SMALL RECOVERY

Yesterday my 'weigh-in' was extremely annoying.  After being under the impression that my weight had dropped to 214 - my scale sucker punched me back and informed me that I was 222 lbs.  This seemed utterly impossible - how does one gain 8 lbs in one week?  It's not like I had been on an all-you-can-eat 8-days 7-nights cruise ship for the past week!  Nevertheless, one must accept reality.

This morning, I did weigh myself again and the scale taunted me with an improved reading.  This morning, the scale indicates 219.5 lbs.  (After yesterdays shock - I'll take it) As if I have a choice...

All the clothing that I had been fitting into and/or nearly fitting into has not changed.  What I know now is that I did not gain 8.2 lbs in one week...but apparently my weight loss the week before was a bit overestimated.  So really, things are still going according to plan.  In fact, I will continue to INCREASE my calories a little bit as I simply require the additional fuel to operate efficiently.  Although my doctor had given me the blessing to continue on 1000 calories per day somewhat indefinitely - that decision was predicated on the fact that I was feeling good.  As I reported recently, lately I have NOT felt that I was giving my body enough fuel.  So I am going to carefully increase my calories consumed each day.

SATURDAY MENU

breakfast cup oatmeal, w/prune, two poached eggs, two slices turkey 'bacon'            355 calories

lunch       spinach salad w/hearts of palm, cherry tomato, mushrooms

                CABBAGE SOUP                                                                                        167 calories

dinner     TRADER JOE'S SALMON BURGER, bowl MISO SOUP, 8 pickles

                spinach salad w/hearts of palm, cherry tomato, 4 small apples                    490 calories

TOTAL CALORIES 1012 CALORIES

calories burned

10PM elliptical machine 446 calories

SATURDAY NET CALORIES   568 CALORIES

MY FIRST MARATHON (WELL...NOT EXACTLY)

Yesterday I completed a marathon.   If you are imagining a road race when everyone starts in the early morning and traverses a course of 26.2 miles - that is not the kind marathon that I completed.

However, this week I have already walked more than 26.2 miles on my treadmill.
SATURDAY     4 MILES
SUNDAY          4 MILES
MONDAY         4 MILES in the morning
                         4 MILES in the evening
TUESDAY        4 MILES in the morning
                         4 MILES in the evening
WEDNESDAY  4 MILES
                                               TOTAL MILES WALKED SO FAR THIS WEEK - 28 MILES

After my treadmill workout on Wednesday I had 'travelled ' more than 26 miles this week.
I am aware that this is not really a spectacular accomplishment for active people.
I do know that this represents MORE TREADMILL miles than I have logged in the last seven years combined.   So, instead of focusing on the atrocious record of inactivity that I was mired in for the past seven years, I choose to celebrate the fact that I have come to appreciate the value of exercise and I have now remembered how good I feel afterwards.

Once again, this involves the fun/happiness dichotomy that Dennis Prager has explained.
It is NOT FUN to spend one hour on the treadmill.
I do know that after I do, I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I DID.

THE TREADMILL: BEST PLACE TO TAKE A 4 MILE WALK DURING WINTER IN CHICAGO

WEDNESDAY MENU

BREAKFAST   Three poached eggs w/two slices turkey 'bacon'                      280 CALORIES
LUNCH            Salmon Burger, Asparagus Spears, Pumpkin Soup                 245 CALORIES
DINNER           MAHI MAHI 5oz, 12 Brussel Sprouts, Cup Clam Chowder      350 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE 875 CALORIES

MORNING EXERCISE 60 MINUTES ELLIPTICAL MACHINE  BURNED 800 CALORIES
EVENING EXERCISE 60 MINUTES WALKING 4 MPH              BURNED 600 CALORIES

NET CALORIC DEFECIT 525 CALORIES    


THANK YOU JENNIFER.
Jennifer is my wife and she has been terrific.  Preparing all my foods at home, and using the precise measurements that my calorie counting demand.  Jennifer has been amazing and is really cheering me on. 

LUNCH: PUMPKIN SOUP, ASPARAGUS, SALMON BURGER  245 CALORIES

DINNER: MAHI MAHI 5OZ, BRUSSEL SPROUTS,  CUP MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWER  350 CALORIES

ONLY TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL I JUMP ON THE SCALE AGAIN.... I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT....

THIS SURPRISED ME

Everything was going smoothly today in Day 10 of my new lifestyle.   Breakfast started with three poached eggs flavored with one tablespoon of bacon bits (245 calories).   Lunch took me back to Panera Bread for the turkey chili (280 calories).   Before dinner my family went shopping at Costco with my new menu requirements in mind.    We purchased big packages of Vegetables, Broccoli, and a box of 'salmon burgers.'   Each salmon burger is only 110 calories!   As my wife, Jennifer, cooked dinner, the aroma from the heated salmon burgers was amazing.    They looked tasty too!   I had asked for 1 cup of vegetables, 1 cup of broccoli and 2 salmon burgers.   This should have been a whopping 400 calorie meal.   It seemed odd to me that this looked like a lot of food.  As I started my meal, something happened that I cannot remember ever happening before in the past many years.... I chose not to have both salmon burgers.   I was completely satisfied with just one.   My delicious dinner became a 290 calorie meal.  My total intake today was only 816 calories.   I think the reason that I wasn't hungry enough to eat my complete dinner was that I am eating actual real food now.  The engine that is my body is getting high performance, high-octane fuel.  In the past, I was perpetually hungry.   I am trying to train myself to be hungry when it is a true physiological feeling.   In the past, I think I confused hunger with sugar craving.   They are not the same.  Something in me is really changing.

This would've been 400 calories if I had eaten it all