Convention Attendance Tips

I've been to a lot of weight loss, health, fitness, nutrition conferences and conventions in my almost 10 years post weight loss surgery. I thought I would share my experiences and some tips to help you plan for and get the most out of the next one you attend.

Convention Attendance Tips

* Introduce yourself to as many people as you can. I just go up to a table or group and say "Hi, I'm Michelle." Trust me it will go well! Make a goal of meeting at least 10 new people. Find me. I want to meet everyone. This is the BEST PART of a convention for me... putting faces to names, meeting people who "get it" and are on the same road. The personal connections you make at these events are awesome and life-changing.

* Bring "business cards" with your contact info: email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram whatever you feel comfortable sharing. You will meet tons of people and you'll be constantly writing your info down or looking for a pen or paper. It's way easier. You can make your own using any word-processing software and some perforated paper, use a local company or check out an online service like Moo.com is where I get mine (and new customers usually get 10% off) You can put a current photo or your before and current picture or an inspirational quote. Exchanging cards with a photo also makes tagging people on Facebook with photos you've taken easier.

* Look over the agenda the night before and highlight the sessions you are planning on attending. There's not a whole lot of time between sessions, so you want to know where you are headed and this will give you more time to run to the restroom, chat with new pals, take a picture or two or grab a drink. Mark the vendors and exhibitors booths you absolutely don't want to miss. Build in a time to chill-out too.

Check out the Your Weight Matters National  Convention #YWM2016 Agenda 

* When you are in the sessions: take notes (web addresses to read more later) and snap pictures of slides that will help you recall those great tips and information you want to take home and apply. Stand up and ask questions.

* This is a chance to try something new. Break out of your comfort zone. You don't dance... dance at the evening mixer. Not a joiner... try a group fitness class. I wore my first dress in years at a convention. I always try at least one fitness class at Your Weight Matters events (there's always such a nice variety) I know I'm safe and in a place of respect and non-judgment. I can kick left when everyone is kicking right.

* If you are bringing a laptop or smartphone charge it at night in your room (plugs are not always available near your seat) and be sure to silence your settings. You don't want "Call Me Maybe" or the Biebster going off during a session.

* Tweet using the official convention hashtag. All social media savvy conventions will have one. Not only does it help the convention planners see what you are enjoying: "I'm loving Dr. X's session. Great tips! #YWM2016" or "Just tried a sample of  _____ at Booth #5 Delicious! #YWM2016" but it's also a great way to find friends and connect: "Heading to coffee shop. Anyone want to join me?" #YWM2016"

* Wear comfy shoes and comfy clothing. Hotel conference rooms are notoriously chilly (even in the middle of summer) so bring a light sweater if you are sensitive to that. It was 110 degrees in Phoenix, AZ outside but in the hotel my teeth were chattering. Trust me on this. Evening events... please don't stress about what to wear. Anything goes... some people dress up more and some are in the same clothes from the day's events. Wear what YOU feel comfortable in.

* I usually toss a healthy protein snack in my bag, nuts or protein bars are great (not too noisy or messy to eat.) I always have a bottle of water and travel packets of protein are great just in case the meal is not your cup of tea. Some conventions provide water (some have coffee and tea) ask the convention planners what will be available if that info is not available online.

Healthy Travel Tips

* Most conventions will give you a "swag bag" with goodies and information inside upon registration. Visit the vendors in the exhibition hall and score even more samples. Make another visit just before the exhibition hall closes. Most companies don't want to pay to ship product home so they are liberal with their samples an hour before closing up shop. Save a little room in your luggage to bring home your goodies or use the hotel business center to mail stuff home.

* Complete the post-conference survey. Take a few minutes to let the convention planners know about your experience, what you loved, what could have been better, the planners review those surveys so you can help mold and shape future events.

Upcoming events where I will be attending and/or speaking. Find me and say "Hi!"

Chocolate and Fruit Pita Pizzas

Here’s a quick and easy chocolate-y dessert with a healthy spin from fresh fruit toppings.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

4 (7-inch) Greek pitas

1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread

1 peach or nectarine, thinly sliced

3/4 cup sliced strawberries

1/3 cup blueberries

1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt

Recipe Directions:

Preheat your George Foreman Grill for 5 minutes with the lid closed. Place pitas on grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until grill marked and toasted.

Spread each with chocolate hazelnut spread. Arrange peaches, strawberries and blueberries on top as desired. Spoon yogurt into resealable bag; snip corner. Drizzle yogurt on top of fruit.

Tip: Use your favorite fresh fruit for this pizza; try bananas, kiwis or raspberries too.

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Yesterday's healthy and delicious menu...

Breakfast: Pan toasted a piece of my No Sugar Added Breakfast Apple Loaf in a pan, wrapped it in foil and took off to the Farmer's Market.

My Farmer's Market haul: strawberries, avocado, onions, apples, red walnuts, and gorgeous tomatoes... and mid morning I grabbed a Sugar Free Vanilla Soy Latte while running errands.

More Eggface Grab & Go Breakfast Ideas

Lunch: Those gorgeous tomatoes I picked up at the Farmer's Market become a Caprese Salad. I shared for lunch with my Mum. We ate on the patio and I tried not to look at the weeds that I need to pull.

Dinner: I had a bag of Riced Cauliflower that needed using and I initially was going to make my "Riceless" Fried Rice but I felt like Italian. It actually sort of turned out to be an all Italian Day.

Shelly's Cauliflower Deep Dish Pizza-ish Pie

1 (16 oz bag) Riced Cauliflower, cooked
2 Eggs, beaten
1 cup Italian Blend Shredded Cheese (Mozzarella, Parmesan, Asiago type mix)
1 teaspoon Oregano
dash Sea Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper

Sauce: tomato, alfredo, pesto (don't overkill or it'll become soggy)
Toppings: mini pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, crumbled sausage, sauteed mushrooms, sliced olives, sauteed onions and peppers, whatever you like on your pizza.

Saute the riced cauliflower for 8-10 minutes until it turns slightly golden, sprinkle in seasonings, stir and set aside to cool slightly. When cooled a bit add egg and shredded cheese. Spray a 12" x 9" metal baking sheet pan (one with an edge) with non-stick spray. Spread evenly in pan. Bake at 450 for 20-25 minutes (watch for golden edges) Top with sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler for a minute or so till cheese is melty and gooey.

More Eggface Healthy Italian Recipes

Snacks: The above mentioned Latte in my travels and this yummy coffee flavored, protein packed dessert. This is sooooo good... like the center of a cannoli meets a cup of coffee.

Shelly's Coffee Cannoli Dip with Strawberries

1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese
2-3 Tablespoons Chike High Protein Iced Coffee, to taste
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla)
Optional topping: Crumbled Protein Bar or Crushed Nuts

Mix till well combined. I sprinkled the top with crumbled protein bar. Dip strawberries or fruit skewers or eat as is.

More days in my pouch

If you follow me on Instagram I've got a chance to win a sample of Chike (among a few other goodies) in a little prize pack (runs till Wednesday) check it out.

Celebrate Earth Day - Recycle Projects WLS Style

Living a healthier lifestyle as a weight loss surgery post-op you probably have found you have suddenly acquired a few extra items in your recycle bin each month. I know I usually have a few plastic protein tubs and especially in the first year or so I had some used clothing that were not quite suitable for donation (ex. jeans with some thigh wear.)

Here's a couple of recycled crafts that make use of those items and help protect the environment and landfills at the same time.

You need: Protein Tubs (Fit Frappe Spiced Chai Protein Drink are my favorite tubs), Duct Tape (or contact paper or stickers), scissors
Uses: Storage for protein bars (how I use mine), pet treats, crayons, road trip toys, bird seed, Christmas bows, cotton balls, etc.

You need: Old Jeans (I loved the embroidery bottom of these), zipper, needle/thread or sewing machine. Coin Purse Instructions.

Italian Beef & Mozzarella Burgers

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground chuck
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 egg white
1 medium garlic clove
minced
¼ cup low-fat Italian salad
dressing
4 slices ciabatta bread
½-inch thick,
lightly toasted
4 lettuce leaves
1 ripe tomato
thinly sliced
4 slices part-skim
Mozzarella cheese
½ purple onion
thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine beef, Italian
seasoning, oregano, egg white and garlic;
shape into 4 patties.
2. Place the burgers in the preheated grill
and cook for 4 minutes or to desired
done
3. Drizzle the Italian salad dressing on the
ciabatta bread and top each with the
lettuce, tomato, cheese and onion.
4. Place the cooked hamburger patties on
top and serve.

Grilled Flatbread Pizza Duo

Prep Time: 20 minutes  I  Cook Time: 15 minutes  I Total Time: 35 minutes I Yield: 2 Pizzas 

---

Ingredients: 

• 1 (3/4 lb) store-bought pizza dough
• 4 tsp olive oil
  

Meat Lover's Pizza

• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup sautéed onions
• 2 oz prosciutto, torn into pieces
• Pinch hot pepper flakes

Veggie Lover's Pizza

• 1/4 cup prepared pesto sauce
• 1/2 cup smooth ricotta cheese
• 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup baby arugula
  

Directions: 

1. Preheat grill on setting #4. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each half into 12- x 6-inch rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Brush each piece of dough with 1 tsp of the olive oil; grill for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly grill-marked. Flip over and brush with remaining oil; grill for 5 to 7 minutes or until cooked through. 
2. Meat Lover’s Pizza: Spread tomato sauce over one flatbread crust; sprinkle with half of the cheese. Scatter onions and prosciutto over top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and hot pepper flakes. Grill, covered, for about 4 minutes or until cheese has melted.
3. Vegetarian Pizza: Spread pesto over top and drop spoonful's of ricotta over pesto. Scatter with tomatoes and top with arugula. Grill, covered, for about 4 minutes.
4. Cut each flat bread into strips and arrange on a serving platter.

Eggface Favorite Avocado Recipes

It was the annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival yesterday. Fallbrook, California (a town over from me) is the Avocado Capital of the World. They host a food festival celebrating the green fruit (yep it's a fruit, basically a large berry) each year. We never miss it. They have avocado ice cream, cookies, fudge, oil, hand cream, all made from avocados. They have them stuffed, deep fried, smeared on burgers, topping hot dogs, you name it they put avocado on it or in it. They even have jewelry and furniture made from avocado wood. A few years back I bought an avocado wood necklace I always wear on festival day. This year, I stuck to buying a bag of fresh avocados. Hard to pass up at these prices...

It was a gorgeous day and when we got home we spent some time on the patio enjoying it. I made a batch of guacamole and I served it with my Homemade Crunchy Cheese "Crackers."

Healthy Tips: Lighten up and protein pack your favorite guacamole recipe by mixing 1/2 Greek yogurt and 1/2 guacamole. Homemade Crunchy Cheese "Crackers" are great for dipper or more low carb dippers: cooked shrimp, cucumber slices, veggie sticks (bell pepper, celery, carrots, jicama)

Here's some more of my avocado favorites...

Guacamole and with homemade Crunchy Cheese "Crackers"
Shelly's Mexican Scrambled Egg Bowl
Shelly's Tuna Caprese Stuffed Avocado
Shelly's Caprese Salad with Avocado
Shelly's Turkey, Cheese & Avocado Melted Cold Cut Rollup
Shelly's Sriracha Almond Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado Melts
Shelly's Irish Avocado Dip
Shelly's Awesome Guacamole & Shrimp Cocktail

COUNTABLE OR UNCOUNTABLE?

VIDEOS

 

 Countable  or uncountable?Watch the video, listen and  learn about them.

 

    Some things you can  count , some things  you can't  count.

Grammar with granny: Countable  and  uncountable names

How many are there ?

Some  or  any?

How much  or how many?

GAMES

 Click on LEARN to REVIEW  and  then click on PRACTISE .

 Use the  arrows  and  choose the right word .

 -More  practise  with countable  and  uncountable  names

 -In this page you can practice the forms There is  and there are 

-for more practice

another  exercise

Write THERE IS  or THERE ARE 

A lot of activities to practice about countbales and uncountables

Two games to practise much  and many.

To review much, many , little, few....

 

A  little bit  more  difficult . 

-Choose the correct  words to write the  story of SIMON THE CAT. 

-On this page you've got  a  lot of  activities to practise about , countables, uncountables, much, many, few , little....

SONGS

 

How much , how many song

STORIES

listen to Mercer Mayer telling the story he wrote : THERE IS AN ALLIGATOR UNDER MY BED 

        - "There is  a nightmare in my closet" story

  

"Too many bananas" story.

Artichoke Stuffed Chicken

INGREDIENTS
14 ounce can artichoke hearts
packed in water, drained
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
1 large garlic clove
chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin
olive oil
4 boneless, skinless
chicken breasts
about 5 ounces, each
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. Place the artichoke hearts, lemon juice,
lemon zest, cheese, garlic and olive oil in a
food processor and process until blended.
2. Place the chicken on a clean cutting
surface. With the tip of a sharp knife, slit
each breast horizontally without cutting all
the way through to create a pocket.
3. Stuff ¼ of the stuffing into each chicken
breast and press the edges to close.
Fasten opening with toothpicks.
4. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
5. Place the chicken breasts on the
preheated grill. Cook for 6 minutes or
until chicken registers 180° F on meat
thermometer.
6. Remove toothpicks before serving.
Plates needed: Grilling Plates
Preheat temperature: Medium
Estimated cooking time: 6 minutes
servings 4

Parmesan Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a summer staple, dress yours up with this recipe on your George Foreman.

Prep: 10 minutes       Cook: 30 minutes      Servings: 6

Ingredients:

6 ears of corn

1 package (8 ounces) Parmesan cheese of your choice

2 tablespoons chili powder

4 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

In a small mixing bowl combine all ingredients except for the corn.  Stir until well mixed.  Take mix and spread evenly on to your ears of corn.  Place on your preheated George Foreman indoor outdoor grill.  Cook for 30 minutes or until tender, turning the cobs every 5-10 minutes.