BD's

Tomorrow is Amy and my second anniversary, and since I'm leaving for California tomorrow, we decided to go out for dinner tonight. We went to one of our favorite restaurants for Amy's birthday, tonight, we hit the other one. Now, I'll be the first to admit, that usually, when I go to BD's, I usually get carried away and waaaaaay overeat. Tonight, though, I think I did pretty well.

Got in my usual resistance training this morning, as well as 30 minutes on both the recumbent bike and treadmill.

Dunno when the next update will be. Probably not tomorrow, as I'll be travelling until about 11P PST. Hopefully I'll get something posted by Wednesday night.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/31:

• South Beach bar
• 8 oz light yogurt
• 1 banana
• 16 oz milk
• 8 oz water
• 14 oz tea
• 12 oz coffee

Lunch 10/31:

• Ham (3 oz) and baby swiss (1 oz) on multigrain bread w/mustard
• 6 oz salad w/~2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
• 3 oz mixed veggies
• 1 apple
• 32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/31:

• 3 oz mixed veggies
• 32 oz water

Dinner 10/31 (BD's Mongolian Barbecue):

• ~5-6 oz beef
• 3 small flour tortillas
• ~10-12 oz salad w/bleu cheese dressing on the side
• 20 oz water

And a 5.5 oz glass of CabSauv for a nightcap.

Eh...

Add a 5.5 oz glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (Kelly's Revenge). Just the way I like it, tearing the taste buds off my tongue :)

Weight Update

Weight as of 10 PM 10/16: 216.5

Visiting the In-Laws

Amy and I went to Massillon over the weekend to visit Amy's parents. She hadn't been home since her birthday, and this was the first chance we got. Oh, and her high school football team's biggest game of the year was on Saturday, and it was televised. Couldn't miss that, now, could we?

I was a slug and didn't exercise this weekend. Just didn't have my heart in it.

This week should be challenging for me. I'm going to California on business, and I haven't completely figured out how I'm going to get my regular exercise and eat right. We'll have to see...

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/29:

• South Beach bar
• 12 oz milk
• 16 oz coffee
• 8 oz water

Lunch 10/29 (McDonald's):

• Quarter Pounder w/Cheese
• 6 oz salad w/~2 tbsp ranch dressing
• 4 oz mixed fruit
• 16 oz lemonade
• 16 oz coffee
• 16 oz water

Dinner 10/29:

• Quizno's 4" Cabo Chicken Sammich
• 4 oz salad w/~2 tbsp ranch dressing
• 16 oz water

Breakfast 10/30:

• South Beach bar
• 8 oz coffee
• 8 oz water
• 20 oz coffee

Lunch 10/30:

• ~1.5c hamburger casserole
• 6 oz salad w/~2 tbsp italian dressing
• 1 small croissant
• 1 apple

Dinner 10/30:

• Ham & Colby sammich
• ~10 oz salad w/honey mustard dressing
• 1 apple
• ~2 oz grapes
• 8 oz water

Evening 10/30:

• 16 oz coffee
• 12 oz OJ

Sleep Deprivation

I think the lack of sleep is catching up with me. I've been getting up at 5A pretty much every day in order to get to the gym, so I've only been getting about 4.5-5 hours of sleep each night. Gonna call it an early night tonight, and sleep in a bit tomorrow.

Got my resistance training in this morning, as well as a full 30 minutes on both the recumbent bike and treadmill.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/28:

• South Beach bar
• 8 oz light yogurt
• 1 apple
• 12 oz milk
• 30 oz water
• 20 oz coffee

Lunch 10/28:

• 10 oz salad w/ ~2tbsp balsamic vinagrette
• 3 oz mixed veggies
• 3 oz grapes
• 32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/28:

• 3 oz mixed veggies

Dinner 10/28:

• ~1 c beef stew (beef, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, Golden Mushroom soup
• 1/4 c (precooked) rice
• 8 oz salad w/~2 tbsp italian dressing
• 3 oz fresh pineapple
• 12 oz milk

Ugh, the gym...

So, for some reason, the gym kicked my butt today. I did 30 minutes on both the recumbent bike and treadmill, and I thought I was going to pass out! Evidently walking through the neighborhood at a fast clip doesn't do as much as working out at the gym...

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/27:

• South Beach bar
• 8 oz light yogurt
• 3 oz grapes
• 12 oz milk
• 20 oz coffee
• 30 oz water

Lunch 10/27:

• Ham (3 oz) and swiss (1 oz) on multigrain bread w/mustard
• 6 oz salad w/raspberry vinagrette
• 3 oz grapes
• 4 oz mixed veggies
• 32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/27:

• 4 oz mized veggies
• 32 oz water

Dinner 10/27 (Max & Erma's):

• Large Third Street Salad (chicken removed)
• 6 oz fish
• ~2 oz fries
• ~2 oz cole slaw
• ~25 oz iced tea

Weekly Checkup

I had my weekly checkup today at McConnell. They were again happy with my progress (I've dropped about 5 lbs since last week). I also found out that I'm clear to drink the occasional glass of wine, so long as it doesn't affect my weight loss. In addition, I did my resistance training and 30 minutes on the recumbent bike. No walk tonight, I'm tired...

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/26:
South Beach bar
3 oz white grapes
8 oz yogurt
30 oz water
20 oz coffee

Morning Snack 10/26:
4 oz red grapes
10 oz coffee

Lunch 10/26 (Wendy's):>
Jr Cheeseburger Deluxe
Spring Mix Salad w/2 tbsp creamy ranch dressing
fruit cup
20 oz iced tea
32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/26:
4 oz mixed veggies
3 oz white grapes

Dinner 10/26 (Boston Market):
Meatloaf (~6 oz)
Mashed potatoes (~4 oz) w/gravy
~3 oz green beans
Caesar salad, no dressing
20 oz Minute Maid lemonade

A Clarification

A few weeks ago, I made the comment that "South Beach bars taste like ass." I'm happy to report that my initial observation was too general. The South Beach bars that I first tried, I believe they were the "meal replacement bars," did indeed taste like ass, but I've had the opportunity now to try two flavors of the "breakfast bars" and am very happy to report that they do not, in fact, taste like ass. They're remarkably good in fact. I've had the chocolate flavored bars, and now I'm mowing my way through the maple nut bars, and they're pretty darned good. A little dry for my taste, but with a glass of milk, very good.

I slept in again today, this time until 5:30A, and only had time to walk for a half hour. Amy and I walked the remaining half hour together before dinner tonight. It's cold and rainy here in Columbus, not sure why I haven't been going to the gym, it's perfect weather for it...

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/25:
South Beach bar
12 oz milk
3 oz grapes
8 oz yogurt
24 oz water
14 oz coffee

Lunch 10/25:
Roast beast (3 oz) and swiss (1 oz) on multigrain bread w/mustard
6 oz salad w/ 2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
3 oz mixed fruit
4 oz mixed veggies
32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/25:
4 oz mixed veggies
32 oz water

Dinner 10/25:
3.5 oz turkey sausage
~1 cup Lipton Stroganoff Pasta Side
4 oz mixed veggies
4 oz fresh pineapple
6 oz salad w/ 2 tbsp italian dressing
12 oz milk

Doctor Visit

I had a doctor appointment today, so I didn't go to the gym. However, I still got up at 5A and did my resistance training on the Bowflex, followed by a 30 minute brisk walk. It was too cold to go any longer! The doctor was pleased with my progress. I'm down about 10-11 pounds since I last saw her.

We had an "All Hands" meeting today over lunch, with lunch provided. I elected to have my own lunch, because I figured that there wouldn't be any healthy choices. And I was right: pizza and cookies. Glad I packed...

Breakfast 10/24:
South Beach bar
8 oz yogurt
1 apple
40 oz water
20 oz coffee

Lunch 10/24:
Roast beast (3 oz) and swiss (1 oz) sammich on multigrain bread w/mustard
6 oz salad w/raspberry vinagrette
4 oz mized veggies

Afternoon Snack 10/24:
1 apple
4 oz mixed veggies
32 oz water

Dinner 10/24:
4 oz chicken breast
~ 1 cup (cooked) rice
6 oz salad w/ 2 tbsp italian dressing
4 oz mixed veggies
3 oz fresh pineapple (yum!)
12 oz milk

Oh yeah, Amy and I walked an additional 30 minutes tonight.

Weight Update

Weight as of 10 PM 10/16: 218.5

Lazier Sunday :)

If possible, today was lazier than yesterday! While there weren't naps today, I don't think we did nearly as much as we did yesterday. Again, no formal exercise, but we got out of the house. Had lunch at Camille's Sidewalk Cafe up on Polaris, went grocery shopping, and mowed the front lawn. That's about it. Watched football, and am learning to use JavaScript. How's that for lazy!

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/23
South Beach bar
20 oz coffee
8 oz water

Lunch 10/23 (Camille's Sidewalk Cafe):
Poblano Chicken Natu-Wrap
House Salad w/ balsamic vinagrette
24 oz iced tea

Dinner 10/23:
4 oz pork chop
~3/4 cup teriyaki rice
6 oz salad w/ 2 tbsp ranch dressing
4 oz green beans w/ onions and garlic
12 oz milk

I'll also have 4 oz pineapple later tonight, and probably some water. I never got around to the pineapple, which was good since I had a doctor appointment the next day and needed to be fasting!

Today is "weight update day," look for an update later tonight.

Lazy Saturday

Looks like I forgot to update yesterday. Oops.

Yesterday was a very lazy day. I slept in late (well, late for me), then joined Amy at Otterbein's campus for their Homecoming festivities for a while. Amy is an alumnus of Otterbein and had attended the parade. She called me for an event called "A Taste of Westerville" where a bunch of local restaurants and caterers came to sell samples of their regular wares. We looked around and settled for fish and chips from a pub called Old Bag 'o Nails. Very tasty!

The rest of the afternoon was spent watching football, napping, and playing on the computer. We had intended to have dinner at home, but somehow we forgot to take something out of the freezer. So, since I had a taste for a burger, we went to Red Robin. After dinner, off to see Corpse Bride. Not as good as I had hoped, unfortunately...

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/22:
South Beach bar
12 oz milk
8 oz water

Lunch 10/22, Part 1 (Old Bag 'o Nails):
~4 oz fish (I'm assuming cod or somesuch)
a few (3 or 4) french fries
12 oz water
Part 2 (back at home):
6 oz salad w/ ~2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
3 oz grapes
16 oz coffee
24 oz water

Dinner 10/22 (Red Robin):
Bleu Ribbon Burger (I asked the waitress to not even bring be fries)
~6 oz salad w/ bleu cheese dressing on the side
30 oz water

Evening Snack 10/22:
12 oz coffee

Did you know that Red Robin doesn't have a dinner-sized garden salad? I went through several hoops to get a large salad. Fortunately, the waitress was a good sport and brought me what I asked for. Yes, I tipped her well.

Blackmail!

Hmmmm.... my friend, Ken has provided all the incentive I'll ever need to lose the weight and keep it off...

Mmmmmm..... Quiznos!

How do I love thee, oh Quizno's? Let me count the ways.

I love Quizno's. There, I've said it. I love Quizno's. They have the best subs, hands down. Subway can't touch them. Only thing I've had that has been close is Firehouse Subs, and that's down in South Carolina, so I won't get much of a chance to compare. But, that's OK, because I love Quizno's.

Got in a full workout today. Both resistance and cardio. I booked 30 min. on the recumbent bike, but only 15 min. on the treadmill.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/21:
South Beach Bar
12 oz milk
8 oz light yogurt
1 apple
30 oz water
20 oz coffee

Lunch 10/21 (Quizno's):
Quizno's Cabo Chicken sammich, small (~4")
Largish garden salad, ~4 oz
16 oz iced tea
32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/21:
1 apple

Dinner 10/21 (Panera):
1/2 Frontega Chicken sammich
Classic Cafe salad
large fruit cup
8 oz water

Long Day

What a long day! Training til 4:30PM, then sticking around until 7:15PM working with a consultant on a customization for our test case manager. Oof! But, it was productive, we got everything ironed out, and the training should be pretty helpful in the long run.

Got a half hour in on the recumbent bike this morning, plus a half hour on the treadmill. I bumped up the incline from the beginning today, and picked up the pace for the last 15 minutes. I think I'll try the higher pace from the beginning tomorrow morning.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/20:
South Beach Bar (Chocolate, MUCH better than the other ones!)
8 oz light yogurt
1 apple
20 oz coffee
30 oz water

Lunch 10/20:
6 oz rib-eye (left overs from from last night)
6 oz baked potato (more left overs)
6 oz salad w/2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
3 oz mixed veggies
8 oz coffee
32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/20:
1 apple
4 oz coffee

Dinner 10/20:
3 oz chicken breast
3 oz rice
6 oz salad w/2 tbsp ranch dressing
3 oz cukes
10 oz OJ

Good Tom (sorta)

Today is Amy's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is, but sufficient to say she is a mere babe in the woods next to yours truly. Anyhow, she asked to go to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday dinner, with a trip to Graeter's afterward. Me being me, and Texas Roadhouse having the best rib-eye in the world, and Graeter's having the best frozen deserts anywhere, I took her where she wanted to go. Now, normally, I'd pig out, but I planned ahead and I think I did well. Of course, that's until we got to Graeter's. I hadn't planned to have anything, but they had apple cider sorbet, which sounded too good not to try. And it was better than anything I've ever had there. But again, I tried to be good, as you'll see below.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/19:
South Beach bar
8 oz light yogurt
1 apple
8 oz water
16 oz coffee

Lunch 10/19:
Roast beast (3 oz) and swiss (1 oz) on multigrain bread w/mustard
6 oz salad w/ ~2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
3 oz mixed veggies
32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/19:
3 oz grapes
6 oz mixed veggies

Dinner 10/19 (Texas Roadhouse):
Side salad (~4 oz) w/ bleu cheese dressing on the side
~1/2 cup green beans
~6 oz rib-eye steak (about half of the steak)
~6 oz baked potato w/ butter (about half the potato)
~20 oz water

Dessert (Graeter's):
1/2 scoop apple cider sorbet (I'm guessing ~2 oz?)

You'll notice that I only ate half my steak, half my potato, and half my sorbet. The steak and potato will be lunch or dinner later on, the sorbet had to go bye-bye. BTW, if you live near a Graeter's, try their apple cider sorbet. It's awesome!

Check-Up

I had a check-up today at the McConnell center. Both Michelle (exercise physiologist) and Cheryl (dietician) told me that I'm doing well. Cheryl was happy with my meal choices, especially during vacation. Makes a guy feel pretty good :)

Went to the gym this morning at my usual 5:30AM time. Did my resistance training, walked a treadmill for 30 minutes and rode the recumbent bike for 20.

Stressful Day

Today was a pretty stressful one. There were layoffs today, and there were issues with one of the projects on which I am working. But, I'm happy to say, I didn't lapse into any "stress eating".

I had an appointment with a vampire this morning, so I didn't go to the gym. Instead, I took a very brisk hour long walk, which made up for it.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/18:
South Beach Bar
8 oz light yogurt
3 oz mixed veggies
32 oz water
16 oz coffee

I also sucked down 32 oz water during my morning work hours

Lunch 10/18:
Roast beast (3 oz) and swiss (1 oz) on multigrain bread w/mustard
6 oz romaine lettuce w/ 2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
3 oz carrots

Afternoon Snack 10/18:
32 oz water
4 oz apple sauce

Dinner 10/18:
1 Johnsonville brat
~1 cup Lipton Pasta Sides, Buttered Noodles
6 oz romaine salad w/ ~2 tbsp ranch dressing
3 oz mixed veggies
12 oz milk

Visit with Ray

As part of the program at McConnell, I will have visits with Ray, who will help me get to the emotional roots of my eating, and possibly exercise, habits. The cool thing about McConnell is that in addition to helping me understand the hows of healthy living, they'll help me understand the whys of where I've been going wrong. Good stuff.

Diet Update

Breakfast 10/17:
South Beach Bar
12 oz milk
30 oz water

Morning Snack 10/17:
8 oz light yogurt
1 apple
20 oz coffee
32 oz water

Lunch 10/17:
Roast beast (3 oz) and swiss (1 oz) on multigrain bread w/mustard
3 oz carrots
6 oz romaine lettuce w/2 tbsp raspberry vinagrette
32 oz water

Afternoon Snack 10/17:
3 oz mixed veggies

Dinner 10/17:
Shrimp (4 oz), veggies (~2 oz) and ramen noodles (1 pack)
6 oz salad
12 oz OJ

Back to the Gym

Quick update during lunch today. The back feels better today, I guess I needed a good night's sleep. I got up and went to the gym this morning. It wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. I got in my resistance training routine this morning, as well as 30 minutes on the treadmill and 20 on the recumbent bike. I'm not saying that I'm a morning person by any means, but I kind of like getting it out of the way first thing, it frees up my evenings.

Diet update to come at the end of the day today.