Ending Phase 1

 Two weeks down and I am almost at 💯. 

It hasn’t been without its ups and downs. 

Let me tell you about Tuesday, a week and a day after surgery!  Before I do that let me tell you about me.  My body does not have a food clock.  I have conditioned myself over the years to have breakfast.  However, more times than not, it will be 4pm, and I will realize I haven’t had lunch.  But no, not this particular Tuesday.  I woke up wanting/needing breakfast, and not breakfast of clear fluids.  I wanted a shake, ackee and saltfish, bacon and eggs; I had water.  At about 12/1pm, I wanted lunch.  I saw an ad on tv for peanut butter and jelly, which I dislike, however, if I could, I would have jumped through the screen and demolished that PB&J.  I had to chew my jello to pretend I was eating and added another one to my evening dinner of broth, when the clock told me it was dinner time.  That was my most difficult day.  Thank heavens it lasted only one day.

The next day, I had a rush of energy.  I taxed my brain that morning through the afternoon, working on projects for my job.  I was busted that evening throughout the next few days.  I can’t contribute it all to the overwork; I am sure most of it was because of the lack of nutrients. 

So, how does it all measure up?

The Good

• No pain.
• Weight is coming down.
• Gas and bloating have dissipated a lot.
• Energy level is going up.
• Except for that one day, no feeling of hunger.
• My backache is not present.  I can’t say it’s gone, because I am not as active. I did do three loads of laundry one day and yesterday I walked around a full block (about 1/4 mile) with no back ache.
• My blood pressure numbers are going in the right direction - down!
• I am already fitting into my size 20s as I should, and not squeezing into them, with the back and the front out of line, my butt area pulling my dress up in the rear and in front the belly and waist jostling to twist the dress from side to side and me constantly pulling it down. 

The Bad

• Some gas remains in my rib cage.
• Low energy at times.
• I have stuck to the diet, however, this filling up of over 60 ounces of clear fluids daily is taxing and boring.
• My regularly timed bowel movement is off.  I never know when.  I need it to come back to first thing in the morning and last thing at night.  This is where my body clock works.

The Ugly

Nothing!  

Now unto the next phase - baby, I mean purée food.

The before and after photos below don't yet show much of a difference.