Scars

A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen. ~Edward de Bono

I saw this picture today on the Internet and cried. If any of you were affected by obesity during your high school or college years I think you will be able to relate to my emotional reaction. Every so often something will bring back a memory, a scar from those hard days. This picture did it.

I believe if I would have tested my heart rate upon seeing, it would have been racing. I felt the wave of panic. I remembered the feeling of walking into a classroom and seeing those desks with the immovable seats attached and thinking, "I know I can't fit AND everyone will see I can't fit." This was the reality of my college years.

So what did I do... I went to school an hour early. I rearranged the seats to find the bigger of the desks and stake my claim. Sometimes I would even go into an empty classroom and move furniture in. Occasionally though I would find someone had arrived early to study or meet with a group and then... I was screwed.

I'd smile and say hello, "Oh you are here early too." I would nonchalantly (as much as that was possible) squeeze into the desk of doom, where I would spend the next 3+ hours of class in severe pain... my body contorted, one half of me with the desk digging into my side and the other half hanging over the edge of the chair... all the while smiling and interacting with my professor and friends like nothing was wrong. I was fine. I was comfortable. Everything was great. It wasn't. I was crying inside.

It took a few more years after those college years for me to make some life changes. I had the helping hand of weight loss surgery in 2006 and continue every day to make changes (healthy eating choices, moving my body and working on the head) but every once and awhile something, this picture today, picks at the scars that obesity caused. I had to share this today because I KNOW YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND. You have been there, maybe it wasn't the desk maybe it was the subway turnstile, the airplane tray table, the backseat of a car, the booth at the restaurant, the amusement park ride, the broken chair... your scars are healing too.

Weight Loss Surgery & The Pier
My weight loss surgery journey (in denim)
Worst things about being fat
A is for...

Skinny Peppermint Mocha Review

I tried Starbuck's New Skinny Peppermint Mocha last night. If you are a mint hot cocoa fan you'll love it. If you want to taste espresso this is probably not the drink for you. The coffee taste is non-existent. It's not subtle mint and chocolate. It's ALL ABOUT the mint and chocolate. I could see getting it once or twice this holiday season but maybe adding an espresso shot and/or doing a few less pumps of the mocha.

I have to say this new Sugar Free Mocha Sauce is soooo much better than last one. No aftertaste. 2 years ago they made a version that tasted hideous, it was axed thankfully. This one is yummy. I'm thinking next visit I'm going to order a Sugar Free Hazelnut Latte with a pump of the Sugar Free Mocha Sauce. My very own Nutella Latte. Ooooh or a Sugar Free Caramel Latte with a pump of the Sugar Free Mocha Sauce. Nom.

I am glad Starbuck's is recognizing the need for holiday options for the skinny chicks, diabetics, and the weight loss surgery peeps of the world like you and me.

Friday Five

A weekly round-up of tidbits, tips, ideas, news articles, random cool things...

1. Remember back in September (on a Friday Five) when I said it was believed Starbucks was giving us a Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha. Well it's on the menu and a few of my pals have emailed me to say they have ordered one (so far mixed reviews), let me know if you tried it and what you think. I'm heading to Bux tonight to try one. I'll let you know my verdict. Now if only Starbucks would bring back my personal fav: the Sugar Free Gingerbread Latte I would be their BFF. Come on Bux, Pretty please with Splenda on top.

Not near a Bux and still want some SF Peppermint yumminess. Check out these recipes to get your minty fix.

2. Want to try Quest Protein Bars but not sure which yummy flavor to get... you can buy single bars and create your own assortment. My current favs: Apple Pie, Wild Berry and a new prototype bar which I'm hoping they will make more of soon: Strawberry Cheesecake. Nom. It was a part of this very yummy bento box I made for myself the other day...

Pink Box (top left): Cooked Shrimp with lemon and (in little blue container) Cocktail Sauce
Green Box (top right): Strawberry Cheese Cake Quest Protein Bar
Blue Box (bottom left): Cheesestick and Garlic Pistachios (got these at the Tom's Farms get together)
Orange Box (bottom right): Mango Chunks

More Bento Box Meal Ideas

Speaking of our Tom's Farms get together. Here's a couple of my favorite pics...

There were 15 or so of us all together. We of course forgot to take a group picture before it was all over. Next time we need to take one first thing :) My Mum (3rd in the floral shirt & jeans) hates when I put her picture on the internet. LOL.

3. Some articles I read this week that were worth checking out:

Company Health Plans Raising Costs for Smokers, Obese
Obesity Fuels Custody Fights
State Cuts Funding for Weight Loss Surgery

4. Woot! My Crockpot Carnitas recipe is one of the finalists in the 2011 Next Pork Crock Star. Thanks to my pals & fam that voted. Even if I don't ultimately win (a panel of judges now determines the winner in each category) I am proud that a Weight Loss Surgery friendly dish made it this far. So for all those people in your life that say things like, "Oh you are having THAT surgery?! You know you'll never be able to eat yummy food again." Whapow! Take that ;) There is yummy food on the other side of WLS.

5. Just 2 more days to enter The Great Celebrate Vitamins ENS Giveaway. The winner of that giveaway will be announced Monday (here on the blog) and stop by Sunday when another AWESOME giveaway begins!!! What will it be?!

Trick or Cheese

This was last night's dinner while we waited for the trick or treating whippersnappers to come a-callin'. A variety of cheese and salami, some cucumber "crackers", olives, pickles, nuts and a little cranberry mustard. Oodles of protein and fun. Yum.

The idea of cooking a "dinner" dinner then getting up and down 20 times during it to pass out goodies sounded like a recipe for disaster. I envisioned the doorbell ringing and me with mouthful of food swallowing it too quickly. Ouch.

On the cheese platter was this great new Trader Joe's find: a Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler. 3 different Spanish Cheeses: Iberico (a blend of cow, goat, sheep milk), Cabra Al Vino (translated drunken goat) and Manchego (one of my favorite cheeses - a sheep's milk cheese) 4 slices of each, 12 slices total. Don't be scared of all those farm animals. These cheeses are delicious and mild. I know some cheeses can smell and taste like stinky feet... these aren't those. Soooo good.

This assortment was made for us weight loss surgery peeps. We get the variety of tastes without having to buy 3 huge wedges that we couldn't possibly get through before it spoiled. It's also great for portion control.

We watched the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills *hangs head in shame* and The Sing Off and waited for the doorbell to ring. It never rang. Not one trick or treater this year. So my Mum had a few Kit Kat bars and I was good with my delicious tidbits for dinner and got my sweet fix with an Espresso Protein Truffle.

Word of advice: Gather all the leftover candy in the house and bring it to work for your coworkers to annihilate or better yet donate it to the troops as part of Operation Gratitude. If it's your kiddos stash have them "trade it in" to you for something cool... a movie ticket, a DVD, a trip to the zoo, something. If they aren't there, you can't eat them.

Happy November! Here's a haiku from me to you:

November is here.
It sucks to be a turkey.
Stuffing in your butt. ~Eggface

I know... don't give up my day job ;)