STAIRWEIGH TO HEAVEN

Stairway to Heaven is the most famous of all of of the songs by Led Zeppelin.  In fact, it is one of the most famous songs in rock and roll history. It is hard to imagine anyone not thinking that this is a great song. Although I admit, I can easily imagine it might be hard to convince Sara, my 13 year old daughter.  Perhaps if Taylor Swift covered the song, my daughter would become a Stairway to Heaven fan.

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in their 1970's heyday.

I am not claiming that my weight loss is bringing me to any Stairway to Heaven.  In fact, I am hoping that my weight loss will facilitate a delay in my (hoped for) ascendency to heaven by a few years!  I will confess that I have no idea what Robert Plant is really singing about, but he sings it with such emotion, so it must mean something!

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The most meaningful lyrics for me are:

"Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder."

I was on a path, that could have led to to a whole collection of bad outcomes... I was lucky that there was still time for met to change the road that I was on.  And you know what?  When I think about how long it took me to get to 309 lbs and when I think about how long it took me to summon the will to make a change, and then how quickly I was able to reverse the course of my life.... IT MAKES ME WONDER (WHAT TOOK SO LONG?)

220.2 lbs


I weigh 220.2 lbs.
I lost 9.4 lbs this week.
I lost 88.8 lbs in 108 days. Today begins Day 109.
I have lost 13 inches on my waist. 
I have already (uncomfortably) squeezed into 36"pants
I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.
I weigh 220.2 lbs. (108 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)
I have lost 28.7% of my weight since Dec 24.
I have lost 4.0% of my weight since last Saturday!
I have had an astoundingly successful week losing 9.4 lbs.
I have a BMI, body mass index of 29.24 (NO LONGER OBESE)
That bears repeating: Marc Jacobs is no longer obese!
I will need to find a rooftop - so I can shout it out!
I had a 42.0 BMI on 12.24.14 just 108 days ago (Class III obesity)
I wonder about achieving a 'normal weight' - the charts say 186.8 lbs - I'm not too sure about that...
I have two 'words' to describe how I feel right now - ec static!
...I know how to begin this week... 
32 minutes ELLIPTICAL

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

FRIDAY MENU

breakfast  Quaker Oats instant oatmeal, two sunnyside up eggs, 2 slices turkey bacon   290 calories

lunch        JASON'S DELI SEAFOOD GUMBO - BOWL                                              230 calories

dinner       JIMMY JOHN'S bootlegger unwich extra veggies, extra Dijon mustard  

                 one cup Panera Bread Low-Fat Chicken Tortilla Soup                                   360 calories

total calories consumed 880 calories

CALORIES BURNED:

9AM  elliptical 32 minutes (first time machine set to level 15)  497 calories

FRIDAY NET CALORIES  383 CALORIES

There is some irony in that up until yesterday, I had visited a Jason's Deli in nine different locations, sprinkled among five different states:

Cincinnati, Ohio

St Louis, Missouri

Lee's Summit, Missouri

Topeka, Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Indianapolis, Indiana

Normal, Illinois

Schaumburg, Illinois

Park Ridge, Illinois

but I had not been to the Jason's Deli a mere 1.6 miles from my home and on the very same street in downtown Chicago.  Today, I finally visited my local Jason's Deli after a dental appointment.

Jason's Deli, 195 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois (just 1.6 miles from my home!)
SEAFOOD GUMBO for lunch yesterday, outstanding as usual

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWEIGH

Today is Saturday February 14.   So, let me wish a Happy Valentine's Day to my wife, Jennifer.  I would also like to wish a Happy Valentine's Day to my daughter, Sara.   And a special Happy Valentine's Day to the one woman I have known for my entire life - My Mom!  I love you all.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday February 14 means that I have completed 52 days on my new program, which I have named the 'Rabbi Hillel Diet.'  Since I began this journey on December 24, 2014 I have crossed a few hills and I am far 'aweigh' (away) from where I started.  Today begins Day 53.  Saturday is the day to weigh myself.  It is my favorite day of the week.

I am far 'aweigh' (away) from where I was 52 days ago

262.6 lbs

I weigh 262.6 lbs.
I lost 5.4 lbs this week.
I lost 46.4 lbs in 52 days. Today begins Day 53.
I have lost 6 inches on my waist.  
I am still at the beginning of a journey that never ends.
I weigh 262.6 lbs. (52 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)
I have lost 15.0% of my weight since Dec 24.
I have lost 2.0% of my weight since last Saturday!
I have had an extremely successful week losing lost 5.4 lbs.
I have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 35.13 (still Class II obesity)
I had a 42.0 BMI on December 24, 45 days ago (Class III obesity)
I will 'graduate' from Class II obesity into Class I obesity by the middle of this week. (261 lbs)
I have one word to describe how I feel right now - euphoric
...I know how to begin this week... 
ELLIPTICAL MACHINE


FRIDAY MENU
breakfast   three poached eggs, two slice turkey 'bacon'                                     280 calories
lunch         Maryland style crab cake, creamy tomato soup, spinach, balsamic  332 calories
dinner        8 oz ALASKA COD FILLET, tomato soup, spinach, balsamic        302 calories

total calories consumed   917 calories

CALORIES BURNED
6AM   ELLIPTICAL MACHINE 32 minutes         430 calories
3PM    ELLIPTICAL MACHINE 60 minutes         775 calories

(I was pleased to be able to workout for a full hour on my elliptical machine - every time I step onto the machine I set the controls for a one hour workout.   Yesterday, I was able to actually complete it.)  Still, it is my current goal to continue 30 minute workouts, which I am currently doing twice per day.

total calories burned    1205 calories

CALORIC DEFICIT  388 CALORIES

LUNCH: MARYLAND STYLE CRAB CAKE, SPINACH SALAD, TOMATO SOUP   332 CALORIES

DINNER: 8 oz ALASKAN COD FILLET, SPINACH w/BALSAMIC, TOMATO SOUP    302 CALORIES

This Friday, February 20, I have my follow-up appointment with my doctor.   On my initial 'wellness' exam on December 24, 2014 I weighed 309 lbs.   By the time that I return to him, about 60 days after that appointment, I apparently will have lost nearly 50 lbs.  OK, I admit it, I am looking forward to this visit.

I DID IT MY WAY

In 1969, Frank Sinatra released a song, 'My Way.'   This song sounds as wonderful today as I presume it did in 1969.   In 1969, I was just beginning to care about music - and Frank Sinatra was not yet on my musical radar screen.  (I remember, one of the first albums that I ever purchased, was back in 1969. It was Led Zeppelin II) The Sinatra song, famous for the lyric, 'I Did it My Way', reminds me how I lost 80 lbs seven years ago and then gained every pound back and tacked on 9 more for good luck.  I did it my way. I did it the wrong way.  I should have done it a different way. 

Seven years ago, I did it my way.  Now it's time to do it a different way

Fast forward to 2015. It is clear to me that I am going to be successful in losing something in the neighborhood of 100 pounds again. This time, I am still doing it my way.  I am just not doing it the same way.

Seven years ago, I spent much time and energy shopping for (and eating) all kinds of low-calorie and/or low carb snacks.  Back then, seven years ago, I did not even try to break my habit of non-stop eating. This time, I have eaten three meals per day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.   That's it.  No snacks. This is a very different way.

It was the constant snacking that was more than partially responsible for derailing me.   

Example 1: Rice cakes are a good low calories snack. Each rice cake is approximately 35 calories.  I would eat the whole bag of them in one sitting.  (35 x 16 = 560 calories)  Not a very smart idea.  There are so many wonderful foods to eat if one is going to consume 560 calories.

Example 2: Whole Foods offered a wonderful variety of Nuts and Trail Mix.  These products are purchased by the ounce.  A consumer buys as much or as little as they desire.  Nuts and Trail Mix can be a healthy nutritious snack.  I derailed my efforts by abusing portion control.

Example 3: My program seven years ago started out as a modified version of the Atkins Diet.  Low Carbs.  The Atkins Diet is effective, especially in the beginning - but it is difficult to maintain over the course of time.   However, that wasn't the problem.  I 'discovered' so-called Atkins Bars. This was basically a candy bar that had reduced carbs.  However, no matter what anyone says, there is only one way to lose weight.  One must create a caloric deficit of 3500 calories below the number of calories that one needs to maintain one's weight.  The Atkins Bars were delicious.  Since they had the imprimatur of 'health,' I ate them with reckless abandon.  I bought them by the 10-pack carton. And because of my weak-will, I was capable of eating five at a time.   Not a good way to consume 850 calories.  I have learned from this experience of overindulging.

If I get an overwhelming desire to have chocolate, I will just buy one bar and eat it.   Right now, I am very aware that it takes a lot of work on the treadmill to 'erase' 200 calories, so for the past few weeks - I have not had a chocolate craving at all.   I do get genuinely hungry.   And when mealtime rolls around, I eat.   It's not complicated.   It's the 'Rabbi Hillel Diet' plan.

"What is unhealthy for you, do not eat. That is the whole plan; the rest is commentary - go and have lunch!"

Atkins Bars (and other similar products) taste great - however, with all due respect, they are not healthy.   Maybe they work for you.   I will avoid them.   When I decide that I 'need' (or crave) a chocolate bar - I will have a genuine chocolate bar manufactured by genuine chocolatier.

Atkins Bars: They are expensive, They taste great, and they are not particularly healthy.

Atkins Bar: I think that there are more effective ways of having a 170 calorie treat.

SUNDAY MENU 

BREAKFAST three poached eggs, two slices turkey 'bacon'                               280 CALORIES

LUNCH            4oz. Salmon filet, Chicken with Rice Soup                                 322 CALORIES

DINNER           1/2 hamburger patty, Chicken Rice Soup, 2 Zucchini Pancakes  395 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIC CONSUMPTION   997 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

6AM   TREADMILL: 60 minutes @ 4 mph (4 miles) 600 CALORIES

3PM    TREADMILL: 60 minutes @ 4 mph (4 miles) 600 CALORIES
10PM  TREADMILL: 60 minutes @ 4 mph (4 miles) 600 CALORIES

NET CALORIC DEFICIT  803 CALORIES

It appears that I am heading for another significant weigh-in on Saturday.
Last week I 'walked' 50 miles.  I had not planned on doing that.  I just did it.
This week, it is a definite goal of mine to 'walk' 50 miles.
The week which begins on Saturday is only two days old, and I have logged 20 miles already.
I am doing things that I never would have believed possible just 5 weeks ago.
I am begining to believe that endorphins are real!

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