Goals are SO important! In every stage of life – personal, fitness, eating, business. Without them, we’re just flying by the seat of our pants. And for someone who lives with food addiction and has […]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the following in the WLS community.
“I’m not an addict!”
Or
“Addiction is for drugs or alcohol!”

Here’s the thing, folks.
You did not get to your pre-surgery weight by NOT […]

When I decided that I was going to go 30 days with “no junk” I honestly never imagined the response I would get! I know that regain is a HUGE issue in the WLS community. […]

One of the things I love the most about Facebook is the “On This Day” app. Have you seen it? It takes you back through years of Facebook that you’ve done on your page. I […]

It was five years ago today that I had my Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) surgery for weight loss. When I went in that morning I weighed 285 lbs. I was 35 lbs. down from my […]

Weight loss surgery has become the norm, these days, with hundreds of thousands of obese men and women going under the knife to undergo one of the most significant medical moments of their life. Doctors […]

I should have stopped at one …
How many times have we said THIS in our lives.
Not just after surgery, but before as well.

Last night … I had a bit of a binge.
It wasn’t a HUGE […]

Hello, my name is Jennifer and I am a DIET ADDICT.
There. I said it. I am as, if not more, addicted to dieting than I am to food.
I am always looking for the “next best […]

By Jennifer

Oh my WORD my world is changing right and left!
So many good things are happening, but good things bring change and shifts.
So, here’s what’s going on …
We’ve (my family and I) have moved.
It’s only […]

Are you getting enough vitamins in?
Did you know that most of us don’t?
WLS patients tend to forget their vitamins after a while, and some stop taking them altogether!

What is the recommended dose? 

1-2 […]

This month’s challenge is a toughie for a lot of us.
Let’s face it – we didn’t get to the point of needing WLS by practicing self-care.
One of my favorite quotes comes from motivational speaker Eleanor […]

There’s a huge movement going on right now in the world, and that’s the “Body-Positive” or “Body Acceptance” movement. One of the things that people first think about with this movement is that it’s a […]

We took the guess work out of Zoodles!!

Zoodles (zucchini noodles) are a huge trend in the low-carb, ketogenic, paleo, and gluten free lifestyles. They’re all over Pinerest and Facebook and there are all kinds of […]

Welcome 2017!
We love the new year – it brings about feelings of hope and change.
We are kicking the year off with our second challenge (our first one was Facebook-only)!
For the month of January, our challenge […]

We are so excited to announce the launch of our new Mini E-Cookbook Collection!
Three cookbooks specially designed for Bariatric Patients  with a lot of fun and variety to keep you from getting burned out and […]

After the first six months of bariatric surgery, there is something in our body mechanisms that changes. Our weight loss slows down, some of us reach our goal weight (or are getting very close to), […]

We made pancakes!
Check out our video cooking up these babies here!

Sue’s More Traditional Pancake Recipe
1 C almond flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 T no-calorie sweetener (we used Splenda)
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 C pecans
2 T coconut […]

Pancakes are back! We have two bariatric-friendly versions to satiate that craving!

Check our our latest video here!
And HERE’S THE RECIPE!
Slap Yo’ Mama Nana Puddin’
(Our version of Paula Deen’s Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding)
4 servings
2 sugar free vanilla pudding cups (any brand works)
1/2 C softened cream cheese
1 […]

After the first six months of bariatric surgery, there is something in our body mechanisms that changes. Our weight loss slows down, some of us reach our goal weight (or are getting very close to), […]

After the first six months of bariatric surgery, there is something in our body mechanisms that changes. Our weight loss slows down, some of us reach our goal weight (or are getting very close to), […]

If you ask anyone in the bariatric community, there’s a good chance that you will get a handful of different responses when it comes to the “rules” they were told to follow prior to surgery. […]

After the first six months of bariatric surgery, there is something in our body mechanisms that changes. Our weight loss slows down, some of us reach our goal weight (or are getting very close to), […]

After the first six months of bariatric surgery, there is something in our body mechanisms that changes. Our weight loss slows down, some of us reach our goal weight (or are getting very close to), […]

It’s no secret that I’ve spent YEARS being obsessed with diets and dieting, always searching for the “next best thing” that will get me “thin” once and for all. For such a long time it […]

By Jen

It’s been four years since my VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy).
FOUR YEARS. Woah.
I’ll never forget the day of my surgery. My friend (well … my friend NOW, then she was a stranger LOL!) put these […]

By Jen:

**WARNING** This post is a controversial subject in the WLS Community. Please keep your comments resectful.

I am not a doctor or nutritionist, all the information given here has come from my own personal research […]

By Suzette

Recently I have joined a couple of Facebook Groups that cater to WLS surgery patients.  One in particular is a very positive page and I enjoy just reading the post.  Occasionally I see new […]

One question I see all the time, forum after forum, group after group is the question, “What can I eat after bariatric surgery?”

And, boy, do I wish that was a simple answer.

Sadly, the answer is […]

Sometimes it helps us to look backwards, in order to look forward.
Looking at where we once were and coming to terms with that can help us to realize how far we’ve come in our journey.
This […]

(Photo Credit JackieJean Photography 2015, All Rights Reserved)
Recently I have joined a couple of Facebook Groups that cater to WLS surgery patients. One in particular is a very positive page and I enjoy just reading the […]

By Jen:

Addiction is a funny thing, it is.
Sometimes it makes you want more.
Sometimes it makes you want to throw things out the window and scream.
And sometimes … Sometimes it hides away in the folds […]

Welcome to our new blog series, “Life after WLS”! We are happy to have you here! This series is going to focus on what life is like after bariatric surgery, from the time you come […]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple to the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought […]

By: Jen

One of the things I’ve been reflecting on in the light of the new year is the sheer lack of “work” I’ve done on this blog or on 7 Bites in general. I’m sure […]

Welcome to Wordful Wednesday! Our brand new weekly series! Each week we’ll discuss hot topics in the Bariatric community and beyond!
Got a topic you’d like us to discuss? Leave us a comment or send us […]

*Disclaimer: This post contains links to other sites. These are sites that I frequent personally so I can vouch for their safety. Please note that I am not getting ANY compensation for any of the brands or locations […]

Cheese has become one of the most prominent Bariatric staples. This episode, we show you some neat tricks to do with it to keep things fresh and interesting. As a bonus, BOTH recipes are completely […]

By Jennifer

“Clean your plate!”
How many times did you hear that as a child?
Or this, “You’re not getting any desert until you eat everything!”
How many kids are being made to feel like that have to eat […]

We are currently looking for stories to share!
Have you had a success with your WLS? Would you like to tell your story in an upcoming blog post or on our newsletter?
We’d love to hear from […]

It’s getting colder outside, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop grilling! This week Jen and Sue show you some of their favorite ways to get their grill on and stay nice and warm […]

By Jennifer

Staring at this computer screen, listening to Matt Redman serenade me with 10,000 Reasons, my heart is so full. I am so very blessed.

I have a story to tell.
A few weeks ago, well actually […]

Bariatric-Friendly salads are the way to go to get both your protein and your veggies! Check out Jen’s version of Pinterest-Favorite salad-in-a-jar and Sue’s jazzed-up Tuna Salad! Recipes up tomorrow!

By Jennifer

When I was younger, I didn’t cook with my mom the way I did when I was older. Rather, I cooked with my Dad! My mom was working her own business, and would often […]

Season 4 is back in swing! This episode we show you how to make the perfect won-ton cup – a staple in many bariatric kitchens. How do you fill your cups? Be sure to leave […]

By Suzette

After having a conversation with my son, who is not a bariatric patient, I realized that stalls are the bane of the bariatric patients existence.

Well, at least they make us feel like we are […]

This dish is not only delicious, it’s also healthy, protein-rich, and pretty simple to make! Zucchini is a staple in many bariatric and low-carb eating plans, and meatballs are always a great way to get […]

I am not who I think I am.
I am not my fat.
I am not my flaws.
I am not everything that is wrong with me.
I am not my surgery.
I am not my weight loss.
I am not […]

Wow, it’s been so much fun doing 7 Bites! We love what we do and we love all of you!

We have some exciting new changes coming up to the format of the blog and to […]

By Jennifer

I never intended for this to be a two-parter, as you could probably guess from my first post. But I had an experience last week that led to the realization that I still have […]

By: Suzette
When I began my WLS journey it was to lose weight I had been carrying around for 40 years. It was to get of unwanted meds and to be able to exercise or just […]

By Jennifer

As a work at home mom, I have a lot on my plate. Trying to homeschool my kids, keep the house clean, and run two businesses all while not losing my sanity is hard […]

By Jen

This morning I was thinking about the last support group meeting I attended.
We were thrilled beyond measure that our surgeon, Dr. V., joined the group.
It was amazing to just sit and talk with him […]

Last week I had the immense pleasure of joining Brett Fairall of Paleo Update on his podcast.

Weight loss surgery is a TOOL, and when you misuse your tool, you will not be successful. This was […]

You asked, and we delivered!
Our first cookbook!!

Available for pre-order on Amazon.com for Kindle!

Print version available July 1st.

Nook and iBook editions coming soon!!

By Suzette
I know I had the discussion with my surgeon before my surgery as to what my healthy weight needed to be.  He gave me the numbers and that became my goal.  First to drop […]

By Suzette
This is a phrase we use with the granddaughter when she was just beginning to walk and get into everything.  I applies to our lifestyles just like it worked for the baby.
Right after having […]

Some days we look at ourselves in the mirror and ask why we started all of it to begin with.

We stare down at the scale that hasn’t moved in a week or two (or more) […]

Have you ever felt like you don’t know what your purpose in life is? Do you ever look at others and compare yourself to them? I want to encourage you today to know that you […]

By Jennifer

When I had bariatric surgery, it was strictly to save my life. I was in bad shape – at close to 300 lbs with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and sleep apnea (to […]

Spring is here! The weather is getting warmer, the birds are singing in the trees, and the rains are a-fallin’! 
When Jen was a little girl, we lived next to an amazing Vietnamese couple. The woman […]

By Suzette
Today I have been thinking about the many ways we WLS survivors have of getting into trouble and begin gaining weight.   Yes, I am at goal now but after my first surgery (lap-band) I […]

I have been reading a book by Tennie McCarty called “Shades of Hope: How To Treat Your Addiction To Food. This is, hands down, the most important book I’ve ever read (except for the Bible). […]

It’s Fearless Friday, Friends!
Today I CHALLENGE YOU to do something BOLD.
I CHALLENGE YOU to do something OUT OF THE ORDINARY!
I CHALLENGE YOU to try something NEW and OUT OF THE BOX!
Step outside your comfort zone […]

We hope you found this pictorial helpful!
What do you fill YOUR won ton with? Visit our Facebook Group or shoot us an email at SevenBitesShow@gmail.com and let us know!

By Suzette
Many times we get caught up in social media sites that have recipes for every kind of food that a bariatric patient can eat.  Some are very insightful, and some recipes are barely acceptable. […]

Fajitas are a favorite. We took it and changed it slightly to turn it into a refreshing, fresh salad! Don’t like it cold? Feel free to heat it up!

This is a no-cook meal that is so simple and easy ANYONE can do it. Check your produce department for pre-sliced veggies to make it even simpler!

1 bag frozen pre-seasoned chicken strips, thawed
2 bell peppers […]

This recipe is for the adventurous, but is really rich and deeply chocolatey! This is also a great one for those that are clean-eating or paleo (substitutions for these lifestyles are offered in the ingredients […]

If you are someone that doesn’t care for or can’t have chocolate, this is the lime version of our ricotta cream. If you prefer, you can substitute the lime for lemon, orange, or another citrus […]

This is such a quick and easy recipe. If you have a food processor, it turns out unbelievable silky and smooth. If you don’t, then let the ricotta and cream cheese come to room temperature […]

Filo cups are a bariatric dessert lovers dream. We can indulge slightly without the heavy feel of pie dough or cake on our tiny tummies! It’s okay to indulge during the holidays!

Heat oven to […]

I developed this recipe for people who do not cook so that they would have a simple put together recipe for thanksgiving. There are lots of options with this and because it is so […]

Because Jen’s Dad, brother, and daughter are all hunters, we always end up with enough venison to last almost a full year by the end of deer hunting season. Paired up with savory winter veggies […]

This is less a recipe and more some ideas. Bento-Box lunches are all the rage now, especially among the bariatric community. These are some ideas that we’ve had and that we’ve seen other people do. […]

Okay, okay … so this isn’t REALLY a recipe. But, like Donkey says, “Everybody loves a parfait!”

Ingredients:

1 container pudding
1/4 C whipped cream
nuts, fruits, or other mix-ins of choice

Layer a spoonful of pudding into the bottom […]

These sound way more intimidating than they actually are. They’re super simple, and the whipped cream is completely optional (although … why would you NOT want whipped cream, hmmm?). This is a crowd-pleaser and a […]

Roll-Ups are a great way to sneak in extra goodness like veggies or cheese. They’re compact, fun, and easy to portion out. This lovely package of deliciousness is also simple to pre-assemble then freeze to […]

Once upon a time, there was a girl that loved pizza. So much so that she could eat half a large pie in one sitting. Then, she had WLS and couldn’t eat that pizza anymore. […]

For many of us, pizza is one thing that is missed above many other foods. But it doesn’t have to be! We’ve found three ways to make pizza in smaller portions, using bariatric-friendly ingredients.
[…]

These delicious little nuggets of peachy joy are so worth the time and effort. Peach butter may be hard to find in your area. If that’s the case, you can substitute apple butter or peach […]

Best. Soup. Ever. Period.

8 medium potatoes about 2 – 2 ½ pounds
2 leeks – cut into pieces
1- 12-16 ounce package of smoked bacon
1 (2 cups ) pint whole cream
1- 32 ounce box […]

One of the first foods we are able to eat when we make the transition into soft foods is the scrambled egg. Many people make their eggs too dry and overcooked for the typical bariatric […]

Boiled shrimp is a staple in many, many bariatric kitchens. Not only do they make a great quick, high-protein snack in a go, but they’re great to have on hand to toss into a […]

This dish can be modified to fit vegetarian diets just by omitting the bacon. For those of you on the soft foods phase, omit the bacon and cook the halved squash for about 10 minutes […]

This is a favorite from our local Mexican restaurant. The owner was kind enough to give us the recipe. We modified it slightly to make it more bariatric friendly. We have two versions here – […]

This is delicious, healthy, warming, slightly spicy, and full of flavor!

1 small chicken, boiled or roasted, skin removed, and shredded
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 can green chilis
1 can green chili enchilada […]

1/2 C Unflavored Protein Powder + 1/2 C Sugar Substitute (OR 1/2 C Vanilla Protein Powder + 1/4 C Sugar Substitute)
1/2 C Gluten Free Baking Mix
1 C ground almond meal
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 […]

Protein drinks and smoothies don’t have to be scary! In this version, Sue gives it a blueberry pie flavor using real blueberries and ups the protein by adding Greek yogurt. This is a thicker shake […]

Protein drinks don’t have to be scary anymore! Jen adds peaches to this one. Using the vanilla chai flavored powder gives the mix a little bit of a peach cobbler flavor. If using plain vanilla […]

This is such a delicious and refreshing beverage and perfect for a hot summer’s day. You can either make a blackberry puree or a blackberry syrup depending on your taste.

Make 2 quarts of […]

Jen’s daughter Emily is a “Chicken-Arm” conoisseur! She’s also a budding cook and loves to come up with her own flavor combinations and recipes. This is one of her favorites and she uses it on […]

So Jennifer has this friend that swears that the proper accompaniment for cinnamon ice cream is pickles. We’re not sure about that, but the peaches sure to well with it! The combination of the warm […]