Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

[L'ilJ]

Originally Posted by Deserve

I'm needy and some times whiny. Come on over.

At this point I am only working 6 hours a day. That includes lunch. I get in about 10 and then leave at 4. It wasn't bad after my first day. I did take a picture of the wound if anyone wants to see it. I swear my belly button is held in place by Swingline Staples.

Ooh...I wanna see!

In all seriousness...ease back into the workplace. You may think that your co-workers are thinking "when is Gabe gonna get his ass back to work" when they are really thinking you are pushing yourself too hard too early. It takes a while to get past that guilt of not contributing to your fullest ability. The work will be there when you're ready.

[Deserve]

Thanks Jill. They are giving me grief for rolling in at 10. This may not sound late but I used to be at my desk by 6:15. On the other hand there is one nice co-worker who just went through major heart surgery and chewed me out for 20 minutes about the weight of my briefcase. She was right of course but it means that I have a nice balance of don't get complacent and don't over do it.

I have also come up with a couple of working rules.
1. I don't answer a work call once I am in my neighborhood.
2. I will not read work e-mail on the black berry once I am in the neighborhood.

There may be some refinement but right now this is what I have.

On to fitness stuff. My diet is getting on track. While I'm not exactly watching my calories Leigh showed me foods that are easy on the digestive track so I am focusing on those. It is working like a charm. Early on I was have stomach pains related to digestion. Now there is nothing. Thank you Leigh.

I've been taking the stairs down in the parking garage and one up to my office. I know 5 flights down is not a big deal but the first day my legs were shaking. Exercise is exercise when your me.

I also think the swelling is going down in my stomach. You can see the first 2 abs of the 6 pack when I bend. Oh boy! Finally a benefit of being 145. Really, why that is exciting is because I believe I will be able to have the next surgery when all the swelling and inflammation goes down. This is a good sign in my eyes.

[RacerBill]

Wow. If the swelling goes down and the 6-pack emerges, we'll all be jealous!

Glad to hear of the improvement, Gabe.

[hard_rox]

Nice guidelines, Gabe. I turned down a Blackberry just for that reason....didn't want to slide into a "always on call" mode...even though technically I am.

Glad to hear the swellings going down. What's the timetable for the follow-up operation?

[Deserve]

Bill,

I weigh 145 lbs. Not much to be jealous about.

Greg,

I tried to turn down the blackberry and they forced it on me.

All,

What are your thoughts on Sushi? Obviously I need to avoid the Wasabi but would the rest of it tear me up?

[liftintexas]

Originally Posted by Deserve

Bill,

I way 145 lbs. Not much to be jealous about.

Greg,

I tried to turn down the blackberry and they forced it on me.

All,

What are your thoughts on Sushi? Obviously I need to avoid the Wasabi but would the rest of it tear me up?

Seems like rolls with cooked stuff might not be too bad, but I'm no dietician.

[Mahler]

The only good blackberry is in a pastry.

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by liftintexas

Seems like rolls with cooked stuff might not be too bad, but I'm no dietician.

I passed and stayed at my desk. I ate the lunch my wife packed. Maybe next week.

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by Deserve

Bill,

I weigh 145 lbs. Not much to be jealous about.

You kidding me? To a FFB like me, 145 pounds would be miraculous. Besides, I'm jealous of the abs, not the number.

Originally Posted by Mahler

The only good blackberry is in a pastry.

Dammit, now you've got me thinking about pop-tarts.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by RacerBill

Dammit, now you've got me thinking about pop-tarts.

Toaster Strudel

Good luck on the recovery, Gabe.

[Deserve]

Thanks Cynic. I'll get there. It's not the wound so much as the bag that is bothering me. When you know that whatever you eat you'll end up carrying it makes it hard to bulk up.

I think I can have pop tarts. Who's going to notice?

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by Deserve

I think I can have pop tarts. Who's going to notice?

I'm not sure all those chemicals are inducive to recovery, but hey, you get the advantage of knowing exactly where they'll end up... in the bag.

Seriously, Gabe, hope you're doing well.

[Lost Dog]

hang in there, Gabe.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by Deserve

I think I can have pop tarts. Who's going to notice?

How about stuff that maybe doesn't require so much effort to digest?

I would think CC and yogurt, maybe, but tht is probably something for a doctor and nutritionist to really say.

[Deserve]

I can eat anything I want as long as I am smart about it. Obviously spicy foods are not that smart. That being said I try to eat foods that are easy to digest and are good for me. Leigh Peele has given me a number of suggestion that have been spot on and have caused me no gastronomical grief.

Much of this is about preparing for my next surgery as it is healing from this one. On the plus side I've gained a little more weight and I am back on my way to 150.

[Deserve]

I hate being on the third page.

Besides doing some of the work the has been prescribed to me I've also be doing a lot of stairs at work. No elevator for me. Yesterday I did 7 flights up and 7 flights down.

[liftintexas]

I hear ya on this page 3 nonsense.

Stairs are definitely challenging. and you're years ahead of those fools who take the elevator for one or two freakin' floors. I try to assume they all have knee or back injuries that prevent them from climbing steps - that avoid the rage inside.