Post Op Day 12

So I plugged along nicely Post Op Days 3-5 and then got confused about what I was supposed to be eating. Fortunately, my post-op nutrition class was on Post Op Day 7 and I found out I was not eating enough. I went back to work the following day and did well with the appropriate number of meals, my protein drink, and my water bottle. I am eating approximately 2-4 ounces every 2 hours. My real challenge is meeting my water requirement every day and staying on schedule with eating. I was down to 274.4, but have put on 3 pounds and I weigh in at 277.4 currently. I wanted to freak out about the weight gain, but after research and discussing this with others, it is normal. I am not drinking enough water, having trouble taking my Benefiber, not always eating enough, not watching my sodium intake (and I am not supposed to be), and I am off full liquids and eating soft foods. My body is in a constant state of flux and change and so I am supposed to 1). Be Patient, and 2). Stop weighing myself everyday (the post op instructions say to stay off the scale and if that is impossible, weigh once a week).
On the positive side: I still have more energy than I have had in a very long time. I am exercising regularly and feel a little jealous that the Badwater Ultra marathon starts today – as if I could run that right now, or ever. I see changes in my body shape, even though the scale is not as friendly as I would want it to be. Little is at Girl Scout camp this week and so I can have a total inward focus to try and get back on track with the water, eating every two hours, and continue to exercise – not that she hindered that piece of it, in fact, she liked being in charge of me as we walked through the neighborhood.
I got off track with my postings trying to recover, finish one class up while starting another, and getting Little packed for her week of “roughing” it in the beautiful mountains where she will ride horses. This in itself is a good lesson that life does not slow down because you are in the midst of self-improvement.