My Version Of Pizza

I have been craving Pizza a bit lately but have denied myself because of all that doughy starch

I decided to see if I could figure out a healthier recipe.

This is what I came up with. (preheat oven to 400)

1 Tbs Olive Oil wiped over cookie sheet
1 can of whole wheat pizza dough - pressed out into a 13 x 9 rectangle
2 Tbs of Parmesan Cheese - sprinkled over crust
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce - spread over pizza leaving a 1 inch border
1/2 cup low fat Ricotta cheese - dollop evenly around pizza
10 green olives - placed evenly around crust
1 tsp basil - sprinkled evenly
1 cup fresh Spinach - piled evenly over crust
1/2 medium white onion - sliced and spread over crust
4oz of low fat Mozzarella - sprinkled over crust

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. 12 for a softer crust / 15 for a crispier crust

I like a thin crispy crust. It's much easier for me to digest

Here is the finished product:



I cut the pizza into 6 portions. They were approximately 4 x 4 inches. I added up all the ingredients and nutritional values and it breaks down per slice to this:

Calories: 214.5 per slice
Fat: 9.19g
Cholesterol: 12mg
Sodium: 295mg
Carbs: 22g
Sugar: 3.1g
Fiber: 2.6g
Protein: 11.6g

Compared to a plain cheese slice from Pizza Hut:

Calories: 440
Fat: 14g
Cholesterol: 35mg
Sodium: 1,010mg
Carbs: 60g
Sugar: 7g
Fiber 4g
Protein: 19g

My version is nearly 1/2 the amount of the bad stuff - not too bad for my first attempt I think.

I'm sure I could have saved even more calories if I used cooking spray to prevent sticking .. but I was all out. I could always have left off the Olives and Parmesan cheese as well, but I was going for a nice punch of flavor.

I accomplished that ... it was completely delicious.

Blood Results

I received my blood work results ... everything is good except my Vitamin D

I have started a prescription mega dose of 50,000 units weekly for 8 weeks.

After I finish with my script I have to be re-tested.

Hopefully this will bring me back up to a semi normal rate.

Otherwise I fear I will be taking enormous amounts of Vitamin D the rest of my life. Not the worst thing in the world ... but a pain in the neck ..... literally lmao

Adventures In Tofu!

Well I did it!

I keep forgetting to mention it there has been so much going on... But I am an official tofu eater now

I tried my first tofu last week and it turned out pretty darn good.

I sauteed Mushrooms, Onions and Zucchini with diced firm Tofu added some salt, pepper, garlic and a swig of balsamic vinegar and my beloved Wortershetershirester sauce

It tasted fantastic! Here is a pic!



I have also since tried the soft tofu and made a shake with my protein powder and Nesquik, a splash of milk, 5 ice cubes and a tbs of honey.

It was pretty tasty as well with the consistency of a milkshake

I still haven't found Edamame yet though lol ... I think I'm going to order it online so I can try it

My Three Month Check Up

Thursday I saw Mike, my Surgeons PA. He checked me out head to toe and told me things look good. I haven't heard anything back on my blood tests. He said if I didn't hear anything back that my levels were doing ok and I don't have to see him again for 3 months! Woo hoo!! {=^;^=}

He said my color is good and my hair looked great. I've not had any loss at all from what anyone of us can tell. I have lots of hair and have always had a tendency to shed but, I'm not finding clumps or hair anywhere or losing handfuls when I shower. I just have the normal strand here and there that I always have.

I attribute part of that to the kick as Bariatric Fusion Vitamins I take and trying to work protein into everything I eat.

I addressed the swelling I am having in my right leg. It's not nearly as bad as it has been over the years .. but enough that I am noticing it. So I am trying some lasix every other day for about a month to see if that helps .. I've been on it for 3 days now and it seems to be helping .. my leg is "loosening" up.

I also saw my Endocrinologist on Thursday as well. That appt. went so so. I went to get the results of my scan I had done before my surgery.

As expected I have growths on what's left of my Thyroid. After a momentary panic and mini meltdown I calmed down. My Mom died of Thyroid cancer at 61 years old. I've already had the left side removed from 2 golf ball sized growths 10 years ago. My Mom's side of the family has had many issues with Thyroid disease in general. My Grandmother, her other daughter and my cousin, her other Granddaughter suffer from issues. So with our family history they aren't messing about.

I have to go in for 9 needle biopsies (3 in each growth) at the beginning of July. If they come back negative then I will have a check up again in 3 months. If they come back inconclusive (as they did the first time I had to have Thyroid surgery) or positive the other half of the Thyroid will have to come out.

So worst case scenario is another throat surgery and I live on a tiny pill the rest of my life. The alternative is not a very pleasant thought, so I guess a pill isn't so bad.

Over all I feel great though! I have more energy than I have had in a very long time. My BMI has come down over 20 points ... and I walked all the way from the parking garage, into the hospital and up to my Doctors office with out sitting down half way. I've never been able to do that.

I can also wear my seat belt comfortably now and I bought a new outfit that is so cute and summery. It's 4 sizes smaller than what I have ever been able to buy before. I was sure it wasn't going to fit, but it did ... with room to spare!

Little daily victories ... every day brings something new and exciting .. and this is still really only the beginning.

Even something as simple as being able to stand and clean the stove tonight just made my day. Every day that I can do something I hadn't been able to do for a while brings me one step closer to being able to make that walk around the block I am just dying to do.

Nutrition By Natalie - 10 Worst Drinks

I found Natalie on You Tube and I really like how she gives you information on different nutritional aspects of food.

Here is one video that really impresses me. I really don't think we take into account that what we drink effects us.

I haven't drank any soda or carbonated beverages since I started my new lifestyle. Every now and again I am guilty of having a diet Arizona iced tea or a cup of tea or coffee with Splenda. I haven't been able to get used to having them unsweetened. I don't drink them every day however.

95% of my liquid intake is water. I really started craving ice water after my surgery and it's stuck with me. I don't really miss other forms of liquid.

So watch this video. It gives you some really good info on how these types of drinks can deplete your vitamin B and dehydrate you among many other long term harmful effects.

Finally!!

I haven't been able to get weighed in the last 4 weeks because I haven't seen my Doctor and we didn't have scales here.

I was pretty sure I was stalled I wasn't feeling any different.

I ordered a nice pair of scales last week and they arrived today. I am down 35 more pounds!!

I know there will still be a bit of adjustment when I go to the docs ... house scales and clinical scales are NEVER the same lol ... but I know they are never 35 pounds off

So I feel pretty good right now.

I lost 83 lbs previous to surgery and now I have lost 60 lbs since surgery. I felt over the moon today.

Oh and it's a talking scale ... my sister refused to get on it.

She asked me what it says and before she could back an eye .. I made a coughing sound and said omg get off me .. yer killin' me!

She nearly spit out her coffee ROFL!

My Black Bean Soup Venture

I have been on a crusade to make soups and stews lately. It seems to be the easiest thing for me to eat. I can eat a good cupful .. more than any other type of food. I think it's because everything is cooked so well and very easy to chew.

Anyway I saw a cooking show where a gal used black beans to make some Mexican dish with olives and raisins .. that didn't interest me much but I thought I've never made anything with black beans. So, yesterday when I was out shopping I got a bag of dried beans and today I made my version of Black bean soup!

OMG ... it turned out soooo good. I had to share a pic although it's not the best pic .. I snapped it quick with my cell





1lb of black beans (soaked them for 6 hours)

3 large country spare ribs

1 large Green and 1 large Red Bell peppers

1 Large Onion

1 Large potato

I peeled and diced the potato and put it in with the beans to boil so as it broke down it would act as a bit of a thickener. I used about 4 cups of water.

While that was boiling away I diced the Onion and Peppers.

As they sautéed I sliced the meat off the rib bones and then threw bones and meat into the pan and cooked it all until browned and starting to get sticky in the pan.

I deglazed the pan with balsamic vinegar ... probably about 2 tablespoons.

I then added about 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon each of black pepper, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder and paprika. 1 pinch of red pepper flakes. I added a few shakes of salt .. I don't ever add much salt .. just add what you like. I added 1 cup of water and let it simmer while the beans finished cooking. (remove bones at any time now and cut off whats still on them or give the dog a treat)

When the beans were done I poured in the pork/veg mixture and let that all brew on a low simmer for about an hour.

It made the most rich brown broth I have ever seen ... and it tastes wonderful. A little bit of mild zip to it from the spices without being painful

I'm already thinking of how wonderful it will taste tomorrow as a leftover for lunch! {=^;^=}

Eureeeeeeka!

For those that don't know protein is something that is vital for WLS patients to get in daily. The guideline is 60 to 90grams. Sometimes this is easier said than done.

So we all search for ways to up our protein or sneak it in anywhere we can with out adding a ton of calories.

I have tried so many protein drinks and shakes and they are all gross. I don't care what anyone says - they are. But, I did buy a can of unflavored protein powder. I thought I could just add that to anything I was eating and I would be sure to get my protein requirement. Well guess what .. it has such a repulsive taste it ruined my food and I nearly gagged. Yes ... it's that bad.

Soooo today I just kept staring at this can ... being that it cost me nearly 15 bucks I was getting mad at myself for letting it just sit there. That and I can't stand waste .. especially money.

So I hauled my butt out into the kitchen and got out the blender. I grabbed the milk some ice and the vanilla.

I added 1 1/2 scoops of the powder to the blender, 8oz of milk, 1 tsp of Vanilla and 1 cup of ice. I let it pulse till chopped, then I just let it whirl for a good minute. I took a small taste and it was a little bland so I added 2 packets of splenda and that did the trick.

I felt so good about getting in a good dose of protein in one go.

Depending on what type milk you use it will be different calories but I used skim.

Altogether it comes to 110 cals and 25 grams of Protein.

The best part is it's tolerable! yay!!

The things that keep me busy

I love drawing with my tablet and mouse. Here are a few images I created over the last couple months trying to keep my mind and hands busy.









If you want to see the fullsize versions of these just visit my site www.redkittiekat.com and click on the graphics button :o)

My 2 Month Anniversary

Well ... It's official ... I am 2 months Post Op.

I can't say it's been a breeze but, I wouldn't change it for anything.

After dealing with my stricture issue and not being able to eat for so long I am finally eating somewhat normally. My last EGD procedure was on the 15th and I have been able to eat nearly 3x a day now with a couple snacks (on a good day) I haven't experienced any dumping persay but I do still throw up within seconds of eating something that just doesn't want to sit too well.
The good part is after that happens, I can find something else to eat and I can usually keep it down.

Things that go down and stay down for me:

Pork cooked to the falling apart stage
Dairy (Milk, yogurt, cheese)
Beef cooked to the falling apart stage
Beans of any sort
boiled or mashed Potatoes
boiled carrots
applesauce
Any type of canned tomato
Toast
Soups
Water and Tea
Shredded wheat and Cornflakes - I let them get somewhat soggy first

Things that don't go down well or won't stay down and I have been avoiding:

Tuna / Salmon (which is sad I love grilled salmon and tuna salad)
chicken
Peanut butter
cabbage
Broccoli
coffee - which again is sad I loved my coffee lol ~ I only have a few sips of 1 cup a week now if that.

The one thing I have a little trouble with unless I poach them is eggs, so I have a poached egg on toast a couple times a week.

Today I tried some raw veggies for the first time:
I put a little lettuce and tomato on toast with a slice of bologna - so far so good

Officially I have lost 27 pounds since surgery. My last weigh in was 2 weeks ago. I don't have a scale. I am going to change that next week. I will be ordering one. I know I have either lost inches or weight because my clothes show it - but I would really like to know. I hate not being able to check lol.

My next appt. is May 14th ~ that is going to kill me to wait that long to know how much I've lost Ahhh!!!!

I have no pain from the surgery. My incisions are completely healed. I really don't ever experience any hunger pangs and I haven't had any pouch or chest pain. So, all in all I think I am doing pretty darn good ..... So that's my story so far. ;o)