Gastric Bypass Barbie

AS MUCH CALCIUM AS A GLASS OF MILK!

(So proclaims the packet of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate)

What’s your first impression when you read that? If you’re like MOST people, it’s: “Hey, it must be healthy! As much calcium as an entire glass of milk?! Who knew?”

Right.

So, here’s how my little brain works now (because it is skeptical and questioning of EVERYTHING):

1. How BIG a glass of milk? 8 oz.? Too much for me.
2. What TYPE of milk? Skim? Whole?
3. How MUCH calcium is actually in that glass of milk?
4. How much calcium do I NEED each day?

Now, understand that I would never dream of using this product — aside from the fact that it is loaded with sugar, it’s nothing I need — but my point is, in my Bariatric After LIfe™, I have learned to apply the same healthy logic to ALL products — EVEN those targeted directly to us bariatric types!

I guess it’s funny that, in this “sound bite” world where we all have the attention span of fleas sometimes, marketers have learned to whisper nonsense into our ears, and we believe it! Case in point:

• Fat Free! (Not sugar free)
• Low-Calorie! (Not fat free)
• No Added Sugar! (But has sugar)

If there is one thing I hope for all of us, it’s that we learn to ignore the headlines and go immediately to the fine print. Read the “second-to-the-last” paragraph of the article; turn the page; do whatever it takes to get the FULL story. Our bariatric bellies do not forgive us for ignorance of the law; when it comes to our bodies, we will GET exactly what we GIVE.

As much Calcium as an entire glass of milk? Who cares? I take Calcet Bites or chew my Celebrate wafers and do just fine (thank you).

Just some random thoughts for a Wednesday hump day afternoon. Now, off to my mani-pedi.

Comment & Win: CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT

Okay, most of you know what I ran a little contest to dovetail with my Gastric Bypass Barbie table at the WLS Vegas Meet ‘N Greet (February 19-21, 2010). All you had to do to be entered, was visit me at the event and sample one (or all) of the items I was taste-testing, and then come to my site and leave a comment.

Today, I’m announcing the winner of the CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT prize. I guess you’ll have to watch the video to know who won (but, isn’t that the whole point?) Drumroll, please….

Congrats to Paula Yenerall!

Here’s what she wrote:
I attended the Las Vegas WLS ‘meet and greet’ with my daughter, Sheri Burton who had the lap band procedure. Even though my own insurance will cover WLS, it requires me to be at least 100 lbs. overweight. I have the choice of, let’s see, gaining another 25 lbs. or trying to lose on my own. So, right now I am trying to lose on my own.

I was very excited to see such great results there were and how happy people were to be there.

I enjoyed everything right along with my daughter.

I tasted only the yogurt but found it to be terrific. I kept asking her, is this really something good for you because it tastes too good. Texture was wonderful and the creaminess and thickness of the yogurt very different than the runny ‘diet’ ones I am used to.

I am going to buy some and include that in my regimen to lose weight.

Thank you to Cari De La Cruz for bringing this product to sample and to all of the organizers and guests and speakers at this event.

You’re welcome, Paula, and THANK YOU for your kind comment.

To collect your prize, send me an email with your address so Shari Lawrence at Chobani can send you your loot.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

For those of you who attended the 1st Annual WLS Meet & Greet in Las Vegas, you know that I was giving samples of three, amazing products: Jarrow Whey Protein Shakes, Chobani Greek Yogurt, and Protein Blitz Sports Drinks. I asked people who tried these protein-rich foods leave a review on my site, and they’d be entered to win a fabulous prize.

Now, before I announce the first winner (and tell you what she’s won!), let me tell you how the product testing went, and what people were saying — even if they didn’t come back here to leave a comment!

We began the morning by blending thick and creamy JARROW WHEY protein shakes. Super Dave and MexiKEN were busily whipping up three, tasty flavors, using nothing more than a Vanilla base powder and some Jello SF Instant Pudding mixes in Pistachio, Banana Cream or Cheesecake flavors, while Maid Marian Michele skillfully worked the room with a big tray of little cups on her shoulder and a smile on her face.

The banana cream was an easy hit — after all, everyone knows what banana tastes like, right? So, those went down easy. We reminded people that they could easily use the banana cream for their chocolate peanut butter shakes, or as part of any fruit-flavored shake, and the gears started turning as they began to fantasize about the myriad ways in which they could add a banana to their morning drink — without using a real banana!

The raspberry cheesecake was equally popular, and all agreed that the surprise addition of the no sugar added raspberry preserves from Trader Joe’s made it extra-tasty. I think more than a few people said they planned to have it on-hand to keep their morning routine fresh and tasty.

But, hands down, the FAVORITE and most SURPRISING taste sensation of the morning was DEFINITELY the pistachio! Why? Because most people think they don’t like pistachio. Maybe it’s the green color, or maybe they have memories of eating too much pistachio ice cream when they got their tonsils out? Whatever the case, I was hard pressed to find one person who didn’t really love it — especially Melinda (RecoveringFatty.com). She was a fellow “swagger and exhibitor” at the event (here table was right across from mine), and at one point in the morning, she started to feel dehydrated, and really crummy. Fortunately, Super Dave was their to save the day, and whipped her up a full serving of Protein-Packed Pistachio goodness. She reports that she has become a certified pistachio freak, and was on a real pistachio jag for awhile there.

Well, soon enough, Maid Marian Michele had run out of little sample cups on her tray, and everyone was “full” — so we decided to wrap up that product taste test and prepare for mid-morning snack.

Without further ado, I’m pleased to announce that the winner of a 2 lb. tube of JARROW WHEY PROTEIN is: T2NASHVILLE aka Tammy!

Here is what she said:

I was present at the Vegas WLS Meet & Greet and had the opportunity to visit your booth and taste test the products there. Thanks so much for all you did in making those products possible for us to sample.

Jarrow Vanilla Protein Powder – Barbie had several different flavors of icy protein shakes to try, all made with the Vanilla version of this product. I asked to “smell” the jug of powder – no nasty protein smell at all! Didn’t even really have a vanilla smell, which I often have to “get past” in a lot of powders. I tasted the pistachio shake and the raspberry cheesecake shake – both were equally delicious! Barbie also had a banana flavor available, but I’m not a banana fan. I must say that I was impressed by the quality and taste of the product. Today, I researched the stats on the powder. While it doesn’t have as much protein as most powders, it does have less calories and more absorbent protein. I really wish Jarrow sold their products on their own website, but they rely on local suppliers or other online stores to sell it. I’m still comparing pricing to try to find the best deal, and I plan to visit my local Vitamin Shoppe to see if they carry it. All in all, a big thumbs up for me on this product!

Thanks, and CONGRATULATIONS TAMMY! I’ve forwarded your comments to the company, and maybe they’ll take your suggestion into consideration In the meantime, you need to decide which flavor you want: Vanilla, Caribbean Chocolate or Unflavored.

Tomorrow: I announce the winner of a case of Chobani Greek Yogurt!

Product Review: MIMICCREME Non-Dairy Cream Substitute

I have three words for you: OH MY GOSH!

Since having gastric bypass surgery in December of 2007, I’ve developed something of an allergy to milk (which includes creme). No, I’m not lactose intolerant — I’m actually ALLERGIC to milk (it makes me itch and stuff).

Well, a few months back, whilst doing my daily scan of Protein Girl Allie’s blog, I learned about a totally cool sounding product called MimicCreme. Allie made it sound so glorious, I had to learn about it for myself, so I flocked (can one person do that all by herself, or does one need several seagulls to do it properly?) Anyway, I flocked over to the MimicCreme site and read that it is a non-dairy cream substitute that does not have soy, gluten or any sort of milk products. How good could it taste, I ask you?

Amazingly, pretty darned good. OOPS! Don’t wanna go pimping my review now…Let me back up the milk truck.

I contacted the lovely people at MimicCreme and explained my sorrowful situation to them (you know, the part about how I have a limited diet after WLS, and how I am allergic to milk and cream and everything?) Rose Anne and Vince took great pity on me and immediately whisked (punny, huh?) out some samples of their product to my doorstep so I could taste and review for myself.

Now would be a really good time for the official disclaimer:

* * * I received FREE samples of MimiCreme Non-Dairy Creme Substitute in two (2) Flavors: Unsweetened and Sweetened. I don’t think they had a sugar-free version when I contacted them originally, but they do have one now. I think I’ll have to try that next. Anyway, I did not pay for these cartons o’ goodness and they did not compensate me for my review. Let’s just say, I enjoyed many, many cups of silky smooth coffee for a couple of weeks, and didn’t pay a PENNY for the faux cream. * * *

Okay, we’re back.

Let me begin with the crack Sweetened version. This stuff is nothing short of addiction in a carton. Remember those cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk your mom always bought to make Borden’s Magic Cookie Bars at Christmas? Okay, well THAT’S what this stuff is like. I found myself sneaking teaspoonfuls of it in the middle of the night. Somehow, I do not believe that is what the product was designed for, but you will be happy to know, it works for midnight munchie marauders (like moi). Oh…let me remind you that I am a bariatric patient and have absolutely no business using the sweetened version of this product. Yes, it is made with sugar. Yes, it made me a little dumpy.

Moving on…Next was the Unsweetened version. Okay, now THIS stuff tastes good, but doesn’t cause me to binge. It has a wonderful, creamy texture and you would swear you were drinking a milk product, and not a bunch of almonds. Oh, did I mention that this stuff is made from NUTS? Yup. Almonds, Cashews, Rice Starch and Baking Soda (plus a little purified water and non-iodized salt.) The sweetened version adds sugar, maltodextrin, tapioca starch, xanthan gum and guar gum, but the sugar-free version uses erythritol, which is safer for us bariatric post-ops.

Anyway, I used the unsweetened flavor in my morning coffee and, aside from some “feathering” [The term for the appearance of cream-substitute-separation in acidic solutions is, "Feathering." Such feathering, which is akin to milk curdling and which gives an undesirable appearance to the coffee, may occur when the coffee brew is acidic and/or when the coffee brew is made with hard water containing a high proportion of calcium and/or magnesium ions. Feathering does not impart any taste-changes. MimicCreme has been formulated with an additive called Di Potassium Phosphate that prevents it from "feathering" in acidic liquids] it really was pleasant and did not change the flavor of the coffee. Of course, I add a boat load of Splenda® to everything, so THAT certainly changed the taste!

Fear not! If you can’t stand the thought of “feathered cream” in your coffee, just buy the Cream Substitute instead. Tastes the same, but won’t separate at the top of your java.

Here are the nutritional facts for each product:

As you an see, the numbers are pretty good — yes, even for the sweetened version.

Many people say they use this product for cooking and baking, but I was just too lazy to do that (LOL). I did add it to my protein shakes, and that made them even yummier. My best friend says she bakes with it and simply adores the flavor, so I think you should take her word on it. The stuff rocks.

Barbie’s Bottom line:   4 Stars

Where to Buy: Online at Mimiccreme.com or
Retail Locations: Find a Store

Price: 1 Quart = $4.59
Coffee Creamer = $2.99

FUDGSICLES:

Fat Free – Sugar Free

Reduced Calorie  - Low Fat

No Sugar Added

Apologies to Gertrude Stein but, Sugar is sugar is sugar.

I had an eye-opening experience last week at WalMart after innocently buying a box of NO SUGAR ADDED Fudgsicles. The line was oppressively long, so I decided to eat one while I was waiting. After the first bite, I noticed that it tasted “different” than the Fudgsicles I’d BEEN eating for the last few months. This one tasted….SUGAR FREE — quite unlike the other “sugar free” Fudgsicles. Which got me to thinking. Maybe those *other* Fudgsicles really *aren’t* Sugar Free at all. But, how could that be? I’m always careful to read the packaging, and I distinctly remember the red script lettering: NO SUGAR ADDED.

And then it hit me: NO SUGAR ADDED means exactly that! They don’t ADD any sugar, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t already HAVE sugar!

Well, once I stumbled upon this revelation, it was time to go label sleuthing. Sure enough, the staggering number of varieties of Fudgsicles out there will make your head spin.

Here’s what I found available in the “frozen novelty” section of your local supermarket:

Confused yet? And did I mention that *some* of the above values are for “2 bars”? Even when you THINK you know what you’re getting, you have to read the label — EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.  These are NOT your friends, especially if you care about carbs (yes, sugar alcohols count as carbs).

Bottom Line: If you remember nothing else in this posting, remember this: If you aren’t careful, Fudgsicles can be a no-win treat — especially for those of us choosing to live a healthy WLS after life!