Out Of Thing

Saturday, January 31, 2026

TGIS.  Plan is to spend the day at work, but it's been nice easing into it.  I am relaxed, though I'm sure my blood pressure will rise once I'm there and digging into the piles of things that did not get accomplished this week.  Big piles.

Anyway, my good mood was enhanced by a nice drop on the scale.  I even feel a bit less fat in the midsection.  Only slightly, of course, but every little positive feel helps.  BP was a shade high, pulse normal.  Nothing concerning.

Finally encountered a "problem" (using that term VERY loosely) with running out of an ingredient here in no spend January.  I went to get some butter to finish my steak in the pan last night.  I was down to a two stick package of cultured butter.  Checked the date and ... OOPS.  Uh, the best by date was 10 months ago.  There are lots of times I'll have no problem with out of date food, but 10 months on butter seemed bad.  So I'm out of butter until tomorrow.  It wasn't a big deal, the steak was delicious anyway. 

Breakfast:  Sprouted oatmeal with maple syrup and milk, coffee

 

Impulse bought this bag of sprouted oats at the big health food store a couple months ago, decided to crack it open.  I'd usually have butter (not milk) but I improvised.  It was ... oatmeal.  Not exciting, but hot and reasonably enjoyable.  Will have again, since I have lots of oats and maple syrup.

Lunch:  3 eggs over medium, bone broth rice, chorizo gravy

 

Clean up on the eggs.  Tasty, hot and a lot of food.

Dinner:  Leftover steak in EVOO, mashed potatoes

 

Clean up on the steak and I think that was my last container of potatoes.

 

And the capper, the last of the chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. 

Exercise:  Nope.

97.4

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0.00 / 30

Last day!  Looking forward to a restock tomorrow ... in line with the next challenge.  Oh boy. 

Ready Set Cut

Friday, January 30, 2026

A busy end to a crazy week.  At least the very tail end of the day calmed down.  Sheesh.

Anyway, TGIF.  Planning to work tomorrow, shop bake and clean on Sunday.  Actually looking forward to it.  Even the work part - to have time to actually get things done is so valuable.

Scale was down a bit, which was a little surprising.  BP good, pulse normal.  

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar, coffee

 

Standard.  Ate a piece before taking the photo.

Lunch:  Leftover ovenburger, bone broth rice

 

Nothing huge, just quick and easy since I spent most of lunch running to Walmart for something for work.

Dinner:  NY Strip steak, mashed potatoes, Long Road polish falcon

 

Last falcon.  Steak from the freezer, at some point I bought a value pack and vacuum sealed several.  I'd prefer grilled all things being equal, but hey, it was all right.  Reverse sear ftw.

 

And the capper, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise:  Nope.  Not an active day either.

98.6

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0.00 ** / 29

Asterisking this one in the spirit of full disclosure.  I "spent" $1.32 on some pinto beans so I'd have them available to make spicy beans on Sunday (they need to soak) since I was at Walmart anyway.  Not counting it as dollars spent or breaking the streak, since (1)  I had that $1.46 in excess bottle returns cash from earlier in the month available, and (2) I'm going to include it in February's totals anyway as if I had purchased them on Sunday.   Similarly, I ordered flour from Amazon so that it would be delivered, used a gift card so $0.00 spent and I won't use it before Sunday (assuming it arrives) and will count the $16.20 non-cash expense in February.  I'm not looking to make this unnecessarily difficult - Sunday is really the only day I can do serious cooking and it happens to be the first of the month.

Junior Day

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Welcome to Thursday, or as some people call it, Friday Junior.  It's about as much Friday as Fredo was Corleone if you ask me, but some folks believe it.  It was a busy morning.

Scale finally ticked down below the point of resistance.  Of course no obvious explanation why, lots of carbs especially late and no exercise, but hey no complaints.  BP fine, pulse normal high.

At least the busiest part of the week is done and there is a weekend in view.  Let's get there.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar, coffee

 

Had to leave early so no bone broth. 

Lunch:  Leftover enchilada eggs, bone broth rice

 

Bigger portion of eggs today, I guess my cuts were not precisely equal.  

Dinner:  Leftover ovenburger, mashed potatoes

 

Saving my last falcon for tomorrow since I have a meeting.

 

Plus the capper, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise:  Nope

99.2

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $0.00 / 28

So far anyway this week's menu has worked out.  I have stuff for tomorrow and Saturday lined up.  As long as I shop on Sunday as planned, no problem. 

Never Look Things Up

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Whew.  It was a busy day.  Too busy to start this post before dinnertime.  I had a quick lunch and was right back at it.

Not much of note.  Scale flat, BP ok, pulse WTF low.  It actually felt low this morning, but not that low.  I have never had much trust in this particular device anyway.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar, coffee

 

Again.  Was thinking bone broth but I had to get blood drawn, so out the door I went brothless.

Lunch:  Leftover enchilada eggs, bone broth rice

 

So I had a brothy lunch instead.  Tasty and I was well-sated all afternoon.

Dinner:  1/3 lb ovenburger, mashed potatoes, Long Road polish falcon

 

A cheese-sparing dinner.  I could probably have gone with some but since I planned on the mash figured nah.  Oh, and I made the mistake of looking up the polish falcon.  Figured it had a lot of sugar, figured correctly - 280 calories and 37g of carbs.  LOL.  At least I only have one left.  Too bad, they're tasty.

 

The capper, the usual, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise:  Sadly, nope. 

100.4

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0.00 / 27

Getting close, actually looking forward to grocery shopping on Sunday. 

Cheese Sparing

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Hey, something different.  I had a couple things to clean up for breakfast so for once I had no cheese.  It was a nice change of pace.

Otherwise, I was happy to see the scale down despite the excessive rice.  Still need to think about being a little more restrictive and I definitely need more activity.

Breakfast:  NR gyro strips, chicken bone broth, coffee

 

 

Had a couple strips I couldn't fit in the pan yesterday and a few ounces of broth.  Cleaned them both up.  Really enjoyed the broth, I think I have some more in the pantry and if so this is the time of year to be sippin' it.

 

Had a cupcake and a bit of banana bread as a mid morning snack courtesy of a co-worker.  

Lunch:   Leftover meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

 

Cooked up the loaf and beans in a little butter/EVOO.  All very tasty.  And quick.

Dinner:  Enchilada eggs, Long Road polish falcon

 

More cleanup.  Used up peppers and onions, a can of chiles, a roll of sausage and all but three eggs.

 

And the capper, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise:  Nope.  Another brutal wintery day.

100.4

Dollars Spent:  $ 0.00 / 26 

I am cracking up at my fridge.  The bottom two shelves consist of half a block of cheese, a pound of ground beef, three eggs, a pack of bacon that I'm saving for February and two polish falcons.  So empty!  I'll add two containers with leftover enchilada eggs for tomorrow and Thursday, but it's still lol bare. 

Overricing

Monday, January 26, 2026

It was a Monday.  And it will soon be over.

Actually it wasn't that bad.  It was not great, but it wasn't terrible either.  Which is good, considering it had that potential.

Scale was fine, considering.  I'll take it as a win.  BP number was a little weird, the 2nd number was high.  But not worth worrying about.  

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar cheese, coffee

 

Again.

Lunch:  CF jerky, bone broth rice

 I really need to date everything in my freezer, I definitely wonder how long the jerky had been in there.  The flavor was fine, the texture well let's just say it was a little dry and chewy.  I screwed up rice packaging and had an extra one in the fridge to eat up, so it was a very rice-y day.

Dinner:  NR gyro meat, bone broth rice, Long Road polish falcon

 

Very tasty.  The falcon is Long Road's take on the Moscow mule, I enjoyed it.

 

And the capper, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise:  Nope.  Same reasons.

101.8

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0.00 / 25

Getting quite used to this.  As long as I have something to eat - and I have the week mapped out - I'm good.  Having no convenience foods on hand has been surprisingly not much of an issue.  No snacking is a big win, even if I'm not losing weight. 

Excessive Reclining

Sunday, January 25, 2026

There is an obvious downside to days like yesterday, where I don't even leave the house:  I spend entirely too much time in the recliner.  Yesterday may have been the most extreme edition ever, the hour total was ridiculous.  I will be at least a little more active today.

I expected my sleep to be a bit off after getting eight hours Friday night but good grief.  I did not get to sleep until 2:30.  Hours and hours past my bedtime.  Just was not sleepy.  Woke up at 6:30 and got no meaningful sleep after that despite being very dozy.  Took until 8:30 to get going.  Pathetic.  But thank goodness it's the weekend.

Also a predictable consequence of too many hours in the recliner, too many carbs and general inactivity:  Weight gain.  BP number was good, pulse only somewhat WTF high.

Let's have a day.

Breakfast:  Spelt lazy bagels with cream cheese, coffee

 

Baked them longer and they were very good.

Part of the interesting challenge of zero food spend January and my upcoming plans for February involves working around things I run out of.  I know I'm going to run out of K cups and I currently don't have a restock in the plan.  I have a packet of french roast I got in a Christmas box that will probably cover things for a couple weekends - I never have coffee at home during the week anyway.  But it's another thing that I will be completely out of by the end of next month.

Lunch:  NR gyro slices, bone broth basmati rice, Meijer hot dill pickle spear

 

A meat item from the freezer and cooked up the rest of my rice stock to use that up and the rest of the bone broth.  Also ate the last pickle.

Dinner:  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cheesy green beans, NSA peaches, 12 oz Miller Lite, chocolate chip cookies

 

Sunday dinners.  All good.  Ate a bit much.  Cookies were okay, not the finest batch, but I used up the chocolate chips, brown sugar and almost all of the flour.

 

And the capper, a glass of milk.

Exercise:  

101.8

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $0.00 / 24 

Great Eight

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Hey, how about that.  I was able to roll over (figuratively) and get back to sleep this morning and I'm almost certain that I actually got eight hours total.  That's a huge win.  Now if only I could do that regularly that would be great.  Don't think my brain will allow for it, though.

Frigid start which has me dawdling.  Plan is to work today, "rest" tomorrow, but my will to go in is being tested.  I will at some point, but won't get a full day.  My long term objective is to not need more than four hours per weekend, but I'm a long ways from that.

Minimal tick down on the scale, BP in range shaded high, WTF low pulse. 

Breakfast:  Spelt lazy bagel, Meijer sausage patty, coffee

 

Decided to try and make a breakfast sandwich.  I think I need to bake longer when I use the spelt flour.  Would have liked a slice of cheese and an egg.  Still, pretty good.  Would make again ... but that was my last sausage patty so I guess I won't anytime soon.  Finished off the everything bagel seasoning too, but I have another one of those on hand.

Lunch:  Leftover oven cheeseburger, 1 C spicy beans, basmati rice cooked in chicken bone broth

 

Had a just past date box of bone broth and a partial bag of basmati to use up, chopped up the last burger and tossed it in with the beans.  Very tasty, if a bit much.  Did a quick freezer inventory, looks like I am now out of beans.  On the list of things to make next Sunday.

Dinner:  Home cracker crust pizza with bacon and jalapenos, Long Road lavender lemonade

 

Keeping with the theme, last of the bacon, pizza sauce, mozzarella and the lavender lemonades. Almost killed the parmesan and jar of jalapenos.  I might have to take a photo of what my fridge looks like next weekend.  The freezer isn't too bad - I added rice today and I have a number of things I need to toss (but am putting off doing until it's less cold outside).  Pizza was excellent btw.

 

And the capper, the last of this week's chocolate chip cookies with a glass of whole milk. 

Exercise:  Nope.  Brr.  And other reasons.

100.6 

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0.00 / 23 

Into The Deep Freeze

Friday, January 23, 2026

Brrr.  Below zero this morning and tonight is supposed to be truly exceptional.  Not my favorite weather.  On the plus side, lots of things are closed today so my schedule is pretty clear.  Maybe I can get some work done.

Spent some time last night having fun with numbers.  I have been figuring out what I want to do for my February challenge after no spend (on food) January.  I think I pretty much have it sorted, but am going to run through different scenarios this weekend.  As a preview it's a continuation of January's theme of eating down the stock of stuff on hand and spending less, just not $0.00.  It's pretty handy to have online and app access to store pricing information so I can know and map out what I'll be spending on February 1.

Otherwise, small drop on the scale, BP okay but shaded a bit high, pulse number WTF.  I have never been good at getting my own pulse, but I'm pretty sure this number is way off.  I do wonder if it's an irregular heartbeat, will get that checked at my next medical appointment.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar, coffee

 

Again.  No cacao butter today.  I should check to see if there is a weight difference between the block and the pre-sliced, they are priced the same.

Lunch:  2 eggs over medium, mashed potatoes, 2 Meijer sausage patties

 

Again.

Dinner:  Leftover oven cheeseburger w/mustard, guacamole, jalapenos, Long Road lavender lemonade 

 

Giving up on what's left of my unopened wine.  I'll take the L and stick to buying beer in the future.  I have a few of these Long Road cocktails left from the basket I won last year, may as well drink them up too.

 

And the capper, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk. 

Exercise:  Nope.  Brrr.  Need to get going, vacation in < 7 weeks and must be in walking shape.

101.0

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0.00 / 22 

Honestly it's kinda nice not going to the grocery store. 

Don't Know The Difference

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Another day where I just shake my head, shrug and admit that I have no idea.  I'm still puzzled by the recent upticks, but at least when I got on the scale this morning I got a nice drop.  Despite it all.  I will say that I was pleasantly satisfied last night, not overfull, not hungry, just right.

Sleep was okay, again didn't feel real deep.  Woke up a little before 6:00.  Going back to sleep is definitely an issue right now, can't keep the brain shut off.  BP in range if a bit on the high side.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar, coffee

 

Again.  No cacao butter in coffee.

Lunch:  2 eggs over medium, 1 C spicy beans, 2 Meijer sausage patties

 

Tasty.  Down to three sausage patties and about a dozen eggs, so I won't be eating this every day the rest of the month.  Beans instead of potatoes for a change of pace, so good.

Dinner:  1/3 lb home oven cheeseburger with mustard, guacamole, Meijer hot dill pickles, jalapenos

 

Very tasty again.  I really need to make ovenburgers a weekly staple.  Three meals for very little effort.  Definitely running on fumes ingredient wise - I shaved a bit off my block of cheddar, leaving just enough for tomorrow, a bit off the mozzarella, down to the last couple pickles and one more guac cup.

 

And the capper.  Chocolate chip cookies and whole milk. 

Exercise:  Nope.  Again.

101.4

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0 / 21

Oddly enough I did go to Meijer and spent a bunch of money, but it was supplies for work only and on their card.  So I spent nothing. 

Not The Right Streak

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

I am definitely not on the right kind of streak.  For the second full (and part of the third) day I am really struggling to get going at work.  I'm not super tired or fatigued.  I am just not feeling it.  I need to buckle down and get to it but all I really want to do is curl up somewhere warm with no phone and no email.

But since I don't get to do that, life goes on.  Did and didn't get enough sleep - did not feel like it was deep and I woke up at 4:50, but I was able to get some more sleep after that.  Dawdling this morning was not fatigue-related it was pure work avoidance.

Scale was down, though I haven't gotten back to the bottom of the range let alone broken through.  Felt a bit leaner in the midsection this morning.  BP number good, pulse randomly high.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar, coffee

 

Again.

Lunch:  2 eggs over medium, 1 C mashed potatoes, 2 Meijer sausage patties

 

Decided to save the last of the bacon for dinner.  Nailed this.  So good.

Dinner:  Home cracker crust pizza with bacon and jalapenos, white wine

 

I had a block of mozzarella and some remaining pizza sauce so let's use some of it.  Not much on hand for toppings. Only had a sip of the wine - it was a new bottle - before I decided it was bad.  Doh. At least the pizza was delicious.

 

Capper as per usual, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise:  Nope.  Again.

102.4

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0 / 20 

Inspiration Vacation

Tuesday, January 20, 2025

Inspiration is sadly lacking this morning.  Decided to start the day's post at work instead of at lunch due to my complete lack of interest in doing anything productive.  It's pathetic.  After a pretty good stretch, I guess I'm probably due for a day of disinterest, but still I need to knock it off and get to work.

Otherwise positive.  Scale ticked down (despite the rice and extra cookie), BP number good.  I was mildly sluggish getting going but not bad.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar cheese, coffee

 

Again.  No cacao butter in the coffee so far.

Lunch:  2 eggs over medium, 1 C mashed potatoes, 4 strips Meijer bacon

 

Again.  For no immediately discernible reason I am hungry today.

Dinner:  Leftover CF chorizo, leftover spanish rice, 1 C spicy beans, white wine

 

Again, this time with spicy beans.  Last of the chorizo and rice, killed the bottle of wine.   This is a stupid easy meal - one pot, heat and eat - and it was perfect for a cold night.

 

Again with the capper, chocolate chip cookies and whole milk.

Exercise.  Nope.  Again.

103.6

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0 / 19

I did use a gift card ($0 spend) yesterday to replace a kitchen gizmo via Amazon.  Not food but sufficiently food-adjacent that I figured I should mention it.

Whats Next

Monday, January 19, 2026

It is certainly wintry today.  And it sounds like the next ten days will be similarly brutal.  Cold, wind, snow.  Yuck.

Scale was predictably up this morning but at least it was only the minimum.  I don't expect great things the next couple days as I have leftover rice to eat.  BP in range, getting close to the point where I can say it's consistently good.

The weather is not helping my plans to get going on the exercise.  I drove past the Y last night and visibility was zero at that point.  I don't really want to go anywhere when it's like this.

Breakfast:  Meijer extra sharp cheddar cheese, coffee

 

We're down to the blocks.  No OJ today, no cacao butter in the coffee.

Lunch:  2 eggs over medium, 1 C mashed potatoes, 4 strips Meijer bacon

 

Not super hungry so took one less egg.  I have 20 left to get through the month.

Dinner:  CF chorizo, leftover spanish rice, black beans and cheese, white wine

 

I don't feel much need to type out the full name of the white wine, it's the same bottle of Stellar Organics blanc de blanc and I'm pretty sure that's the only kind of white wine I have on hand.  Bowl was 4 oz chorizo, 1C rice, a spoonful of beans with minimal cheese.  Not huge.

 

And the capper, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and whole milk. 

Exercise:  Nope.  Brrr.

102.6

Dollars Spent / Consecutive Days:  $ 0 / 18