October 4, 2011: Post 276

 Goal Weight: 188 pounds 

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Today's Weight:        202.8 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 0.2 lbs

Daily weight from January 1, 2011.

Possibly because of the large quantity of food I ate for dinner (seconds of chili), possibly because I didn't sleep well (or possibly both), I didn't see the weight loss I was expecting today. But at least it was a loss.


I got thrown off my meal plan by getting a call to play some reggae after work; then out to the Dinosaur BBQ for one of my favorite jams. Both sessions were excellent, but kept me from executing my plan (although what I ate was still within guidelines). I ended up eating dinner late at the Dino, then came home and supplemented the dinner (very late, after midnight) with a little snack.


I am having intermittent problems with my phone camera; today, that meant no pictures came out. Luckily, lunch was the same as yesterday.

Daily Comment

I have made my arrangements for a visit to LA to see Alex and, hopefully, a few friends.

I frequently think about what I could do to spend more time with my family and friends. Outside of my local and recently acquired Syracuse friends, the nearest-at hand friends are a 4-hour drive away. To visit my friends in NYC means a 5-hour drive, and over $110 in gas and tolls. To visit my sister in Sharon, MA is only a little cheaper (same distance, lower tolls). I have not been able to afford to visit Northern California in decades. Visiting my son is also very expensive. I haven't been back to North Carolina in two years.


What I think I need to do is retire to some really, really cheap place, and save up my money for one or two good long trips to visit friends and family.


I'm thinking South of the Border. Mexico, Central and South America. Panama is coming up big in my preliminary investigation. Mexico is also attractive. Panama is the better deal as far as the cost-of-living goes. Mexico has better access to the States. There are some other ideas as well, but those are the leading two.

I was reminded that years ago (make that decades ago), I made the statement that I would never live in a Spanish-speaking country. Well, times do change. It may be exactly what I need to do. English-speakers drive up costs, it seems.

Food Log

Breakfast
Vanilla whey protein shake: Vanilla whey protein powder (w/36g of whey protein) plus an egg, coconut milk, 5g BCAAs, cinnamon, inulin and stevia-erythritol blend.


Lunch

Smoked turkey, pinto beans, Spring Mix greens, grape tomatoes, red cabbage and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack
Celery with home-made spicy mayonnaise.

Dinner

At the Dinosaur BBQ: Mojita chicken stake with chimichurri sauce, small salad, chili.



Snack
Baby carrots with home-made spicy mayonnaise.



Liquid Intake

    Coffee:  22 oz,   Water: 112+ oz.