7/19 coming up on 4 weeks... how we doin?

Hi everybody. How are you all? I am doing great. I have lost 32 lbs. and am the amazing shrinking woman, LOL. But more than that... I am trying to get the hang of the construction of the new ME. It is very a very hard job! I am healing really well. And I feel that the pre-surgery, the surgery phase, and the post-op up to about 3 weeks is pretty much just the healing and shock to the systems of the surgery and changes.... but NOW THE WORK BEGINS!! I am in the struggle of my life to get fluids in, protein in, sleep, bathroom, Oh my gosh, I have never been so involved in a day with all of ME... there is no time for anything else. My schedule is like a newborn infant. I am up at 5:30 a.m. - breakfast by 6 am - with vitamin & calcium, then off to the gym - waiting 1 hr since eating breakfast and start drinking at the gym - home from the gym - shower/dress - stop drinking by 11:30 a.m. to have lunch at 12:30 p.m. takes 45 min to eat 2-3 oz of lunch - then wait 1 hour and starting liquids again...I stop drinking at 4:30 p.m. so I can prepare and have dinner at 5:30 p.m. because it takes me the better part of an hour to eat dinner. Then wait another hour and drink again from 7:30 until bedtime 10 p.m. I have the second round of vitamins with dinner and an Omega 3-6-9 capsule with the water phase in the afternoon. My meals consist of chicken or turkey or fish or egg, creamed spinach or 1/3 of a small yam and jello or protein pudding for dessert with 1 tsp of sugarfree coolwhip. I have a smoothie as a meal and usually have some form of liquid protein during the drinking phase to try to get the protein grams up for the day. I don't know about anybody else but I am supposed to be going for a goal of 65-70 gr of protein a day and 64-74 fl oz of liquid a day. I average now about 60 for protein and 55-58 for liquids. There are not enough hours in the day!! Anybody else having this same stuff? Miss chatting with you July babies.... come on, peeps, whatzup? ShelleyAnne

Good for you, ShelleyAnne. I'm doing well, down 29 pounds, hoping for 30 by tomorrow. I'm definitely exceeding my fluid intake, but I've been struggling a little bit in protein land. Sometimes I just don't feel like drinking my shooters, however, I do eat alot more regular foods that have protein in them. I get up at 5:30, get ready for work and take a spoonful of calcium, a flintstone vitamin, and two of my psych meds. I drink Tropicana SugarFree Lemonade all morning (plus Sugar Free Popsicles & Fudgesicles, it counts as liquid) and around noon I take another Flintstone & my B12 and more calcium (if I remember). I usually eat yogurt for breakfast. I'm not a huge fan of cream of wheat or grits. I can't cook eggs at work. I eat a lot of crab, tuna, turkey, and chicken in a can. Mashed potatoes, green beans, and cheese for my sides. Sleeping is not very good, but it never has been. I feel pretty good for the most part, I just have 2 day really good days and then 1 bad day. Glad to see you are doing good! Amber

I feel the same way! It is so, so hard to get everything in, work, and deal with my two little ones. There is just not enough time in the day. I am eating a lot of salmon, tilapia, and chicken. I don't do the supplements (except for Profect during the week, and I have to force them down) because I can't stand the aftertaste. For me it is VERY hard not to chug my drinks. I get thirsty sometimes (which I know is not good practice, but I really can't take my water absolutely everywhere!), and drink too fast. Bad me! Right now, I am trying not to be so hard on myself. The first month or so is about learning, IMO. Our bodies have changed completely, and it'll take some time to get used to those changes. Take care, Sarah