TURKEY TIME

Some of my more regular readers of this blog over the past year will remember that as I advanced on my journey on the way to my 100 lb weight loss, I periodically posted photos of myself holding turkeys to highlight my progress.   When I had lost approximately 20 lbs, I posted a photo of myself holding one turkey.  When I had lost approximately 40 lbs, I posted a photo of myself holding two turkeys.  And so on...

Fast forward to now.  I am down 100 lbs.  This achievement cried out for a turkey photo.  This time, I picked up 5 twenty pound turkeys.  CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT THIS WAS THE WEIGHT THAT I WAS CARRYING AROUND MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT, 24/7?  In the photo below it appears that I am struggling.  Appears? Are you kidding? I was struggling!   If I stepped onto my scale holding those FIVE TURKEYS, the needle would have pointed to 309 lbs, just as it did on December 24th, 2014, although on that day it was WITHOUT THE TURKEYS!  (actually just one big fat butterball turkey - me!)  Have I mentioned that I am feeling pretty good these days?  I do not intend to lose any more turkeys.  I do, however,  have plans of dropping a few cornish game hens!

5 TURKEYS=100 POUNDS
100 POUNDS=weight lost since December 24, 2014
It kind of removes the mystery of why I wasn't so active back in those days...
Who would want to do ANYTHING while carting around an extra 100 lbs?

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, December 13, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Honey Nut Scooters, 90 g	360	72	5	9	630	27
Apples - red delicious apple, 1 large	130	34	0	1	0	25
	490	106	5	10	630	52
L U N C H
Kroger - Deli Sliced Ham, 3 slices	45	2	2	8	488	2
Green Giant - Cut Asparagus Spears	35	5	0	4	315	2
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
sugardale - hickory smoked bacon, 6 slices	240	0	18	18	870	0
	535	9	34	48	2,118	5
D I N N E R
MARIANO'S - MINESTONE SOUP, 1 cup	80	11	2	5	780	3
MARIANO'S - HUGE SPINACH SALAD	750	0	0	0	0	0
	830	11	2	5	780	3
S N A C K S
ROUNDY'S - SOY NUTS ROASTED & SALTED	300	21	17	23	105	3
	300	21	17	23	105	3
Totals	2,155	147	57	85	3,633	63
Your Daily Goal	3,719	465	124	186	2,300	139
Remaining	1,564	318	66	100	-1,333	76
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,789 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,859
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-70
Daily Total / Goal	93 / 30	1,789 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	572 / 210	8,524 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2155 calories

total calories burned (92 minutes elliptical) 1859 calories

total net calories 296 calories

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fitbit day 102
22037 steps

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trying to smile for the camera - it was not easy to do - too busy concentrating on holding 100 lbs of turkey.
(photo credits: Sara Jacobs)

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Actually, I would not be so happy if I lost this type of 100 pounds!

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LOST MY FOURTH TURKEY

December 24, 2014 I woke up and visited my doctor for a 'wellness' exam. I weighed 309 lbs.

January 21, I reported my weight loss was the equivalent of of one turkey.  I weighed 284.7 lbs

February 15, I reported my weight loss was the equivalent of two turkeys. I weighed 262.6 lbs.

March 15, I reported that my weight loss is the equivalentof three turkeys. I weighed 239.5 lbs.

April 12, I report that my weight loss is the equivalent of four turkeys. Today I weigh 220.2 lbs.

April 11, I reported I have lost 88.8 lbs in 108 days.

I admit that I am completely flabbergasted that I have lost on average .8 pounds per day for 108 days.

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SIDE-BAR: Is flabbergasted a good choice of words to describe how I feel?  FLABbergasted?  FLAB? Isn't flab what I have been trying to eradicate?  Perhaps I need to invent my own word? Now that I think about it... I believe I have been DEFLABBERGASTED!

flab·ber·gastˈflabərˌɡast/verb

informal

past tense: flabbergasted; past participle: flabbergasted surprise (someone) greatly; astonish.
"this news has left me totally flabbergasted"

de-flab·ber·gastˈde-flabərˌɡast/verb

informal

past tense: deflabbergasted; past participle: deflabbergasted surprise (someone) greatly; astonish by an amazing loss of flab
"this 1000 calories per day diet has greatly deflabbergasted me, and I lost nearly 90 pounds"

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1.   

88.8 lbs = FOUR TURKEYS

Naturally, I needed to return to the supermarket four a fourth time to take a new picture.  Photographs don't always have sequels.  This one does.  It is Turkey IV.

April 11, 2015: These four turkeys that I appear to be struggling to hold weighed about 80 lbs. (close enough to approximate the 88.8 lbs that I have lost so far) It is not just that I appear to be struggling, I was struggling!  (Believe me, trying to hold nearly 80 lbs of frozen turkey is not so easy - which of course, is the point.  I was carting around an extra 88.8 lbs, 24 hours per day prior to December 24, 2014, and that's not so easy either!)  I am wearing for the very first time, a pair of 38" waist cargo shorts - but soon enough, I will be fitting into a pair of 36" shorts which I have already managed to squeeze into.

March 15, 2015: These three turkeys that I appeared to be struggling to hold weighed about 65 lbs. (close enough to approximate the 69.5 lbs that I had lost at this point of my journey) It was not just that I appeared to be struggling, I was struggling!  (Believe me, trying to hold 65 lbs of frozen turkey is not so easy - which of course, was the point.  At this point, I was remembering that I had been carting around an extra 69.5 lbs, 24 hours per day prior to December 24, 2014, and that was not so easy either!)  At the time, I was wearing for the very first time, a pair of 42" waist slacks.

FEBRUARY 14, 2015:  Back on this date, I weighed myself

and discovered that I had lost 46 lbs since December 24.

I had wanted to hold two turkeys that weighed 46 lbs, and 

the two turkeys that I did find only weighed 42 lbs.

For the purposes of the photo - that was close enough!

(I was wearing my 44" waist blue jeans at the time.)

JANUARY 21, 2015: Way back on that date, I had lost 24 lbs and posed with a 23 lb turkey to visualize my accomplishment.  On that date, I was happy to wear my size 48 waist blue jeans.  They have long since been donated to Goodwill. 

SATURDAY MENU

breakfast    two sunnyside up eggs, two slices turkey 'bacon'                     190 calories

lunch          CHICK-FIL-A  hearty chicken soup, Asian Salad                         600 calories

dinner         CABBAGE SOUP BOWL, 2 CUPS CABBAGE SALAD                 138 calories

total calories consumed 928 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

7AM elliptical 32 minutes   497 calories

SATURDAY NET CALORIES     431 CALORIES

Today, I took a long walk with my daughter all over Chicago.  Our first stop was going to be Jason's Deli.   We walked the 1.6 miles from our home directly to Jason's Deli only to discover that since it is in downtown Chicago in the heart of the business district - it is closed on Saturdays!   So, instead we went to Chick-Fil-A.   Chick-Fil-A is a place that I used to enjoy when I was heading towards 309 lbs - I often had two classic Chick-Fil-A sandwiches (Each classic Chick-Fil-A sandwich is 440 calories plus waffle potato fries 400 calories. My typical Chick-Fil-A meal in my 'old days' was 1280 CALORIES! )  Today, before I ordered, I perused the nutritional information online and discovered that I could have a rather large and delicious meal by selecting a soup and salad.   And that was how my daughter and I started our day.   So, now I have another 'new' place to visit and find a quick, good, and healthy nutritious meal.   Above is a photograph of my Asian Salad.

WHAT I HAVE IN COMMON WITH HOMER SIMPSON

Even casual fans of 'The Simpsons' know that family patriarch, Homer Simpson always tells his wife as various opportunities arise that one thing or another is his lifelong dream.

Invariably, his wife, Marge, advises him that each dream has usually been accomplished.

This information was duplicated from a site called: wikidumper.blogspot.com.

List of Homer Simpson's lifelong dreams:  The following is a list of lifelong dreams by Homer Simpson as reported in The Simpsons TV series. Homer is a man of many lifelong dreams which he frequently quotes during the series. Each dream is different from his previous dream, and his wife, Marge, points out every time he makes up a new one that his actual life long dream, which also varies from episode to episode, was already accomplished by him.
His lifelong dreams include (partial list):
- Managing a beautiful country-western singer ("Colonel Homer")
- Eating the world's biggest hoagie ("Colonel Homer")
- Living in the wilderness, while keeping a journal of his thoughts ("Marge Gets a Job")
- Becoming a monorail conductor ("Marge vs. the Monorail")
- Being allowed to do his job from home ("King-Size Homer")
- Being the next Thomas Edison ("The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace")
- Becoming a hippie ("D'oh-in in the Wind")
- Bowling a perfect game ("Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder")
- Seeing Stevie Nicks naked ("Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder") 

I also have a lifelong dream.  I have not accomplished it.  In fact, it has been completely elusive to me for just about my entire adult life.   Many, many years ago I learned that one could take a mule ride down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  This sounded like great fun.  And as soon as I learned about it, I thought that I would like to do it.  

There is however, one 'minor' obstacle.  In order to qualify for a Grand Canyon mule ride to the bottom of the canyon, one must weigh less than 200 lbs (with their clothes on)

I aspire to do this one day.   It may be over the top to call this a lifelong dream - but it is true that I would like to do it.  If I am going to qualify for this, I know what I need to do.

If I am going to qualify for a Grand Canyon Mule ride - I will need to lose another 60  lbs.   I figure that  in order to weigh  less than 200 lbs with my clothes on... I might have to get down to the mid-190's.   Lifelong dreams are supposed to be grand, and what could be grander than a GRAND CANYON MULE RIDE? 

WEDNESDAY MENU
breakfast  two poached eggs, cup oatmeal w/prune, two strips turkey 'bacon'   355 calories
lunch         spinach salad, salmon sockeye burger, pumpkin soup                        240 calories
dinner       Polish Sausage, Spring Mix Salad, Mulligatawny Soup                      400 calories

total calories consumed     995 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED
7AM     ELLIPTICAL MACHINE  32 MINUTES    480 CALORIES

NET CALORIES  515 CALORIES

LOST MY SECOND TURKEY

Regular readers of this blog might remember that nearly one month ago, January 21, I  reported that I had lost 24 lbs in 24 days and to highlight that achievement I posted a photograph of myself holding a 23 lb turkey. 

As of yesterday, February 14, I have now lost 46 lbs in 52 days. 
(I never believed that I was going to continue to lose exactly one pound per day.  Nevertheless, 46 lbs in 52 days ain't too shabby!)

46 lbs = TWO TURKEYS

Naturally, I needed to return to the supermarket to take a new picture.

FEBRUARY 14, 2015   On this date, I weighed myself

and discovered that I had lost 46 lbs since December 24.

I had wanted to hold two turkeys that weighed 46 lbs, and 

the two turkeys that I did find only weighed 42 lbs.

For the purposes of this photo - that's close enough!

(I am wearing my brand-new 44 waist blue jeans)

JANUARY 21, 2015   Back on that date, I had lost 24 lbs and posed with a 23 lb turkey to visualize my accomplishment.  On this date, I was happy to wear my size 48 waist blue jeans.  They have since been donated to Goodwill. 

SATURDAY MENU

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

lunch           Maryland style crab cake, Pumpkin Soup, Spinach salad, balsamic   342 CALORIES
dinner         Chicken Tortilla Soup, Spinach, balsamic, Sockeye Salmon Burger   312 CALORIES

total calories consumed  934 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

6AM    ELLIPTICAL MACHINE, 30 minutes    400 CALORIES

11AM   ELLIPTICAL MACHINE, 30 minutes   400 CALORIES

total calories burned     800 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE      134 CALORIES

LESS IS MORE

I have had one day to celebrate and contemplate the fact that I currently 'only' weigh 268 lbs.  For many human beings living on this planet, this would be an insanely high number.   Considering that I arrived at 268 lbs from 309 lbs only 46 days ago, it seems like a good number.

This past week, I continued my daily sub-1000 calorie consumption as I have been doing since December 24, 2014.  Since I began this journey I have not had one snack.   I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.  That's it. When I sit down to breakfast each and every day, I am truly breaking my fast from the night before.  This was the first week that I almost exclusively worked out on the ELLIPTICAL TRAINER. (I 'walked' on the treadmill only on Saturday morning.)

I worked out for a total of 7.5 hours (one 60 minute walk and thirteen 30 minute sessions on the elliptical machine) which burned 5397 CALORIES.

My weight loss for the week was 4.7 lbs

The previous week I was just a little bit 'psychotic'.   I 'walked' 80 miles on the treadmill.   I spent 20 hours, 'walking' at 4 mph for 60 minutes each session. (twenty sessions total)  I calculated that I should have burned 12,000 CALORIES.

My weight loss for the week that I 'walked' 80 miles, burning 12000 CALORIES was 'only' 3.7 lbs.

CONCLUSION: REGARDING EXERCISE....
                            ...S O M E T I M E S...
                            L E S S  I S  M O R E

I decreased the hours spent working out, and experienced better results.   Conclusion: LESS IS MORE!

SATURDAY MENU

breakfast    three poached eggs, two strips turkey 'bacon'                                     280 CALORIES

lunch          4 oz salmon filet, spinach, vinaigrette dressing, pumpkin soup          364 CALORIES

dinner        Mahi Mahi burger, spinach pancake, iceberg lettuce, pumpkin soup  282 CALORIES  

total consumption        926 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

6AM  ELLIPTICAL 30 minutes  400 CALORIES

1PM   ELLIPTICAL 30 minutes  400 CALORIES

total burned  800 CALORIES

NET CALORIC INTAKE        126 CALORIES

Mahi Mahi burger, spinach pancake, lettuce wedge w/vinaigrette, Pumpkin Soup        282 CALORIES

AND AWEIGH WE GO!

This morning I am showing my age, using a catchphrase from Jackie Gleason.  Jackie Gleason, best known for THE HONEYMOONERS, had a catchphrase in later years.... "And Aw a a y We Go!"   The phrase spoken during The Jackie Gleason Show which was off the air by 1970. (I was 13 years old in 1970.)  Nevertheless, I consider myself a fan of Gleason, and the title of my blog entry today takes its inspiration from The Great One,  Jackie Gleason.  (Sorry, Sean Hannity & Mark Levin - Jackie Gleason was the original Great One!)

"And Awa a a y We Go" Such a popular catchphrase, Gleason recorded a song with that tittle 

268 lbs

I weigh 268.0 lbs.
I lost 4.7 lbs this week.
I lost 41.0 lbs in 45 days. Today begins Day 46.
I have lost 5 inches on my waist.  
I am still at the beginning of a journey that never ends.
I weigh 268.0 lbs. (45 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)
I have lost 13.26% of my weight since Dec 24.
I have lost 1.7% of my weight since last Saturday!
I have had an extremely successful week losing lost 4.7 lbs.
I have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 35.85 (still Class II obesity)
I had a 42.0 BMI on December 24, 45 days ago (Class III obesity)
I should 'graduate' from Class II into Class I within 2 weeks.
I have one word to describe how I feel right now - ecstatic
...I know how to begin this week... 
ELLIPTICAL MACHINE



ELLIPTICAL TRAINER

Last Saturday I started using the elliptical trainer. Each day I set the machine to my weight, set the timer to 30 minutes and entered the maximum resistance of '10.'

I used the elliptical twice per day Saturday thru Friday.

The very first time that I used this machine I 'burned' 320 calories.

The second session on Friday, I managed to 'burn' 395 calories.

As I have improved, I continue to be quite winded when I am done.

There is plenty of room for further improvement.

FRIDAY MENU

breakfast   three poached eggs, two strips turkey 'bacon'                                280 CALORIES

lunch         Mahi Mahi burger, spinach, vinaigrette, cup chicken broth          182 CALORIES

dinner        8 oz Jumbo Scallops, spinach, vinaigrette, zucchini pancake

                  Organic Chicken Broth                                                                  365 CALORIES

total caloric consumption   827 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED

6AM  elliptical 30 minutes  380 calories

5PM   elliptical 30 minutes  395 calories

total calories burned 775 CALORIES

NET CALORIES 52 CALORIES

JUMBO SCALLOPS, spinach, w/vinaigrette dressing, zucchini pancake, chicken broth   365 CALORIES

I do not live in Maryland, nevertheless, I am on 'Highway 268' heading south!

HIGHWAY 290 HEADING SOUTH

It took some discipline to wait until this morning to step onto my scale after my 6 days 'on the road.' This morning my digital scale indicated  290.2 lbs  (and that was with my glasses on!) 
I am (metaphorically) traveling on Highway 290 and heading south!

I have lost 4.3 lbs since last Sunday (six days ago)
I have lost 19 lbs since Dec 24, 2014 (seventeen days ago)

Since I am not a complete moron, I am aware that this rate of loss,  approximately one pound per day will not continue.  There is no question that I am off to a great start.  That is, a great start to the race that never ends.

A man whose weight is 290 lbs is not usually considered thin.  In fact, the adjectives usually used are obese, morbidly obese, fat, etc.  This is of no concern to me at this time.  I look in the mirror and only see thin.   I see the future.

Last night, right after I arrived home I quickly changed into my 'walking shorts' and hopped onto my home treadmill and completed 45 minutes, @4 mph which translates to three miles.

My next trip takes me to the Kansas City area.  I leave Sunday.  I have already reserved hotels with Fitness Rooms and discovered Jason's Deli will be an option in this part of the country.   I am visiting very good customers.   I am anticipating a healthy and profitable trip.

I believe that my three poached eggs this morning will taste even better than usual.

EXERCISING EPIPHANY

My first road trip of the year will begin today.  I am driving to Cincinnati.   I did something different in booking my hotel.   I usually opt for the lowest price lodging I can find.   This time I cancelled my reservation with the national chain that I usually use and booked at a LaQuinta Hotel since they have an exercise room.    My almost daily exercise regiment, thus far, has only been walking at 4 mph for 20 minutes.  This week I plan to increase that to 30 minutes.     I have recently had an epiphany.  A long, long time ago (December 24, 2014) I thought that exercise was not critically important to weight loss.   I never doubted that it was healthy for a myriad of reasons.   An exercise that consumes 100 calories is not really going to make a significant dent when one is consuming 3000-5000 calories per day.   When one is consuming 1000 calories per day, a 100 calorie per day exercise program becomes huge.    Last evening, I enjoyed the last home-cooked meal that I will have until next weekend.   This 7oz Salmon Filet with Organic Mixed Vegetables was delicious.   This morning I weighed myself and I checked in at 294.5 lbs.   I have lost nearly 15 lbs in 12 days.

7 oz. Salmon Filet with Mixed Vegetables - 415 calories

HAPPY NEW WEIGHT!

Eight days ago, I visited my doctor for a 'wellness' exam. I stepped on a scale in the office with my clothes on and weighed 313.8 lbs.    It is currently January 1, 2015 (eight days later).  I just weighed myself with my clothes on and the scale indicated 301.8 lbs.   My scale is not broken - I have lost 12 pounds as a result of my efforts in the past 8 days.  Of course I wanted to know what my true weight is, without clothing, and that result was 297 lbs.  Now I know that my real weight  on December 24, 2014 was 'only' 309 lbs. Today I am 297 lbs.  I am statistically, medically and in reality obese.  That is not important.  I FEEL LIKE A NEW MAN!  I AM A NEW MAN!  It will be many more months until I can remove myself from the obese classification.   In my mind, I am already a healthy, thin person.   I am starting 2015 in the midst of a life changing experience.  My journey is just beginning.  This morning, I am bursting with happiness.  Happy New Year!

2015 begins with me at 297 lbs, I have already lost 12 lbs!