BACK TO THE DOCTOR

Although in the past two or three weeks I have been struggling to continue to moderate my food consumption as easily as I did when I started - there is no denying that I have continued to make progress.

DECEMBER 24, 2014   initial doctor visit/wellness exam       309 lbs.
   On this day, I was already quite aware that my weight was completely out-of-control and that I was
   quite fat - This was the day that I learned that I was clinically MORBID OBESE CLASS III.

FEBRUARY 20, 2015    first follow-up with doctor                  254.5 lbs.
    On this day, I somewhat stunned my doctor showing up in the office more than 50 pounds lighter
    in the space of two months.   During this visit, the doctor game me his 'blessing' to continue with
    the 1000 calorie/day regiment that I was on - as long as I continue to feel good.

MAY 11, 2015  second follow-up with doctor                           216.1 lbs.
     My appointment is later this morning.  Among the things that I will discuss with Dr Tenhundfeld
     will be my plan for going forward.  This time I am looking for the blessing to increase my
     calories up to 1800 calories/day as long as he agrees that with this I should continue to lose weight
     (much more slowly)    During the past three month, I did experience a time when I was not feeling
     good (in fact my muscles started to ache) which I assumed was from lack of fuel.   This has
     since cleared up since I increased my calories.   I will be interested to see if my resting heartbeat
     has continued to decline.  I am planning to fasting until morning so that my blood can be tested
     again to insure that I am receiving all the nutrients that I need.   Among my questions today, will
     be to ask if there are other dietary supplements (over the counter) that I could/should be
     considering aside from the Vitamin D and Multivitamin that I am currently taking each day.


SUNDAY MENU

breakfast  wild Alaska sockeye smoked salmon 4 ounces, three apples                       420 calories
lunch        two apples, 56 almonds                                                                                500 calories
dinner      spinach salad w/cactus, hearts palm, tomato, artichoke, mushroom
                 8 ounces black Angus boneless top sirloin, two cups MISO soup
                 8 dill baby pickles, asparagus, 28 almonds, cucumber salad                       904 calories

total caloric consumption   1824 calories

calories burned
8AM elliptical 32 minutes 478 calories

SUNDAY NET CALORIES  1346 CALORIES

8 ounces black Angus top sirloin, with cucumber salad, asparagus

MARIANO'S FRESH MARKET

Mariano's Fresh Markets burst upon the Chicago scene a few years ago.  It is a fabulous SUPERMARKET.  It has a wide variety of foods and special amenities.  On Saturday my family took advantage of the FREE GRILLING option for the first (and very definitely not the last) time!   We all loved it!

from Mariano's website.

company overview Mariano’s is unlike any other store. See for yourself how we bring you the freshest high-quality foods from just about everywhere in the world...be it kosher bagels from down the street, or mozzarella from Caserta, Italy. And we created a neighborhood shopping environment filled with amenities like an Italian coffee shop serving authentic gelato, a wood-fired pizza oven, and sit down sushi bar; not to mention a full-service pharmacy. All at prices so compelling, that our Shop well. Eat well. Live well.philosophy can become yours too.

history The first Mariano’s opened in Arlington Heights, Illinois in July of 2010. Named for the Chief Executive Officer, Robert Mariano, the store was designed and built to deliver the highest quality products from around the world and those produced locally to shoppers with unequaled service and hospitality.

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Our family selected BLACK ANGUS BONELESS TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS.   The steaks were cooked to our specific instructions with seasonings we chose and we brought them home and feasted. Of course, I limited myself to just 4 ounces.   Sure, I could have eaten more.   But I am always reminded by what my physician, Dr Tenhundfeld told me back on December 24th during my initial 'wellness exam,'  "There's another meal coming in six hours."   I no longer feel like I have to eat as much as I might feel capable of eating.  I do limit myself by thinking about portion control.  There is always another meal coming, always another day of three more meals.  Each meal is not an eating contest!  Each meal is not an all-you-can-eat festival (as it used to be for me)  I am making changes.  I am still in the process of trying to break life-long habits. I continue to make changes.  

OUR STEAKS - BEING GRILLED AT MARIANO'S
I had my 16 oz selection cut into four 4oz portions, the bigger piece was for my wife and child.

SUNDAY MENU

breakfast  two poached eggs, oat meal w/prune, turkey sausage patties                       345 calories
lunch        BLACK ANGUS SIRLOIN, spinach w/cherry tomatoes, tortilla soup       430 calories
dinner      6 oz JUMBO SHRIMP, spinach salad w/cherry tomato, tortilla soup      
                homemade HEINZ SHRIMP COCKTAIL SAUCE (1 TBSP)                      300 calories

total caloric consumption 1075 calories

CALORIES BURNED
10AM elliptical 32 minutes 473 calories

TOTAL SUNDAY NET CALORIES  602 CALORIES

6 oz COOKED SHRIMP from MARIANO'S FRESH MARKET - 100 CALORIES