Still On Thanksgiving Break: 6 Month Progress Report

I lost 35 lb. in 6 months. Not bad considering I probably stuck to the diet less than 50% of time.


Thanksgiving wasn't especially gluttonous. We don't have the two months of leftovers in the freezer that we had last year. In fact, our cupboard was bare Thursday evening and we had to eat emergency provisions (in this case Chef Boyardee canned goods. I think that is the first time I ever ate a Chef Boyardee dinner. It tasted pretty much the way I expected it to taste.)

 Hope to restart diet soon.

Food Log: November 24, 2015

I went off-diet. I started out OK, eating 10 oz. turkey, sunflower seeds, a portion of an apple. unfortunately I didn't have anything prepared for dinner.

At work, I was served a pork chop cooked in mushroom soup, a few tater tots and a serving of peas, Portions were small but loaded with fat. I was hungry and I didn't have anything else prepped so I enjoyed my supper. I also consumed a tangerine, an orange and 1 oz. of pretzels. Per usual, I sipped black coffee throughout the evening.

Ms. D. served me some fried rice at about 1 AM. This just made me hungrier and I added three microwave-poached eggs and three pieces of toast. Still hungry, I ate two Atkins Indulge, which is what they now call their peanut butter cups.

Note: Thanksgiving Break is upon us. Hope to not overdo the consumption. Wish me well.

Food Log: November 23, 2015

Once more, upper GI problems caused me to temporarily abandon my diet. Again,  I could not connect the belching and slight nausea to anything I consumed.

The symptoms lasted for hours. Pretzels helped a little (500 calorie estimate) and the package of ginger candy (980 calorie estimate) and the servings of raw ginger put the monster at bay. I broke down and ordered a Burger King double cheeseburger and a "value fries." My stomach felt much better but I still had a few problems later in the evening.

I snacked throughout the evening. A few strawberry wafers and pretzels. Late at night I had a cup of plain non-fat yogurt with blackberries and a second cup with pineapple.

Food Log: November 22, 2015

The 52nd Anniversary of that fateful day in Dallas. RIP JFK. You were great!

Black coffee and 1.5 navel oranges...Because Ms. D. brought home Doritos, I snacked on them all day. Finally at 4 PM I ate 9 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Because Ms. D. said she was going to make more nachos once more for dinner I decided to break diet altogether and as of 7:55 PM I ate two chocolate eclairs. Can't wait for them nachos.

Food Log: November 21, 2015.

Black coffee, orange, apple

6 PM: 5 oz. turkey, 10 oz. Black Forest Ham

10 PM: Nachos with sour cream (Courtesy Ms. D.) Good

2 navel oranges

Food Log: November 20, 2015

Black coffee in AM

1 PM: 19 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce

2 PM: Approximately 1 oz. whole sunflower seeds (cut short by severe acid indigestion)

4 PM: 1 oz. pretzels.

Black coffee throughout evening.

9 PM: 2 Pecan Tarts (courtesy CB) 9 oz. tuna (5 oz. chunk lite, 4 oz. Bumble Bee Thai Spice) 1 oz. pretzels, diet soda.

3 AM: 3 cups of yogurt, two bananas, navel orange (had some bad muscle cramps...also took potassium supplements and vitamin C.)

Food Log: November 19, 2015

Black coffee and apple in AM.

1 PM: 6 oz. baked chicken breast marinated in lime juice and Bragg's Organic Kelp seasoning.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee throughout evening.

9 PM: 9 oz. tuna (5 oz. chunk lite, 4 oz. Bumble Bee Thai Spice) 1 oz. pretzels.

1 AM: 2 cups plain, non-fat yogurt with pineapple, serving of shrimp, diced tomatoes and spinach, two Atkins peanut butter cups, 3 oz. gin.

Food Log: November 18, 2015

Black coffee in AM.

1 PM: 14 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee and caffeinated diet soda throughout evening.

Sigh. I had to abandon diet tonight. Did not have a chance to prepare anything for myself so I ate a little bit of bread pudding and then a little bit more and then a little bit more....Co-worker mad ambrosia and instead of giving me a regular serving she gave me a large bowl of it. Stupid Cindy girl.

Try again tomorrow.

Chicken sandwich @ 1 AM...Ms. D. made it for me.

Food Log: November 17, 2015

Black coffee in AM

12:30 PM 14 oz. turkey, 2/3 small tomato.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds

Black coffee and diet soda in PM.

6 PM Approximately 4 oz. shepherds pie. Off-diet but I had to sample it because I helped prepare it.

9 PM Large serving of bread pudding: I made it so I had to sample it. I liked it but it wasn't all that well-received.

2 AM: One cup of plain, non-fat yogurt, one banana

Food Log: November 16, 2015

Black coffee, navel orange in AM.

1 PM: 10 oz. Black Forest Ham, spinach, kale and tomato in vinegar.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds

Black coffee, seltzer water, diet soda (with caffeine) in PM, a few raspberries and a few black berries.

7 PM: 2 pieces of roasted chicken, roasted vegetables (turnips, onions, potatoes, turnips) kale with parmesan cheese and olive oil, boiled spinach. Off-diet but I cooked it and served it and it was good.

Around 1 AM: 2 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt, 12 oz. blackberries.

Food Log: November 15, 2015

Black Coffee in AM...Apple, navel orange...As of 3:55 PM I have not eaten anything else. I will be eating shortly. Go Pats!

At 4 PM...Kale, spinach and tomato in vinegar (a minimalist salad) 14 oz. swordfish lightly butter and seasoned with Bragg organic seasoning.

Ugh! The salad caused belching and upper GI problems that lasted for six hours. I ate raw ginger, squeeze paste ginger and antacid tablets. Finally my stomach was settled at 10 PM by snack food.

4 oz. pretzels, 3 oz. potato chips, a bag of microwave popcorn and a large serving of pear bread pudding with a dab of butter, 4 oz. gin...Stomach back to normal.

Maybe I Need A New Scale

I weighed circa 10 AM and it was 220. Four hours later I weighed 216. The usual eliminative processes do not account for 4 lb. in 4 hours.

I use a Sunbeam and of course I usually buy the cheapest in the store. It isn't real precise. I used to step on the scale and it would read 255. I would step off get back on and it would read 254. Try again and it would read 255. Now it seems to be varying more.

I am careful to place the scale in the same spot on the floor and to position my feet the same way each time. Both those things have affected readings in the past. I have an official weigh-in every day between 10 AM and 11 AM but I check the scales almost compulsively.

Of course, since I am losing weight and even my new pants are feeling loose (and I need to punch a new hole in my belt) I am going to eat well today.

Weight Log Updated

Day 0, November 6, 2015...230 lb. Doh
Day 1, November 7, 2015...230 lb.
Day 2, November 8, 2015...222 lb. Hope I can keep up this pace.
Day 3, November 9, 2015...221 lb.
Day 4, November 10, 2015...221 lb.
Day 5, November 11, 2015...221 lb.
Day 6, November 12, 2015...222 lb.
Day 7, November 13, 2015...223 lb.
Day 8, November 14, 2015...223 lb.
Day 9, November 15, 2015...220 lb. Wow! Every number ending in 5 or 0 is a milestone and this one is sweet. Last night when I weighed, the scales dipped under 220 but this is where I am at official Morning Weigh-In.
I don't know why I lose weight in chunks instead of a more gradual reduction.
Day 10, November 16, 2015...220 lb. The normalizing foods might have helped the upper GI but I was hoping to be a bit lighter this AM.
Day 11, November 17, 2015...221 lb. The dreaded backslide.
Day 12, November 18, 2015...222 lb.
Day 13, November 19, 2015...221 lb. Not bad considering all the bread pudding and ambrosia.
Day 14, November 20, 2015...220 lb.
Day 15, November 21, 2015...220 lb.
Day 16, November 22, 2015...220 lb.
Day 17, November 23, 2015...220 lb.
Day 18, November 24, 2015...221 lb.
Day 19, November 25, 2015...224 lb.

Thanksgiving Break has been declared!

Also, this is close to six months of my on again/off again diet. As it stands, I lost 34 lb. in six months.

Food Log: November 14, 2015

Black coffee in AM

Around 2 PM: Two Atkins Peanut Butter Cups.(Off-diet but I was hungry.)

Afternoon: Black coffee, small serving of watermelon, navel orange, Atkins Peanut Butter Cup (I try to limit myself to no more than 4/day. Had bad stomach cramps etc., in 2001 from eating too many in one day.)

Around 6 PM: 10 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Around 11 PM: 10 oz. lightly buttered swordfish baked in oven, lightly seasoned, approximately 1/3 of a small tomato...If a local store continues to sell high quality seafood for less than some cuts of ground beef, weight loss will just have to wait.

1 AM: 2 + cups of plain, non-fat yogurt, approximately 1 oz. sweetened shredded coconut (I did not read label before placing in yogurt) one banana.

Note: Got a little wild with coconut, banana, extra scoop of yogurt because unofficial late night weigh-in was favorable. Stay tuned for daily AM weigh-in.

Off-Topic: Hamsters At Nineteen Days

ANGELS ON LOAN FROM HEAVEN

I don't use the word 'cute' often and I generally avoid those things to which the label is applied. Turns out I have a cute gland after all and it's working overtime these days.

Food Log: November 12, 13

November 12 was a planned cheat day. Unavoidable. had a Gyro sandwich. It was good. Pork chop for dinner. Was doing OK on portions but at one point I ate about a half pack of strawberry wafers.

November 13:

Black coffee, tangerine in AM

1 PM: Approximately 12 oz. boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. sunflower seeds.

Black coffee throughout PM

Around 6:30 PM: 9 oz. tuna (4 oz. Bumble Bee Thai flavor, 5 oz. chuck lite) 1 oz. pretzels, a serving of American Chop Suey (It was going to be a taste but it turned into a serving.)

Around 8:30 a serving of heated apple juice with marshmallow and caramel ( I did not ask for this, it was served to me.)

Around 9:30 PM: Two serving of pear bread pudding with sweetened whipped cream (There's always tomorrow.)

Around 2 AM: 10 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Food Log: November 11, 2015

Black coffee, Honeycrisp apple

1 PM: 8 oz. turkey breast, one small tomato.

2 PM: 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds

4-6 PM: 3 Pears, 1 oz. pretzels

Around 7 PM: 5 oz. chunk lite tuna around

Black coffee throughout evening.

Around midnight: 8 oz. Black Forest Ham

Food Log: November 10, 2015

Black coffee, tangerine.

1:30 PM: 10 oz. Black Forest Turkey, Approximately 1oz. whole sunflower seeds

Black coffee throughout afternoon and evening.

Around 4 PM: 1 Pear.

5:30 PM: Serving of sweet and sour meatballs with rice and mixed veggies.

10 to 11 PM: Navel orange, 1 oz. pretzels.

1 AM: 2 cups Plain Non-fat Yogurt.

Food Log: November 9, 2015

Black coffee, honeycrisp apple

8 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce around 12:30 PM

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds around 2 PM.

Black coffee until 7 PM

From 6 PM to 8 PM...banana, 1 oz. pretzels, banana...

9 PM 4 oz. Bumble Bee Spicy Thai Tuna

Midnight and shortly after...2/3 honeycrisp apple (guinea pig got the rest) 2 cups, plain non-fat yogurt, 6 oz. blackberries, one tangerine

Food Log: November 8, 2015

Black coffee, half of a tangerine

Around 2 PM...8 oz, boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Around 6 PM...Teaspoon of cocoa, teaspoon of cinnamon, half of a tangerine

Black coffee throughout evening.

Around 11 PM...Approximately 1/2 lb. raw tuna with soy and wasabi, large serving of kidney beans in tomato sauce (Damn that was good. The woman can make beans and rice that I will put against high end restaurant food. I skipped on the rice in deference to the diet.)

Food Log: November 7, 2015

Black coffee, half of a tangerine, one navel orange.

5 PM: 10 oz. Black Forest Ham (Doh! I thought I was opening Black Forest Turkey. Oh well.)

Black coffee throughout evening.

One teaspoon of cinnamon and one teaspoon of cocoa around 7PM.

To be continued.

Midnight: 10 oz. Black Forest Turkey, a few pieces of celery.

New Weight Log

Day 0, November 6, 2015...230 lb. Doh
Day 1, November 7, 2015...230 lb.
Day 2, November 8, 2015...222 lb. Hope I can keep up this pace.
Day 3, November 9, 2015...221 lb.
Day 4, November 10, 2015...221 lb.
Day 5, November 11, 2015...221 lb.
Day 6, November 12, 2015...222 lb.
Day 7, November 13, 2015...223 lb.
Day 8, November 14, 2015...223 lb.
Day 9, November 15, 2015...220 lb. Wow! Every number ending in 5 or 0 is a milestone and this one is sweet. Last night when I weighed, the scales dipped under 220 but this is where I am at official Morning Weigh-In.

Concluding A Brief Plateau And Starting Over

From October 29 to November 6th I was on no real diet.

Reasons for not following diet:

1. Work. I have to sometimes eat with clients. I am also on the road without refrigeration. So much easier to just buy something quick and easy. I am going to redouble efforts to have fewer work-related cheat days.

2. Miss D. bought and prepared some heavenly food for me. How could I refuse.

3. New work chefs. I just had to sample their work.

4. Indigestion. Things like fruits, yogurt, vegetables and even low fat meats sometimes cause indigestion of one kind or another. Pretzels. potato chips high fat burgers and ginger candy do wonders for my stomach. I had to abandon my diet a few times to make peace with my system.

5. The above all blame others or circumstances. Truth is, I lost my focus.

I start anew.