I HAVE LOST 27.4 POUNDS

Gee, this 'program' seems so easy to me every time I get on it.
What's the program?
Essentially do not eat sh*t foods!
I am no health nut - I still consume artificial sweeteners
I am enjoying the croutons on my salad
I am enjoying the salad dressing on my Casesar's salad
I am enjoying a portion of French Baguette with my soups
I am eating the turkey, vegetable, pork and other sausages as part of breakfast with my eggs

But what I am not doing since January 1st....

No Reese's Pieces
No M&M's
No candy
No chocolate brownie with sprinkles
No sprinkles
No chocolate brownie
No chocolate cake
No vanilla cake
No cake
No doughnuts
No donuts either
No milkshakes
No Chocolate Milk
No Klondike Bar
No Nestle's chipwich
No Ice-cream
No flavored yogurt
No potato chips
No Cheetos
No McDonalds
No Arby's
No Jack-in-the-Box
No Taco Bell
No Burger King
No Culvers
No Panda Express (although there are some healthier options there I could consider)
No Chick Fil A
No Fast Food
No French Fries anywhere
No Cheeseburger with or without french fries
No Hamburger with or without french fires
No Costco Hot Dogs
No Pizza with extra cheese
No Pizza with regular cheese
No Foot Long subs at Subway
No Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
No freshly baked free cookies from the Marriott when I check in
No free cookies left in my room as a reward for being a frequent traveler
No cookies from anyone from anywhere at any time

The Result...

Since January 1st, I am down 27.4 lbs - This morning I weighed 269.6 lbs.

This decal is for marathon runners, to announce to the world that they ran more than the required 26.2  miles.  Today I am using this to remind myself that although I have never been nor never will be a marathon runner, and therefore will never get lost on a marathon course.... I have coincidentally lost 27.4 (pounds) - and that is worth shouting about.

.

THAT WAS FAST (DAY 52)

That was fast.
I walked to Synagogue for morning Yom Kippur Services.
I took the scenic way home.
When this round-trip walk was done, I had walked 20 miles.
While fasting.
no food.
no water.
I wasn't walking particularly fast, but I did cover some ground.

.

.

TUESDAY NIGHT FAST BEGINS (DAY 51)

Yom Kippur began at sundown on Tuesday. I will spend some time in Synagogue on Wednesday. Upon finishing my dinner, the fast began and I will not eat again for 24 hours, until Wednesday evening. I did allow myself a couple of extra indulgences for dinner... I had some fruit and some yogurt covered raisins in addition to my normal meal. Still, my calorie consumption remained in the neighborhood of 1000 on Tuesday.

HUMBOLDT PARK (DAY 48)

On the 48th day that I maintained my low calorie consumption, I took a TEN MILE urban hike before lunch. I headed out to Humboldt Park (not a particularly wise place to visit at night, but ostensibly OK in the height of mid-morning on a gorgeous late summer day in September)

6 WEEKS

42 Days
6 Weeks

I just finished my 6th week for drastically reduced calorie consumption
SIX COMPLETE WEEKS.

When I look back it didn't seem so difficult....
The most DIFFICULT part of these past six weeks, was the decision to BEGIN.

Over these past six weeks, my low calorie consumption has become a habit...

I am enjoying this ride...

My next interim goal is the enjoyment of getting my weight below 250 lbs... With any kind of cooperation of my internal fat-burning machine, I should comfortably be there by next Saturday...

FAST DAY

Yesterday was not a fast day (time moved slowly)

It was a FAST DAY. (I was in the middle of a 24 hours fast - no drinking, no eating)

The thing with fasting is this, from the moment that one ceases eating or drinking for the next 24 hours - thirst is immediate. 

I think I fast because it is one of the few 'Jewish' things that I do each year.

I think I have fasted every year for the past 25 years or so.

Even though I was fasting, I did walk home 7 miles from synagogue after services yesterday.

I was not trying to set any speed records.

Walking home accomplished two things.

I gave me my 'steps' for the day.

It also 'shaved time off the clock' until my next meal.

After breaking the fast at sundown. My daughter and I set out for a four mile roundtrip walk to Whole Foods to pick up a snack. This walk was less about the snack and more about the walk. Want proof? We live about three tenths of a mile away from a Whole Foods. We simply chose to go to the store that was two miles away. 

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, September 30, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
YOM KIPPUR - NO MEAL	0	0	0	0	0	0
	0	0	0	0	0	0
L U N C H
YOM KIPPUR - NO MEAL	0	0	0	0	0	0
	0	0	0	0	0	0
D I N N E R
Bagels, Lox and Cream Cheese	1,000	122	30	67	3,893	22
Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews	400	40	28	4	50	26
	1,400	162	58	71	3,943	48
Totals	1,400	162	58	71	3,943	48
Your Daily Goal	3,013	376	100	151	2,300	113
Remaining	1,613	214	42	80	-1,643	65
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,083 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 221 lbs in 5 weeks     

.

YOM KIPPUR

YOM KIPPUR is the Jewish Day of Atonement. It is common to see Jews in synagogue who might have been missing in action all year. I admit, I am one of these Jews. Today, Saturday, I will go to synagogue. I did start fasting at sundown on Friday (when the Holiday began) and will not eat or drink again until later today at sundown.  Some people have specific rituals for their last meal, I do not. This year, I chose Chinese Food, as I have done in the past. The ritual that I most look forward to - is the meal that breaks the fast. I know what I will be having for dinner today. Two bagels with cream cheese and lox. The other thing that I did to prepare for my fast day was take an urban hike on Friday. This urban hike was completed when I had logged 17 miles. 

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 29, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water	300	73	0	0	500	73
	700	161	6	8	1,740	73
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Costco - Hot Dog, no bun	370	5	31	18	0	0
	670	70	31	23	1,500	40
D I N N E R
Panda Express - Mixed Vegetable	80	16	1	4	540	5
Panda Express - Mushroom Chicken	170	11	14	12	840	4
Panda Express - Broccoli Beef	150	13	7	9	520	7
Panda Express - Honey Walnut Shrimp	360	35	23	13	440	9
	760	75	45	38	2,340	25
Totals	2,130	306	82	69	5,580	138
Your Daily Goal	4,516	564	150	226	2,300	169
Remaining	2,386	258	68	157	-3,280	31
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,586 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 213.7 lbs in 5 weeks.

SATURDAY WEIGH/IN.

Not tremendous progress, but progress neverthelesss             249.7 lbs
Only down an additonal half pound this week.
Better down than up!


.

SQUEEZING IN A FIVE MILE WALK

Yesterday I was out the door at 7:30AM to drive about 100 miles to see a customer for an extremely productive visit. That appointment ended around 1:30PM, and I reversed course and headed back home. I was trying to get back to Chicago in order to keep my 4:00PM Genuis Bar appointment at the Apple Store. There was not much time between my visit to the Apple Store and my dinner which would be the last meal before the 24 hour Yom Kippur Fast.  Nevertheless, everything was accomplished, and my walk to the Apple Store was stretched to a five mile walk.  There is almost always a way to get certain things accomplished, if there is a will. It is my will to walk at least 10,000 steps per day - which is about the equivalent of five miles. 

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 3 packet	300	66	0	6	930	0
Mighty Bar Uncured Bacon & Apple, 1 bar	70	3	4	8	300	3
Sobe Life Water Coconut Water	80	21	0	0	110	20
Met-Rx - chocolate cookie dough, 1 Bar	360	52	5	28	160	25
	810	142	9	42	1,500	48
L U N C H
Caseys - Turkey Club Wrap, 1 Wrap	390	42	15	21	1,310	0
	390	42	15	21	1,310	0
D I N N E R
Panda Express - Tangy Shrimp	150	16	50	11	550	0
Panda Express - Orange Chicken	380	45	18	14	620	19
Panda Express Restaurant - Lo Mein	500	61	23	18	0	0
Pineapple, Fresh, Chunks	225	59	0	5	5	45
	1,255	181	91	48	1,175	64
S N A C K S
Nature Valley Crunchy - Oats 'n Honey	380	58	14	6	360	22
Hersheys Dark Chocolate Bar	500	28	38	9	100	11
	880	86	52	15	460	33
Totals	3,335	451	167	126	4,445	145
Your Daily Goal	2,816	352	94	141	2,300	105
Remaining	-519	-99	-73	15	-2,145	-40
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 886 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 219.3 lbs in 5 weeks.


.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
5 MILE WALK	73	886
Daily Total / Goal	73 / 30	886 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	166 / 210	2,261 / 4,130

TRUE MEANING OF BREAKFAST

The word 'breakfast' was created from two smaller words: break & fast.   I checked my dictionary and  'fast' is defined: 'to abstain from food.'   In this context, the word 'break' is defined: to end. Ergo, breakfast is the ending of the abstention from food.   In my previous lifestyle which ended way, way back on December 24, 2014 I would think nothing of having a snack at 11PM, or Midnight, or 1AM in the morning.  My overnight 'fast' could have been as short as six hours.  I am usually an early riser, so no matter what time I had eaten the night before, my day would start with an extremely non-nutritious 'breakfast.'   If I could go back in time and visit my former self sitting down to a 'breakfast' of two bagels, or two bowls of sugar flavored cereal, or two doughnuts... I might now say to myself, "I do not think this word, 'breakfast' means what you think it means." (Inspiration from this imaginary quote comes from Inigo Montoya in the movie,  'The Princess Bride')      Last evening, I finished my dinner at 7:00PM and now at 7:00AM the next morning, I am ready to BREAK MY FAST.   It is true that this chaffing dish of 'hotel eggs' might have looked less appealing to me a few weeks ago - I just spent 30 minutes in the fitness room walking two miles - I am hungry.   Bon Appetit.

La Quinta Hotel Breakfast : two 'egg' patties 200 CALORIES