Have a Star-Spangled Celebratory Weekend!

 Many of my friends across the pond will be starting a star spangled weekend today to celebrate Independence Day. It’s a great time to celebrate but also a timely occasion to reconnect with your own good WLS intentions (especially if you have been veering off track). Mark this weekend in the sand as the time when you’ll make some new commitment to forging ahead or complying better with the bariatric basic regime for long-term success. This could prove to be a pivotal weekend when you jump-start your weight loss or manage maintenance better, it’s never too late.

 

That said, it is a holiday weekend

and you should enjoy it just as much as everyone else (isn’t that why we had surgery?). So do enjoy your food just make healthy choices, there’s lots of ideas here, and limit treats to the occasional status (maybe tinkering with the usual offerings to make them more bariatric-friendly). Why not also make plans to get out and about a bit more; try some new foods or clothes; reconnect with family and friends you haven’t seen in a while; or perhaps read through your basic literature to remind you what’s required and best avoided.

 

We have covered some recipes that you might consider in previous blogs so check them out in the related articles with links at the end of this one. You might like to try any of these:

 

 

 Or why not make yourself some red, white and blue frozen ice lollies/popsicles. Simply freeze pureed red berry fruits (like strawberries and raspberries with sweetener to taste if required) in the base of some moulds until firm, top with yogurt (or your favourite white coloured protein drink) and again freeze until firm, then finally blue coloured soft fruit (like blackberries, blue berries or blackcurrants with sweetener to taste again if required), and freeze the whole until firm. Alternatively do the same in reverse as we have in our popsicles below.

 

We have also experimented with simply freezing whole berries or slices of the same fruit to good effect – whatever floats your boat! I also like to add a few herbs like mint sprigs, borage or lovage to the mix for a real summer seasonal special. It’s hard to say how many calories, protein, carbs and sugar they will contain since they will vary in size and composition but rest assured they are bound to be more lower or more nutritional than other ready-made choices. Everyone will also appreciate the effort you have made.