Suddenly it's Saturday

1997  180 pounds

Kristin 1979 Hawaii  135 pounds

 
Wow, I lost two whole days!  I have been sleeping on Tramadol for the past 36 hours.  That stuff made me so sick!  My tooth still hurts, but it seems to be getting better, it is not as bad as it was yesterday.  I have had two root canals in two days and let me tell you, I now have empathy for those who suffer with bad teeth.  

I am finally feeling like sitting up and decided I should blog.  I have not written or committed much since Thursday.

Kristin and Nichole 1999

I thought I would share some photos of me from over the years so you can see me before the weight gain, during and after my surgery and then the regain that I went through.

Mom, Kristin and Nichole 1997

 

 

2005  beginning of largest gain

This is when I really began putting on the weight, Alan was deployed to Iraq from May til October.  This was a horribly stressful time for me.  I began to eat, and eat and eat.

October 2005 Chicago  218 pounds

Cole Birthday  October 2006  265 pounds

November 1 2007 287 pounds 6 days prior to surgery

August 2008  227 pounds

October 2008  220 pounds

December 2008  218 pounds

January 2009 Kristin 212 pounds

October 2009  230 pounds

This is when I began to regain the weight!  

October 1, 2009  225 pounds

Kristin July 2010  265 pounds

Kristin 242 pounds BOOBS 2.0  10-1-11

I had regained back to 282 pounds by June 15, 2011. I do not have any pictures of the highest this time.  I had stopped taking my pictures.  This is when I saw my Surgeon to see about a fill.  He filled me on July 5, 2011.  I have 2cc in my 4cc band now.  I have lost 40 pounds since the fill and 55 pounds since my banding.  I have a long way to go, but I feel confidant now that I can make it!  


It is hard to post these pictures.  I look back when I was 180 pounds and wish I was back there again.  The 100+ pounds that I gained after that time, has many reasons but ultimately I had to figure out why I was addicted to food and admit my addiction.  I have done this, and I now know how to deal with this addiction in a very positive way.


I look forward to a slimmer 2012 and am anxious to see how this journey plays out for me!
 

Measurements!

So here it is, Nichole and I measured on Friday night.  We measure the 7th of each month.  I must admit I dread this, I just do.  You all know why, you have been there.  You know how it feels to want to see decreases anywhere you can get them.  Sometimes we do not get what we want.  (smile)

So anyway it was not as horrible as I thought it might be.  



Neck  8/7/2011   16        10/7/2011    15.25      -.75
Bust   8/7/2011   48        10/7/2011       47        -1.00
Bicep 8/7/2011    14.50  10/7/2011           14        -.50
Thigh 8/7/2011    23       10/7/2011       21        -2.00
Waist  8/7/2011    46      10/7/2011    44.75    -1.25
Hips   8/7/2011     57      10/7/2011     53.75   -3.25
Calf    8/7/2011     16       10/7/2011       15       -1.00


TOTAL  Inches lost  =   9.75 inches


My current weight is 241.8 pounds!   My highest known weight was 295 at start of liquids.  My surgery day weight was 278!  I am 5'7" tall. 

I am just glad to see some changes taking place.  I can feel them dramatically in my clothes as I am getting into clothes that I have not seen in nearly two years.

I have a long way to go yet but I am inching ever closer to that 220 that I cannot wait to get to.  That is my next mile marker in my Journey!

The Trainer From HELL!!!

Ok so last night at 7:00pm was Nichole and my first appointment with a trainer at our gym.  Now mind you, I have dealt with these types before, you know.  The young, hot, and muscular males, who look fantastic in workout shorts.  Well let me tell you something.  This boy was a pain in the ass.


I have told you I hate working out on machines, any kind of machine.  It is boring, it is not rewarding to me in the least little bit.  I would rather be dipped into a vat of hot butter.  Or have my eyes poked out.  So the first thing he does is have us get our own personal mats and I am thinking wait a minute, I thought this was suppose to be on the machines.  There was a gentleman and his wife who also were there with us.  They were in their 60's.  So he looks at me and says "give me 20 push ups" of course I just laughed at him.  Right, like I can do push ups.  But you see, Travis ( this was his name) - was not kidding.  He said it again, "give me 20 push ups".  I proceeded to explain to him, about my knees and putting weight on them while kneeling, and he said hold on and went and got me a thick piece of foam, and said "we will put a Kabosh on the excuses right now" and I was like good lord.  So I began doing push ups on my knees, and I after the third one, I wanted to drop kick him across the gym.  But I didn't.  I just kept plugging away, and finally I finished the 20th one.  He said now see, You CAN do push ups, so do not ever tell me again you can't!

From here we went to the push up machine.  This is the machine that simulates the same muscle movements and resistance as doing them the good ole conventional way.  He had me sit on the bench and then proceeded to tell Nichole and the couple to do "jumping jacks" until I finished.  Now mind you, I knew these people wanted to kill me, because I was sorta slow at doing these.  Travis kept telling me that my form was perfect and that I was doing very well!  All the while my body wanted to grab him around the neck and strangle him.

From here we went back to the mats and he had us grab free weights and do bicep curls.  I had to use 10 pound weights and I just gave him my rolling eyes and he smiled and said you can do this.  Sure HE can do them easy, but I am fat, out of shape, and well I just plain have no upper body strength.  I was able to do them though, and it was not as bad as I had originally thought.  Then he had us work on the bands.  These are elastic bands, that you use in place of the free weights.  These are hard and even with all of my swimming that I have been doing, I feel like a weakling.

From here we moved to the leg press machine, and he of course chose me to go first.  He had me do 100 pounds, slave driver that he is.  Then he looked at the other three and said you will do squats while she is working the machine.  When she stops you will hold your squat til she exits the machine.  I saw the glare in the others eyes.  They were like Kristin you better not be as "fricking" slow as you were before kind of look.  So I began, and I thought my thighs would catch on fire from the intense burn.  I told him how hot they were, and he said GREAT that is what I want.  Damn him, who does he think he is Bob from Biggest Loser?

 When I was finished, I had to do the squats and he kept telling me to push my butt out farther.  I was like you know, my butt is huge and I really do not have to push it out very far for it to be OUT ya know!  Then skinny minnie, the lady, looks at me and says I am 60 years old if I can do this so can you, and I proceeded to remind her that I am 100+ pounds heavier than her.  So when I do these squats it is far more difficult than her......right?

 All in all, it was not that bad really.  I was winded and exhausted at the end but, I did feel like I had gotten a work out.  So next Monday is my second session.  This time we are going to work the core.  Travis said be ready you will be doing some sit ups!!!!!  I wonder if he means lying on the couch and sitting up?  Ya think?  I doubt it too.  Oh well, at least he gave me permission to "give him the bird!"

Will keep you posted on Travis!

I am in a fitness challenge Yeap Sure Am!!!!!

Healthy Loser Gal  has created a wonderful challenge!  Head over and check it out.  I have signed up because I believe that this will keep me honest for the next three months, and help me to reach my goal I have for myself by Christmas!

So here are my goals for this challenge:

1.  Swim a minimum of 5 days a week: Increase my time to 60 minutes.

2.  Drink at least 65 ounces of water every day.

3.  I will do strength training at least twice a week.  (I hate machines).  This will be a challenge.

I am thrilled to have this to focus on.  I have averaged 2.75 pounds a week loss since my fill on July 5th.  I hope to continue this movement with being accountable in this challenge.  Chicago will not be an issue for me, as I have excellent restriction and overeating isn't an issue.  Healthy choices are getting easier and easier for me every day.

Head on over and check on the challenge, the prizes are really very nice!

10 ways to find time to exercise

What is the number one excuse or reason you have for not working out?  Lack of time!  Sure we are all busy, with handling multiple priorities and rushing around from here to yonder each and every day.  However, I promise that no matter how busy you are, someone even busier than you are is working out right now.  If you look closer, you will discover that you do have the time to work out - and that you deserve to USE THAT TIME FOR YOURSELF!

Squeezing in just a few minutes of physical exercise a day has huge benefits on your health, gives you energy and perks up your mood. In fact, a new study published by The Lancet found that if inactive people increased their physical activity by just 15 minutes per day, they could reduce their risk of death by 14% and increase their life expectancy by three years.  Also please remember that working out does not have to be in a gym or last an hour.   10 minutes bursts of exercise over the course of the day can add up to big fitness and health gains too.

So you still are not convinced that you have the time to exercise?  Here are some pointers on how to fit in exercise into your busy, hectic life.

• Wake up earlier - sleep is definitely important to overall health and weight loss, but could you hit the sheets just 30 minutes earlier, so that you could get up and exercise just 30 minutes before you begin your day?  Working out in the morning has definite benefits including regulating your appetite, boosting energy and probably the most beneficial thing is that your exercise is check off for that day 1st thing!  Because really, how often have you had the best intentions to make that workout in the evening, but been held up at the office, or something come up with the kids, or find yourself too exhausted after the stress of the day!  By working out 1st thing in the morning your time problem is solved.

• Cut down on media - For just a few days log how much time you spend watching TV, on the Internet, checking email, playing video games.  You might be surprised at how much time is eaten up by these activities these days.  You might be surprised how much time is spent on Angry Birds or Facebook.  Just a few minutes here or there can add up to a whole hour or more each day.  Cut out just some of that screen time an Viola you have workout time for 10 - 15 minutes even on the busiest of days.

•  Be an Active TV watcher - don't just sit on the sofa,  do some jumping jacks at the commercials, sit on stability ball and do some crunches or just dance, move try not to sit for more than 20 minutes at a time. 

• Try an active commute - if you can bike to work, or walk to the store, take the bus - walk to the bus stop,  if you do take the bus, get off a stop or two before you need to and walk the rest of the way.  If you drive to work park as far away as you can and walk.

•  Make it part of your routine - one reason it is so hard to fit into our busy schedules is because we are not used to doing it.  Heck, it takes time to brush your teeth in the morning but you do it don't you?  You brush your teeth because it is important to your overall health and it has become second nature.  Try this with exercise, make it routine, whether it is walking your dog, yoga, running, walking or Zumba and my favorite swimming.  Make it a tradition, like hitting the Starbucks each morning, or showering.  When you incorporate it into your daily routine like hygiene you take the process away from willpower and make it habit.   

• Mix socializing with working out - plan events with family and friends that get you moving.  Go for a hike, play a game of tag football, make a date on the treadmill.

• Turn chores into exercise. While cleaning might not be the most fun activity, it's something we all have to do, and it can definitely be a workout if you want it to be. Set a kitchen timer for 20 minutes and see how much of the house you can clean. Try to be as efficient and quick-paced as possible, and I guarantee you'll work up a sweat. If you're doing lighter housework that is harder to get your heart rate up (like laundry or organizing), throw in some lunges or push-ups every few minutes to start feeling the burn!

• Schedule an appointment. If you had scheduled a doctor's appointment, you wouldn't miss it would you? How about that important business meeting? Of course not. Working out is actually as important as going to the doctor or any other obligation that you prioritize, because it helps you perform better as a worker, parent, student or volunteer, and keeps you in tip-top shape. So whether it's scheduling in an hour to go to that group exercise class, investing in personal training sessions or even making a date with yourself to do that workout DVD over your lunch break, write it in pen in your calendar and treat it like any other appointment you can't miss!

• Find an activity you love. Think of your favorite hobby or pastime. Do you have trouble finding time to do it? Most likely, you make time for it because you enjoy it so much. It's the things we don't enjoy that we put off and don't feel bad about missing. That's why it's best to choose a physical activity that you actually enjoy and look forward to. Not only are you more likely to do it, but it also adds more fun into your life. And we all could use some more fun in our busy lives, right?

• Say no. If you've gone through this entire list of tips and don't think a single one will work in your life, then it's time to look at your priorities and responsibilities. Do you really have to bake cookies for that fundraiser? Babysit for your sister? Take on that extra project at work? Attend that wedding shower of your second cousin? Remember that there's nothing wrong in saying no.Yes we all have obligation to others, but do not forget about your OBLIGATION to YOURSELF to take care of your body and your health.

Remember, exercise gives you energy and keeps you healthy to keep going in that busy life of yours! So don't think of exercise as another to-do to squeeze in on your already busy schedule. Instead, think of it as maintenance for your health and a way to de-stress and do something for you!

Finally FIFTY!

Looks like I made it, today I am down officially 50 pounds since my banding!  Hard to believe that I let myself put all of these pounds back on.  So hard to take back off!  I will advise anyone who reads my blog to NOT do what I did.

I am thrilled that I did it before Chicago, although I was hoping to be at 223, I knew this was unrealistic!  That is the weight that I got down to before I began my accent back up the scale.

I will never never ever see those numbers again, I now live by the BAND commandments!

Sliders, and things that easily pass through my band must be limited or completely banished from my daily life.


I feel great today!

What is going to keep you motivated?

In Man’s Search For Meaning, author Viktor Frankl survived years in German concentration camps due to what he felt was a good reason to survive: he was determined to finish his life’s work in psychology. Risking punishment or worse, he secreted away paper and notes, planning and preparing for the day when he could continue. Eventually, he was liberated and went on to pen one of the century’s most influential books on leading a meaningful life.

Meanwhile, Viktor saw that fellow inmates who did not have a “calling” (whether it was a family, a career, or a cause) seemed to have nothing to live for and usually died. The right motivation was literally the difference between life and death. 

That’s the power of motivation. Given the right reasons, people have changed lives, changed history and changed the world.

“Sure, that’s great,” you say. “But all I’m trying to do is lose weight.” That’s the old, misguided way of looking at it. You might not want to change the world, but you do want to change your world. Anyone can lose weight. To keep it off – to make that permanent lifestyle change – it takes something more. It takes the right motivation.

The right motivation is a potential diet deal-breaker. Recently, 32% of dieters polled said that a “Lack of Motivation” was their #1 weight loss hurdle. Motivation is what separates Dieters from Lifestyle Changers. That’s why it plays such a key role in everything you’ll do. 

What To Do With Your Motivation?
 
Motivation happens in two stages. First, you find out what motivates you the most about weight loss. This is different for each person and even different situations. Second, you turn that motivation into a tool by surrounding yourself with it, immersing yourself in it.

Motivation can be useful and inspiring at the same time. Not only is it important to do things for the right reasons, but it’s just as vital to find creative, timely ways to remind yourself of those inspirational reasons. 

What Is Your Right Motivation?
 
The right motivation is whatever it is at any point in time that keeps you going for another day. Today it might be the mirror. Tomorrow it might be the look in your child’s face. Next week, it might be a picture of the vacation you want to look good for. Surround yourself with as many of these motivating options as possible, since inspiration could come from different sources each time. 

 

The right motivation will get you out of bed in the morning with pep in your step and an eagerness to meet the day.

The right motivation is a vision, a picture of what life will be like after you’ve lost weight.

The right motivation won’t let you quit. Oh sure, you may have setbacks and you may get discouraged, but it will never stop you from taking two steps forward.


What Types Of Motivations Work?
 
Some types of motivation are more effective than others. Most people spend too much time worrying about extrinsic motivators, where the standards are set by someone else (the scale, the mirror, negative comments from a spouse, fashion magazines, etc.). Instead of thinking about what’s important to themselves, they think more about what’s important to other people.

You’ll be more successful if you pay more attention to what’s important to you as a benchmark. Want to have more time with the family? To have more energy? To feel better about yourself? Those are the motivators that will keep your new lifestyle in play for the long run. 

What motivates you? What do you want your loved ones to say when they see what great shape you’re in? What kind of exercise is enjoyable and keeps you coming back? Discovering your motivating factors is a huge part of transitioning from "diet" to "lifestyle change." When you find out what keeps the fire burning inside, becoming and staying healthy will be something you can stick with.

Find a quote that you can use as a personal motto

When you need a jolt of inspiration, a personal quote or motto is the perfect remedy. A motto only takes three seconds to read but can have lasting effects on your mood and performance. Quotes like these are powerful tools:

"From a tiny spark may burst a mighty flame."
"Remember to live."
"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

           "Nothing Tastes As Good As Thin Feels"  is one of my favorites!!!!
 

Finding lots of strong quotes is easy. You can look for a particular theme or choose from numerous quotes from a favorite writer, historical figure or celebrity, depending on what inspires you.  Find a quote that’s inspirational to you! Once you find a personal motto, use it. Hang it on your mirror. Put it in your car. Keep a copy in your wallet or purse. Tape a copy to your computer monitor. 

Watch an inspiring movie

Who said dieting is all work and no play? The best part of drawing inspiration from a movie is that there’s an inspiring movie out there for everyone. Some of us draw inspiration from cheering for the underdogs, especially in sports films. Others find inspiration in stories of tremendous courage or overcoming setbacks, through films of personal tragedy and triumph. A movie conjures emotions in us unlike any other form of entertainment. We can often understand what the characters are going through and think about how we can aspire to be more like them. All of these things can help you  draw inspiration to keep making changes in your life. Here are a few suggestions, but feel free to pick your own:

 The Blind Side
Stand and Deliver
Shawshank Redemption
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Apollo 13
Simon Birch
Patch Adams
Rudy
October Sky
Rocky
It’s a Wonderful Life

 I remind myself each and every day why I am doing this, and it does not take much to do that!  I just have to look back to where I was before I began my journey!


That for me is motivation to keep me in the gym and keep plugging along with my goal in sight now, I know that this WILL happen for me.  It is no longer just a mere DREAM!


One week til BOOBS!  The countdown continues!

I am finally moving again........... Wednesday Wisdom!

After weeks of no scale movement, I have begun the descent once again from this god awful place that I allowed myself to climb to.  I have to tell you that three months ago, when I made the decision to get back in touch with my band seriously, I thought gee Kristin, you are so behind the 8 ball.  You could have been done by now, in maintenance and loving life as a thin person.  

Those thoughts are true, but the reality is this, it is not easy, no one ever promised me that it would be.  Not the surgeon, not the nurse who led the support group, not the nutritionist, and least of all the people who stood before me at goal at my first seminar.  Where in the world did I get the idea that I could do this without hard work.  I know better.

Nothing in life comes easy, nothing that is worthwhile that is.  I look at my life and where I am today, verses where I was just a year ago, and I am actually more at peace now, than then.  Why?  Because I have worked on my inner demons.  The ones that are there whether I am thin or fat!  I still want to see a different me in the mirror, but now I am comfortable with who she is.  I know that I am a good person who was just fat!  I know that those who love me, love me because of ME not how much I weigh.  I think it is so funny how a drop of 1.2 pounds feels like winning the lottery to me.  I also think it is funny how, now today I think about working out, more than about what is for the next meal.

You see I used to obsess about food, it was always on my mind.  I would eat breakfast, usually something quick, like a breakfast sandwich from the Not so Golden Arches, and then in an hour, I thought I was in need of more food, and I would eat something else, and then in a couple of hours something else, when lunch would roll around I would eat another 1500 calories I imagine, not sure since I was not logging anything.  As I was eating lunch, I was thinking about dinner!!!!  Yes, I was thinking about what I needed to have for dinner, while I was eating.  It was so insane. You talk about people hooked on crack!  Really, how is this any different?  I was eating myself into a heart attack, early grave you name it.  I also closet ate, I would hide what I was eating.  I would leave work and go by Culver's and get a Snicker's Concrete mixer and devour it before I ever got home.  This was routine.  Exercise was non existent I was so tired when I would get home that I would just go lie in bed, depressed you think?  Most certainly I was, in denial, yeap I was there too, unable to see what I was becoming? well, I knew, but I stopped weighing cause I did not want to know, it scared the hell out of me. 

Something clicked, I am not sure what it was this time, but I am thrilled that it did.  I think it was the fact that I had gained so much weight back, that I had no clothes to move up into.  When I had lost down from the size 28 to the 14/16 that I was at before I began packing the pounds back on, I had gotten rid of anything in my closet above a size 18.  So here I was back doing those binges, and closet eating, and it was not pretty.  I was able to eat enormous amounts of food with my band.  I knew I needed a fill, but how could I face my surgeon after all of this time.  

I was the leader of the Lap Band support group for my surgeons practice.  I was the poster girl of "how to get the band working for you"!  I was so embarrassed, it was incredible.  So, after going back to therapy, and getting my head on straight and stopping the self bashing.  I picked up my size 18 jeans and big girl panties and went back to my Dr.!  He gave me a well deserved ass chewing yes he did.  But only because he could not understand why I stopped coming to see him, after all, he was my support, my key to helping when things were not going well!  He reminded me that he and I are a TEAM!  That we have to stick together on this or I will not prevail.  Great advice, and stuff I intend never again to forget.

I know that many of us have gone through rough times, with our bands.  I also know that many have not, they kept on the straight and narrow and are where the need or want to be already or are very close to be.  I want to say to those who have gone through the rough times, or are still fighting these demons, YOU can win the battle.  You have the inner strength, you have the determination, you have everyone here for support, and you have the BAND!  All of these put together equals success.

 I am down 2.8 pounds this week!  It feels wonderful!

Happy Hump Day!

8 More days til Chicago! Chicago!

Healthy Diet Habits - - What is Number One?

If you pick up one habit early on in your program that will make a major difference in your weight loss, this is it. 

The list of benefits of water is so long, you’d think people were selling it as an 18th-century miracle tonic. There is evidence that fully hydrated bodies have higher metabolisms and can burn fat at a faster rate than thirsty, dry bodies. Water also helps you: 

• DIGEST FOOD
• FEEL FULLER
• LOOK AND FEEL FRESHER
• HAVE MORE ENERGY
• THINK MORE CLEARLY

If there is one thing that is clearly difficult with the band for me, it is getting in ALL of my required daily water.  I have to sip and sip and sip.  I have  good restriction with this fill and so it is just like a funnel in there.  I feel it pool at the top of my band and trickle through.  So I have to be drinking and sipping all day long!   So I cannot stress this one enough for the newly banded.  DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!

When you drink more water, and your body gets used to it, you ironically store less water. Seems that your body needs to trust that it’ll continue to get plenty of the good stuff, otherwise it’ll hold onto what little water it does receive. Less water means less weight. Early on, losing several pounds – even if it’s water weight – can be a huge motivator. 

A pound of FAT!

 

A healthy diet should NOT rely on fluids to provide calorie or nutrient needs, but water is necessary for metabolism and normal physiological function. In fact, water is the only fluid that the body truly needs. How much water do you need? Most people need about 8 cups every day, but active people usually need to drink more. Remember that water can come from lots of different sources--even foods contain the water that your body needs! 

 

Fresh fruits and veggies are tremendous sources of water. Fruit juices, milk, teas and decaf coffee also count. Watch out for caffeinated beverages. Caffeine can actually increase your need for more water; so a lot of caffeinated coffee or soda may do more harm than good. 

Relying on thirst is not a good strategy. By the time the brain signals thirst, you’re already dehydrated. If you’re working out, by the time you’re thirsty, your performance can drop 5-10%. The idea is to stay consistently hydrated for optimal performance and weight loss. Seesawing between hydration and thirst can hold you back. Again, your body needs to know that it’ll get what it needs all the time; otherwise it’ll store some back. 

Weekends are the toughest, so be aware of your water and fluid intake throughout Saturday and Sunday. Keep more than one water bottle in the fridge so you always have a cold one. Take a bottle of water with you everywhere you go.  Alan teases me because there are literally bottles sitting on the beside table, the bathroom counter, I have them all over my house most of the time.  But he also knows, that I get extremely  bitchy when I am dehydrated!  So he is always encouraging me to drink!


This is my second post about the importance of WATER!!  I have realized through out my journey how very important water has become to me and to my success at weight loss!


THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WATER!

Happy Friday!

Can Comfort Foods Be Good For You?

Comfort – A condition or feeling of pleasurable ease, well-being, and contentment.

Chicken and dumplings

 
Food – A substance you consume to produce energy, stimulate growth, and provide nourishment.

Spaghetti Pie

Put these two words together and people dream of hot fudge sundaes, or turn to mom's fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy for pick-me-ups and fall prey to many other kinds of eating rituals. This is the power comfort foods hold. Unfortunately, it seems that most comfort foods console us with extra fat, calories and other ingredients that lack great nutritional value. But not all comfort foods are made this way.

There are actually 7 comfort foods that are GOOD for you!  Check these out - -

Yogurt (with fruit)
The frozen variety tastes pretty similar to its ice cream counterpart, only with less fat. By adding fruit, you’re only adding more minerals and vitamins. Cool and soothing, this comfort food is a perfect snack, yet tastes sweet enough to ease your pain. I have recently fallen madly in love with OIKOS!

OIKOS Greek Yogurt

Fruit smoothie
This is the perfect cure for anyone with a sweet tooth. Amazingly, even if you don’t normally like fruit, you will probably still enjoy this blend of fruit, juice and yogurt. It only takes a few minutes to whip up in your blender and is a cool and refreshing treat during a hot, summer day.  I love these after a workout and I always add UNJURY protein to them. 

Strawberry Smoothie with UNJURY Protein

Chicken noodle soup
Would you rather have anything else when you’re sick? This blend of noodles, chicken chunks and veggies in a steaming hot bowl will take you back to your childhood. Remember to buy a brand with low sodium, or make your own at home.

Kristin's Chicken Noodle Soup

Angel food cake
Sometimes, we all love a slice of cake. Warm and fluffy, every bite is better than the previous one. With angel food cake, you can enjoy a slice without feeling guilty about it later. Pretend it’s your birthday and have a slice, maybe even with some fat-free whipped cream. I love this dessert, and have since I was a little girl.  Mom would make it for me for my birthday!

Grandma's Angel Food Cake

Oatmeal
Forget caffeine-charged coffee; oatmeal is all you need for a hot breakfast that will leave you energized for hours to come. Packed with complex carbs, oatmeal is easy to make and much healthier than a sugary cereal you might otherwise eat. A steaming bowl of oatmeal will make mornings your favorite part of the day. Toss in some fresh fruit to get that sweetness you crave.  Stay away from those little packets of already prepared however, they are full of that evil SUGAR!!!!!

OATMEAL does a body good!

Vegetable juice
Sometimes you need that kick. Vegetable juices, such as V8 and others, have enough kick to play in soccer’s World Cup. (Which Alan loves by the way!)  A blend of many vegetables, including tomatoes, it’s great when you’re not very hungry or when you're on the go.  I got a juicer for Christmas two years ago and it is easy to make your own, however it takes a lot of vegetables.  So if you can't make it yourself, then buy it just check the labels for sodium content.

Vegetable Juice - - - YUM!

Crock pot creations (anything that’s healthy, any way)
One of the greatest food inventions of the 20th century, a crock pot can seemingly take any combination of ingredients and turn them into a great meal. Slowly cooked, whatever comes out is hot and tastes great. Throw in healthy meats and a bunch of veggies to make this comfort food good for you. I will never stand for anyone to tell me that they cannot cook.  This kitchen MUST HAVE will turn you into a gourmet in no time!  The choices are endless, and the great thing for me is that, time is saved yes, but look at the amount that is made.  I get 7 meals out of one dish!  That is so cost efficient these days!

Kristin's Chicken in a Pot

 Bottom line is, there are good comfort foods out there, and you can have them!  How great is that?  When you cook at home you can control what goes in your mouth more easily.  You can make meals healthier, by substituting and removing certain things, such as fats and salt.  I love to cook, and I find it fun to try new things.

  I used to want to eat only those foods that I loved.  Which happened to be high calorie, fat laden foods most of the time.  I don't eat hamburgers anymore.  Yeah you heard me right I just don't desire them, not to mention my pouch does not like em much either.  Can you say STUCK!  Believe me, if you would have told me prior to surgery that I would not want a hamburger off the grill I would never have never believed you, but now, I would rather have a small piece of grilled Talapia or grilled chicken.

Grilled Talapia with pineapple

These things comfort me now, because I have redefined what COMFORT means to me, and FOOD is no longer my comfort.  I am an addict.  I must never use food as comfort again.  I eat to live, I no longer LIVE TO EAT!


Thankful it is Thursday!


Come on Weekend!  Two weeks from today my train arrives in Chicago for BOOBS 2.0!  I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!