Wild Caught vs. Farm Raised Salmon

Hello Neighbors!

You know I'm a big fan of salmon and eat it regularly. Normally I get my salmon from a big-box super center in large quantities to portion out, vacuum pack and freeze for later use. But I've often wondered where this salmon comes from and is it my healthiest option.

George Mateljan over at The World's Healthiest Foods is featuring salmon this week and he offers insight to the farm vs. wild salmon dilemma.

Is there any nutritional difference between wild-caught and farm-raised fish? Is one type better for me than the other?

Overview
From both a nutritional and environmental impact perspective, farmed fish are far inferior to their wild counterparts:

Despite being much fattier, farmed fish provide less usable beneficial omega 3 fats than wild fish.

Due to the feedlot conditions of aquafarming, farm-raised fish are doused with antibiotics and exposed to more concentrated pesticides than their wild kin. Farmed salmon, in addition, are given a salmon-colored dye in their feed, without which, their flesh would be an unappetizing grey color.

Aquafarming also raises a number of environmental concerns, the most important of which may be its negative impact on wild salmon. It has now been established that sea lice from farms kill up to 95% of juvenile wild salmon that migrate past them.(Krkosek M, Lewis MA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.)

So, the next time I shop the big box I will be asking from what waters has my fresh salmon swam? Really, if we are going to try and eat ourselves into nutritional Nirvana we must ask and deserve to know where our food has been.

Thanks George and World's Healthiest Foods.

Monday in the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood

Hello Neighbors!

I hope you had a fine weekend and were able to do some serious LIVING! Our weather here in Wyoming has turned quite lovely after such a long LONG winter. It was nice to enjoy lots of sunshine and outdoors this last weekend. Here is a look at a tiny corner of my perennial garden. In another few weeks the perennials will emerge carpeting the earth in green, I can hardly wait!

Like many of you, I am continuing my course to take control of regained pounds. The pounds are coming off slowly, but consistently: I'm down 4 pounds with 13 to go. Sticking with the Four Rules and watching the liquid restrictions (no water 30 minutes before or after meals, no drinking with meals) is helping me to feel my pouch again. And believe it or not, I am really enjoying my exercise again, particularly walking.

Are you starting this week with new resolve to work your pouch? Jane in the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood offers some great advice and encouragement in this topic: 5 Day Pouch Test May 19-23, Team Test! She has an idea for making the 5 Day Pouch Test a family affair:

"Before you start the 5dpt you'll also want to look at the recipes for the week to choose which ones will work for you and possibly your family. This test is about YOU, but real life proves that cooking for the family happens, so by working your recipes into their diets for the week you'll have better luck with success."

Need more encouragement? Read Rachael's topic, "I Am Celebrating Big Time, I am in control." She's lost 30 pounds in 60 days! No wonder she is celebrating!

Remember, LivingAfterWLs is never about perfection, it is about doing our best on any given day. Hope you do your best today! And remember you are never alone; come visit us in the Neighborhood.

CHEERS!
Kaye

Seared Salmon and Tomato-Mozzarella Salad

We enjoyed a meal so delicious last night that I forgot it was healthy! I first made a Tomato-Mozzarella salad from tomato slices that had been drained on paper toweling and then seasoned with salt and pepper. These were arranged in a ring on the serving platter then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, finally garnished with toasted pinenuts.

For the Salmon:
In a large skillet I heated 1 tablespoon of EVOO. Working on parchment paper I seasoned the skinless, boneless salmon fillets with freshly ground pepper and pink sea salt. The fillets were put in the hot oil to sear for 4 minutes and then turned, allowing to cook over medium high heat for 3 more minutes. After removing the skillet from the heat I topped each fillet with 1 generous tablespoon of Sweet Peppers Bruschetta Topping by Gia Russa (Found at World Market), placed the lid on the skillet and let the salmon rest for a few minutes.

What a great meal! I didn't run caloric or protein-fat-carb counts because when a meal is this healthy I prefer to think of all the healthy nutrients such as vitamins C and A and lycopene in the tomatoes; calcium in the mozzarella and salmon and of course the beneficial omega-3 fish oil which is good for hormonal health, skin and the immune system.

For more great salad ideas check out the Neighborhood Memorial Day Recipe Contest.

Happy Eating!

Lip Gloss for Weight Loss?

Over at Daily Diet Blog Mike Howard brings forward obesity researcher Betty Kovacs and Self Magazine editor Erin Hobday collaborated article on ridiculous weight loss methods. Now, I've tried some crazy things in my day including a self-made cling-wrap body suit (didn't work) and the infamous cabbage soup diet. But nothing nearly as crazy as some of these: take a look and enjoy!

1. WEIGHT LOSS LIP GLOSS: Fuze Slenderize lip gloss promises to help shed pounds. By infusing chromium and L-carnitine into the gloss, the manufacturers believe (and are trying mightily have us believe) that this will curb cravings and boost energy.

2. AIR MAKES YOU FAT: A recent In Style story suggests that all those additional air bubbles you consume while chewing gum, taking big bites or sipping carbonated drinks fills your stomach with air. Until now it seemed that air was about the only thing that wasn't making us fat!

3. OVERNIGHT SKINNY CREAM: Better yet, lose while you snooze. The body balm Fatgirlsleep by Bliss promises to fight flab and diminish dimples overnight with a combo of red algae extract, moisture binders and their encapsulated "slenderiZZZe" complex. Kovacs and Hobday both agree though, that a good night's sleep is important in fighting the bulge.

4. SMELL DIET: Bath & Body Works Instant Aromatherapy Crave Relief claims that rolling on their fragrant grapefruit and sweet fennel essential oils will stave off hunger. "The only time I would use smell is if somebody was walking by a bakery, and they're smelling stuff," says Kovacs. "Put some lotion on your hands to replace the smell, not as a way to curb an appetite." This smells fishy to me.

5. BODY OIL: Another appetite controller, SLIMShots boasts its users eat up to 30% less a day. The single-serving shots of natural oat and palm oil are poured into your coffee, yogurt or cereal to make you feel full. I'm not sure how they came about those numbers, by I suspect is was not through the rigors of a double-blind, placebo study. You could use regular food choices to help you eat less. One's that don't sell for $80.

6. LOTION POTION: A couple of drops of Clarins Body Shaping Supplement streamlines your lotions and moisturizers with plant extracts and caffeine to add powerful shaping action to your skin-care routine. I have no idea what this has to do with weight loss and I don't know the first thing about skin care products.

7. CALORIE-BURNING DRINK: Enviga, Coca-Cola's sparkling green tea mixed with caffeine and antioxidants, claims that it's proven to boost metabolism and burn an extra 60 to 100 calories a day. "The one thing that can boost the metabolism is muscle," says Kovacs. Kovacs also noted this disclaimer on their website: "Weight loss requires a reduced calorie diet and regular exercise."

8. EATING IN THE DARK: Eating in a dark room encourages you to eat more, studies show. Distracted diners also tend to eat more, so turn off the TV and the radio, or you won't notice how much food you're shoveling in. The authors of this article actually concur with some of this as do I. I'm not sure about the dark room thing (how dark are we talking?) but being distracted certainly has some relevance. I don't know that I would count this one as a ridiculous idea - but I will think it's ridiculous if someone writes a book about it.

There is no shortage of ludicrous weight loss products out there. No doubt, many of these products will fly off the shelves because of what they claim to do - which is a shame.

Molded Rhubarb Rosemary Cucumber Salad Recipe

Elsie over at Simply Recipes presents a gorgeous spring jelled salad. This isn't your average pot-luck gelatin; it is stylish and sophisticated using spring fresh rhubarb, rosemary and cucumbers. Gelatin is a staple in may weight loss surgery diets but sometimes it can get a bit boring. This one, though a bit time-consuming to prepare, is sure to take the dull out of the everyday. Elsie's recipe calls for sugar but I suggest bypass patients use 1/2 to 3/4 cup of heat stable Splenda. For another terrific jelled salad turn to page 46 of your Neighborhood Cookbook and try BamaGal's Tomato Aspic.

Molded Rhubarb Rosemary Cucumber Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb rhubarb, chopped into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• Zest of one lemon
• 3 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 Tbsp dry)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups water + 1 cup chilled water
• 3 (1/4 ounce) packets of plain gelatin
• 1-2 cucumbers, peeled, seeds scraped out, chopped

Method

1 Put half of the chopped rhubarb, lemon juice, lemon zest, rosemary, sugar, salt and 2 cups of water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Strain and discard solids.

2 Return strained liquid to pan. Add the remaining rhubarb to the pan and cook for 2 minutes, on medium, with minimal stirring.

3 Put 1 cup of chilled water into a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over the water to soften the gelatin. Let sit for 1 minute. Stir the softened gelatin mixture into the rhubarb rosemary mixture. Let the mixture cool until it is slightly warm, no longer hot, to the touch.

4 Pour rhubarb mixture into a mold (can use a loaf pan). Stir in the chopped cucumber. Chill in the refrigerator 4 to 5 hours, until set firm. The top should feel dry, not sticky. (If you want the cucumber better distributed through the salad, stir it in only after the salad has chilled a while and begun to set.)

5 To unmold, fill a basin or a large bowl with warm water. Lower the bottom of the mold into the water. Count 10 seconds and remove. Use a blunt knife to loosen the gelatin from the sides of the mold and break the vacuum. Place a plate upside down on top of the mold and then carefully turn the mold over, holding on to the plate. Gently lift off the mold. If the salad sticks to the mold, place it in the warm water for a few seconds more.

Keep chilled. Serves 6 to 8.

The LivingAfterWLS Library

It's me again with my weekly Tuesday update. I find it hard to believe Tuesday is here again so soon! For the past several days and nights I've been face to face with my design computer writing code to finish the new and improved LivingAfterWLS Library - a project that has been back burnered several times since January. I am bound and determined to get it finished this week. Entering the content is something I do myself because having written most of the content I know what exists and have it in my mind the "RIGHT" way to put it on pages. Each Library pages takes 20-30 minutes to build so you can just imagine how time consuming this is. Hence, my vanishing act here in the Neighborhood the last several days. I have missed everyone! Thank you for taking care of one another .

The new Library has 13 Categories each with 8-16 articles and links back to active conversations in the Neighborhood or other Library pages.

When you see this button look below it for article titles. As you roll the cursor over the titles they change color to indicate they are links. Give a click and your article will open under this title button:

One of our most read areas is "Emotional Journey of Massive Weight Loss" --- and this section is now complete. You'll find articles there about body dysmorphia, anger, sex and the infamous Girls Gone Wild article.

The categories are listed under this button: and you will see it on all category index pages and the article pages. Open any category to find the articles in that area.

And to link to relevant Neighborhood topics look for the links under this button:


And finally this button will lead you to some of our valued site sponsors.


I hope you find this new layout friendly and informative. I really love the look of our new website and am anxious to continue coding (did I really say that?) in order to get it all organized so we may make full use of all that LivingAfterWLS has to offer us. And remember - you can always link directly to the Library from the top toolbar here in the Neighborhood.

Fit Is IT Challenge

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a fine weekend and a lovely Mother’s Day. For us the day usually heralds spring but would you believe we woke up to snow this morning? I am reluctant to complain about our weather when so many other places are suffering terrible weather and unfortunate natural disaster. So I’ll simply put another log on the fire, count my blessings and send warm wishes to those affected by Mother Nature’s wrath.

Last week I did the 5 Day Pouch Test – it took me six days with a do-over of Day 2. But I finished the “Test” and again I am impressed with how tight my pouch feels and how truly easy it is to follow a regular eating plan. In the Neighborhood we refer to here on out as “Day 6” where we follow the Four Rules and comply with liquid restrictions and avoid slider foods.

One thing that is often forgotten in our 5 Day Pouch Test is the beauty and necessity of physical movement. Dare I say the “E” word? Exercise. For those who have been with me for a while, you know I don’t like protein shakes and I’m no fan of exercise. Turns out both are necessary in the long-term weight maintenance plan.

So I am bringing forward the “Fit Is It” challenge – something LivingAfterWLS introduced several years ago. The “Fit Is It” challenge, complete with downloadable chart requires 180 minutes of planned physical activity a week. Think about it! That is only 30 minutes of organized activity six days a week. You get a day of rest!

We have several helpful articles at LivingAfterWLS to help us start or maintain a fitness program as we do our best each day to make the most of this new life. Take a look:

24 Reasons to Exercise
Weight Loss Through Walking
Walking Program
Exercise Videos Rock
Keeping an Exercise Journal
Strength Training for Beginners

If you are looking for inspiration read these articles:

Going to Extremes
My First 5K by Kim

Happy moving Neighbors!

Fun Friday in the Neighborhood

Greetings Neighbors!

Happy Friday to you all! I hope you enjoyed a good week of treating your body well and living your best life after surgical weight loss.

Today is Fun Friday in the Neighborhood. That means a quiz game with fabulous prizes and better yet, a chance to get to know your Neighbors. This week I ask the question(s) - Five questions to answer with one-sentence each. Quick and easy yet oh-so revealing. Take a look here: Fun Friday May 9, 2008. Two winners will receive fabulous real-life prizes from me. And as always the charming and witty Marla is our Fun Friday hostess.

Just announced today: Memorial Day Recipe Contest! Our Director of Food & Nutrition, Celadon, announced today our first ever Memorial Day Recipe contest seeking great salad recipes from our Neighbors. Read the link above to learn more and enter to win fabulous prizes!

Have you ever wondered about the secrets of long-term weight loss surgery success? Our own Deb O, a pre-op no less, re-created a well-circulated article about WLS mistakes and turned it into a positive approach to living well this lifestyle. Read 10 Actions for Weight Loss Surgery Success and be inspired!

There is always something for everyone in our safe haven community. Stop by today and enjoy friendship and support only found in the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood.

Hot Topics
May Fitness from
Barbara S

Kaye's Own 5 Day Pouch Test

Six Week Summer Challenge: Week 2

New Recipes: Neighborhood Cookbook

CHEERS
Kaye