CROSSING THE RUBICON

CROSSING THE RUBICON is an expression that means passing the point of no return.  I thought when I dropped from 309 lbs all the way to under 220 lbs that I had crossed a few rubicons.  For example, when I slipped under 230 lbs for the first time, I had hope that I had crossed a rubicon.  (point of no return) Apparently, I did not.  This morning I weighed 230.3 lbs.  Time to double-back and get back under 230 lbs. Am I struggling because of nervousness about the upcoming election? Had I struggled recently as I had anxiety about where my daughter would be accepted to high school?  No and no.  I am struggling for the reason that I have always struggled.  I like to eat - too much.

Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon (river)

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, March 4, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Ham and Cheese Omelette	375	3	18	22	0	0
Roundy's - Center Cut Bacon, 6 Slices	140	0	8	14	440	0
	515	3	26	36	440	0
L U N C H
HUGE SPINACH SALAD	750	0	0	0	0	0
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	480	80	14	10	120	30
	1,230	80	14	10	120	30
D I N N E R
Apples - Apples, 3 medium apple	240	66	0	0	0	48
Jason's Deli - Spicy Seafood Gumbo	301	37	10	16	1,902	4
	541	103	10	16	1,902	52
S N A C K S
Jason's Deli - Organic Flatbread, 10 cracker	500	60	20	20	950	10
Jasons Deli - Chocolate Mouse, 1 cup	720	30	70	2	174	22
	1,220	90	90	22	1,124	32
Totals	3,506	276	139	84	3,586	114
Your Daily Goal	5,629	703	187	282	2,300	211
Remaining	2,123	426	47	198	-1,285	97
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,699 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, March 4, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,714
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,237
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	62	825
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-77
Daily Total / Goal	247 / 30	3,699 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	867 / 210	11,411 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3506 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 3776 calories

total net 270 calorie defecit

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fitbit day 184

34519 steps  
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BACK TO BASICS

My week started with me feeling faint, weak, chilled, and with a two day headache.  I assume it was the aftermath of dealing with all the issues that come up when a family descends on your town for a party.  The party, the Bat Mitzvah, in the end, went off without a hitch.  Proof positive that there is a God. (unnecessary proof, at least for me, as I was previously convinced)  I can only assume that by the time the week concluded, and my last guests were dropped off at the airport,  that I was a man running only on fumes.  Two days of sleeping, curled up in a bed early at night and late into the morning has apparently recharged my batteries.  I am back. I feel great.  And yesterday was a day to get back to basics.

First time in a long time that I had breakfast well under 700 calories
First time in a long time that I had a lunch that was under 300 calories. (my schedule did not allow time for a proper lunch)
First time in a long time that I visited a local YMCA.
First time in a long time that I hopped onto an elliptical machine.
First time in a long time that I worked out for two hours indoors in a climate controlled environment.
First time in a long time that I had a low calorie meal at Jason's Deli. (a favorite place to eat)
First time in a long time that my daily caloric intake was below 1500.
First time in a long time that I had a day much like the days when I was dropping weight so quickly.
First time in a long time that I had an entire day that was basically 'BACK TO BASICS'.

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delicious low calorie, dinner at Jason's Deli

Seafood Gumbo Bowl, Turkey Wrap: Grand Total ---> 620 calories

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Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker Oats Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon	640	132	8	16	800	48
	640	132	8	16	800	48
L U N C H
Nature Valley Crunch Granola bars - 2	190	29	6	4	160	12
	190	29	6	4	160	12
D I N N E R
Jasons Deli Spicy Gumbo -1 bowl	230	26	8	12	1,710	3
Jason's Deli - Turkey Wrap, 1 Wrap	390	42	17	23	1,080	5
	620	68	25	35	2,790	8
S N A C K S
none
Totals	1,450	229	39	55	3,750	68
Your Daily Goal	3,323	415	110	167	2,300	124
Remaining	1,873	186	71	112	-1,450	56
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,393 extra calories from exercise today

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:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX ELLIPTICAL	65	802
MATRIX ELLIPTICAL	65	690
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-99
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	1,393 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	133 / 210	1,479 / 4,130

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It was the first time in weeks that I used an elliptical machine.  The maximum setting at this particular YMCA was 60 minutes.  Honestly, I wasn't sure that I would have the stamina to complete an hour.  Quite a silly worry, it wasn't like I have been sitting around for these past few months.  My first session, I worked out at a healthy speed and resistance and inclination that allegedly burned 690 calories.  And for the second session which I started after about 3 minutes of rest and enough time to grab a drink of water,  I was able to step it up a notch, or two and allegedly burn 802 calories.  I guess an elliptical machine is very much like riding a bicycle - you never forget.  And as long as you are still 'in shape' there are no problems.  Still not quite as interesting as being in the great outdoors.  

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

total calories consumed 1450 calories

total calories burned (130 minutes elliptical) 1492 calories

total net calories 42 calorie deficit

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fitbit day 98

15469 steps

Finally, after two days of the personal 'humiliation' of logging only 5000 steps, which required marching in place at 11:30PM to even to achieve that lame total, I returned to respectability.   Again, I repeat, a day under 5000 steps is much like a day lying in bed all day, getting up only to visit the refrigerator and or use the bathroom.  It may not be exactly like that - but it surely is close. I suppose that ultimately it depends how close your refrigerator and/or bathroom is to your bed!

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TWO FOR TUESDAY

Back in the days when I listened to the radio, that is before I had access to my entire music library on my iPhone,  rock radio stations often had 'Two for Tuesday' promotions.  They would simply play two songs from the same artist back-to-back.   A good way to start any day is with two tracks from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin or Blue Öyster Cult.  Today was my own personal 'Two for Tuesday.'

I completed TWO (2) workouts.  The first at 5AM, the second at 6PM.  Each session had me on the treadmill walking at a 4 mph pace for 45 minutes.   1000 CALORIES BURNED.

I also managed to enjoy two three-course meals.

My first appointment today was in Topeka, Kansas.   For lunch I visited yet another Jason's Deli and sampled something different for lunch.

ORGANIC VEGETABLE SOUP BOWL  150 CALORIES
MEDITERRANEAN WRAP - HALF        180 CALORIES
FRUIT SIDE ORDER                                  60 CALORIES              ($9.34)

I only had one banana for breakfast (120 Calories)  I had plenty of calories 'in the bank' so I was able to enjoy my second three-course meal of the day at Jason's Deli back in Lawrence, Kansas where I was lodging for the evening.

In the spirit of continuing to try new things at Jason's I ordered something different yet again.

SPINACH VEGGIE WRAP - HALF       185 CALORIES
FRENCH ONION SOUP CUP                 180 CALORIES
FRUIT SIDE ORDER                                60 CALORIES                 ($7.92)

I checked the Jason's website for the caloric content of the 'fruit dip' that they insist on serving with the strawberries and melon.    That fruit dip is listed at 150 calories.    I have not tasted it.  I don't intend to taste it.   It does not seem reasonable that the garnish on a food item is more than twice the caloric content of the food item!  This same warning should be applied to high calorie salad dressing on low calorie salad.

TOTAL TUESDAY CONSUMPTION                                         935 CALORIES
LESS TOTAL CALORIC EXPENDITURE ON TREADMILL 1000 CALORIES
NET CALORIC CONSUMPTION FOR THE DAY                    -65 CALORIES <---NEGATIVE

I still feel that I am still breaking out of the starting gate on this race that never ends.   Once again, I am eagerly looking forward to stepping onto a scale again at the conclusion of the week.

Wednesday morning started off excellently.   I was back on the treadmill this morning at 5AM and this time I logged 60 minutes @4mph which is precisely 4 miles.   Burned 679 CALORIES.  I did weigh 290 lbs last Saturday.  I don't know what my weight is this morning.  I do know it is less than 290.

Jason's Deli LUNCH 390 CALORIES

Jason's Deli DINNER 425 CALORIES

THREE COURSE MEAL - 510 CALORIES

Yesterday I started out with two apples for breakfast and Jason's Deli spicy shrimp gumbo for lunch.  Since I have established a routine of keeping my caloric intake under 1000 calories per day, I still had more than 500 calories 'in the bank."

I returned to Jason's Deli (Lawrence, Kansas) and was able to order what I now define as a three-course meal.   There is nothing that I have ordered at Jason's which has not been delicious and satisfying.   I am trying to make an effort to explore the many possibilities available to me.   Last night I ordered something new:

BEEF STEW - BOWL    250 CALORIES

TURKEY WRAP HALF  200 CALORIES 

FRUIT SIDE ORDER        60 CALORIES (served with a creamy fruit dip which I ignored!)

TOTAL DINNER (three-course meal) 510 CALORIES         ($9.98)

After I was finished with this delicious dinner I was completely satisfied.   The chances of me ordering a fruit side with my meal prior to this lifestyle adjustment would have been zero.   Surely I would have ordered chips.   Basically every decision I ever made with regard to food was usually either wrong or very wrong.   If I may borrow the title from a Jim Carrey movie, my choices were 'Dumb and Dumber.'  The time has been long overdue for me to 'Get Smart.'  These days I feel like I am in CONTROL.

I visited two websites this morning, WebMD.com and healthstatus.com which both have a CALORIE BURN CALCULATOR.   I discovered that I might have been underestimating the caloric benefit of exercise.   This morning I walked 3 miles, @ 4 mph (45 minutes).  Both calorie calculators on these two websites indicated that my calories burned was 500!   This is amazing.   I guess it goes a long way to explain my weight loss results with my 1000 calorie per day intake.
 
Weight loss is supposed to be simple (exercise more, eat less) but not easy (it takes perseverance) These days it does seem easy. So where was I the last 7 years?   I'll tell you.... I don't know.

Jason's Deli: 3-course meal: beef stew, half turkey wrap, side order fruit: 510 calories

WHAT A WHOPPER!

WHOPPERS: not the most effective way of adding protein to one's diet

It is probably a very good thing that I am not a regular Wal-Mart shopper.  Yesterday, on the way to Kansas City I stopped at a Wal-Mart to buy some zero calorie flavored Sparkling Water. I passed the candy aisle I decided to look at some labels. Now for most of my life I would be the guy who thought it would be a good idea to buy a box of WHOPPERS CHOCOLATE MALT BALLS as I settled into my seat to watch the latest James Bond or Star Trek movie at the cinema.   I never did enjoy paying nearly $4 for the privilege.  Wal-Mart offers this box of candy for only 98 cents.   This is the type of candy that a guy like me could easily devour in 15 minutes (and of course, still feel hungry and unsatisfied afterwards). You cannot imagine my surprise when I examined this 5 oz. box of Whoppers.

190 CALORIES PER SERVING nothing spectacular about that information - it's candy!

SERVING SIZE 18 MALT BALLS That's it? Why 18? For Good Luck?

SERVINGS PER CONTAINER 3.5 Let's be honest, one box of candy IS one serving!

TOTAL CALORIES FOR THIS TASTY CONFECTION 665 CALORIES  Not good, not healthy.
An actual BURGER KING WHOPPER is 650 calories  At least there you are getting some meat.

On the 'bright side' - THEY ARE KOSHER! 

For the past 19 days, I have consumed a fraction more calories in a whole day than what can be found in that box.   These are the types of 'food' items that really help a person balloon up to 309 lbs.  These are precisely the types of 'food' items that I will be avoiding in the future.   Earlier in one of my blogs, I had estimated that there must have been days when I consumed 5000 calories. (Perhaps I was underestimating)  

On the way to Kansas City yesterday I had mapped out a route that would direct me to a Jason's Deli in the St. Louis area.  This minor 9 mile detour rewarded me with a delicious 540 calorie lunch: Spicy Seafood Gumbo Bowl & Amy's Turkey Half Sandwich.  That was a very satisfying detour.

The hotel that I stayed in the first night only had one working fitness machine.  So I hopped onto something called a BOWFLEX TreadClimber TC5000 and logged thirty minutes.  This machine combined walking and step climbing. The machine estimated that I expended 140 calories. I used some new muscles that have been lying dormant for quite some time. It was a struggle to get to 30 minutes.

Before I checked out of my hotel this morning, I climbed back on the BOWFLEX and this time I reduced the speed of my workout and doubled my workout time.   I 'burned' 185 calories and this was the best workout that I have had since I started two weeks ago.  Everything about this specific workout was positive: time spent on machine, calories burned, feeling great afterwards.

HERSHEY COMPANY WHOPPERS pack a wallopping 665 calories!

MY NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT

Jason's Deli is fast becoming my new favorite restaurant.   There are only a handful of cities in the midwest where I travel that I can visit them.  I will be visiting a Jason's Deli as often as possible when I am traveling away from home.  The amazing thing is that there is one of these gems 1.5 miles (2.4km) from my home in Chicago.  I have never even seen it, certainly I have never noticed it before.  I will surely be checking it out soon.  This has been an introduction to announce that I ate lunch at Jason's Deli again today:

Amy's Turkey-O Half Sandwich           240 CALORIES
Spicy Seafood Gumbo Soup Bowl         230 CALORIES
                           TOTAL LUNCH          470 CALORIES   $9.16

I have never before purposely ordered anything anywhere that was labeled as spicy.   Either this Gumbo was not very spicy, or I am not quite as totally intolerant to spicy foods as I previously thought.   Perhaps it makes a difference that I was eating it slowly and really trying to savor it.
Tomorrow is Friday.  I will be driving back home to be with my family over the weekend.  I am eager to get on the scale on Saturday morning to measure my results this past week.   Metaphorically speaking, I expect to be nearing Interstate Highway 290.  (290 lbs, that is.)

Jason's Deli: Amy's Half Turkey & Spicy Seafood Gumbo Bowl 470 CALORIES

JASON'S DELI

I searched the internet for the healthiest fast food style restaurants in America.  I found a FORBES article that listed Jason's Deli as one of the best.  I had never heard of Jason's Deli.  They have nearly 250 restaurants sprinkled among 28 states. I have now discovered that there are a half-dozen in my hometown of Chicago.   What is more important to me are the restaurants that I can visit when I am on the road.   I learned that Cincinnati had one restaurant.  After my morning appointment, instead of driving to the nearest McDonalds or Burger King as I have done for the past 7 years, I drove 10 miles to get to Jason's Deli.  This restaurant chain specializes in organic ingredients and offers many healthy sandwiches, soups and salads.   This was the healthy and delicious choice I made today.

Fire Roasted Tortilla Soup - Bowl              200 CALORIES
Asiago Pot Roast Roast Sandwich - Half  310 CALORIES
                                       TOTAL LUNCH      510 CALORIES     $11.72

Eating properly is fun when some effort is used to pick interesting places and make healthy decisions. Tomorrow, I will finish in Cincinnati and head to Indianapolis for an appointment Friday morning.  Before I live Cincinnati I will return to this Jason's Deli for lunch.  There is a Jason's Deli in that Indianapolis.   I know where I am having lunch on Friday.

Jason's Deli: Totilla Soup Bowl, Asiago Pot Roast Half Sandwich 510 CALORIES