Off to #YWM2016 Your Weight Matters National Convention

I'm heading to the Your Weight Matters National Convention #YWM2016 this week. I am proud to be part of the Convention Planning Committee. I can't wait for everyone to experience the wonderful speakers and education in the agenda this year. I am fangirling over a few of the speakers.

And my favorite part...  the wonderful community, reconnecting with friends and making lots of new ones! I hope many of you will be in attendance.

I will be taking part in the Event Welcome: Uniting Your Community to Inspire Health Friday morning, moderating a session called: Balancing Perspectives: A Look at Real Life Post-Bariatric Surgery later that day.

I'm also hosting two lunch talks, Holidays and Celebrations: Tips for Staying on Track on Friday and Linking With Others: Finding Your Support System and Tools Online on Saturday.

Sneak peek at some goodies I'm packing up for my table mates including the appropriately (since we're in peanut country) Celebrate Vitamins (sponsor & #YWM2016 exhibitor) Peanut Butter Protein 20 Protein Powder.

If you are close... come! There's 3-day and single day on-site registration, health professionals can earn up to 16 CE units too if you need added justification ;) Oh and locals can get a FREE Pass for the Community Outreach Day Event on Saturday. They have access to some cool special programming, the health testing, the free samples and swag in the exhibit hall. See the link for more info and if you have a pal in the area tell them to come by.

If you are not headed to #YWM2016 this year, please consider attending the event next year. Psst... the 2017 location will be announced Friday night at the costume party. Watch my twitter feed for the breaking news! It really is an event not to be missed. For me... it's a way to renew my commitment to my health. It energizes me and the inspiration and motivation carries me throughout the year. Well worth the price of admission! I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Catch a glimpse of all the fun on social media: I will be tweeting, snapping pics, maybe even taking a few videos from inside the action (and behind the scenes) so if you want to follow along be sure to follow my social media accounts:

Twitter (where I will be the most active)
Instagram
Facebook

The official hashtag is #YWM2016 if you'd like to follow that and be sure to follow the Obesity Action Coalition's (convention hosts) tweets too.

In honor of my trip I made a couple recipes this weekend...

My take on one of the most famous soups in America. It's served in the dining room of the United States Senate every day, a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century. I remember reading about it when I was a whippersnapper and on my first trip to DC in 6th grade I got to try it. I wasn't impressed.

Can you find me?

My version adds a little Italian flare (aka flavor) with a little Rosemary and a topping of shaved Parmesan Cheese. Hmmm maybe those government folks in Washington DC would get more work done if their soup tasted like this ;)

Shelly's Senate Bean Soup

2 cans White Beans, rinsed and drained
1 Yellow Onion, diced
2 Green Onions, diced
3/4 cup Cooked Ham, cubed
1/4 teaspoon Rosemary, dried
a few twists of Black Pepper
3 cups Chicken Broth
Parmesan cheese, shaved for top

Saute onions in a drizzle of olive oil till golden. Add ham and seasonings and cook about 1 minute more. Add beans and broth and simmer for 20 minutes covered.

Puree soup. A groovy gadget like this works great or you can do it in batches in a blender. 

Simmer 10 minutes longer. Serve with a shaving of Parmesan cheese.

and since technically our beautiful hotel is in Virginia, famous for peanuts here's a peanut recipe...

Shelly's 5 Minute Peanut Butter Protein Cake

1 Egg, beaten
3 Tablespoons Milk
3 Tablespoons Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoons Canola Oil
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
3 Tablespoons Powdered Peanut Butter (aka Peanut Flour)
1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder
Pinch salt
1 - 2 cup Measuring Cup or Microwave Safe Mug

Topping: Smucker's Sugar Free Strawberry Topping, No Sugar Added Homemade Whipped Cream

In a measuring cup or microwave safe mug, Mix egg, milk, syrup and oil and combine thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix pancake mix, powdered peanut butter, protein powder (I used Vanilla but (or Peanut Butter Protein Powder if you have it would be great too) and salt. Tip dry into wet and stir till combined. Nuke in microwave for 2 minutes on full power (start with 2 minutes & add 20 second increments as microwave wattages vary, top should be dry like picture below.) Let it sit for three or so minutes (it pulls away from the sides) before tipping the cake onto a plate. Yields 4-5 slices

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon... and if you are not joining us this year... make these recipes, follow the tweets and make plans to come next year! You will be glad you did!

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Here's what I ate yesterday...

Breakfast: I had some early morning errands so I mixed up a Chike High Protein Iced Coffee packet in my blender bottle and wrapped up a couple of leftover Ricotta Pancakes that I smeared with a little almond butter and off I went. I had to laugh... a few minutes before I took off I was scrolling through twitter and clicked on a trending topic... those trending topics always make me question our values as humans... anyway... I clicked, I read about the latest Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez drama (hey at least it wasn't the Kardashians) and I tweeted this random comment. Of course, of all the tweets I post about things I ACTUALLY care about... my Bieber tweet went viral and by the time returned from errands I had hundreds of retweets and likes... my notifications blew up. It figures. Well I hope they scrolled down educated themselves about health and obesity issues a little ;) yeah doubt it too.

More Eggface Breakfast Recipes and Ideas
More Favorite Protein Shakes and Smoothies

Lunch: When I got home I was sort of glued to my computer getting some of my to-do list done before I take off for the Your Weight Matters National Convention #YWM2016 next week. So I filled my bento box and ate at my desk. I have 17 things on my list currently. Yeah I know... "good luck with that."

Pink Box (top left): Caprese Salad (Sliced Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Basil, Salt & Pepper)
Green Box (top right): Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quest Protein Bar "Cookies"
Blue Box (bottom left): Hard Cooked Egg sprinkled with a little salt & oregano
Orange Box (bottom right): Fresh Mango Chunks

More Eggface Bento Box Lunches (tons of low carb, back to school or take to work lunch recipes and ideas)

Dinner: I baked some Salmon fillets in the middle of the night last night. It was 105 yesterday (gonna be 101 today big cool down LOL) so when I woke up at 2 AM I sliced up a lemon and sprinkled some salmon with olive oil and a store bought herb blend. That's about the only time I'm OK with the oven being on. 25 minutes later I was back in bed for a bit with most of dinner done.

Just before dinner I tossed some foil packets of summer squash on the grill with the same treatment as the fish (drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of seasoning blend) when they were done 20-25 minutes, closed grill. I opened the packed (careful for steam) and sprinkled some Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese on top.

I ate the salmon cold. I love cold salmon (great for salads like my Edamame & Salmon Salad tomorrow's lunch) but you could reheat (these little microwave steamers are great for reheating fish, meat, veggies and not drying them out.)

More Eggface Foil Packet Dinner Recipes

Snacks: Coffee in the morning. Sugar Free Raspberry Lemonade sticks the rest of the day. At the hottest part of the day I popped a couple of Greek Yogurt Cubes in my mouth. I always have a freezer bag of those in the summer. Just don't eat them too fast... brain freeze. Ouch.

More Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus

Cook Once, Eat Twice or More: Basic Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a staple in my post-op world. It's packed with protein and it's so versatile. Here's a great time saver I've been doing lately to make my life easier in the dog days of summer. I've been picking up a rotisserie chicken and using it to make a basic chicken salad base. I divide that in half and with just a few additions that basic chicken salad base is transformed into two completely different tasting meals.

Shelly's Basic Chicken Salad Base

1 Cooked Chicken, chopped (Rotisserie works great)
1 Stalk Celery, chopped fine
1 Green Onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup-ish Greek Yogurt, plain
Salt, to taste
a few twists of Black Pepper

Mix till well combined. Divide into 2 dishes, cover and refrigerate. When you are ready to have lunch or dinner. Grab one dish and your additions. Keeps several days in the fridge. Great to make on Sunday for lunches for the week.

Today I made Caprese Chicken Salad: I added a 1/4 cup pearl-sized, fresh Mozzarella Balls, 1/4 cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved and 1 Tablespoon of chopped Basil.

Yesterday I added 2 slices Bacon, crumbled, more diced Green Onions and 2 Tablespoons of shredded Cheddar Cheese for this "Loaded" Chicken Salad.

Other ideas to turn ordinary chicken salad into awesome chicken salad...

Mexican Chicken Salad Additions: 2 Tablespoons Shredded Colby Jack Cheese, 1/4 cup Black Beans, rinsed and drained and Taco Seasoning, to taste.
Curry Chicken Salad Additions: 2 Tablespoons Cashews or Pecans, 2 Tablespoons Cranberries or Golden Raisins and Curry Powder, to taste.
Asian Chicken Salad Additions: 2 Tablespoon slivered Almonds, 1/4 cup diced Cucumber, more Green Onion, and Chinese 5 Spice, to taste.
Italian Chicken Salad Additions: 1/4 cup Roasted Peppers and Onions, chopped, 1/4 cup pearl-sized, fresh Mozzarella Balls, and Oregano, to taste.

Eat as is, make a lettuce wrap or taco, cucumbers make great "crackers" or scoops or homemade Crunchy Cheese "crackers" or form them into cups and fill them. 

Pin me...

More Eggface Lunch Ideas
More Eggface Salad Ideas

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Here's what I ate today...

Breakfast: Happy Sunday Everyone! For breakfast I made Yogurt Parfaits. I made a batch of Protein Granola which was the bottom layer and topped that with Fig Yogurt and Fresh Raspberries and Blueberries that I picked up yesterday at the Farmer's Market.

More Eggface Breakfast Recipes

Lunch: I had phone meeting that sort of went into lunch (we're getting soooo close to the Your Weight Matters National Convention #YWM2016 Hope to see you there!) so when I got off the phone it was a bit too close to dinner to have what I planned so a protein shake to the rescue. What a great combo this was Celebrate Vitamins (sponsor) Chocolate Mint Protein 20 and coffee.

Shelly's Chocolate Mint Coffee Protein Shake

8 oz. Almond or Soy Milk (any milk will do)
1 scoop Celebrate Vitamins Protein 20 Chocolate Mint Protein Powder
1/2 of a Tube of Instant Coffee Crystals (Taster's Choice, Starbucks Via, Folger's)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Vanilla Syrup
a few Ice Cubes

Blend on high till well combined. I topped it with No Sugar Added, Homemade Whipped Cream and sprinkle of instant coffee crystals. Yum!

More Eggface Protein Shakes and Smoothies

Dinner: This was sooo good. I was feeling like a burger and these little sliders hit the spot. I seasoned a 1/2 pound of ground beef (you can use turkey too) with some garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and formed them into 4 little sliders and cooked them on my grill pan. In another pan I sauteed some onions, set those aside then sauteed some mushrooms. I had some pre-cooked bacon I just warmed in the pan to crisp it up. When the burgers were almost done I sprinkled some shredded cheddar cheese on each and placed them under the broiler to get all gooey and melty. Everyone makes their own cheeseburger slider creation.

More Eggface Dinner Ideas and Recipes

Snacks: Coffee. Tons of water with drink sticks. My new favorite: Raspberry Lemonade.

Later there's a couple of Quest Bar turned into Oatmeal Chocolate Chip "Cookies" with my name on them. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip is the latest flavor Quest Bar. Keep your eye out for Blueberry Muffin and Rocky Road coming soon.

More Eggface Healthy Snacks and Desserts
More Eggface Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus