I had my 1 month post-op check up this morning. I had several questions for my surgeon about my daily food & protein, and here's what I found out:

• Thankfully, I seem to be healing well
  
• Talked about BM's & that I seem to have to add stool softners, and MoM to help me go. Not worried as long as I'm going.
  
• Focus on fluids, which continues to be my major weakness
  
• OK to have Chai-tea again, yeah!!! I so missed this. It has caffeine in it so I had to stay away. I'm not a coffee drinker so Chai is just fine for me
  
• Work my way up to 60 grams of protein per day
  
• Work my way up to 800 calories per day, no rush
  
• Continue to eat 1/4 - 1/2 cup per meal. Whatever my tummy tells me I can handle. Continue to focus on protein first, but OK to add steamed veggies & fruits
  
• Eat only when I'm hungry. It can be 5 small meals or 3 basic meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) per day
  
• I can start eating breakfast type foods. For example, lean turkey crumbles with eggs or oatmeal w/ fruits
  
• She suggested I can add new foods but to wait a few days so if something upsets me I'll know what it is
  
• OK to start working out, slowly but surely. As we all know, walking is the best exercise but I can start going on my recumbent bike again. OK to add low weights, several reps. Oh, working out in a pool in also good (thought I don't have access to one).
  
• I can start taking my vitamins again (Multi vitamin, B complex, Biotin). No worries about adding calcium at this point. But she did order e 50,000 iu's of vitamin D once a week for 12 weeks. I had low Vit D count which I was taking vitamins for. She said this would help get it back up sooner & so mch easier to have it once a week. After that, I can have lower doses to my daily intake
  
• 3 month blood work follow up & appointment made
  
• Since I had lost a descent amount of weight with the band & a little more with the sleeve, my food goal will pretty much be focused on maintenance more than anything. Wow, maintenance. That sounds great! She said I might lose another 5-10 pounds but doesn't think my body will go for more. I'm good with that
  
• IMPORTANT > soreness that I sometimes get on my left side that travels a little to the same area but in my lower back is due to scar tissue hitting on nerve endings. Dr said that area felt a little tougher. She said a body massage focused in that area a few times a day for a weeks and/or heat would help (hot bath, hot tub).
  

Overall, a thumbs up, and I'm quite thankful for that!!