Biggest Loser—Good or Bad

I am a bit stunned at having lost almost 19 pounds in less than three weeks. Three weeks ago today was Robbie Burns day and I was out at the pub for a “last supper” of steak, mashed potatoes and beer. I started the liquid pre-op diet the next day. Only 5 days post-op and I am really, really tired of liquids and can’t wait until Wednesday when I can start eating some pureed stuff, like squash. I think I miss real food, the chew, the taste, the swallow.

On Valentine’s Day, nothing spectacular happened. I actually couldn’t get much down for most of the day. I had 1/3 of a protein shake and then a few spoonfuls of soup and most of a vanilla shake but my insides hurt. Part of the problem could have been the “devil Dulcolax” I took the night before that gave me a violent reaction for most of the night. Must remember, nature will take it’s course and doesn’t always need something to encourage elimination. I did have a glass of wine and let about 20 chocolate chips melt slowly in my mouth. I also took my DH grocery shopping to pick up some food and to get a bit of exercise. All went well except for when DH bashed 3 grocery bins into my oh so tender tummy (it was purely accidental-standing in the wrong place at the wrong time as he pulled them out of the car—a real ouchy!).

This morning I opened the newspaper and saw the story about the Biggest Loser not able to keep off their weight. I found a link to the article in another paper so hope it works: Ups, downs of life after 'Biggest Loser' . When the Biggest Loser came on, I watched it every week, but in the last few seasons I have flipped it off. I find the constant abuse that these people are put through mind numbing. Jillian and Bob might be wonderful people and trainers but what is broadcast is humiliating and abusive. The article says the girl regained 60 pounds of the 98 pounds lost on the show (30 pounds came back the first month). She is now working hard to lose some again for a followup show in a few months. I wish her luck but I don’t think they teach safe and effective weight loss. Yes maybe she won $250,000 but the pounds are back.

As I read the article, all the various ways I have tried to lose weight came flooding back—TOPS, WW, Diet Centre, Weight Loss Clinic, Drugs, dieticians, nutritionists, exercise—none that were permanent. But the band—I will work it and let it be my buddy. It won’t yell at me or make me do 12 hours at the gym each day. That inner voice is starting to be heard and it is saying, “you can do it, believe”. I guess I have my word for the year—Believe—I think a few others also have the same word.

And I have to post that Canada finally won a gold medal in men’s moguls yesterday. The reason this is such an event is that Canada has never won a gold medal on home soil. It doesn’t take much to get us Canadians excited. So sorry to the Silver medalist Aussie Begg-Smith (he is actually a Canadian born in Vancouver) and the bronze medalist Wilson from the USA. It was just our time.

Recipe request from Tracy:

Curried Squash Soup

   1 med onion, chopped

   3 cloves garlic, crushed

   2 carrots, chopped

   4 cups squash, chopped (frozen)

   1 tbsp olive oil

   1 tsp curry powder

   1 tsp ground cumin

   4 cups chicken stock

   1 tbsp dried parsley

   salt, pepper & hot sauce to taste
Sauté onion, garlic and carrot in oil for 5 minutes. Add curry and cumin and stirfry for a minute or so. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until all vegetables are tender. Puree until smooth. Add seasonings. You can also cut up a live squash instead of the frozen.

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