Pants Are Getting Tight Once More

I meant to restart diet after Christmas but we received so many treats for Christmas...have to delay at least another week.

Day 0, November 30, 2015...223 lb.
Day 1, December 1, 2015...223 lb.
Day 2, December 2, 2015...224 lb.
Day 3, December 3, 2015...222 lb.
Day 4, December 4, 2015...221 lb.
Day 5, December 5, 2015...221 lb.
Day 6, December 6, 2015...222 lb.
Day 7, December 7, 2015...221 lb.
Day 8, December 8, 2015...222 lb. Holy Plateau, Batman!
Day 9, December 9, 2015...221 lb.
Day 10, December 10, 2015...220 lb.
Day 11, December 11, 2015...221 lb.
Day 12, December 12, 2015...220 lb.
Day 13, December 13, 2015...224 lb.
Day 14, December 14, 2015...222 lb.
Day 15, December 15, 2015...221 lb.
Day 16, December 16, 2015...225 lb. Officially suspending diet that I wasn't really following anyway.
Day 17, December 17, 2015...222 lb. Half asterisk.
Day 18, December 18, 2015...222 lb.  asterisk.
Day 19, December 19, 2015...221 lb.  asterisk.
Day 20, December 20, 2015...222 lb.  asterisk.
Day 21, December 21, 2015...228 lb.  asterisk.
Day 22, December 22, 2015...228 lb.  asterisk.
Day 23, December 23, 2015...230 lb.  asterisk.
Day 24, December 24, 2015...230 lb.  asterisk.
December 25 through December 29...consistent 230 lb.
December 25...asterisk.
December 26 through December 29...No asterisk.

Feeling Good For A Change

I can't believe how great I have felt for about a week now. Ever since I suspended my diet I have had more physical and mental energy. No more digestive problems, lethargy or feeling cold all the time. I also seem to sleep better.

Because I don't want to discuss digestive issues in detail I downplay my ongoing problems. I sometimes think I should keep better track of such things. This I know: Fruits, vegetables and yogurt adversely affect my GI system more than potato chips, nachos and cheesecake. Also, lean meats seem to be less agreeable than fattier meats.

I recently talked to someone I haven't talked to for a couple of years. Of course I worked my weight loss into the conversation. 40 lb! Lowest weight in 25 years! She asked, "do you feel better?"

No, I don't feel better! Not when I was having the conversation, anyway. Since then, I abandoned the diet and have felt infinitely better. Of course I regained more than a pound a day during that feel good time.

I want to get down to 200 lb. and then go on a more high energy diet yet to be determined. Tentatively, I will restart the low-cal diet two days from now.

I Put On Weight FAST!!!

Day 0, November 30, 2015...223 lb.
Day 1, December 1, 2015...223 lb.
Day 2, December 2, 2015...224 lb.
Day 3, December 3, 2015...222 lb.
Day 4, December 4, 2015...221 lb.
Day 5, December 5, 2015...221 lb.
Day 6, December 6, 2015...222 lb.
Day 7, December 7, 2015...221 lb.
Day 8, December 8, 2015...222 lb. Holy Plateau, Batman!
Day 9, December 9, 2015...221 lb.
Day 10, December 10, 2015...220 lb.
Day 11, December 11, 2015...221 lb.
Day 12, December 12, 2015...220 lb.
Day 13, December 13, 2015...224 lb.
Day 14, December 14, 2015...222 lb.
Day 15, December 15, 2015...221 lb.
Day 16, December 16, 2015...225 lb. Officially suspending diet that I wasn't really following anyway.
Day 17, December 17, 2015...222 lb. Half asterisk.
Day 18, December 18, 2015...222 lb.  asterisk.
Day 19, December 19, 2015...221 lb.  asterisk.
Day 20, December 20, 2015...222 lb.  asterisk.
Day 21, December 21, 2015...228 lb.  asterisk.
Day 22, December 22, 2015...228 lb.  asterisk.
Day 23, December 23, 2015...230 lb.  asterisk.
Day 24, December 24, 2015...230 lb.  asterisk.
December 25 through December 29...consistent 230 lb.

Suspending Diet Until After The Holidays

I officially suspended my diet until after the holidays. Too many temptations. Too much socialization.

I once aspired to be a hermit but I learned it was more difficult than I thought. Dieting would be much easier if I was a more solitary animal. Darn primates and their temptations.

Off-Diet December 13 Through 15.

I met some relatives and we ate at a Chili's on Sunday. I don't diet at restaurants. I would rather just stay home.

As of December 15, I still have not gotten back on track,

Food Log: December 11, December 12

Each of these days I had a mid to late evening feeding frenzy. Not just a few bites over the limit...An "oh my goodness why I am I so damn hungry?" kind of moment.
  Not sure why I was so hungry. Well, I know it's because I have been dieting and ignoring my deep hunger and BOOM!

Food Log December 9, 10.

I was forced off-diet on December 9, due to work. I had a Double Whopper Dinner (big size) and since I was off for the day, I enjoyed lasagna and later two tuna sandwiches...Odd, but I seem to have lost a pound amidst the splurge...


I started out on-diet December 10. Orange, black coffee in AM. 8 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce with one half tomato, followed a half hour later by approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds...Coffee and diet soda in PM...I went off the rails with Chicken Bettencourt at about 6 PM. It was delicious...I have nibbled on strawberry sponge cake since then and put a little cream in my coffee...Sigh.

TBC

Bought A Leather Punch Today

Even though I have hit a dreaded plateau, I needed a new belt. I priced a few at Kohl's recently: $28.00.

A leather punch was $9.99 at my favorite hardware store. I found a cheaper punch on ebay but I wanted to grab and go. Problem solved.

Food Log: December 8, 2015

Black coffee, orange in AM

12:30 PM 10 oz. ham with mustard.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee and diet soda (with caffeine) throughout PM.

4 PM: Honeycrisp apple.

6:15 PM: A small serving of chicken breasts and an even smaller serving of potatoes.

7 PM: 1 oz. pretzels.

8:45 PM Navel orange.

TBC

Food Log: December 7, 2015.

Black coffee

1 PM: 10 oz. ham with mustard.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

3:30 PM Small slice of some weight watcher cake that had virtually no taste.

Around 8 PM:  9 oz. tuna (5 oz. chunk lite, 4 oz. Bumble Bee Thai Seasoned) 1 oz. pretzels.

Around 1 AM: 2 cups plain, non-fat yogurt, approximately 10 oz. unsweetened, crushed pineapple.

Food Log: December 6, 2015

Snacked all day...Busy busy busy. I ate a slice of pizza, two oranges and a banana.

Black coffee all day per usual.

At 11 PM I ate a large three cheeseburgers with mayo and baby spinach, two large servings of salad (Baby spinach, tomato, onion, green olives with pimento, kale) with Ranch dressing...Because I had eaten so sparingly throughout the day, I was still hungry despite this hearty meal...So I started eating whatever was available and that Ms. D. did not want but happened to be in fridge...I drank coconut juice mixed with 2 oz. gin (bad mix) and ate some fresh coconut. I mixed two more oz. of gin with lemon juice to neutralize the bad mix...Still hungry I consumed two cups of plain, non-fat yogurt and approximately 8 oz. of crushed, unsweetened pineapple...

Net result, the odd combination of foods did not work out so well. I vomited repeatedly...I swallowed two tablespoons of squeeze ginger. That seemed to prompt the vomiting. Acted as a purgative...Stayed up later than I wanted to as result.

NOTE: 9/2/16...How did I write June 6 instead of December 6?

Food Log: December 5, 2015

Black Coffee and orange in AM.

Mid-afternoon: 1 lb. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Navel orange, banana, black coffee in PM.

Around 11 PM: 1/2 half large cheese pizza, two large servings of a salad (spring mix, turkey, string cheese, tomatoes) with Italian dressing...Way off-diet but Ms. D. bought it for me. Can't beat free.

Food Log: December 4, 2015

Black coffee and navel orange in AM

1 PM: 10 oz. turkey, one tomato.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. sunflower seeds.

Around 8 PM: 9 oz. tuna (5 oz. chunk lite, 4 oz. Bumble Bee Thai Seasoned) 2 oz. pretzels, diet soda

Around 1 AM: Orange, Banana, Approximately 12 oz. crushed pineapple (from a can, unsweetened) Approximately 3 cups plain, non-fat yogurt.

Food Log: December 3, 2015

Black Coffee in AM

Around 1:30 PM...Large size Double Whopper Dinner from Burger King.
(Unavoidable...Work-related.)

Around 6:30 PM...Two pulled pork sandwiches with relish, 1 oz. pretzels, diet cola with caffeine.

Coffee with Half-N-Half...

HOPE TO BE BACK ON DIET TOMORROW. TODAY WAS UNAVOIDABLE (UNLESS I WANTED TO FAST.)

2 more pulled pork sandwiches.

Food Log: December 2, 2015

Black coffee in AM

1 PM: Approximately 9 oz. tuna with some mayonnaise (Ms. D. left some tuna in fridge. Mayo is off-diet but I wasn't going to just toss it. She left about 5 oz. and I added 4 oz. Bumble Bee Thai Seasoned tuna to the mix.) One half tomato.

2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Around 5:30 PM. Small serving of chicken cacciatore with small amount of spaghetti.

Around 7 PM: Banana.

Around 1 AM: Serving of plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, 3 cups plain non-fat yogurt with fresh pineapple. (Looking for a savory additive--love that word--for Greek yogurt. I don't want to find an alternative to fruit.)

Food Log: December 1, 2015

Black coffee

At 12:30 PM: 16 oz. turkey with mustard, two pieces of celery.

At 2 PM: Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

At 6 PM: Small serving of beef stew (off-diet but justifying it with portion control) 1 oz. pretzels.

Around 9 PM: 1 oz. pretzels.

Around 1 AM: 3 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt with 6 oz. raspberries, pineapple

New Weight Log

Day 0, November 30, 2015...223 lb.
Day 1, December 1, 2015...223 lb.
Day 2, December 2, 2015...224 lb.
Day 3, December 3, 2015...222 lb.
Day 4, December 4, 2015...221 lb.
Day 5, December 5, 2015...221 lb.
Day 6, December 6, 2015...222 lb.
Day 7, December 7, 2015...221 lb.
Day 8, December 8, 2015...222 lb. Holy Plateau, Batman!
Day 9, December 9, 2015...221 lb.
Day 10, December 10, 2015...220 lb.
Day 11, December 11, 2015...221 lb.
Day 12, December 12, 2015...220 lb.
Day 13, December 13, 2015...224 lb.
Day 14, December 14, 2015...222 lb.
Day 15, December 15, 2015...221 lb.
Day 16, December 16, 2015...225 lb. Officially suspending diet that I wasn't really following anyway.
Day 17, December 17, 2015...222 lb. Half asterisk.
Day 18, December 18, 2015...222 lb.  asterisk.
Day 19, December 19, 2015...221 lb.  asterisk.
Day 20, December 20, 2015...222 lb.  asterisk.
Day 21, December 21, 2015...228 lb.  asterisk.
Day 22, December 22, 2015...228 lb.  asterisk.
Day 23, December 23, 2015...230 lb.  asterisk.
Day 24, December 24, 2015...230 lb.  asterisk.

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.

Diet Log October 27, October 28

I didn't exactly stay on-diet on the 27th but I had stomach trouble and thus limited my caloric intake. Upon returning home, Ms. D. treated me to veggies and rice, two poached eggs with tow pieces of toast. I ate very little that day so I went ahead and ate those items even though they were off-diet.
Next day (28th) I weighed 222 lb. Something to be said for caloric restriction, I suppose.

October 28: I went to work three hours early. This threw off my efforts to stay on-diet. I ate nothing but 1.5 chocolate chip cookies and 1 oz. pretzels until 6 PM when I ate two pulled pork sandwiches with a splash of spiracha mayonnaise with two helpings of green bean casserole. This is what happens when one allows oneself to get hungry instead of consuming small amounts throughout the day...Later sampled half a brownie.

Food Log: Off-Diet From October 22 to October 26/MY NEW ADDICTION

Multitude of problems: chronic indigestion, planned excursion to car race where I packed sandwiches and snacks into coat (could not easily stay on diet that day--October 24.) Also wanted to test a dish someone prepared for me on October 26 (KO pork chops, red bliss mashed potatoes.)

MY NEW ADDICTION:

Ginger candy. Dried ginger with sugar and ginger taffy. Both have medicinal properties and can relieve an upset stomach. Unfortunately, both are fattening. I tend to eat every piece that is available until they are all gone. Stomach feels better and I can eat real food again after consuming a bag of ginger candy.

Food Log: More Stomach Trouble

Not sure why these foods would cause me to belch and feel nauseous but if they are purported to be good for you, they generally make me feel bad.

Another common denominator is the absence of high levels of salt:

Black coffee

Honeycrisp apple

10 oz. turkey, some celery.

That's what caused hours of misery. Took a few antacids, no relief. Eventually bought some crystallized ginger and ate that. Felt better so I ate 1.5 breaded pork chops and two large helpings of mashed potatoes. Once again, I felt a deep craving for purported unhealthy food to make me feel better. It made me feel better instantly.

Further reflections on the digestive merits of salt. Usually after lunch I eat a couple of ounces of whole sunflower seeds. They are super salty. I was out of sunflower seeds today (as well as pretzels) and the absence of regularly-consumed NaCl seems to have an adverse effect on my well being.

I ate a serving of Chicken Obrie with angel hair and an ounce of gin before bedtime.

October 20. Off Diet

Work dictated that I go off diet. Oh well...

Chx breast

Burger King (Sure felt good after I ate)

Drank coffee with cream

Mexican lasagna

Popcorn

More To Come

All Good

Concluded evening with 8 oz. ham with mustard and two glasses of Boone's Farm wine

Food Log: October 19, 2015

Black coffee

Honeycrisp apple

1 lb. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee

Small serving Chx. Obrie with angel hair

Apple

Small serving Chx. Obrie, 1 oz. gin.

Food Log: October 18, 2015

Black coffee

Apple

I suffered indigestion for some reason. An apple and black coffee should not cause problems. The only thing I could think of are the jalapenos from the previous evening. I felt lightheaded a couple of times. Felt like I needed to eat but the indigestion made that a bad idea.

Grocery shopping was on the agenda and I hate to shop when I am hungry but I managed to resist impulse buying. I wanted to buy ginger but produce had none. I looked at the contents of a couple of ginger ales and none of them contained real ginger.

Ultimately I ate a half bag of potato chips and a half a bag of pretzels. 1200-1500 calories. One of the reasons I like salty foods is that salt relieves indigestion. Someday there will be a salt backlash and we will celebrate its wonders.

At 6:27 PM I feel a lot better due to pretzels and chips.

Around 11 PM I ate more pretzels and chips. Isn't it amazing that the foods with the least healthful reputations are often the foods that make us feel better (or at least do no harm.)

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.
Day 4, October 7, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 5, October 8, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 6, October 9, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 7, October 10, 2015..228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 8, October 11, 2015..226 lb. On diet! Yea!
Day 9, October 12, 2015..226 lb.
Day 10, October 13, 2015..225 lb.
Day 11, October 14, 2015..225 lb.
Day 12, October 15, 2015..225 lb.
Day 13, October 16, 2015..224 lb.
Day 14, October 17, 2015..222 lb.
Day 15, October 18, 2015..220.5 lb.
Day 16, October 19, 2015..220.5 lb.
Day 17, October 20, 2015..Did not weigh or forgot or was too hurried.
Day 18, October 21, 2015...225 lb. Doh!
Day 19, October 22, 2015...225 lb.
Day 20, October 23, 2015...225 lb.
Day 21, October 24, 2015...224 lb.
Day 22, October 25, 2015...225 lb.
Day 23, October 26, 2015...228 lb.
Day 24, October 27, 2015...224 lb.
Day 25, October 28, 2015...222 lb.
Day 26, October 29, 2015...224 lb.
Day 27, October 30, 2015...224 lb.
Day 28, October 31, 2015...224 lb.
Day 29, November 1, 2015...224 lb.
Day 30, November 2, 2015...222 lb.
Day 31, November 3, 2015...225 lb.
Day 32, November 4, 2015...226 lb.
Day 33, November 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 34, November 6, 2015...230 lb. Time to start dieting.

Note: As of this writing (11/7/15) I have not recorded the days I was off-diet on the Weight Log. I have recorded them in my food log, if only to say I had not been dieting. Until this table can be edited it looks like I was off-diet 4 of 34 days. 4 of 34 would actually be closer to the number of days that I restricted fat and calories.

Food Log: October 17, 2015

Black coffee

Apple

5 oz. chx. breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, one small tomato

Black coffee

Apple

7 oz. chx. breast marinated in lime juice, Mrs. Dash smothered in jalapenos

Food Log: October 16, 2015

Apple

Black coffee

10 oz. tuna (5 oz. chunk light, 5 oz. Thai flavored)

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee

Apple

5 oz. chunk lite tuna.

1 lb. strawberries, 2 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt.

Food Log: October 15, 2015

Apple

Black Coffee

5 oz. chicken breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash.

Approximately 2 oz. sunflower seeds.

Black coffee, Crystal Lite with caffeine

Serving of Chicken Cacciatore with angel hair

1 oz. pretzels.

1 lb. strawberries, 2 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt.

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.
Day 4, October 7, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 5, October 8, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 6, October 9, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 7, October 10, 2015..228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 8, October 11, 2015..226 lb. On diet! Yea!
Day 9, October 12, 2015..226 lb.
Day 10, October 13, 2015..225 lb.
Day 11, October 14, 2015..225 lb.
Day 12, October 15, 2015..225 lb.
Day 13, October 16, 2015..224 lb.

Food Log

Black Coffee

1.5 Apple

16 Oz. turkey with mustard.

Approximately 2 Oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Small pulled pork sandwich, 4 tater tots

1 Oz. pretzels.

5 plum prunes, 1 cup of plain non-fat yogurt

1 lb. shrimp with cocktail sauce

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.
Day 4, October 7, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 5, October 8, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 6, October 9, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 7, October 10, 2015..228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 8, October 11, 2015..226 lb. On diet! Yea!
Day 9, October 12, 2015..226 lb.
Day 10, October 13, 2015..225 lb.
Day 11, October 14, 2015..225 lb.

Food Log: October 13, 2015

Apple

Black coffee

8 oz. turkey with mustard, 6 oz. tuna with soy sauce and wasabi.

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee

Small serving of meat loaf, mixed veggies

1 oz. pretzels.

5 or 6 prune plums, 1 cup of plain, non-fat yogurt.

Approximately 2 Oz. gin.

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.
Day 4, October 7, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 5, October 8, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 6, October 9, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 7, October 10, 2015..228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 8, October 11, 2015..226 lb. On diet! Yea!
Day 9, October 12, 2015..226 lb.
Day 10, October 13, 2015..225 lb.

Food Log: October 12, 2015

Black Coffee

Apple

18 oz. raw tuna (sushi-grade on sale for $4.99/lb.) with wasabi and soy, two tomatoes.

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black Coffee

5 oz. canned tuna, 1 oz. pretzels.

A packet of Crystal Lite with caffeine.

3 Marilon vanilla flavored wafers.

Small serving of popcorn.

1 lb. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.
Day 4, October 7, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 5, October 8, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 6, October 9, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 7, October 10, 2015..228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 8, October 11, 2015..226 lb. On diet! Yea!
Day 9, October 12, 2015..226 lb.

Food Log: October 11, 2015

Black coffee

1.5 apple (shared half with Shadow, the guinea pig)

8 oz. turkey, tomato

Approximately 2 oz. sunflower seeds

Black coffee

1 lb. strawberries, 2 cups plain, non-fat yogurt.

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.
Day 4, October 7, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 5, October 8, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 6, October 9, 2015...228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 7, October 10, 2015..228 lb. (Off diet)
Day 8, October 11, 2015..226 lb. On diet! Yea!

Food Log October 7-10

Way off diet.  Some planned, some unplanned. Unexpected travel (nowhere exotic). A found Outback gift card. One or two lapses in will power. Still, I maintained my weight of 228.

Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.
Day 2, October 5, 2015...228 lb.
Day 3, October 6, 2015...228 lb.

Food Log: October 6, 2015

Black coffee

8 oz. ham, 8 oz. turkey both with mustard.

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

6 Marilan vanilla flavored wafers.

1 prune plum

One slice of pizza, seven French Fries.

New Weight Log

Day 0, October 3, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1, October 4, 2015...228 lb.

Food Log October 4, 5

October 4

Black coffee, apple

At 5 PM 16 oz. turkey with mustard, 1 tomato.

At 11:30 PM 16 oz. ham with mustard, 1 tomato.

October 5

Black coffee

12 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce.

Approximately 2 oz. sunflower seeds.

1 oz. pretzels.

Prune plum (small plums)

A small serving of shepherd's pie and a taste of cornbread

Black coffee

1 oz. pretzels.

September 30 To October 3 Food Log

I knew I was going to off-diet most of the week concluding with a going away party on Saturday October 3. The plan was to restart on October 4.

I ate well on this four day hiatus. Back to the salty mines.

September 29, 2015:Off Diet

For work-related reasons I was unable to stay on.

Had 12 oz. shrimp with cocktail sauce .

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

@ Work things went off the rails but it was worth it...Favorite cook is changing jobs and I am experiencing her farewell tour. Chx. Picatta, spinach, candied carrots.

I had a few cookies and an orangesicle.

Tomorrow I will have to take client to lunch and will have to skip diet.

Saturday is going away party.

I'll get back on diet someday.

Weight Log

Day 0: September 19, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1: September 20, 2015...230 lb.
Day 2: September 21, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3: September 22. 2015...230 lb.
Day 4: September 23, 2015...227 lb.
Day 5: September 24, 2015...228 lb.
Day 6: September 25, 2015...No weigh in.
Day 7: September 26, 2015...225 lb.
Day 8: September 27, 2015...228 lb.
Day 9: September 28, 2015...225 lb.
Day 10: September 29, 2015...228 lb.

Food Log: September 28, 2015

Black coffee, apple

20 oz. of shrimp with cocktail sauce (more than I had intended to eat) tomato

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

A large serving of pasta and meatballs (unplanned)

Black coffee

20. Coke Zero

8 plums with two cups, plain non-fat yogurt, a few pretzels, two oz. gin.

Food Log: September 27, 2015

Food logs are like dream journals. If you don't write them down every day you will probably forget the details.  

Two days, ago (Sunday) I ate 8 oz. of ham (or was it turkey?) one tomato and a few pretzels.

Later, I ate 8 oz. of turkey (or was it ham?) one tomato and a few pretzels.

Late at night I ate a lb. of strawberries and two cups of plain, non-fat yogurt (with a few pretzels and two oz. gin)

I ate a couple of apples throughout the day.

(I know I have to cut back on pretzels, as much I like them.)

Weight Log

Day 0: September 19, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1: September 20, 2015...230 lb.
Day 2: September 21, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3: September 22. 2015...230 lb.
Day 4: September 23, 2015...227 lb.
Day 5: September 24, 2015...228 lb.
Day 6: September 25, 2015...No weigh in.
Day 7: September 26, 2015...225 lb.
Day 8: September 27, 2015...228 lb.

Food Log: September 26, 2015

Black coffee

Apple

@ 4PM, 8 oz. turkey, 1 tomato, a few pretzels.

Black coffee, plum

8 oz. ham, 1 tomato, a few pretzels.

1 lb. strawberries, 2 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt.

September 25, 2015

I was off-diet today and ate like a pig.

A friend boguth me a coffee with cream from Dunkin Donuts.

Had my biometric screening then went out to eat at Fusion Andida in Beverly, MA. Fusion Peruvian cuisine. I recommend the place.

Ate a couple of pastries at staff meeting.

Ate a Bauducco Strawberry wafer. Also recommnended.

I was served a delicious chicken parmesan for dinner.

It has been a good evening so far.

Since I was off-diet, I ate an lb. of shrimp with melted butter before bed.


=======================================================================
Did not weigh in this AM due to time constraints.

Weight Log

Day 0: September 19, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1: September 20, 2015...230 lb.
Day 2: September 21, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3: September 22. 2015...230 lb.
Day 4: September 23, 2015...227 lb.
Day 5: September 24, 2015...228 lb.

Food Log: September 24, 2015

Black coffee

9 oz. turkey, one tomato

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds

Sausage casserole (Off diet but free)

Some brownies...eaten in portions but I would consider it about a serving of three brownies. (Off diet but free)

:( Sad face. Have had trouble staying on diet.

Food Log: September 23, 2015

Black coffee

Apple

4.5 oz. ham, 9 oz. turkey.

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

52 oz. Coke Zero (79 cent special. Good caffeine delivery system.)

Large serving of meat loaf, buttery, creamy mashed potatoes, green beans with Craisins and shaved almonds. (more than slightly off-diet)

Large serving of lasagna, an oz. gin. (Lasagna was left over and was going to be frozen so I had some before freezing the rest.)

Weight Log

Day 0: September 19, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1: September 20, 2015...230 lb.
Day 2: September 21, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3: September 22. 2015...230 lb.
Day 4: September 23, 2015...227 lb.

It's going to be a real challenge staying on diet for the next few days. Going away parties and such.

Updated 6:58 PM PDT

Food Log: September 22, 2015

Black coffee

Apple

4.5 oz. turkey, 9 oz. ham, serving of raw mixed vegetables (tomatoes, celery, mixed greens) in vinegar

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee

Small serving of pumpkin yogurt (I lost the container but it said 90 calories on the side of it)

Coke Zero

5 oz. tuna, 2 oz. pretzels

1 lb. strawberries minus stems, 2 cups plain non-fat yogurt, a handful of pretzels.

Food Log: September 21, 2015

Happy Solstice:

Black coffee

Apple

6 oz. chx. breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, raw mixed vegetables (tomatoes, celery, mixed greens) in vinegar.

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee

5 oz. tuna, 1 oz. pretzels

2 cups plain, non-fat yogurt, a large slice of watermelon.

Food Log: September 20, 2015

Black coffee, green apple.

6 oz. Chx. breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, raw mixed vegetables (tomatoes, celery, cucumber, mixed greens) in vinegar

Another green apple, approximately 20 pretzels.

Balck coffee

4.5 oz. turkey breast

A large slice of watermelon, 3 cups of plain, nonfat yogurt, approximately 20 pretzels.

Diet Once More

Day 0: September 19, 2015...228 lb.
Day 1: September 20, 2015...230 lb.

A Diet By Any Other Name...

Nails On The Chalkboard Department:

"It's not a diet, it's an eating plan."

"It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle."

The latter phrase seems a bit more successful.

I am not a strong believer in changing names for the purpose of deception. Discrimination becomes affirmative action. Taxation becomes revenue enhancement. Socialism become Progressivism or Populism. 

Political terms are often deceptive and so too are consumptive regimens. You might not like the word "diet" but the definition remains. You can call it an eating plan but an eating plan is exactly what a diet is. 

You can call it a lifestyle but in regards to the nutritional-dispatch facet of  the lifestyle, that is called a diet.

Or better yet, practice a healthful diet.

 No, it is a distinctly different set of syllables.

Suspending Diet *

Looking over the upcoming week, I will not be able to stay on diet but I will resume daily weigh-ins.

I hope to restart the diet soon.

Food Log: September 13, 2015

I am not one to waste food and not one to waste good food.

I was trying to write and as mentioned in a previous post, writing might be triggering cravings for sweets.

I started off OK. Black coffee, peach, plum. Later I cooked and ate 5 oz. chx breast that had been marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash and was smothered in jalapenos. I ate raw mixed veggies (tomato, celery, mixed greens) served in apple cider vinegar. I also ate some previously cooked spinach with malt vinegar and a speck of cooked sauerkraut.

I craved sugar so I ate a half of a peach and two strawberry Fruit Dips.

Dinner was going to be yogurt and fruit but being that Ms. D. was not going to eat the chx cutlets and I hate to throw good food away, I ate two fried chx. cutlets, mashed potatoes, a serving of beef lo mein and three oz. of gin.

I am writing this a day later post daily weigh-in. Despite my backsliding, I lost a pound (226 to 225.) Woo Hoo!

Reflections On Sugar Cravings

An observation I made long ago is that people who do mental labor seem to have a sweet tooth, at least while they are performing mental labor. In much the same way as the ex-smoker might light up when he's trying to troubleshoot a sputtering motor, the programmer, the engineer, or the doctor might be more likely to go for the Snickers when he has to actually think about what is in front of him.

The brain craves sugar. I sometimes perform odd jobs around the house on the weekend. Nothing complicated and nothing too strenuous. As long as I stay moving, I don't seem to get hungry. On weekends I typically eat my first meal late in the afternoon and then another meal about six hours later. My weight logs reflect that I lose more weight on weekends than on weekdays.

Recently I have attempted some marathon writing sessions. I get hungrier faster and crave sweets more than if I had been raking leaves or organizing the tool shed. Fruit is a good choice but this past weekend I could not stay away from a product called Fruit Dips that Ms. D. bought. They consist of some sort of industrially-assembled fruit substance dipped in chocolate. Not something I would ordinarily buy. But they were good. I have to admit I found it easier to write after eating one or two of those babies.

I am hoping to get some writing done this week. Wish me success in controlling my sugar intake.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Day 9 September 7, 2015...225 lb.

Day 10 September 8, 2015...226 lb. Yipes! last two times I fell under 230, I rebounded real fast. It was discouraging.

Day 11 September 9, 2015...225 lb.

Day 12 September 10, 2015...226 lb.

Day 13 September 11, 2015...227 lb.

Day 14, September 12, 2015...226 lb.

9 LB. IN 14 DAYS! WHAT A WEIGHT LOSS METHOD! I WOULD PROBABLY LOSE EVEN MORE IF I ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THE DIET

Day 15 September 13, 2015...226 lb.

Day 16 September 14, 2015...225 lb.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Day 9 September 7, 2015...225 lb.

Day 10 September 8, 2015...226 lb. Yipes! last two times I fell under 230, I rebounded real fast. It was discouraging.

Day 11 September 9, 2015...225 lb.

Day 12 September 10, 2015...226 lb.

Day 13 September 11, 2015...227 lb.

Day 14, September 12, 2015...226 lb.

9 LB. IN 14 DAYS! WHAT A WEIGHT LOSS METHOD! I WOULD PROBABLY LOSE EVEN MORE IF I ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THE DIET

Food Log: September 12, 2015

Black coffee, apple, navel orange, three plums, 1 strawberry "Fruit Dip" a few pretzels...These items were consumed throughout the day.

Black coffee. 9 oz. turkey with salsa

Black coffee, 1/2 peach.

9 oz. ham, raw mixed vegetables (tomatoes, celery, spinach, mixed greens) served in vinegar. 1.5 servings of "Fruit Dip".

That should do it for the day.

Food Log: September 11, 2015

Black coffee

Approximately 6.5 oz. 93% lean ground beef, raw mixed vegetables in vinegar

Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seed.

Black coffee.

Two fried chx. cutlets, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots with butter (off-diet but good)

Two cups of plain, nonfat yogurt, two large slices of watermelon, some pretzels, two oz. gin.

Food Log: September 10, 2015

Black coffee

9 oz. turkey with mustard, a serving of raw vegetables (tomato, spinach, celery) in vinegar.

Approximately .5 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Black coffee.

Two stuffed peppers.

Approximately 6.5 oz. 93% lean ground beef, a serving of raw vegetables (tomato, spinach, celery) in vinegar, a few pretzels, two oz. gin.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Day 9 September 7, 2015...225 lb.

Day 10 September 8, 2015...226 lb. Yipes! last two times I fell under 230, I rebounded real fast. It was discouraging.

Day 11 September 9, 2015...225 lb.

Day 12 September 10, 2015...226 lb.

Day 13 September 11, 2015...227 lb.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Day 9 September 7, 2015...225 lb.

Day 10 September 8, 2015...226 lb. Yipes! last two times I fell under 230, I rebounded real fast. It was discouraging.

Day 11 September 9, 2015...225 lb.

Food Log: September 9, 2015

Apple, black coffee.

.53 lb. mako shark baked and seasoned with Mrs. Dash and kelp, approximately 6.5 oz. 93% lean ground beef, tomato. (More than I wanted to eat but did not want food I paid for to go bad.)

Approximately 1 oz. whole sunflower seeds.

1 oz. potato chips (bag fell into dirty dish water and someone wanted to throw the bag away but chips were fine. So I ate them.)

5 oz. tuna

1 oz. pretzels.

Approximately 3 oz. tuna with mayonnaise (for the third time that day, I ate something off-diet because I did not want to throw it away. I made 10 oz. tuna with mayo for Ms. D. and she of course could not eat the last few teaspoons.)
I tried to mix plain, nonfat yogurt with pico de gallo, trying for a savory yogurt dish...unsuccessful blend but I ate a cup of the mixture anyway.
Approximately 6.5 oz. 93% lean ground beef with pico de gallo.
Two oz. gin.

Food Log: September 8, 2015

Black coffee, clementine.

Due to work I had to go off diet once more...For lunch I had a Wendy's #3 Combo that happens to be a triple decker combo. It was good.

I was left with some indigestion that I don't attribute to Dave Thomas's fixings. It happened to be the hottest day of the year (in September yet) and my AC has been having some trouble. I felt "off" even before eating, At any rate, I skipped dinner but I did eat a serving of bread pudding (a mistake when one is already experiencing indigestion but good nonetheless) and 1 oz. of pretzels, my go to food for an upset stomach.

Drank a few seltzers and had a cup of coffee with cream.

Late at night I ate two clementines, fopur peaches and a cup of plain, non-fat yogurt.

226 Lb

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Day 9 September 7, 2015...225 lb.

Day 10 September 8, 2015...226 lb. Yipes! last two times I fell under 230, I rebounded real fast. It was discouraging.

Repost: Biography By The Pound

My story.

I was a skinny child. Scrawny. A runt. I was a weakling. I was very self-conscious about my lack of substance. That self-image is with me to this day. I can see my image in a full-length mirror and it's not my 48-inch waist that catches my eye. I notice that my biceps and forearms are slightly smaller than they used to be.

Two characteristics I displayed from an early age: I was often tired and I was often hungry. I had a ravenous appetite. I would eat and eat and eat. Then I would get groggy. If I knew then what I know now I would have eased up on the sugars and starches. But at the time there was no such thing as a bad calorie.

In early adulthood I started to exercise more frequently than in adolescence. I started doing fun exercise and supplemented the fun stuff with regimented weight lifting. Changing addresses and work schedules made it harder to practice karate or play basketball or even dance in nightclubs. But I did continue to lift weights from time to time from my early twenties to my late thirties.

My bad diet contributed to my ongoing fatigue. I often got things half right. I might eliminate soda from my diet because of the sugar and then wash down my white bread sandwiches and Fritos with Diet Coke. Sure, I eliminated some sugar but I was still spiking the glycemic scale. As if I wasn't already a self-conscious person I also became sensitive about my ongoing fatigue. Here I was a man in the prime of his life who had to take a nap every afternoon. I talked myself out of joining the Air Force (wise choice in my case) largely because I thought I would probably get court-martialed for snoozing.

I did some things to improve my health. By my mid-20's I had put most intoxicants behind me. I still drank beer now and then but that was kind of a late night thing. I mingled with a wide variety of people and sometimes adopted their diets in hopes of becoming more energetic. I made several attempts at becoming a vegetarian. Understand, this what not done out of sentiment or concern for animals. I could expound on that but I won't right now. This is Planet Earth and a certain amount of cruelty is built into the system. Predation is often cruel and man is a predator. No, I was lead to believe that meat was making me weak. Put down the flesh and pick up the carrot and enjoy the boundless energy nature intended for you.

Vegetarianism was a repeated failure. It turned a tired man into a walking zombie. Because I was not on a crusade of conspicuous compassion I would eat meat when it was offered to me. I felt better after each serving. When I mentioned this to some of my vegetarian friends I would get answers like "meat addiction" and "detoxification" and so on. I ignored my own observations and I ignored what my body was screaming at me: "Meat good."

I hit a point of no return while reading Marvin Harris's "The Abominable Pig and The Sacred Cow." Highly recommended, by the way. Harris was musing on the worldwide obsession with protein, especially amongst primitive peoples. He mentioned a South American tribe who had a word for 'hungry' and another word for 'meat hungry.' I put the book down and raced to the nearest hamburger stand. That was 1987, my last year as an occasional vegetarian.

When I hit 30 I finally started filling out. I had increased my disposable income and had very few expenses. I bought my first microwave and disproved once and for all that money cannot buy happiness. My gluttony was out of control but I did not care. On my 30th birthday I was 6'2" and weighed 160 pounds. I STILL felt inferior because of my thin frame. I had not aspired to look like Fred Astaire or David Bowie or Ichabod Crane. My self-image was that of a scarecrow. Gluttony was a good thing. At last I was addressing my poor self-image in an effective manner.

Ahh, those were the days! I was consuming about 10,000 calories/day. I would order a large pizza and a large sub and eat them in one sitting. I ate a lot of ice cream and fried food. Yes, I was getting bigger and that was my reward for my diligent consumption. I started liking the way I looked. Over a three year period I put on about two pounds per month. I went from 160 pounds to 232. It was time to put on the brakes. That was about 17 years ago.

Nature is cruel. So is everything else. I was pretty confident that I could apply the brakes, reverse direction and cruise back to my ideal weight, somewhere between 180 and 200. I would then use weights to tone up and at last have the body I always wanted.

Hah! Something or someone had sabotaged my brake pedal. I began a seven year period of futility. I tried all sorts of diets and exercise and techniques to stabilize and lose weight. I tried the thermogenic approach where you eat hot foods and turn down the thermostat. I lifted weights. I swam. I walked. I treadmilled. I cycled. I bought an upright punching bag and a Slam Man. I started a lot of exercise programs. I took all sorts of nutritional supplements. I even tried calorie restriction. I stared at the refrigerator for a week and then got on the scales. I had gained two pounds.

I weighed about 280 pounds in 1998 when I decided on one of two drastic courses of action. Course #1 was radical vegetarianism. I know some skinny vegetarians. Of course I also know some pudgy vegetarians. As mentioned, my past efforts at vegetarianism were pretty dismal. The other course of action was to try the Atkins Diet.

1998 was when the Atkins Diet seemed to become popular. I don't follow the dietary habits of celebrities and I am insulted one might suggest that I would mimic their actions but about as soon as I started the diet I started hearing about famous and semi-famous people doing the high protein thing. At first I thought it was that rare disease phenomenon. Your cousin contracts a disease you have never heard of and then all of a sudden you hear of dozens and dozens of people who suffered from the same disease. But no, this diet seemed to have arrived.

Don't ask me why Atkins would be the last diet I would try. I had tried everything else. why not high protein. The results were pretty amazing. I was gobbling dozen-egg crab and cheese omelettes and my weight dropped to about 240. I was probably around 275 immediately before starting the diet. My record keeping was pretty spotty. I lost about 35 pounds in 8 weeks. I was amazed.

But that 240 pound mark would turn out to be floor. Over the next ten years I would lose and regain the same 35 pounds over and over. At 240 I would stop losing. I would drift away from The Atkins Plan and I would reflab almost as fast as I had deflabbed. My wife, my friends, my family all maintained more normal diets. To be sociable I would often eat their food. At holidays and social functions I did as the Romans do. The lowest I have gotten in 17 years was 227. Usually I stall at 240. I was in--and might still be in--the yo-yo years.

A few wacky things about Atkins (and other high protein diets.) One, it is all or none. A few carbs over the limit might be 12 to 20 calories but it is also no weight loss for days to come. Being stubborn, it took me a long time to accept that that one blasted grape sabotaged my plans. And you have to be wary of hidden carbs. Salad dressings and small amounts of cream in my coffee sometimes did me in. It might take me weeks to realize it and then I would eliminate salad or salad dressing or both and I would start to lose again.

Another wacky Atkins thing. Everyone I know hits the wall. They say a plateau but a plateau is an elevated flat land. So I say they flatline. I don't know why that is but I intend to be aware of it. When I stop losing I plan to increase my exercise. When that no longer produces results, I will probably try some other diet. "Other diet? I thought you said you had tried ALL of them." That was 10 years ago. Scores of diets have sprouted up in that time. Scores.

Atkins also has rules that make no sense. That whole induction thing makes no sense to me. If you stay under 20 grams of carbs then what does it matter if you eat nuts or salads? And why no gin in the induction phase but gin later on? I don't know and I don't know but this last effort I have NOT followed their instructions to a tee and you can compare my results to one year ago when I was a bit more in compliance (despite the Half-N-Half in my coffee and the sunflower seeds.)

One last wacky Atkinsism. When you go off-diet the weight can return FAST. From summer of 2007 to winter of 2008 I went from 240 to 290. I didn't keep real detailed records but it looks like I put on 50 pounds in six or seven months.

That is my body story. 30 years of fretting about being too skinny, 3 fun years and then 17 years of worrying about being too fat. At this point it isn't about aesthetics or even about health. It's about success. Self-control. Self-mastery, if you will. I can be stubborn and having set a goal of losing a given amount of weight and repeatedly failing, it makes me more determined to win. Had I not tried so hard and failed I might not be so determined now. It's a chess match and it's not Kasparov or Big Blue sitting across the table from me. I can win this match. "Checkmate?" I sure hope so.

Update: The above was written about fifteen months ago. I weighed close to 280 when I wrote that (I'll look up the exact number and post it later.) I got down to 248 and hit another snag. Stayed there a long time. I went to an ad lib diet but tried to avoid the extreme no-no's. I joined a gym but I was only able to workout every now and then due to my work schedule.

On 6/28/09 I weigh 250 pounds. 250 seems to be the new 240.

Food Log: September 7, 2015

Black coffee, clementine

1.14 oz. baked shark, tomato, mixed veggies raw in vinegar.

Black coffee

5 oz. tuna, 1 oz. pretzels...had a larger than prudent serving of bread pudding (It was good.)

{bad record keeping...5 days later I think I had yogurt and fruit but I could be wrong.} 9/11/15

225 Lb.

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Day 9 September 7, 2015...225 lb.

Food Log: September 6, 2015

Black coffee and two clementines until about 8 PM.

8 PM: Approximately 8 oz. 93% ground beef that has been in the fridge a while. A large serving of unpasteurized sauerkraut and baked spinach season with kelp. A cup of store brand imitation V-8 Juice. Some hot sauce and a chunk of raw ginger.

If I don't get sick from the antique beef I will probably eat once more before bedtime.

226 Lb. My Lowest Weight In About 25 Years

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb

...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

Day 8 September 6, 2015...226 lb.

Food Log: September 5, 2015

Odd Day: Stomach was bothering me for no apparent reason. I felt slightly out of sorts and not sure why. So of course I was not hungry.

Throughout the day I ate

1 navel orange, 2 clementines. Drank black coffee.

At 10:30 PM I ate a large serving of unpasteurized sauerkraut,  a small serving of Uncle Ben's Spanish Rice and about a half a bag of pretzels. Calorie content for the day was about 1000.

228 Lb.

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Day 7 September 5, 2015...228 lb.

The scale dipped lower than that but at 10 AM it was 228.

228 is a milestone for a few reasons.

1. When I restarted the diet on May 28 I weighed 258 lb. So 228 equals a 30 lb. weight loss. 30# YEA!

2. In early 2004 I hit 228 and then regained 40 or so pounds. This current dip to 228 ties my lowest body weight in about 25 years.

3. At one time, this was the obesity cutoff point. Now it seems I have another 8 lb. to go to be simply "Overweight."

Food Log: September 4, 2015

Black coffee, navel orange.

5 oz. baked chx breast marinated in lime Juice and Mrs. Dash and smothered in jalapenos, mixed raw vegetables--tomato, celery, spinach, green peppers--in apple cider vinegar.

Once more, work interferes with diet. Because I could not find time to eat lunch/supper I ate four chocolate chip cookies throughout the evening. 1600 calories. Ugh.

I got out of the shower at about 2 AM and stepped on the scale. 226 lb! A five pound weight loss in 16 hours? I should eat more chocolate chip cookies!

I was going to eat fruit and non-fat yogurt before going to bed. But to celebrate my sudden swing (I realize weight fluctuates throughout the day and I was at a low phase but still, there was cause for gluttony) I ate a stuffed pepper, a fried chicken thigh, a third of an ear of corn and a large serving of potato salad. I also had a couple of small servings of gin.

Note: On Sunday the GNC rep gave me a sample of a thermogenic product and I sampled it right after lunch on Friday September 4. I am not big on proprietary formulas but Krazi Burn might have been helpful in that sudden weight loss.

Weight Kog

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.
Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.
Day 6 September 4, 2015...231 lb. (Just one day off diet)

Food Log: September 3, 2015

Black coffee, navel orange. (I think the orange was from South Africa. Mostly Southern Hemisphere product this time of year.)

Due to the strictures of work life, I had to eat lunch away from home. Yes, I did enjoy myself.

Fuddrucker's #1 Combo....Half Pound Cheeseburger, French Fries, Orange Coke Zero

Since I was off-diet anyway I ate three pieces of fried chicken, a small serving of potato salad and half an ear of corn...diet soda.

I consumed a few wafer cookies...Cream filled wafers...500 calorie ball park estimate...

1 oz. Pretzels.

After dinner I consumed a large quantity of watermelon and two cups of plain, non-fat yogurt.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.
Day 5 September 3, 2015...229 lb...Note. I briefly dipped under 230 lb. in early 2004. I fattened up to 230 sometime in the early 1990's and this is only the second time I have been under 230 since then.

Food Log

Clementine, black coffee
(I'm sure I will be adding to this.)

Lunch was 6 oz. baked chx breast marinated in lime Juice and Mrs. Dash and smothered in jalapenos, mixed raw vegetables--tomato, celery, spinach, green peppers--in apple cider vinegar.

Approximately 1 oz. whole sunflower seeds

Approximately 3 oz. pulled pork, approximately three oz. stuffing (for stuffed pepper)

1 oz pretzels

2 small wafers (approximately 85 calories)

9 oz. 93% ground beef with hot sauce, mixed raw vegetables--tomato, celery, spinach, green peppers--in apple cider vinegar.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.
Day 4 September 2, 2015...231 lb.

Food Log

I got thrown off schedule due to an abrupt change of work schedule. Could not eat prior to leaving home and had to go to McDonald's. I didn't have to go to McDonald's but given that I was really in a hurry and it was close to my work site, I got the break I deserve.


Clementine, black coffee.


2 double cheeseburgers from McDonald's (430 calories each) Large diet drink

1 oz. pretzels.

2 stuffed peppers (they were good) Crystal Lite, black coffee...


Probably will have yogurt and fruit later

Update: 2 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt, 1 lb. strawberries (minus the stems that were included in store weight) 6 pretzels

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Day 3 September 1, 2015...232 lb.

Food Log

Day 1, August 30, 2015: Waited till 5:30 Pm and then ate one clementine.

At 6PM I ate 6 oz. Chx breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash smothered in jalapenos, 5 oz. sauerkraut, one tomato. 7 pretzels after dinner.

Throughout evening I ate a peach and 7 pretzels. Shortly after midnight I ate 9 oz. turkey with mustard and approximately 20 pretzels (I lost count.) Day 2,

 August 31, 2015: Clementine 6 oz. Chx breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash smothered in jalapenos, tomato. Approximately 2 oz. whole sunflower seeds. Approximately 4 oz. sausage with peppers and mushrooms (cumulatively 4 oz., not 4 oz. of sausage) and approximately 2 oz. yellow rice. 1 oz. pretzels orange Black coffee and Crystal Light with caffeine. (I will eat a small meal after midnight)

Update: 3 cups of plain, non-fat yogurt with three peaches.

Weight Log

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb.
Day 1 August 30, 2015...235 lb.
Day 2 August 31, 2015...230 lb.
Note: I try to refrain from mentioning my bowels and matters related to such but the 5 oz. of unpasteurized sauerkraut caused diarrhea and that might account for the rapid weight loss.

Restarting Diet: 235 Lb.

Day 0 August 29, 2015...235 lb. Note: Eating what I want today. I am not a finicky eater and that was a rotten dinner. Store-bought cole slaw was getting old and the hot dogs were yecch. I read the hot dog contents after I had eaten two and I barely got past the "mechanically separated meat from one or more sources..." Yum! Here is a pearl of wisdom: House brands are good for most things but not meat. Pay the extra nickel and buy Nathan's or Hebrew National or Ball Park. And remember that franfurters and hot dogs and wieners are not all the same thing. Eat franks!

Weighs 234 Lb.

I cannot say that I formally restarted the diet. I had to attend all-day conferences on July 22 and July 29. Food--good food--was provided. I was not going to even attempt to stay on diet those days.

Then I had house guests at the end of July so I could not stay on diet. There was a baptism, a baptism party and leftovers.

Then I had a few work-related lunches.

Yes, and my will power failed me a few times.

So, even with minimal commitment I lost six pounds (6 lb.) in 27 days (my last repost July 20.)

Not bad.

Hope to restart the diet in earnest this week.

Diet Restart

Day 0 July 20, 2015...240 lb.

Back From Mini Vacay: Gained 2 Pounds

I left weighing 238 and returned 240. Not bad.

Putting The Die Back In Diet or 4 Pounds In 3 Days

I started following the diet strictly and it seems to make a difference.

To reiterate I was stuck at or around 242 for a few weeks. In that time I ate a little too much fat and consumed a few too many calories. I reverted to the original plan with a few modifications. I have substituted cherries and plums for apples and oranges because the latter two are out of season. You can still find some of last year's crop but they are not as tasty as the fresh fruit.

I will be taking a mini-vacay this week and I plan to eat heartily at that time. Upon return I will start Phase II, which will be a lot like Phase I but without much cheating.

Day 41, July 8...242 lb.
Day 42, July 9...242 lb. (Recommitted to following diet closely)
Day 43, July 10...240 lb.
Day 44, July 11...238 lb.

Still Stuck At 242

July 3rd to July 9th...Hovering around 242 lb., give or take a lb.

I probably customized the diet a little too much to avoid hunger pains, mental confusion, fatigue, etc. I am trying to revert to 500-1000 calories/day.

Stuck At 242 (Give or Take A Pound)

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Day 22, June 19, 2015...242 lb.
Day 23, June 20, 2015...241 lb.
Day 24, June 21, 2015...242 lb.
Day 25, June 22, 2015...244 lb.
Day 26, June 23, 2015...242 lb.
Day 27, June 24, 2015...242 lb.
Day 28, June 25, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss for the week.

Day 29, June 26, 2015...242 lb.
Day 30, June 27, 2015...242 lb.
Day 31, June 28, 2015...241 lb.
Day 32, June 29, 2015...242 lb.
Day 33, June 30, 2015...242 lb.
Day 34, July 1, 2015...242 lb.
Day 35, July 2, 2015...243 lb.

Five Weeks.... 15 pounds net loss...I seem to have hit a plateau

Weight Log

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Day 22, June 19, 2015...242 lb.
Day 23, June 20, 2015...241 lb.
Day 24, June 21, 2015...242 lb.
Day 25, June 22, 2015...244 lb.
Day 26, June 23, 2015...242 lb.
Day 27, June 24, 2015...242 lb.
Day 28, June 25, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss for the week.

Day 29, June 26, 2015...242 lb.
Day 30, June 27, 2015...242 lb.
Day 31, June 28, 2015...241 lb
Day 32, June 29, 2015...242 lb.

Food Log June 30, 2015

Black coffee, a few blackberries and a few blueberries.

Approximately 5 oz. Chx. breast with jalapenos (yes it had bee marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash) spring mix with Kimchi fermented cabbage

A couple of oz. of sunflower seeds

Green apple, black coffee, Crystal lite

1 oz. pretzels.

10 oz tuna from can (chunk lite 5 oz., Bumble Bee Thai seasoned 5 oz.) 1 oz. pretzels.

Instead of A Food Log II

Friday June 26...Pretty much on diet...no strict monitoring but nothing out of bounds either.

Saturday June 27...Two meals...No strict monitoring...eat until full and then quit...As above, nothing out of bounds except for maybe a few pretzels.

Sunday June 28...Two meals...No strict monitoring...I did have some shrimp, onions and peppers sautéed with a small amount of olive oil.

Monday June 29...Off diet, reluctantly. Free food. Co-worker's wife made a pineapple upside down cake.

Weight Log

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Day 22, June 19, 2015...242 lb.
Day 23, June 20, 2015...241 lb.
Day 24, June 21, 2015...242 lb.
Day 25, June 22, 2015...244 lb.
Day 26, June 23, 2015...242 lb.
Day 27, June 24, 2015...242 lb.
Day 28, June 25, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss for the week.

Day 29, June 26, 2015...242 lb.
Day 30, June 27, 2015...242 lb.
Day 31, June 28, 2015...241 lb.

Weight Log

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Day 22, June 19, 2015...242 lb.
Day 23, June 20, 2015...241 lb.
Day 24, June 21, 2015...242 lb.
Day 25, June 22, 2015...244 lb.
Day 26, June 23, 2015...242 lb.
Day 27, June 24, 2015...242 lb.

Instead of A Food Log

I am skipping on details but I was pretty much on diet Tuesday and Wednesday (June 23 and 24) and Thursday (June 25) was a planned day off due to work meeting/lunch.

Weight seems to have stabilized at 242 lb.

Weight Log

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Day 22, June 19, 2015...242 lb.
Day 23, June 20, 2015...241 lb.
Day 24, June 21, 2015...242 lb.

Food Log: June 22, 2015

Black coffee

Approximately 5 oz. chicken breast marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, serving of spinach with malt vinegar.

Estimated 2 oz. sunflower seeds.

Small serving of chicken salad, a taste of pasta salad.

1 oz. pretzels.

Green apple.

5 oz. tune, 1 oz. pretzels

Food Log June 21, 2015

Black coffee, orange.

Approximately 10 oz. ground lamb, tomato (served around 6 PM)

Serving of raw green and red peppers

1 cup of plain, non-fat yogurt with approximately 4 oz. Bing cherries, a few pretzels.

Weight Log

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Day 22, June 19, 2015...242 lb.
Day 23, June 20, 2015...241 lb.

Food Log: June 20, 2015

Black coffee, orange.

Orange.

I nibbled on pretzels throughout the day...I estimate 3 oz.

Approximately 6 oz. boneless, skinless chx. thighs marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, large serving of spinach with malt vinegar. (First and onlu real meal around 6 PM)

Orange

1 cup of yogurt, 6 oz. blackberries, a few bing cherries, 4 oz. gin

Food Log: June 19, 2015

Black coffee, orange.

Approximately 1 lb. ground lamb (pre-cook weight. Off diet but it was on sale.)

Approximately 2 Oz. whole sunflower seeds.

Approximately 5 Oz. breaded chx cutlet, a thimble of mashed potatoes, a thimble of candied carrots

Black coffee, orange

Two cups of plain, non-fat yogurt, 6 oz. of blackberries.

Weight Log: 16 Pound In Three Weeks But...

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.
Day 18 June 15, 2015...243 lb.
Day 19 June 16, 2015...245 lb.
Day 20 June 17, 2015...245 lb.
Day 21 June 18, 2015...242 lb.

No net loss since June 7.  Plus 1 pound since June 14...16 pounds net loss in 21 days. Not bad.

Food Log: June 18, 2015

Black coffee

Approximately 8 oz. 93% lean ground beef, spring mix with Kimchi fermented cabbage.

Crystal Lite with caffeine (what a great invention)

5 oz. chunk lite tuna with small lettuce salad, 1 oz. pretzels

Two servings of beef and peppers (I don't know the calories.)

Food Log: June 17, 2015

Black Coffee

1 lb. cooked shrimp with cocktail sauce some whole sunflower seeds.

5 (or 6) hot dogs with buns, relish, hot sauce. 1 oz. Pretzels.

1 cup of plain, non-fat yogurt, 6 oz. of blackberries

Comment on hot dogs. I don't have the world's greatest benefits package but I do get free food. Not just free food but GREAT free food. Also free GREAT food. Most people who receive great free great food have to at least hike down to a commissary. I have great people who serve me at my desk even when I do not request service.

"Here you go sir. Here's a stack of premium franks with tasty rolls arranged in a pyramid for your enjoyment." not an exact quote but close enough.

I love life sometimes, especially when it involves hot dogs.

Food Log: June 16, 2015

Black coffee

Approximately 5 oz. chx breast and approximately 6 oz. boneless, skinless chx thighs both marinated in lime juice and Mrs. Dash, smothered in jalapenos...small serving of pretzels

Petite serving of chx parmesan with small amount of pasta. Black coffee. Crystal Lite with caffeine.

A few cherries

One cup non-fat plain yogurt with 6 oz. blackberries.

Food Log Update and Comments

So last Thursday I was inexplicably sick. Friday I stayed on diet. Saturday I went to a cookout so I did not attempt a low-calorie day but seemed to lose some weight anyway.

Sunday was more indigestion that caused me to eat pretzels and drink Ginger Ale. Still, my caloric intake was not that high because the indigestion caused a loss of appetite.

Monday I did not restart my diet regimen as planned. Will try again tomorrow (Tuesday.)

Weight Log Update

Day 0 May 28, 2015...258 lb.
Day 1 May 29, 2015...254 lb.
Day 2 May 30, 2015...252 lb.
Day 3 May 31, 2015...251 lb.
Day 4 June 1,   2015...250 lb.
Day 5 June 2,   2015...248 lb.
Day 6 June 3,   2015...247 lb.
Day 7 June 4,   2015...246 lb.

12 pounds lost in Week 1. Not bad but I put on 12 pounds in about a weeks time right before starting diet.

Day 8 June 5,   2015...245 lb.
Day 9 June 6,   2015...244 lb.
Day 10 June 7, 2015...242 lb.
Day 11 June 8, 2015...245 lb. (Eegads....And I am off-diet tomorrow.)
Day 12 June 9, 2015...245 lb.
Day 13 June 10, 2015..247 lb.
Day 14 June 11, 2015..247 lb.

11 pounds in two weeks but I put on a pound in week 2.

Day 15 June 12, 2015...245 lb.
Day 16 June 13, 2015...242 lb.
Day 17 June 14, 2015...241 lb.