FACTS ARE MEANINGLESS

No one appears to know what the facts are. I am relatively certain that the Russians were not promoting the Presidency of Donald Trump. Loudmouths on TV are crying just the opposite is true. I don't believe that even they believe it, but it serves the purpose of creating a sticky controversy (fake news)

I can believe that there are those within our own government that were wiretapping phones in Trump Tower. There are others who think that this is completely ridiculous.

The wisdom of Homer Simpson seems appropriate:
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!'
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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Bobak's - Polish Sausage	230	1	21	10	0	0
Egg, whole, cooked, poached	286	1	19	25	594	1
	516	2	40	35	594	1
L U N C H
Quaker Flats Peanut Butter Sesame	800	110	40	20	625	35
	800	110	40	20	625	35
D I N N E R
Subway - Turkey Sub Sandwich, 12 inch	560	92	7	36	1,620	14
Subway - Sun Chips- Harvest Cheddar	210	27	9	4	320	3
Campbell's - Chunky Sirloin Burger Soup	260	36	8	12	1,580	8
	1,030	155	24	52	3,520	25
S N A C K S
Fiber One Chewy Bars - Oats and Chocolate	140	29	4	2	95	7
	140	29	4	2	95	7
Totals	2,486	296	108	109	4,834	68
Your Daily Goal	2,123	265	70	107	2,300	79
Remaining	-363	-31	-38	-2	-2,534	11
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

COMPLETE DAY OFF

Yesterday I was busy at a local wholesale fabric tradeshow. After the show, the seven sales reps who sell their fabrics traditionally get together and have pizza afterwards. I had planned to use the elliptical machine after dinner, but I fell asleep in my room before I had the chance to use the equipment. Yesterday was a complete day off from exercise. Unfortunately it was not a day off from over-eating. it was also my first full day without the benefit of a cellphone which was rendered useless during a mishap at Matthiessen State Park on Saturday.  One forgets how important one's cellphone is until one does not have it available.  Aside from making or receiving phone calls, texts and emails. I realized in my hotel that I was not without a reliable alarm clock. Without a camera I could not email my orders to my vendors. And there are quite a few other countless inconveniences that one is simply not used to dealing with. I hope to have this situation rectified by later today, Monday

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Everyone enjoys their day off in a way that suits them.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 11, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Biscuits and Gravy, 1 biscuit	415	22	30	12	0	0
Sausage, 3 links	170	2	14	10	490	1
Scrambled Egg - Scrambled Eggs	158	2	12	14	160	0
Kellogg's - Raisin Bran Crunch, 2 cups	380	90	2	8	400	38
	1,123	116	58	44	1,050	39
L U N C H
Rice Krispies Treats Chocolately Drizzle	800	136	24	8	760	64
Fiber one cheesecake - Danish	450	72	18	6	390	30
	1,250	208	42	14	1,150	94
D I N N E R
Medium Sausage & Bacon Pizza	1,000	108	46	40	2,420	0
	1,000	108	46	40	2,420	0
S N A C K S
Totals	3,373	432	146	98	4,620	133
Your Daily Goal	1,930	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	-1,443	-191	-82	-1	-2,320	-61
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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UNSUNG ADVANTAGE OF EXERCISE

Now that I am temporarily sidelined with what I believe to be a hernia, I have discovered an unsung advantage of exercise.

unsung

play

adjective un·sung \ˌən-ˈsəŋ\

Simple Definition of unsung

• : not given attention and praise that is deserved for doing good things

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When one is exercising, for example spending 90 or 120 minutes on an elliptical machine, there is at least that part of the day when one is not eating.  This past weekend, I spent a lot of time sitting in front of my computer. It is extra hard not to eat when one is just sitting around all day.  I really need to address my physical condition (calling doctor today) and get better.  soon.

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, April 10, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Nice! - Honey Grahams , 6 pieces	390	72	9	6	510	24
	390	72	9	6	510	24
L U N C H
Chunky Campbell's - New England Clam Chowder	360	36	20	10	1,780	2
Trident - Alaskan Salmon Burgers, 1 patty	170	2	9	20	330	0
Butterball - Bacon	140	2	12	8	600	0
	670	40	41	38	2,710	2
D I N N E R
Broccoli - Broccoli, 2 cup	120	12	1	11	98	0
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH, 170 g (approx 3 oz, two cups)	40	0	0	4	130	0
Weight Watcher's - Cabbage Soup, 2.28 cups cooked	100	10	0	2	79	6
Potstickers - Potstickers, 10 ea	520	78	14	24	1,200	8
	780	100	15	41	1,507	14
S N A C K S
Nice! - Honey Grahams , 6 pieces	390	72	9	6	510	24
Cherry Cheese Danish, 1 Danish	560	75	26	8	570	37
	950	147	35	14	1,080	61
Totals	2,790	359	100	99	5,807	101
Your Daily Goal	1,933	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	-857	-118	-36	-1	-3,506	-28
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3 extra calories from exercise today

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COLD TURKEY

I can remember, back in December 2015, when I first started to lose weight from a starting point of 309 lbs, I went 'cold turkey.'
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cold tur·key informal noun 

the abrupt and complete cessation of taking a drug to which one is addicted.

"cold turkey, with no medication, is not recommended for those with medical conditions"

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I had been a man that was consuming 5000, perhaps 6000 calories per day for years at a time. I combined this excessive diet with a lifestyle that completely excluded exercise. On December 24, 2014, I made an abrupt change and consumed only 1000 calories per day for three months. Within those three months, my weight dropped by approximately 80 lbs (which is right about where my weight is right now).  Somehow, back then, I was able to convince myself that I was not hungry, or at least that I was not so hungry that I couldn't hold out for my next meal. I remember so clearly how convinced I was once I reached a desired weight, it would be easy to limit myself to 2000 calories per day.  Apparently I was delusional, as it has not been easy to even limit myself to 3000 calories per day. On the other hand, I have maintained a very aggressive workout regiment - and for that I remain proud of myself. I just need to find the guy that I was one year ago to get back on track. I know that he is nearby.  If I continue to go backwards when I weigh myself this Saturday, it might be time to add some 'cold turkey' back to the program.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Daisy - Low-fat Cottage Cheese 2% Milk Fat	360	16	10	52	1,400	16
Wonder Bread - Classic White, 4 slices	280	58	3	8	360	10
Smuckers - Sugar Free Concord Grape Jam	40	20	0	0	0	0
Nice! - Creamy Peanut Butter, 2 Tbsp	180	8	15	7	130	3
	860	102	28	67	1,890	29
L U N C H
HUGE SPINACH SALAD, 1.5 SALAD	750	0	0	0	0	0
Teriyaki Salmon Steaks, 6 oz	270	3	8	47	365	5
	1,020	3	8	47	365	5
D I N N E R
Campbell's ChunkChicken Corn Chowder Microwave Bowl, 4 cup	760	80	40	24	3,360	20
	760	80	40	24	3,360	20
S N A C K S
Edy's Outshine Fruit Bar - Creamy Coconut, 1 bar	120	20	3	4	40	18
Nestle - Milk Chocolate Bar, 1 bar	210	27	12	2	20	25
	330	47	15	6	60	43
Totals	2,970	232	91	144	5,675	97
Your Daily Goal	3,792	474	126	190	2,300	142
Remaining	822	242	35	46	-3,375	45
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,862 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX FITNESS 7xi	65	1,036
MATRIX FITNESS 7xi	65	1,006
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-180
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	1,862 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	262 / 210	3,811 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2970 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 2042 calories

total net 928 calories

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fitbit day 174

17491 steps  

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1. 
   

BECOMING OVERWEIGHT - A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT

Since this journey began I have been dreaming of becoming overweight.   Huh?  You ask.   Well, I must remind you that I began this adventure at 309 lbs and was classified at CLASS III MORBID OBESITY.  Eventually I 'graduated' from that classification and into 'only' CLASS II OBESITY and then into CLASS I OBESITY.  I am currently nearing the end of my membership in CLASS I OBESITY.   I bought a pair of 36" waist cargo summer shorts for my next stop on the 'waistline express.'   I tried them on last night to see just how far away I was from wearing them.  To my, happy shock, I actually could get them on and I could zip them up!  Now they are far too tight and uncomfortable to wear (aside from the fact that here in Chicago it is not shorts wearing season just yet)  The point is, I do think that there is a chance of me graduating out of CLASS I OBESITY tomorrow when I step onto the scale.   If not I do not reach this goal tomorrow morning, it's sure bet that I will graduate from CLASS I OBESITY within days.   Graduation out of the CLASS I OBESITY will give me a brand-new classification - OVERWEIGHT.   Not that many people would be so happy being officially overweight - but under my circumstances - I will be ecstatic.

I must admit that the BMI tables that generate these classifications are somewhat controversial.   At 309 lbs - there isn't a soul on planet earth that would have seen me as anything but obese.   At my last current recorded weight, 229.6 lbs - I do not think that there would be too many people who would look at me who say, "Wow, look at that guy - he's obese."   I do somehow manage to wear my clothes well - but when that shirt comes off, I can see that I do still have plenty of extra flab that needs to be David Copperfield(ed) into 'thin air' (pun intended).

STAR TREK: SO VERY TIRED  (SIMPSONS SPOOF)

I only have to remember back to December 2014 to be sympathetic to Scotty.

Announcer: "Star Trek XII: So Very Tired"... see the original cast in the latest and greatest adventure!

[three Birds of Prey confront the Enterprise]

Sulu: Captain, Klingons off the starboard bow.

Cpt. Kirk: [exasperated] Again with the Klingons.

[activates communicator]

Cpt. Kirk: Mr. Scott, give me full power.

[in the engine room]

Scotty: It's no good, captain.

[Scotty is too fat reach the engineering computer]

Scotty: I ca'not reach the control panel!

This is not exactly the type of 'bucket list' that's too healthy!

Even skinny people probably have difficulty with
today's cell phones.

Fat AND Happy?  That's a myth.
HOWEVER, SOON I WILL BE OVERWEIGHT AND HAPPY!
I THINK I HAVE EXPLAINED THAT UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

I am apparently very close to being (only) OVERWEIGHT.  I am very excited. I am getting close to tipping the scale at a weight that my body has not seen since the 1980's. Although I did get down to 220 lbs for about 5 minutes 8 years ago - I never saw 219 lbs. This time, I expect to take this journey much further.  I still have the life-long dream of a Grand Canyon mule ride beckoning me...if a donkey trip is to be in my future...I still have a long way to go...  This is an exciting time in my life.

I still kinda cracks me up and amazes me...

...that only two days after 'discovering' that I weighed 309 lbs at a doctor visit...
...and only 48 hours after managing to eat like a normal human being for two consecutive days...
...I decided that I was going to lose (at least) 100 lbs AND BLOG ABOUT IT. (daily)
...I believe that's called CHUTZPAH!
...Who does that?
...Who does that, and puts their own name on their so-called diet plan, RABBI HILLEL DIET?
...and who names their own program and prints up their own business cards?
...apparently, I do - because I did.

I titled today's blog entry: BECOMING OVERWEIGHT - A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT.
There might be something oxymoronic about that title...

You see, as I am about to become ONLY 'overweight' for the first time in nearly a decade...
This particular achievement has seen me become far LESS huge.
So, in a way, it's a SMALL achievement.
(Getting to 309 lbs - that was an unwise, unwanted, undesired, unhealthy LARGE achievement)
I am glad to be forfeiting that dubious accomplishment!

BMI	Classification
< 18.5	underweight
18.5–24.9	normal weight
25.0–29.9	overweight
30.0–34.9	class I obesity
35.0–39.9	class II obesity
≥ 40.0	class III obesity

My 'magic' number is 224.2. (6ft, 1/2 inches tall) to exit OBESITY.

224.2 lbs will officially classify me as overweight!
The question: Did I manage to drop 5.4 lbs this week?  It's a tall order...

VISIT ME TOMORROW AND FIND OUT...
...I KNOW I WILL!


THURSDAY MENU

breakfast  one scrambled egg, two sausage links, SHMURAH MATZO                 280 CALORIES
lunch        JACK'S DELI & RESTAURANT (yep I did go back!)
                 SCRAMBLED EGGS w/NOVA LOX, PICKLE, TOMATO, MATZO   439 CALORIES
dinner      JIMMY JOHN'S bootlegger club UMWICH w/veggies                           280 CALORIES

total caloric consumption     939 CALORIES

CALORIES CONSUMED
YMCA 9AM elliptical machine 35 minutes     485 calories

THURSDAY NET CALORIES      454 CALORIES

JACK'S DELI & RESTAURANT: On my return visit, I ordered SCRAMBLED EGGS w/NOVA LOX, tomato and matzo.  UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS!  no, seriously!

more from JACK'S YIDDISH 101
I didn't see this sign during my first visit on Tuesday...and this one is the best of  all of them!

SHRINKING STOMACH

After completing more than 30 days in a row consuming under 1000 calories - I naturally assumed that my stomach was shrinking.   I consulted webMD.com to learn how much, and by what percentage this was happening.  I was wrong.  This is what I found on the webMD website:

Myth or Fact: If you cut down on your food intake, you'll eventually shrink your stomach so you won't be as hungry.
Answer: Myth. Once you are an adult, your stomach pretty much remains the same size -- unless you have surgery to intentionally make it smaller. Eating less won't shrink your stomach...but it can help to reset your 'appetite thermostat' so you won't feel as hungry, and it may be easier to stick with your eating plan.

This really is a myth.   I was certain that a shrinking stomach would have been the result of me shoveling so much less food and food-like products down my throat.   Even though, the stomach does not physically decrease in size, there is a physical component to the change in appetite.   Perhaps, it is simply that my 'appetite thermostat' is being reset.   I know that I have left the dinner table after eating minuscule portions compared what I was consuming 5 weeks ago.

SATURDAY MENU

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

LUNCH            Lentil soup, salmon burger                                          260 CALORIES

DINNER          4oz Beef Burger, chicken soup, 1/2 spinach pancake  440 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIC CONSUMPTION          980 CALORIES

BURNED 600 CALORIES 4mile walk @ 4mph for 60 minutes 6AM

BURNED 600 CALORIES 4mile walk @ 4mph for 60 minutes 3PM

NET CALORIC DEFICIT   220 CALORIES

Dinner included an Omaha Steaks 4 oz. Beef Burger, 1/2 spinach patty, 1 cup  chicken rice soup    440 CALORIES

HOMER SIMPSON CALORIE CONUNDRUM

There are some people who might feel that I am eating too little.   I am in Day 15 of my new program.   My program does not have a sexy name like Paleo, Slim Fast, Biggest Loser, Atkins, South-Beach, Mediterranean, Weight-Watchers, Jenny Craig or scores of other plans.  Each one has its own book (or books) and each has its legions of followers.  My diet plan is EAT LESS.  For fourteen consecutive days I have consumed less than 1000 calories per day.   Some days I have been under 800 calories.   The small amount of literature that I have seen indicates that this might be too low.  Would it have been really helpful if I had a hot dog roll with my hot dog (+100 Calories)? Would it have been helpful if I had had ranch dressing on any of my salads (+300 Calories)? Would it have been helpful if I had had my baguette with my Turkey Chili (+100 Calories)? Would it have been helpful if I had had only one piece of cake as some kind of misguided reward (+400 Calories)?

I am convinced that my body is sending signals to me thanking me for finally giving it the fuel to operate properly.   In the past, I might have consumed 3000, 4000 or even 5000 calories per day. What nutritional benefit did the Ho Ho's, Oreos, Dunkin' Doughnuts, Klondike Bars, or M&M's provide?  Homer Simpson eats a lot of calories, but how much of what he eats is actual food?  At the suggestion of my doctor I have added a multivitamin and vitamin D supplement to my daily routine. It is not my intention to live on 1000 calories per day in perpetuity.   I do not know when precisely I will be ready to increase it.   My next followup appointment with my doctor is on February 20 - and I will discuss this with him at that time.  I hope he recognizes me. 

I never ate as badly as Homer.  In my defense, it is hard to compete with a cartoon character.