September 29, 2011: Day 271

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        200.8 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    201.2 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.4 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

Progress continues. Tomorrow is the last day of the 3rd quarter this year (sort of; mathematically it is Saturday, Oct 1; but why quibble). I would very much have liked my weight to be down, but given today's lunch splurge at the Chinese buffet, that is probably not happening...

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus dark cocoa, an egg, coconut milk, extra BCAAs, cinnamon and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

At the North Star Chinese Buffet:  (Not shown, pic didn't come out: Hibachi-grilled steak, pork, cabbage,  mushrooms, broccoli, peppers and onions). Above: Flounder, spinach , steak with onions, teriyaki chicken, kimchi.  

Fail
Big piece of birthday cake at work. Oh, well.


Dinner

Wild-caught salmon burger, black lentil curry, Spring mix greens with red cabbage and balsamic vinaigrette.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  22 oz,   Water: 112+ oz. 

September 28, 2011: Day 270

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        201.2 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.8 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 2.6 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

Well, after a pretty normal day yesterday (with no extra exercise, despite yesterday's long-winded plaint), the big weight drop is welcome. Definitely a step towards accomplishing my ultra-short-term goal to end September at or under 200 pounds. I'm visualizing that like crazy!

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, extra BCAAs, cinnamon and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

Roast turkey with tomatoes, black beans, red cabbage, Spring Mix greens and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack
Celery, baby carrots and home-made herbed mayonnaise.


Dinner

Chicken-spinach-feta cheese sausage with broccoli and refried black beans. 

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  11 oz,   Water: 106+ oz. 

September 27, 2011: Day 269

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        203.8 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    202.4 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 1.4 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

Yes, eating an entire extra meal, full calories, will have an effect on your metabolism, your hormonal balance, and, therefore, ultimately, your weight. The effect on weight, predictably, is not positive unless you are trying to gain weight. Which I 'm not.


Hopefully, today will be better.


I have come to the conclusion that the missing thing for me is exercise. I have mentioned this before.

Every attempt to incorporate some exercise into my daily routine has faltered. Similar to my diet attempts, I have some parameters for what my exercise has to have in it. 

1. Because I live in Syracuse, a place where the weather more often than not imposes restrictions on outdoor exercise, it has to be something I can do indoors, and something that doesn't take up much floor space or use machinery. 
2. It has to be something I can do without pain/injury. 
3. It has to be something I find enjoyable, or at least not so unpleasant that I work out excuses to not do it.  Which also means, it cannot take too long.

The most difficult barriers are with the first requirement. Not only is my apartment small, it is cluttered and messy, and not laid out for exercise. I have been avoiding dealing with this since I moved in last February. I do work in fits and starts, but with more things coming into apartment than are going out, it seems that the problem is growing. I have to deal with this, but am having difficulty taking it on, because breaking it down into manageable jobs doesn't end satisfactorily. Until I can fix this, my best hope is to get a little exercise on a catch-as-catch-can basis - and maybe during working hours. I have invested in several exercise programs, at least two of which seem very do-able. So, maybe soon.

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, extra BCAAs, and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

Tuna-celery-dal fry on red cabbage and Spring Mix greens. I am certain I am the first person in the world to make tuna salad with dal fry instead of mayonnaise.

Dinner

Chicken-spinach-feta cheese sausage with red kindey bean curry and spinach. Not shown: carrots and celery with home-made herbed mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  22 oz,   Water: 96+ oz. 

September 26, 2011: Day 268

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        202.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.2 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.8 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

My weight came down just a little, which is gratifying, because usually there's a 1-day hangover after cheat day, with Mondays being the second day of weight gain. As I get nearer the end of the quarter (and the end of the chart!), I would really like to finish under 200 pounds. 

I had such good intentions today - I was going to be perfect, maybe a little more active... But I was so tired - and I ended up eating a whole extra meal at the end of the day. That will not be good for my short-term goal...

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, extra BCAAs, and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

Roast turkey with home-made herbs d'Provence mayonnaise and a salad of Spring Mix greens, black beans, red cabbage, and tomatoes.

Dinner

From Chipotle: Burrito Bowl with chicken, guacamole, salsa, pinto beans and lettuce.

After-dinner Dinner
Lentil curry, roast turkey, cabbage and carrots with my home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  22 oz,   Water: 120+ oz. 

September 25, 2011: Day 267

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        203.2 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    202.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 1.2 lbs

Given the immensity of yesterday's intake, today's weight is very pleasing. And since I was still feeling full when I went to bed last night, I woke up with no hunger at all. As a result, I ended up not eating anything until the afternoon.

Food Log

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

Breakfast
Skipped.


Lunch

Spinach, eggs, black beans, and salsa with bacon and a salad of Spring Mix greens, tomatoes, red cabbage, and vinaigrette.

Dinner

Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/48g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk and stevia-erythritol blend and some added BCAAs.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  20 oz,   Water: 64+ oz. 

September 24, 2011: Post 266 - Measurement Day, Cheat Day

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        202.0 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:    202.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.0 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

                Last week     This week     Gain/Loss

  Weight:     201.2  lbs    202.0  lbs    - 0.8  lbs
  Chest:       39.00 "       39.00 "      - 0.00 in
  Waist:       38.00 "       38.00 "      - 0.00 "
  Hips:        37.00 "       37.00 "      - 0.00 "
  Total in:   114.00 "      114.00 "      0 0.00 "
  % Body Fat:  16.8  %       18.5  %      + 1.7  %

This is a chart of my weekly weight since 5/30/2011.

This is a weekly chart of inches lost (sum of chest, waist, hips) since 5/30/2011. 

These have become my recent 'average' measurements. I have spent a lot of time these days at or very near 202 pounds. Also, I have had a total inches measurement of 114" for months. My body fat percentage is up this week, Hopefully, temporary. I feel a new weight loss coming on. Yeah, baby!

I had a great day of eating all kinds of 'forbidden' foods. Even though the start of it was pretty normal.

But, unfortunately, since I spent most of the time eating in my car until dinner, there are no pics. And because I left my phone in the car (in the rain) when I ate dinner, no pics from that either. 

It is a picture-free cheat day. You'll have to just get my descriptions.

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/48g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, cinnamon, and stevia-erythritol blend.

Lunch
Aphrodite's Bakery: A Club wrap containing turkey, bacon, tomato, lettuce, mayo. Spanakopita. A slice of peanut butter/chocolate cheese cake. This place remains one of my favorite stopping-off places in NYC. 

Snack
Really, two snacks, about 2 hours apart: A phillo-wrapped apple and cheese pastry from Aphrodite (which I got to-go at lunch), and later, 99 cents worth of smoked almonds when I gassed up for the ride home.

Dinner
Ruby Tuesday's. Salad bar (mesclin greens, green peppers, cucumber, broccoli, green peas, blue cheese dressing; then, potato salad, waldorf salad, pasta salad. Biscuits. Blackened tilapia with onion rings.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  20 oz,   Water:70+ oz. 

September 23, 2011: Day 265

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        202.0 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    202.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.0 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

I'm cruising into tomorrow's cheat day at the same weight as yesterday. 

Tomorrow's cheat day will be spent in NYC, where I am getting together with some old friends (in both senses of old). I'm looking forward to lunch at Aphrodite's, and who knows where dinner will be.


Mmmm...

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, cinnamon, and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

Lox, eggs and onions and a salad of Spring Mix greens, black beans, red cabbage, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Wild-caught salmon burgers with dal fry curry on a bed of mashed broccoli.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  22 oz,   Water: 120+ oz. 

September 22, 2011: Day 264

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        202.0 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.4 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.4 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

The daily weight roller-coaster, and its attendant emotions, which I am attempting to minimize, continues.

I am trying to minimize my reaction (over-reaction?) to any given single-day measurement. Mostly, by my writings here, where I record it. 


For the most part, I think I'm successful at this. For one thing, I am minimizing the attention I give this - it is pretty much limited to the time I spend actually doing the weighing and then writing about it. The rest of the time, I don't think about it much.


The other thing I've done is to take a longer-term view. Besides the graphs I show regularly (daily and weekly weight, weekly measurements), I have built a chart for the year's daily weight. The longer-term view is very helpful at putting the daily fluctuations in perspective.

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, cinnamon, and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

Lox, eggs and onions and a salad of Spring Mix greens, black beans, red cabbage, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner
Chili (grass-fed beef, black beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, spices) with green peas, and a salad of Spring Mix greens, red cabbage, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  22 oz,   Water: 116+ oz. 

September 21, 2011: Day 263

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

Today's Weight:        203.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    202.6 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 0.8 lbs

Daily weight since 5/30/2011.

Yesterday I ate well, and yet gave back the weight I lost the day before, when I didn't eat so well. Go figure.


Maybe it was the celery, baby carrots and mayonnaise. Or, it may just be lack of sufficient sleep.

It's a perplexing question, because while there is no doubt that there is a relationship between the food you eat, both the type and quantity, and your body composition, the relationship is a complex one. 

If it were as simple as calories-in vs. calories out, nobody would be fat, at least not unintentionally. If it were as simple as cutting out or reducing a macronutrient (low fat, or low carb - I don't know of any plan that has a low protein requirement), the same - we wouldn't be overweight.

If only it were that simple. But it isn't.

It isn't a matter of how many calories you consume vs. how many you (theoretically) expend. Nor is the source of those calories the only determinant. 

It has to do with so many complex systems: Hormones, for instance:  Hormone levels, and their relative balance with other hormones. Hormones are, apparently, like muscles - each one has an antagonist hormone. 

It has to do with how well your digestive tract is functioning. It has to do with your state of mind and your stress level, including how much sleep you get. I am pretty chronically sleep-deprived, usually getting much less than 6 hours sleep a night.


Food for thought. LOL.

Food Log

Breakfast
Cocoa-whey egg cream protein shake: Dark cocoa and vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, cinnamon, and stevia-erythritol blend.

Lunch

A salad of smoked turkey, Spring Mix greens, black beans, red cabbage, red pepper, tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner  

Chili (grass-fed beef, black beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, spices) with some freshly grated parmesan cheese  on red cabbage and cauliflower.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  11 oz,   Water: 108+ oz.