The Braces Diet

I think I've discovered a new bullet-proof weight-loss technique.  It's called Braces.  Not only are your teeth too sore to eat anything but oatmeal and yogurt (and you have to eat super slow to relearn eating carefully), you also lose your self-confidence and you want everything else to be going for you.

I'm not sure I can stay committed.  I do realize they are already on (p.s. I got braces yesterday), but I'm wavering.  I thought I wanted to straighten my "premenopausal teeth" (teeth that start to move towards the front of your mouth as you approach menopause).  No, I'm not proud to talk about it, but I have noticed my previous braces (near-)perfect mouth getting more and more crooked.

I bought another complete braces package this past fall at our church's annual dinner and silent auction, and it included any kind of braces, but I thought I was being honest with myself when I turned down the Invisalign.  But now.. I'm really regretting not choosing something I could take out.  I mean, you could keep eating, and brush with no obstruction!  You could brush without catching your bristles.  I had totally forgotten what braces were like, and I have a new appreciation (also for Mary Claire who still has them).

yes, so no jokes.  I do feel like I'm in pain.

I also think one of my front brackets is on crooked.  They use this new technique (Mary Claire didn't even use it when she got braces last June!).  They mount the brackets on the models of your teeth, then dip them in rubber trays.  Then the trays are pulled off, and they contain your brackets.  After your super dry teeth are cleaned and prepared, they put on the trays with your brackets, activate the glue with the blue light, pull off the rubber trays, and voila!  Braces.  Except my tray was crooked, and I think the bracket is crooked.  Boohoo.


I also had this problem where my upper canine teeth were bumping into my bottom brackets, so they built up my middle molars with this blue stuff.  Now my back molars don't touch, so I can't chew very well.  I'm kinda gumming stuff.  I had some banana bread from Arsaga's at the library, and I'll just wait till dinner.  It hardly seems worth the effort.

(See that top left front tooth bracket?  Doesn't it look like it's on crooked?)  I know it's creepy-just scroll down, and say a prayer for me. ; )

Ok, I'm going to quit whining, and see if I can add more pictures for you! : )  I think it's been over 24 hours since I bought more memory... Hooray, it worked! : )

My sweet webelo (notice the hair cut??)

There was a contest for the best table decor-didn't our troop do a great job? (I was no help!)  They had the path the boys have taken, and they are all "driving" their pinewood derby cars!

Here's Clay and his yellow Corvette!

The boys loved reading all the road signs and seeing each other.

A group picture with Grant DuCote, their fearless leader : )  Notice Clay is still in navy?  I didn't know they could bump up to the khaki till Saturday!  Ches said he thought it made my life easier to not buy a new shirt and put on all new patches, umm..I like khaki better! : )

Ethan didn't want to let go of his big brother.  He wants to be a boy scout too.

Ok, now for the scruptious-worth-five-extra-pounds-if-you-eat-them cookies:  Doubletree's (as in the hotel) Cookies.  These are what you get warm when you check-in and each evening thereafter.  (Yes, I'm an expert at cookies) (and hot donuts).  I'll give you the recipe in a moment..let me give you some advice.  Mine started spreading like crazy on a pan (you use 1/4 cup scoopfuls-and only about 7 or 8 fit on a cookie sheet) and looked like eggs! (big lumps in the middle, thin all the way around)  So, I pulled them out, sprayed two muffin tins with Pam, and then baked.  Much Better.  You could also refrigerate the dough till chilled, then try to bake on a cookie sheet.  I remember them as looking like they had been cut with a biscuit cutter (with sides), so I preferred the muffin tins.  I'd also use half as much batter per cookie and cut the baking time-these are huge! : )

Is your mouth watering? (I mean, if you don't have braces?)

Doubletree Hotel's Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used half wheat, half white)

1 cup old-fashioned (rolled) oats, uncooked

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup butter (I used half butter, half margarine)

3/4 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon lemon juice

12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups walnuts (you can chop them if you like smaller chunks, but they are super-yummy to bite into if you don't!)

1. Preheat oven to 375°F .
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. With an electric mixer, cream butter in large bowl. Add both sugars and beat on medium for 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir in flour mixture, mixing well. Add chocolate chips and nuts and stir until just combined.
4. (Here is where I'd refrigerate the dough :covered: overnight or use a muffin tin.) 
5. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls on non-stick baking pans, 2 to 3 inches apart. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool; transfer to wire racks and cool completely. Store in tightly sealed container. 
6. Let me know how absolutely indulgent they are! : ) (and they kinda tasted like Chili's Paradise Pie cookie/brownie if you added some coconut!)

I've covered my brackets in wax, I'm trying not to eat often (cause then I have to brush again, and rewax), but I'm trying to focus on the positive-the possible calories I'm missing out on.  Do you need some of the baked cookies?  :o)