Gwennaford's Journal

[Gwennaford]

Judie - It takes strong and loving people to take care of a special needs person.  I admire what you have done for Molly. I'm sorry that I didn't know about her before now.  You're such a happenin' babe - I should have known you would have your act together.  But it's still alarming when that light show starts, right?

Those roho cushions are so great - I have wanted to get one, but I keep putting it off.  I keep thinking the Lord is going to move at any minute and I'm going to get up & walk away from this chair.  I'm waiting & trusing His timing.  Every day I ask Him if today is going to be the day.  I have a recurring dream where this happens, and every time it gets to the point where I get up & walk across the room, I'm either alone with no witnesses, or in a crowd of strangers who don't understand the magnitude of what just happened.  I'm yelling out -- I'm walking, I'm walking!  And they just turn around and say, "Yeah, so what?  Isn't everyone? That's no big deal.  Everyone walks."  I wonder what that means?

[Vernswifevickie]

EnJae - How did they taste ??   You are such a riot.  I don't blame you for not sharing - they have plenty of other stuff to eat, right?

Listen guys, -- if you're a baker and you have garbanzo bean flour on hand - then by all means, go for it.  I don't doubt that Vickie's recipe adaptation is great.  But I am SO NOT a baker.  I don't go anywhere they sell garbanzo bean flour and not sure I would buy some if I found it because ... you got it ... I don't bake!  I broil, roast and microwave.  That's it.  Oh, and crock pot.  Can't forget those beannies!   :tongue:

Please please please try the microwave biscuit recipe made with a can of rinsed, drained & paper towel dried off garbanzos or an equal volume of home cooked ones.  Cook the biscuits in the microwave in cupcake papers on top of paper towels.  I like to add a small handful of dried onion flakes and dried herbs to the batter to soak up some of the liquid.  And don't forget to set them on fresh paper towels while they cool.  This sounds terrible, but I let the the paper towels dry and save them for the next time.  It's just condensation, right?

You need to refrigerate leftovers in zip bags, because they are so moist they can spoil quickly.  When they are day-old they remind me of cornbread.

I'm going to try these the next time I make them. I have a couple of cans of garbanzos in the cupboard and I want to try these and see which way I like them best. I just need to buy some of those paper mufffin cup liners.

Your dream about walking is interesting. I would love to be there to witness it when it happens!

[niki]

I have a recurring dream where this happens, and every time it gets to the point where I get up & walk across the room, I'm either alone with no witnesses, or in a crowd of strangers who don't understand the magnitude of what just happened.  I'm yelling out -- I'm walking, I'm walking!  And they just turn around and say, "Yeah, so what?  Isn't everyone? That's no big deal.  Everyone walks." 

  it'll happen, kiddo, and it won't be just in your dreams......make sure someone takes pictures.........love,niki

[snowbirdie]

Hi Gwennie,  Have a wonderful walk!      Judie

[Gwennaford]

Oh, brother!  Don't even talk about pictures!  After what I went through to get before & afters for Roger, you can bet I'm going to be front & center in all holiday pics so I can be sure I don't have to search through boxes of files again to find a picture - ANY picture of me

[robnveronica]

I still haven't managed to find a before. I hate having my pic taken so usually am the one behind the camera! Hence so far no true before!!!

[Gwennaford]

Me too, Veronica.  If I couldn't be behind the camera, I would have urgent business in another room.  If I was forced into a picture, I tried to hide behind furniture because parts of me stuck out both sides when I tried to hide behind people!  Then I went into the chair, which automatically puts me on the front row, whether I like it or not (I don't). 

None of my pix is technically a true "before".  In the Jabba the Hutt DL pic I actually weighed 50 pounds less than my highest weight, but I was puffed up on steroids.  The black & white shot was taken 4-5 months after I started LDL, before my size started dropping.  So, ... we do the best we can, right? 

Two important things I try to remember are: 

1) The old quote, "Those who don't remember the past are doomed to repeat it."  (or something like that.)

2) I have chosen to celebrate who, what, when, where, why & how I am TODAY.  Because This is the day that the LORD has made; I shall rejoice and be glad in it.  And I am a child of the King and God don't make no junk!  Today is my day to dig up oldie-goody quotes. 

[patsyfay]

I love the Brit comedy, "As Time Goes By".  Lionel made me guffaw when he said, "Parts of me that used to ripple now just jiggle." Sounds like a lot of people I know, including me!!!

[Gwennaford]

Busy weekend.  Ate well and correctly.  Finally found the Lundberg Black Japonica Rice -- right across the street at the Fresh Market!  YAY!. 

Had Thanksgiving dinner at church and I found loads of things to eat, including the two dishes I made. 

I took Warm Mixed Fruit Compote because I was too rushed to make the biscuit topper to make it into a cobbler!  Nobody ate it so I brought it all home.  I'll have it daily for two weeks!  6 lb. bag Dole Wildly Nutritious Mixed Fruit (Mango, Melon, Peaches, Pineapple & Strawberries) stewed with a couple tablespoons of Smart Balance Margarine, lemon juice, NuStevia and cinnamon.  It exudes its own juice so you have to thicken it with a little cornstarch slurry.

Also made up a corn dish I called Fiesta Corn. I really liked it a lot.  Also brought home a dish of it so I could remember what was in it so I could write it down.  Also so I could eat it again soon!  I'm giving you the actual proportions I used becuse it was so pretty.  You will probably want to cut it for everyday use!  5 lb. bag Frozen Corn, 1 diced large sweet yellow onion, 2 diced bell peppers (one red & one orange), 1/2 large bulb of garlic, (about 8 large cloves) minced, 2 Tbsp. EVOO, 1 can Dark Red Kidney Beans, Cajun seasoning blend, 1 Tbsp Thyme leaves, pinches of rosemary and sage.  Saute' diced veggies until wilted in EVOO with the seasonings.  Mix with corn and beans and heat through.

I had the Fiesta Corn for lunch today with Black Japonica Rice, Fajita Sliced Chicken Breast and Grilled Peppers & Onions.  Also opened a can of black beans!  All this inspired by a meal I had Saturday at Chili's -- the Chicken & Portobello Fajitas.  I knew they would let you substitute extra veggies for the rice, so when I asked, they agreed to replace the TORTILLAS with a side of steamed veggies.  How cool is that?

I have 8 big portobello caps but I'm saving them for when Joe (Michelle's BFF) gets here.  I marinate them in Paul Newman Light Italian Dressing & broil them gill side up. I Think I'll serve them with Salmon.

Breakfast was Red Lentils and Garlic (dal), grapes and a scrambled egg.

Dinner will probably be cold mixed fruit compote.

[Saved4Life]

Hi Gwen,

Haven't talked to you in a while...I hope all is well with you!  It was so good to see Neil when I was in town...even though it was VERY BRIEF!  The whole weekend was blurr...I had to go home to rest up!

I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Much Love,
Doreen

[Gwennaford]

Hi D -- just copied this from Debbie's Journal page:

Quote from: Gwennaford on November 19, 2008, 10:50:04 PM
and am officially back at 80 pounds down.
EXCELLENT...GOOD FOR YOU!!  YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION...THANKS AGAIN FOR TELLING ME ABOUT LDL!!!  YOU ROCK, GWEN!!!
Love ,
Doreen

Thank yuh, thank yuh verr much !  ... But you give me too much credit.  If it wasn't for the Lord's leading and His divine inspiration, none of us would be here!

Let me know where & when & I can arrange to meet you & Vickie somewhere during your next whirlwind tour.  Would love to see your pretty face.  BY THE WAY.... where is your updated picture ? ? ? 

[Gwennaford]

We are all well and I'm fully on program.  Just too busy to write - ya'll know me ... once I start, there's no stopping me. 

Neil & I had a wonderful Thanksgiving week with DD#2, Michelle and her BFF, Joe.  He had the whole week off from school and spent most of it with us.  We had wonderful almost frosty holiday weather.  We spent a lot of the time listening to music and watching movies, all bundled up & snuggled together like a pile of puppies! 

Hope to catch up on the boards this weekend.  Love to all,
Gwen

[EnJae]

Love you Gwennie; glad you're back!
NJ

[Gwennaford]

Love you too, NJ.  But I wasn't gone.  I was here almost every day, LURKING at you !!!  I just can't afford to stop & write, because I never stop.  Like today in a MUCH earlier post, I said I wasn't going to write.  Ha.  I'm still here & showing no signs of stopping.  I guess laundry will have to wait another week..

Love, Gwen

[Saved4Life]

Hey Gwen,

I always give God the GLORY, but I credit you with telling me about LDL!  Even tho God led you to do it,
YOU DID IT and thank you again

Every time we venture down to Pinellas County, I always say...we need to come and stay a whole week some time, because a weekend is not enough time when there are SO MANY people we'd love to see!!

I don't have a new picture to post...I too managed to hide behind the camera, or furniture, or another person, and now that I am NOT inclined to do that any more, everybody is so used to me doing that, they always ask me to take the pictures!!!

I need to get Wayne to take one of me soon!

Hugs & Blessings,
Doreen

[Gwennaford]

OK - You're welcome  !

Me, too, with the pictures.  We had a whole house full of people for a week but I didn't think to get any pictures of me.   I want to take some more "before" pictures of me now that I'm not forced to wear tents all the time.  Friday I unearthed a pair of jeans from the FAR FAR AWAY section of my closet (they were buried under a layer of dust  ) and I actually got into them! ! !  The way I was yelling from the back of the house, Neil thought I was hurt.  LOL.  So... I came out wearing my jeans and a Jimmy Buffet T-shirt, with a big fanfare, TA-DA.  And they were all like, "hmm... that's nice."

I have to come to the message boards for all my validation!  grrr...   They really don't have a clue, do they?

Love to all,
Gwen

P.S.  I'm still wearing the jeans ... I REALLY need to go do laundry. 

[Sweet_Pea]

Gwen, I'm with you on the dh not getting it sometimes.  I get the biggest thrill just wearing a top that I haven't worn for a few years which I am doing today and no one else seems to notice.  Oh, well, some day they will notice and if not, that is ok too.  When you have been this large  for so long, every step forward is a blessing and I praise God for this.  I'm so thankful to Vickie for posting the website in another journal and finding this story by Roger. I saw him on a little video and he seemed so humble.  That really touched my heart.

Carrole 

[Gwennaford]

Roger and Anita both seem so sweet and wonderful.  I saw them appearing together on Homekeepers.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW SIZE.  Soon it will be time to buy some new underwear & bras.  Then you will really feel like a million.  In that case, it's okay if you are the only one that knows !  ha ha

Love, Gwen

[Saved4Life]

Hey...me too...dug out a pair of jeans from the bottom of the drawer I haven't used in a couple of years, found a pair of red jeans, put them on and was thrilled.  Told my friend Sissy on the way to work, she was thrilled for me.  When we got out of the truck to walk across to the courthouse, she said, "...looks like you waited too long to get those jeans out and try them on...they're alreay too big!!"    I could have kissed her!

[niki]

When we got out of the truck to walk across to the courthouse, she said, "...looks like you waited too long to get those jeans out and try them on...they're alreay too big!!"    I could have kissed her!

  that's GREAT.........