Weened

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Last day of the month.  I generally do not care about Halloween - not into costumes, don't have trick or treaters, just generally apathetic.  It is otherwise notable as the last day of the golf season at my home course, which is too bad but at the same time a good thing cause it needs a rest.  Will be a vagabond for any rounds before spring.

No idea what the scale was going to say this morning and it was nice that it was positive.  My stomach appeared to be quite happy with the soaked pizza crust - it was a little cranky after I ate those marginal cashews.  Will probably eat the second pizza for dinner tomorrow.  I do wonder if I could cold ferment soaked dough.

And to show that I'm a dumbass and always learning, I discovered tangentially this morning while searching for a different crust recipe that the processing of white flour removes most of the phytic acid since it's found in the bran and such.  Huh.  Well, anyway, I still think I'm going to try doing a ferment with soaked dough.  Because why not?

Breakfast:  Pancakes with butter and real maple syrup, Meijer sausage, Meijer spicy veg juice, coffee

Last of my buttermilk pancakes from the freezer, will have to make more.  Juice is past its prime, trying to finish it up.  A thoroughly delicious (and easy!) breakfast.

Lunch:  Ham and pepperjack sandwich on HSW bread, Meijer kosher dill chips

Tasty.  Timing was dictated by the clock, wasn't super hungry.  Had two additional slices of ham, not pictured.

After golf:  32 oz Mich Ultra, a handful of fries

I had planned to just eat at the course but service was absent.  We did get a mistaken basket of fries so I ate some of those.

Dinner:  Ham pizza

Fortunately I had the extra pizza, I'll just eat taco salad tomorrow instead.

Exercise:  18 holes with cart, some extra walking, over 11k steps.  Felt like a good workout.

63.0

I'm Sure That Was An Instant Classic But I Did Not Watch

Saturday, October 30, 2021

TGIS.

Up as expected this morning.  I accept.  I do not like.

Breakfast:  2 eggs over medium, 3 strips bacon, hash browns, raisin toast w homemade strawberry jelly, coffee

Standard pre-golf breakfast out.  Dependably good, especially at this, the best location.

Lunch:  12 oz All Day IPA, some cashews

Might have to throw out the rst of the cashews, they're marginal.

Dinner:  Homemade pizza with ham

Tried a random internet recipe for soaked crust.  It was different - baking powder, not yeast.  Not a lot of gluten development.  But it was tasty anyway.  Made a second pizza to use up the dough and cheese so I'll have more tomorrow or Monday.

Exercise:  18 holes with cart, just over 10k steps.  Less than I would have guessed.

64.8

Small Rebounce

Friday, October 29, 2021

Not surprised to see a small uptick today, I definitely ate too much for dinner last night.  Plus I didn't get a walk in before weighing or get rid of that second batch of water for the morning.  Not concerned.  Of course I wasn't *happy* to see it, but whatever.  Bring on the challenges of the weekend.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Yup.  I certainly could have eaten but I wasn't hungry.  Good smells make for mind games.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, homemade soaked wheat toast w butter, I also had a few bites of chili at work around 11:30.

Always good.  Chili cookoff at the office, had to participate in picking a winner.  Good stuff.

Pre-Dinner:  Cashews, 12 oz All Day IPA

Dinner:   Mushroom swiss burger, mashed redskin potatoes, pickle spear, 16 oz Miller Lite

Didn't have food until nearly 8:00 so I pre-dinnered.  Glad I did.  Total was a bit much but oh well.

Exercise:  Not really.  I talked myself out of a walk after looking at the radar but I'm pretty sure I would have stayed dry.  Instead I went and did my grocery shopping before work which only netted me about 2,000 steps.  Not super active, but at least I did something.

64.0

Incremental Fear of Change

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Whew.  Things are going well.  To the point where I just want to put blinders on and keep doing exactly the same thing.  That's not possible, of course, but it sure is tempting when the scale drops like this.  It's a good thing.

Not a real eventful morning.  My lower body was fine with the walk for once, had some upper body issue that I never really figured out - was it muscular, cardiovascular, lung or what.  It abated somewhat a mile into the walk and has been fine at work.  May just have slept wrong.

Lots of joggers out there and a few dog walkers, we'll see how much activity drops off when the weather turns, it was very pleasant this morning at 50 degrees with little wind.  Supposed to rain tomorrow which I am not looking forward to.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Yup.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, homemade soaked wheat toast w butter

The little change of the day, I ate up all my HSCR bread so here was some without the C and R.

Dinner:  2 eggs scrambled with diced ham, pepper jack cheese, jalapenos and sour cream, hash browns, 12 oz All Day IPA

And the big change.  Breakfast instead of taco salad.  This was OK, it was a bit too much food.

Exercise:  Walk, 47 minutes, 2.1 miles, 4800 steps.  Same route as yesterday, just added a couple blocks where I turn back.  Man am I slow.  At least my pace was slightly better than yesterday.

63.6

Oh No Deer

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Second morning in a row that I have encountered urban deer.  At least today they took off instead of just standing there staring at me.  I will say that even though I am not a winter fan I do appreciate what snow can do for visibility, it's been capital D Dark out there.

Happy news on the scale this morning which wasn't a huge surprise but still was welcome.  I haven't felt a massive surge of energy -- been a little disappointed by that, frankly -- but did have a brief moment of pep late morning that I enjoyed.  Haven't been super tired, just don't feel like I can push it.  Cardiovascular fitness is still very low.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Yup.  Only 2 cups today.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, HSCR toast with butter

Again.  And good again.  Change is in the air though as I am now out of HSCR bread.

Dinner:  Taco salad, 12 oz All Day IPA

Same as yesterday.  Last one, lettuce was browning so I used it up.  Lots of pico using that up too.

Exercise:   Walk, 48 minutes.  Google Maps says 2.0 miles.  Phone said over 4500 steps.  Whatever it was, same route as yesterday just added blocks.  Covers quite a bit of my old route from years ago other than the few blocks to get to it and I walk it in reverse direction.  Once I'm more fit I may add the extra sections on to make it a 98% overlap.  Steps were short today, I never felt loose or free.  

65.8

A Positive Breakthrough

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Nice to see the result on the scale this morning, broke through the lower bound to something better.  Better than anything in years better.  Feeling good about that, even if I am still incredibly fat.

Breakfast:  Coffee

It was a 3 cup morning, though I ended up finishing the third cup after lunch.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, HSCR toast w butter

Standard.  Fresh batch of soup made last night, might be the best one yet.

Dinner:  Taco salad, 12 oz Miller Lite

Same salad as yesterday.  Tasty and easy, going to stay in the rotation.

Exercise:  Walk, 38 minutes.  Google maps says 1.6 miles.  I forgot the pedometer and may not bother with it until I replace the battery or when I golf or go somewhere not easily mappable.  Never felt great but never felt terrible either and I had exactly the right layers on to be comfortable.

67.6

Ban Sinuses

Monday, October 25, 2021

Not so excited about it being Monday.  Turned on the heat last night and boom about 1:45 I woke up with sinus issues.  Someday I will live somewhere and the head of my bed will not be on a drafty outside wall.

Anyway, as a result I was quite tired this morning.  And it turned out to be an exceptionally unproductive day.  Highly disappointing.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Can't believe I didn't have a third cup, maybe I should have had one.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, HSCR toast w butter

Standard.  Last bowl from the first batch I made.

Dinner:  Home taco salad - lettuce, pico, taco meat, sour cream, jalapenos, extra sharp cheddar, hot sauce.  12 oz All Day IPA

Pretty good.  Will eat again.  Tomorrow, in fact, assuming that I remember to thaw some taco meat.  Also very easy which is much appreciated.

Exercise:  Walk, 1 mile, 20 minutes.  Stayed close to home due to lousy weather.  Feet were notably cranky until a few blocks in.  

69.0

Managing Microfrustrations

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Need to practice my patience.  That's all I'm saying.

Dozed a bit this morning, figured I should give my legs a bit of a break, since I got in a lot of steps and have hopes of 18 holes this afternoon.  I am pretty happy how much less dozy I have been in general in the mornings recently -- I would not describe myself as "peppy", but I'm at least functional.  That is a very good thing and has been helpful in summoning the mental fortitute to push myself out the door to walk.  I don't seem to be needing quite as much sleep either.

Breakfast:  Buttermilk pancakes with butter and maple syrup, 3 strips bacon, Meijer spicy vegetable juice, coffee

Pancakes from the freezer, excellent.  Pic is of 5 strips of bacon, I actually decided I was sated after 3 and so I saved the other two for use on my pizza.  A+ will eat again and not just because I have two more pancakes in the freezer.  For my second cup of coffee I am trying out a flavored Meijer coffee - toasted coconut.  It's pretty tasty.

Lunch:  Home pizza w ham, bacon, canned mushrooms and cheese

Planned to just eat half but I forgot that when I made and froze the dough I was making the balls smaller instead of making a full size pizza.  So I ate a little more than intended and will have to eat something else for dinner tomorrow.  

Dinner:  French dip sandwich, fries w a little ketchup, pickle, 16 oz Mich Ultra

New menu item and very very tasty.  I think I'll manage not to eat anything else (I'm tempted), already expecting a jump on the scale tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll do weekends better eating-wise once the golf season wraps up.

Exercise:  18 holes with cart, just over 10k steps.

69.8

Better Sleep Desired

Saturday, October 23, 2021

I dunno.  Stayed on schedule.   Thought I'd be more tired than I was last night after a very long day but I managed to get to sleep.  Needed to get up about 1:30 and just didn't feel like I got any solid sleep after that, though I was sleeping.  Need better sleep.

Breakfast:  Meat lover's omelet, raisin toast, coffee

Other breakfast spot pre-golf.  Good stuff.  As usual couldn't finish the omelet, it was too big.

Lunch:  12 oz Miller Lite

After golf

Dinner:  Taco salad w ground beef

Had planned to make a pizza but I was hungry and also doubted whether my dough was thawed.  I'll do that tomorrow.

Exercise:  18 holes with cart, lots of walking.  Pedometer said 12,500 steps and I added a couple thousand more with a trip to the grocery store.  Good active day.

69.4

Bolted

 Friday, October 22, 2021

First forty degree morning in the books and honestly it wasn't bad at all.  Thank goodness for no wind and no rain.  I kinda winged the gear but it worked out fine.   Now if I just hadn't been awake at 3:45 and unable to go back to sleep...

Got a nice shot of adrenaline in the home stretch - I saw something moving a couple dozen feet ahead of me.  A skunk.  Glad it was in a relatively well-lit area and I could back up before I got anywhere close.  It definitely saw me but whew.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Yup.   It was a 3 cup morning.

Lunch:  2 Taco Bell cantina tacos

Not what I had planned.  Had some auto service scheduled, ended up waiting for it and it took a while.  I started getting hungry at 2:30, it was almost 3:30 before I could get something to eat and I had to race back to work so I went with this as it was convenient.  And, tbqh, they were really good.

Dinner:  Hamburger soup, HSCR toast w butter, 12 oz All Day IPA

What I had planned to eat for lunch.  Think I'll be crashing early tonight.

Exercise:  Same walk, 1.6 miles, 35 minutes.  About a minute faster than yesterday if I read the pedometer right.  Felt decent but never peppy.  It's interesting, I'm a bit lighter and have a little more lift in my step but I have not had any notable energy surge.  Must be too many carbs.

69.2

Mileage Reduction

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Got a break this morning, the cold front hasn't gone through yet so I got one more day of warm weather for the morning walk.  Even got it in between rounds of rain.  It was breezy, but otherwise a good morning to be out and about before dawn.  Also got a drop on the scale, double yay.

Goofing around last evening I started working on a spreadsheet - January 1 weights, year highs and year lows.  Interestingly the highs and lows seem to be trending steadily down, each year is 10 or so lb lower than the previous year.  Still annoyingly high, but lower.  Only goes back to 2018 so far, I'm thinking data will be pretty sparse once I go back further.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Yup.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, HSCR toast w butter

Not a stock photo.  Today was slightly different because this is the first HSCR that came out of the freezer.  Thawed it overnight in the fridge, toasted up just fine on the griddle.  Maybe a shade less delicious than fresh but still very tasty.

Dinner:   2 eggs scrambled w milk, ham and american cheese, HSCR toast w butter, 12 oz Miller Lite

Forgot to put any All Days in the fridge.  Oops.

Exercise:  Walk, 1.6 miles, 35 minutes or so.  I think I'll go with what I got today, which lined up with Google Maps.  Disappointing that I apparently have been miscalculating blocks -- actually I think it's just that blocks in this part of town are smaller than where I used to live, noticed that when mapping.  Anyway, is what it is.  I've picked out a couple possible longer routes but I just don't love walking in this neighborhood.

70.2

Not That Trifecta

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

I guess I have to go with a different lead today.  While there was no reason to have 100% confidence that I could make it three days in a row walking, it wasn't entirely unexpected.  I managed, even though I wasn't terribly fired up about it.  We'll see about tomorrow, the forecast is for cold rain.  We have had three very nice days in a row but today is the end of the mid to upper 60s, everything in the long range forecast is low 50s with overnight lows around 40.  Will be digging out the cold weather and rain gear tonight.

One interesting thing (to me) about spending time reading the archives lately is how my weight moves up and down within ranges.  This summer, since I dropped a chunk in June, it has been floating in a 20 pound range.  I'm almost at the low end of it and have some vague hope that a good stretch over the next few days would drop me out of the band.  Which would also be good as I think it would be the lowest number in at least seven years.  I'll have to study that more carefully.  I will say that I regret not logging my weight consistently during the earlier days, I like going back and seeing.  Good and bad.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Standard.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, cinnamon raisin toast w butter

Might have to come up with an acronym since I am not typing out homemade soaked cinnamon raisin toast every day.

Dinner:  3 eggs scrambled w a splash of whole milk, polish ham, 2 slices Kraft deli deluxe american cheese.  HSCR toast w/ butter.  12 oz All Day IPA

A very bready day.   Sure is good stuff though.

Exercise:  Morning walk, estimated at 2 miles, 40 minutes.  I think I need to change the battery in my pedometer, it's pretty faint and I think it's off as it only registered 1.6 in 35 minutes.  Whatever, it was a walk.   My body was never exactly happy about it but there weren't any specific body parts that were complaining loudly.  Mostly just fatigued I think, adjustment still in process.

Edit:  Google Maps thinks the lower number is more accurate.  Huh.  I think I'll mess around with some possible routes, obviously I'd like to bump it up a bit.

71.2

Unexpected Double

 Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Well that was unexpected.  (Edit:  LOL just realized I lead with that yesterday too)

I managed a morning walk, though I did cut it short.  Went to bed early but still got out the door an hour later than yesterday and I was sufficiently annoyed with the increased activity that I sliced off six blocks.  Went home, got ready, went out to the car ... and it's dead.  Crap.  So I walked to work.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Now with clean travel mug.

Lunch:  Scrambled eggs w bacon, tomato, cream cheese and avocado, raisin toast

A local chain that I haven't frequented much.  It was both large and pretty good, but expensive.   I'd rather go to one of my other (semi-)regular stops.

Dinner:  Taco salad with ground beef

Holy cow was that enormous.  IKEA bowl pic included for reference (& because I hate eating out of styrofoam).  First time I've gotten it with beef instead of al pastor, may have even been better (this place's al pastor is al pedestrian).  Stuffed.  But I earned it.

Exercise:  Planned morning walk was 1.25 miles, a little over 25 minutes.  Walk to work was just under a mile.  Based on the walk to work experience I think I'm going to try out a different pair of shoes tomorrow morning to see if my feet like those better (on the bold assumption that I'll be able to get up and walk).

... and then I walked to lunch (add a half mile) and walked home after work (almost a mile).  I got my steps today.  At least it was a beautiful day and the walk home zipped by quickly.

72.8

Walk On For Once

 Monday, October 18, 2021

Well that was unexpected.  I set an early alarm despite not getting to bed real early, expecting that I'd end up shutting it off and snoozing, but instead I woke up ten minutes ahead and was at least semi-functional to the point where I actually convinced myself I needed to get up and walk.  How about that. I didn't get to the office real early but it was nice to be able to have a leisurely morning prior to departure.

I do hope that I can persist and that future walks involve fewer aches and pains.  Feet, knees, groin, all grumbled during parts of the walk but I made it.  Hoping to be more rested next time too.

Periodically reading through the archives when I have spare time, it's interesting to me how things have evolved.  For now I'm pretty content not micromanaging calories or carbs or anything else, just trying to stick with 2MAD during the week, better choices, less processed crap that sort of thing.  As long as it's working, great.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Usual.  Have decided that I hate drinking out of a regular mug at work, it doesn't stay hot long at all.  Travel mugs work so much better, I just didn't have a clean one today.

Lunch:  Homemade hamburger soup, homemade soaked cinnamon raisin bread w/ butter

Produce of yesterday's cooking efforts.  Skipped the green beans in the soup, so it looks a lot like the WAP soup just with a can of tomato sauce and some veg juice.  Tasted good.  Bread was from a recipe I found on the internet, also good, though it would have been better if I had more patience, rolled it out and rolled it into more layers so the cinnamon and raisins were more spread out.  Oh well.  Like I said, tasted good.  I should look and see if this soaking method lines up with WAP or not, it was just a random internet recipe.

Dinner:  Leftover BBQ crockpot brisket, hash browns in butter, Meijer kosher dill chips.  12 oz All Day IPA

Turned out better than I thought it might, had some significant doubts while fixing it.  Went hash browns out of laziness and to clean up a package taking space in the freezer, they were past their prime.  

Exercise:  Walk, pedometer said just over 2 miles which should be right given it was 20 blocks and just short of 45 minutes.  I was reasonably happy with the route, seems like I didn't have to dodge too many tree branches or other obstacles.  One in a row!

Incidentally it was also nice to get a little confirmation of (modest) weight loss and that maybe my scale is more or less accurate -- I put on my cold weather walking jacket for the first time in a while and it's definitely looser.  Even if my midsection is still bloated it's nice to know that it is ... not AS bloated.

74.8

The Better Kind Of Cheating And Worse

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Off to a very slow but pleasant start this morning.  Stayed up way too late watching football ... that I wasn't even particularly invested in, I just didn't stop.

Won't be a great day for the eating.  Made pancakes, obv and have another birthday party tonight.  I don't feel too bad about the breakfast -- my perfectly proportioned recipe makes 6 pancakes (fills my griddle) and I usually eat 3.  Just two this time, and will have two servings in the freezer (which is unusually full at the moment, oops).  I guess I just am willing to slack a little if I'm up for the task of making it from scratch.  I have some homemade bread dough rising too, trying a new recipe.

Breakfast:  Buttermilk pancakes w lots of butter and some maple syrup, bacon, coffee

Different brand of bacon, it was fine.  All around good meal.  

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, homemade cinnamon raisin bread w butter, BC avo oil chips

Bunch of cooking this morning.  Should be well stocked for the week.

Dinner:  Cheeseburger, mac and cheese, chips, berries, vanilla cake and ice cream, 16 oz Mich Ultra

Birthday season man.

Exercise:  9 holes with cart

75.2

Dogging It

Saturday, October 16, 2021

TGIS.  Not really much to say, it's been a pleasant weekend day.  Holding on to fall, I'm not close to ready for it to be winter soon.

Breakfast:  2 eggs, hash browns, 3 strips bacon, raisin toast w homemade strawberry jam, coffee

Standard pre-golf breakfast out.  Forgot to take a photo until after I'd eaten the eggs, potatoes and bacon.  Oops.  Oh well, it's been posted before.

Lunch:  Campfire dog with KM, tater tots w ketchup, 12 oz Miller Lite

Was hungry, no photo.  Oops.  Was tasty too.

Dinner:  CF brisket cooked in the crockpot w Ray's no sugar added BBQ sauce, Canyon Ranch avo oil potato chips

Nice to have this ready when I got home.  Was decent, have leftovers.

Exercise:  18 holes w cart, some extra walking.  Forgot my pedometer but I'm sure I got 10k+.  Add on a quick trip through the grocery store too.

74.8

Yeah Nuts

Friday, October 15, 2021

Paid a small price for last night's overindulgence, but not sweating it.  Nice to have a really good dinner, if it hadn't been so late I could have skipped the nuts.  So it goes.  I did also have way too many carbs in general, adding toast to lunch pushes it.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Yep.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, 2 slices raisin toast w lots of butter

Very tasty.  The soup is defintely better reheated.

Dinner:  2 eggs scrambled w a splash of milk, polish ham and Kraft deli deluxe american cheese, 2 slices raisin toast w butter, 12 oz All Day IPA

Excellent.  Once again more ham and cheese than egg.

Exercise:  Nope.  Actually woke up shortly after 5:00 and was pretty alert, but ended up dozing, showering and dozing some more instead of walking.  Idiot.

76.4

Floods Gated

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Water release may finally be slowing down.  Sheesh.  Ten pounds plus, just water.  Ridiculous.  And again that's without going low carb.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Staying strong, no issues.

Lunch:  Hamburger soup, 2 slices raisin toast w butter

The toast makes for way too many carbs but it is certainly tasty, especially with lots of butter.

Snack:  Too many mixed nuts, 12 oz Miller Lite

This is why I don't buy nuts (I got these as a gift).  I eat waaaay too many at a time.

Dinner:  10 oz Prime Rib, mashed potatoes, garlic toast, salad w ranch, 32 oz Labatt Blue

A very enjoyable slab of prime rib, it's been a while.  Nice to have a good meal out, even if it's not anything that resembles diet-friendly.

Exercise:  Nope.  Maybe could have this morning, but it was raining so sleep won out.

75.6

Reflushed Part One Hundred

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

My goodness I was holding on to a lot of water.  It's been quite something getting rid of it.  Hopefully it's almost done (for now anyway).  Makes me wonder what would happen if I actually went low carb.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Hey, two days in a row.

Lunch:  Chef salad with ranch

Didn't eat too much dressing, about half of the big cup.  Also didn't eat all the lettuce.  Most salads have way too much lettuce.  Otherwise this one was quite good.

Dinner:  Scrambled eggs w ham and american cheese, 2 slices raisin toast w butter, 12 oz All Day IPA

Maybe I should describe this as ham and cheese with a bit of egg.  Tasty.

Exercise:  Nope.  I did get lots of sleep last night though, which was good.

79.8

Some Hours Of Non-Suck

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Finally had a good morning and lunch food-wise.  I'm actually a little surprised, I was up way too late last night and did not get enough sleep, though at least I wasn't too terribly fatigued.  I think my accumulated deficit has been shrinking some.  It was also interesting that even though weight was way up due to water retention (CFA plus pizza = crazy water weight) I felt, I dunno, denser.  Not puffy.  Whatever.  Still very very very fat.

Breakfast:  Coffee

Got a deal on Meijer colombian K cups so I'll be drinking those for weeks even though they are not my favorite.

Lunch:  Homemade hamburger soup

Haven't posted too many photos lately.  This turned out pretty good.  I have three more containers too.

Dinner:  2 eggs over medium, hash browns w butter, Meijer pepper bacon, 12 oz All Day IPA

Lots of butter, lots of bacon.  I was quite hungry.

Exercise:  Nope

86.6