SpaceDust

That's when you reach a weight that starts with a 1 :-) Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

We had sushi for lunch yesterday. I ordered sashimi. Sometimes I'll order a plate of poke instead and if I'm feeling the desire I'll eat one or two pieces of a roll from my husband's plates, but mostly it's sashimi time. Yum!. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Hang in there - for now it's best to be cautious, even if you end up being one who can do the moderation rather than abstention drill. I confess to having tested the waters a little, too, but it's very much a planned thing and calculated into my daily intake, and in part it is to determine if some foods are a problem for me. So far, so good, but like I said, I think it through and figure out what I need to do to keep it all balanced and in check. Luckily, my husband helps keep me focused and will remind me if it seems like I'm about to make bad choices (no pretzel bites for me, darn it!). He is making this a team effort, which makes me feel like I have a safety net! I'm allowed a bite or two of something occasionally as a treat but only if I'm on track with my nutrition for the day and the treat is not completely devoid of nutritional value. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

If your liquids are ice cold, you might find it easier to swallow them warm, or even room temperature. It may lessen the nausea, too. Also, some people have a problem with plain Water at first. Adding some flavorings like Mio or Crystal Light may help reduce the surface tension and help it go down more smoothly. I also found tea was soothing, if you are permitted to have it. Hang in there. It really does get easier! I'm a month out and drinking and eating much more normally (albeit in massively smaller amounts :-D ) Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

I can put away 4-6 oz. of yogurt without any problems, and I can do 3 oz. of fish or something like chicken salad, but anything more solid or dense like a grilled piece of chicken, beef or pork I am lucky if I can do 2 oz at a time. I have no issues with liquids and can drink mostly normally (other than stopping a moment every 5 swallows or so). I'm one month out from surgery, now on normal foods and can pretty much eat what I like. I do have to be a bit careful with eggs for some reason, though! Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Exactly one month! B: Vanilla Chai made with 4 oz 1% milk, stevia, 12 oz unsweetened homebrewed black chai tea, 1/2 tsp vanilla paste and a scoop of ON Gold Standard whey (vanilla ice cream flavor). Yum! L: 1.5 oz ham, 1 T. blue cheese, 1 T. white balsamic dressing, 2 T. golden beets, 1 T brown rice, 3 slices gala apple, 1 T. cabbage (took me about 45 minutes to eat this) S: .5 oz homemade beef jerky, 1 oz parmesan (made into a crisp), 6 quinoa crackers. D: 1/2 c chili with cheese, 1/4 c "drunken apples" Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

I was off almost two weeks. I could have returned on the Monday after surgery (my job type isn't very physical) if I had been returning to my old job. However, I was starting at a new position at anew company and decided to take the extra week before starting. I'm glad I took the extra week, since it allowed me to be more myself and a bit more high-energy while making those important first impressions! Also, with all the extra adrenaline pumping through me during the day and a significant mental challenge, I was pretty much worn out the first few evenings. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

On myfitnesspal.com, go to the Apps tab, click on App Gallery, scroll down and click on Fitbit Tracker, then click on Connect accounts link and follow the directions. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Hang in there. You'll be feeling much better soon. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

I second what Laura said. In fact, I have a pound of ground turkey that I precooked as crumbles and somewhat generically seasoned in my freezer (it's pretty easy to swing it toward either Italian or Mexican by adding a few more seasonings). I weigh out about an ounce of the turkey and add it to refried beans for my Mexican fix along with a little cheese, or I use it on top of ricotta bake to boost the protein and add flavor.

There is some really great food to be had in Madrid, for sure. Your best bet will likely be tapas plates - most places have a nice variety of options. Do try and have a taste of the various styles of ham that are available - that's one of the things that are typically available as an appetizer or tapas plate everywhere, and the high end varieties are amazing. I think you should be able to find some decent options from a health perspective, as well, but you'll be oh-so-tempted... Enjoy! I was in Spain for 3 weeks a year ago and it was a great trip!

I was told that I could take capsules the day after surgery - in fact one of my medications prescribed by my surgeon is a capsule, and I was also told that if I needed to take Tylenol in capsule form (the same size as my medication, approximately) I could do so when I was ready to stop the Lortab.

I could have gone back pretty easily 6 days after surgery, but I waited until 13 days and probably benefited from the extra rest time. When I went back to work, it was to a brand new job at a new company, and I've been fine.

Sorry, NtvTxn, but I have to disagree a bit with you here. Most of the Protein bullets/shots out there are, to put it bluntly, crap. It may SAY it's got 42 grams of protein or more, and it may even say it's whey protein - yay, right? Nope. Look at the nutritional information. If collagen based protein comes before whey in the list, and if the whey in the list isn't whey isolate, then this is probably NOT a good bullet to do to get the most bang for your buck, as it's likely the large majority of the protein is actually collagen, which our bodies don't use effectively as protein. You may find that only 10 or 11 grams of that protein can actually be used by your body. The only one that was recommended as acceptable to me was one that's called "Yes, Whey" - I think you can find those at some of the supplement/nutrition stores like GNC, but I haven't looked for them myself. Now, if all you need is to get an extra 10 grams of protein, it's your call, but those things taste nasty and aren't cheap. A better option might be to find a way to mix unflavored protein into some of the stuff you're eating - you don't necessarily have to take it as a shake. Think about a Soup, for example.

Is it a six month waiting period or a six month medically supervised diet? For me, it was the diet. It started with the first nutritionist visit and ended with the seventh visit. The visits had to be a month apart.

Nighty-night. I'll be sending positive thoughts and sleeve-sisterly love your way! Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST