So while I was trying not to pass out at the gym this morning, Fox News was reporting how the Oregon State Board voted to cover bariatric surgery for citizens of Oregon. You can watch the story here. Honestly, I wasn't paying close attention, but what struck me was Dr. Sewell's opinion about the state paying for this service. He gives an example of a woman who said she wanted the surgery "to be skinny and eat whatever I want because that's my lifestyle" as an example of how patients need to take some personal responsibility. I bet he still let her self pay for the surgery and I bet he still performed it, knowing she was setting herself up for failure. I'm sorry but this is a bunch of bull. I'm sure there are people who get bariatric surgery thinking it's the magic wand that's going to fix all their problems but I don't think the majority of people are that way and for this doctor to say otherwise is insulting. And the reasoning behind his opinion is obvious. How many people whose insurance won't pay for it or who are just below the requirements for their insurance or state insurance or whatever end up scraping up the money or getting a loan to self pay? And I guarantee you Dr. Sewell makes more money off self pays than he does the insurance companies. So this doctor can prattle on all he wants about how "when government starts interfering with people's relationships with their doctors, their right to choose is taken away" (yes he actually said this) all he wants but for him, it comes down to how he can get paid more. What Oregon is trying to do is help people pay for it, not force people to get it. Now, whether or not taxpayer money should be spent to cover bariatric surgery for people is a topic for another day. Personally, I think it saves money over the long run but I'm biased. I was just really irritated that this doctor - who should know better than anyone how a surgery like this can change a life - got on television and used an idiot's reason to get surgery to put a few more bucks in his pocket. He's a disgrace.
Now that I'm stepping down off my soap box, I have a recipe to share. I made this last night and yes, it's a soup and yes, it's 105 degrees outside pretty much all over the country but it was yummy and maybe you'd like to try it in the Autumn. This makes 4 servings (made 6 for us and my daughter had seconds) and I served it with a small side salad. The picture below is close to what it looked like but mine was a bit more brothy and I used whole wheat noodles instead of the wide egg noodles. I'd also recommend for bandsters to cut the meat a little smaller than recommended (I got a little stuck on the bigger pieces).
Beef Goulash Soup
6 oz beef top sirloin steak
1 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 c water
1 14 oz can beef broth
1 14.5 oz can low sodium chopped/diced tomatoes - undrained
1 medium carrot (sliced)
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 clove minced garlic (I used garlic powder)
1 cup cabbage (thinly sliced)
1/2 c dried wide noodles (I used a little more than this)
2 tsp paprika
1/4 c light sour cream
Snipped parsley (optional)
Paprika (optional)
Trim fat from steak. Cut steak into 1/2 inch cubes. In large saucepan cook and stir steak cubes i hot oil over medium-high heat about 6 minutes or until beef is brown. Add onion; cook and stir about 3 minutes more or until tender.
Stir in the water, broth, undrained tomatoes, carrot, cocoa powder & garlic. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, unconvered, about 15 minutes or until beef is tender.
Stir in cabbage, uncooked noodles and the 2 tsp paprika. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 7 minutes more or until noodles are tender but still firm. Remove from heat. Top each serving with some of the sour cream. If desire, sprinkle with parsley and additional paprika.
Nutritional Info
Calories: 188
Protein: 14g
Fiber: 3b
Total Fate: 7 g
Sodium: 397 mg
Carb: 16g
Sugar: 6g
12 comments:
I get up at 5:30 and exercise and it works for me. If I don't do it first thing then I won't do it all for the rest of the day most of the time. But I find that if I exercise in the morning than I am more likely to be movtivated later in the day to exercise a second time.
I don't know if I could get myself up and to the gym before 4AM, you go girl!
My gym opens at 5 and I have seriously thought about trying it. But then sleep always wins out. As long as I go to the gym before going home I will be fine, once I hit the house after work your not getting me anywhere but the couch.
That soup looks so yummy! I will have to try it out when it starts getting colder!
That soup looks yummy...that doctor (if you can call him that) is an idiot.
Who the hell is that perky in the morning. I can barely function at 6...I would have died. I tried the morning workouts twice. Nope...not my thing. LOL
Good for you for getting your workout in...by any means necessary. LOL
Soup does look very good. And good for you for even trying the before work workout. There's no way I could do that. More power to you!
Definitely not an early bird! I get up semi early, but I don't really start functioning until almost 10, haha! Yeah some doctors are so hypocritical. Like you said, I'm sure he was more than willing to take her money!
The soup looks yummy! I eat soup almost every day for lunch even though it's over 100. It's easy to eat and I can get a lot of nutrition from it.
I try to get up at 6 to work out, it's pretty hit or miss. Most days here lately it's miss. I hate mornings, I want to sleep until the last possible second. If I could have someone do my makeup in my sleep, I would be in heaven!
That goulash looks super yummy!
I think it's great that you tried the early work out and I think it is equally great that you realize it wasn't for you and your not beating yourself up for it. So many people berate themselves about not dragging their ass to the gym at 4:00 AM like that's a reasonable thing for most people to do.
That surgeon sounds like a real winner! I live in Oregon.
Sorry that cut off - LOL. The criteria to qualify for bariatric surgery through the state health insurance for low income citizens is really strict. They must be diabetic (the normal co-morbidities like sleep apnea are not sufficient). They also cannot be smokers for at least six months post-op. Only RnY is covered.
I agree with you that it is probably cheaper in the long run for the state to cover WLS than to treat the other conditions associated with obesity. I personally think they should loosen up the requirements. And despite what that surgeon was saying, no one can have surgery and continue eating as before.
I am a dork. In the first comment I said "your" when I meant "you're". Duh.
Ugh - I soooo want to be a morning worker outer but I just can't do it. Good job for you though!
4?? A?? M?? That is for all intents and purposes the middle of the NIGHT!! High fives to YOU for doing it!!
That soup looks absolutely amazing!! Thanks for the recipe!
If I work out in the morning, I need to get up at 5:15 AM. I have mostly been working out at night because it is tough for me to get up before 6 AM. No way would I ever be able to be at a gym at 4 AM. That's just nuts.
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