but I've been to Costco, and Sam's club too. We check out the other once a year to make sure this is the one we like the best. So far it is.
They charge you $40 a year to join, but you can make that up in savings. Buy larger quantity, shop less per year, save money. Good deal all around.

Clothes for sale

I finally put my clothes on craigslist for sale.
I would give them away, but I really need the money right now. I have my name in for the bailout, but I don't think they are listening.....
Anyway, here is the list, the link, and the prices:

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/clo/916780294.html

2 PAIR GRAY OLD NAVY LARGE POCKET SWEATS USED $5.00 each
1 PAIR YELLOW BANANA JOE XL CARGO SHORTS USED $4.00
1 PAIR BLACK BANANA JOE XL CARGO SHORTS USED $4.00
1 PAIR BEIGE DICKIE'S 874 FLAT FRONT WORK PANT 46X28 NEW $10
1 PAIR BEIGE DICKIE'S 874 FLAT FRONT WORK PANTS 46X28 USED $5
1 PAIR WRANGLER FADED BLUES JEANS 46X29 USED $5
1 PAIR LL BEAN FADED BLACK JEANS 46X29 USED $10
1 PAIR DICKIE'S BLUE JEANS LINED 46X29 TRIED ON BUT NEVER USED. These pants are very heavy and very warm. Great for riding motorcycle in winter. $15
1 PAIR LONG HAUL LIGHT BLUE LIGHTWEIGHT JEANS 48X29 USED $5
1 PAIR LONG HAUL DARK BLUE JEANS 48X29 USED $5

Shirts:
4 2X HANES GRAY NO POCKET T SHIRTS WORN ONCE OR NEW $10 for all 4
4 STAFFORD LIGHT BLUE DRESS SHORT SLEEVE 18 NECK USED $10 for all 4
1 STAFFORD WHITE DRESS SHIRT SHORT SLEEVE 18 NECK USED $3
1 STAFFORD DARK BLUE DRESS SHIRT SHORT SLEEVE 18 NECK USED $3



I also have a few shirts, and pants that I am going to throw out, unless someone wants some well worn pieces.

Next year!

I don't know where I will be this time next year, but this next summer, I would like to organize a group trip to Hershey Park to ride the roller coasters.
This trip will be open to anyone who is a post bariatric, or band. The pre's may go along if they want in order to be inspired.
Let me know if you are interested and I'll put you on the list.

Where am I in the journey?

So, you ask, where am I in my "quest"?
I call it a quest, rather than a journey. It will become a journey for me when I reach my goal. I am not sure there will be an exact day or time that I reach this goal, and it probably won't be the magic number of 155 that I have in mind, but it will be a very important time in my life. But, I digress.....
I started this quest by praying for a solution to my problem. I wrote something about it in another part of this blog, so feel free to find it and read it.
305+ was my starting number. That is, I weighed 305 pounds, plus. My scale at home read "EE" above 300, and I was only weighed once at the doctor's office during that time,and it was 305 or thereabouts.
I am now 231 pounds.
Waist, from 52+ to 42 inches. My waist is actually smaller than that, but the fat around my middle makes me look funny if I dropped my pants down to my waist. If you are fat, then you know what I mean. If not, I hope you never find out. Stay thin, or call me and I might drop my pants so you can see. Not too pretty!
My neck went from 18.5 to 15. I have a bit of sag, but I will live with that.
Other dimensions have dropped dramatically too.
The most interesting loss to me, and one that you might not think about, are my shoe size. I lost weight in my feet! My shoes are getting baggy.
People are starting to look at me. Up to this point, I have been almost invisible. That is, most people don't realize it, but they don't see fat people. They don't look at me directly, unless they know me. Once you get to know someone, you tend to see them for who they are, not what they are covered up with. In my case, that was fat.
Why was I fat? I know the answer to that, but probably won't be posting that here.

Youtube link

I added this onto my blog to show that I am interested in the rest of the world. These videos are of my grandkids, and the band of friends that I have. These guys are not only great musicians, but great friends too.
I took these videos with a digital camera to give people a snapshot of them, not to do a full length movie.
Enjoy.

Ok, maybe a few words.....

www.dpcustom.com
So, the first picture is a guitar I had designed for me by Dave Pushic. He is a master builder and I picked out the woods, electronics and general layout of the instrument. Dave sent me pictures and drawings, and asked many questions.
The guitar here is a 6 string solid body with a "purpleheart" topcap. The body and neck are carved from one piece of maple. The fretboard is Pau Ferro. The electronics are Bartoloni and set to more of a jazz tone, but the guitar can and does scream when I want it to.
The neck is shaped in a "D" and it takes some getting used to playing.
All of the hardware is gold plated, and there is not one piece of plastic anywhere on it!
Cost? If you have to ask.....
Someday, I hope to play the guitar for real. Right now, I am scared to death of it. It is sooo pretty!

http://www.tedweber.com/
A few years back, my good friends talked me into buying and trying to build my own tube amplifier. I looked back at my youth and decided I always liked my old Fender Vibrolux the best. So, I went to the Weber website, and ordered a 6A20HP amp. Now, this is also a pick and choose, custom style amp. I chose Levant Purple for the tolex covering. I chose a black grill cloth because it blended well. I also bought "beam" blockers for the speakers.
I had choices for speaker size, and all the insides of the amp from tubes to capacitors. I thought I could read about this and learn it. I was wrong!
I did pick up some very useful information, but I also found out that I was not cut out to build my own amps. So, I enlisted the services of another good friend, and he helped me build it. Or, should I just say he built it for me?
Anyway, he ran into some problems and was able to upgrade the insides with parts that he was using to build another amp for a well known country band. I won't mention them here, because they might try to take back their stuff.
The amp is perfect now, and someday, I hope to play it. But, I am scared to death of it!
If you want to know what Beam blockers are, just ask me.

Ah, my 1997 Honda Helix! I bought this bike used. It looks like a scooter, but it is actually a very fast touring scooter. It will go as fast as 75 mph, and it gets roughly 65mpg. It has a 250cc motor, and is fully automatic. The transmission is called CVT, which means there is no shifting. If you've never ridden on a bike like this, let me know, and I'll make arrangements for you to ride with me sometime.
I just had the engine rebuilt and still need a few parts, but I am broke for the time being and the bike rides fine without them. I will replace those parts next summer. I ride all year round except in snow or rain. It is very relaxing to me.

Next, we have my 2006 Honda Metropolitan. I have this scooter up for sale for $1200.00 in case you're interested. This scooter has a 49cc motor and gets roughly 100mpg. It has a top speed of 38mph, and also has a CVT transmission. It is a blast to ride. I bought it for my son and he was supposed to pay me for it, but he didn't, so I have it for sale now. Please buy it so I can afford to buy more food. $1200.00 will feed me for a year!

At the bottom of the pictures is my Fender Player's Stratocaster. This is a very good Mexican made guitar with gold hardware, and lots of (ugh) plastic. I replaced 2 of the controls with gold knobs, and I added some other modifications that don't change it's sound. This guitar plays easily, and sounds great. It's not as nice as my DP custom, but then again, it's not as expensive either.

Over the past 4 years or so, I've bought and sold my guitars, basses, amps, and accessories with the intention of either buying new stuff to inspire me, or giving up on music altogether. I was going to give up because I was too fat. I couldn't play the guitar because it was tilted over my belly and I couldn't stand up long enough to play.
Baritric now allows me to play again. I am scared to death that I will explode from emotions I haven't felt since I was 18. Whew!
Did I show you my other amps? No, well write to me and maybe I will.

My Toys! No other words are necessary

Links

I have added some links to sites that are good for Bariatric People, and others may find them useful too. The links are on the side of my blog and descriptions are here.
My thanks to the Scootin Fool for help in figuring this stuff out.

www.bariatriceating.com/
This is a link for vitamins, recipes, and general information aimed towards the bypass patient. You can find many of the vitamins and protein drinks locally if you look for it, but it is easier for me to order online and have them deliver it to my door.

www.thewalkingsite.com/
10,000 steps is one way to get into shape and lose some weight. I bought a pedometer for about $10.00, and use it to figure out how far I've gone during various walking trips. I measured my lawn mowing that way. I almost did all 10,000 steps on my lawn alone. Now I know why it is so tough for this old man to cut the grass. By the way, I have a NON self propelled mower. If I don't push it, it won't go.

www.myfit.ca/
Greg, the fitness expert at the office recommended this one. i will probably use it somewhere down the road when I run out of ideas for working out. The trick is to vary your workout so your body doesn't get used to the same routine over and over.

www.americanmedical-id.com/
You might want to consider a medic alert style bracelet/jewelry piece. This site gives you many different styles and ideas. Personally, I have two of them, but stopped wearing them because I was using them as a crutch to keep from doing the "hard" stuff. I will put it on again after I overcome that problem.

More to come, including new recipes, walks scheduled, and other activities.

Milestones

What can I do now that I couldn't do before?

*For the past month, I have been able to go into a restaurant and sit at a booth.
To many, that may sound silly, but if you are obese/fat, it ain't!

* I can put my shoes on without contorting and getting out of breath.

* I can tuck my shirt into my pants, instead of letting it hang out.

* I can eat food slower than I have ever done before.

* I can now tell when I am full and can stop eating before the food is all gone from the plate.

* The people in Europe aren't starving anymore, because I am shipping my leftovers to them.

* I can actually tolerate broccoli for one or two bites.

* I like oatmeal.
My personality has changed. I am testing myself everyday.

*I am much more sure of myself now.

* My mood has balanced out. I haven't gotten really mad in quite some time, DAMMIT! Phew, that felt good.

* I am now living without taking any pills. No drugs, legal or otherwise.

* I am actually thinking about trying a parachute jump from an airplane........well, maybe not.
Are you still reading this?
Ok, then why do we park on the driveway, but drive on the parkway?

LINKS!!!!!

I will be collecting and posting links as soon as I can. These links will be to places where you can buy things, or just get information about weight loss, and Bariatric in general.
If you have nay links, please let me know, and I'll post them.
Also, I am a scooter enthusiast. I own two of them.
Anyone interested in scootin, feel free to look around at the google blogs. There is a "scootin' Fool" out there posting here and he is very interesting to read. Do a search to find him because I can't figure out how to post the links yet.
I will figure this out........someday.
Look here:

http://scootinfool.blogspot.com/

Adsense

Can anyone help me make sense out of adsense?
I am to the point in computers, where it just doesn't make sense. I can't put the stuff where I want without a lot of useless fooling around.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at the Google search thingy just below the table of contents. It's in the wrong place and I either have to delete it or play with it again.
ArrrGGGGHHHH!
BTW, if you do a search using it, I will get a fraction of a penny so I can start a real live website someday soon. I have someone ready to design it for me, and the ads I have listed on here and there will help pay for it. I don't pay anything for this blog, but it is time consuming.

Were you there?

If you were at the meeting last night, let us know what you think. Post it here, or start your own blog.
The support from Lancaster General Bariatrics is amazing! Who would have thought that a Doctor would be able to actually be personable as well as competent?
Dr. Brader has put together a great team, and they all contribute 100%!
Greg met some of us for a pre meeting walk around the Health Campus, and we had fun watching the people watching us walk around, again and again. Up and down the stairs, and around and around.
Wendy is the big boss and introduced the speakers and gave us an indication of what was to come.
Kristin spoke last night about the holidays and her talk was pure GOLD! Thanks, Kristin!
The lady that spoke after Kristin made up cardboard cutouts that reminded me of elementary school. Joni was great! She is a recovery room nurse, and from my home county (Bucks) and she brought her mother with her who is also a post bariatric. They had their surgery done when Dr. Brader was working in Bucks County a few years ago. She had some great handouts and gave away some door prizes. Thanks Joni!
We broke up into 3 groups last night after the talks.
Pre-surgery
Post-surgery
Family and friends support
I was able to help out with the pre surgery folks, and I got to ham it up a bit for them and answer some of their questions.
This is very helpful to me as well since it helps me put my own thoughts out there so I can think about them. I learn something every time and enjoy doing it.
Next month, I will talk to the crowd about my "Milestones" concept. I wrote about it a bit in this blog and will probably add to it as I go.

Thursday night

Just a reminder for everyone that the meeting for the Lancaster General Bariatric group is this thursday night (tomorrow) from 6 to 8:30pm.
Walkers meet at Dr Brader's office at around 5.
Anyone not wanting to go, please contact me and I'll be glad to meet with you or just email back and forth.
Their goal is to help you beat the fat. I am doing that now, and I know others are there too if you need some more info, or just support.
I am not a doctor or a shrink, but I am shrinking!

Celiac/Bariatric Oatmeal! Yummy!

In the morning, I used to love to eat cereal. Then, Celiac came along and killed that idea.
Now, I eat Oatmeal. Every morning, I eat Oatmeal. I need the fiber, and it even has protein in it! I add fruits for the extra fiber, especially fruits with seeds, such as, bananas, strawberries, raspberries.
I am including the recipe here for you to think about and maybe try. If you come up with any variations, please let me know.

I use Quaker Oats "weight control" brand because it has extra fiber in it. I am not sure, but I think it has Metamucil in it. You can't tell. They have 3 great flavors:
Cinnamon
Banana bread
Maple and brown sugar

The cinnamon has wheat in it, but at this point, I don't care. The small amount is not going to kill me.

Oatmeal
One half cup of coffee.
One packet of sugar substitute. I like to live dangerously, so I use sweet and low.
3 Strawberries, or one sliced banana

Measure the coffee and if it is cold, put it into the microwave for 1 minute on high.
Pour into one packet of oatmeal.
Add sugar substitute
Add fruit.

I add coffee to the mix because I am not allowed to drink anything with my meal and I never get up in time to make a cup of coffee and then wait to eat my oatmeal. It tastes great since oatmeal by itself isn't that great.

Enjoy!

What does "It's my turn" mean?

For me, it's the time I never got to spend getting to know myself.
Who am I?
I don't know.
That's what I'm trying to find out.
So now, after raising two great kids, and with 3 grandkids, and another on the way, it's my turn.
I made sure everyone was out of the house before I made the decision to pray and follow the Answer. I had no idea it would lead to this.
Every day of this quest to become lighter and more fit, I learn something new about myself.
My wife thinks I've lost my mind. Maybe so, but.....It's my turn!
Who knows where I will be this time next year. I know I'll be at my goal weight, and I have a list of things to do during this period of time.
I continue to pray and thank God for everything good, bad or otherwise that has happened to me.
I am being selfish which is something I haven't been for at least 30 years now. I am now first on my list. My wife is doing fine, so now,......It's my turn!
Does anyone out there know what I mean?

Happy Halloween!

I am receiving emails from people about the blog and I am so glad to be able to talk about Bariatric from someone who has gone through it.
I am trying to get the people to share their experiences because the need for others to get the word from different viewpoints is good. I am also learning that I am not alone.
I would eventually like to expand this into a website with a BB so people can openly talk and share ideas.
So, look forward to getting more input and maybe some interesting stories about the trials and tribulations of Pre and Post bariatric people.
Talking about trials, I handed out the Halloween treats last night, and I didn't even eat any! I had no trouble doing that, and that is one more miracle witnessed by yours truly!
My next big trial should be for Thanksgiving.
My weight loss has been steady, up until now. I am at my first plateau, but I am also exercising more, so I may be building muscle which would explain the leveling out.
I have done more in the past month than I have in the year before my surgery, so I will continue to be optimistic that I am going to reach my goal.

My story!

If you stumbled onto this blog and had no idea what Bariatric surgery is, then this is the post to read.

What is Bariatric surgery to me?
It is a Godsend. Yes, I prayed for a solution to my problems because I had run out of ideas, and needed help. I'm glad God had an extra angel to kick me in the butt and get me moving forward. But, I digress....
Bariatric surgery is a way to lose weight and keep it off permanently. It consists of two different, but similar procedures.
One is to cut the stomach and make it smaller. This way, you have to eat less, and you lose weight. This is called Roux En Y, which is the name of the procedure.
The other is to insert a band around the stomach, slowing everything down and allowing you to lose weight. This is the Lap band method.
Personally, after going to a session sponsored by the Surgeon, I chose Roux En Y.
Both procedures have been standardized, that is, they are pretty much done the same way all over the country, so, if you are in anther part of the country and have a problem, the doctors there will know what they are doing.
So, I will write down just what I went through and how I came to choose this course of action in my life, and I hope it helps those who are reading this to understand me a bit better. I also hope that those who are looking into this form of weight loss, will get something from this. If you write and ask questions, I will answer them.

Part 2

So, how did I find this type of weigh loss?
I went to get a baseline endoscopy/colonoscopy because I never had them before and it was suggested by my family doctor. I was feeling lousy. I had many, many medical problems that were caused by my weight and age, and wanted to find out what to do about it.
The test required me to get a host of blood tests. I went in fasting and "donated" 11 tubes of blood. I figured if they didn't find anything wrong, they weren't looking.
Well, after the colonoscopy/endoscopy, I had a consult. I was fine for a fat man, but I needed to fix some things. I had a "fatty" liver, and a few polyps that they took out, but I was cancer free.
They put me on a high fiber diet. Let me tell you, I loved that diet. I didn't really lose weight, but I felt much better after a few weeks.
Then, they called me to ask me to do another endoscopy because they found some indications of Celiac Sprue (look it up!) and wanted to confirm that. I went in for the second endo and sure enough, they confirmed Celiac.
So, I lost the high fiber, and had to go on a wheat and gluten free diet. I still had to get fiber in my diet, so I added Metamucil and lots of fruit and veggies.
While I was there, I asked about weight loss programs, and was told about a doctor coming to the area who was an expert in weight loss surgery. Bingo!

So, I started to investigate the surgery online, and I knew I was getting ready for it. I just had this feeling that this was my next step.
My personal life will stay that way. Suffice it to say that I had an "empty nest" just before all this happened, and I decided that after all these years of giving to others, that it was my turn!

MY TURN!

That important to me, and probably to you.

If you don't decide that it's "Your Turn", then you might not be able to succeed in this type of surgery. This decision may be up to you and your spouse, but for me, it was my decision.

I made an appointment to hear the surgeon speak in order to determine if I wanted to do this. He spoke for about an hour and a half and answered a host of questions afterwards. There were about 50 people there at that meeting.

He told us that the process was a long one, and that the surgery was probably the easiest part. The tough thing was to jump through all the hoops for the insurance company, and the pre-tests.
He told us about the "team" approach. His team consisted of a nurse, dietician, and personal trainer, as well as psychological counseling. There were several steps to get to the final goal:

1. Qualifying for the surgery – You have to be at least 100 pounds overweight to qualify. Each Doctor has their own requirements other than that, and I imagine it depends on where you go in the country.
2. Making sure the insurance company is going to cover you. This one is very tough, but my Doctor has a very complete plan to make this as painless as possible. Even with his help, sometimes the insurance company will give you a hard time. I was lucky that everything worked well with my company and it only took about 2 months to get approval.
3. Meeting with each member of the team to start your quest. I met with the Dietician and she gave me such valuable information about eating, tat I began to lose weight much easier than I ever did before. I met with the Trainer and he started me on exercise walking, and told me how to get the most out of each session. The nurse gave me information on the actual procedure, and what to expect during each part of the journey. I did a lot of studying. Very impressive team!
4. Getting your surgical date. There is a lot to do to plan ahead of time. I had to get food containers, utensils, and a magic bullet blender. I also ordered vitamins and minerals ahead of time so I would have them after the surgery.

I went into the hospital on Tuesday morning, and left on Thursday morning. I was up and walking around about 2 hours after the surgery, and I walked every two hours after that around the clock. I got to sleep a lot in between, and felt just fine. There was little or no pain. It was hard to maneuver around the tubes and wires and stuff, but everything was on wheels and I got used to it.

I had 7 holes in my belly since the surgery is now done laproscopically. The doctor sewed me up on the inside and just taped my belly wounds on the outside. (After 2 months, all I have left are some red marks and they are disappearing more and more each day).

The nursing care at the hospital is amazing. They were there for everything I needed. I would hope that other hospitals did the same.

I was able to move around without problems when I got home, and learned about proper eating the hard way.

I took a long drive on Friday, the day after I got home because my son needed to go somewhere. I had no problems.

I was also lucky to have the summer off. I was able to work towards proper eating at my own pace without having to go around a certain schedule.

Now, I know I left out things. If you want to know about something, ask. You can email me or post right here in comments.

Other post people may also post their stories here, and you may do that without revealing who you are if you want.

Walk update

I just spoke with Greg Byer about the walk. Anyone interested in walking should meet at Dr. Brader's office at 6pm.
We will be walking around inside the building, up and down stairs, etc.
He said if the people need to use the elevator, that's fine.

Speaker for the meeting is Kristen Amicone. She says she is a terrible speaker, so we should all go in with an "attitude" and give her a hard time. :)>

Pumpkin Pie, without the crust! Yummy!

Thanks to Denise for this great recipe. It's much easier to read and make than my Killer Chili! And, it's good for celiacs too!

Pumpkin Custard Pie (no crust)

1 can -15 oz. pure pumpkin

1 can -12 oz. fat free evaporated milk

3/4 C. Egg Beaters

3/4 C. Splenda Granular

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix all ingredient together. Pour into a baking dish coated with non-stick spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 mins. option - serve with fat free whipped topping.

Nutritional Info (my best calculations) - 1/8 of pie = 1 slice

Calories - 70 grams Fat - 6 grams

Sugar - 7 grams

Protein - 6 grams

Food on my mind

Are you creative with food?
I am. I am used to forgetting stuff at the market, so I make things up as I go.
This time, I ran out of cubed tomatoes. I have plenty of stewed tomatoes, but would like a variety of stuff in my Chili. So, I will start to think about it, and either go out after work and get the tomatoes I need, or deal with what I have.
Since this is a long cooking process, if I get it started right after work (about 4:15pm), I should be able to turn it off in a finished manner by 9 tonight. I can let it sit all night on warm only setting, or just shut it down and let it cool until I have the time tomorrow morning to shovel it into containers.
That's one of the great things about ensemble foods like this. I can eat it whenever I want by heating up the leftovers in smaller containers. It covers my protein, veggies/fruits (what are tomatoes anyway?) liquid, etc. all in one.
The wind is blowing like a hurricane right now. I have to head out in a few minutes for my afternoon run, so I will set my mind on the problem and have it solved by the time I get home.

Chili addition, and other musings.....

I decided to try some Chili tomorrow using some sausage I had in the freezer that I forgot to give away.
I will be boiling it in a separate pot, and removing the casings. When I get done, the sausage will be almost impossible to find in the mix, other than from the flavor and texture when I eat it. I will also be adding the ground beef prepared the same way as in the recipe.
I have lots of beans left, and I am finally running out of frozen chili from the last batch.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I am also a Celiac patient. If you would like to look that up, feel free. In a nutshell, it means I am not allowed to eat any products containing wheat or gluten. This includes any breads, rolls, pizza, bagels, cereal, and the list goes on and on.
If you read labels, you will find wheat in so many places you would not expect it. I actually found some peanuts the other day at a convenience store that was coated with cereal! Why, I don't know.
It was suggested that I write about what bariatric surgery is all about. I will do that from my viewpoint only. I am not an expert in the field. I am just a patient.
But, I will tell my story sometime when I can find the time. For now, know that I started this quest at 305+ pounds, and am now at 235, and I couldn't be happier about that.

Next meeting!

The next meeting for the pre and post bariatric people is Thursday, November 6, 2008 from 7pm until 8:30pm.
It is held at the Lancaster General Health Campus on Harrisburg Pike. If you enter the front doors, look for the signs to the meeting, or follow us formerly fat people!
If anyone reading this blog has questions about Bariatric surgery, please feel free to contact me and I'll steer you to the experts. I am just a post bariatric patient, not a medical professional. I will aim you in the right direction, but won't offer any medical advice.

Important:
Greg will be there at 6pm to host an exercise walk session before the meeting. Everyone is welcome to join in!

Killer Chili!

Note to the world:

I didn't realize how hard it was to write down a simple recipe. This is one tough recipe. You have to prepare one meat at a time and add to the mix at different times. I hope I wrote it in a legible fashion. I did try to edit it a number of times. Please read the whole recipe before trying to cook it. Please let me know how it came out, and if you have any suggestions. Enjoy!

Killer Chili

By Barry Atric

All ingredients are measured as you wish. If you add too much hot stuff, you will have to deal with the consequences :)>!

For heat, I usually add that afterwards to taste. That way, my wife doesn’t have to put up with the extreme heat. The exception to this is that I do add chili powder to the mix and let it simmer along with the food.

Tools

• I use a large crock pot since it takes hours to simmer the chili.
• 1 large frying pan of your choice. I usually prep the pan with olive oil, after I spray with PAM. I pour about a tablespoon into the pan, and then spread it over all surfaces with a paper towel. I pour out any extra. This helps with browning and flavoring.
• Several large spoons and spatulas.

Ingredients

• 1 pound beef cubes. You can use cheap one or expensive ones. I use the expensive stuff, with as little fat as possible.
• 1 pound of ground beef. Again, I use the lowest fat content I can find. 94% has 6% fat content and is about the lowest.
• 6 cans of Beans – you can use any canned beans you want, except baked beans. I use Pintos, Black eyed peas, dark and light red kidney, black, and anything else I find that looks interesting. Beans are high in protein and fiber. Good stuff. Anything left over can be used for the next meal.
• 1 box of frozen spinach – I buy the boxes of spinach that are in the freezer section of the grocery store. You can use fresh if you want to take the time to cook it properly.
• 3 stalks of Celery
• 3 carrots
• 6 cans of various types of tomatoes – I use stewed, Italian, cubed. You can use whatever you like. Again, anything left over can be used for the next meal. I have a really large crock pot, so I can pretty much add all 6 cans.
• 1 can of tomato paste
• Spices and seasonings. I use sea salt, and other “salty” seasonings. I don’t use sweet seasonings for this chili. You may use anything you can find in the spice rack that you like.
• Cinnamon – I use a tablespoon of this in the mix. It tastes good to me and adds a unique flavor.
• Chili powder – use a little for calm, and more for wild. At least one tablespoon seems to be a good compromise. Chili powder to me doesn’t really make things hot as it does make it taste good.
• Paprika – good stuff that’s good for you.
• Garlic, either powder, or fresh. A little goes a long way.
• Onions – the white ones are mild. The red skin ones are pungent. Your choice. I use one onion.
• Hot Peppers – I buy a jar of chopped jalapenos, and add a one teaspoon. I also like banana peppers. Add to taste, but be careful if you are sharing this meal with wimps! Don’t use the dried chopped peppers that you find in the Italian restaurants. They add heat, not flavor. I stay away from the seriously hot peppers like habaneras.
• 1 tablespoon of Tabasco (I'd use the whole bottle if I could get away with it!)
• 1 Chopped green pepper
• 1 chopped red sweet pepper
• 1 chopped orange pepper
• 2 beef bullion cubes (for the beef cube preparation)

Tenderizing meat

This technique works great for Bariatric patients. If you always wondered how it was done, now you'll know.

Heat the frying pan to medium heat with olive oil added.

Add the beef cubes to the hot frying pan, and brown each side of the cubes. You don’t have to cook the cube all the way through, just brown the outside. The thing is to get all the red out! You don't have to cut the pieces open to do that.

Unless the heat is turned way up, you can’t really burn the meat, so don’t worry about it.

Take your time. It’s better to slightly overcook the beef, than to undercook it.

You may add meat tenderizer, or seasonings of your choice, but it’s not really necessary. The meat will be buried in the chili and will taste great no matter what.

When the beef is browned to your liking, add water to cover the beef and bring to a boil using high heat.

Add 2 beef bullion cubes to the water as it starts to warm.

Stir occasionally while heating the water to dissolve the bullion. If the water falls below the beef cubes, add more water.

When the water reaches a full boil, cover the frying pan and lower the heat to simmer.

Set the timer for 65 minutes. Check the beef to make sure there is plenty of water.

In the meantime, turn the crock pot up to high heat and put lid aside. Allow the crock pot to stay on high for 15 minutes, then turn it down to low again. You should do this just before you add the meat to the crock pot.

Lift the beef cubes out of the water with a slotted spoon, drain and drop into the crock pot. You may use the water as a base for soup, or simply discard.

How to cook!

Here are the instructions once you finish with the meat prep.

Turn on the crock pot dry to a “warm” setting.

Prepare ground beef in frying pan. Make sure the ground beef is fully cooked. Use medium-high heat setting. Drain and discard any fat. When ready, add the ground beef to the tomatoes.

While browning the ground beef in the separate frying pan, add tomato paste to the crock pot.

Add canned tomatoes to the paste. Do not drain the cans before you add them to the crock pot. The liquid helps to even out any harsh flavors. Stir to mix.

Add seasonings. Stir all seasonings into mixture of tomatoes and beef. Put the cover on the crock pot. Sea salt, chili powder, cinnamon, oregano, paprika, etc. Add green peppers, carrots, celery. If you have any ideas for other veggies, feel free to add them here.

Prepare spinach in microwave container, and then add to mixture.

Prepare beef cubes (see above) after adding ground beef to the crock pot.

Add the prepared beef cubes to the mix. Stir to cover.

Cover the crock pot, and set your reminder timer for hourly checks. Stir once an hour for 4 to 6 hours.

1 hour before finishing, turn the heat to high, and add 1 can of beans at a time to the mix. Drain each can before adding. Stir each can in the mix before adding the next can. This will allow you to judge how much room you have in the crock pot to not overfill.

After adding the beans, cover and cook on high for 30 minutes, before turning back down to low heat.

The chili can be served anytime after that. I have a “keep warm” setting that I use so I don’t have to feel obligated to eat right away.

The chili can be saved in containers in the freezer until you want them.

Ideas and thoughts from emails.

• There is a clothing exchange getting started. If anyone knows of people who are interested, sing out here, or shoot me an email and I'll pass it along.
• One person is interested in getting together a mechanical bull riding trip! This same person wants to be able to ride a horse.
  
• We have a recipe on it's way for Pumpkin Pie for Post people. Hurry up please! I'm hungry!
• I will be posting my "Killer Chili" recipe later today.
• One person would like to buy an mp3 player when they reach 200 pounds. Anyone have one they would like to give away?
  
• One person wants to go on a cruise with their spouse.
  
• I would like to be able to run a Half marathon. The full monty is not of interest to me.
• I would like to take an "iron butt" Helix ride. I will write about that soon.
• Anyone want to go to a nudist colony? Just wanted to see if you were still reading.....

Now pay attention people!
If you have gone through the surgery, you will reach your goals and achieve your "Milestones". It's just a matter of time.

Milestones

For my purposes, the word will take on new meaning.

• A "Milestone" is when you pass a point in your weight loss that hits you strongly in your emotions.

I have hit that a few times in recent weeks, and was surprised by my reactions.

• A "Milestone" is something you have wanted to do for a long time, but couldn't because of your weight.

Let the world know what your "Milestone" is right here, and maybe we will show up to see you achieve your goal.
Here are some of my "Milestones":

1. I wanted to be able to sit in a booth at a restaurant. I haven't been able to do that comfortably for years because of my weight. I can now go into a restaurant and when they ask "Booth or table", I can say "Booth". I can't eat much food, but that's ok. At least I can sit there!
2. I want to go to Hershey Park, or some other amusement park, and be able to ride the roller coasters. I couldn't fit into the seats for the reason listed above.
3. I don't want to jump out of an airplane with a parachute, but they tell me I can now that I am under 250 pounds. I can think about it, but I won't do it.
4. I want to Kayak.
   

So now, it's your turn......What do you want to do? When will you be able to do it?