still struggling but basically have some questions

i am about to exercise because i cant sleep but then will end up having to take a bath because its so hot in our 3rd floor apartment.
but the point is my goals to work on this month are supposed to be to make meals last 1/2 hr or so, and to not drink with my meals. i cannot get my liquids in this way. and am struggling since i do take breakfast and dinner meds that have to be taken with food. i am doing really well but weight is bouncing around. hit my all time low, but gained a couple of poundfs, etc. im not trying hard enough and i know it. im trying to get my life back after a complicated summer. but thats no excuse.

Getting your liquids in can be a challenge. The key is to have something to drink with you at ALL times. Sip, Sip, Sip is the key. Since you have to take your meds with food try to take them with the smallest amount of liquid that you can. The object is to not wash your finely chewed food out of your pouch to soon. Doing so just makes you hungry sooner. Make YOU your number one priority. Walk the stairs to your 3rd floor apartment if you can. If you can't make all the way start with one flight then take the elevator, once you master that take two flights of stairs then three! You can do this!

You got great advice from Mama_M. Carry water with you everywhere you go! You have to get used to this because after surgery you do not want to dehydrate.

You are doing a good job.. just add in more good changes one step at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself. Add a new step and give yourself a couple of days to adjust, then take the next step..and so on. This is the easiest approach for those of us who have crazy schedules and lives. Overwhelm causes a feeling of defeat, so don't let this happen!

The scale will bounce around a bit from day to day based on fluids we are holding. Also if you are not weighing at the same time under the same cir****tances it will vary. Our weight can fluctuate by a few lbs over the course of the day. So pick a time that is always the same. How I do it is first thing in the morning, after I go potty, before anything goes in my body, wearing similar weight clothing each time.

Keep up the great work and keep reaching out and letting us help and encourage you. You have come so far and will continue to well if yu stay focused. YOU CAN do it!

thank you both for the advice. u are right. i did exercise today. i am prob going to start small there and up it every week or so. but i did a ton of changes at once in the beginning when nothing was going on in my life and thought i could do it again. ha, lol. i do want to try to do 1 week of a liquid diet be4 my next appointment, at least breakfast and lunch. i go back the 12th of october and i get to see the surgeon. are there any questions i should be sure to ask him?

Be sure to ask him about post op eating plan so you are fully prepared to follow it and not feel lost. Many surgeons follow different protocols, so this is the hardest part for us to help you with as we don't know what your surgeon requires.

Everyone had great advice, one small change at a time, then add the next change.  Exercise is key to long lasting success.  Take a few deep breaths and dig into the new season.  Hope things smooth out for you and your family.  Hugs

You didn't have any surgery info posted but it sounds like you might still be pre-op.  But you are doing all the right things by exercising, not drinking with meals (that's one I still can't do) and making your meals last. I think someone already said that your weight can bounce around some and please don't think otherwise.  I gained 2.5 pounds and it took me a week to lose it.  Just keep plugging along.  You can do this!

Colleen