Wednesday, May 27, 2009

CHEESE. And other solid food.

You guys. I don't think I can stress to you exactly how excited I am about what today means for me. Seriously, it's up there as a major life event.

Today is the last day of my two-week puree diet. Tomorrow, I can eat solid food. It has to be soft, but it will be solid. The list of allowed foods includes moist meat (chicken, turkey, fish), eggs, certain fruits and vegetables, and low-fat cheese.

What this means is I can eat FOOD. I can CHEW. I can eat something other than yogurt, cottage cheese, and protein shakes, which is literally all I've eaten for the past two weeks. And let's not forget the three days before that spent on the clear liquid diet. I haven't eaten actual food since Sunday, May 10. Mother's Day. In Germany.

Maybe this makes me food-obsessed, but I have been planning what to eat on this first day pretty much since the first day that I got all nauseated looking at a protein shake. The menu includes scrambled egg whites and fruit for breakfast, rotisserie chicken and some avocado slices for lunch, string cheese as a snack, and grilled salmon for dinner.

Of course, I have to take it one new food at a time, to make sure that I can tolerate it and that it doesn't get stuck in my band. And I have to chew really well to make sure everything goes down easily. But oh my god. You guys. Food! Real food! Varied food! Food that I like and ate pre-surgery too!

I am curious to see how much I can eat, since I don't have any fills so still no restriction, but I've been surviving on about 700 calories a day (or less) for the past two and a half weeks, so I can't imagine that I'll want to toss 1800 calories down my throat tomorrow. I have definitely noticed my appetite increasing since the surgery, though, which I think is normal--I think it's related to the internal swelling going down. At first I could only eat a tiny amount of anything, like half an individual container of cottage cheese, and now I can eat two containers of cottage cheese as a meal.

Also, I'm thinking I might start the party early and have a "transition" dinner of chicken noodle soup tonight. Just thinking about that makes me so happy. And don't worry, I'll be careful to chew thoroughly.

Lastly, I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to look at a container of yogurt without gagging, ever again.

24 comments:

  1. Ya! What a relief! Enjoy every bite Jess =)

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  2. Congrats honey! You deserve a celebratory dinner tonight! Enjoy all your yummy food tomorrow.

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  3. Yay!! I'm clapping with you. Hope that everything agrees with you and ENJOY CHEWING!

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  4. I know what you mean about eating something so much you hate it. When we moved down here five years ago, we lived through two hurricanes in a month. I haven't been able to eat granola bars since then.

    Yay for solid food! Enjoy.

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  5. Now *this* makes me happy. To see you happy. And excited. And really, it doesn't take much. Yet, it's huge! Here's hoping your first few meals are as scrumptious and fulfilling and you want them to be!

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  6. You should be so proud of yourself! I bet every bite is going to be like heaven! Enjoy!

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  7. That's awesome! Enjoy (ha) your last day with yogurt ;)

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  8. Jess I have never been so excited for SOMEONE ELSE TO EAT!

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  9. Mmmmmm, cheese!! I mean, um, congrats!! (Now, about that cheese!)

    xox

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  10. Enjoy your food tomorrow, and all the chewing!

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  11. I'm so happy for you! You made it.

    You're also making me INSANELY hungry because those meals sound delicious.

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  12. yay!! I bet you'll be so happy to BE chewing that you'll have no trouble chewing your food well!

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  13. CHEEEEESE!! hooray!

    although the mention of cottage cheese made me hungry for THAT, ironically enough.

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  14. cheese, yay! i don't think i could live a day without cheese so i'd get excited about that too!

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  15. Yay! How did it go? :) Are you in a state of pure bliss? :)

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  16. That Puree Diet sounds like a living hell. Enjoy!

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  17. I think avocado is an excellent choice to celebrate your first day back on solid foods. Mmmmm... avocado. Yum.

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  18. That's how I feel about Jello (not pudding). I was forced to eat so much of it after my tonsilectomy that I have NEVER had Jello since...and I as ten when they took them out. That's 26 years!

    I am glad you can eat real food and I can relate to your excitement. I'm only day two into my two week eating regime and I am already dreaming of quinoa. At least I'm dreaming in whole grains, right? ;-)

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  19. That's great news! Enjoy solids, num!

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  20. WOOT! Real food!
    And I just had grilled salmon last night and I got hungry just thinking about it!
    Enjoy :)

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  21. Anyone remember that little mousie from Looney Toons (old school!) who said, "Cheese. Ah just love cheese, reaaally Ah dooo."

    I loved that mouse.

    (strangely, this is not the first time I've posted a comment referencing her.)

    So happy for you, Jess!

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