Follow up

Just to fill in anyone who is interested, I went to the Doctor's Friday and I am doing very well. He moved my diet up to level 4, which means that I now get to eat pured foods (yes, baby food.) The link is to a web site that gives something close to my diet. It isn't the one from my Dr. The good news is that I had lost 23 pounds as of Friday. I am of course consuming very little. The average meal is 1/4 cup. The curious thing is that I really don't feel what you would call hunger. I miss eating things. It is hard to watch others consume pizza and steak and not participate, but I knew that this would be the case when I went into this. I will eventually be able to eat more conventional foods (even the steak), but I am still healing. this is the reason for the staged diet afterward. Bad things can happen if the diet isn't followed, so I comply.

I have been going through some very intense emotional swings. I am not really sure what it is all about. I am sure eating filled a void in my life. Possibly now that eating is less prominent I need to deal with that void. I have seen my ex more that I used to, just because we both visit my son and granddaughter. The visit is usually pleasant, but recently she has seemed resentful (more than usual.) My youngest son often seems to be the catalyst for her resentment. If things get worse, I will have to visit when she doesn't I guess.

Right now I am dealing with diet and attempting to be as active as possible. I am also trying to be as positive as possible (which has been difficult with the mood swings.) I try any way. One helpful thing is that the sun is shining and temperatures are coming up as are the flowers.

You have a bright day.

Love,
Shel

Briefly

I finished my one-week diet successfully and it looks like I am good to go for the surgery. Now I need to wait for a date. I lost 10 pounds last week on that strange diet and I have to say it is a bit strange going back to regular food. After the LAP-Band surgery I will be eating two oz portions so this was a good test.

I've been busy. Thursday night I went to the "Vagina Monologues", performed in Hartford. Some friends were in the cast. It was well done. Last night I went to see Kate Bornstein at Smith College in North Hampton, MA. It was a benefit for a Trans activist who needed some financial support after an accident kept him out of work for a while. Today I have a support group and Bingo later. It is snowing like crazy and I have to drive to Hartford in the snow. I need to go though since I am the moderator for the support group. At least I have the key to open up.

Bye for now.
Love,
Shel

The Diet

I promised that I would say a bit about the diet I am currently on. As part of the preparation for the LAP-Band surgery I saw both the dietitian and the counselor last week. The dietitian gave me a five day diet which I started Sunday. I am a little fuzzy as to the real purpose of the diet,but they say it is to test my ability to comply with instructions. In any case, the diet consists of 9 oz of protein per day.
It is to be either meat fish or poultry. I have three meals of 3 oz of one of these kinds of protein. I can drink clear fluids that have no sugar and I must drink three cups of chicken or beef broth daily.

I have been floating in fluid. Last night was tough because we had some people over for the Superbowl. I had to pass on everything people were snacking on. So far I am surviving and surprisingly don't feel a lot of hunger. The diet ends Friday and I will be glad that it's over. I know that tougher things are coming after the Lap-Band surgery. Hopefully it will all be worth it.

Love,
Shel