What's on your Saturday men RNYers?

I hear you on the Mom thing. I could never disconnect from the phone when DS was growing up and home. Even now he's away and it's still hard. I always have my watch on and phone near by.

I didn't have my "home spa" night like I originally planned last night on accountnof company coming instead, but you've inspired me to definitely make time tomorrow! Nails haven't been done in months because of the garden :(

Mornin' Weekenders!

Janet - your last couple of days sound AWFUL. Especially seeing someone get killed - that would haunt me for a long time, I think. I don't even know what to say....you've had it really rough lately....

not sure what's going on today, but I need to do something productive. I felt like I just laid around most of the day yesterday. I can justify it by saying I'm still recuperating from surgery, but still - there are some productive things I could be doing!! For one thing, I'm going to plan out the upcoming week. I need to do something most days, even if it's just for an hour or two, or I will go nuts. I think I'll start doing that every weekend - finding out what's going on in town as well as what needs to be done around the house (and what exercise classes are going on once I'm cleared for exercise) and make some sort of schedule for the upcoming week.

tomorrow I leave for Chicago since I have my second post-op with the plastic surgeon Monday morning. Things are starting to look noticeably better. I think it's going to look great once all the swelling is gone. DH usually goes with me, but with rain storms predicted for Sunday and Monday (our city is at risk for flooding right now) and our cat who's recovering from surgery, he'll probably stay home. I asked my mother if she wanted to go instead, and she's all excited about it. I'd rather go with DH, but I do think it's better if he stays here this time, and Mom is so excited about going that I'd feel terrible telling her I don't need her to go anymore. So - she'll be going...

QOTD: I seem to be on my laptop or tablet ALL THE TIME. It bothers me how much time I spend online. I've thought about taking breaks from it, but I rarely do. A media blackout for a couple of days (or more) would probably do me a world of good! The phone is another story. I HATE phones. I always have mine with me, but I often have the sound muted so I can't hear it ring and ding all the time ("ding" when emails or other notifications come in). UGH! I do check it every once in awhile, though, so I don't miss calls. And it's invaluable when I'm waiting at a bus stop or at a doctor's office (because...then I can be online!!). I really need to do this media blackout thing - sheesh!

3 years 2 months out:

B: homemade Greek yogurt, homemade blueberry sauce

MS: coffee with half & half, Miralax/protein shake

L: pimento cheese and crackers

AS: protein shake or protein pudding

D: either pulled pork or 1/2 of one of those Birdseye veggie noodle entrees ("noodles" are made with lentils and zucchini) with three turkey meatballs

Good morning all.

Its hump day for the liquid diet today. I don't know if this is a coincidence but since I've started the liquids I am only sleeping 5 or 6 hours a night. Ordinarily, I wouldn't mind but it just makes this week before surgery longer.

QOTD: My cell is my work cell so anytime I pick it up I will check my work emails. I try and do that only once a day on the weekends

Breakfast Atkins Shake

Snack Atkins Shake

Lunch Atkins Shake

Snack Atkins Shake

Dinner Atkins Shake

I sleep much less since bariatric surgery. I am probably also peri menopausal so IDK. I think it has to do with hormones and metabolism. I can't sleep in at all. I get up at 4:30 or earlier most mornings even if I don't go to bed until 11 or later. I do try to rest when my 3 year old naps if I can but that isn't always possible and I can rarely actually sleep mid day and if I do, it makes my sleep cycle worse the following night. You are almost to your surgery. How exciting!

Oh my gosh, what a rough couple of days...and you were dealing with a lot of stress before this too. Please keep an eye on yourself and ask for help if you need it; the cumulative impact of trauma can sneak up before you realize. Glad you were able to get in a work out too!!

QOTD - I am so connected all the time; I do try to do a sunday with no technology periodically. I used to used my vacation for that and only connect once a day in the hotel room but these days it's harder because you need the phone for e-tix, for maps, for finding public transit - and that's all fabulous but makes it harder to disconnect. I am very good about not being on phone or internet when I am with people; it's so hard to find time to get together, I refuse to let virtual world distract me!

Yesterday I made a cheese crust (motz, cheddar, parm, egg) pizza and it was really good -- very filling and a nice treat that I'll be eating today and tomorrow too! It's a little high cal/higher in fat but over 4 servings it can be balanced. I also tried "hmm, I like premiere in my coffee but it would be easier if I mixed protein powder when I travel"....that didn't work so well, way too clumpy. Not sure if I could make it work if I used less powder (like .25 scoop vs the .5 I used). Does anyone put the powder in their coffee vs RTD?

My saturday is going to be low key, I have to finish the book I'm reading before I travel tomorrow (I don't like carrying physical books); need to pack and I'm trying out a new backpack so it will take longer than usual and need to do a bit of cleaning so I don't come home and get cranky because the house is so messy, lol.

B - premiere + coffee; cold brew + 1 c fairlife

L - cheese crust pizza slice

D - 2 oz deli curry chicken breast

S - Light and Fit greek (if needed)

590 calories, 69 protein, 22 carbs

Have a fantastic saturday

Hey Jen,

I love protein powder, especially Syntrax Cappuccino & Isopure Cookies & Cream with iced coffee, but powder doesn't work with hot drinks as far as I know. I've heard that the protein structure changes with the heat and then clumps up. I guess that the Premier, etc, RTD shakes put something in them so they can be added to hot beverages. Just what I know.

Thank you!! I'll stick to powders for iced coffee (which actually hadn't crossed my mind so that's exciting!).

I love to make a Cap shake with cold brew. It tastes like such a treat plus it's good for me!

I want to start by saying that my heart goes out to you and the incredibly difficult time you have had lately. Just reading what the past few days alone have put you through I don't know what to say. I would find it incredibly traumatic. I hope you have someone to support YOU if you need to talk about what you saw, etc. You sound like a very strong person but please know that many (most?) of us don't see it as whining.

QOTD: A part of me wishes I could go off grid but I have teens and I co parent with my ex so I have my phone glued to my side at all times. There are many times the school will call during his parenting time because he does not carry his phone with him (pet peeve of mine). I find it very irresponsible and unreliable (in my situation) and it causes me a lot of stress and anxiety about the safety of my kids. However, I have had to take social media fasts. I don't completely unplug but I might deactivate my account (so I don't just mindlessly log on), unfollow certain people if they are wearing on my nerves or whatever. A lot of times it is me, not them but sometimes it is them. Not that it matters. I know there is ample evidence to support unplugging as beneficial. I used to garden and go out more but I have found myself online more with the health issues this past year and before that before my 3 year old was born premature and I was on hospital bedrest, I would have probably had a breakdown if I hadn't found online support both then and in the years following through the NICU, feeding tubes for FTT, etc. and then this entire bariatric journey (which I naively thought would be a bariatric event has shown itself to be a bariatric process that does not end - EVER, lol) It is such a hard question to answer. I keep up with extended family, friends, community events and do research. It is hard to think back to before I found the internet in 1998 (gasp - so long ago, lol)

My 3 yr old took my notebook that I was using as my food journal and squirreled it away somewhere. I am a little irritated at that but she is just being her age. I was hoping to take it to the NUT once I get an appointment to show my progress and adaptations.

I wake up before 5 and take my omeprazole and putz around, starting coffee and hydration/protein. This lasts until after 11 pm. I eat about every 3 hours to avoid getting sick. In between eating tiny protein based meals and protein shakes, vitamins, etc. I sip water, G2 or Powerade 0 or broth. Small protein meal is never more than 4 ounces. I measure.

I am continuing to stick to my routine of

B1 protein shake/half decaf/bariatric vitamins

B2 small protein meal (usually an egg cooked in coconut oil with melted cheese, sometimes canned hash with it). If I am in a hurry or get behind I will have 2 T PB with half thinly sliced banana and a few saltines

L1protein shake in Blendtec with avocado/bariatric vitamins

L2 small protein meal/meds

S rotating, always with protein. Usually something like salted macadamia nuts or peanut butter, tuna pouch with avocado and mayo mixed very well and thinner, etc.

D1 about 3 ounces total of a mix of lentils cooked in chicken broth/ground meat/cheese and sour cream

D2 final protein shake of the day

usually a few well chewed nuts, half a cheese stick or a spoonful of peanut butter before bed to last through th few hours I am asleep. I wake up feeling really shaky and I am really only asleep a few hours

I am still early after my revision and learning the bypass ropes. I look forward to eating in a way that feels more normal to me. Everything feels very stressful right now around food but I want to get my health back so I am putting skin in the game and honing in my focus