Tag Archives: food

Weigh-In Week #1: Goin’ Down

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Even though I felt I had a semi-bad weekend on the food and exercise front, I still was able to lose weight.  I was able to lose 3.1 lbs. over the week, so obviously I’m very happy about that!  I attribute this to increased exercise, both at lunchtime and in the evening.  I only walk for around 10-15 minutes at lunch; the evening walks usually last 30-40 minutes.  I’m not really moving at a fast pace right now…I’m just happy to be more active.  Plus, having walking buddies has been a tremendous help.  Together, we’ve walked over 5 miles!

The week ahead is a little intimidating.  I’m not so worried about the work week.  It’s the weekend, of course, due to multiple parties, which means lots of snacks, finger foods, entrées, and desserts.  Tempting for a fat guy like me, to say the least.  I’m going to have to keep my hunger in check, stay busy, track what I eat and drink, and be sure that I continue to exercise.

For now, I’m happy with the weight loss for the week.  I’ll worry about the weekend when I get there.

NOTE:  I attended an Overeaters Anonymous meeting this weekend.  Overall, it was a very positive experience.  But in the interest of anonymity, I’m not going to provide any details on this blog.  If you would like to hear about my first OA meeting, please send me an e-mail.

Hundred Pushup Challenge

Initial Test:  1 normal push up, 9 “knee” push ups.  Yikes.  Me gots no upper body strength!

Food Hangover

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I just woke up about an hour ago, and I have that sinking feeling in my stomach because I’m hungover and totally regretting what I did yesterday.

No, no, not THAT kind of hangover and regret…it’s a food hangover, and that sinking feeling in my stomach is the literal result of eating much too much yesterday. Half of a large buffalo chicken pizzz (with blue cheese dipping sauce), chips and salsa, lobster, the other half of the buffalo chicken pizza (and dipping sauce), and, of course, libations. It’s just been one of those weeks…I can’t fully explain my thought process during this week…I’m guessing it’s just been a general feeling of laziness. A common thought this week has been, “I simply do not care about eating healthy.” I’m still trying to figure out exactly why I don’t care this week, and why this week in particular. I can’t seem to keep my emotions in check…

I guess I’m fully in a rut…here’s to hoping that I can salvage today and Sunday. Unfortunately, my goal this week is not to gain more than a pound. Obviously, this isn’t a very good goal, but this is just temporary until I can end this week and move on to the next week.

So Far So Good

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The back-on-track day is going well thus far. Healthy breakfast. Healthy lunch. Sucking down water like it’s my job. Keeping myself busy. Dinner is already planned for tonight, and it sounds like it will be healthy, so I anticipate a good food day.

Since I’m away from home during the day today, I have to exercise this evening, probably around 8:30pm. I’m not a huge fan of working out at this time, but if I have to exercise late in the day in order to get my activity points, then so be it. I’ve heard that exercising late in the day can cause you to have bad sleep…personally, I haven’t had that problem yet. Also, if I had to choose morning or night for working out, I would choose night, because I am definitely not a morning person. But…I really like working out in the morning after I’ve been awake for an hour or two…but that doesn’t really work out with a work schedule.

A new study says that meal replacements aid weight loss. Good to know, actually. During previous diets, I used to eat just Slim-Fast bars and shakes for breakfast and lunch, and it seemed to work. In fact, I think I did this when I lost a lot of weight in 2001. I’ve thought about buying these again, because they are major time-savers, but I will probably lose out on some nutrition. Tough choice…save time or maintain nutrition?

Chugging on toward dinner time…I have good vibes that this will be a good day.

Another Bad Day

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Another healthy breakfast and lunch, but a terrible dinner. I don’t know if it was stress this time…I think it was more “I’m lazy, I don’t want to be healthy today” sort of thing. Argh…I’m totally battling my old self these past two weeks. I’m totally fighting the diet thing this week, and I know I shouldn’t be. I’m stuck in a major funk right now. I’m funkdafied, and I want to be de-funkdafied. At least I worked out on the elliptical today…

I gotta have a good rest of the week and weekend, or else I’m predicting a bad, bad weigh-in on Monday. Gotta brainstorm about how I can fight the funk.

Weigh-In Day #4: Small But Sweet

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Yikes, I’ve been on my longest hiatus yet…I haven’t updated since Friday, when I promised all of you that I would update this weekend. And I totally broke my promise. I had one of those really really lazy weekends, where I didn’t really want to do anything except relax and enjoy a quiet weekend. I think it is because law school starts again for me in a few weeks, and I’m trying to enjoy my free time while I still can.

Unfortunately, that laziness resulted in some hiccups this weekend with food and exercise. I didn’t exercise the entire weekend, and I ate slightly larger dinners. But things are OK…I lost 1.3 pounds this week, coming in at a weight of 294.7 pounds. Honestly, I think I would have lost more if it wasn’t for this weekend. But it’s OK…I remain fully on the weight loss bandwagon, and I’m still very much energized and excited about exercising and eating healthy.

I’m still trying to enjoy these last few days of freedom, so I probably will not exercise today. However, I am getting back on track tomorrow. I will be away from home, but I have decided to find a way to exercise at the hotel I am staying at, either at the on-site gym or by walking around the premises for an extended period of time. I would be content with doing either option.

I want to thank everyone again for your continued support…you guys are the best!

My Inadvertent Detox

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Unsuspectingly, my alcohol intake has reached lows not seen since before college. I haven’t limited my drinking on purpose…sort of. It is sort of an indirect result of being on Weight Watchers, since it preaches and demands that I track EVERYTHING that enters my body, including any kind of beverage and any small bite of food.

I love all sorts of beers…Sam Adams, Sam Summer, Heineken, Guinness, most of the beers at the BBC, and of course the occasional hard liquor. But 12 oz. of regular beer is 3 points, and that can add up during a night of shenanigans. Even a beer at a restaurant during dinner can be costly…a lot of those restaurant beers on tap are 16 oz., so it would be 4 points per beer. Some have “super-sized” servings of 22-24 oz., so one of those can be 6 points…just for drinking a frosty beverage. Some of those malt beverages or pre-mixed drinks, like Smirnoff Ice or Mike’s Hard Lemonade, are between 4-6 points for 12 oz. But the worst drink is a margarita in a pint glass…11 points! Mudslides come in second with 8.5 points, and long island ice teas take third with 8 points. Surprisingly, hard liquor is not that bad…usually around 2-3 points per shot. In addition, the best alcoholic drinks have hard liquor in them: rum and diet coke, and vodka and soda each cost 1.5 points. White wine spritzers and bloody marys are only 2 points.

Since I would rather spend my points on food, I have been drinking either light beer or just water. Although light beer is only 2 points per 12 oz., it can add up, and I REALLY like spending my points on food. Therefore, I have really only been drinking water over the past couple weeks. I’ve probably been pretty lame lately because of this, but it’s been kind of nice…sort of like a detox or a cleanse, I guess. Maybe it’s the exercise and the dieting, but I feel healthier by just drinking water…I feel more in control of my body.

Concerned readers: I haven’t eliminated alcohol completely from my life…that would just be tragic. Beer will always have a special place in my heart.

Ore-Oh No

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I splurged on some Oreos when I got home from dinner. Argh, I couldn’t resist!

I had a healthy day with food. Low-fat strawberry smoothie from Panera Bread in the morning. Lean Cuisine panini sandwich for lunch. Grilled chicken sandwich for dinner. All was right in the world…until I came home.

I had around 4.5 Weight Watchers points left for the day (I am currently allowed 43 points per day, with 35 extra points per week and activity points earned through exercise). 3 Oreos are 4 points, so I decided to have 3. But 3 turned into more than expected…I think I ended up eating 12 Oreos total, so I ate 16 points worth of Oreos. 12 points over for the day.

Now I know that I’m still not over my allowed points for the week, but past experience has shown me that eating at or below my daily points target results in greater weight loss on my weigh-in day. This goes against everything that Weight Watchers preaches: they tell you to eat at least your points target every day AND some of your weekly and activity points. According to WW, if you follow their suggestions, you will lose weight at a healthy rate. But that can mean weeks where you only lose one-tenth of a pound. I’m not sure that is gonna work for me…I need to lose a consistent 1-2 pounds per week to keep my spirits high. It’s not a sprint to the finish line…but I don’t want to come in last, either.

Since the Oreo guilt is now upon me, I must get through Sunday without going food nutso. Clearly, I can’t be tempted at all by ANYTHING remotely bad for me, so I might have to wear a straitjacket and lock myself in a padded room for a day.

Dogs Can Help With Weight Loss? Blasphemy!

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This is Ted. Ted the dog. See Ted run. And run and run and run. And play with his ducky.

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Ted is visiting for a couple days, so I might take the opportunity to go for a walk or a brief run with him. Just a 15 to 30-minute walk, and perhaps I’ll try running for a minute just to see what it is like. Humans and dogs need regular exercise to fight off fat and regulate their moods, so why not exercise together? The wifey and I have been considering getting a dog of our own in the future, and I’d like to be able to walk and run with him/her on a regular basis, so I hope I can be somewhat in shape by the time we get one.

Wifey: yes, we will get one soon.

FOLLOW UP FROM YESTERDAY: My friend Michelle sent me a great link to a listing of restaurant foods at Dotti’s Weight Loss Zone. Wow…I never knew this site existed. This site has a gigantic listing of restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, and the like, along with meals and drinks served at each place with nutritional information and Weight Watchers points. This is absolutely a must-see for people that like to eat out a lot, like me! The rest of the website is pretty cool and inspirational, as well.

T.G.I. Wednesday

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No, I’m not serious when I say that, but I did eat with the wifey at T.G.I. Friday’s this evening. Even though I eat out 2-3 times a week, I still forget how hard it is to eat healthy at restaurants. Sure, a lot more places offer “healthy options” or “low-carb options.” Applebee’s even offers Weight Watchers meals with points listed right on the menu.

But I can’t live without the classic, fatty meals! I’ve tried those healthy options on the menu…and they just don’t satisfy me. For me, I am happy eating smaller portions of the regular menu items than eating the healthy options. I will also try to eat a healthier version of the classics, like grilled chicken instead of fried chicken, or turkey tips instead of steak tips. Tonight, I went with the sizzling chicken and cheese…OK, it wasn’t the healthiest thing on the menu, but it is simply grilled chicken with some cheese, peppers, onions, and mashed potatoes. This is a lot better than my favorite meal there, the cheesy bacon cheeseburger, which is basically a bacon cheeseburger with a mozzarella cheese patty on top. Plus fries, of course. I probably ate around 1,500 calories just by eating that atrocious thing.

My friend Becky sent along a great link to the Healthiest Restaurant Meals in America at the Eat This, Not That website. As this site shows, eating healthy at restaurants can be as easy as choosing sirloin steak. I’m quite sure that I can live with eating sirloin steak on a regular basis. I’m going to have to try as many of these choices as I can…I just can’t resist a good meal prepared by someone else.

The wifey sent along a link to a CNN.com article about plus-sized TV shows gaining a large viewing audience. I haven’t seen any of these shows, except for The Biggest Loser. And I think I’ve seen Dance Your Ass Off mocked by The Soup. It sounds to me, however, that all these shows are really catching on. I like the realism of them all…real stories, real struggles, real life. I wish shows in general were more realistic, you know? I’m intrigued by Fox’s new show More to Love, which is essentially The Bachelor for overweight people. The brief preview I saw looked both touching and entertaining.

Guess what? A new diet pill is on the way. This one sounds promising, but it’s still too early to tell. It seems to be different from diet pills that attacks food cravings head on, but I’m more interested in the side effects. Alli is well known for having…ahem…sticky side effects. Remember olestra, which were in those Lays Wow! potato chips? I guess the best way I can phrase it is…waxy discharge from the rear. There are plenty of websites that describe the side effects in more detail, so I’ll leave you to find those on your own.

My opinion: don’t go the easy way and take a pill. Work hard, eat healthy, and exercise. You and your rear won’t regret it.

I Dreamed a Dream

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I had a horrifying nightmare last night. I dreamt that I decided to “let loose” and eat like a mofo for one night. I think I wolfed down an entire pack of Girl Scouts’ Thin Mints. I woke up early this morning and had of those moments like, oh my god…I actually did that last night…what am I going to do?!?! Panic set in. And then reality set in, and I realized that my Thin Mints binge did NOT happen last night.

Now that I think about it, I have been dreaming a lot about food since I started the diet and exercise. And of course, I’m not dreaming about fruits and vegetables. I’m dreaming about the hardcore stuff: pizza, burgers, buffalo chicken, pizza, brownie sundaes, sausage egg and cheese sandwiches, and pizza. Too many times, I have woken up and thought that I ate those things in large quantities at some point during the previous day. Luckily, it’s just been my brain being overly active. I don’t blame it…the poor thing is probably still in shock.

I completed the 30-Day Challenge in the Wii EA Sports Active recently, so I have decided to do another 30-Day Challenge. I changed the intensity from easy to medium, and today was my first medium-intensity workout. My body is screaming ouch right now…the first workout involved lots of running. It wasn’t so bad…a month ago, there’s no way I could have done a medium-intensity workout. But now, I definitely feel like I could keep going without quitting.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day number two, but I gotta get through today first. Hopefully I won’t eat too much, both in the real world and the dream world.