White Queso Jalapeño appetizer

I love this simple recipe for white Queso. However, having a no/low carb lifestyle will not allow for the chips for dipping! So, I chose to stuff the queso in jalapeños!

White Queso:
1 pound lean ground meat (I used venison)
1 block low fat cream cheese
1 can rotel tomatoes (drained if stuffing peppers)

Brown meat in a skillet, season with salt, pepper, cumin... Whatever seasoning you like. Add in cheese and rotel stir/simmer until cheese is melted through.

Stuff peppers:

Wear gloves!! Wash approx 15 jalapeño peppers. Cut in half the length of the pepper. Scoop out the seeds and veins with a melon baller.
Stuff peppers with white queso mixture.
Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350.

Optional: Add Bacon to each pepper. 1 pkg bacon cut in half or fourths. Either wrap the peppers or place the slice on top before baking! TIP:  if you dip the bacon in cold water before placing on the pepper it helps the bacon to not curl so badly while it cooks!

The ones pictured here have extra bacon b/c I made them for my hubby and had a few pieces left over...

New Stuffed Poblano recipe!

Since I learned I couldn't have the quinoa stuffed peppers I decided to alter the recipe to where it's friendly for my diet needs! I still haven't adjusted my cooking for smaller portions so this makes a full pan of peppers and I still have some of the stuffing left over that I can use for another dish!

Anyway, here's the recipe! Hope you enjoy it!

Soosy's Stuffed Poblano's

4-6 good sized Poblano's (prepare first)

1 cup of low fat cheese (goat cheese, part skim mozzarella, low fat cream cheese, etc)

1 pound of lean ground meat

1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped

1 can of Rotel tomatoes 

1 can black beans (optional)

1 pkg frozen spinach

Cilantro to garnish (optional)

Seasonings: sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder. 

Start preparing the Poblano's:

Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment. Spray with olive oil and roast in oven at 450 approx 20 mins rotating at 10 mins. 

Stuffing - brown ground meat in a skillet. Cook thoroughly. Add in rotel, seasonings, red peppers, spinach beans and half of the cheese.  Simmer 5 mins. 

Continue with Poblano's:

The skins should look slightly burnt. Remove from oven and place in a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic and allow the peppers to steam for a minimum 5 mins. Then gently and carefully remove skins, stems, and seeds. Careful not to pull the veins!

Stuff the peppers, place in baking dish with sauce. Sprinkle the rest of cheese on top and bake for 15 mins or until the cheese is melted! Enjoy!

Sauce options: 

1 can campbell's nacho cheese sauce. This is the easy route. Has a mild flavor.

Salsa Fresca: chopped bell pepper medley , jalapeño de-seeded, roma tomatoes no seeds, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and seasonings. Fresh flavor, not too spicy. Do not bake this sauce with the poblanos!

Chipotle sauce: 1can chipotles in adobo sauce, two cloves fresh garlic, 1/4 -1/2 cup water, cilantro to taste. Combine in food processor and  pulse until smooth pour in baking dish with stuffed poblano's. Very hot!

Becoming more Weight Wise

Drove up to Edmond yesterday for my 12 week post op (@11 weeks) Got to enjoy the first snow of the season on the drive up! I left super early not knowing how bad the weather might be but it wasn't bad at all! Just super cold and windy!!

Weighed in at 208.5, which is two pounds more than what my scale read yesterday morning, which was two pounds more than what I weighed the other day... (this morning, 203.6) However, Dr. B told me I was at 45% at 11 weeks where the average loss is 67% by 6 mos po. (I think I understood that right) either way it was great news! He was very pleased with my results and even said that if I continue at this rate we'll be talking about how to slow my weight loss by the next appointment in March! He wants me to see Dr. Keller for a post op counsel session. I've had a couple days I thought I needed that anyway. So we're on the same page there. 

Visiting with Chris (diet) was great. Except for the part where I asked if it was okay to eat Quinoa... No, it's still a carb, and we don't do carbs. Wah wah...

We went way over our time cuz I got chatty, but it was good! I think I really needed the reminder about why we don't do carbs and have a better understanding of how our body responds to them. Not sure I know how to re-explain it so that others get it though. She asked me about support group and I told her I hadn't found one that I really like yet because I feel like most of what I hear doesn't follow the WeightWise program. Is there a Bariatric doc in DFW that does a no carb program??? It would help me out a lot! Chris told me to just keep my WW filter on while at support groups and I'll do fine! I just don't want to come across rude if I disagree with what I hear at group!

I'm scheduled for heart rate testing on the 21st and will get the info I need to train at my proper heart rate. I'll also have Lauren (exercise) look over my training schedule and see if there should be any adjustments. She's running the Dallas Rock n Roll too!

I realized the other day that I haven't added my surgeons site to my blog yet. 

http://weightwise.com/default

I encourage anyone interested in Bariatric surgery to check out Weight Wise and their program. It's very thorough, but as I've said before that's what I liked about them. For me it's worth the time and the driving to have a great team with proven results!

I've been thinking about joining 24hr fitness so I have a place to do my training in doors. My co-worker showed me a deal from either Sam's or Costco for a two year membership PIF at $319. Great price for access to all clubs!

A pic of me feeling pretty, and yes I was driving!

So.... I may have mentioned that I was bringing back leg warmers. Well they are back and I'm showing you a few ways you can wear them and be cool. You know, cause that's how I roll...

;-)

Tucked in the boot, peeking out the top. Works well with short boots or tall boots! $12 on Amazon. Boots from Ross!

Thick/chunky warmers over the boot. With a skirt or with jeans. Can't go wrong! $12 at DSW (same boots)

I don't like these boots with out the warmers any more! And I like the little pom pom ties on these! Steve Madden, $12 @ DSW. Boots from Ross!

Intervention

I wanted to wait until December to add a Christmas-y pic! So here I am with Santa-Dexter at Walmart! Our Nephew had the pleasure of playing Santa and taking pics with lots of kids during one of his shifts! So naturally, we had to go and embarrass him at work! I forgot to tell him what I wanted and he wouldn't let me sit on his lap either! Lol! (we had just come straight from the ranch which is why I have my hair slicked up work style, and I'm sportin' the camo!)

Did a little shopping this week as I already posted about... But I did a little more on Wednesday, my day off. (this is where the need for an intervention comes in) Found this cute little silver sequin dress at Ross for $12! TJ doesn't know yet, but I'm going to wear it out one night real soon to celebrate getting below 200! Very very very soon! I think that will be something he will be happy to celebrate! 

I made the mistake of walking through the purses and handbag section. I did not realize that the Ross in Watauga had so many cute, DESIGNER handbags!! I mean Betsy Johnson, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Guess... Just to name a few. Like the real deal too, not knock offs! I resisted the temptation this time but there were several calling my name! I mean what is the deal with getting skinny and wanting labels?? I even catch my self looking at stripper shoes! You know the pumps with all the flare and tiny little 6 inch heels! I'd break an ankle in heels that tall but that doesn't stop me from trying a pair on! I have got to stop the shopping...

So, here's an idea for us Bariatric patients... When it comes to buying new clothes, leave the tags on the items until you plan to wear it. Keep a ziplock bag or a shoebox or other filing system with receipts and if it gets close to the return deadline and you haven't worn that item OR you go to wear it and it's already too big, you can take it back in exchange for something else or get your money back! Since I'm wearing L/XL in some things an XL may not fit in two to four weeks so if I don't get a chance to wear that item it's gonna go back! Ross has an extended return date for the holidays. So anything I bought this week I have until mid January to return. That was good to know!


Alright folks, I'm in full swing Team in Training fundraiser mode now that I've got my Nikki Minaj inspired bracelets in!!! 
They are $3 each or 2 for $5 and I will mail them if you send me your address!
They say:
"Fight Conquer Thrive 
Survive Prosper Rise"
And
"iHateCancer"
I like to wear mine together accessorized with a thin black bracelet!

Please consider making a donation to LLS and help fund research that has and continues to save lives! 
Here is a link to my fundraising site: 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/rnrdall12/sgriffith


Okay... Request for funding over, on to other things like people boosting my ego! I'm getting a lot of compliments these days some in the form of actual compliments and others in the form of advice. Like people are asking ME for advice... Diet advice, fashion advice, or just advice in general. I take it as a compliment, but there's this little voice inside that still thinks like fat me and asks thinner me "did that just happen!?"
"does that person really want ME to help them with their style!?"
Just more of a reminder of the mental aspect of this whole deal. You really do have to work on yourself and make an effort to change how you think while your body is changing. I catch myself all the time thinking like fat me instead of thinking with the confidence of thinner me. It feels good though to be able to recognize the difference! 

So, the best compliment all week was our sweet little 17 year old borrowed front desk girl said she thought I was 20 when I asked her how old she thought I was! TWENTY! (I'm 31, closer to 32 btw, and started coloring my hair with purpose beyond style just after 30) so that was nice! I thought she was 20 also... Kids these days with the way they dress and wear their makeup..  You never can tell. 

Until next time...

~Susan

Rant and Rave

Rant and Rave

I am out of control with my mood today... I don't feel great. Probably developing a sinus infection. But I've got the right meds so I'm hoping to get ahead of it before it gets too bad. 

I think one thing that put me over the edge was when I spoke with my boss about swapping shifts on Saturdays she informed me that there's talk about moving everyone to 8 hour shifts. My current schedule has two days that are shorter shifts (sat being one of those days) and with good reason! Due to my working every other weekend I end up working 6 days straight (thurs-tues) every other week. There's no way I'd be able to do six 8 hour shifts in a row especially if I'm booked heavy. My ideal work load is a max of 6 massage hours a day. But I'm happy if I get 4 hours each day. ...and exhausted. Anyway, she agreed to let me swap my shift this weekend which means I'm working 12-7 (was 8:30-2:00) <-this is not an equal trade  :-/

I told her with training every Saturday that each week we add more distance which means more time and I don't want to have to ask every week... She told me I'm lucky b/c I'm off every other weekend as it is since those are the busiest days. So, I guess we'll see how this goes...

I'm just so irritated with my work schedule because I feel like I spend so much time there when I could be doing other things! And now they want us to work longer hours?!? Wha? 

Okay enough of my work rant!

Next Monday (dec 5) is my 12 week post op appointment. I'm not holding my breath but I'd like to lose another 8 lbs by then because I think it'd be awesome to weigh in under 200 lbs! Today I weighed 207.6. I'm still thrilled with this weight either way! When I met TJ I was around 210 so I'm moving into a whole new me that he's never seen before! And that I'm not sure I'll recognize! I plan to take measurements tomorrow and I'll post my new total inches lost when I get that number!

So I'm trying to do this post through email since I have to do everything from my mobile... If it works right there should be a pic of my plate from Thanksgiving at Grandmas here:

That reminds me... I had the hardest time with meat on Sunday!! I tried to eat some turkey at lunch and it hung in my stomach/esophagus and I threw up. Then at dinner TJ grilled some elk steaks. I had two bites and again... It hung up and I threw up. I was able to eat some softer foods but meat just wasn't happening! So frustrating! 

I did a little shopping today... First of all, I got my new running shoes!!!

I was on the hunt for a longer pair of pants for work and found some at Target. Not really "trousers" but they'll do for now. I needed something besides capris for this cold weather!!

I found two cute dresses and a couple of tops also. 4 of the 6 items I got in a large! Woohoo! OH! That reminds me, I bought a skirt at ON two weeks ago thinking it was a 14 and that I was buying a size smaller. Well, it was actually a 12 and I didn't know till I got home and was putting it away. I tried that skirt on and actually got it fastened with out much effort!! Of course I was "dunlapped" over the waist, but I still got it on!! Yay for almost being a size 12 again!

Still on the hunt for the right boots...

I've gotten several comments about how my face is looking noticeably thinner all of a sudden. This is something I really noticed in myself lately too... Just to compare, here's a side by side of a pic from last year with a pic from last week:

That is me chillin' after turkey day lunch. I was enjoying the fullness after that slice of chocolate cheese cake! 

Anyway, enough chatter for now! More to come!

Blog picture test

This is just a test to see if I did it right...

Turkey, Ham and Taters, OH MY!!

Well... it's over! I made it through my first Thanksgiving with my tiny tummy! Sadly, not without eating a bunch of stuff I shouldn't have, but hey... a bite of this and a bite of that never hurt anyone right? WRONG!! I know I know... I should not have eatin the cheesecake or the gingersnaps... all 10 of them (over the course of about 6 hours) but whatever it's one of two days out of the year that everyone pigs out, why should I be any different?

So lets see... I started grazing on cheese cubes and one deviled egg about an hour before lunch... then the meal bgan! ...on my plate I had Turkey, Ham, one spoon of green bean cassarole, one spoon of peas, quinoa stuffed poblanos, and the smallest portion of mashed potato's I've ever served in my life!! I ate all my greens , two bites of quinoa, two bites of taters, and a couple bites of turkey, one bite of ham. I. WAS. STUFFED. and miserable for about 30 mins! probably b/c I ate too fast (again). I tend to do that sometimes huh! Anyway, as soon as I was feeling better I went and cut a little sliver of heaven in the form of Chocolate cheesecake that my cousin's wife had made! it was delish! ...and I was miserable for another 30 mins! later the Ginger bread cookies and ginger snaps... OH MY!

When we started for round 2 around dinner time I had a little serving of green bean cassarole and a couple bites of ham and turkey... then a serving of quinoa around 9:00 at home.

That pretty much sums up my whole day in food!! Over the course of the day it's really not much!

I enjoyed some time with my dads side of the family, visiting with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins from Louisianna... as well as local family. My dad is also in town for a couple of days!

BTW: this Quinoa I keep talking about could possibly be my new favorite food! it's loaded with protein and is a great replacement for rice in a lot of dishes!  I'll try to post some links another time!

I'm at work right now trying to type all this in a hurry so I'm sorry for all the errors in spelling and such...

More to come! Y'all have a great day!