Seeking Newbie Tool Box suggestions

Most of you LW success stories seem to have a toolbox of nifty items that help you to achieve and maintain your healthy goals. So I'm going to start building my box.  Could you give some suggestions for newbies.  This is what I have so far....

1. Protein shake bottle
2. Blender of some type (would like suggestions, I saw someone said their's was a 'bullet?'  
3. Tennis shoes (for exercising)
4. Computer access for OH
5. Journal
6. Method for tracking food (I use myfooddiary.com)
 
what else?  And what kind of blenders and protein shake bottles do you use? 
 

Good lightweight pillow for coughing. ~ I had to ask for one. It also helps with getting up and down.  Good music and positive energy. Good luck may you be blessed beyond measure~

I wish I had tracked my weight weekly, I din't start that until late in the year.
the bullet is a "Magic Bullet" and its sold in Walmart, K=Mart stores.(I love mine)
Find a consignment ,goodwill,etc that you can go to as some weeks you can skip a size all together.
Family/Friend support system.
I'm sure others will chime in,Glad to have you here-Brenda

A GREAT scale to measure what you're actually taking in. I like the one from OXO http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/specialty-appliances/oxo-food-scale-with-pullout-display/s359729 . I'm sure other places carry it, but I found it at Crate and Barrel. Handles large amounts, able to zero out to correctly add amounts, and can switch modalities from ounces to g on the fly. It's made a world of difference in retraining my eyes to what a portion size is.

Updated list
1.   Protein shake bottle
2.   Blender of some type
3.   Tennis shoes (for exercising)
4.   Computer access for OH
5.   Journal to record thoughts
6.   Method for tracking food and nutrients (e.g., myfooddiary.com or good ol notebook)
7.   Good scale: zeros out, handles ounces and grams
8.   Method to track weight changes
9.   Consignment shop for those smaller clothes
10. Pillow, lightweight, for early on coughing spells
11. Good music (iPod maybe?)
12. Family/Friend support system 
13. Smaller fork and spoon (kid sized)
14. Smaller plate (salad plate)

An alternative to the kid-sized fork and spoon: Crate and Barrel (yeah, I do love the place!) has appetizer silverware that looks adult but is just the right size for us.  I picked up 4 sets of knife/fork/spoon pre-op, and still use the forks and spoons at each meal.

Here's the one I picked - our regular flatware has porcelain handles, so it goes well together.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search.aspx?query=elsa

Kohls gift card so you can purchase those special occasion outfits and then return them after so you always look "smashing"!  LOL  You will always have the $$ and when you are at goal you can have yourself a little shopping spree!

Looks like a great list (and a great idea!)

But.....pillow for early coughing spells??? What?? that's the first time I've heard that one.  Please explain.

Graciesmom's post above mine suggested the pillow for coughing and for getting up and down.  (in the early days after surgery I think)

Protein blender bottle with wire ball is the best thing I've found to mix shakes. They make just a little bit less foam or air bubbles and that could be critical in the early days. I use the shorter one. I think it's 20 ounces. www.amazon.com/Blender-Bottle-Mini-Shaker-Mixer/dp/B0010JLPE A

--gina