Calling All April Fools' Ideas

April Fool's is fast approaching. Does anyone have any good April Fools' ideas?

Another Recent Snack

Although I'm not sure of the overall healthfulness of it, another thing that I have been consuming lately (because it is fairly esophagitis friendly) is a mixture of walnuts, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and dried cherries. I read about combining dried fruit (bananas and mangos were mentioned) with the chocolate chips on a blog as a go-to snack, but I embellished on that. I don't know that I'd ever had dried cherries before now, but I think you could easily substitute them with raisins (the cherries taste very similar except have a more powerful kick). Before I buy the components needed to restock my supply of this take on trail mix, I will look up all of the health info about eating this combination as a snack. I'm skeptical since I added the nuts and since I know that chocolate-covered raisins, one of my faves ever, are packed with calories. I REALLY like walnuts, and while I know protein is surely there, I also know that some nuts are not so good for people trying to work on their weight. What do you know about walnuts? Or the other ingredients?

While I don't know if this trail mix is calorie friendly, I do seem to go to the bathroom more frequently (I know--TMI!). I'm not really sure why. I haven't researched that yet, but maybe someone out there can offer up some reasons...is it the walnuts, the dried cherries, me off my rocker about any association between the too?

Banana Popsicles

Any Facebook friends carefully following my 'Likes' (I'm so sure that MUST be everyone! :) ) will note that I recently added banana popsicles to the list.

If there is anything good about this esophagitis adventure, it has been my exposure to the wonderful world of banana popsicles. Now, it's not that I've never eaten a banana popsicle. It's just that I've been pretty much forced into limited food type selections over the last couple of months and had to experience alternative variations in certain go-to items.

The cool thing about banana popsicles, aside from their yummy taste (and their being on the 'safe list' for me to eat right now), is the fact that they only have 45 calories (at least the ones I eat). I often crave something sweet after a meal and don't feel so guilty indulging in a banana popsicle.

Does anyone have a favorite low-cal sweet snack to share? I'd love to hear about it!!!

Tipping Servers Post WLS

I read a piece today that articulated something that has careened through my bean at several points since banding. That topic is tipping post WLS. As a former server, I know the sinking feeling of a tip slipping away when restaurant patrons indicate that they want to share a meal, order only a cup of soup or side salad, have waters all around, or otherwise spend less on dining than the norm. Because of the restaurant rotations, it was very disheartening when a large party would get seated in my section with only one or two people ordering regular meals. Usually (at least in my time as a server), the service requirement is the same for someone ordering a large plate and someone ordering something less expensive...taking orders and answering questions, entering in orders, bringing out the drinks and courses, coming back to check on at least one person at the table (typically more than once), refilling drinks, bringing the bill, cashing out the patrons, etc., etc. As a result of the similar (if not identical) task involvement, tipping the same as one would pre-banding was advocated by the piece I read today.

As for myself, I usually still get a full meal...and box the leftovers (I've always been a leftover eater) if any. Of course, unlike some of the bandster posts I've read, my meals have never been capped (by my restriction) in ounces or cups--or half cups--of food. I really don't understand my restriction (when I have it--of course, I'm on empty right now as you all know) and have never been able to completely relate with anyone posting about how they could only eat a half cup or cup, aren't able to snack (which would be lovely!), or that sort of thing.

But if I were to find satisfaction in a small appetizer or a cup of soup, I believe that I would follow suit in tipping above the recommended 15-20%, all other things being equal. What do you think about tipping post WLS?

Weight Loss Shows

Have we all been suckered into some weight-loss show, or is it just me? Around the time I had my WLS in '08, I was watching about three shows at once....plus all the specials that I hadn't yet seen. Things have calmed down in that department, but I'm still occasionally drawn to some of the shows. There's The Biggest Loser, MTV's I Used To Be Fat, Ruby, Big Medicine, Kirstie Alley's Fat Actress, and tons of specials on TLC, Discovery, and other channels. There are also plenty of shows that I've not included here. On top of that, there are LOADS and LOADS of weight loss products on the market with tons of infomercials (as I embarrassingly admitted early on here, I bought an ab belt based on one of these advertisements).

Do you watch any of these? What types of programs are you most drawn to in the world of weight loss?

PostSecret Weight-Related Posts

These are the latest PostSecret weight-related secrets. I can't (fortunately) relate to the first one....although I know others who can (unfotunately). But I can relate with the second one (well, not about the choice of food...I can pretty much consume ANYTHING at the moment and ALWAYS seem to berate myself for it).

Do these secrets resonate with anyone else? You don't have to answer, of course, if it's not something you are comfortable sharing.

My Life as a Druggie

Morning, noon, and night, I am taking some form of drug. I caught a cold--or some type of not-so-pleasant ailment--last week. At first, because it started with a terribly horrible sore throat, I thought it was connected with the esophagitis because one of the symptoms is a sore throat, which I have already experienced (albeit a much milder version than now). I also thought it might be esophagitis since the other esophagitis issues are still not gone (heartburn and all that fun stuff). I was envisioning a fun hospital visit and an emergency band-removal surgery in my near future. But I was thankful (uncanny as it is to be thankful) when other issues started developing and when I found that others I had hung out with recently had similar cold symptoms too (hence, exposure).

Anyhow, I'm taking my regimen of four acid neutralizers and one antacid plus cough syrup (prescription strength and OTC), nasal spray, headache meds, cough drops, and throat spray. Before I started getting the additional cold symptoms (runny nose, mucusy, etc.), I went online to find esophagitis home remedies (I was desperate) and was sucking back honey (went through a whole bottle) and apple cider vinegar (which is disgusting!) like it was going out of style. There isn't any remaining honey, and I can't stomach (literally) the ACV, so those forays into the alternative medicine arena are now over. Still, I am on enough drugs and have enough issues to keep me well occupied with administering them (despite being loathe to take drugs after the 'January Incident' with the acne meds), blowing my nose, or coughing about 95% of the time. By some miracle, I was able to manage a post. :)

At any rate, I hope everyone else is doing well and keeping away from the disease spreaders of the world! :) Have a great weekend (it is GORGEOUS outside here)!

An Uncomfortable Encounter

I am still in lapband limbo (completely empty of fluid, still taking pills, and still having some regular issues with heartburn and a sore-throat sensation).

But I wanted to post because I saw my fill doctor at Chuck-E-Cheeses this weekend. I was there for a kid party, and it looked like he was attending one of his own.

One of the problems with keeping your band under wraps is that you don't want to raise any red flags. For me, I didn't want anyone who I was with to ask questions or guess I was a patient of a bariatric doctor (we don't live in a huge metropolis here, so ya never really know who knows whom or what).

It was REALLY uncomfortable the whole time because he chose to sit DIRECTLY across from me, and the birthday party he was attending was set up at the very next table! I was getting neck pains from turning around in my seat and pretending that I was completely enraptured by something super interesting on the wall behind me....and that was pretty much the only place in the whole restaurant/child mad house where nothing was happening.

I was also worried that he was noticing that I ate some cake, which may not be good for me what with the acid issues I'm having and, of course, the fact that I'm a bariatric patient. Of course, I noticed that he ate cake and pizza...but he isn't the patient after all.

I'm sure he wasn't super excited to talk to me either considering he was off work, but it just made for an uncomfortable situation. I got up from the table as soon as I could (and spent way too many tokens on the bowling game) to escape. Anyhow, I'm glad that is behind me!

As far as my continuing issues, I was wondering if any of you that have dealt with severe heartburn, etc. due to gastric issues have any specific diets you've followed? If so, what were they, how long did you follow them, and can you eat normally now?