Regular Food...

I went to the surgeon today for my 4 week check up a day early (tomorrow is actually the 4th week since surgery). I'm down 25 lbs since surgery (ok I wanted 50, but I'm greedy ) and he told me that since everything else was going so well, I could start progressing to REGULAR FOOD! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee.... I was sooo excited... but I'm not anxious to jump into "regular" food, just yet, I think I'm just happy knowing I had that option... This was 2 weeks earlier than I expected so he made my day! I still don't have much of an appetite, so eating is something I'm working at. I still eat a lot of low fat cheeses and tuna, shrimp, crab meat, etc... I also found a lite mango-orange applesauce sweetened with Splenda that I love, and I add protein powder to it to spruce it up! On my way home I stopped in at my office (it's a mile from my house) and was so excited by the hugs and compliments I got. I'm going back to work tomorrow, but I told my boss I was only staying till 2:30pm so I can "ease into it". (She kept insisting I should start out "light" so I took her advice!) Anyway, it felt good to be out of the house all day and to see all my friends at work. A lot of them were gone when I got there, so I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of them tomorrow. OH and a couple of you pointed out that I needed a picture where I was SMILING, so I took your advice and took a few pictures today. I did my best to smile!! I put one of the pictures in my profile and I asked OH to put it on the message board replies too (that will probably take a couple of days). For now you can see it on my profile and in the picture I'm wearing the earrings that I made with my swarovski crystal beads in my new "BEADING HOBBY TO REPLACE EATING!" Hugs, Vi P.S. I'll post from work tomorrow and say HI!!

Way to go Violet. Sounds like you are doing wonderful. I can't wait until I can try real food. My dr. still has me doing pureed foods until Nov 29, so I guess I can wait as food doesn't really interest me too much yet. Your mango applesauce sounds good. What brand is it? Getting in the protein is the worst for me. Your pics looks great. Congrats and have a great day at work! Tina

The applesauce brand is Musselman's. I got it at walmart in the little 6 packs with the 4 oz cups for $1.50 and I add a scoop of the beneprotein to it and stir it up real good till it dissolves (with the beneprotein, you need to let it sit for a couple of minutes so that it disappears, but I don't notice any taste and there are NO clumps which is nice). I think "mentally" just knowing I can have anything is making me happy, but I'm still kind of scared... I'm sure when the time is right I'll know huh? For now I'm sticking with the soft foods and just experimenting little by little. Thanks for the compliments! I had been feeling kind of down (damn hormones) and today really brought my mood back up! HUGS, Vi

DIDN'T YOU PREVIOUSLY POST THAT YOU COULD GET BENEPROTEIN AT WALGREENS? OURS DOESN'T STOCK IT. I GOT SOME SOY PROTEIN AT GNC ... IS THIS THE SAME KIND OF THING TO PUT IN FOOD????? THAT APPLESAUCE SOUND GOOD ... SOUNDS LIKE A NICE CHANGE ... GONNA PUT THAT ON MY GROCERY LIST. THANKS FOR THE INFO, MS VI!!! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi Dawn! I kept trying to reply to this post and it vanished or didn't go through! The boards have been tempermental ever since they started upgrading here! But I wanted you to know that I bought the BeneProtein on line at www.walgreens.com for $10.99 with free shipping: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100672&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod389511 I never tried the Soy protein from GNC, so I don't know how well it mixes with things like applesauce or soup, but I can tell you that the beneprotein mixes really well. You won't see it or taste it. They actually use it for patients with feeding tubes, they mix it in water and add it to the tube. I've heard that "AnyWhey" mixes really well too, if you can find that at your GNC though. I haven't tried it yet. Hugs, Vi

Hey Violet, that is great. We have lost about the same amount but I had surgery a week before you. How wonderful that you can eat normal food. That will make you feel better too. Are you worried about going back to work? I am still needing a nap in the afternoon. My surgery was open, if you had lap you probably feel better than me. Anyway, have a great day tomorrow. Hugs, Dawn

Hi Dawn, I wasn't really worried about going back because I feel good now and yes, mine was LAP which is probably why I'm ok. I was concerned that I would wear out easy or be overwhelmed from having to sit at a desk for 8 hours, so I think leaving at 2:30 eased that anxiety for me! Thanks for the support! Vi

Hey Vi, I am so glad you are doing great.. Good luck at work tomorrow. I get to start eating regular food tomorrow too. Kinda scary isnt it. We will see how that goes. Anyways congrats on the loss and you take care. Hugs Mary

Thanks Mary! Isn't it funny how we wanted it so bad and now it's scary? We'll do fine I'm sure! HUGS, Vi

Vi, I've been on real food for more than a week now, and to be honest, most days I just eat what I was already eating. Tuna (which all of a sudden I don't hate), baby shrimp, crab, salmon, chicken salad and saltines to go with them. Sometimes I feel like I'm turning into a cat. I tried Wendy's chili tonight for the first time and really liked it. I ate the whole thing, but since the only other thing I've had all day is 2 oz smoked salmon and 3 saltines, I'm still under 600 cals for the day. I figure I'll make a milk based protein shake before bed to bring my calories and protein up for the day. Besides, I need the 8 oz to finish up my liquid intake. I went to my support group tonight and was told I could try a small salad tomorrow. I'm soooo excited. I have been totally craving salad. I like your new pic, and the earrings look great on. You replaced your eating hobby with beading, and I seem to have replaced mine with exercise. I haven't had time to bead or read in weeks. I'm going through withdrawl. Tomorrow is Thursday and then I get three days off from exercise. I plan on reading every spare moment I get, plus I have that glass making class I told you about on Saturday. Good luck at work! Sheryl