I took a sampler of Bariatric Advantage Orange Cream protein powder, blended it with 10 ice cubes and 8 ounces of almond milk, added sugar free whip cream and voila! The Orange Creamsicle. It’s not bad, a little grainy. Maybe I didn’t mix it well enough.

I woke up about four times last night, so I figured this last time, at 2:00, I might as well get up.

I have a follow up appointment today with my nutritionist. I should prepare a list of questions because I always forget all of my questions at the appointment. I can’t do it on my phone because it’s a virtual appointment and I don’t know how to share my screen over the patient portal.

But I do have questions. I chipped my tooth early on. I can’t even remember how I did it—an ice pop, I think. And I don’t know if I’m possibly calcium-deficient.

I want to know what to do when there’s no happy medium in the regularity department. It’s always either one extreme or the other. Sorry, but if I’m being really real…

Are resistance bands okay for strength training?

Can I do exercises to strengthen my core?

Will I have to eat sugar free ice cream in the future to avoid dumping syndrome? Can I no longer have regular desserts, like birthday cake, cookies my kids bake, and so on?

Is my end goal reasonable or should I up it?

What does 50-60% of your excess weight mean?

How much am I likely to lose if I keep working at it the whole time?

Am I losing at a good rate so far?

Well, look at that, I ended up with a list on my phone after all. It’s all good, I copied it into a notebook.

Anyway, let’s see if I can actually make it to the gym at my regular time today. Even as early as 7:30, it’s a totally different vibe in there from what I’m used to, and it throws me off. 5:30 is the best time. Even though it’s still dark out and I hurry to my car.

Before we know it, it will even be light at 5:30 for a while. I love that time of year. May. Just starting to get warm.

Before we know it.