The Bariatric Foodie Year in Review 2012

Wow. Another year gone by. And this year I have mixed feelings about the New Year. On the one hand it's a new start, a chance to do better with my health, career and finances. But then the passage of this year also means goodbye for me: goodbye to a year when my mother was alive, goodbye to the self I was before she passed. But still, I'm hopeful.

And you guys have a LOT to do with that. When I needed time off this year, you understood. You sent me encouraging notes and cards and some of you still write to me just to make sure I'm ok. This is what I love about community. I care very deeply for you all and this year you all showed me in so many ways that you care deeply about me and I am humbled.

S'anyway...enough of all the mushy stuff! Without further adieu, I present to you the Bariatric Foodie Year in Review!

January

Nik's Protein Caramel Apple Salad

The beginning of January is always a special time for me because Jan. 8 is my surgery anniversary! Check my 2012 reflection on being four years post-op.

So far as food, there was lots of yumminess to be had here at BF. From Melissa's Oatmeal, walnut and cranberry protein cookies, to my Protein Caramel Apple Salad  to Zesty Skillet Mushroom Chicken, there was great food to be had in the Foodie Nation in January!

February

The 2013 Bariatric Foodie Pledge begins on February 2nd!!!

Anyone who's been hanging around here a while knows what February means. The Bariatric Foodie Pledge!  The Pledge will return in 2013 for its third year and I am working on gathering up great prizes as we speak! But I have to give shouts to last year's sponsors: Davinci Gourmet (maker of fine sugar-free syrups I use n many protein shake recipes) Click Espresso protein, Building Blocks Vitamins, CarbSmart and Quest Nutrition!

Even though we worked hard on our goals all month long, we did manage a few yummies in February too. Among my favorites were a tutorial on how to make protein pudding, fellow Foodie Kelly showing us how to make yummy fruit compote and my Curried Chickpeas!

Yummy blueberry compote!

March

Even though this was the month Mama Foodie was called home, the month began pretty well. Kelly (who now proudly serves as your Foodie Vitamin Correspondent for the BF email newsletter) wrote the fabulous BF Basics: Veggie Tales, on vegetarianism after weight-loss surgery!

We also had quite a few Foodie submissions including Cauliflower Crust pizza, Lois' Banana Butterscotch Protein Blizzard and Carissa's Cinnamon Muffins!

April

The first part of April was pretty quiet in the Foodie Nation. It was a strange month, I must admit. On April 1st we "celebrated" La Grande Diva's 13th birthday and on the 5th we laid Mama Foodie to rest, I took a few weeks off to cope with that loss. But I found that keeping touch with you all helped me through my grief so it wasn't long before I was back to posting.

We went over my no-fail secret to marinating meat post-op (which has a 100% success rate so far!), I tried mustard greens for the first time in this delicious recipe and I came up with yet another casserole, this time my Cheesy Chicken & "Rice" Casserole.

OH! And how could I forget??? April was the month the "Eggchilada" was born! Life has never been the same. ;)

May

Veggie chili, anyone?

I think May was when burn-out really hit me. I also moved out of our home of 13 years that month so things were REALLY quiet around these parts!

In May, we did manage the "All Click'd Out" contest where some of you won some Click protein. La Petite Diva and I also reviewed Click Decaf and I shared my recipe for some "Kick Arse" Veggie Chili.

June

Taco soup!

In June I got this crazy idea. Well, maybe not crazy but...crazy. I came across this website that challenged people to learn about global poverty by taking a challenge: for five days spend only $1.50/day on food. Yeah. That was not fun. But I did it, called it "Nik's Hunger Games" (Get it? Cuz...y'know...hunger games and...never mind...)and recorded it so you all could watch me suffer...er, learn.

So after all that business was over...I ate! Let's see, I had some of Dana's Fauxtato Salad (well, actually I didn't but a fellow Foodie was nice enough to share her recipe) we also got to sample Teddi's Taco Soup!

...And in a move that proved that life definitely marches on, Mama Foodies two Basset Hounds - Leroy and Loretta - became the proud parents of NINE puppies, one of which is my baby boy Benji!

July

Noodleless Lasagna. Nom, nom, nom!

This was an exciting month because we launched Foodie News, the Bariatric Foodie e-mail newsletter (if you aren't signed up for it, there's a form right above this post. Issues begin again in January!).

Other than that we stayed generally busy with Amanda's Faux Lasagna Meatball Bake, my recipe for Noodleless Lasagna and we asked ourselves one of life's essential questions: "What the HELL is a jicama?"

We also gave away some delicious Chike Protein Iced Coffee! I like Chike. Don't you?

August

Nik's Proteiny Zucchini Fritters

Ok, so it was hot. Really hot. I mean really, really hot. Which inspired me to come up with the "Super Chill Method of Making Protein Frosties" (think of it as the "Triple X" method on crack). We also learned that a zucchini cake can, in fact taste like a crab cake - and have good protein to boot! I also shared one of my favorite lunch knock-offs, WLS-friendly Lunchables!

September

The biggest part of the month for me was this moment:

Getting to meet up with fellow fab post-op bloggers Melting Mama and Shelly (a.k.a. "Eggface") at FitBloggin '12!

That was a great experience, but to be fair that came at the END of the month. Lots of great stuff happened up to them like our Fit Frappe contest! And learning to make Sofrito! (And learning what the HELL Sofrito is!) And Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake Starters! And exclamation points!!!

October

Nik's Pumpkin Chili

This month was all about the veggies for me. I shared my recipe for Pumpkin Chili (and many of you were brave enough to try it...and liked it!). I also shared my Farmer's Market Scramble and I announced the sale of the 2012 Bariatric Foodie Holiday Survival Kit! Thanks for all who purchased one (and btw there are still a few Bariatric Foodie Protein Shake Sample Kits available at a super-low price if you'd like to try one!). You helped score this for the Foodie Nation:

A Nikon D5100 DSLR Camera!!!

I hope you guys have already noticed the improvement in food porn pictures since I got this!

November 

This was a busy month as the sales of the Holiday Survival Kits really took off! I made a trip to Pittsburgh to visit with Ms. Cheryl (the Head BF Kit Elf) and we also had some yummy recipes going on. 

We did Fall Harvest Baked Protein Oatmeal (NOM!), Nutty Apple Baked Protein Oatmeal and a quickie meal: Skillet Salisbury Steak and "Rice."

This magnet - one of five in the BF Inspirational Magnet set - helps me remember WHO I'm in this for!

In November I also began offering the BF Inspirational Magnet Set for those who, like me, sometimes need to take pause before opening the refrigerator door. They are still on sale on the "Shop BF!" page by the way, if you want a set. 

December

This is always a busy time around these parts but then I always get hair-brained ideas that make it even busier. Like, say, doing a month of back-to-back giveaways! But that's just what I did! The Mother of ALL Decembers has been a great success so far and I enjoyed every moment of it.

This month was also special because I finally, finally, FINALLY released the Bariatric Foodie Guide to Perfect Protein Shakes with dozens of recipes, tips and tricks to make every protein drink experience (hot or cold) a good one! If you want a copy, you can order it here!

And there's always food. Always! In December we made "Nik-a-doodles," I shared my "Secret Sauce" that's so good it doesn't NEED any spaghetti and we baked protein banana bread. Mmmmmm...

So in closing...

This has been a great year here at Bariatric Foodie and I'm so glad to have YOU around as we start 2013, which promises to be even bigger and better.

I wish you the happiest of New Year's and, as always, PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD!!!

BF Review: Banana Nut Muffin Quest Bars

I have been a posting FOOL lately, haven't I?

Well it's because I'm off work and I adore my Foodies sooooo much!

:)

Ok, so as promised here's my review of the Banana Nut Muffin Quest bars. After you watch it be sure to use the widget below to enter to win some for yourself! Remember, THREE of you will win some bars!

Enter here to win some!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mama Foodie's "Chicken & Rice" Remixed

When I was little and it snowed outside, my mom would always make us "Chicken & Rice." Even in the years before she died every so often she'd call me up and say, "Nikki, I made some chicken & rice. Come over and have some."

Here's my food memory of the dish.

Looking back, it usually followed my mom cooking a whole chicken. After we had it for dinner she'd let it sit in the fridge for a few days so we could make chicken sandwiches and chicken salad. Then she'd retrieve the carcass and make chicken & rice. Somehow in my memories this always coincided with snow or freezing temperatures.

Chicken & Rice was an interesting concoction. It put to use whatever spare veggies my mom had and she always boiled the chicken until it was beyond tender, almost like little threads of delicious meat. And there was always pepper. Lots and lots of black pepper, just as all my mother's dishes had because she loved pepper so much.

Anyway, we recently got some winter weather in Baltimore and, being the holidays, I miss my mom something awful. So in her honor I set out to make a healthier version of this dish, both because I am passionate about healthy comfort food and because it makes me feel just a little bit closer to her.

The version I made was indeed comforting and I think it'd be a good meal for those on soft foods or just starting out with meat. So from Mama Foodie to me to you. Enjoy.

Mama Foodie's (Remixed) Chicken & Rice
(# of servings varies. For my 5 year-old pouch this makes about 6 servings)
Ingredients:

• 4 cups of an assortment of chopped veggies of your choosing (In mine is a large onion, chopped, half a HUGE zuchhini, diced and about half of an eggplant diced. For newer pouches you might want to stick to squash as it gets very soft.)
• Either the remnants of one chicken carcass (meaning there's still good meat on there but nobody feels like picking it off) or 2 large chicken breasts (HINT: try my post-op meat marinating technique to make sure your meat gets super tender!)
• 1/2 of: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder + 1 bay leaf
• 3 c. water
• 1 can lowfat cream of mushroom soup
• A batch of cauliflower rice (newbies, do not eat unless you are cleared for cruciferous veggies)

Directions:

Spray a large pot down with nonstick cooking spray and sautee veggies until tender. 

Add chicken carcass or chicken, along with water and spices and turn the burner to low (if you have an electric oven, like a 2 or 3 setting) and allow it to cook one hour. 

If using chicken carcass, remove the bones (the meat should have fallen off on its own) and discard. If using chicken breasts, pull meat apart with two forks. Taste and adjust seasonings as you see fit but remove the bay leaf.

Add soup and stir then simmer over low heat for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Serve over cauliflower rice.

You can also just throw the sauteed veggies, chicken, water, spices and soup in your crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Works basically the same, I just didn't feel like hauling out my crockpot!

This is warm and comforting and tastes just like mom used to make but just a little bit healthier.

BF Review: Stubbs BBQ Sauce

So you may remember a month or two ago, I received, reviewed and gave away a Kalorie Box and I did a more detailed review on each of its contents...except one: Stubbs BBQ Sauce.

There's a reason for that.

See...I have to be in a BBQ kinda mood. And I wasn't then. Between my surgery and my day job (wherein your girl Nik actually DOES write about hungry people around the world) I have found out two things about myself:

1. I can't stand to waste food.
2. No amount of convincing can get me to consume a food I'm not in the mood for.

Having said all that...I recently found myself in the the mood for BBQ and remembered I had this jar in my pantry, tucked away nice and safe. So I decided, what the heck? Let's give it a whirl. So here goes.

The Big Picture

• Serving size: 2 tbsp
• Stats: 30 calories, 6g carbs, 4g sugars, 0g protein
• Other "neat stuff": per their website, they use all-natural, gluten-free ingredients

Aesthetics

• Smell: like BBQ sauce although I can tell by the smell it is going to be a "tangy-er" sauce
• Look: a bit thinner than traditional BBQ sauce (probably because it doesn't use a bunch of starch to thicken it, hence the lower carb count). Lots of spice bits in there. I was encouraged!
• Taste: I did a finger-dip before using it in my intended dinner cuz...well...refer to #1 in the list above. If I use it, I gotta eat it! I was pleasantly surprised. I was right. The sauce was tangy, pleasantly sweet (but not overly so), didn't taste like any artificial sweetener and had a slight kick to it to boot! 

Now...on to how I used it. 

My friend Kafi would be happy to know that I took this pic with my regular old point and shoot so she is right...it's not the camera but the technique!!!

So having just survived the onslaught of indulgent food at Christmas I was in the mood for something a bit more culinarily responsible, so I actually turned to one of my fave bloggers for inspiration, Shelly over at The World According to Eggface. She has the tortilla pizza market on lockdown! (Which by the way is why you don't see many here...I'd probably be inadvertently copying one of her recipes anyway!)

Now I'm not going to lie and say that I had leftover turkey from Christmas. I didn't even cook a full dinner! BUT I was in the mood for turkey so I used the deli variety and combined it with the sauce (about 1/3 cup), some finely diced onions and 1/4 cup shredded Colby Jack, threw it in the toaster oven for about 10 minutes and voila! Pizza heaven.

Which leads me to...

Final Verdict

I liked the sauce overall. I sorta wished it was a bit thicker but in exchange for those carbs I'll take a thinner sauce. The kick in it appealed to me. You all know I love my spicy stuff. And the sauce paired well with the other pizza ingredients. I do think, however, this sauce would shine in some recipe with a softer, milder cheese, like cream cheese or even goat cheese to counterbalance that tang. 

So all in all I liked it and look forward to putting the rest of the bottle to good use!

Nik's Christmas Cookie Protein Shake

Funny thing I've noticed. Every year I sell two protein shake sample kits in the Bariatric Foodie Holiday Survival Kit. Both flavors are generally well received but one tends to reach EPIC status.

Last year it was this shake. It can be made hot or cold. You can decorate it with any assortment of sugar-free embellishments. But most of all it is (a) devilishly yummy and (b) it SMELLS awesome!

I hope you enjoy!

Nik's Christmas Cookie Protein Shake

8 oz. milk (whatever kind you use)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I like this kind and it's what I used in the shake kits last year)
1 tbsp sugar-free butterscotch pudding powder
1 oz. either sugar-free brown-sugar cinnamon syrup (what I used last year) or sugar-free cookie dough syrup (I tried it this year and NOM!)

NOTE: In the absence of EITHER syrup, you can use a tablespoon of sugar-free pancake syrup + a generous dash of cinnamon for a cold shake, 1/8 tsp. maple extract + a generous dash of cinnamon for a hot preparation.

Optional: Ice, Whipped Cream, embellishments

Directions:

If making cold: Combine ingredients and mix by the Triple X Method. Or not, your choice!

If making hot: Combine ingredients and mix using the Bariatric Foodie Method for Making Hot Protein Drinks. Or not, your choice!

Top with whippage, if desired, and any deco. Then SLURP!

Merry Christmas!

Nik's Film Debut

Unfortunately Idris Elba was not involved. But hey...someday maybe?

Several weeks ago I was asked to take part in a series of "docu-mercials" for my Bariatric Program at St. Agnes Hospital. I gladly said yes! I regard my surgeon, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, and his staff as the very first guides on the pathway to the life I now enjoy. Doing this commercial is the least I could do in return!

Here's some cool outtakes from the shooting of the commercial.

 Me trying to look like I am NOT mortified that my house is a hot mess. Thankfully they staged the interview area well cuz I THINK you can't tell from the video.

 This lady set things up and made sure I stayed "un-lintyfied"

 This gentleman did the lights and the sound.

And this gentleman (who, as it turns out has a brother who used to work for the same organization I do now!) interviewed me, although you don't hear or see him in the final spot. 

Thanks to the film crew and staff for drawing intelligent words out of me and to my dog, Benji, for just being plumb adorable!

Foodie Review: Tofu Shirataki Noodles

By Traci McGowan

Not long after my surgery, I discovered that the owner of the company I work for sees a weight loss doctor. My weight loss doctor. Periodically he’ll tell me he’s going to an appointment, or we joke about avoiding the NUT. I tell him the doc says hi and every so often the boss gives me something to nibble on. Recently that something was three packages of NoOodles (No-Oodles). Not too many weeks later, via our gal pal Nik, a company called Nasoya mailed me a handful of coupons to try out their product called Pasta Zero Plus. This, to me, was a sign from the universe that I should…nay I needed to do a review.

Both noodles are Shirataki noodles, or noodles typically made from tofu or yam flour. They’re low calorie, low carb, gluten free, vegan-friendly. They can be found in the refrigerated section of stores like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods in the refrigerated section. They’re packaged in liquid and keep for about a year unopened in the refrigerator.

So anyway, in my estimation these are all reasons why I should not have considered consuming either product because rice and pasta aren’t very Traci-friendly. But, I like to live dangerously (“I laugh in the face of danger! Ha ha ha ha!”).

The first thing I should tell you is that these suckers have an odor that will knock you out your front door as soon as you open them. To my understanding, this is the case with all Shirataki noodles but I found Nasoya’s odor especially bothersome. To remedy this, you should rinse the noodles in colander before cooking and try moving the noodles around by hand to make sure you get them all. Note to OCD Foodies: they feel a bit slimy to the touch.

See the length??? Yeah. 

The second thing I should tell you is that these suckers are LONG. And when I say long I mean “Hey, I can play jump rope with my noodles!” long. You may want to employ scissors.

Hey...for you...I tried...I really did.

Right out of the package, the Nasoya noodles behaved like sticky noodles. Although I cooked them according to the directions and added marinara sauce, they continued to resemble sticky spaghetti – in marinara sauce. As far as texture goes, they sort of remind me of Gummy Bears. You chew, chew, chew and they break up but don’t dissolve. So it was quite literally like a mouthful of Gummy Bears — in marina sauce. I knew as soon as I took my first bite there was no way this product would work for me, it would get stuck. I ended up dumping the entire pan.

NoOodles were a bit different. First thing I noticed while I rinsed them off was that they felt lighter and more pliable than the Nasoya brand. I broke them up by hand (grab, squish, pull, repeat) then tossed them into a skillet per their directions. These never clumped up or stuck together. I added ½ a cup of Trader Joe’s General Sao’s sauce and ½ a bell pepper.  The entire cooking experience was way different than what I had experienced with the Nasoya noodles. NoOodles do have the consistency of al dente spaghetti, they absorbed the flavor of everything they were cooked with. They were really good. I got four servings out of the package.

So, in summary:

• Shirataki noodles are low on calories and carbs, gluten free, vegan friendly.
• Nasoya’s Pasta Zero may not be the best alternative for post-op foodies – noodles could become stuck in our newly formed digestives systems. Also, Gummy Bears and marinara really don’t mesh well. (I’m just sayin.) Nasoya does offer a large variety of products, I would encourage checking them out!
• NoOodles were great (in my post-op opinion) – for all the reasons I listed above.
• Either product can be found in retail outlets near you (Traders, Whole Foods) in the refrigerator section.
• You can find information about Nasoya's noodles at www.nasoya.com and about NoOodles at www.nooodles.com. 

Traci was only slightly late with her newsletter article this month because she was busy shopping for flannel pajama bottoms. They are her vice, you see, especially ones featuring Darth Vader, The Justice League, and Stewie (Of "Family Guy" fame).

Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Hillery Kelly

Greetings Foodie Nation!  It’s Hillery, your Foodie Fitness Correspondent.  This month, I want to talk to you about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Some people call it the “Winter Blues.”

According to the Mayo Clinic sufferers of SAD usually start experiencing symptoms in early fall, like depression, irritability and lack of energy. Symptoms can last all the way through spring. On a personal level I can say it’s something I’ve struggled with throughout my life.   

For me, it manifests itself in several ways. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, I feel like I am cloaked in darkness. I wake up and it’s dark. I drive to work in the dark. While I’m working I miss what little light the day has to offer before driving to the gym and then home in the dark.

Emotionally, I feel like I’m in a haze. My sunny disposition is replaced by a crank I barely recognize. Add to that the fact that I ate being cold and when I am cold my body wants to go into hybernation. I crave foods I know I should not eat: bread, potatoes and other starch-heavy foods.

In short, I hate winter and I’d just assume spend it lounging in my Snuggie. But since my gastric bypass surgery 15 months ago I’ve committed to a healthier lifestyle and so I am learning to manage these symptoms. In the remainder of this article I’m going to share the tips I have picked up along the way, many of which have to do with moving your body!

1. Lunchtime walks.  Take them! They get you away from your desk and into the sunshine! Try keeping an old pair of sneakers at your desk and walk outside during the midday. If you are a runner, try getting in a short run at lunchtime. This helps burn some calories, get those feel good endorphins flowing and gives you the extra benefit of exposure to sunlight!
2. Increase your overall exercise.  As I mentioned above, exercise produces endorphins.  The more intense and physically demanding the workout, the more endorphins are produced.  So hit the gym and give it your all! Your mood will improve and you’ll feel good that you’re keeping up your healthy habits!
3. Stock the fridge with nutritiously “hearty” foods choices.  I’m a soup/stew girl in the winter…you will rarely see me eating a salad or anything cold. But that doesn’t mean I load up on starchy carbs in the process. Instead of potatoes, use lots of carrots and squash and other root veggies in soups and stews. To further reduce the calories, use leaner cuts of meat and to reduce the stress, cook your soup in a crockpot so dinner can be waiting for you when you get home (along with additional lunches and dinners too)!
4. Switch your light bulbs to higher wattages. One of the traditional treatments for SAD is known as phototherapy, or increasing the amount of artificial light around you to compensate for the lack of sunlight. Try replacing 40-60 watt light bulbs (or the energy efficient equivalent) with bulbs of higher wattage. It’s like an instant pick-me-up!
5. Find a workout that lifts your mood and makes you WANT to go.  Nik loves Zumba, I hate it (sorry, Nik)! We both love spin. Maybe you love boxing. Or running. Or yoga. I  encourage you all to find a good winter workout class that it engaging and fun…you’ll be much more likely to continue to attend even when its 20 degrees outside and your body is BEGGING for that electric blanket, thermal pjs and some hot tea!

BONUS TIP:  Use a bronzer or luminizer warm up your complexion.  Yes, black girls can use bronzer (at least this one does) too!  Some days, I just need a little visual pick me up and nothing does it faster than a bit of bronzer or adding a little liquid luminizer to my foundation to give myself a nice healthy glow.  Hello sun kissed skin!  

For my fairer ladies, try something like Benefit’s high beam or moon beam, or NARs Orgasm (the liquid or the powder).  And for my darker ladies, try NARs Laguna, Smashbox’s "Glow" illuminator, or even LORAC’s Tantilizer baked bronzer.  On my body, I like to use Jergen’s self tanning lotion.  It doesn’t really make me “tan” but it gives just enough of a color change that I don’t look jaundiced!

As always Foodies, please remember that I am NOT a medical professional.  If you suspect that you are suffering from SAD or any type of depression, I urge you to talk with a medical professional to get a proper diagnosis.  Depression can be a serious illness that can cause physical, mental, and emotional effects.  So please, don’t use these suggestions in place of medical treatment!

I hope these tips help get you through the winter blues. I have a TON of additional tips to share with you all.  Please make sure you've liked the Bariatric Foodie Facebook page, because Nik and I will be sharing tips there all winter long (plus I hear Nik is going a little bonkers on giveaways in December...don't tell her I told you!). I'd also love to hear from all of you if you have any tips to share as well!   

Hillery Kelly is 15 months post-op RNY gastric bypass. Got a fitness question for her? Hit her up at bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com!


Is there such thing as too many vitamins?

By Kelly  Morris

(Please note that this article is the result of research done by Foodie News writer Kelly Morris. Kelly is not a nutritionist or a physician, but is simply reporting her findings through this article. The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please consult your own physician regarding your personal vitamin dosages and lab reports. )

Weight loss surgery folks usually worry about vitamin deficiency, since they're fairly common after surgery and can cause such serious problems. The opposite problem, though, known as vitamin toxicity, can sometimes happen. It is possible to take too much of a good thing.

Vitamin toxicity usually only occurs when people take large amounts of vitamin supplements. It’s highly unlikely that anyone would get too much of any one vitamin just from the food that they eat. Weight loss surgery folks are advised to take a number of vitamin and mineral supplements, though. In order to make sure we don’t take too much of anything, it’s important to get blood tests done at least once a year.

What happens if we take too much?

Some vitamins, like the B vitamins, are water soluble, so we don’t normally store those in our bodies. If we take more than we need, the excess is usually eliminated from our bodies in our urine. Other vitamins, though, like vitamins A and D, are fat soluble and we do store those in our bodies. Therefore it’s possible for too much of those vitamins to build up and cause problems. Minerals, like zinc and iron, can also build up in our bodies and cause problems.

Vitamin D Toxicity

According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin D toxicity is rare, even in people that take large doses of vitamin D3. They say people that take 50,000 IU D3 daily for several months may develop toxicity, however. Problems associated with vitamin D toxicity include the buildup of too much calcium in your blood, nausea and vomiting, and kidney problems. Now, weight loss surgery folks may require large doses of D3, but if you’re taking a large dose, it’s really important to get labs done frequently to make sure your level doesn’t get too high.

Vitamin A Toxicity

Vitamin A toxicity is also rare, but since it is a fat soluble vitamin, it can occur if you take large doses regularly. According to Medscape, symptoms of vitamin A toxicity can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, blurred vision, muscle and joint pain, and hair loss.

Iron Toxicity

Iron deficiency is fairly common in weight loss surgery folks, especially those with malabsorptive surgeries. However, taking very large doses of iron can lead to iron toxicity. Ironically, some of the symptoms of iron toxicity are similar to the symptoms of iron deficiency, including headache, fatigue, and hair loss. Therefore, if you have symptoms of iron deficiency, it’s a good idea to get your iron level checked before you increase your iron supplementation just to make sure the problem really is an iron deficiency. Iron toxicity can lead to liver problems, which can be quite serious.

Zinc Toxicity

Zinc toxicity is also rare, but the National Institutes of Health reports that taking large doses, such as 150 mg to 450 mg daily, can lead to toxicity. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. Zinc toxicity also prevents the proper absorption of some other minerals, like iron and copper.

How much is too much?

That’s going to vary from person to person, based on which type of weight loss surgery you had and how well your body absorbs things. To find out if you’re taking too much of anything or if you need to take more, make sure you get your labs done at least once a year.

Keep in mind that the vitamins and minerals I talked about here are not the only ones that can be harmful in large amounts. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking large doses of any vitamin or mineral. 

Next month I’ll tell you about calcium: why we need it, what kind we need, how much we need, how to make sure we’re absorbing it, and more. As always, feel free to contact me at bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com if you have any questions about vitamins and I’ll do my best to help, though you need to talk to your doc if you need medical advice.

Got a vitamin question? Kelly is happy to research it for you! Hit her up at bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com!

Foodie Fitness Review: BodyMedia Fit Advantage

That's me and my BodyMedia Fit!

Hello Foodie Nation!  This month’s article is going to be a tad bit different than my past ones. Instead of reviewing a kind of workout, I’m going to review a “workout companion” that I’ve used over the past 8 months and love — my BodyMedia Fit Advantage!

You all might remember Nik is giving everyonewho orders a Bariatric Foodie item between now and December 15 the opportunityto win a BodyMedia Fit Link (a different model with similarities…look for Nik’s review of it soon). So I thought I’d give you the Foodie perspective on what the BodyMedia Fit is, what it does and how it can help you achieve your weight loss goals. 

What the heck is a BodyMedia Fit, anyway?

The name doesn’t give up much, does it? The BodyMedia Fit (or BMF as I’ll use for the rest of this article) is a device that tracks how many calories you burn and how you burn them.

There are two parts to the BMF I own: the armband, which gathers data from your body, and the optional display device which can show you, at a glance, how your activity measures up as you go about your day.

The display device is a separate purchase and with my model, the Advantage, if you don’t have a display device the information you get isn’t “up to the minute.” I currently don’t have a display and use an app on my smartphone, which shows me the information from the last time I synced the band to my computer. With the model Nik is giving away, the BodyMedia Fit Link, (shown, left) you don’t need a display device because it has Bluetooth capability and can work with an app on your smart phone to give you real-time data readings.  

So…what data does it gather exactly? The BMF measures your body temperature, heat flux (how much heat your body is giving off), your activity level, sleep duration, motion and steps taken. 

When you sync the device to your computer it will upload the data into the BMF Activity Manager, a downloadable program BodyMedia offers from their website to help you analyze the information it collects from your body. It’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Check out the below screenshot to see what it looks like:

This is the dashboard of the Activity Manager. It shows you a snapshot of all the data it collects from you.



You can also see detailed charts and graphs that tell you things like your caloric burn by the hour.

Wait…what? Data?!?!

Now I know what some of you are thinking:  This is WAY too much information!  I’m here to help. Next, let’s look at how you can use this information to your advantage to increase the effectiveness of weight-loss surgery and maximize the amount of weight lost.

•  Caloric Burn: We all know the basic formula for weight loss. Calories in – calories out = net calories. And we all know that to lose weight there must be a deficit. That is, you must take in less calories than you burn. Problem is, it’s hard to know how much we burn. There are calculations but everybody’s body is different. The BMF is scientifically proven 95% accurate at measuring calories, which gives you a pretty reliable place to start. Once you know that, you can decide on a caloric target for maximum weight loss.
•  Activity intensity: To achieve your weight loss goals you need a variety of types of physical activity. Being generally active is good, especially for joint and heart health. But to lose a significant amount of weight you also need to do some vigorous activity. The BMF helps you determine how much of each you get. You can even set goals. I find this especially helpful in planning my days. Some days I want to knock out the vigorous activity early and some days I find later in the day that I haven’t gotten enough activity and can still plan a workout.
• Steps: Are you getting the recommended 10,000 steps a day? While it’s true a standard issue pedometer can measure this for you, the BMF does this while taking into account how much you burn from those steps! You can also set a daily step goal.
•  Sleep duration: Yes, the BMF can tell how long you slept last night! That is, if you wear it at night. Why is this important? I know I’ve personally noticed that when I get poor sleep, my weight loss slows significantly. 

So, let’s sum up the pros and cons of the BodyMedia Fit.

Pros:

• Monitors several body functions with 95% accuracy (caloric burn, sleep duration, workout intensity, motion, and steps taken).
• Has an interactive activity manager that has easy to interpret data and charts.
• The device holds about two weeks’ worth of data and holds a charge for the same amount of time.
•  Discrete, can be worn under most clothing.
•  Can be used as an alarm for daily vitamin schedule

Cons:

• Doesn’t have an extensive food database.  If I could change ONE thing about using the BodyMedia Fit, it would be the food tracking aspect.  MyFitnessPal has a MUCH better food database so I currently use it to track/log my food. I mentioned this to Nik and she says that what she does is tracks her food on her regular online food diary (LiveStrong just in case anyone was wondering) and then enters her entire day’s intake as one food diary entry in the Activity Manager. She says this works well for her.
•  Cost.  I paid $179 for mine a year ago. For both the armband and the display, the price now seems to be $149 (about $100 without the display device). Additionally, to use the activity manager costs an additional $6.95 per month after the first three months.  For some people, that initial cost can be prohibitive to purchasing and using the device.  However, Groupon and LivingSocial have been running deals on the BodyMedia Fit for about $99, which saves about $50.
• Not exactly a con, but a warning: the device is not waterproof. That bears repeating. The device is NOT waterproof! (Yes, I have worn it into the shower a few times, thankyouverymuch. I’m thankful it survived!) Take it off when you shower or swim.

Over all, I find my BodyMedia Fit invaluable. Because perceptions are debatable. Heck, one day I think I look a lot smaller and other days you can’t tell me I’m not back at the starting line! But data is irrefutable. Plus, this device motivates me to move more! I like seeing my burn go up and up and up.

So my official opinion is this: in the battle of the bulge, you definitely want this weapon in your arsenal!

Hillery is a year post-op gastric bypass and is a self-proclaimed product junkie, especially when it comes to make-up and natural hair products (from the picture you can see she's clearly working both!).

Nik's OTHER Protein Banana Bread Recipe

Before we go into this have you guys entered this week's "Mother of ALL December" giveaway yet? I have a feeling a lot of you have vitamins you like already so you don't want to enter. To that I say, it never hurts to try something new!

Look for a video review in the next day or so for Building Blocks Vitamins, our lovely prize sponsor for this week. And enter the contest! You have a year to redeem your certificate and goodness knows a lot can happen in that time. It may come in handy when you least expect it!

Moving right along...

So I already have a perfectly lovely, no-flour protein banana bread recipe here on the blog. Lookit:

But yesterday I played with my food to come up with another recipe, this one using Atkins Baking Mix. I like both versions but this one is a heartier banana bread. Whereas I can eat a whole mini-loaf of the no-flour version, I am hard pressed to get through half of one of these suckers.

And since I am a complete push-over incapable of following my own no-stats rule, I will give the nutritional information after the recipe, k?

Here we go.

Nik's OTHER Banana Bread Recipe
(Makes 6 mini-loaves)
Ingredients:

• 3 seriously over-ripe bananas (I'm talking heavily spotted and even all brown on the outside!)
• 1/2 - 3/4 c. no-calorie sweetener, depending on your sweetness preference (if you don't use Splenda use the amount of your favorite sweetener that correlates to the above amount of sugar)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. Atkins Baking Mix
• 3 scoops of your favorite vanilla protein powder (Here's mine)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 c. chopped walnuts

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile peel your bananas and place them in a large mixing bowl and mash them (I use a potato masher but if they are really ripe a wooden spoon would do). TIP: If you want to make these today and don't have over-ripe bananas, stick them in that 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, skin and all. Speeds up the process of nature!

Add sweetener, extract and pie spice and mix thoroughly. Add eggs, one at a time and mixing the first thoroughly before adding the second. 

In a separate bowl mix together the baking mix, protein powder, baking powder and salt. 

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well. Mixture will be THICK.

Finally, add walnuts and mix them through.

Spray down either a regular loaf pan or a mini-loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray (or this, which is a baker's best kept secret to prevent sticking!). If using the mini-loaf pan, I used a half cup measure to empty equal parts of the batter into each loaf slot. Then I divided the extra batter between the slots. 

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until top is done and edges are browned.

Another tip for successfully releasing quick-breads and cakes. Take them straight from the oven to a pan of really cold water. Just dip the bottom in the cold water for about 5-10 seconds. It helps seal the bottom and ensure that after you completely cool your baked good, it comes loose from the pan fairly easily.

Ok, so...stats...(full stats available here):

Per loaf:

Calories: 348

Fat: 17.41g (from the nuts mostly)

Carbs: 25g

Fiber: 6g (so 19g NET carbs)

Protein: 27g

I have a sneaking suspicion that the half I ate after I took the above picture is the only part I'll get. The divas each ate half of one last night and then this morning for breakfast! Sigh...story of my life.