An Obvious Secret

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

So I found the secret today to curing the Pavlovian need I have to eat as soon as I get home.

Really.  So obvious.

Have lunch at 3:30.  A big lunch.

Boom, solved.  I'll be here all week.

Breakfast:  ~ 2 oz Meijer sharp cheddar, 3 slices of Armour Novara salami, coffee

I brought the salami in anticipation of eating it before going to exercise, but I ended up just eating it mid-morning when I had the time.

Lunch:   Qdoba brisket bowl

Would describe as "pretty yuge"

Went to a different location today.  Not without some reservations, since I haven't had the best luck here.  But it was fine.  I think it helped that it was in the middle of the afternoon and there were no customers.  I got a nicely filled bowl with lots and lots of brisket and not too heavy on the rice and beans.

Dinner:   Greek Gods plain greek yogurt with a little less than 1C frozen Meijer raspberries

Not ice cream, though it does look like it!

Obviously not at all hungry when I got home, decided wait until 7:30 or 8:00 to eat anything else.  Not hungry enough to make the last batch of fried rice ... it has occurred to me that I've been eating a whole lot more rice this week, and tomorrow may well be a twice-in-one-day day.

TBH I'm surprised that the raspberries only have 70 calories in a cup with 17-9g carbs.  I knew they aren't super sugary, but that's even better than expected.  The yogurt has 660 calories in an entire large (32 oz I think) container, this is half and it's a bunch.  I found myself wondering yesterday if I was eating *enough* calories ... I don't want to go into starvation mode!

Exercise:  45 minutes, variety.

Really encouraged by this session.  Went hard and got a nice workout but didn't have much lousy-feeling time.  Better energy than usual.   The difference was notable, if I keep losing I think I'll see some real progress especialy in flexibility.

147.8

That's The Tech I Want

Monday, February 27, 2017

Forget flying cars.  The technological breakthrough I want is something that will save enough labor to guarantee 3 day weekends.  This last one went by way too quickly.

Breakfast:  ~ 2 oz Meijer sharp cheddar, coffee

No photo, as usual.  Adequate, as usual.

Lunch:  3 mexican style tacos

These could easily be a binge food.  So good.

Yeah, I could have eaten more.  Tacos are delicious.  Managed to keep it to three though, despite what my stomach lobbied for.

Dinner:  Chicken fried rice.  later, 12 oz Bells Two Hearted Ale

Different shadow today.  My photography game is weak.

This time I added some red bell pepper.  I had a carrot on hand too but didn't bother with it.  Once again quite tasty.  Makes for another carby day though.

Exercise:  Nope.  I did get up a little earlier but not as early as I want.  Workout day tomorrow at least.

149.6

Dumb Little Things

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Sometimes it is the dumb little things that make me happy.  This morning, it was having an easier reach for something.  Not the sort of thing that losing a couple pounds should impact, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt.  It was mostly just being loose instead of tight.  There will be plenty more of these little milestones that are silly but still meaningful - I remember noticing collarbones as one that gave me an inordinate amount of pleasure last time.

Breakfast:  3 oatcakes with a drizzle of real maple syrup, 5 slices bacon, a little Mejier organic vegetable juice, coffee

Hey, it's not the usual.

A super late breakfast.  Had issues getting to sleep last night (not 100% of my own making) and was very sluggish this morning.  Went back to bed for an extra hour.  I'm sure I will pay for that, big time.

Went with the oven method this morning for the bacon.  It's hard to argue as to it being superior - easy, consistent results, more forgiving, super simple cleanup.  And yet if pressed I would say that I like the texture of perfectly done pan fried bacon better.

Lunch:  Chicken fried rice (detailed below), a glass of whole milk

I imagine this would be even better with peas and carrot and
bean sprouts but I'll take it.  Will eat again.

Yes!  The same ingredients that went into last night's fail turned into a bunch of WIN!  I don't own a wok, so I based my version very, very loosely on what I found in this recipe.   About a third of a leftover chicken breast diced, a jalapeno diced (since I didn't have other veggies and wasn't happy with last night's peas), leftover yellow basmati rice, an egg scrambled, soy sauce and butter for cooking.  Delicious.

Considering I still have the rest of the chicken breast and two more containers of leftover rice, I think I know what I'm having for dinner the next two nights!

Also:  With dinner yet to come it definitely has occurred to me that it's a carby day.  Unfortunately, it's Sunday night, which means that just having a cut of meat and some veg will be either challenging or impossible.

Dinner:  Meatloaf, 4 cheese mashed potatoes, green beans with cheddar cheese, roll with butter, 12 oz Miller Lite

Now with photo

Yep, fail.  I really should just announce that I've got dietary restrictions.  Or develop some willpower.

Exercise:  Nope.  Another lazy, leisurely day.

149.2

New Traditions Needed

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Happy weekend.  At least for part of today it will be a true weekend.  I probably can't take too much time away from the grind, but even just a morning of lazing about and doing household chores is nice.

It occurs to me that it's weird to have not had a pizza on Friday night.  Growing up, that was tradition.  And of course it was one I enjoyed, since pizza is delicious.  I've eaten pizza way more often than once weekly since, but Friday always seems like pizza night.  Maybe once things are solidly on track I'll let myself have a homemade lower carb version.  Or a slice if I go out with people.  I just need to not eat half or 3/4 or a whole pie.

Breakfast:  6 sausage + olive balls, coffee

You can tell I am with it because all six balls are pictured.

Ate the rest of these.  I need to remember to season future sausage with crushed red pepper.  Decided to be lazy and have breakfast for lunch instead.

I don't track in detail the number of cups of coffee I drink because I always drink it black.  Total of three today, 2 in the AM and a cup of decaf in the afternoon.

Lunch:  2 eggs over medium, 4 strips bacon, hash brown mix in butter, a small glass of Meijer organic vegetable juice

Pre-seasoning.  Juice also not pictured.

Yum.  Glad I'm stocked up.  Added some juice that I impulse bought last night after reading some old posts, including one about how I like the Meijer brand better than V-8.

Dinner:  Most of a sous vide chicken breast, homemade yellow basmati rice, a few peas, hot sauce.  Later, 12 oz Two Hearted Ale

Bland, blah.

Fail.  I need to step up my spice game.  Pretty bland.  I managed to eat most of the chicken breast and most of the rice after dousing it liberally with hot sauce.  I only managed a few peas, they just didn't complement the rest.

Lots of leftovers, too.  I think I'll try making skillet chicken fried rice, see how that goes.  Maybe.

Exercise:  Nope.  Very much a homebody on a cold, snowy Saturday.  Back and forth between the couch and doing little things around the house.

151.6

Discountin

Friday, February 24, 2017

Phew.  Made it to the end of the week.  More or less.  Still a ton of work to do in order to try and get back on track, but it's still nice to be off the regular clock.

Hit up the grocery store for some supplies tonight, got some pretty good deals.  Pulled out some chicken breasts for tomorrow's dinner from the freezer, looking forward to conjuring up something.  I think I'd like to try and get in the habit of cooking something good on Saturday nights, enough for leftovers for Sunday lunch would be a bonus.  Otherwise, I'm hoping to stick to a general plan of a bit of protein and fat for breakfast, a good solid lunch - it may be a while before I tired of the taco salad and Qdoba bowl - and then something small for dinner - a chunk of meat, breakfast, something like that.  I'll try and work in a few more fruits and veggies here and there, but that's a good basic outline.

Breakfast:  Coffee.

I actually forgot to eat anything.  I got out the door and into the car before I said "oops".  I was late enough that I just punted.  A cup of coffee when I got to work had to do the job.

Lunch:  Taco salad, al pastor pork.  Hot sauce.

I have not mastered the art of the smooth
in-public phone camera food shot.

Round two.  Still delicious.  Not as big this time, definitely not as much meat.  Still filling and tasty, this was probably a better portion size tbqh.

Dinner:  6 leftover sausage + olive meatballs, 12 oz Bells Two Hearted

Ate one before I remembered to take the photo.  Oops.

Quite good reheated.  Will eat again.  (Yeah, more leftovers tomorrow.)  Had the beer after I got back from the grocery store and now have a nice warm glow.

Exercise:  Nope.  Dismal day and I was very sluggish this morning.  Sleep is so unpredictable.

152.4

Fun With New Items

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Not a bad day, really.  Developing just a bit of momentum.  Sure, I overdid it a bit.  But not too bad, and eating regulation foods instead of fast food, chips and other junk.

Breakfast:  ~ 2 oz extra sharp cheddar, coffee

Standard stuff.  End of that block of cheese though... tomorrow will be different.

Lunch:  Qdoba brisket bowl

No, I have no idea why I got a blob of sour cream.
I didn't even ask for sour cream.
I even said no, no sour cream.
Oh well.  At least I like sour cream.

No chips, let's hear it for self discipline (lol).  They were pretty generous with the stuff, including the brisket.  It's a but much but very delicious.

Dinner:  2 eggs over medium, Alexia hash browns in butter, 4 sausage + olive balls

Pictured with seasoning, without balls

New item!  In some random cookbook I checked out, they had a recipe for these.  It's just breakfast sausage, kicked up with crushed red pepper, wrapped around green olives and pan fried.  Quite tasty.  I probably didn't need 4 of them though ... cutting down the size of dinner is a work in progress.

Sixteen sausage + olive balls.

We'll see how they do as reheated leftovers.

Exercise:  45 minutes.  Core and upper body focus.  We don't seem to do much leg work.  Good solid workout.

154.6

Not The Same But Differentish

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

How about that.  I tried a convenient local place, asked for a taco salad, and they delivered.

Breakfast:  ~ 2 oz extra sharp cheddar, coffee

Maybe I should take a stock photo of this.  Preferably just in time to switch to another quick breakfast!

Lunch:  Taco salad with al pastor pork, hot sauce

Under the veg is meat and rice and beans

Welp.

Went to the place I get tacos from on Mondays and finally ordered a taco salad.  It was, in a word, fantastic.  Not quite as diet-friendly as it had rice and less veggies than the late lamented standby taco salad, but it was huge, super filling and so tasty.  A+ will eat again.

Dinner:  3 eggs over medium, Alexia hash browns in butter

Pre-seasoning

I didn't bother making bacon.  I was actually sufficiently sated at lunch that I didn't need to eat the instant I got home.  This is a good thing.  Also:  Need to restock the hash browns.  And I do think I like the mix best!

Exercise:  Nope.  One regret.  I couldn't get to sleep last night despite going to bed at a reasonable hour.  Ended up dawdling this morning.  And it's already almost 9:00.  I could go for a walk now, but I won't.

156.8

Lettuce Saturation Point

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

A decent day today.  Not a lot of accomplishments, but at least I exercised and ate relatively responsibly.  I'll take it.

Breakfast:  ~ 2 oz extra sharp cheddar, coffee

Not pictured.  Is cheese.

Lunch:  Chef salad with ranch, coffee

Spy shot.  Feel like such a dork taking food photos.

I didn't eat quite all of this, I reached my lettuce saturation point before I got to the end.  But I ate everything else except a wedge of tomato so it was a decent amount of food.  I still need to find a place with a decent taco salad, maybe I'll try a mexican place tomorrow for lunch.  I miss the one I used to get all the time.

Oddly I felt quite terrible shortly after eating this, but thankfully it passed after a half hour or so.  I was worried for a minute that I had been served something bad...

Dinner:  3 eggs over medium, 3 strips bacon, hash brown mix in butter

Just the usual 10/10.

Obviously a top favorite meal and it's so good I wonder why I don't eat it every day.  Bumped up the eggs to 3, dropped bacon to 3 for variety and it was fine.  With the thick cut bacon 4 strips is a LOT of bacon.

I'd have a beer but I don't have anything that I particularly want to drink so I probably won't.

Exercise:  45 minutes, lots of arms and shoulders but cardio elements too.  Worked hard.

I will say that I felt better than usual this morning, to which I credit eating nothing but the steak last night (plus one beer).  I think I'll be buying more steaks at my next meat restock, they're so easy.  Also, I let go of a little water.  Maybe not eating so much CRAP will help with that.

158.8

About As Presidential As A Wax Dummy

Monday, February 20, 2017

Feeling a little motivated today at least.  That's something.

Breakfast:  < 2 oz extra sharp cheddar, coffee

I hope to not get into a "cheese at every meal" rut, in part because I do wonder about how dairy affects me ... just not enough to give it up.  Still, a chunk of cheese is an easy breakfast that has protein and fat.

Lunch:  3 mexican style tacos

Always delcious.

Downsized by one and for today at least this was the correct number.  Sure, I could eat more.  Probably even several more.  But for once the smaller number was satisfactory.

Dinner:  7 oz grass fed NY strip steak, 16 oz Bell's Smitten ale

Beer not pictured, was consumed after.

Quite tasty.  Sous vide at 128, seared a bit in a pan on the stove.  Nothing added but a sprinkle of salt.  Thought about making some potatoes but they were growing a bit more than I wanted to deal with.

Exercise:  Nope.  Had ideas, but just didn't get it in.  Stupid work.

162.4

Burn Baby Burn Those Hours

Sunday, February 19, 2017

That's what I'm doing again today.  Not being productive.

Breakfast:  2 eggs over medium, 4 strips Wright applewood bacon, Hash brown mix in butter, coffee, the rest of the cheddar/sour cream chips

These were very, um, well seasoned.

Very good again.  I didn't have the same wow reaction as yesterday but still fantastic and a full 10/10.  I think I may stick with the hash brown blend going forward ... if I remember to buy both kinds.

Lunch:  None, followed by a glass of milk.

Dinner:  Hot dogs, salad with ranch, strawberries and pineapple, a deviled egg, a few fries, cake and ice cream

Also:  2 McD cheeseburgers and Hi-C

Exercise:  18 holes with cart.  Flat course so not nearly as much walking.  Still enough to get me a little tired tonight.

161.2

Lighting The Hours On Fire

Saturday, February 18, 2017

I have a talent.  A remarkable talent.  I can waste hours, lots of hours.  With seemingly no effort at all.

Don't try this at home, kids.  I'm a professional.

Breakfast:  Lemon Oreos, coffee

Yeah, right.  At least the Oreos are gone.

Better Breakfast:  2 eggs over medium in butter, Alexia + Meijer hash browns in butter

I'd give this eleven out of ten.  Twelve if I had made bacon.

I didn't have enough Alexia left in the bag, so I topped off the skillet with some Meijer organic hash browns, which have been sitting in the freezer because they're mediocre.  Together, they were ... superior?  Man, I'm going to have to double check this tomorrow but they were sublime today.  The mix of Yukons and Russets was just loaded with flavor (I mean, I season them up with some creole seasoning and hot sauce), but still.  This could be a game changer.

Lunch:  Chick Fil A spicy deluxe, fries, lemonade

Dinner:  Chick Fil A nuggets, frosted lemonade

Yeah, that's right.  Twice in one day.  Road trip.

Also:  Some kettle cheddar/sour cream chips, a grapeade, Fig Newtons

Exercise:  Nah.  Did hit the range for a while which felt like work and walked a few blocks, but ... nah.

---

Just the WOAT

Friday, February 17, 2017

At the moment, I'm really tired of this.  I'm sure the motivation will vanish by tomorrow, but I so need to do something.  And that something is probably legit low carb.  Eating at home.  Cooking.

Breakfast::  Taco Bell sausage crunchwrap, coffee

It's more or less actual food and a fantastic bargain at $2.49.

Lunch:  Qdoba brisket bowl with chips

Enormous.

Dinner:  Pepperoni bacon pizza

Also:  Lemon Oreos, whole milk

Exercise:  45 minutes, went hard.

Near Max Lazy

Thusday, February 16, 2017

No pep.

Breakfast:  Homemade rye bread with butter, a mini Jimmy Johns ham sub, donut, coffee

Quite the assortment!

Lunch:  Wendy's single with cheese, fries, lemonade

Dinner:  Big sack of Taco Bell, pink lemonae

Exercise:  Nope

Stop, Stop Time

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Oh man.  Being good is hard.  I did cook up some vegetables for tomorrow and took a steak out to thaw.  I may actually eat a good dinner, assuming that I have enough pep.

Breakfast:  Homemade rye bread, butter, coffee

Lunch:  Grilled ham and cheese, fries with ketchup, coffee

Dinner:  Dominos Brooklyn style pizza with pepperoni and ham, Arizona grapeade and strawberry lemonade, fig newtons

Exercise:  Nope.

Bad Season

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Winter is a tough time.  Lots of people having health issues lately.  And some folks dying.

Breakfast:  Egg McMuffin, sausage biscuit, coffee

Lunch:  Coney dogs, fries with ketchup, coffee

Dinner:  Qdoba brisket bowl/quesadilla with chips

Exercise:  45 minutes, reasonably hard.

Post Production

Monday, February 13, 2017

Sigh.

Breakfast:  Homemade rye bread with butter, coffee

Lunch:  4 mexican style tacos

Dinner:  2 culvers single cheese burgers, fries w ketchup, decaf coffee

Exercise:  Nope.  Still way off schedule-wise and not feeling great.

Feeling Mortality

Sunday, February 12, 2017

I've been feeling stretched lately.  Fatigued.  Weak.  Mortal.  Like I'm not going to make it if I don't get it together soon.  This is not a good thing.

Breakfast:  2 eggs over medium, 4 strips bacon, Alexia hashbrowns, coffee, 2 donuts

A+ breakfast as usual.  The donuts were leftover from yesterday and not bad for day olds.

Lunch:  One small oatmeal pancake, McD 2 chzbgr meal w/ Hi-C, Mac Jr, a slice of homemade rye bread with butter

Made a batch of oatcakes for the freezer.  They turned out more ryeish and eggier than usual.

Dinner:  Hamburger, can spaghetti, chips/tortilla chips, Mac Jr, Hi-C, ice cream sundae

A zillion caloires, modest satiety.

Exercise:  Nah

Stock Standard

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Phew.  Made it.  Now to briefly recharge.

Breakfast:  2 eggs over medium, 4 strips bacon, Alexia hash browns in butter, coffee, Hostess frosted mini donuts

Standard, plus the donuts, which were a store freebie.

Lunch:  Qdoba brisket bowl with chips.

About a zillion calories, but certainly delicious.

Dinner:  Subway meatball sub, bottle of lemonade, cookie

Exercise:  Nah

At Least Friday

Friday, February 10, 2017

Thank goodness.

Breakfast:  Slice of rye bread, coffee, a creme filled donut

Lunch:  Sack of Chick-fil-a, lemonade, frosted lemonade.

Dinner:  Pepperoni bacon pizza

Exercise:  Nah

Dizzy Fail

Thursday, February 8, 2017

Sigh.

Breakfast:  Homemade rye bread slice, coffee

Lunch:  Qdoba brisket bowl with chips

Dinner:  Taco Bell cravings box, quesarito, empanada, lemonade, a few cheez its

Exercise:  Nope.   Too dizzy this morning.

Fishy

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Another day.

Breakfast:  Slice of homemade rye, half a slice of american cheese, coffee

Lunch:  Qdoba brisket bowl with chips.  Was yuge.

Dinner:  Fried perch, a few fries with ketchup, texas toast, salad with ranch, cheez and crackers

Also:  2 mac jr, 2 apple pie

Exercise:  Nyet

Soupish Want

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Weird craving for the homemade vegetable soup, just without the meat.  I usually make it with ground beef and for whatever reason I just want the veggies in broth plus a nice steak.  Maybe I'll make that.

Breakast:  McD Egg McMuffin, sausage biscuit.  Coffee.

Lunch:  Ham and cheese, fries with ketchup, coffee.

Diner life stikes again.

Dinner:  Subway 12" meatball, some cheez its, Breyers chocolate ice cream

Exercise:  45 minutes, lots of back and shoulders.

Monday Lately

Monday, February 6, 2017

It came too fast.  Way too fast.

Breakfast:  2 slices homemade rye bread, 2 slices american cheese, coffee

More than I needed actually.  Plus I was late.

Lunch:  4 mexican style tacos, some Snyders pretzel things

Dinner:  2 Culvers singles w cheese, Cheez its, cake and ice cream

Exercise:  Nope

Just Super

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Just another day.  I don't care in the slightest who wins the Super Bowl, though I will be going to a party.

Breakfast:  2 eggs over medium, 4 strips bacon, Alexia hash browns in butter, coffee

Still the gold standard of breakfasts.  Nailed it.  Coffee was different, I scored a great deal on a Keurig so I'm testing that out.  I think I need to still brew a big pot in the regular coffeemaker for days I'm going to laze about for a few hours, but it'll be nice for a quick morning cup.

Lunch:  Leftover half of 10" deluxe pizza, some snyders pretzel things, cake and ice cream

Dinner:  2 Mac Jrs, some chili with cheese and sour cream, a mini crescent dog, strawberries, 12 oz miller lite, lemonade, a couple slices of bread

Exercise:  Nope.  Max slug.

---

Awry Is Apropos

Saturday, February 4, 2017

I'm not even doing well at following plans even when I can be troubled to come up with them.  Is problem.

So close to getting on track this morning.  Woke up at a good time but eventually went back to bed.  Regrettable.  It would have been great to fix the sleep schedule.

Breakfast:  Pretzel bagel with cream cheese, coffee

Lunch:  Qdoba brisket bowl with chips

Dinner:  Garlic cheese bread, half of a 10" deluxe pizza

Dessert:  PF coconut cake, Breyers chocolate ice cream

Exercise:  Nope.

Friday Failday

Friday, February 3, 2017

More.

Breakfast:  McD Egg McMuffin, sausage biscuit, coffee

Lunch:  Italian beef, chicago dog, fries no ketchup, coffee

Dinner:  Pepperoni bacon pizza

Exercise:   Nope.

Across The Board Lacking

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Again.

Breakfast:  Tim Hortons spicy sausage biscuit, 10 piece timbits, coffee

Lunch:  Club wrap, fries with ketchup, coffee

Dinner:  Sack of Taco Bell, a zillion calories' worth, "lemonade"

Exercise:  40 minutes of decent

158.6

A Lack Of Try-Hard

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

A lack of try in general.

Breakfast:  TB sausage crunchwrap, coffee

Lunch:  6" plain Subway ham sub with cheese, bag of barbecue chips, cookie

At least I skipped the Coke.  Box lunches FTL.

Dinner:  McD 2 chbg meal w Hi-C, 2 Mac Jr, 2 apple pie, 2 zillion calories.

Sigh.

Exercise:  Nope.  Sluggish.  Very sluggish.  I did get some extra sleep at least.