So I go through phases in my life where I get a little bit obsessed with different foods. I get on a Thai food kick occasionally and I will eat Massaman curry 4 or 5 times in a week. I am on several kicks currently, so I thought I would share.
Ham and Cheese Pickle Wrap:
Many props have to go out to my Gramma Lou for this one. She shares my affinity for all things spicy. Last time we visited she had jalapeno pickles. These are regular dill pickles that have been pickled along with jalapenos so they take on some of the spice. I love them. Pickles are a great snack food for those of that crave salty and crunchy. They have very few calories, but taste great. I take a few pieces of ham, a slice of havarti cheese and warp it around a pickle. Munch and enjoy. You get the protein from the ham, the creamy from the havarti, a little crunch and spice from the pickle. So good! One of these fills me up for a little while, but I don't like to make it an actual meal.
Greek Yogurt - Audrey Syle:
Greek yogurt is a WLS patient's dream. It is chock full of protein, and when you buy the fat free version it is very good for you. Unfortumately the flavored store brands have way to much sugar. To get around this I make my own. I take plain yogurt then mix in a splash of sugar free vanilla syrup and a spoonful of low sugar jam. After that I add some Bear Naked protein granola and a sprinkle of Special K. The Special K absorbs the yogurt and thickens everything up. The granola adds a nice crunch and a little extra protein. Yumm-O!
Special K:
Low sugar, decent protein for a serving. I sprinkle a teaspoon of splenda over the top and then add skim milk. A sliced banana or a couple of berries completes this awesome meal.
Mexican Food:
1 can of fat free refried beans. A big splash of salsa and hot sauce. A handful of mexican cheese. Mix together over low heat until the beans are easy to stir. I like to add in shredded chicken (marinate it in greek yogurt before cooking for extra tender chicken). I eat this with a spoon. High protein and spicy - just the way I like it!
Happy Munching ya'll! Hopefully some of my food obsessions will become your tasty snack! :)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Help
Truth be told, I became interested in this book when I saw the trailer for the movie. I have said it before, and will say it again, I love Emma Stone. As soon as I saw her in the trailer I decided that I must read the book and see the movie. I am here to testify that neither will disappoint you.
The story is about black maids working for white families in Mississippi, except that its about so much more than that. Each lady in this story unfolds as a character with more depth than you would suspect. One thing that I loved about this book is that it didn't paint anyone as purely evil or purely good. I read so many young adult fiction stories where the antagonist is so clearly evil that there is not any real fun in hating them, it is just to easy. Hilly Holbrook though, she was fun to hate.
The basic plot is that Skeeter has come home from college at Ole Miss and takes her aspirations of being a journalist to unexpected levels by interviewing the black maids that work in the houses around her town. The story takes place as the civil rights movement is picking up in America. The story is told from 3 different persepectives: Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. Aibileen is a voice of reason and calm who cares deeply for the children that she cares for. Minny is a spitfire of a woman who rarely holds her tongue. Together in secret these ladies work to gather the tales of other maids in town to build a book they call "The Help."
The characters in the book are vivid and bright, and the movie does not alter them at all. So often I go to the theater in anticipation of the adaptation of my favorite books only to be disappointed. (Harry Potter anyone?) So I went to see The Help expecting them to change the story that I had loved so much. I was in for a shock. The movie and book flow very seemlessly together. The timeline is altered a bit to add some extra drama, and the story line of one maid is changed, but all in all it was like watching my imagination from the book on screen.
Emma Stone plays the comedic loud woman so excellently in her films, yet she brought a different perspective to Skeeter. Octavia Spencer plays Minny to perfection. From the waggle of her eyebrows to the wiggle of her hips, Minny jumps off the page and onto the screen flawlessly. Viola Davis wows as Aibileen. She manages to convey strength and softness all at the same time.
My favorite thing about going to see this film was the mix of people in the audience. From old to young and skin tones of every shade. This story touches everyone. The audience roared with laughter at the terrible awful (read it, you will understand). The sweet lady next to me handed me a tissue as Constantine's story came to it's conclusion. I found it remarkable how this story of segregation brought so many people from so many walks of life together.
Dear friends and readers, if you only ever see one film that I recommend, please make it this one. Go get the book then go see the movie. OR go see the movie then go get the book. Either way you will be glad you did.
Happy Viewing and Reading!
The story is about black maids working for white families in Mississippi, except that its about so much more than that. Each lady in this story unfolds as a character with more depth than you would suspect. One thing that I loved about this book is that it didn't paint anyone as purely evil or purely good. I read so many young adult fiction stories where the antagonist is so clearly evil that there is not any real fun in hating them, it is just to easy. Hilly Holbrook though, she was fun to hate.
The basic plot is that Skeeter has come home from college at Ole Miss and takes her aspirations of being a journalist to unexpected levels by interviewing the black maids that work in the houses around her town. The story takes place as the civil rights movement is picking up in America. The story is told from 3 different persepectives: Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. Aibileen is a voice of reason and calm who cares deeply for the children that she cares for. Minny is a spitfire of a woman who rarely holds her tongue. Together in secret these ladies work to gather the tales of other maids in town to build a book they call "The Help."
The characters in the book are vivid and bright, and the movie does not alter them at all. So often I go to the theater in anticipation of the adaptation of my favorite books only to be disappointed. (Harry Potter anyone?) So I went to see The Help expecting them to change the story that I had loved so much. I was in for a shock. The movie and book flow very seemlessly together. The timeline is altered a bit to add some extra drama, and the story line of one maid is changed, but all in all it was like watching my imagination from the book on screen.
Emma Stone plays the comedic loud woman so excellently in her films, yet she brought a different perspective to Skeeter. Octavia Spencer plays Minny to perfection. From the waggle of her eyebrows to the wiggle of her hips, Minny jumps off the page and onto the screen flawlessly. Viola Davis wows as Aibileen. She manages to convey strength and softness all at the same time.
My favorite thing about going to see this film was the mix of people in the audience. From old to young and skin tones of every shade. This story touches everyone. The audience roared with laughter at the terrible awful (read it, you will understand). The sweet lady next to me handed me a tissue as Constantine's story came to it's conclusion. I found it remarkable how this story of segregation brought so many people from so many walks of life together.
Dear friends and readers, if you only ever see one film that I recommend, please make it this one. Go get the book then go see the movie. OR go see the movie then go get the book. Either way you will be glad you did.
Happy Viewing and Reading!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Soul Surfer
Every once in a while a movie or a story comes along that changes you. It may be a small change, but there is the way you were before and the way you will be forever more. Soul Surfer is one of those movies. You know the story already, it was all over the news. A girl from Hawaii has her arm chomped off by a shark while surfing, she goes on to not only surf again but to win national competitions in surfing. It is one thing to hear about this amazing young woman, it is another thing to watch her story unfold before your eyes.
AnnaSophia Robb (you may recognize her from the Bridge to Terribithia movie) plays Bethany Hamilton a surfer girl from Hawaii. Her parents are portrayed by Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. Kevin Sorbo plays the father of her best friend, he was with her when the shark attack happened. These actors were given immensely difficult roles to play, they manage to convey so many emotions and challenges without overacting.
What makes this movie so amazing is that it is a true story. The strength of Bethany radiates off the screen. It is s true testament to the human spirit, it is amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it. The movie does not shy away from the spiritual side of Bethany's life. She openly admits that her faith is what helped her stay strong, and the movie embraces that in a marvelous way. They frequently reference the verse that says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It is so obvious in everything that Bethany does that she truly believes that to be true. They show her doubts and her fears as well, and I love that. So often in films you get either characters that claim to have faith but truly lack it, or people who are so blind in their beliefs that they are unbelievable. Finding a character with real balance is not a common occurrence.
I highly recommend this film, especially for the younger generation. All too frequently today I hear excuses on why something can't be done, I wish that there were more people of Bethany's generation that know how persevere. She never took an advantage over other surfers, she didn't want her disability to even be a factor in her surf competitions. That is amazing in today's society where it seems like everyone is looking for a handout or a hand up in some way or another. To the real Bethany Hamilton - I thank you for sharing your story with the world. It could not have been easy to watch people take your life and put it on film for the world to see, and I so value the courage that you have shown.
Happy Viewing!
AnnaSophia Robb (you may recognize her from the Bridge to Terribithia movie) plays Bethany Hamilton a surfer girl from Hawaii. Her parents are portrayed by Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. Kevin Sorbo plays the father of her best friend, he was with her when the shark attack happened. These actors were given immensely difficult roles to play, they manage to convey so many emotions and challenges without overacting.
What makes this movie so amazing is that it is a true story. The strength of Bethany radiates off the screen. It is s true testament to the human spirit, it is amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it. The movie does not shy away from the spiritual side of Bethany's life. She openly admits that her faith is what helped her stay strong, and the movie embraces that in a marvelous way. They frequently reference the verse that says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It is so obvious in everything that Bethany does that she truly believes that to be true. They show her doubts and her fears as well, and I love that. So often in films you get either characters that claim to have faith but truly lack it, or people who are so blind in their beliefs that they are unbelievable. Finding a character with real balance is not a common occurrence.
I highly recommend this film, especially for the younger generation. All too frequently today I hear excuses on why something can't be done, I wish that there were more people of Bethany's generation that know how persevere. She never took an advantage over other surfers, she didn't want her disability to even be a factor in her surf competitions. That is amazing in today's society where it seems like everyone is looking for a handout or a hand up in some way or another. To the real Bethany Hamilton - I thank you for sharing your story with the world. It could not have been easy to watch people take your life and put it on film for the world to see, and I so value the courage that you have shown.
Happy Viewing!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Below is an article that was posted by a fellow WLS recipient. She did not post it to support it, but because it angered her. I was thouroughly angered as well. I will let you read the vitriol, and you will find my comments below. The article can be found in italics, my thoughts in regular font.
Fuming Foodie
US News & World Report recently noted that gastric bypass surgery not only cuts your appetite but also might reduce your desire for high-fat foods. Over the years, I've had friends who have suffered through gastric bypass or lap band procedures. They've all shed weight as if they had made a pact with Satan -- quickly and what appears to be easily.
People applaud their weight loss and congratulate them on how thin they've become and how good they look.
Not I.
I don't like cheating and I don't like short cuts, especially (at least) when it comes to such a big thing (pun totally intended).
My weight has yo-yoed during the years. I've been normal weight, thick, chubby, and obese. When I was at my heaviest, 250 pounds, I did the unthinkable. I cut my calories to less than 500 per day and began exercising two hours daily. Guess what? I also lost weight as if I had a pact with "he who must not be named." (Oh, wait, that's Lord Voldemoort; I mean the other guy.)
It was difficult, especially at first. But every day I -- and my will -- grew stronger. And after three months (in which I lost 80 pounds), I was very, very proud of myself.
How can I be proud of someone who takes the easy route? Someone who decides that having a surgeon cut them open and rearrange or modify their insides is easier than eating less and exercising more? It's just lazy.
And if you're too lazy to cut calories and exercise, you don't deserve to be skinny.
Before I get a ton of comments about how some people are so obese they don't have a choice -- chill, please. You're the type of person who enables drug addicts and criminals. I have the Learning Channel. I've seen those shows about the heaviest people on the planet, including Manuel Uribe from Mexico, who weighed more than 1,000 pounds and was dubbed "the Fattest Man on Earth." He began losing weight by exercising and cutting down on eating. Sure, his exercise consisted of doing arm circles while lying in bed, but it burned more calories than lying there eating tacos.
And if the fattest man on Earth can say no to food and yes to exercise, so can all of the self-indulgent, overweight, spineless jellyfish who take the easy way out.
In the beginning, I was hesitant to tell anyone about my decision to have gastric bypass. This hateful person is the reason for that hesitation. The attitude that the surgery is an easy way out, or in some way cheating, is one that scares me. My journey has been in no way easy. If you saw me get wheeled into my room from the OR, then you know that from minute one after surgery I have been in a fight. If you saw me work with my doctors and surgeons and anyone who would listen at the insurance company, you know that I was fighting long before the surgery.
Let's start at the end. You call me self-indulgent. That's a laugh. For me indulging is eating a piece of fruit, or maybe a bowl of Special-K. I no longer "indulge" anything, you obviously know nothing about my life. You call me overweight. Ok, you have me there. I am still overweight, but I won't be for long. You call me a spineless jellyfish. You must never have had surgery. It is a little bit terrifying. I give myself shots once a month, yet I used to be terrified of needles. My spine is perfectly intact, thank you very much. Oh yeah, and it's stronger than ever.
If you could have seen me sit in the teacher's lounge this week while my coworkers all ate a beautiful cake for someone's birthday and not even take a lick of icing, you know that I can "say no to food." The surgery didn't prevent me from picking up the plastic knife, sliding it through my fingers and popping that icing in my mouth. They didn't sew my mouth shut. They made the consequences of that action much more tangible to me. Instead of only knowing that eating that icing is not good for me in general, the surgery allows me to know that I will instantly regret that decision. I will be so sick to my stomach within minutes of eating that icing.
This author obviously has a very warped view of dieting. Anyone eating 500 calories a day in addition to working out for an extended period of time is anorexic. Congratulations moron, you had a very serious disease for a period of time and it helped you lose weight. Eating 500 calories a day is not something to be proud of. It is a sickness. Within weeks after my surgery I was required to get at least that much a day, within a month and a half I was supposed to be getting 800 calories a day. Now I go for 1000 calories. After three months of starving yourself, you should be seeing a therapist.
Yes, I made cutting the amount that I ate easier on myself. I took an opportunity to change my life. It hurt, a lot. It has been emotionally very challenging. I struggle every day with how much to eat. I feel terrible if I don't eat enough, I feel terrible if I eat too much. I didn't only have someone gut me, I had them take away my options. I boxed myself into a corner so that I didn't have the option of quitting anymore. I walked away from the thing I love best in this world, eating. How dare you judge me for having the courage to do that. Do you hate people who use Nicotine patches as well? And those damn diabetics with their insulin shots... I applaud anyone who is able to change their lives for the better. No matter how they get there.
On behalf of all of the "self-indulgent, overweight, spineless jellyfish" out there, I sincerely hope that you get some help.
Fuming Foodie
US News & World Report recently noted that gastric bypass surgery not only cuts your appetite but also might reduce your desire for high-fat foods. Over the years, I've had friends who have suffered through gastric bypass or lap band procedures. They've all shed weight as if they had made a pact with Satan -- quickly and what appears to be easily.
People applaud their weight loss and congratulate them on how thin they've become and how good they look.
Not I.
I don't like cheating and I don't like short cuts, especially (at least) when it comes to such a big thing (pun totally intended).
My weight has yo-yoed during the years. I've been normal weight, thick, chubby, and obese. When I was at my heaviest, 250 pounds, I did the unthinkable. I cut my calories to less than 500 per day and began exercising two hours daily. Guess what? I also lost weight as if I had a pact with "he who must not be named." (Oh, wait, that's Lord Voldemoort; I mean the other guy.)
It was difficult, especially at first. But every day I -- and my will -- grew stronger. And after three months (in which I lost 80 pounds), I was very, very proud of myself.
How can I be proud of someone who takes the easy route? Someone who decides that having a surgeon cut them open and rearrange or modify their insides is easier than eating less and exercising more? It's just lazy.
And if you're too lazy to cut calories and exercise, you don't deserve to be skinny.
Before I get a ton of comments about how some people are so obese they don't have a choice -- chill, please. You're the type of person who enables drug addicts and criminals. I have the Learning Channel. I've seen those shows about the heaviest people on the planet, including Manuel Uribe from Mexico, who weighed more than 1,000 pounds and was dubbed "the Fattest Man on Earth." He began losing weight by exercising and cutting down on eating. Sure, his exercise consisted of doing arm circles while lying in bed, but it burned more calories than lying there eating tacos.
And if the fattest man on Earth can say no to food and yes to exercise, so can all of the self-indulgent, overweight, spineless jellyfish who take the easy way out.
In the beginning, I was hesitant to tell anyone about my decision to have gastric bypass. This hateful person is the reason for that hesitation. The attitude that the surgery is an easy way out, or in some way cheating, is one that scares me. My journey has been in no way easy. If you saw me get wheeled into my room from the OR, then you know that from minute one after surgery I have been in a fight. If you saw me work with my doctors and surgeons and anyone who would listen at the insurance company, you know that I was fighting long before the surgery.
Let's start at the end. You call me self-indulgent. That's a laugh. For me indulging is eating a piece of fruit, or maybe a bowl of Special-K. I no longer "indulge" anything, you obviously know nothing about my life. You call me overweight. Ok, you have me there. I am still overweight, but I won't be for long. You call me a spineless jellyfish. You must never have had surgery. It is a little bit terrifying. I give myself shots once a month, yet I used to be terrified of needles. My spine is perfectly intact, thank you very much. Oh yeah, and it's stronger than ever.
If you could have seen me sit in the teacher's lounge this week while my coworkers all ate a beautiful cake for someone's birthday and not even take a lick of icing, you know that I can "say no to food." The surgery didn't prevent me from picking up the plastic knife, sliding it through my fingers and popping that icing in my mouth. They didn't sew my mouth shut. They made the consequences of that action much more tangible to me. Instead of only knowing that eating that icing is not good for me in general, the surgery allows me to know that I will instantly regret that decision. I will be so sick to my stomach within minutes of eating that icing.
This author obviously has a very warped view of dieting. Anyone eating 500 calories a day in addition to working out for an extended period of time is anorexic. Congratulations moron, you had a very serious disease for a period of time and it helped you lose weight. Eating 500 calories a day is not something to be proud of. It is a sickness. Within weeks after my surgery I was required to get at least that much a day, within a month and a half I was supposed to be getting 800 calories a day. Now I go for 1000 calories. After three months of starving yourself, you should be seeing a therapist.
Yes, I made cutting the amount that I ate easier on myself. I took an opportunity to change my life. It hurt, a lot. It has been emotionally very challenging. I struggle every day with how much to eat. I feel terrible if I don't eat enough, I feel terrible if I eat too much. I didn't only have someone gut me, I had them take away my options. I boxed myself into a corner so that I didn't have the option of quitting anymore. I walked away from the thing I love best in this world, eating. How dare you judge me for having the courage to do that. Do you hate people who use Nicotine patches as well? And those damn diabetics with their insulin shots... I applaud anyone who is able to change their lives for the better. No matter how they get there.
On behalf of all of the "self-indulgent, overweight, spineless jellyfish" out there, I sincerely hope that you get some help.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
I wasn't sure about this movie. It had cute film potential, but such things often disappoint. I was not at all disappointed. The basic story is that Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore) are getting divorced. Cal seeks solace at a singles bar and meets Jacob (Ryan Gosling) there. Jacob takes pity on Cal and gives him a man-over, teaches him to dress better and to pick up women. The side stories are what make this film special though. There are several unrequited love stories happening in the same triangles that are so so cute. Emma Stone plays Hannah, a lawyer who meets Jacob at the same bar where he meets Cal. There interactions have a certain sizzle to them, I just wanted to see more of them together.
Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling actually have great chemistry together. Julianne Moore had a tough role to play, but she manages to bring a grace to the role and style so that you still end up liking her. Emma Stone is always a favorite, I will watch her in anything. I definitely recommend this one. I don't want to say much more about it because the little things are what makes this movie so charming, but if you know to look for them I think they will lose some of their endearingness. This film will lose not one iota of charm by waiting for it to come out on video, but definitely pick it up from the redbox when it is available.
Happy Viewing!
Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling actually have great chemistry together. Julianne Moore had a tough role to play, but she manages to bring a grace to the role and style so that you still end up liking her. Emma Stone is always a favorite, I will watch her in anything. I definitely recommend this one. I don't want to say much more about it because the little things are what makes this movie so charming, but if you know to look for them I think they will lose some of their endearingness. This film will lose not one iota of charm by waiting for it to come out on video, but definitely pick it up from the redbox when it is available.
Happy Viewing!
On Going For a Run...
So today I did something I haven't done since elementary school. I went running just for the hell of it. I didn't go far, 2.05 miles. I didn't go fast, 35 minutes total. I didn't run the whole time, I alternated between running and walking. I don't even think that I ran even half of the total time, but I did run.
I mentioned in a previous post that while driving down the road rocking out to some sweet tunes, I had a mental image of myself running to those tunes. This planted the seed. It was a small seed, granted but it was there. I am back in the full swing of things at work, and one thing that I was adamant about was implementing a work out in to my routine. I started with some Jillian Michaels Wii Fit, I have to be honest I didn't really like it, but the running part was kind of fun. The next day I switched to Wii Fit Plus, I went for a "run" on that as well. My left leg is really sore and I was thinking that it may be from running in place like that without any shoes on. So the plan was to actually run full out the next day.
Ah but the best laid plans of mice and women... I wanted to run with my music to pump things up, but I left my ipod at work. Ok, back up plan - run with Pandora on my phone, but my phone had no charge. So I decided not to go running. Then I read an article... I will post about it later, but it pissed me off something fierce. I thought screw that b**ch, I'll show her, I'm going running. So I go to get my running shoes... I can only find one. So I give up again. But that was Old Audrey's way of doing things. New Audrey set her mind to something, and I was going to make it happen. I looked in one last box and found my shoe!
My plan was to follow the Couch to 5k program. I got on the treadmill and I thought "Ok, I can actually do this." Then my ego kicked in to gear. I read on the Couch to 5k plan that I should go for a total of 30 minutes and run for minute periods though out. Humph, I can do better than that. I ran for a tenth of a mile. Ok, I got this. I ran for .15 miles. Ok, I so got this. So then I decided to run faster. Run for 2 minutes at a time. Run a little faster. I guess you could say that my ego was writing checks that I am not sure my body can cash. (Yes, I am watching Top Gun as I write this post)
I stopped sweating about halfway through. Never a good sign. My abdomen started really cramping at about minute 18. I remembered that I should have brought some water with me at around minute 20. I will definitely run again, but I am going to be smarter next time. The C25K plan works for people cause it keeps them from going to far too fast in the beginning and then quitting cause they are hurt. I kinds forgot that while I was going. Music is a must, I think I am going to pace myself on songs not the clock on the treadmill. One song running, two songs walking. I am going to bring my water bottle with me next time. duh.
All in all it was a positive experience. We will see if I can walk tomorrow.
I mentioned in a previous post that while driving down the road rocking out to some sweet tunes, I had a mental image of myself running to those tunes. This planted the seed. It was a small seed, granted but it was there. I am back in the full swing of things at work, and one thing that I was adamant about was implementing a work out in to my routine. I started with some Jillian Michaels Wii Fit, I have to be honest I didn't really like it, but the running part was kind of fun. The next day I switched to Wii Fit Plus, I went for a "run" on that as well. My left leg is really sore and I was thinking that it may be from running in place like that without any shoes on. So the plan was to actually run full out the next day.
Ah but the best laid plans of mice and women... I wanted to run with my music to pump things up, but I left my ipod at work. Ok, back up plan - run with Pandora on my phone, but my phone had no charge. So I decided not to go running. Then I read an article... I will post about it later, but it pissed me off something fierce. I thought screw that b**ch, I'll show her, I'm going running. So I go to get my running shoes... I can only find one. So I give up again. But that was Old Audrey's way of doing things. New Audrey set her mind to something, and I was going to make it happen. I looked in one last box and found my shoe!
My plan was to follow the Couch to 5k program. I got on the treadmill and I thought "Ok, I can actually do this." Then my ego kicked in to gear. I read on the Couch to 5k plan that I should go for a total of 30 minutes and run for minute periods though out. Humph, I can do better than that. I ran for a tenth of a mile. Ok, I got this. I ran for .15 miles. Ok, I so got this. So then I decided to run faster. Run for 2 minutes at a time. Run a little faster. I guess you could say that my ego was writing checks that I am not sure my body can cash. (Yes, I am watching Top Gun as I write this post)
I stopped sweating about halfway through. Never a good sign. My abdomen started really cramping at about minute 18. I remembered that I should have brought some water with me at around minute 20. I will definitely run again, but I am going to be smarter next time. The C25K plan works for people cause it keeps them from going to far too fast in the beginning and then quitting cause they are hurt. I kinds forgot that while I was going. Music is a must, I think I am going to pace myself on songs not the clock on the treadmill. One song running, two songs walking. I am going to bring my water bottle with me next time. duh.
All in all it was a positive experience. We will see if I can walk tomorrow.
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