Globetrotter

Dang these look good, and VSG-friendly portions! Cut down on the croutons, throw in some chicken, and in my opinion skewer the parmesan instead of sprinkling, in order to cut down on losing the parm on the skewer's way to the mouth Other than that - yum yum YUM! http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/great-gatsby-party-hors-doeuvres-062100501.html?vp=1

Yeah I've noticed that all the famous females who are complimented as "aging gracefully" never have anything overtly done to their faces, but do maintain a good jawline, that seems to be the key ...

Oh god oh god oh god, its a fast day and nearing the end of the work day and I feel so empty and I REALLY WANT TO EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've had a double protein shake made with milk and have only enough calories left for a double portion of beef jerky, to bring me up to 580 cals. I'm chain-chewing sugar free gum like a madwoman, I just want to EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAT!

Yeah, like I said I'm young(ish), early 30's, but this is on the to-do list!

What a great topipc! I'm a vet (3 years July) and here are some items that were really handy or I wish I had had post op (you've already bought the most important!) 1. popscicle mold 2. blender or emulsion wand 3. A really big variety of Protein samples - most online stores will give free samples and when you are navigating your new tastebuds after surgery you will want to try them all out so that you can more quickly discover what works for you instead of wasting time and $$. 4. scar oil/healing balm 5. Biotin 6. a measuring tape 7. blender-ball shake bottles, several of them Hope this helps!!

JensJoy - as a vet (3 yrs July), let me give you a little free advice: don't let yourself fall into the trap of rewarding Future You, it sets you up to feel like what you have accomplished is never good enough, which will lead to the boomerang effect of giving up before you reach goal, because you are never rewarding Present You and so you feel like you aren't accomplishing anything. Trust me, it's a real thing. Don't hide that dress away, wear it now with a spanx bodysuit underneath like Lipstick said. I would also recommend some really bright red flat sandals and a BIG sunhat and sunglasses, for the total glamourpuss look

I've also heard that Crystal Light has caffeine in it - that probably didn't help your rapid heartbeat!

It was my birthday on Friday (16th) I had roasted lamb and Afghan pilau and naan and we danced and drank tea, it was nice. Today is a fast day and I started off my first work day after my birthday by going to the gym, yay! I'm aiming for 600 cals today, it is 11am and so far I have had only hot tea with a splash of milk but when I do finally feel "hungry", I will have a Protein Shake - espresso chocolate (Click espresso protein/Syntrax chocolate) with some SF chai syrup made with Water and a half cup of milk. FYE - my father was an artist and he took classes there and then taught classes. He also showed his work there and at Zimmerman Gallery in the village, as well as shows in Napa, Ukiah, etc.

Yes, thanks! Can you give us an example of a recipe?

FYE, NorCal in the house! I'm from the coast - Mendocino The meds seem to be doing their thing, the pain is greatly reduced and so are the trips to the latrine . Yesterday I did 1450 cals so today will be a fast, if I can. I hadn't realized my cal count, since I've been so off lately so an innocent Breakfast of a few bites of ham scramble, milk, and a Protein snack have already landed me at 461, yikes! that means I would basically only be able to have a Protein Shake made with Water, for the rest of the day! We'll see.

Seriously, that's almost a Protein shake, where's the 13g protein coming from?? It is still off-menu but if you are ordering a hot drink you can order a "short" which is a size smaller then the smallest available on the menu (tall), I think the short is 6 oz... anyway, I like a short 'n' skinny earl grey latte - that's earl grey tea with steamed milk and a pump of skinny vanilla syrup. But I'm really picky about how it is made, a lot of so-called baristas don't realize that milk halts the steeping process so if you just dunk a teabag in hot milk all you have is hot milk! The earl grey needs to be set aside to steep in 2-3 oz of Water while you are foaming the milk, then the two can be combined. Funny side note - this drink is actually called a London Fog and was created by a coffee shop in Seattle. Starbucks being the corporate octopus of greed that they are, they tried to appropriate the name but clever li'l mom n pop had trademarked it! so 'Bux is forced to call it an Earl Grey Latte . Everyone else calls it a London Fog, without issue, but greedy Bux wanted to trademark it themselves so only they could use it.

Yep, what they said. And for me, I live in a very harsh environment and 64 oz is just enough to keep from getting dehydrated.

Since I'm out here and am not strong enough to eat at the difac on fast days, It's just protein shakes and jerky. If I were home, it would probably be a morning shake, tuna salad with cucumber "crackers" for lunch, baked fish for dinner or a dessert protein shake. That would probably get me around 550-600 cals, about 60-70g protein.

My TDEE is 1648 so on fast days I try to keep it under 500. Because I've had this parasite my schedule is all messed up, for 6 days now I've had maybe 250 cals a day, and that just uh - goes right through me (sorry) and I'm not getting any nutrition from it. Maybe today will be the day that the food stays with me? If so, then tomorrow I will reset and have an eating day.

Wow, I'm kind of intimidated by how much effort you guys are putting in on fast days! For me, I treat fast days like post-op days, and consider them time-outs from the world of food, where I just don't have to eat it or think about it. So it's protein shakes, jerkies, and Gy for me. That being said, if I had access to real food and a kitchen, I would really like to try this recipe someone posted to the paleo FB page: It's half an avocado, with an egg baked in the pit-hole, topped with parmesan!!!!

lol Swizz, no time to rest out here! Nope, I just run to the latrines every hour and suffer with pain. I started on Flagyll yesterday so, hoping by tomorrow there will be an improvement. I can't even drink protein shakes like I thought, even if I don't put food in my mouth I'm still in pain and running to the latrines, food just makes it worse.

M2G - It's Giardia :/ Today is an eating day for you, right? I bet tomorrow morning you will have a loss. I ate a tbsp of peanut butter today and was rewarded with agony an hour later. Giardia laughs in the face of pepto or Imodium v_v.

Is there a complex carb out there that *isn't* some kind of oatmeal? lol, gluten-sensitive, almost to the point of celiac (but I'm not) so oats or basically grains of any kind are out. I can handle Forbidden rice, which I do recommend as the most superior slow burning rice I've ever eaten.

About a week after surgery. The first 2 days home from the hospital I slept on the couch, slid into the bend of the couch back and bottom cushion.

Full confession: I have not stepped on the scale since starting 5:2, I am afraid. :/ Right now am fighting giardia so not eating at all, yesterday had one mouthful of plain boiled potato. It has been 6 days of this .

Well this week I'm doing the EDF, EveryDayFasting, and not 'cause I want to! The Dr gave me some meds and I thought I was good to go, so I ate about 1/4c boiled potato. Thees vas a very LARGE meestake *Puss n boots accent*. So, it's back to water and protein shake. the shakes give me just as much agony as regular food, but otherwise I'm taking in zero calories and putting out all my electrolytes etc.

A year ago spring, I was the fittest and smallest I had been since getting sleeved July of '10. I was so SO proud of my size 10 Levis, even though I had to pour myself into them and had to wear a tunic length top to hid my front pouchiness, the fact is is that they fit and they made my but look goo-ood! Today, I am wearing a pair of khakis from Old Navy, Diva cut straight leg, they fit perfect ... and they are a size 18. *sob* *weep* NOOOO!! I still have the Levis, I look at them in sorrow.

Righteous! Rad!! Check out my post in the lounge, "giving myself permission".

Oh lordy, as a vet (3 years July) let me just pass on my 2 cents: don't get wrapped up in the world of calories in/calories out, it is certain misery that is just not helpful. Of course monitor your calories and carb etc. breakdown with a tracker, of course exercise for general health or certain goals, but playing the numbers game will just drive you batty and take your eye off the overarching purpose of greater health.

I have been working on it for 4 months, with no success. I do ADF, I exercise HIIT style, and just grow inoxorably bigger. v_v