Thank you for ThanksGiving...

As I sit here and reminisce about the wonderful Thanksgiving that I had, I can't help but count the many blessings, friends, and family that I have.  I certainly hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Its so important to take the time and enjoy each other as you never know when you may not have some of your loved ones to enjoy it with next year.  Savor every moment. Laugh, Love, Cry, and make new memories to share throughout the years to come.  At this time of year its hard to get through without having the friends and family.  I really miss my Mother and Dad, and my friend Bill.  I know they were enjoying their big feast. And that we will get back together with everyone that is missing someday. And it will be one big Party.  Until we meet again...

What did everyone do after eating that wonderful dinner?  Did you cat nap? Did you surf the Internet?  Did you sit down and read the newspapers from front to back? Did you map out your mission for your Black Friday deals?  I did all of the above..... Hard to believe huh?  Multi-tasker I am.  (hehe) Although I don't have a lot of people to shop for, I picked up a few items for my family and I was trying to get me a new laptop computer.  Who got the last one at Walmart???  I'll be over to visit...

Seriously, I do pick up goodies and pay them forward. So while you are out on your missions and with the Wonderful Holiday season of Christmas upon us. Think about picking up something small and pass it on to someone that doesn't have any family. Perhaps a neighbor or visit a nursing home wrap a gift for a male/female http://www.bradleyhealthcare.com/ and drop it off and ask them to get it to one of their residents that doesn't have anyone. My mother was a resident in this nursing home and now my mother in law is.  The caregivers in this facility go above and beyond their duties. They will be having their Christmas Party Dec 6th., and I know that they would love to have a few extras. 

If by some chance you picked up some free candy after Halloween with those wonderful coupons that we all have started using, I know I did. The Nursing home is needing some candy for their upcoming events.
I'll be hooking them up.  But I could use a little extra help with that. While we were visiting this Thanksgiving with My mother in law. We can't help but be thankful that we were able to get her transferred from Ga, to TN back in April. As it was so hard to drive approx 140 miles round trip to visit her for a few hours. And now we can run across town. This is awesome.  We get to spend more time with her. What a great experience. The history/stories she tells are so funny. Especially about the younguns....Well enough for today. Just wanted to chat a bit and Wish a Happy Belated Thanksgiving to everyone.  It has been wonderful. I am truly thankful for my family, followers and visitors.  Thank you everyone, this is my therapy right now. And everyone is contributing....

Tah Tah!
:)
Lisa

God Is Soo Good!!!! What a treat.

Little heart felt thank you to the young man that attends Lee University.

I was in line today at Starbucks to treat myself to a caramel apple spice drink, and received a treat I wasn't expecting.  I was gifted!  What is gifted? A young man in front of me approx 21-22 yrs old handed me a $10.00 bill and told me to pay for my drink and keep the change.  I gave this young man a big hug told him thank you and he said you are very welcome. I told him I would pay it forward. We had to wait a little longer than usual and the store manager passed a coupon for a free drink to all of us that were waiting for us to use on the next visit. You know what that young man did?  Yes.... he passed it on. So, I took and passed mine on as well... What a good thing. You know this is what I call a God thing....

After he received his drink and started out the door this young man came over to me and gave me a big hug and said "God bless you, May you have a wonderful and blessed day". This just made my day.  There are still good people... God is good!!!.  What if everyone did this?  What would our world be like? I've been known to do this myself.  It's been a while and I had actually been thinking of doing just this same gesture yesterday. So the next time your out and about you never know when something good will happen to you... Always pay it forward in all you do.  Just had to share this wonderful treat.  My mother always said to be good to yourself. If I hadn't been following her advice. I'm positive that this young man would have made someone else day. So with the holidays just around the corner. Think about this little inspirational event that happened in our Little Home Town Cleveland, Tn.

Pay for the next persons cup of coffee, donut, or sandwich... They will be grateful, make their day, and encourage them to pay it forward.  Catch the spirit!  Pay it forward......

Tah Tah for now!
Lisa
:)

Dessert Giveaway For the Holidays, Interested?

Hello My Friends,
I am teaming up and picking up a couple of gift certificates to my friend Micheles' website http://inspiredbyhimcakes.blogspot.com/2010/11/carrot-cake-truffles.html to give away some cake truffles,  I'm sure you will love these.  Please hop on over to her website and see if you would be interested.  I'll be giving away (2) gift certificates $10.00 each.  You can order her truffles 1/2 dozen, or dozen.  She has several flavors to choose from.  Hope you enjoy.  I will end this give away Sunday evening November 21, 2010. I know its short notice but thought you might be able to enjoy them around the holidays.

This is my first giveaway, so please leave me a comment below and I will draw the lucky winner on sunday evening.

Tah Tah for now, enjoy the day  email me with any questions

Lisa

Perfectly Pumpkin Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting

I just found this recipe and found it to be quite intriging. I hope you will enjoy it. I ran across this website today and this blog works a lot of recipes using splenda.
Let me know how it turns out.  I'll return a in a few and start posting more. Especially since we will be needing a lot of low cal, low sugar recipes during the holidays coming up. If you have any suggestions on recipes you would like to see send me an email
diztentbe@aol.com.


Perfectly Pumpkin Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting

Tah Tah!

Check Up was excellent!

Well, my 6 month check up was upon me before I had realized it.  Since having my surgery I go every 6 months for lab work.  So far every visit has gone pretty well. There have been a couple of visits where my B-12 levels weren't where they needed to be so the Dr. advised me to make sure that I was taking the B-12 supplement and he also prescribed the B-12 injection that I give myself once a month.  So far this has worked out to be very rewarding. 

Last Friday 11/5/2010 I went for lab work. I was really sweating it. Why, doesn't everyone worry about something?  Me, I have always worried about the things that I shouldn't and don't worry about the things that I should. Then sometimes I worry about everything.... This was this time.  I've been taking my supplements as normal, multi-vitamin, calcium citrate, b-12. 

Friday 11/12/2010, Was follow up with the Dr. day.  My family internal doctor is just wonderful. He was my mothers doctor and she had a lot of confidence in him. And he really ranked high on her list.  He has always been one to put it out there.  I think this is what a lot of doctors are missing today.  They tell you what you ask a question for.  Not him, he comes out and says this, this, and this.... That's good, I know why mom liked him so well.

He came in the office, chatted a bit, reviewed my chart and advised how well I was doing,  I had even lost 5 lbs... (woooohoooooooo)  I was excited about that one within itself. As you know I recently participated in the 5daypouchtest. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/.  I've been doing good since. He has mentioned the last few times that I have went, that I sure do wish your mom could have done as well as you are doing. That boosted my confidence a bit. I needed that, it made me feel good. 

Yesterday, My husband and I drove to Chattanooga to (1) get out of the house. (2) just to window shop.  We decided to eat out.  I know my previous post was about eating out. You can make good choices.

We ate at Rib and Loin http://www.ribandloin.com.  I had a baked potato with chicken.  It was so good.  I wasn't able to eat all of it. So I left it. Most of the time I will bring 1/2 of the potato home and one of the boys will eat the rest. I also really enjoy their tea.  Most of the time when we go to restaurants, I only get water and set it aside, because as you know I can't eat and drink. So yesterday I did order me a tea with lemon.  To take with me, so that when I was able to drink I could treat myself.
It was so good. 

Everyone, Its been a pleasure writing a bit about myself and my experiences that I have had with my gastric bypass.  I would love to take some questions from you. Perhaps post a q&a segment.  Please let me know your thoughts.   I hope everyone is enjoying this weather.  I'll go for now, but email me at diztentbe@aol.com if you have any suggestions, questions. Or just want to chat.

Tah Tah for Now!  I've enjoyed our chat.
Lisa
:)

Choice is yours!

Being given a choice to exercise or Not!  The choice is yours. The vast majority of the findings associated with being healthy or living a healthier life style includes some form of exercise.
Whether it being walking, cardio, spinning, or kick boxing. Do you join a gym or not?  The choice is yours.  Free is always good.  So I vote to walk. This is my choice. Our beautiful city has built a green way http://www.cbcgreenway.com/about2.html in which any one can walk.  Its a beautiful scenery along the mouse creek. http://www.cbcgreenway.com/photos.html  You get to see lots of wildlife.  Brings you to enjoy your walk and it does even make it go by faster. If you are antsy about getting the chore completed.

Take a deep breath enjoy this crisp fall air. Its so hard to begin walking if you haven't been faithful in doing so, or even any exercise. Take it in moderation as you do food.  Do a little each day to begin with. Work your way up.

Food: Your choice, do you cook it or have someone else prepare. I choose to prepare myself. Even though it is so much quicker, and a lot of times cheaper to just pick it up or go eat in.  Step back into time a bit.  Get back to the basics of cooking.

Go to the library, books are free to check out.  Borrow a favorite cookbook from your friends, family.  Take it home read it, plan you a menu and go to cooking. Or perhaps try a inherited recipe from generations before you.  Its better than the processed foods that the restaurants are providing. Yes they cook them, but they also add lots of spices that add to the enhancement of the good food.  This is where they get you, don't get me wrong I love eating out. It just doesn't love me anymore.

Begin to prepare your meals each day. Cook a little extra. Pack your lunches (brown bag it) coupons.com cook a little extra you can take it to work and enjoy an extra meal. Instead of going out spending $5.00-$10.00 a meal depending on which choice you made for lunch.  Make it a family gathering, get the family involved. Have a son/daughter break out the bread, spread the condiments on it for you. Let them sprinkle the little spices in the meal your making. Get everyone involved. I like Jamie Oliver's approach to getting the schools back on track for the children eating healthier. 

Being a Bariatric Post op. I have to watch what I eat at restaurants.  Depending on my choice. Depends on how my body reacts to the break down process.  Remember we need protein first...and foremost.  No drinking 30 minutes before, during the meal or 30 minutes after.  Yes sip if you get a little choked or the food is dry just to wash it down a bit.  But remember if you drink during the meal the food will be flushed out of your pouch.

Therefore, you will have defeated the purpose of eating the protein first. Bariatric http://www.bariatriceating.com/ post ops need all the protein, for a number of reasons. It helps with the hair growth, bones, and overall health.

Search for coupons that will help you with saving on bread, sandwich meat, vegetables, etc. http://www.coupons.com/ They are available. There is currently a coupon for bread, sandwich meat and even frozen vegetables on there.

For Supper have a spaghetti night (Italian Night)
Spaghetti http://ronzoni.newworldpasta.com/pasta_coupon.cfm
Spaghetti http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/dreamfields-newsletter-signup.html
Turkey http://www.butterball.com/savings
Bread http://www.coles.com/promotions/coupons/
Salad http://www.freshexpressartisans.com/
Salad dressing http://www.wish-bone.com/Coupons.aspx
Now remember print your coupons and hold them until you see a good sale on these items. Coupons up to .60 will double at Bi-lo and a few more stores depending on your area, this would make it $1.20 off .
When signing up to print off your coupons, sign up using another email just for these type offers that way your normal email won't get flooded with offers. This is what I do. Periodically I check the other email for offers from the companies that I have requested coupons from, they love us and continue to send good coupons through email and snail mail. If you ever have any questions on couponing for deals let me know, I'll be glad to help in any way possible. I'll begin posting recipes next week. I'm compiling them now.

Let me know if you get back to cooking I will come over and be your guest.
Have fun with it and enjoy your valuable time with family, and friends.
Think of the holidays ahead of us.  Cook and share with someone that doesn't have any family, invite them over or take them a meal. Or perhaps pick up an extra jar/package with your savings from your coupons to share with the local food banks.

They will be grateful.

Tah Tah for now.
lisa

Electing to Vote!

Good morning All,
Can you believe it?  Its November already. That means another month and we'll be celebrating Christmas.  I'm not ready for all of the holidays yet.  I'm trying to catch up with myself. (hehe)
Hope everyone is enjoying the crisp cool mornings and the beautiful warm afternoons. 

I've started writing in my journal again so that I can start putting my book pages together. I'm not sure that is where I need to begin, but that's where I've started. I often asked my friend, how do you know what to write, how do you put words to paper etc.  I didn't score well in English lit.  I guess you can tell.  However, I try and guess that's the most important thing.  Never give up on your dreams. I haven't yet. 

I made it through the Halloween Holiday, and hope everyone else did without the added weight.  I managed not to touch the candy (sigh) Oh but wait, I have a mission and I'm still doing quite well I may add.  I hope everyone got out and voted yesterday and every one's Vote brought who they wanted. I know mine did.  The reason I titled my blog entry today is to see if anyone wanted to vote on me? 

Why do I ask this?  Well, seems I have ran across a dilemma and don't know quite how to handle it.  So I thought I would put it through a vote. For years due to my weight problems, I refused to have any pictures taken. Now I wished I had at least taken 1 full shot of before. There is no full shot except the one at my Dr's office and they are trying to retrieve it from the disk. But I did find a before head shot.

Do I post a before/After picture on here? Or do you think it would scare off my friends?  Guess I should have asked this before Halloween, I could have used this for the goblins. 

Please let me know your vote of yes or no by commenting.  And I'll decide in a couple of weeks if I am brave enough to reveal the before of me. (147) pounds heavier.

Tah Tah for Now
lisa