Melting Mama

Protein Water Video Review

Before you even suggest it, this vendor had already packed up and left when Michelle and I tried this product with the CEO of a vitamin company. We tried his personal samples. We were not breaking anyone's Code Of Conduct. KTHANKS.

• Check out Spartos Protein Water on Facebook
• Spartos Protein Water
• Watch our review again, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!

Recommended Carbohydrate Levels After Gastric Bypass

Via Bariatric Times -

After you read this study, let's discuss:  

• Did your nutritionist give YOU guidance in regards to carbohydrate intake after your roux en y gastric bypass surgery?

• Background: Exact carbohydrate levels needed for the bariatric patient population have not yet been defined. The aim of this study was to correlate carbohydrate intake to percent excess weight loss for the bariatric patient population based on a cross-sectional study. The author also aimed to review the related literature.
• Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, along with a review of the literature, about patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at least 1 year previously. Patients had their percentage of excess weight loss calculated and energy intake was examined based on data collected with a four-day food recall. Patients were divided into two groups: 1) patients who consumed 130g/day or more of carbohydrates and 2) patients who consumed less than 130g/day of carbohydrates. 
• Limitations: The literature review was limited to papers published since 1993. 

• Results: Patients who consumed 130g/day or more of carbohydrates presented a lower percent excess weight loss than the other group (p= 0.038). In the review of the literature, the author found that six months after surgery patients can ingest about 850kcal/day of carbohydrates, 30 percent being ingested as lipids. A protein diet with at least 60g/day is needed. On this basis, patients should consume about 90g/day of carbohydrates. After the first postoperative year, energy intake is about 1,300kcal/day and protein consumption should be increased. We can, therefore, establish nearly 130g/day of carbohydrates (40% of their energy intake) 
• Conclusions: Based on these studies, the author recommends that 90g/day is adequate for patients who are six months post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and less than 130g/day is adequate for patients who are one year or more post surgery. 
• The author concludes that maintaining carbohydrate consumption to moderate quantities and adequate protein intake seems to be fundamental to ensure the benefits from bariatric surgery.

- http://bariatrictimes.com/recommended-levels-of-carbohydrate-after-bariatric-surgery/

Related articles

Gastric Artery Chemical Embolization GACE Procedure Helps Shut Off Ghrelin Production Without WLS

No long-term cost savings with weight loss surgery

9 Years Post Gastric Bypass.

Weight-Loss Surgery's Weird Alcoholism Risk (It's not weird.)

Cleveland Clinic study shows RNY bariatric surgery restores pancreatic function by targeting belly fat

9 Years Post Gastric Bypass.

April 5th, 2013 marks nine years since I had roux en y gastric bypass surgery at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.  I made it another year.  I am alive.  I  made it past your cash bets.

I am approximately five pounds above my very lowest post op weight, which I saw one year post op before I got pregnant and right before I bounced up to 175 lbs.  I will say this, my lower weight looks different the second time around.  That first low-weight crash post surgery looks like death-warmed over.  I look healthier now, and I think it's honestly because I eat food now and haven't had a massive weight loss like in 2004.  

People have asked me "What are you doing differently now?"  

• Food journaling and keeping myself aware of the calories I take in.  I don't journal everyday, but I DO journal.
• I stopped using soy milk, and swapped to unsweetened almond milk in my coffee and for whatever other "milk" uses I have.  I don't use dairy milk at all.
• I quit my Starbucks habit pretty much altogether.  I get an iced coffee or cappuccino if someone else takes ME out for coffee, but it's rare, and definitely less than once a week.  Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, once a week.
• No crackers.  If I must, one serving, with protein.
• No potato chips, etc.  
• No candy, only super dark 70%+ chocolate if I must have something.  One serving.
• No protein bars, except to review them, unless I am REPLACING A MEAL with one.
• No protein shakes, except to review them, unless I am REPLACING A MEAL with one.
• This isn't "new" - but zero alcohol in my house.  It's just a rule.  If it's not here, I can't have it.  It's just the rule.
• If there's one thing I have learned this year - it's that I can't graze without noting.  I can't just nibble all day long and expect that I won't see gains, because I do.  I gain very fast on relatively low calories.

I have also learned that giving up things I can't control - stressors - outside influences - people, even - helps.  I started losing the weight as soon as I made this connection.

Look at my weight loss timeline.  Look at the dates.

 Now look at my regain photos from the last year - same timing.

 Seems easy enough, right?  

 

Let. it. go.

“You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles.”  ― C. JoyBell C.

People CAN be TOXIC to your HEALTH.   Let. them. go.

(*Not the ones in this photo.  LOL.  But, I am also 25 lbs lighter SINCE these photos and the timeline.  It's a visual.)

Here's to YEAR ten.  It's a big one.  

*foreshadowing....*

Arctic Zero Frozen Dessert Review - I got time for this.

I doubted it. I did not want to try it. I was told that Artic Zero was "nasty," and that I would hate it.

When I saw a shelf of Artic Zero frozen desserts in our local grocery store, I was half-tempted, but not entirely, because *FISTS IN THE AIR!*  GUYS!?  

It's ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY CALORIES FOR A WHOLE DOG GAMNED PINT OF ICED CREAMED CONFECTIONARY GOODNESS!   

A WHOLE PINT.

• 150 calories per pint & all natural
• Fat free & gluten free
• Lactose intolerant friendly
• Contains 8 grams of fiber
• 14 grams of whey protein concentrate
• If, you eat the whole pint.

If you are a bariatric patient, you ain't eatin' no WHOLE PINT OF NOTHIN'.  Even at my stage, nine years, I don't eat a pint of any one food ever -- not unless I want to take a trip to sleepy-town-next-stop-dump-city-with-a-side-of-NO.

I bought two, which cost me more than I would ever spend on frozen confections but I did it for Science!  The blog.  $4.99 each.  GASP!  I bought Chocolate and Vanilla Maple.  

Last night I noticed that Some Child Of Mine had dug into the Chocolate and I had to save it from it's certain death -- and I stole it back for review.  (Her review - "I'd eat it."  Because she did.  I stole it back.)

First impression, the product is solid like a rock and you must absolutely leave it out for a few minutes and allow it to melt a bit for best results.  It freezes quite hard because of it's high-water level and it's not palatable totally frozen solid. Sccccrrrrraaaaaaappppeeeeee.

Once it's a little bit un-frozen, it's good to go.  My first taste reaction was that of a frozen diet hot chocolate, with no grit, no textural issues, perfectly smooth.  Another similarity might be a diet fudgsicle or the chocolate part of a chocolate and vanilla ice-cream cup.

It could use more sweetness to personal preference, however it is a lower-sugar product and I would NOT want more real sugar added TO it.  The first few tastes were slightly bland, but it was better after that.  I considered adding a packet of flavoring or something to it - perhaps a shake of powdered peanut butter - sugar-free syrup or chopped super dark chocolate would have done the trick.   However I didn't add anything to it, and I ate two servings without anything on it - and was perfectly happy that way.  

I chose not to write this review until today because I wanted to wait for the full "gut-reaction" from the ingredients - you know - in the name of science - the blog - the farts -

Here are the nutritional stats -

Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter,Mint Chocolate Cookie
INGREDIENTS: PURIFIED WATER, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, CHICORY ROOT, DUTCH PROCESSED COCOA POWDER WITH ALKALI, GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM, NATURAL FLAVORS, SEA SALT, MONK FRUIT CONCENTRATE.

Vanilla Maple
INGREDIENTS: PURIFIED WATER, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, CHICORY ROOT, GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM, NATURAL FLAVORS, SEA SALT, MONK FRUIT CONCENTRATE.

I am pleased to say I had little to no reaction to the fiber in the product - and I react to EVERYTHING.  There are many products that I cannot TOUCH (RIP Quest Bars, signed my gut) because of their ingredient profiles.  Thumbs up Arctic Zero.

Next up, Vanilla Maple.

Now, full disclosure - if you are a "typical" dairy ice cream eater - this is not THAT stuff.  This is a frozen diet confection for those of us who DO NOT EAT full-fat dairy ice cream.  

There's a reason I can't eat ice cream.  

(RIP ice cream, signed lactose intolerance via roux en y gastric bypass.)  Dairy ice cream contains lots of high-fat cream content and mouth-feel.  Also, many types of ice cream contain chunks of high-fat candy and high-calorie junk.  This product is a diet confection and contains only 37 calories for a reason.  

Keep that in mind and if you're going to add loads of crap BACK TO IT, why bother?

I'm going to buy a case of all the flavors via Amazon to keep on hand in my chest freezer for those ice-cold cravings.   Because, sometimes I crave it, and I can't have it.

Pouchworthy.  

• Product - Arctic Zero Frozen Dessert
• Price -  $3.26 on Amazon  - $4.99 at WalMart
• Pros - Under 40 calories per serving, 150 for entire pint, 5 grams sugar per serving, 0 fat, 0 lactose, Fat free & gluten free, Lactose intolerant friendly, Contains 8 grams of fiber, 14 grams of whey protein concentrate
• Cons - Tad pricey, urge to add stuff to it.
• Rating - Pouchworthy, ^MM

Related articles

Product SQUEE! Coffee + espresso flavored whey protein isolate with ONE CARB.

Product squee in advance - I AM GOING TO IMPLODE.

Banning large sodas is legal and smart

CNN) -- A state trial judge on Monday blocked New York City's plan for a maximum 16 ounce size for a high-sugar beverage. The ban would have included sodas, energy drinks, fruit drinks and sweetened teas. But it would have excluded alcoholic beverages and drinks that are more than 50% milk, such as lattes. The ban would have applied to restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums and mobile food carts. But it would not have applied to supermarkets and convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal was met with fierce opposition by the industry and public outrage at the loss of "liberty," the so-called "nanny state" run amok. Beyond all the hype, the industry's vociferous arguments, now adopted by a trial court, are badly flawed.

In fact, the Board of Health has the power, indeed the responsibility, to regulate sugary drinks for the sake of city residents, particularly the poor.

 

Related articles

Study - Caffeine Consumption And Mortality -- WAIT, what?!

Weight-Loss Surgery's Weird Alcoholism Risk (It's not weird.)

Watch: NYC Super-Sized Soda Ban Halted by Judge

Yo-Bro - Powerful Protein Yogurt For Boys?

Yo-Bro.  Got you some of that yogurt you like from the health-food store.  I heard about it on NPR this morning, so I ran out and got some -

• The First Yogurt For Men. The Greek Yogurt that’s high-protein, all-natural and great tasting, in a man-sized package. Specifically designed for the active lifestyle. www.powerful.yt

You know how I like a man-sized package.

It's too bad that the nutrition stats rock, 'cause this girl would totally try it, even though you probably don't want me to.  Not only am I a girl, but a former fat chick.

• Product - Powerful Protein Greek Yogurt 
• Facebook - Powerful Protein
• Price - $2.00-$3.00
• Location - Nowhere near here - send me one?
• Pros - Zero fat, super high protein
• Cons - Silly branding, although, I get it.  Yogurt branding is SO SILLY.  "Activia!"  I get it.  Boys deserve their own bull-branded red-colored boy-gurts or something.  I am being totally facetious.  Send me some.  These stats are wonderful.

Panera Bread Hidden Menu - Or - This is how to get a MM to GO to Panera Bread?

I was just fumbling through my morning routine of empty dishwasher, make coffee, listen to morning radio.  I heard this story on NPR about Secret Menus and I stopped and thought, "Well, there's today's blog entry."

BECAUSE LOOK WHAT PANERA DID AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN CAUSE IT WAS A BIG OLE SECRET!

Panera (Bread, which I avoid... because it is a BREAD. STORE. CLOAKED. AS. A. SIT. DOWN. RESTAURANT.) now offers on the sly, teh foods that I can enjoy, and that many of you can also enjoy, but we have to play the secret game to get them.

NPR -

One thing you won't see on Panera Bread's secret menu? Bread.

As Scott Davis, who oversees menus for Panera Bread, explains, "This is probably the most extreme anti-kind of Panera diet you can have, right? It doesn't include bread and flour and that sort of stuff."

Davis says that the company had been missing out on a whole group of diners: diabetics and people who were cutting carbs or avoiding gluten. This menu lets the company tap into that growing health-conscious market.

"If someone never considered Panera before because the name 'bread' is in it ... this is a way of opening that door," says Davis.

So at its 1,800 stores around the country, Panera trained its employees to either pull out the secret menu card or scan a code that'll put the menu on a customer's mobile device.

But only if someone asks for it.

Here's my rant about this -- It's A Schtick, It's A Marketing Ploy -- to get foot traffic into the restaurants to "find all the foods" that are on the "hidden" but not-so-hidden-because-we-promoted-them-on-our-website-menus.  

Source: mypanera.panerabread.com via Panera on Pinterest

 

The restaurant also desires that while you are there, you will add-on a purchase of a simple-carb from the bakery-porn-case of scones, souffles, muffins, cookies, bagels, or loaves of bread?

Shortbread cookies are my nememis.  Thank you for noticing.  Let's see if I can get through there without looking.  > - <

Related articles

The Great Blog Loss of 2013

Wellesse LOVES you - GIVEAWAY! Spread the love - FREE Samples -WLSFA Announcement!

Product squee in advance - I AM GOING TO IMPLODE.

Hapi Fork - Vibrate your obesity away!

Introducing the positivity-enhanced HAPIfork!  It is an electronic fork that monitors your personal eating style and habits and gives you cues as to when you are eating too fast.  The HAPIform will alert you with lights and vibrations when you are shoveling food into your piehole.

I have a better idea.  Add moar amps.  Give your Happy A Charge!

Electricity travels through conductors - any material which allows electrical flow - as it tries to reach the ground. Because people make excellent conductors, minor electrocution is a common household hazard. Fortunately it is usually more surprising than dangerous and does not require medical attention. However, some basic precautions should be taken to insure that the shock does not interfere with the body's normal electrical impulses including the functions of the brain and the heart. Prolonged exposure to a direct source of electricity can also cause severe burns to the skin and the tissue.

It would work faster than a $100.00 vibrating fork.

Related articles

Not today brain.

Stress triggers eating problems - WHATSTRESS?!?!??!?!?!?

Coca-Cola + OBESITY + Bad PR.