Challenges so far?

For all us December folks, what are the biggest challenges you're facing right now?  It will be interesting to revisit this thread a month or so down the road to see how things have changed.

For me...

1)  learning how to take a sip instead of drink

2)  learning not to pick at food while cooking or putting it away.  I have been caught a few times taking a tiny bite of full food before putting it in the blender.  The fact that I chewed it until it was puree in my mouth (we're talking about a few mushrooms) and that it was allowable food still should not be an excuse to do this.  This is a bad habit I have to break.

3) learning to slow down my eating.  Even though I'm using a baby spoon and putting it down after every bite, I think I'm still picking it back up too soon.

4) not exercising enough because I'm feeling too lazy.

I agree with your 3.  Number 4 hasn't hit yet but I'm sure it will. 

Learning how to sip is really really tough for me.  

One other thing I am struggling with is patience with myself.  I can accept that other people are going through changes but I can't accept them with me.  Every little mistake I make is a major event when it really should be what it is, a mistake.  I am working very hard on being more patient and forgiving of myself.

Wow I feel like the same exact thing with all of yours...except the exercising thing, I am always wanting to go then when the time comes that i can go I dont want to! lol,  I tend to catch myself grazing and I need to stop now, I find when I make my 3 year olds lunch, I pick at what she is eating...so my new Years is going to start off right and not get myself into the habits i was in before surgery, I have come to far to mess this up and I noticed it has just started this last 10 days so I know it isnt to late..

I a having the WORST time not drinking with my meals or the 30 min b4 and after meals.  I suck at the timing of it all and I want to have a sip of something to help get the food down.

Taking sips instead of gulps of liquids.

And I still suck at exercising.  I have two kids and no time and I don't want to drag them along.


BUT...I will overcome.

This is totally me!!!

For me everything with the surgery has been great.  However, today I had my first reaction to eating.  I was eating tuna fish and got some dumpingesh symptoms.  I don't know if it is because I ate to fast, can't handle tuna yet or didn't chew well enough.  Heck, could have been all three.  I am going to wait until the start of week four before I try chicken or fish now.

Hey, great idea for a thread...

i am doing well in a lot of areas, but... 
a. have found myself about to lick a spoon which had mostly mayo (light) on it!  (yikes!?!)
b. have not been out walking as much as I like (snowstorms)
c. have only just recently gotten near my 1000 calories per day (but I am also just getting up to 75g of protein - all from food!)
d. worry a bit about how I will manage work while I track my food and my liquids... but I think my day is going to be "prepackaged" and maybe pre-entered (I use fitday).  Then I only need to take "out" whatever I do not accomplish.  Does anyone else use their PDA to remind them of their calcium and vitamins?

The sipping instead of drinking is a HUGE mindshift for me! I'm so used to quenching a thirst by putting away 16oz of liquids, so to sip 30cc over 15 minutes is still something I'm getting used to. But I've already learned that if I try to take in too much, I get burpy and uncomfortable, it is a great way to remind me to take a moment to get to know the new pouch.

I'm walking just around the house and feel like I am getting stronger, but I wonder how soon I should graduate to walks outside down the street or around the block? I've seen posts about people getting exhausted while they are out and I don't want to do that.

 I read a way to slow down the eating.  That is by using a timer to count down a minute or two between bites.  I haven't gotten an egg timer, but I do want to try this to slow myself down.  I'm waiting to exercise after I get a heads up from my doctor or the exercise physiologist.  I usually swim, but think they won't let me while I am healing from the surgery.

Hang in there and it will get better.

This was a very useful suggestion.  I have a 3-minute egg timer that would be helpful - I'll pull it out of the cupboard!  Thank you.