ON THE PROGRAM FOR A MONTH AND A HALF

It is now the end of the day, February 15.

I have not swayed from my course.

I have continued to eat well for 1.5 months.

This is a bit of an accomplishment.

Even this short time represents 1/8th of year.

As long as I continue... I will see my weight continue to drop.

Unlike past 'health binges' this has been a far more sustainable plan.

In the past I consumed 1000 calories per day. 

It is true that my weight dropped faster - but when I ended that plan, I had not practiced safe eating.

This time, I am eating well.  I am not starving myself. 

And there is not really a plan to jettison...

I am trying (again) to get into the habit of simply eating well.

Someday, and I don't know when, I will have a cookie and maybe a chocolate bar...

But that day should not come soon.

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I have stayed 'on program' for 1.5 months... That is 1/8th of a year.  I just need to keep on doing  what I am doing.

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ELKHART DAY 39

Just rolling along, during my tour of Indiana.... arrived Elkhart around 5PM.
Calories in the neighborhood of 1000 for the day
another successful walk to burn some additional calories
and that's that...
I get to weigh myself on Saturday...
...looking forward to learning exactly what progress I have made this week...

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DAY 36

Another day, low calorie consumption, day 36
I peeked at my weight on Monday morning, and if the scale was working correctly, I am now 256 lbs.
Considering that I was 283.6 lbs on July 31 - I have accomplished much in a short time.
Still a long way to go.

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Day 16

On the 16th day of my re-invigorated willpower focus aimed at dropping some serious poundage... I allowed myself to consume something in the neighborhood of 1500 calories. I think I was really hungry by the time dinnertime rolled around... but still, I have completely avoided snacking... If I only did that, that is, avoid snacks... I think weight would eventually drip off my like melted wax on a candle. Sill, I am in a hurry to really jump-start this program... so tomorrow... I will try to get back to the neighborhood of 1000 calories.

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Day 9

Still doing well.
About 1500 calories on Tuesday.
About 10000 steps.

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6

I woke up on Saturday, which will be Day 6 of my re-energized willpower campaign to reverse the course of my recent fat-building lifestyle into a fat-burning lifestyle. So, it has only been FIVE DAYS as of Saturday morning, that I made this change.

Weight loss can happen fast. Never quite as fast as weight gain. But fast, nevertheless.

I stepped on the scale and whereas the last time I saw 277.6 I was disgusted.

This time I saw 277.6 and I was very pleased.

In just five days, I have dropped SIX POUNDS.
It was not my imagination that the trousers I had been wearing lately fit better.
They are still a stupefying 46 inch waist.
AT LEAST THEY ARE NO LONGER UNCOMFORTABLY TIGHT!


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Sadly my fitbit is long gone, lost but not forgotten... Still my iphone somehow claims to monitor my motion and steps... and I did walk back and forth to Wrigley Field yesterday... so the 5 miles makes sense

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I'LL BE BACK

That was easy. No it wasn't'. That was simple. Yes it was.
It is not easy to lose weight.
It is, however, simple to lose weight.
The secret to weight loss is the most poorly kept secret in the universe, and it is very simple.
EAT LESS.
As I began to adhere to this program this past week (past five days) I was gratified to to see my results on the scale today:
256.7 lbs.
The last time I crossed this weight barrier in the wrong direction in the middle of the summer, I felt completely disgusted with myself. And then I had to balloon all the way to 263.3 lbs before I reached my upper limit of disgust with myself. And now, after only 5 days of carefully watching what I stick into my face, I immediately reversed course and made 6.6 lbs disappear. Success is contagious. I have great confidence that I will continue this week and log another successful week.
Like Arnold Swarzenegger, who famously said. "I'll be back."
I too, will be back.
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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 1, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 2 package	200	44	3	4	620	0
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 3 medium apple	285	75	1	2	5	57
	485	119	4	6	625	57
L U N C H
Culvers - Butterburger "the Original"	360	39	16	20	510	6
	360	39	16	20	510	6
D I N N E R
Beef Brats Smoked Beef Bratwurst	180	3	16	7	600	1
Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
	565	49	37	14	1,790	26
S N A C K S
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories, 1 bar	90	19	2	1	80	7
	90	19	2	1	80	7
Totals	1,500	226	59	41	3,005	96
Your Daily Goal	1,985	248	66	100	2,300	74
Remaining	485	22	7	59	-705	-22
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 55 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 238.8 lbs in 5 weeks     

DAY TWO

Well, two days are banked. Two days when I started to remember that which I never forgot but simply ignored.  Two days when I ate normally. On Monday my caloric intake was under 1000 calories.   I remember from experience, that this is too much (in fact, it is too little!) Tuesday was a bit more real as my calories were just under 1400. In order to be successful (again) I will need to make choices that do not leave me craving food all the time. The thing is, as I started to make poorer and poorer choices, eating more and more garbage, I found myself where I have been all my life - constantly hungry and never satisfied.  Sure, it has only been two days that I am making the choice to cut out the junk - I did not feel hungry. Is it possible that I already feel a bit better? My imagination? Placebo effect? Who knows? Who cares? I like a good placebo.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	200	42	2	4	680	2
	200	42	2	4	680	2
L U N C H
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
Corned Beef & Cabbage	200	11	9	18	468	0
	585	57	30	25	1,658	25
D I N N E R
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
S N A C K S
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories	90	19	2	1	80	7
Sage - Red Delicious Apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	185	44	2	2	82	26
Totals	1,355	189	55	38	3,610	78
Your Daily Goal	1,930	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	575	52	9	59	-1,310	-6
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 243 lbs in 5 weeks

SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES

It's been awhile... yesterday seemed like old times. My caloric intake was under 1000 calories. This is absolutely not my daily goal, but I did think that it might be a good idea make a drastic change to my recent behaviour to convince myself that I was serious.  My steps count on my fitbit was not too impressive - but this is what it looks like when someone has gone so far backwards that they have to claw their way back. I am in clawing mode.

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, August 28, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	200	42	2	4	680	2
	200	42	2	4	680	2
L U N C H
Oki Sushi - Spicy California Maki	300	37	7	7	390	8
	300	37	7	7	390	8
D I N N E R
Corned Beef & Cabbage, Beef and Vegetables	400	21	18	36	936	0
	400	21	18	36	936	0
S N A C K S
Red Delicious Apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	95	25	0	1	2	19
Totals	995	125	27	48	2,008	29
Your Daily Goal	1,930	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	935	116	37	49	292	43
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

HIATUS

I am not going to blog every day anymore. First of all, my weight loss blog has recently turned into a weight gain blog. It has also turned very political. Maybe I crank up a new political blog in the future, as I have enjoyed railing against all those things that I rail on about. I am also not shutting down my blog. I think I will blog on those days that I actually 'do' something interesting. For me, interesting things include hiking in some new place, or taking an extra long hike close to home. That's my current plan. Regarding my weight, which began at 309 lbs on December 24, 2014 and fell 90 pounds at one point, I am currently hovering around 250 lbs. This is still nearly 60 pounds less than my starting weight, but far from my best weight. At some point, I need to get back to where I was one year ago, but not where I was nearly three years ago.  In conclusion, my blog is going to continue, but it will not be every day. Other than my Mom and a couple of brothers, a friend in New York and friends in Pennsylvania and San Francisco, I am not too sure who cares. But that's the story for now... See you soon, but likely not tomorrow.   

This is my 890th post. I have so far, accumulated 87,230 pageviews.... So it is clear that someone has been reading this stuff. I am definitely going to blog a few times per month, but I am releasing myself from the self-imposed obligation of posting daily.

St LOUIS

I have been at a tradeshow in St Louis the past two days. This has allowed very little time to walk, exercise or do much beyond breakfast meetings, all days show schedule, and dinner with colleagues. No time to blather on (er, blog) about much. So that's the story.

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, May 20, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Oatmeal	300	57	6	12	225	0
Pineapple	200	52	0	2	4	40
	500	109	6	14	229	40
L U N C H
Bagel, Lox and Cream Cheese	600	73	18	40	2,336	13
	600	73	18	40	2,336	13
D I N N E R
Assorted Hors D'oeuvres	800	68	52	16	1,000	4
Seafood Chowder	400	22	29	15	1,661	0
	1,200	90	81	31	2,661	4
Totals	2,300	272	105	85	5,226	57
Your Daily Goal	2,092	261	69	105	2,300	78
Remaining	-208	-11	-36	20	-2,926	21
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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NO NEWS

This past weekend, I have basically avoided the news. I am assuming that Donald Trump is still President of the United States. With all the noise coming from the media earlier this week, in the wake of the James Comey firing, perhaps I should double-check. The weather in Chicago was finally, summer like, and I took a 12 mile urban hike zigging and zagging mostly through and around the Lincoln Park Zoo.


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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, May 13, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal	700	133	14	28	525	0
	700	133	14	28	525	0
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
D I N N E R
Seafood Salad Sandwich	800	51	105	72	1,747	2
	800	51	105	72	1,747	2
Totals	1,800	249	119	105	3,772	42
Your Daily Goal	4,157	519	138	208	2,300	156
Remaining	2,357	270	19	103	-1,472	114
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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     Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
12 Mile Urban Hike	154	2,441
Daily Total / Goal	154 / 30	2,441 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	465 / 210	6,716 / 4,130

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GOLDEN GLOBES

Last evening the Golden Globe Awards took place in California. Another chance for Hollywood types to poke fun at the President-elect and Americans in general. I did not watch it. My interest level in what actors and actresses who are paid to speak words written by others does not transfer to being interested in hearing what words these same men and women think about politics or anything else. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, January 8, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	300	63	3	6	1,020	3
Bacon, Egg and Cheese on Sourdough	480	40	23	28	1,190	1
	780	103	26	34	2,210	4
L U N C H
Culvers - Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad, 1 salad	360	14	13	44	1,105	8
Culvers - Butterburger	360	39	16	20	510	6
	720	53	29	64	1,615	14
D I N N E R
Homemade - Sausage Cabbage Soup	501	11	40	28	0	0
Garlic Texas Toast	300	33	15	7	516	2
	801	44	55	35	516	2
S N A C K S
Hersheys Dark Chocolate Bar	500	66	32	5	39	55
	500	66	32	5	39	55
Totals	2,801	266	142	138	4,380	75
Your Daily Goal	3,062	383	102	154	2,300	114
Remaining	261	117	-40	16	-2,080	39
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g