Anyone who lives in hurricane or tornado country knows that the time to get their emergency kit of food, water, flashlights and first-aid supplies together is long before the storm season starts. That way, they are prepared should an emergency strike, and they don’t have to waste valuable time looking for the essentials in the midst of a crisis.
That’s also the way it needs to be when it comes to assembling your “life emergency kit.” We WLS patients are a special group that has made a choice to radically alter our bodies, which in turn can change the way we relate to people and situations. Our physical and emotional needs are very different post-op than they were pre-op. As I have said often, we are “wired differently,” and that difference means we have to prepare ourselves to survive the special storms that may be headed our way.
Our life storms take the form of temptations to eat the wrong things, or too much of the right things. The storms also encompass emotional peaks and valleys triggered by both the physiological changes our bodies are adjusting to, as well as the psychological ones. We really are different from everyone else, and if we’re not managing the fact that we are different, we could be caught off-guard. Like people who live in storm country, we need to recognize the potential dangers of our environment and have a plan in place prior to when the clouds roll in. Read more...
The eStore is Open!
I am hugely proud to announce the opening of a new online store at RenewedReflections, featuring hundreds of products specifically for weight loss surgery patients. The eStore is offered through Bariatric Advantage®, which has either developed or integrated the best in pre-surgical and after-care nutritional supplements formulated specifically for the needs of bariatric surgery patients like you and me. You’ll also find bath and beauty products, recommended books, and exercise programs, all targeted to WLS posties.
Plus, for a limited time, the fine folks at Bariatric Advantage® are providing a special sample program, so you can try select nutritional products to see if they’re right for you before ordering. Simply look for the “Samples Request” link at the bottom of the left column to see if a free sample is available for a specific product. Click here to check out the eStore now!
And the Winners Are…
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the March Newbie Challenge, and to all the new Forum members who signed up and kept the message boards going strong this past month. Although we only had 20 members officially introduce themselves in the Newbie Challenge thread, per the contest guidelines, the buzz about the Forums caught on so big that we had 119 new sign ups in all for the month of March. That essentially doubled the membership on the site! We also more than doubled the number of posts from 900 to 2100, proving what a great support we can be to one another. And so, it is with great pride that I present to you our winners:
- A $50 Amazon gift certificate goes to RobinZ for inviting the most new members to the Forums. (Nine newbies introduced themselves as friends of RobinZ.)
- RobinZ also wins a $25 Amazon gift certificate for being the newbie with the most posts. (She actually signed up as part of the contest after being introduced to the Forums by Pillows and posted 112 times in March.)
- Finally, a $25 Amazon gift certificate goes to Pillows (Janae) for bringing in at least five new people to the message boards. (Okay, she actually brought in four—RobinZ was the only one credited with more than five.)
Each winner will also receive a copy of the critically acclaimed CD, Born to be Wild , by Big T & The Bada-Bings. I am also sending a CD to fr1endly2 (Lisa) as a special bonus, because she tied Pillows for bringing in the second-highest number of newbies to the boards. Thank you, ladies, and thank you to all the active members of the Forums!
April Birthdays
Happy birthday to fr1endly2 (April 2), CanadianBlues (April 7), PaolaN (April 15), and Pinalope (April 24). Congratulations, kiddos!
How YOU Can Help
I have found a common trait among most of us PostOps is that we are great at giving, but have a very difficult time asking for help. I am by no means an exception. However, to lead by example I am listing some things that I could really use your help on. My goal is to give back to the weight loss community. You can play an important part by helping with these humble requests:
1. Share the good news. Please forward this newsletter on to anyone you feel might find it motivating or enlightening. Encourage them to sign up on the newsletter list themselves at RenewedReflections.com.
2. Tell others about this resource. Direct friends and loved ones to read some of the articles on the site.
3. Provide prayer and encouragement. I find that the more I share the good news of the hope I have found, I come under what I can only describe as an attack. Please keep my lovely bride Leslie and me in your thoughts and prayers.
4. Visit our sponsors. You can personally help financially support RenewedReflections.com by simply clicking on the Google Sponsored Links at the top of each page. Sooo... Get Yo Click On!
Pouch-Friendly Recipe
Steamed Fish with Yogurt Dill Sauce
Health experts recommend fish as the best animal protein alternative to red meat. It is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are so important to our health. Numerous studies also suggest that a predominantly plant-based diet is linked to long-term health. The phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins in plant foods seem to bolster the body's defenses against cancer, heart disease and stroke.
So, to go with your steamed fish, why not steam a variety of colorful and healthful vegetables? We recommend gradually making the transition to a plate that contains 2/3 (or more) vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans to one-third (or less) animal protein. A spring dinner of steamed fish with yogurt dill sauce is a good place to start.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh chives
- 1 tsp. finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 Tbsp. fresh dill, divided
- 1-1/2 lb. firm-fleshed fish fillet, (e.g. halibut, cod, or salmon) cut in 4 pieces
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/3 cup low-fat, plain yogurt
- 2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 2 orange or yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 scallion, finely chopped (green part included)
- 1 large lemon, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 4 sprigs fresh dill for garnish (optional)
Directions
- In a small bowl, mix together oil, chives, basil and half the dill. Rub mixture into both sides of fish, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Mix remaining dill with yogurt and set sauce aside.
- In a deep-rimmed serving dish large enough to hold the fish and broth, arrange bell peppers and scallions evenly along bottom. Place fish on top. Arrange lemon slices on top of fish. Add broth. Place in microwave and cook at medium power, checking every few minutes, until fish flakes with a fork.
- Remove from microwave and garnish with remaining dill. Serve with yogurt-dill sauce.
Makes 8 pouch or 4 (earthling) servings.
