GUEST POST: Your Sex Life After Weight Loss Surgery (Adam & Eve)

22 May

Sponsored Guest Post by Adam & Eve:  http://www.adameve.com/

Getting back out there on the dating scene after a weight loss surgery can be a bit of a strange process. Chances are, you feel good about how you look, and you’re excited to see where the physical changes to your body can take you. But, getting engaged in a new sex life can be a bit trickier than simply looking better and getting results! With that in mind, here are 5 tips that can help you to get yourself back in the game following your weight loss.

1. Fully Embrace The Change

One of the biggest issues with dating and sex life after weight loss surgery can be getting comfortable with the physical changes you have experienced. Some women feel physically awkward for a while following surgery, and others become insecure about loose skin. These are perfectly normal feelings, but it’s important to confront them emotionally before you start engaging in dating or sex. It’s important to be comfortable with your own body, so that when you engage in sexual activity you can show that confidence!

2. Try Online Dating

If you’ve been holding back from the dating game because of your weight, it might feel beyond strange to jump back in after your surgery or weight loss. For this reason, online dating might be a good option to consider. There are online dating sites geared to all kinds of goals, from flings and hook-ups to long-term relationships, and thousands of people interacting on all of them. This is a great casual, low-risk way to put yourself back out there.

A&E

3. Consider Sex Toys

A lot of people think of sex toys as something that might actually stifle sex life, as to some degree they encourage solo play. However, a quick look at a site like Adam & Eve (http://www.adameve.com/)  may help you to see otherwise. Many popular sex toys are actually meant to increase your sexual desire and get you to crave sex, which can certainly help to inspire you to engage in your new sex life.

4. Have Patience

Particularly if you have been holding back from dating or sex due to your weight, you may simply be ready to jump back into a relationship at full speed. Sometimes, this can be an option, but it’s also important to have patience. If you don’t find the perfect sexual relationship right away, keep in mind that this is perfectly common with or without weight loss surgery as a factor!

5. Don’t Be Shy

Finally, remember to let yourself shine. This falls a bit in line with fully embracing your post-surgery body, but it has a lot to do with outward attitude too. Remember, you’ve lost the weight, and you’re ready to get back out there and take advantage of your new figure. Don’t be shy about it, unless of course that’s your natural disposition.

“PEOPLE WHO MOCK ME” | TURNING THE CAMERA – SHAME

13 May

Yesterday, my sister sent me a link to a project by Hailey Morris-Cafiero called “Wait Watchers.” Hailey is an overweight woman with more self-esteem than I will ever have in my entire life.  She has been ridiculed – often behind her back (but hardly unknown)- her whole life because of her weight.  Rather than get hurt and angry, she decided to take back her power and turn her camera and capture it on film.

ImageI’ve never thought that shame was an effective way to combat anything, but in this case, yeah.  She sets up her camera in broad daylight and her assistant takes shots of what she sees. And what she sees is really quite heartbreaking.  People see the camera out, but still feel that because they’re behind Hailey, their cruelty is hidden as well. It’s as though their desire to mock and display their fat hate completely overrides any moment of possible shame or reason. That’s why this project is so powerful. Their ugliness caught on film is far more difficult to look at and deal with than any heavy person’s weight ever will be.

My sister’s comments were: “This is a really powerful project.  I felt sad and angry by the people in this story.”  I wrote back and told her that five years ago, that was MY life.  Hell, it may even be my life still.  I’m not a slight woman even now after maintaining a 145 lbs loss.  And I certainly don’t have her kind of confidence of mind.  Seeing these photos would break me, even now.

Just yesterday, I had a conversation with Jake about “being invisible” when I weighed 311 lbs.  Now obviously, I wasn’t.  Everyone could see me at 5’7″ and 311 lbs – you couldn’t miss me.  But no one looked me in the eye.  No one held a door for me.  I felt invisible.  What’s sad is that I know I wasn’t, and I know this type of thing probably went on all the time behind my back.  I just never had the foresight to turn the camera on and take back my power.  So BRAVO to Hailey.

Take a look at the project on her website at www.haleymorriscafiero.com/ or on the salon. com article that my sister sent me here.  What’s YOUR reaction to this?  Have you ever DONE this?  Have you ever had this happen TO you?  Would love to hear your thoughts and comments below.

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★ ★ ★ CONTEST! ★ ★ ★ WHAT’S IN *YOUR* FRIDGE?

6 May

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do all the grocery shopping in our house, and even at five years out, it sometimes shocks me to see my fridge. If you had looked in there five years ago, you would have seen leftover chinese food, pizza, and tons of other fast-food and take out (IF there was any actually left).

 

When I opened the door yesterday, I was really proud. I have more fruits and veggies than anything else in there, and we (on the whole) eat pretty healthy:

FRIDGE

So tell me (or show me), what’s in YOUR fridge?

CONTEST RULES AND PRIZE PACKAGE:

1) To enter:  make a video showing what’s in your fridge OR, post a photo here on the blog comments or on the link to this blog on my Facebook Page or Twitter account

2) SHARE this contest on your Facebook wall.

3) All entries must be received by Friday, May 10th at NOON, PST.

4)  I will announce the inner on Friday afternoon here on the blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.  :)

What do you win?  THIS PRIZE PACKAGE – MAILED DIRECTLY TO YOU:

PRIZE PACKAGE

PRIZE INCLUDES:

6 packages of Click Expresso Protein in Mocha
Coupon for one box of Skinny Cow Chocolates
Coupon for one package of Loreal Healthy Look Hair Color
Pink Clasp Bracelet

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YALE RUDD CENTER: ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS

30 Apr

If you’re a parent, teacher, school administrators or school volunteers, you’ll want a copy of “The Learning Connection: What You Need to Know to Ensure Your Kids Are Healthy and Ready to Learn” for ideas on how to create healthier school environments. After all, healthy children are better learners. http://bit.ly/109OT3K.  Source:  Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.

HEALTHY KIDS

REVIEW: PANTENE MOISTURE WHIP: I’M WHIPPED!

29 Apr

It’s no secret that I am a bleach blonde.  Not only that, but I’m a do-it-yourself-at-home bleach blonde.  Because of that, my hair is not in the greatest condition.  In other words: it’s fried more than any pre-diabetes Paula Deen recipe you’ve ever seen.  My hair takes a LOT of work to keep managed, and I’m always trying to find the best products to tame the wild blonde rat’s nest upon the top of my hair.

I’m a tried and true fan of John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease, but that’s really just to tame the wild frizzies.  I still need a styling product, and I’ve been struggling to find one that worked well with the Frizz-Ease and made my hair soft and manageable.  Cue:  Pantene’s new Moisture Whip.

I was a little concerned about trying it because anything that’s “mousse-y” never works for me.  It always dries out my hair and works against the de-frizzing from my other product.  Still, I figured at about $6.00 a pop, it was worth a try.  I was right.  I. AM. IN. LOVE.

ImageAlthough it dispenses like a mousse, you only need about a quarter-size dollop of it.  After about 3 days of using it, my hair suddenly became silky-soft and I was able to style it exactly the way I wanted to – whether it was a straight or wavy look.  And when I straighten it, I can go about two days without washing it – it just looks and feels THAT GOOD.  Even my husband Jake commented on how soft my hair was and how pretty it looked.  Two thumbs up from the hubs.

Here’s the info from the Pantene website :

Product # SPK-A0502. Pantene’s Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Whip helps hair feel moisturized for up to 48hours, helps protect against heat damage and regulate hair’s moisture- delivering silky hair that shines.

And check out the printable Pantene coupons here on the P&G website:  $2.00/ off one Pantene Product

If you color your hair or suffer with the super-frizz like I do, you will LOVE this product.  I am praying to the hair gods that this product doesn’t get discontinued.  I love, love, love it!

 

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DIVA TAUNIA’S CARMELIZED & GRILLED BRUSSELS SPROUTS (You will LOVE them!)

23 Apr

I know that brussels sprouts get a bad rap, and I think that’s why I avoided them like the plague for most of my adult life.  What I didn’t realize is that they could be DELICIOUS and super-duper easy to make.  I’m going to give you two versions:  one low-calorie and much healthier, and another with, you know, BACON.  :)

ImageDIVA T’S CARMELIZED & GRILLED BRUSSELS SPROUTS INGREDIENTS:

  • 8-10 large/robust fresh brussels sprouts
  • 3 tablespoons of good olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of Splenda or other sugar substitute
  • 1/2 teaspoon each of kosher salt and pepper

 

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Take the brussels sprouts and cut them in half, width-wise
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, salt and pepper
  3. Toss the brussel sprouts until they are well-moistened
  4. Grill the brussel sprouts for about 10 minutes, turning frequently to get even carmelization
  5. Enjoy the hell outta these!

BACON(!) VARIATION:

  1. Follow the recipe from above, then set aside grilled brussels sprouts when done
  2. In a pan, crisp up one half package of small diced/cubed pancetta.  You can usually find this pre-packaged in the salami and deli meat section.  Fresh pancetta is best, but in a pinch you can use the packaged.   It will be about 1/4 cup of pancetta total.
  3. Take the pancetta out of the pan to blot from the oil. Toss pancetta into a bowl, and then toss in the sprouts and mix well.  Enjoy the hell outta this even more!  The salty and sweet are a really killer combo!

If you make this, please let me know what you think!  :)

BRUSSELS SPROUTS NUTRITIONAL INFO (FROM WIKIPEDIA):

Brussels sprouts are a cultivar of the same species that includes cabbage, collard greens, broccoli, kale, and kohlrabi; they arecruciferous (they belong to the Brassicaceae family; old name Cruciferae). They contain good amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and dietary fiber. Moreover, they are believed to protect against colon cancer, because they contain sinigrin.[5] Although they contain compounds such as goitrin that can act as goitrogens and interfere with thyroid hormone production, realistic amounts in the diet do not seem to have any effect on the function of the thyroid gland in humans.[6] Brussels sprouts also contain high levels of erucic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid.[7]

 

 

GUEST BLOGGER DAGNY KIGHT: PART 3 / POST-OP EXERCISE

7 Apr

WLS Post-Ops—Beginning a Lifetime Exercise Habit: Part 3 of 3
by guest blogger and author Dagny Kight

Ready to start exercising after weight loss surgery? Got clearance from your surgeon? OK, time for a plan. Hold on! Don’t rush out to a gym! For most folks who have WLS, it’s probably been awhile since you got any significant physical activity. Maybe you’ve never really exercised at all. That’s OK. I’ve created a Three-Part Plan for getting started with effective exercise.

1.  Develop a regular habit.

This is the challenge of getting started! Even if you begin with a minute of exercise, doing something every day at the same time each day is the best way to establish that critical habit. Saying they’ll make time during the day is how most people find their plans fall apart. Pick a time of day that works for your schedule and stick with it. I highly recommend going for first thing in the morning! If you don’t already have to get up before dawn, get up a little earlier, have your clothes and equipment laid out from the night before, and kick start your day! Even if you’re only able to do a minimal workout at first, prepare as if you’re putting in a full session. Those details will be integral to establishing the routine.

2.  Connect with your body.

A lot of us who live many years at a high weight become disconnected from our physical presence. Becoming aware of your body and connecting with how it responds can be a powerful component of your overall transformation. A heart rate strap will not only give you a quantifiable means of learning how your body is functioning, it will guide you to gauge the intensity of your workouts.

If exercising has previously felt like a chore or worse, an ordeal, simply exhausting yourself or feeling reminded of your physical limitations, connecting with the beating of your heart and the rhythm of your breathing will allow you to put the focus on improving your fitness. Using a heart rate strap lets you see improvement by the numbers. You’ll feel the changes and you’ll be able to track quantifiable proof it’s happening and that’s so exciting!

Connecting with your body will begin to influence how you feel about your physical self. It gets really difficult to hate your body when you experience improvements and feel your ability expanding!

3.  Challenge yourself.

You achieve results when you continually push your limits. Whether you start with thirty seconds or thirty minutes of physical activity, tracking your heart rate will guide you to identify how to challenge yourself. Working with a heart rate strap, you’ll be able to see how quickly your heartbeat pops up with exertion and then recovers to a normal pace. You can make note of your heart rate when you reach the point that your body and breathing are telling you to stop. As time goes by, you’ll feel your breathing become deep and rhythmic and you’ll see proof in the numbers, confirming that you are achieving an improvement in your cardiovascular efficiency!

Get Moving!

So how should you begin an exercise regimen? Any way you can! For my clients who have not exercised in a long time or for those who wish to keep it simple and develop a sense of physical confidence, I start them with a High Step. This is an inexpensive piece of equipment with a small footprint. Place it anywhere in your home where you want to step and adjust the height. Then just step! Step forward, step backward, go side to side, add a little jump, modify your speed to do intervals, add a riser—The High Step lets you mix it up while getting your heart pumpin’! You could even place it next to something sturdy to hold for balance if you need to, at first.

A High Step and a heart rate strap represent a minimal investment to start building a regular exercise habit aimed at conditioning your heart.  Once you’ve developed a sense of physical confidence and feel connected to how your body is changing, I hope you’ll want to be adventurous! Get out of the house to walk, get a bicycle, play a sport, jump in a pool, or give a gym membership a try if you think you’ll make the time to go consistently. I highly recommend that you choose a locally-owned independent gym where the trainers are less likely to be pushed to sell class packages. Be sure to ask about any trainer’s certification. NASM is the top certification required by the best gyms; ACE is popular among trainers who lead exercise classes. If you’re interested in trying kettlebells, get the proper instruction from a trainer certified by RKC or IKFF.

Powerful Hunger by Dagny Kight

Powerful Hunger by Dagny Kight

Visit the Equipment & Tools page at PowerfulHunger.com to find well-priced heart rate straps and the High Step.

BOOK BONUS for Diva Taunia Friends & Fans! Download an excerpt from the book, Powerful Hunger, to get detailed information about baselining your heart rate to begin an exercise regimen.

http://www.powerfulhunger.com/bookpages/Powerful_Hunger_Fitness.pdf

 

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