Getting Fit May Kill Me

Okay.  It's an exaggeration, but I needed a catchy title and had trouble thinking of one.  I do, however, feel like a wrung-out dishrag today.  As you well know, if you come here with any degree of frequency, I started a Crossfit training program yesterday.  Here I will try to explain what Crossfit is and why I am subjecting myself to it.


Let's tackle the why first.  I need to do something to build muscle mass, burn fat and increase my stamina.  This is important on many fronts.  Foremost in my mind is with regards to my skin surgery.  A few months ago I saw a TV program about former obese folks that underwent full body lifts, the same surgery I will have to submit to, to remove excess skin.  The surgeon that was performing both these procedures was saying that the male subject on the show was going to have a much easier recovery, due to his toned muscles and limited subcutaneous body fat.  This guy was at the gym working out a few times a week for many months prior to his surgery.  The funny thing is, he had the worst recovery of the two, but for other reasons.  I want my recovery from this surgery to go as easy as possible.  Also, throw in the fact that I want my new physique (never imagined "my" and "physique" in the same sentence) to look its best right out of the gate.  That, and a little muscle will fill out my existing skin all the better.


What is Crossfit?  Crossfit is the strengthening and conditioning program used by many police academies and military special forces.  The key to it is that Crossfit is scalable to just about any level of fitness.  So I can brag how I do the same fitness regimen as a Navy Seal.  (Sure, Mike. You keep telling yourself that.)  The reality is that the level of intensity and maneuvers can be adjusted to almost anyone.  I saw all ages and body types in the gym; kids to women in their sixties. 


Runners train for endurance.  Weightlifters train for strength.  Crossfit covers no one discipline and works the whole body in short bursts for intense periods.  Nothing is task specific.  You not only become adept at all disciplines, but it all applies to your everyday life.  Lifting things properly, getting up from a chair, climbing stairs,  all use your whole body.  Crossfit covers it all and does it at the same time.   Every day's workout is different.  I have heard the principle referred to as muscle confusion.  That explains why my thighs, triceps and calves are confused and wondering "What the F are you doing to us?"  They'll be singing that same tune after I go back on Thursday.


What I did on Monday:  I am sure the guy went easy on me, due to my size and inexperience with physical activity in general....unless of course you count carting around 360+ lbs, 24/7, for a number of years.  First we warmed up with various stretches that are done in a line from point A to point B.  Lunges, Frankensteins and butt kicks, etc.  Then various squats with your arms in different positions, keeping attention on proper form.  Then I was asked for the next 10 minutes, to do these strap pull-up type maneuvers (5 of them), then 10 push ups (with benefit of a raised bar, instead of on the floor), and then 15 'air squats'.  As many of these in succession as I could in 10 minutes.  I lasted 8, before I felt a little light headed.  After sitting for two minutes, I went back and finished the last set of air squats.


Driving home, my muscles quivered just turning the steering wheel.  I was whipped, but I didn't feel hurt.  Just worked-over and slightly fatigued.  I also felt proud.  I plan on taking this whole thing one session at a time.  Usually for around 20 minutes a pop.  I'll get a little better and faster each time I go and each time I finish, I'll have added another brick in the foundation of my self-esteem.


Note: Wednesday's blog will be either posted very late or Thursday morning.


Cya then,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Kashi 7 Grain Nuggets w/fresh blueberries and almond milk
Lunch ~ I hit a sushi buffet while on the road.  A nice assortment of salads, soup and sushi, while avoiding the maki rolls with special sauces or spicy mayo.
Afternoon ~ Decaf iced coffee w/skim milk and some almonds
Dinner ~ Garbanzo and Watercress soup with a hunk of whole grain bread.  This recipe was a delicious discovery and here are the nutrition values:

• Calories: 201
• Calories from fat: 14%
• Protein: 19g
• Fat: 3.2g
• Saturated fat: 0.1g
• Carbohydrate: 36g
• Fiber: 13g
• Sodium: 470mg
• Cholesterol: 0.0mg

Find the recipe at Myrecipes.com
Exercise ~ I may get on the treadmill for 20 minutes tonight..then again I may not.

Weigh-in: Week 25

I'm going to keep this short.  I'm beat after my first session with the trainer.  I'll write about it tomorrow night.  Let's dip into the tale of the scale and see what that Fat Fairy stole from my bod this week.

A one-pound loss this week bringing me to 298.0 lbs.  That's a grand total of 65.4 lbs. since the start and leaves me 103 away from goal.  Weird that that doesn't seem that far away.  The scale says that my body fat rose slightly to 47.9% this week, despite the loss.  Perplexing.  Water held at the same 37.4%.


Cya tomorrow for my gym recap,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Amy's Samosa burrito (out of milk, fruit and eggs)
Lunch ~ Grilled chicken Caesar salad with my best friend Doug, followed by a decaf w/milk
Snack ~ Beef jerky
Dinner ~ 4oz of whole grain pasta w/marinara and veggie 'meat' crumbles.  I used a tad of shredded parmagiano reggiano on it as well.  I know a serving of pasta is 2oz.  I was very hungry.  I ate.
Exercise ~ 30 minutes of Crossfit 

A.L.O.E. 07.29.12

Where does the weekend go?  It barely feels like Sunday night, let alone 7:30PM.  Tomorrow starts a new week, the 25th time I step to the scale and the first test of my oath that I will  never go back to 300.  I need to move further away from that number.  299 is too close for my taste.  I've been good this week.  I ate well and did a lot of cooking.  I enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine, but I doubt that will weigh against me.  Let's get into A Little Of Everything.


Stairs?  Who Cares?
My wife has a hobby.  She loves to go visit new houses which we can't afford, despite the fact that we aren't moving any time soon.  It used to worry me that she would try to get us to move into Pennsylvania or somewhere more rural, tempting me with a shiny new house.  I get now that she likes to dream.  It's all good.  When she visits these houses, she often brings me back for her personal nickle tour.  That always involves a lot of stair climbing.  Prior to my downsizing, that would sap my energy and my legs, in addition to making me work up a major sweat.  Today we did such a run to Doylestown, Pa.  Lots of stairs and no sweat...literally.  I was quite proud of that.  That feeling of despair I would always get halfway up a flight of torturous risers was no longer present.  Two great houses, the likes of which we may own... someday in the distant future.


Gym Time
Last Thursday I strolled into a local gym that does CrossFit training.  I signed up for six fundamentals sessions and a month of Crossfit classes.  I am actually looking forward to someone kicking my ass for an hour or so, twice a week.  Taking on this challenge and accomplishing what lies ahead is a major dose of self-esteem for me.  I'll keep you all updated as to what is entailed and how I am doing after I start my first session this Monday.


Need More Clothes
I thought I could get away with the few new articles of clothing I have purchased lately.  They just aren't cutting it.  My old shirts are hanging off of me and the new pants I bought launder terribly.  Time to bite the bullet and get more duds.  Getting in shape is getting expensive.  Good problem to have, I must say.


Cya Monday,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ 2 egg omelet of 2 thin slices of ham and vegan 'mozzarella'
Lunch ~ Chicken Orzo soup and 1/2 a smoke turkey sandwich
Dinner ~ 1.5 ears of fresh Jersey corn w/Earth Balance Buttery Blend, a Boca Burger on a multi-grain deli flat and sliced tomatoes on the side.
Exercise ~ Lots of stairs, dog walking and lawn mowing

Dreaming Bigger: Part 3

I have always loved the old saw 'less is more'.  It espouses that simplicity elevates a few elements, whereas, complication leads to a diminished state.  So true in so many areas of life, especially cooking.  Keep it simple.  I have a different take on less is more.  The less I weigh, the more I should expect from life.  As I take up less space on this earth, I should be dreaming big dreams for myself.  We can all benefit from recapturing the grandiose desires we left behind in our childhood.  I dream of reaching for things unimaginable for a fat man and focus on them to drive me to the finish line.


I've been keeping a list and that ranges from the extreme to the mundane.  Things that most of you take for granted aren't a part of an obese person's life.  So in this series I document each of them to keep them in my sights and share with all of you.


Dreaming Bigger List 

• Jet Ski
• Water ski
• Just plain ski!  In fact, I want to do just about anything with the  'ski' at the end of in it.  Unless you are Polish.  My wife wouldn't approve.
• I'd like to have a lap.  Sounds odd I know, but I have a gut that covers where a lap should be.  My laptop should be able to reach its full potential and actually rest on a lap.  The same goes for a napkin.  Let's give these lap dwellers a proper home.
• Ride a horse
• I'd like to, once again, buy pants that don't have that hidden sliding elastic built into the waistband
• Wear sport coats and have them complement my shape rather than accentuate my girth
• Be comfortable on the couch without having to occasionally rotate the cushions, like tires on a car.  They get too flat if I don't.
• Sit in those plastic chairs on someone's patio without fear of them being in the recycling bin the following day
• Speak to people without noticing their eyes trying to catch glimpses of my body size.  It's extremely disconcerting and does nothing for my ego.
• I'm not sure I will ever feel totally comfortable with this one, as I don't know what scarring will be left in the aftermath of full body lift surgery (excess skin removal), but I would like to be at ease with swimming in front of others with no shirt on.  Wearing a t-shirt in a pool or at the beach has always been a badge of shame for me.
• I dream about not considering my weight or appearance when doing anything at all.  Just doing it.

Cya Sunday,

M

What I ate Friday and how I exercised:

Breakfast ~ Kashi 7 Grain Nuggets w/toasted pecans and almond milk

Lunch ~ My quick and easy brown rice jambalaya and some watermelon pesto feta salad

Snack ~ Sweet and hot pickled carrot sticks

Dinner ~ What does the Caesar salad I ate last night and me at my last business meeting have in common?  We were both way overdressed.  I ate about 1/3 of it.  Plus blackened salmon, carrots
and rice w/a glass of Cabernet...oh, and some bread
Exercise ~ 20 minutes of brisk dog-walking

Food Thursday: 07.26.12

Okay.  A quick show of hands, please.  How many of you eat?  All of you?  Excellent.  You came to the right place.  Each Thursday it's all about the food.  Discussing the hot food topics of the day, restaurant strategies, or like today, recipes.  Today I bring you a lightened up remix of a dish that was served at my 40th birthday party many moons ago.  It comes in at around 100 calories per 1/2 cup serving, but tastes like you are being quite bad.  It's perfect for a summer BBQ or as a appetizer before a sit down meal.  It's Watermelon with Pesto and Feta.  Enjoy!

Watermelon with Pesto and Feta

Any of these ingredients don't really come to mind when you think about the others.  Seems odd, right?  The saltiness of the feta with the bright and garlicky notes from the pesto marry perfectly with the sweet, cold melon.  It is super easy and ready in minutes.  Let me know if you try this.  I'd love your feedback.  When I brought it to a friend's house this past weekend, the host went back for seconds.  I love that!  The pesto recipe makes 2X the amount you'll need so you can freeze it up to 3 months and add it to a marinara sauce as a flavor booster, use it in a balsamic vinaigrette or toss it with whole grain pasta.

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic
2 Tbs pignoli nut (feel free to sub walnuts or pecans)
2 cups, packed fresh basil leaves (washed and dried)
1/4 cup of grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
4 cups of watermelon in 1" cubes
4 oz Fat Free Feta, crumbled

Method

1 ~ In a toaster oven set at 500 degrees, toast the nuts and garlic cloves for around 4 minutes or until the nuts are golden brown. They burn quickly, so watch them! You can also do this is a dry fry pan over medium high heat.

2 ~ Cool the nuts and garlic in the freezer for a few moments.  Hot pignoli and garlic with adversely affect the nice green basil.

3 ~ Once cool, place the first eight ingredients (garlic through black pepper) in a food processor and process into a nice puree. You may need to scrape the bowl of the food processor down to incorporate all ingredients.

4 ~ Just prior to serving, place your watermelon on a platter and sprinkle your feta over the top, getting good coverage.

5 ~ Drop small dollops of half the pesto over your platter.  Reserve the rest for another time.

6 ~ Devour.

Here is a tip.  Always store nuts in an airtight container either in the fridge or freezer for optimum lifespan and taste.

Cya Tomorrow,

M

What I ate today and how I exercised:

Breakfast ~ Mike McMuffin of 1 fried egg, 2 breakfast chicken sausage links on a multi-grain deli flat

Lunch ~ My easy brown rice jambalaya

Snack ~ Fat-free Greek yogurt w/vanilla and a ripe peach mixed in

Dinner ~ Panera "Pick Two" w/Lemon Chicken Orzo soup and 1/2 a smoked turkey sandwich

Exercise ~ none today

W.I.M.H.W. 07.25.12

It's been quite a week since last we went into my head. I've achieved a milestone and I feel like I am recapturing some of the enthusiasm I started this project with. Let's jump into a few things that are on my mind this last Wednesday in July, shall we?

Pictures Must Speak Volumes
I am kind of blown away by the amount of blog hits and support that has come from, not just the cross over from the 300s, but also from the pictures that I posted yesterday.  Yesterday's blog drew more attention than the weigh-in on Monday.  Quite unusual for a Tuesday.  People have been extremely kind with their comments and well-wishing.  This is a big part of why I do the blog.  Having folks behind me and cheering me on fuels my efforts all the more.


New Duds
I finally broke down and bought some new underwear.  This may be T.M.I. for some, but I touch upon all aspects (okay, not all) of what I am going through along my journey.  I was like a little kid at Christmas, waiting for my new tees, tanks and shorts to come in. (boxer briefs, for those with enquiring minds)  It is kind of funny how we get all wrapped up in the size on a little 3/4 inch tag.  It is mighty nice to wear properly fitting duds, that's for sure.  My new 3X skivvies don't make me look like the model on the package, but they no longer look or hang like the drapes in the window.


Getting Back My Cooking Mojo
I have been very active in the kitchen as of late.  I made mention of the fact that I was not only not getting enough veggies in my diet, but also that I didn't cook those interesting meals that got me started early on.  This week I have been cooking some great meals and have come of with some really good recipes, which I will share with you in upcoming weeks.  One such recipe is seen below.  It is vegetable "spaghetti" with chick pea "meatballs", lightly tossed in a garlic lemon sauce.  Very healthy and unbelievably good.  Look for it in a few weeks.  Also watch for quick and easy Jambalaya with brown rice, ready in under 25 minutes.


Cya tomorrow for Food Thursday,
M


What I ate and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Kashi 7 Grain Nuggets w/banana, toasted pecan, and almond milk
Lunch ~ Smoked turkey and lean ham w/avocado, tomato and chipotle lite mayo on a multi-grain deli flat
Dinner ~ This is a switcheroo of sorts.  Tonight I ate what I posted for dinner yesterday.  Last night I enjoyed the  delicious plate of food you see right here.  It is "noodles" made from zucchini and carrots with "meatballs" made from chickpeas (just like an Italian falafel) in a lemon garlic sauce.
Exercise ~ 30 minutes of brisk dog walking 

If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words...

...then why can't I just run my bod through Photoshop?  I promised before and current pictures at certain points along the weigh (sorry...sucker for a good pun).  So, being true to my word, here are some images.  This is a testament to the brutal honesty of this blog.  I hate all of these pictures.  In any other arena I'd have them deleted or burned and the photographer boiled in oil.  But since fried foods are out of my repertoire, here you go.  I used to joke that camera adds ten pounds or so and that my pictures were obviously taken with at least ten cameras.  I'm still not comfortable with looking at images of myself, but I do see vast improvement.  I'll try to focus on that positive side of things.  

This picture (left) was taken back in October of 2011 when, to the best of my estimation, I weighed around 370 lbs.  I know I must've had a few beers in me at the time, because not only did I allow it to be taken, but I am smiling to boot.  To the immediate right is a picture taken today by my lovely wife Tabitha.  Same clothes and the same approximate pose.  I'm keeping the clothes to pose in at minus 100 lbs. and goal weight.  Just for the record, the shirt is a 5X and the jeans are size 60" waste.  Even the size 60's were kind of snug back then.   I'm in mostly 3X these days and a size 54" pant, although some of those are a little loose.

I have to wonder if I will ever be all that comfortable looking at pictures of myself.  It's apparent to me that I have some faulty filter in my brain that shields me from actuality, until I see it in front of me that is.  Even at my heaviest of 483.5 lbs. I didn't see myself as big as I was.  On the rare occasion that someone did catch me on film (you see more pictures of Yetis than Mike circa 2000), my first reaction was always "I don't really look like that, do I?"  We will see if there will come a day when I don't feel compelled to tell the person behind the lens to "Shoot me from the shoulders up, would ya?"


Cya tomorrow and thanks for all of the congratulatory FB messages,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Egg Mikemuffin: 1 egg w/red bell pepper, onion and 1 chicken breakfast sausage on a multi-grain deli flat
Lunch ~ Homemade brown rice jambalaya (recipe soon)
Dinner ~ Sauteed mixed greens (kale, chard, spinach and more) with cannellini beans, topped with pan seared tilapia
Exercise ~ 30 minutes on the treadmill 
*Full disclosure: I never made it on the treadmill last night as reported. Shame shame shame...

Weigh-in: Week 24

With great anticipation and hope, I went through the normal routine of a weigh-in-Monday.  I took a deep breath and prayed to the gravity gods that I wasn't pressing too much against the earth's surface this morning.  I needed to see a 2 as the first digit.  If it wasn't, I would have been mightily frustrated, but I would have carried on as usual.

The worrying was moot.  Victory was mine.  It is with great pride that I report a major victory.  I am no longer a 300+ pound man.  This is a major step toward normalcy.  Today I weighed in at 299 lbs. even, representing a 3.2 lb. loss for the week and a 65.4 lb. loss over all.  My body fat dropped 1% to 47.6% and the water percentage rose to 37.4%.


Now it is crunch time.  My addiction will feel a major need to strike back and try to take hold.  Even today, I had fleeting thoughts of celebrating via a slice of pizza or a glass of wine with dinner.  I abstained from both.  I don't roll that way anymore.


I did promise pictures of before and present once I hit 299.  Come back tomorrow for those shots and hopefully I too will see some major changes.  I haven't taken the current picture yet, but I know the before is very hard for me to look at.  I look as though I should have Met Life or Goodyear emblazoned across my large protruding gut.  Now, I no longer feel like I could be tethered and walked down 5th Ave. on Thanksgiving day.


Cya Tuesday,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Kashi 7 Grain Nuggets w/fresh peach, toasted pecans and almond milk
Lunch ~ Chicken tender sandwich w/avocado and lite mayo on a whole grain deli flat and some pesto feta watermelon salad on the side (recipe this Thursday)
Snack ~ 2 slices of smoked turkey
Dinner ~ Some bread with brushcetta topping, clams in a fennel broth and a 1/2 portion of whole wheat spaghetti in puttanesca sauce
Exercise ~ 20 minutes on the treadmill before bed

A.L.O.E. 07.22.12

I had an awesome day with friends in the Poconos.  A shady and sandy beach for a few hours and then back to the house for a wonderful and healthy meal.  I love these people and days like today are too rare.  Today's entry should probably be called N.M.O.A. or Not Much Of Anything.  There isn't much to say today.  I will probably, hopefully, have plenty to say tomorrow. 


What a Great Salad!
I dug back to a few years ago today and brought back a real nice and lightened up recipe.  Sounds weird I know, but it was delicious.  Watermelon with pesto and feta will be in this Thursday's blog.  It is a wonderful summertime light appetizer or side dish.


I Can Hardly Wait
Tomorrow is weigh-in number 24.  I am extremely hopeful that tomorrow I will be under 300 lbs. for the first time in a long, long time.  I am not usually this wrapped up in the Monday number, but I feel tomorrow will be very special for me and give me a boost to the next level.


Cya Monday for the weigh-in,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Mixed Kashi cereals (not enough in any given box) w/banana and almond milk
Lunch ~ 1/2 a Sweet n Salty bar in the car on the way to eating too many Baked Tostitos Scoops and pretzels on the beach at Lake Naomi
Dinner ~ Grilled Chicken Tenders, cole slaw, watermelon pesto feta salad, sliced tomato and a touch of hummus w/pretzels.
Exercise ~ None

The Power of Little Victories

I’ve recently written that I am in the middle of a great book called The Power of Habit.  I was wracking my brain last week trying to think of who told me about this.  Turns out it was my Aunt K.  She is one of the most nurturing and supportive people I know.  I can’t thank her enough for this recommendation.  This book is another affirmation that I am definitely on the right path.  There are so many aspects of the book that are already part of my routine.  One of the pieces to the puzzle is celebrating your small wins.

I am not shy about touting my successes on the way to 195 via this blog.  Last week it was being able to go without a seatbelt extension on a plane.  A few weeks ago it was getting past the minus 50 lb. mark.  Even something as small as fitting into a 3X shirt or walking a mile or two has been celebrated on these pages.  I do it for various reasons.  I want the world to know that I believe with all my heart and soul that anyone can get leaner and healthier without buying a book, paying for meal plans or even surgery, IF they use their innate abilities to make better choices.  These small wins are mounting evidence that it's a sound principle.  Also, I am damn proud of myself.  It feels good to succeed.  And, yeah, perhaps I am a bit of a braggart.  I have always been one for an “attaboy”.

Turns out there is another reason to celebrate small wins on the way to a goal.  By doing so, you get used to winning.  It becomes habitual.  You develop a need to succeed.  It becomes part of your M.O.  It also gives you a sense that the end goal is within your grasp and that keeps you motivated.  My next short term goal is to get under 300 lbs., then to 263.4 where I will be minus 100 lbs.  These steps along the way are milestones I need to highlight.  Each day I feel more and more like my self-esteem is greater and I am capable of so much more.  Plus, when I look at it in these terms, 195 doesn’t seem that far off.

I’ve never been one for making lists or setting goals.  I thought too little of myself to believe I could reach any goal.  I’m not sure what switch has been flipped, but I am driven to get to the next win.  I have unknowingly been reprogramming my firmware to be a more efficient, productive machine.  All via little chunks of a pretty big undertaking.

So celebrate your small wins en route to your destiny.  Crow about them.  Be proud.  Reward yourself with something as small as a pat on the back or a something even grander. Just do it in a healthy fashion.  Small victories fuel you along the way and propel you to the next waypoint.  These little things add up to major successes.  I am hoping there will be some celebrating this Monday.  Please join me to find out.

Cya Sunday,

M

What I ate today and how I exercised:

Breakfast ~ Kashi Go Lean Crisp w/banana, toasted pecans and almond milk

Lunch ~ A Gardenburger Chipotle Black Bean burger w/lite mayo on a multi-grain deli flat

Dinner ~ Soyboy Red Pepper Tofu Raviolis w/marinara sauce and lots of cauliflower sauteed w/garlic and a touch of EVOO

Exercise ~ 30 minutes on the treadmill

Food Thursday: 07.19.12

Back in the beginning of June there was a big hubbub in the news about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on soda sales over 16 ounces.  I was going to write about this then, but decided to see what came of it before I weighed in on the subject.  I have heard little of it since, so I decided to get in the fray and give my two cents.  Let me first thumbnail-sketch the situation for those who either don't follow the news (that's usually me) and those who may not be in the tri-state area. Here's the poop on pop in The Big Apple.

Citing health concerns, Mayor Bloomberg has proposed legislation that would ban sugary carbonated beverages from being sold in sizes over a pint. There was much noise made by people on both sides of the debate, some feeling that their rights were being infringed upon by telling them what they can or can't do and others that understand that poor health affects us all, especially in the wallet. These days you cannot avoid all the buzz about healthcare and the degree of government's role in it. This idea for enforcing healthier habits cuts right to the root of the problem. Rather than subsidize more healthcare for an ever-ailing American population, Mayor Mike seeks to nip it in the bud and reduce a major source for obesity and diabetes. Take it away before it makes you sick and fat. I say bravo, Bloomberg!

A Cornell University professor has published an article saying that Bloomberg's approach is faulty.  Tell people what they can't have and they will want more of it.  I tend to agree with that.  I also like the concept.  If people will do things that are bad for them just to fly in the face of authority, then drink up, all you bubble guzzlers!  You know what I call that logic?  Thinning the herd.  


A better approach might be legislating the actual number of ounces you could put in any given size. By law, a small might be 8 oz., a medium 10, large 12 and call the 16 oz. and above the "You want insulin with that?" size.  There is the equivalent of 13 packets of sugar in 16 oz. of soda.  A 7 Eleven Big Gulp is 64 oz.  That's 52 packs of sugar in that bucket o'suds.


No matter how you slice it, soda is bad for you.  I like it.  I rarely drink it anymore, but I do like it.  In case you care, Diet Dr. Pepper is my favorite.  I think I have had maybe 3-4 diet sodas since I started this project and all of those were caffeine-free.  Honestly, I don't miss it.  I do sort of miss my Diet Peach Snapple, but c'est la vie.  The artificial sweeteners leave you wanting more and more sweet stuff and there is nothing natural in those soda cans other than, perhaps, water.  Here are some facts on soda for ya:

Think about this stuff next time you give Junior a Coke or hoist one yourself.  Personally I am okay with the very occasional soft drink, just like my occasional cigar.  Vices are just that: bad for you.  It feels good to live on the edge a little bit.  Yeah, that's me.  Joe Danger with the caffeine-free Diet Coke in his hands.  Chicks dig that.  


From some of the things I have read about this hot topic, I add to life's truths: You can't tell people how to raise their kids, mess with their guns, tell them they can't smoke and God forbid you try to take their Mountain Dew.


Cya Friday,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Kashi Go Lean Crisp cereal w/banana and almond milk
Lunch ~ A little rotisserie chicken breast and some hot and sour soup
Dinner ~ A huge portion of sauteed veggies and some more chicken.  The veggies were broccoli, carrots, red bell pepper and scallions sauteed in a little canola oil and tossed with my own peanut teriyaki glaze.
Writing blog snack ~ 1 banana
Exercise ~ I'll jump on the treadmill for at least 20 minutes before bed.

What's In My Head Wednesday: 07.18.12

My head is swimming these days with possibilities, promise and renewed determination.  What's fueling my brain this week?  Well, I've been steady in my direction all along, but getting closer to the 299 mark I feel even more on top of my game.  Here's WIMHW for Week 23.


You'll Ruin Your Eyes!
Isn't that what our Moms yelled at us way back when TVs weren't hung on walls and we sat too close?  "Move back!  You'll ruin your eyes!"  Well I am watching TV these days a mere twelve inches from my nose.  It's all about the treadmill.  I mentioned recently that we relocated the the treadmill to a more usable space and I still dreaded getting on it.  It was boring.  But this fancy piece of equipment has a TV screen built right into it and tonight I finally got it working right.  Time seems to move a heck of lot quicker when I can shift my mind elsewhere while exercising.  So since I already wear trifocals, I will get too close to the TV.  It's nice to feel good about getting on that contraption!


The Power of Habit
As you may well know, I don't read.  I listen... to audio books.  Although I still find it easier to say "I am reading..." or "I have read..." instead of explaining the whole audio thing.  I have belonged to an audio book club for about six years now and love it.  I go through all genres from non-fiction to novels and biographies to self-help.  On my phone right now is a book called "The Power of Habit."  It is a truly amazing look at how we form habits and what it takes to change them.  About half way through, I am thrilled that much of what I set in motion five months prior to even hearing about this book is exactly what needs to be done to create lasting change.  I'll be reporting on various aspects of the science of habits in upcoming blogs.  If you really want to know how to reprogram your brain and break free from the shackles of poor practices, I highly recommend you read (or listen to) this book. 


Eat Your Vegetables
Yet another thing your mother always told you.  Eat your vegetables!  The difference these days is I can't be cajoled with the prospect of dessert.  My wife pointed something out to me the other day.  Well she points stuff out to me every day, but this one hit home.  I haven't been getting enough vegetables in my meals.  They have been pretty protein heavy and I really need to have more green stuff every day.  I should get back to those raw vegetable packed salads and vegetarian dishes that helped me kick off this whole process.  More veggies will not only push me below 300 in a tasty way, but help me keep my vow never to go back.  Look for more vegetables in my food logs and feel free to bust my onions should you see me not getting enough.


Cya tomorrow for Food Thursday,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Egg Mikemuffin w/one egg, dices red bell pepper and one diced 50 calorie chicken sausage on a multi-grain deli flat
Lunch ~ Sushi with the boss.  I had seaweed salad and a rainbow roll w/brown rice.
Dinner ~ Amy's Teriyaki Brown Rice Bowl, packed with veggies, brown rice and tofu
Exercise ~ 20 minutes on the treadmill.  Man, my eyes are tired!  Maybe Mom does know best.

You've Got A Friend

It's hard watching the people you care about suffering through the same trials and tribulations you have endured.  Experiencing my current metamorphosis makes me particularly sensitive to the plight of my fellow obese friends and family.  I believe the introspection that I have engaged in over the last 23 weeks has made me that much more aware and empathetic to the issues these people may not have even admitted to themselves as having.  I see the repeated poor choices on their plates, bad habits, ignorance and apathy, in which I myself have been expert.


Each time I see the signs, I am tempted to approach these people to offer a helping hand.  The problem is that I know they need to arrive at a point in their lives where they want more for themselves.  It cannot be thrust upon them.  Today I offered a friend, via Facebook, some advice on his "diet lunch".  I reached out a virtual hand and I know it will not be grasped.  I've been down that path before, as have many of you.  Half-hearted attempts at making lasting changes are a step en route to real transformation I guess.  It's all part of the learning process toward a better life via the experience of failure.  Hopefully you learn from your mistakes and improve each time. 


You always wish your loved ones can be spared the regrets you carry.  It would be a wonderful thing indeed if I could do some Vulcan mind meld on these people and make them see what it took me 48 years to realize.  Unfortunately, it is seldom a welcomed interaction and even more rare that it will effect change.  If any of you see yourself in these words or wish to guide someone toward my assistance, I am here when needed.


Cya tomorrow,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ At Starbucks for a business meeting and I had their oatmeal w/mixed nuts and half a dried fruit packet, plus a Grande Mocha Lite Decaf
Lunch ~ One of those use it or lose it moments brought me to a chicken sausage on a whole grain roll with mustard and a freshly plucked tomato.  Fiery pickled carrot sticks and cukes on the side.
Dinner ~ Rotisserie chicken breast over a chopped salad of mixed greens, basil, red pepper, carrot, onion and tomato w/chipotle lime vinaigrette
Exercise ~ None

Weigh-in: Week 23

A very successful week for me, I must say.  Progress on the scale and a whisper away from the magical number starting with a 2.  I will do my darnedest to get there for week 24's results.  Overall I couldn't be happier.  Let's get to the numbers, shall we?




Today I tipped the scale at 302.2 lbs. That represents a 4.4 lb. loss for a week which had me faced with some difficult challenges.  Total weight loss thus far is 61.2 lbs since February 6, 2012.  As you may recall from last week, the body fat and water percentages starting giving me odd results when compared to previous readings, but they are, for today at least, consistent with last week's numbers, so I can track progress just fine.  Otherwise they are just numbers, so I am okay with any results that are measurable week to week.  They are recorded as the following: body fat 48.6% (down 0.9%) and water percentage was up to 36.9% (rising 0.7%).


This week I am laying off all alcohol (that includes O'Doul's) and salty snacks (aka beef jerky).  The calories saved from those items alone might add up to 1/3 of a pound some weeks.  I am determined to get to 299 for next Monday.  Send me good vibes please!


Cya tomorrow,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Kashi Walnut and Currant cereal w/toasted pecans and almond milk
Lunch ~ Boca Burger w/sriracha lite mayo and tomato on a sesame bun (Not the good kind of bun either.  I just hate wasting food.), plus pickled carrot sticks and cukes
Snack ~ A smoothie with frozen banana, peach and almond milk
Dinner ~ Broiled boneless, skinless teriyaki chicken breast with brown rice and veggies
Exercise ~ Treadmill for a length of TBD

A.L.O.E. 07.15.12

Where did the weekend go?  Here we are on the eve of another weigh-in and I'm on the fence as to how it will play out.  This week was the much blogged about business trip and a wedding.  We will dip into both below, because today is A Little Of Everything Sunday and I have something to crow about.


Wedding on the Wagon
In light of the copious amounts of alcohol I consumed on the trip to Idaho this week, I declared that I would abstain from imbibing at the wedding yesterday.  I am happy to report that aside from the tiny sip during the champagne toast, I was adult beverage free.  I did enjoy the cocktail hour very much by having some shrimp cocktail, a mini crab cake, grilled veggies, and some tomato soup shooters.  Indulgences were of the beefy variety, in the form of a mini beef Wellington (one of my faves) and a very dry slider with half a roll (not worth it at all).  Dinner was some pasta, a salad and filet mignon of which I ate very little.  I also had a taste of ice cream at the end of the night.  Less than a 1/4 cup's worth, but unnecessary.  I avoided a good deal of really bad choices with a few missteps, but nothing too egregious I think.  The scale will be the judge of that.  I should note that the wedding food served as two meals yesterday.  I skipped lunch prior knowing the volume of food ahead was more than sufficient.


YES! YES! YES!
A very proud moment for me on Wednesday evening.  I boarded the first of my four planes for the trip, I greeted the flight attendant with my usual smiley "Hello" and a request for a seat belt extension.  It's always an embarrassing moment, but a necessary evil.  Sometimes they give it to you upon request, other times they bring it after you are seated and, yet other times, they up the mortification factor and forget, so you need to ask again with many more ears surrounding you.  This nice lady handed it to me immediately and I made my way down the aisle, worried that my butt or gut would be brushing the already seated passengers on my way by.  It wasn't bad at all!  I navigated the course with limited contact.  Cool!  I got to my seat with the hopes that no one would be next to me and I was a winner yet again.  Two seats to myself.  I sat myself down and went to strap in.  It occurred to me that I should try the belt, sans extension.  HOLY SHIT!  Snug, but it fit without benefit of extra strap.  With a huge smile on my face, I flagged down a passing flight attendant and explained to her that I had asked for an extension, but for the first time in my memory, I didn't need it.  She rewarded me with a high five and a very gracious inquiry of how I lost my weight.  She told me how proud she was of me and I was pretty damned proud of myself.  My second flight yielded the same results.  Unfortunately, the two planes on the way home were far from being as kind as Delta was to me two days earlier, but I will take the wins where I can get them.  Another step toward normal was achieved. 


Cya Monday for Weigh-in 23,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Kashi 7 Grain Nuggets w/banana, toasted pecans and almond milk
Lunch ~ Smoked turkey on a whole grain deli flat, tomato, avocado and chipotle lite mayo
Dinner ~ Tom Yum Chicken soup and steamed snow peas, carrots and eggplant over brown rice w/brown sauce on the side.  Reaaaallly tastey and light.
Exercise ~ 2.5 hours of yard work

Joysey to Boise and Back Again

First off, I apologize.  This should have been written yesterday, so if you checked in last night it would appear that I stood you up.  It was a 48-hour marathon of planes. meetings, dinner and planes.  Let me be narcissistic enough to fill you in on my last few days...food-wise, anyway.


I left for the airport on Wednesday and arrived early enough so that Tab could miss rush hour traffic and I could stop and sit to get last minute work emails out of the way during pre-flight sustenance.  It was this stop that I set in motion a pattern of less than optimal choices for the following days.  I ordered a Caesar salad w/grilled chicken, dressing on the side and no croutons.  No problem there... that was until I ate half the roll that came with it.  I also ordered a Bud Lite, shunning the proclamation I made on Monday to lay off alcohol for the week.  On the plane, a glass of wine in lieu of ordering up snacks that they sell you in Costco-sized variety boxes.  For $8.95 you could serve tapas to a Barcelonan family of four.  It was that wine I was sipping when I tapped out the Food Thursday column.  Check it out.  I thought it was pretty good.  I didn't have anything to eat or drink throughout the rest of the trek, which got me to bed in my Idaho hotel at around 2AM local time.


Breakfast at the Hampton Inn is always decent.  I made okay choices for the most part.  My only digression was that I perhaps had too much of the good choices.  I ate an omelet of around 1 egg, enough ham and cheese to maybe cover a Ritz cracker, oatmeal with a thimble full of maple syrup and some fruit salad.  Lastly, decaf with skim.  On the way out I grabbed a banana for later preparedness.  What I passed on was the potatoes, smoked sausage and bagels.  A small pat on the back for that.


Lunch was brought in to our meeting and to my delight, it was good stuff.  I basically had a naked fajita composed of grilled chicken, peppers and onions, rice and black beans, topped with 2 Tbs of salsa.  Naked, meaning no tortilla.  Late in the meeting I started to feel fatigued and while everyone else was enjoying cookies, that banana gave me the boost I needed to get me through to dinner.  Pat on the back number two for my foresight.


Dinner started me going off the rails.  I sat at the bar, waiting for my colleagues and decided to order a martini, my first since January.  When asked whether I wanted regular or bleu cheese olives, I slipped into my former self, unable to refuse one of my favorites.  The bleu cheese martini was practically Nirvana.  I wished it sucked, so that the next time it would be harder to refuse.  Dinner consisted of various appetizers, a fennel and orange salad and broiled fish, all of which was way too much food.  I picked over the appetizers tasting a little of each without going whole hog.  Given the queso, chips and fried calamari, I could have done worse, I suppose.  One glass of Cabernet also accompanied dinner.  I was then off to have a drink with another remote coworker, who (whom?  I forget this stuff) I owe so much.  I there had two gin and tonics.  This place distills their own gin and it is excellent.  Four drinks in four hours is not on the TDT195 program.  I went to bed that night slightly light-headed and slightly ashamed.  I had hoped to walk, but time and the 103 degree Boise heat kept motivation at bay.


Up at 3:15AM!  F#*@!  Breakfast wasn't an option due to the early hour and, on the plane to San Francisco, choices where dismal in light of my missteps the night before.  Breakfast was tomato juice and that was all I had until I got home and made myself a sandwhich of chicken, ham, ultra-thin sliced provolone, avocado, tomato and chipotle light mayo on a whole-grain roll.  Not eating is no better in my opinion than going in the other direction, but I suppose the 500 calories or so I ingested on Friday balanced out the empty calories of drinks from Thursday.  No exercise again as I collapsed on the couch after eating, taking a nap to recharge my batteries.  A little time with the wife and pups and then it was nice to get to bed early for a change.


I wasn't happy with this trip's performance in my newly adopted lifestyle.  I was ill prepared and often chose poorly when given options.  Today I am off to a wedding.  I will stay away from drinking, this I can assure you.


We will see how this Monday treats me on the scale.  I walked plenty with my luggage in the three airports I was in .  Every gate and car rental were at the farthest possible point from where I started.  I think the exercise Gods were punishing me.


Cya Sunday,
M


What I ate and how I exercised:
Did I bore you so that you skipped right to this part?  LOOK UP!  Sheesh...

Food Thursday 07.12.12

As I write this, I am chasing the sun somewhere over Pennsylvania or New York.  I figured I would grab this time to pen my Thursday entry a day early.  What else is there to do besides playing Angry Birds or ponder the purchase of a “Bigfoot, the Garden Yeti” statue from the Sky Mall catalogue? (Available in Medium, Large and Life-Size for only $2,250 plus $199 for curbside delivery.)  But enough about my airborne boredom.  We are here to talk about food, right?  Today is usually a recipe or a product review/endorsement, but I’d like to discuss something I have given a lot of thought to in recent months: how our food has changed over the years.

One of the tenets I try to adhere to is that we should maximize the flavor we get from each calorie we consume.  If we are going to eat less of the unhealthy food we have gotten used to over the years, then optimization of each bite is crucial to keeping our pallets tantalized and our brains thinking we are sated.  I have oft mentioned a book I've been reading by a food writer named Peter Kaminsky (it takes me forever to read books in the conventional manner.  I am an audio book guy.).  In his book Culinary Intelligence, Kaminski discusses FPC: Flavor Per Calorie.  It makes perfect sense to me.  While I am not a food snob, I do fancy the finer things in life, especially good food.  Given my intake reduction and healthier choices, I do my best keep things interesting and choose ingredients that will give me the most bang for my buck, or bite as it were.

I have taken note over the years that the foods we eat do not have the same intensity as I recall in my youth.  Strawberries have less sweetness, tomatoes are not as vibrant and beef isn’t as…well...beefy.  I do the shopping in my household and I try to get the best ingredients I can afford.  Sometimes that means organic, sometimes not.  I’ll discuss the whole organic versus generic subject in a future blog, but I am longing for those flavors that made me fall in love with food decades ago.  I recall my Dad grilling delicious flank steaks and so enjoying sweet bananas and oranges.  While I am sure mass production and hybridizing in the name of prolonging shelf life and shipping survival are greatly to blame, even the local and organic foods I buy fall short in the flavor department.  You can get an occasional gem that you savor, but for the most part our food is ‘dumbed down’ for best price/lifespan.  I have bought grass-fed, top dollar beef and even that left me wanting.  My talents for food preparation have filled in some of the gap by enhancing the flavor cards I am dealt, but I would love to enjoy some simplicity in my eating.  A touch of salt on a perfectly ripe, juicy tomato or blueberries that take me back to those plump orbs bursting with flavor I devoured in pancakes or pies as a kid.  I am seldom rewarded these days with such a find.  It is entirely possible my pallet itself has been dumbed down with sub-par chow over the years.  I tend to think not.  I believe rather that it is a more global issue.  Perhaps you have noticed the same things when hovering over your own plates?  Tell me in the comments section your observations of how food tastes in the new millennium.  I’d be very interested to see if we agree or I am just crazier than the wife already thinks I am.

I will continue to search for the finest, tastiest grub I can find.  Even if I am ever slimming, my love for food will continue to grow.  I have been eating myself thin and hope I can educate others how to do the same.  When I find that rare ingredient that sets my taste buds afire, I’ll let you know.  I am afraid it will be an ongoing quest with few prizes found along the way.

I leave you now over Lake Erie, on my way to Boise, Idaho.  Maybe I’ll discover the perfect sweet potato there.  Who knows?

Cya Friday,

M

What I ate today and how I exercised:

I’ll report Friday on my meals from the previous two days.  As for exercise, I plan on strolling along the downtown streets of Boise.  It’s a nice little city and it will be much warmer than the last visit when was -9 degrees. 

Keeping My Nuts in a Better Place

*Whilst away on business travel, I am pleased to welcome one of the most insightful and eloquent people I know as TDT195's first guest blogger. Take it away, Auntie H.

Those of us who follow this blog with some degree of regularity have come to anticipate its informative style, the irreverent wit, the enticing recipes, and the mind-blowing honesty of the author.  Get over it.  There will be none of that today.  Auntie H here, subbing for an airborne Mike on business assignment.  Agreeing to fill in has forced me to seize upon a topic, and that got me to thinking about my own relationship to food—something all Mike’s readers have undoubtedly, even if only secretly, considered.

We all use food as at least a dozen things other than mere nutrition and body fuel.  It is comfort when the tide turns against us, celebration when we gather together, reward when we achieve, gift when we want to please, seduction when we seek to prevail, rebellion against whatever “shoulds” (dietary or otherwise) have been imposed upon us, denial when we indulge against our better judgment, punishment when we eat to the point of discomfort, and occasionally, food is sheer pleasure, untainted by subconscious drives or fears and laden with sensual stimulation—the kind of experience Epicurus thought we all deserved, all the time.  (I am quite certain I would have been an Epicurean instead of a Catholic if only I had lived in Athens in fourth century BCE.)  

“Cuisine” has become one of the defining elements of “culture,” joining the fine and performing arts and literature in characterizing various peoples and places, though I suppose we should credit the Romans with starting this one.   The hors d'oeuvres, the main course, and the dessert were all part of the proper Roman dinner and what got served was intended not only to satisfy the guests but also to impress them.  Elaborate table service, exotic foods, legally prohibited  treats (like sow’s udders . . . yum), and fanciful methods of presentation all pointed to the affluence of the Roman host.  Not that anyone would have questioned his social superiority, Emperor Nero’s legendary banquet hall has been recently discovered in the Golden Palace, and it turns out to be a large circular space that rotated day and night in imitation of the Earth’s movement.  I think Martha Stewart will have to consider herself one-upped. 

For myself, food is a way of extending my boundaries (pun noted).  The preparation challenges me, and hopefully the outcome pleases you.  If I cook for you, it means I love you.  Food is, above all, a way of connecting with the people I care about.  Feeding my family all these years has been a great privilege, and also a great responsibility.  When my first child was born I made myself a food rule:  Never use food as a punishment or a reward.  “No dessert tonight because you didn’t clean your room” struck me as being as wrongheaded as “You can have some chocolate cake because you cleaned your room.”  They both made food into the wrong thing, and I was acutely aware that the eating habits of a lifetime begin just after strained peaches, when we pick up the spoon and hold it on our own.  I cannot claim to know what “the right thing” is—that is, the “correct” role that food should play in our lives.  I open the floor to debate here and hope some of you will post your thoughts on how we should or should not use food in our lives.  But first I will answer the question I know is on everyone’s mind:

Why did I title this post “Keeping My Nuts in a Better Place”?  Two answers.  First:  I was cooking dinner for-and-with Mike and he noticed me putting the pignolis back into my kitchen cabinet.  Deftly, gently (he’s that kind of guy), Mike ventured to make a suggestion:  Keep your pignolis in the refrigerator or freezer, he said.  They have a much shorter shelf life in the cabinet, he offered.  This struck at the heart of the matter.  I would have to rethink my pignolis.  I have always kept them in the cabinet, double bagged in a Ziploc.  But new habits don’t have to be difficult; they just have to be conscious.  If I keep my nuts in a better place they will last longer, taste better, and look prettier on the plate.  Hard to argue with that logic.  And my second answer is that I am not above a cheap and sensational headline as guest blogger to get you to stay with me till the end of the post.

Mike returns tomorrow to recount his adventures while still in Boise. 

What I Ate Today and How I Exercised (Keeping the Mike Tradition Alive!):

Breakfast/Lunch:  Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal with ¼ cup whole milk

Afternoon Snack:  Ten-or-so raw baby carrots dipped in artichoke/spinach hummus

Dinner:  Pasta with sundried tomato pesto and a salad of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette; rosemary focaccia

Exercise:  25 minutes of yoga stretching followed by 5 minutes of meditation

Eyeing 299

Some years ago when I crossed the threshold from 400 lbs. over to 399 lbs. it held some psychological significance. It was mental shift from extreme shame onto the road to a better life.  It may seem silly to think that the mere one-pound movement from a four to a three is monumental, but it's symbolic of a victory.  We need to find a way to celebrate our victories and make them something to strive toward.  Achievement should equal reward.  Just not the kind that results in a 2,000-calorie meal and a hangover. 


Ten years later, I once again find myself on the precipice of being in the 200s.  This is of supreme importance to me.  While crossing over from 400 was an escape from extreme shame, moving from 300 into the 200s is a giant step into the land of normalcy.  Being over 300 lbs. carries a stigma that has weight all its own.  It's a badge of dishonor that says you hold little value in yourself.  I am aware that all this emphasis is imposed by, perhaps, my views alone, but it is how I feel about myself.  And that is what I write about, right?  I am thinking more and more about being a man in the same neighborhood as many other men I consider 'normal.'  An invisible cloak will be shed from my psyche.  I'll walk a bit taller and, as I have previously stated, I will never go back.  No, I am not jinxing myself.  I don't buy into such things.  I recall saying to my mother on the day that I hit 299 back in early 2003 that I would never be over 300 again, but my head is in a different place right now.  I WILL NEVER GO BACK.


One final note on this topic.  America is one of, if not the heaviest nations on earth.  I am well aware that the normalcy I speak of is not a healthy place to be.  The average male in the U.S. as of 2010 is 195.3 lbs.  I'll rejoice for different reasons once I cross over to 199, but for now I reach toward my own piece of mind that is found at mile marker 299.


Look for my guest blogger, Ms. H, tomorrow night.  I'll check in on Thursday from a Boise hotel room.


Cya then,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ Fresh fruit salad w/toasted almonds
Lunch ~ A Panera smoked turkey sandwich
Dinner ~ A HUGE salad w/far too many ingredients to mention, but did include some rotissserie chicken breast and avocado
Exercise ~ A beautiful night to walk foster dog Fay.  Another 35 minute walk in the neighborhood.

Weigh-in: Week 22

Ever get the feeling that the cosmos is F'n with ya?  I guess I am in a good place right now, because despite the fact that I really feel like my karma train has been derailed, I'm okay with it.  Let me explain.  This past week when my family was visiting, we got on the topic of my nephew's lanky frame and the lack of body fat.  I had him retrieve my scale and we set it up for his height, sex and age.  I gave him his own user number and we then proceeded to check his brothers and my brother Bill.  Somehow my settings got changed on User 1 and it was no big deal.  I reset them to my proper stats.  That is no big deal until this morning's weigh-in, that is.

If you follow my blog regularly then, you know that last week I weighed in at 304.2 lbs. and my body fat and water percentages were 57.2 and 28.5 respectively.  For the third time in 22 weeks I am reporting a gain.   I went all the way up to 306.6, for a 2.4 lb. increase.  It could be any of a half dozen reasons and I certainly do not attribute it to the scale's settings.  What I find weird is that my body fat and water percentages are way off. This week they were 49.5% and 36.2%.  That adds up to the exact same proportions as all the previous weeks, but the numbers are seriously skewed.  This may be where there is a settings debacle.  Perhaps I am retaining water?  Dunno.  I do know that last week I had a bit more salt than in previous weeks, but I doubt it could result in such a dramatic shift.  I'll cut back on the sodium and alcohol this week and we'll see what happens next Monday.


Being so close to 300 and having a setback sucks, indeed, but my roll-with-the-punches demeanor is a testament to my new mindset.  I'm not getting discouraged or derailed.  It's a blip.  I'll be fine.


Cya Tuesday,
M


What I ate today and how I exercised:
Breakfast ~ I put together a nice two-egg omelet, with a little lean ham, one half slice of provolone, onions and tomatoes.  It came in at 315 calories or less.  It was fabulous!
Lunch ~ 2 slices of ham and 2 slices of smoked turkey on whole grain roll, with onions, tomato, avocado and chipotle lite mayo.  So good I wanted another.  I kept things in check, though.
Afternoon snack ~ A small bowl of cereal with almond milk and banana
Dinner ~ 6 vegetables, oyster mushrooms and tofu in a green coconut curry sauce over brown rice.
Exercise ~ A 35 minute walk with foster dog Fay.  She's a cutie and very sweet.  Who wants to take her home?