Setback? Nope. It was a push forward.

Today we had appointments scheduled with our nutritionist (from here on out to be referred to as our NUT - it is an abbreviation I've seen on other WLS blogs/pages/groups and it makes me smile.  I'll try to remember to let her know next time, that she's a NUT.)

Anyway.  The appointments today felt a little like a setback - but truly, it was a reality check of what we need to do.

• Yeah - it's super frustrating to have to eat the right foods.  
• Cook all your own meals.  
• Focus on protein.  
• Not drinking 30 minutes before/during/after your meal (yeah, all three meals and any snacks will require attention for an hour and 20 minutes (maybe only an hour and 5 when it's a snack) because you can't drink with your food post op.  It pushes it down/through too fast, which helps you eat more than you're supposed to.)
• Avoid caffeine and carbonated beverages.
• Limit empty calories from your diet (everything consumed for healthy people is probably already mostly fuel, nourishment.  This is not something we already do.  Yes, we know we should, but it's part of this addiction as to why we don't.  That's not an excuse, that's a fight that we are having with ourselves.)

   ** I say "we" a lot in this blog.  Please note, I don't speak for my husband.  I do believe I have a pretty in depth understanding of how he feels, what he's thinking, and what he struggles with.  But he speaks for himself when he wants to.  I've learned through therapy (lots of it) that most women consider a "we" as "she".  What I mean by that is that my worth, my being is part of "we", of "our family".  Also, when I write about big things publicly regarding John - he reads them before I post them.  I'm not here to air his laundry, but I am here to get out the things I'm feeling, the things we're struggling with, and garner support from those that love us, and offer to others who need it.  The idea that this blog may help someone else someday - well that's great. **

• Take 1200-1500mg chewable calcium citrate daily.  These are gigantic.  Boo.
• Exercise - start low, work up the time.  This is important to establishing a routine prior to surgery.  Same with the eating habit changes.  It's to start prior to surgery to not be so lost afterwards.
• Sip fluids.
• 64oz water daily.
• Small bites chewed to applesauce consistency.  (Yikes.  This one will be hard.)

That isn't everything - but those are the ones that are catching my eye tonight.  The ones that need the most work.

This weekend - I am shopping/prepping/organizing my fridge so I am ready for the week.

We may have a limited variety of food.  We may not be perfect - but we will try every day and every meal to make the right and hard choices.  We're taking this seriously, because it's serious.