Cooking Frustrations

November 22, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

Ugh…so for Thanksgiving I bake the biscuits and cornbread muffins for my dressing in advance (so they can dry out), normally on Sunday before Thanksgiving.

So, on Sunday, I was making a new chocolate treat for the family “Rolo Turtles.” Square pretzels, unwrapped Rolo’s, and pecans. Place the Rolo on the pretzel, and place in heated oven for 8-10 minutes. Take out of the oven, and place (carefully) pecan on top (pressing down). Let cool, and enjoy.

Well, I did those and turned off the oven. About a hour later, I went to turn on the oven to preheat for the biscuits and muffins, and no heat. Nothing. I have a gas oven, and the burners worked. Broiler worked. Looked like the heating bulb igniter went out. This happened before when David was in Afghanistan (it is always when they aren’t home), but was told from the repair guy not to service it, but replace the oven instead if it happened again.

So in a panic, we have been shopping for an oven. Lots out there, but none that could be delivered and installed before Thursday. Friday or even the following week, no problem. Ugh.

So, in frustration, David started looking up how to repair videos on YouTube. About a hour later, I have a working oven again. Replacement part ordered from Amazon (for $18) to be delivered on Wednesday (just in case).

But now I want a new oven. But I want a lot of things. Just really THANKFUL that I am able to cook, and enjoy the day. Oh, and have some dressing.

Blessings,

Jerry Ann

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Recipes · Thanksgiving · Uncategorized · weight loss

WLS and Thanksgiving

November 21, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

I received this from Dawn at … and would like to remind myself that the holiday is okay to eat, but not everything.

So…Dawn says:

The holidays can be fun, full of laughter & memories, but stressful, and exhausting. The good news is they don’t have to get you off track. Follow these simple strategies to stay focused:

Don’t skip breakfast, make a plan so that you eat first thing. Have an egg or a green protein smoothie to balance blood sugars and keep cravings in control.
Take a dish you know is safe
Fill 75% of your plate with veggies
Sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, this will prevent blood sugar spikes which will send you seeking for sugar
Enjoy the turkey or ham, perfect way to get good quality protein
Avoid all bread, rolls, noodles, and pasta
Avoid sugar, it is addictive and can take you down the wrong track. Take a dessert that is made from fruit, like baked pear halves with chopped walnuts and a drizzle of honey and a dash of cinnamon or try these Pecan Pie Lara Bars or any of the 20 copy-cat recipes.

Remember, if you want different results you can’t continue doing things the same. Make Thanksgiving about the people, laugh a lot, play a game, take some pictures and get filled up with love by giving love away.

Thanks Dawn!

I am making roasted vegetables this year, and having both ham and turkey (will post recipes soon) so planning my day not to fail or just plain overeat.

Happy Thanksgiving week—we can do this!

Blessings,

Jerry Ann

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Uncategorized

Six Months

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

Wow…

It has been six months (yesterday) since my Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

First month was terrible. Honestly–terrible. I had a reaction to the pain medication, didn’t walk when I should have, and was very nauseous. But… I would not change a thing. Not one. Nope.

I have gone from 11 daily medications to 3 (one is only once a week instead of daily) but no more daily pill box.

I can walk. Really walk and not be exhausted. It is odd. I don’t even realized what I have accomplished until I look back during the day.

The surgery group I have gone through stated that most people over eat and throw up. Push themselves – push their new stomach. I have made myself sick and end up hiccuping…painfully…but so far not to the point of throwing up. I didn’t like that before surgery, I didn’t see myself eating to that point of vomiting.

November 7, 2015–315 lbs

With girlfriends in Helen, Georgia. Was afraid of walking, let alone keeping up with the other family.

May 13, 2016 –283 lbs

November 16, 2016–212 lbs

Same door. Crazy to see how much I filled up the door in the May picture compared to today. Oh, and I wear heels now.

Okay- first goal met.

Blessings.

Jerry Ann

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Uncategorized

First Steps

May 7, 2016October 2, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

This picture was taken 4 months ago at work. Day one of my liquid diet (with protein shakes-Phase 1). Weight 293.8. Ugh.

Size 26/28 or 3x to 4x pants and shirts. Not my largest, and most certainly not my smallest. Reminder to self that this is day 1. A beginning again. I have struggled, as most have, with maintaining diets or even tricking myself by calling it lifestyle change. Daily criticism from my inner being. My heaviest was 315 pounds.

Here I am with Carmen August 20, 2006. My wedding day. Weight: 276 pounds. I have gone up and down so much, but there are certain dates I can remember my weight. The exact weight. Weighing that morning and thinking I am supposed to be beautiful on my wedding day. All I could think about was how hard it was going to be to walk on the beach. How fat I would look in the pictures.

What I ended up thinking about was my new family. David has been a complete supporter of me. Not necessarily of my diet plans or choices, but in general 100% my cheerleader.

I was in Drill Team (dance team) in high school in the 80’s. I am on the far left of the above picture. Dancing was wonderful. I was anywhere from size 12 to an 18/20 during those four years, but I could still dance. I was bullied a lot too, but that is another story for another day. I even choreographed a lot of the dances then. I want to be able to kick as high as I used to, well maybe. I do want to be able to have my nose touch my knees without screaming. Goals, right?

So…I am a far bit behind in posting my journey. I will be catching up with you over the next month. Thank you, and continued prayers and thoughts are appreciated.

Blessings.
Jerry Ann

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Uncategorized

Changes

May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

Changes have been going on here a lot lately.

I have made the choice to have Bariatric Surgery. I have fought with my weight for as long as I can remember. I battled my weight even when I didn’t think it was an issue. My mother putting me on diets whether I wanted to lose weight or not. Dealing with bullies due to my weight or the size of my breasts. Well, I have finally made the choice that I cannot do it alone anymore.

I will be turning 50 this August, and I truly would like to have help with my weight now. I know that it is not an easy fix. I have read, and reread articles telling how difficult it is.

I am on the right path. Changing. I don’t believe anyone should stay in the same place forever. Changes are good, whether we make them or someone does it for us. David being laid off is a big change. But one that we should be dealing with for a long time coming. Financially we are struggling-losing the main provider, but this change will make us evaluate the things we don’t have to have to things we need.

Surgery is hopefully not going to pushed aside because of this financial set back. I have been in process for approval with our insurance for months. Sharing is very difficult. Prayers appreciated.

Jerry Ann

Advice · Breathe · Momma Advice · thoughts · Uncategorized

Breathe

April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

In all of life’s difficulties I always come back to “breathe.” That is all you have to do. Panicked? Breathe. Stressed? Breathe. Overwhelmed? Breathe. Baby won’t stop crying? Breathe. You have to get calm to resolve the situation. Remove yourself if needed. Big, deep breaths. Breathe.

I have said before that I Momma. I have Momma’ed since I was 16. It is a gift or a curse, not sure which. New moms not knowing what to do. Breathe.

A song came on KLOVE the other day as I was driving into work. Jonny Diaz – Breathe

This was so needed for me that day. It is easy for me to calm others by saying Breathe, but this time I listened.

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

Blessings, today and always.

Jerry Ann

Advice · thoughts · Uncategorized

Baby Poop

January 17, 2016January 8, 2017 jachancellorLeave a comment

Yes, poop. You really can’t tell what is going on with an infant 0-18 months until they are able to communicate with something other than crying. So…

A new Mom asked me about her daughter’s poop (by accident the baby pooped in the bathtub, and having to clean up the baby and the poop from the drain the Mom discovered worm like objects in her daughter’s poop), and if it was worms? My first reaction when listening to her tell me about the incident in detail, was bananas. So I ask if she was uncomfortable at all, like crying in the middle of the night? No. Had she eaten a banana recently? Yes, everyday. String like items? Yes. Well, sometimes processed bananas can look wormy like they do when you bake banana bread. Ah….

I did tell her not to feed the baby bananas, and to watch the poop for a couple of days just to make sure that it was dietary and not worms. But if they remained to contact her pediatrician.

The relief on the young Mom’s face was evident, and I once again realized I have boundless knowledge of nothing.

Happy Sunday. Blessings,

Jerry Ann

Goals · thoughts · Uncategorized

Beginning …Again

January 16, 2016February 14, 2016 jachancellorLeave a comment

And so it begins, another chapter.

Starting again, this time with actual goals.

2016…and first goal already met…purged the pantry. I had more crap in that pantry than anyone really should.

Goals. I have more than I should for this year especially since I haven’t done this (goal setting) before. So, I will share only when I accomplished them.

Do you have any goals for 2016?

Blessings.

Recipes · Uncategorized

Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake

October 5, 2014 jachancellorLeave a comment

My mother used to make this cinnamon swirl Bundt cake every Fall. I have missed it for a long while.

We signed up to bring breakfast to our Sunday School class, and I thought about being lazy and just getting donuts, or something fast/quick. But then I remembered that Bundt.

I still had a cake mix in the pantry, why not try to re-create it. So I did. Mom said that there was supposed to be a glaze on the top, but she didn’t do it. I just added powdered sugar on top. It is very sweet, but a great sweet swirl cake.