TODAY IS TOMORROW

There is an extremely effective way to to gain enough weight to achieve 309 lbs as I had done when I awoke on December 24, 2014. One only needs to decide to begin a diet (lifestyle change) "tomorrow." Since "tomorrow" continues to get postponed until the next "tomorrow" - one's weight can continue to skyrocket. After losing nearly 100 lbs, I saw my weight start to increase again. I had already lost and gained 80 pounds nearly one decade ago. It was easy to gain it back. As the weight started to increase, I would simply decide that I would get serious about reversing course "tomorrow." "Tomorrow" continued to be delayed year after year until after a routine visit to my doctor on December 24, 2014. Over the past few months, my weight which had briefly hit 213 lbs had increased so much that my scale indicated 236 lbs this past Saturday. I made the decision to start with some renewed willpower starting on Monday. I was successful on Monday.  My caloric consumption was under 1000. I was successful again yesterday in keeping my calorie count low. The secret to success when making an effort to change one's life is to know this: TODAY IS TOMORROW.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey, 2 slices	70	1	6	4	300	0
	285	2	20	23	746	1
L U N C H
Earthbound Farm - Baby Spinach, Organic	20	3	0	2	65	0
Trident - Alaskan Salmon Burgers, 1 patty	170	2	9	20	330	0
Lifesavers - Wintergreen Mints, 3 mints	45	11	0	0	0	11
	235	16	9	22	395	11
D I N N E R
Sunny Sea - Pink salmon in water, 1 pk	90	0	3	15	270	0
Lady Liberty - Asparagus	23	3	0	3	510	0
Chunky Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
American Breakfast High Fiber Cereal	320	92	4	12	280	24
	433	62	10	31	2,450	12
Totals	1192	80	39	85	3,591	23
Your Daily Goal	1,997	249	66	100	2,300	75
Remaining	1,044	168	26	24	-1,290	51
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 67 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

NOT APPLICABLE - NO EXERCISE

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calories consumed 1192 calories

total calories burned (from additional exercise) 0 calories

net 1192 calories

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 fitbit day 216

4924 steps

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Last week my total cumulative steps were 53.906.  This is by far the lowest one week total since I have become a fitbitter.  As I try to let my groin pull recover, my total this week is likely to be lower. I am really trying hard to keep it easy. Right now I am now feeling pain, but I am feeling an annoying tenderness.

This specific week during Thanksgiving 2015, was my most actvie step-wise, 311,404 steps.  It included a 20 mile walk on Thanksgiving Day. With my groin injury, I am currently incapable of walking one mile at any speed.

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MARC JACOBS 2.0

I have drawn more than a few 'lines in the sand' over the past few months. Somehow the lines kept on getting moved. This time, I am serious. I need to be particularly serious right now as I am physically sidelined with a groin pull that might need a week or two to heal. Yesterday was the first day of my new seriousness. I harnessed the willpower that I somehow managed to corral when I initially began my weight loss. Sure, it was only one day, but one has to start somewhere.  So I (re)started yesterday. I need to cleanse my 'system files'. What I needed was a 'reboot'. On my first day after my personal reboot, I consumed under 1000 calories, much as I did for nearly four months straight when I first started from 309 lbs on December 24, 2014.  My intention is not to continue this for four months. Right now, I am taking some satisfaction that I was able to do this for one day. Today will present the next challenge. See you tomorrow.

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, April 4, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey, 2 slices	70	1	6	4	300	0
	285	2	20	23	746	1
L U N C H
Trident - Alaskan Salmon Burgers, 1 patty	170	2	9	20	330	0
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH	20	0	0	2	65	0
Cabbage Soup, 2 cups	100	10	0	2	79	6
	290	12	9	24	474	6
D I N N E R
Trident - Alaskan Salmon Burgers, 1 patty	170	2	9	20	330	0
Chicken Noodle - Healthy Choice Soup, 2 cup	180	24	2	16	780	4
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH	40	0	0	4	130	0
	390	26	11	40	1,240	4
Totals	965	40	40	87	2,459	10
Your Daily Goal	1,984	248	66	100	2,300	74
Remaining	1,019	207	25	12	-159	63
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 54 extra calories from exercise today

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   Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, April 4, 2016

NOT APPLICABLE - NO EXERCISE

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calories consumed 965 calories

total calories burned (from additional exercise) 0 calories

net 965 calories

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 fitbit day 215

2630 steps

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After more than one year of averaging  3000+ calories every day, it was no small achievement to finally summon the willpower to ratchet down my appetite and keep my caloric intake under 1000 for the first time in more than one year. Perhaps a more well-balanced approach would be to find a the happy middle ground. Right now I would like to jump start my the change in direction that my weight needs to take - at least for a couple of days.

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The way to keep a spinach salad low calorie... Do not add all the high calorie delicious things that I have been adding recently.  Right now I am going to simply have one ingredient in my spinach salad - at least for a few days while I reverse the course of my weight gain.

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PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

If or when, PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, a situation has become so bad that one is forced to do something. Currently I am trying to recover from a groin pull. I am dealing with an increasing appetite. And I am dealing with an extremely unwanted weight gain. 

Today, as always, is the first day of the rest of my life. 
Today, I rededicate myself to my goals of weight loss.
Today, I continue taking it easy and abstaining from exercise to allow my groin pull to heal.
Today, I will NOT be consuming anywhere near 3000 calories.
Today, I will have the goal of consuming something way closer to 1000 calories.
Today, PUSH HAS COME TO SHOVE.
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Regarding my 'groin pull' I hardly exerted myself at all yesterday.  In fact, I set a new personal record of inactivity.  I had my fitbit with me all day, and when the day ended it recorded that I had taken 1677 steps.  During the course of the day, I felt no pain and no discomfort - I also didn't do anything other than paperwork and binge watch netflix. My current thinking is that I will stay away from any workouts or other exertion at least until the weekend. I would like resume activity by getting outside and walking. However, that is still one week away. 

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, April 3, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Cinnamon & Spice Instant Oatmeal	640	128	8	16	840	44
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
	830	178	9	17	844	82
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	520	70	30	18	700	26
Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Bar	180	22	9	4	20	14
	700	92	39	22	720	40
D I N N E R
Teriyaki Salmon Steaks, 6 oz	270	3	8	47	365	5
Asparagus Fresh	52	6	0	4	16	2
Curried & Kale Walnut Salad, 1 Cup	360	36	26	6	460	0
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
	872	95	35	58	845	45
Totals	2,402	365	83	97	2,408	167
Your Daily Goal	1,931	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	-471	-124	-18	0	-108	-94
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1 extra calorie from exercise today

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   Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, April 3, 2016

NOT APPLICABLE - NO EXERCISE

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total calories consumed 2402 calories

total calories burned (from additional exercise) 0 calories

total net 2402 calories

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fitbit day 214

1677 steps

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I think that yesterday was the first day since I became a 'fitbitter' on September 3, 2015 that I failed to reach 5000 steps.  Since it was my purpose to take it easy this failure was actually a success (of sorts)   It will be become increasingly difficult to stay inactive as the pain and discomfort complete disappear. I am making a great effort to allow some time for my muscles to strengthen and heal. I expect to increase my activity after one solid week of this downtime. 

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MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 4, 2016, THE DAY THAT PUSH CAME TO SHOVE... I STEPPED ON THE SCALE AND THE IMAGINARY NEEDLE ON MY DIGITAL SCALE STOPPED AT 236.9 LBS.

I am not making excuses (any more).

Nevertheless, before I take myself behind a back alley and beat myself up, a bit of perspective is called for.  One year ago, April 4, 2015, I did weigh 229.6 lbs.  So, one way of looking at this, would be that I have 'only' gained 7 lbs in the last year. Hey, I am just looking for a silver lining, something positive to grab hold of... 

THE PROCRASTINATOR

I am in the middle of a temporary and undesired lifestyle change.  For the next week (maybe two) I cannot exercise with the reckless abandon with which I have become accustomed.  Yesterday, after just a few days of removing ALL EXERCISE from my daily routine, as I allow myself to recover from a groin pull, I stepped on the scale and was aghast at my weight of 236 lbs. I should have decided then and there to REVERSE COURSE immediately. However, I chose to procrastinate. In fact, my procrastination will continue today. Call be THE PROCRASTINATOR. 

Tomorrow, I am going to make an effort to return to those 'thrilling days of yesteryear' when I was existing on a 1000 calorie per day diet. If I should allow myself to get to 1500 calories - that will be perfectly OK. What I cannot do is allow myself to continue to consume 3000, 3500 or nearly 4000 calories per day as I have been doing which was at least partly offset by vigorous exercise sessions. If I cannot exercise, I cannot eat with the same modified reckless abandon with which I have recently become accustomed to. I should start today - but I just don't feel like it. Tomorrow it begins.

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Hopefully, it will not be too long until...

I'll be recovered from my groin pull.
I'll be exercising again.
I'll be see my weight below 230 lbs.
I'll be back.

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, April 2, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Cinnamon & Spice Instant Oatmeal, 4 packet	640	128	8	16	840	44
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
	830	178	9	17	844	82
L U N C H
Cabbage Soup	300	31	1	7	235	17
Flatbread Cracker, 6 cracker	300	36	12	12	570	6
	600	67	13	19	805	23
D I N N E R
Homemade Vegetable Beef Stew	500	58	10	48	904	7
YOGURT PRETZELS	380	56	0	4	360	38
	880	114	10	52	1,264	45
S N A C K S
Endangered Species Chocolate - Natural Dark Chocolate With Cherries, 1 Bar	500	44	32	6	0	22
	500	44	32	6	0	22
Totals	2,810	403	63	93	2,913	172
Your Daily Goal	2,090	261	69	105	2,300	78
Remaining	-720	-141	5	11	-612	-94
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 160 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, April 2, 2016

NOT APPLICABLE - NO EXERCISE

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total calories consumed 2810 calories

total calories burned (from additional exercise) 0 calories

total net 2810 calories

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fitbit day 213

5003 steps

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ON THE DL

Oh boy... Did I ever get my comeuppance last evening. Since, I have never used the word, comeuppance, prior to right now... I needed to look it up.

come·up·pance

ˌkəmˈəpəns/

noun

informal

1. a punishment or fate that someone deserves.

   "he got his comeuppance"

   synonyms:

   just deserts, just punishment, due, retribution, requital, what's coming to one "the bad guys always get their comeuppance in the final scene"

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I thought that after two days of rest, and two days of seemingly no pain that I could gingerly get on the treadmill last evening. I shouldn't have done that. But I did do it. I spent 35 minutes at an average speed of 26.05 minutes per mile, and 'walked' 1.37 miles. At that speed I could have practically burned those 117 calories that the machine said I burned by restfully sleeping. What I was not counting on was the return of groin pain. After my incredibly unvigorous, yet painful workout, I applied ice and 'hit' the ibuprofen.  I am simply going to need to stay away from walking any kind of distance for a week. At this particular moment, an elliptical machine workout is nearly unimaginable. As baseball season begins this weekend, I will borrow a word often used to describe a player kept out of action due to injury: I am officially on the disabled list (DL).

In Major League Baseball, the disabled list (DL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players..

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, April 1, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Cinnamon & Spice Instant Oatmeal	640	128	8	16	840	44
Scrambled Eggs w/two Sausages	300	0	0	0	0	0
Yoplait - 2lb - Original 99% Fat Free Smooth Style Strawberry Yogurt, 8 oz (225g)	210	42	2	7	100	30
	1,150	170	10	23	940	74
L U N C H
Cabbage Soup	300	31	1	7	235	17
Organic Dark Chocolate	250	23	16	2	0	20
	550	54	17	9	235	37
D I N N E R
Crockpot Pot Roast, 8 oz	660	10	12	32	874	0
Kind - Dark Chocolate Cherry, 2 bar	360	44	18	8	40	28
	1,020	54	30	40	914	28
Totals	2,720	278	56	72	2,089	139
Your Daily Goal	2,027	253	67	102	2,300	76
Remaining	-693	-24	10	30	210	-63
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 97 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, April 1, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	35	117
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-20
Daily Total / Goal	36 / 30	97 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	219 / 210	2,747 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2720 calories

total calories burned 117 calories

total net 2603 calories

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fitbit day 212

6577 steps

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Today is April 2... That means I need to extend birthday wishes to the only person on this planet that I have known my whole life. 

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Happy Birthday, Mom!

Love,

Marc

WHAT'S THE PLAN?

I need to heal. I need a plan. I really, really took it easy today. My total 'steps' were just a touch over 5000. In the past few weeks I have been averaging closer to 25,000 steps per day. I almost went the entire day without feeling any pain. I also did not exert myself in any meaningful way. I know that my groin muscles are still tender and I am hoping that they will heal quickly. My lack of exercise has been reflected into a loss of appetite. I need to exercise. It is really annoying that I cannot even walk (fast) which is my most favorite way of burning calories. Today, Friday, I have just one appointment, then I am driving back to Chicago. I think I will still need to take it easy for a few more days. I am being very timid about exerting myself as I do not want to have a setback.  If I can force myself to stay inactive for a week or so, I am betting  that I will recover more quickly.

That's the plan.

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, March 31, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Scrambled Eggs w/two Sausages breakfast	450	0	0	0	0	0
Quaker Cinnamon Spice Instant Oatmeal	640	128	8	16	840	44
Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	1,185	153	8	17	842	63
L U N C H
Jason's Deli - Amy's Turkey-o, 1 sandwich	480	56	17	29	1,380	11
Jason's Deli - SPICY SEAFOOD GUMBO	230	26	8	12	1,710	3
Jason's Deli - Flatbread Cracker, 4 cracker	200	24	8	8	380	4
	910	106	33	49	3,470	18
D I N N E R
HYVEE - HUGE SPINACH SALAD	750	0	0	0	0	0
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	845	25	0	1	2	19
S N A C K S
Yoplait - Original Stawberry, 6 oz	150	25	1	6	95	18
	150	25	1	6	95	18
Totals	3,090	309	43	72	4,409	118
Your Daily Goal	1,978	247	66	99	2,300	74
Remaining	-1,112	-62	23	27	-2,108	-43
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 48 extra calories from exercise today

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DAY OFF FROM EXERCISE
RECOVERING FROM GROIN PULL

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total calories consumed 3090 calories

total calories burned from additional exercise - 0 calories

total net 3090 calories

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fitbit day 211

5103 steps

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