Weight record:
329.8 lbs-2/1/2010
324.4 lbs-2/5/2010
323.2 lbs-2/6/2010
323.4 lbs-2/7/2010
335.0 lbs-2/14/2010
326 lbs-2/21/2010
323.2 lbs-2/23/2010
322.8 lbs-2/26/2010
321.8 lbs-2/28/2010
320.6 lbs-3/2/2010
319.6 lbs-3/7/2010
317.8 lbs-3/13/2010
314.8 lbs-3/21/2010
314.6 lbs-3/22/2010
313.8 lbs-3/29/2010
312.4 lbs-4/1/2010
310.2 lbs 4/4/2010
309.8 lbs 4/5/2010
307.4 lbs 4/12/2010
307.0 lbs 4/16/2010
307.0 lbs 4/19/2010
305.8 lbs 4/26/2010
307.2 lbs 5/3/2010
306.0 lbs 5/10/2010
306.2 lbs 5/17/2010
306.8 lbs 5/24/2010
302.6 lbs 5/31/2010

I've gone back to trying the paleo way of eating, and actually having some success at it this time. Before, I always gave in to the siren song of processed carbs. Mainly due to sandwiches and tortilla chips to eat with salsa. Today was my third day, and my second almost totally paleo day. No processed carbs anywhere(with the exception of sugar for my coffee). I feel fantastic. I don't have cravings or hunger, and as you can see, I am losing weight. I have been keeping a close watch on my appetite and the way I feel during the last three months as I dieted. The biggest thing I have noticed is that when I cut out the processed carbs, I am not crashing, and I don't feel sluggish after eating. I would estimate my current eating habits at 90% paleo. I am not ready to give up coffee yet(probably never), but I am weaning off sugar, using stevia instead.

I could do this indefinitely. The way I feel is well worth it. AND, I found a substitute for tortilla chips with salsa. Pork rinds work fantastic, and actually end up being fewer calories per serving.

Tessa, I have to give you a huge thank you for the contest. It helped to motivate me when I would have stopped tracking my food, and got me into the habit. Having yours and Tina's support helped tremendously, as well.

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia

lunch
3 cups green beans
12 oz spam(don't know why, just wanted Spam, really badly.


snack
28 almonds

dinner
8 cups mixed salad greens
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 apple
1/4 smoked sausage
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Big step, unexpected....

I broke 305lbs. I have been stuck between 310 and 305 for sooo long! Pulled out the scale, just to see how I was doing today. 304.2 lbs! Cutting processed carbs is working. I've been really trying hard the last couple days. I had noticed I wasn't feeling as hungry without them, but hadn't really thought about the weight loss aspect of it.

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1/4 oz cheese

lunch
6 oz london broil
6 slices bacon
3 cups green beans

snack
2 scoops maple walnut ice cream(I have been dying for ice cream the last week. Rather than buy some, I had some while we were out, so I wouldn't be tempted.)

snack
1/2 slice bacon
1 oz london broil

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1 cup rice
2 cups sweet and sour sausage

Lunch
Strawberry-blueberry smoothie:
-1/4 cup frozen blueberries
-1 scoop Body Fortress protein power(110 calories,1.5 gram fat)
-Myoplex Lite Strawberry Meal Replacement Shake( 190 calories, 1.5 gram fat)
-10 oz whole milk(dishwasher was running, couldn't get water)

Dinner
1 flour tortilla
2 oz cheddar/jack cheese

Didn't do so well today.

I had a very tight schedule, beginning at 6 am, getting my daughter up, fed, dressed and off to school, then out to the next town for a tire change, back to pick up the daughter, home for lunch, change clothes and out on an hour drive to the city for a job interview. After the interview, it was rush hour, so I went to the mall and walked about three miles, which is the best thing I did for my health today(and I did so well yesterday, too!).

Breakfast
3 brown and serve sausage links
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
Carl's Jr breakfast burger

lunch
2 cups sweet and sour sausage, 2 cups rice

dinner
1 slice whole wheat
3 oz turkey breast
2 servings hot pork rinds
1 zero calorie soda

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar

lunch
2 flour tortillas
4 oz ground turkey
1 oz cheddar
1 cup beans and rice
1/4 cup corn

Snack
1/4 cup dried mixed berries

Dinner-(wine and cheese Chamber of Commerce shindig, hence the odd variety)
3 jalapeno stuffed olives
1/4 oz varied cheeses
4 oz wine
1/4 oz salmon
3 mushrooms
1 grape tomato
2 pineapple tidbits
1/2 strawberry
1/2 slice cantaloupe

Snack
1 cup peanuts

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with stevia

Lunch
1 cup teriyaki rice
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, broiled
2 cups green beans
3 cups carrots

snack
Strawberry-blueberry smoothie:
-1/4 cup frozen blueberries
-1 scoop Body Fortress protein power(110 calories,1.5 gram fat)
-Myoplex Lite Strawberry Meal Replacement Shake( 190 calories, 1.5 gram fat)

The shake seems to have quelled the insane protein craving I have had since Saturday(and it should, that's a total of 48 grams of protein!). Thank goodness.

Dinner
1 cup peanuts
1 oz cheddar
2 oz steak

Weight record:
329.8 lbs-2/1/2010
324.4 lbs-2/5/2010
323.2 lbs-2/6/2010
323.4 lbs-2/7/2010
335.0 lbs-2/14/2010
326 lbs-2/21/2010
323.2 lbs-2/23/2010
322.8 lbs-2/26/2010
321.8 lbs-2/28/2010
320.6 lbs-3/2/2010
319.6 lbs-3/7/2010
317.8 lbs-3/13/2010
314.8 lbs-3/21/2010
314.6 lbs-3/22/2010
313.8 lbs-3/29/2010
312.4 lbs-4/1/2010
310.2 lbs 4/4/2010
309.8 lbs 4/5/2010
307.4 lbs 4/12/2010
307.0 lbs 4/16/2010
307.0 lbs 4/19/2010
305.8 lbs 4/26/2010
307.2 lbs 5/3/2010
306.0 lbs 5/10/2010
306.2 lbs 5/17/2010
306.8 lbs 5/24/2010

Breakfast
1 smoked sausage
12 oz coffee with raw sugar

lunch
2 cups chicken casserole

snack
1 cup peanuts

dinner
2 cups chicken casserole

snack
1 cup rice and beans

Breakfast
2 cups rice and beans
12 oz coffee with raw sugar

snack
1 oz dry roasted peanuts

lunch
1 smoked sausage
8 oz london broil

snack
1 small apple

dinner
1 cup honey oat clusters
3/4 cup yogurt

5K. 57 minutes.

One small blister between my 1st and 2nd toes on my right foot. Feet are fairly sore. Otherwise, I feel great!

Brunch(slept in)
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
2 slices whole wheat
5 oz turkey breast
15 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa
1 slice swiss

snack
1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts

Dinner
2 cups beans and rice
6 small corn tortillas

snack
2 cups popcorn

Another day, some more calories...

But first, an article from Scientific American. Good news for the Primal advocates out there.... http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=carbs-against-cardio
No breakfast today. Still not quite up to snuff, though much better than yesterday.

Lunch
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
3 hamburger buns
2 cups sloppy joe

snack
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 small apple

dinner
1 hamburger bun
5 slices dry salami
1 oz cheddar
1 slice swiss
1/2 tortilla

I do notice I have gotten sloppy about carbs again. It's proving very difficult to reverse 30 years of eating habits, primarily because carbs are so EASY to use. Ah well. A work in progress. Gotta tighten up on that again, I'm sure, now that I think about it, that it has a lot to do with my recent insomnia.

Bad Byron, bad...

No breakfast, slept in again.

Lunch
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
1 slice swiss cheese
15 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa

snack
1 cup dry roasted peanuts

dinner
2 smoked sausages
2 hot dog buns
1 cup chili

dessert
1 It's It
1 oz black strap rum with zero calorie soda

5 points over my WW total. So, I used 5 of my weekly "flex" points. Not something I should do on a regular basis, but not bad. Felt really good to relax, especially after being sick this week. I wouldn't have gone over if I had eaten just a half It It, or just one chili dog. Good lesson.

Slept in late, trying to beat my sinus infection. No breakfast.

snack
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia

lunch
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
6 slices dry salami
1 slice swiss cheese
15 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa

snack
1 large apple

Dinner
2 cups white chicken chili.

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1 large apple

lunch
4 slices french bread
1 cup chicken salad(made with low fat ranch dressing, no mayo)

dinner
1 met rx bar

desert
12 oz decaf with stevia
4 cinnamon graham crackers

Sinus infection...

Typical for me this time of year, but the first I've had in a long time. I've not been keeping up on my nasal rinsing like I should during pollen season, and this is what I get as a result. Oh well.

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1 oz cheddar
1 oz salami

lunch
2 cups sweet and sour sausage
2 cups rice

snack
2 slices cinnamon toast

dinner
2 cups sweet and sour sausage
2 cups rice
12 oz Moroccan mint green tea

Weight record:
329.8 lbs-2/1/2010
324.4 lbs-2/5/2010
323.2 lbs-2/6/2010
323.4 lbs-2/7/2010
335.0 lbs-2/14/2010
326 lbs-2/21/2010
323.2 lbs-2/23/2010
322.8 lbs-2/26/2010
321.8 lbs-2/28/2010
320.6 lbs-3/2/2010
319.6 lbs-3/7/2010
317.8 lbs-3/13/2010
314.8 lbs-3/21/2010
314.6 lbs-3/22/2010
313.8 lbs-3/29/2010
312.4 lbs-4/1/2010
310.2 lbs 4/4/2010
309.8 lbs 4/5/2010
307.4 lbs 4/12/2010
307.0 lbs 4/16/2010
307.0 lbs 4/19/2010
305.8 lbs 4/26/2010
307.2 lbs 5/3/2010
306.0 lbs 5/10/2010
306.2 lbs 5/17/2010

Breakfast
1 hash brown patty
6 brown and serve sausage links
3 slices Spam
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia

Lunch
2 slices cinnamon toast
20 oz iced coffee(12 oz coffee, 1/2 cup milk, the rest ice and stevia
1 large apple

Dinner
5 oz turkey breast
2 slices whole wheat
1 slice swiss
15 tortilla chips
11/2 cup salsa

Dessert
6 oz sangria, with 1/2 oz brandy over ice

I haven't seen the results I wanted on the scale recently. Friday I found out why. I thought my pants were feeling a bit loose, so I got into my older clothes. I haven't kept up with my measurements in weeks. Well, I am now wearing pants from 2003. In the last six months, I have gone from a 48 waist pant to a 42. Woot. I would like to see a big loss this week, but if I don't, it doesn't matter. The exercise is having an effect. I'm happy with that.

breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
15 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa
1 large apple

snack
4 oz beef jerky
11 crows(licorice flavored gumdrops)
1 large apple

lunch
2 slices whole wheat
1 slice swiss
5 oz ham
5 tortilla chips
3 hours at the park

Dinner
2 oz beef jerky
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 cup honey almond cereal
3/4 cup yogurt

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1 met rx bar
1 small apple

lunch
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
15 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa
1 large apple
20 oz iced coffee(actually only 8 oz coffee, the rest is ice.)stevia

dinner
4 cups white chicken chili
1 small apple

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1 met rx bar

lunch
10 slices gallo dry salami
4 oz turkey breast
3 slices whole wheat
20 pretzel sticks
15 tortilla chips
15 grapes

snack
fruit/nut/granola bar
8 oz sangria
20 pretzel sticks
3 cups air pop popcorn

dinner
4 oz ham
2 slices whole wheat
13 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa
5 slices dry salami

Too many carbs today, overall, but I feel happy with how I did today. Also, about 45 minutes in Walmart, and an hour at the park with the Girl Cub. Pushups as well.

I think some of you may appreciate this, so I figured I'd share it with you:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygWO30gdpK4

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar/stevia
1 small apple

2.25 miles/50 minutes

snack
fruit/nut/granola bar
1 small apple
1 medium banana

lunch
2 flour tortillas
1 cup texas chicken soup
3 oz ground turkey
1 oz cheddar

No dinner.

breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
1 small apple


snack
1 medium banana

lunch
4 cups texas chicken soup

dinner
2 slices wheat bread
4 oz ham
1 small apple
15 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa

snack
1 oz cheddar cheese

Weight record:
329.8 lbs-2/1/2010
324.4 lbs-2/5/2010
323.2 lbs-2/6/2010
323.4 lbs-2/7/2010
335.0 lbs-2/14/2010
326 lbs-2/21/2010
323.2 lbs-2/23/2010
322.8 lbs-2/26/2010
321.8 lbs-2/28/2010
320.6 lbs-3/2/2010
319.6 lbs-3/7/2010
317.8 lbs-3/13/2010
314.8 lbs-3/21/2010
314.6 lbs-3/22/2010
313.8 lbs-3/29/2010
312.4 lbs-4/1/2010
310.2 lbs 4/4/2010
309.8 lbs 4/5/2010
307.4 lbs 4/12/2010
307.0 lbs 4/16/2010
307.0 lbs 4/19/2010
305.8 lbs 4/26/2010
307.2 lbs 5/3/2010
306.0 lbs 5/10/2010

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
1 small apple

snack
1 small apple

lunch
4 oz ham
2 slices wheat bread
20 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa
1 oz pickles

dinner
1 blueberry Noah's bagel
2 tbsp light blueberry Schmear

snack
1/2 oz cheddar cheese

breakfast
1 Noah's everything bagel with 2 tbsp cream neufchatel
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
1 small apple

Lunch
1 cup Black Bean/Corn salsa(recipe below)
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
1 oz gherkin pickles
1/4 cup black olives

snack
1 Mango--Orange bagel with 1 Tbsp Blueberry Schmear
39 pretzel sticks(1 serving)

Dinner
Nothing so far.

Black Bean Salsa

1 15oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 17oz can whole kernal corn, drained

1 15oz can diced tomatoes, drained

1 purple onion, chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)

3-4 Tbsp lime or lemon juice

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Combine ingredients in a large bowl, cover and chill. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Roadtrip!

Had to go out of town today, to pick up some jewelry making supplies, and drop off a couple drums for repair. About two hours round trip, and I needed to stop at Walmart, too. So, not quite a normal day, but I think I did fairly well. I'll know better once I log it all into Weight Watchers.

Breakfast-I knew I'd be gone all day, and I have been trying to go heavy on breakfast where I can, so...
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
6 brown and serve sausage links
3 eggs
1 hash brown patty

Walked 1/2 mile to get bagels from Noah's.

snack
1 pumpernickel bagel
1 small apple

lunch
4 oz turkey breast
2 slices whole wheat
1 small apple
25 tortilla chips

snack
1 small apple
1 Noah's bagel with 1 tbsp blueberry schmear

Dinner
2 cups black beans and rice
1 small apple

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
1 small apple

Lunch
1/2 cup salsa
2 slices wheat bread
4 oz ham
13 tortilla chips
4 small mandarins

Walked 1.5 miles-slower pace, had the wife and daughter along. Took about 45 minutes, not including random stops and wanderings by my daughter.

snack
met rx bar

dinner
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz turkey breast
1 small apple

snack
1 medium apple

Breakfast
1 small apple
1/2 mini bagel with 1 tsp cream cheese
2 small mandarins

snack
1 small apple
1 black bean brownie(btw, these have less than 2 WW points per brownie!)

lunch
4 small mandarins
1 cup sweet potatoes
1/2 cup marshmallow creme(on sweet potatos)
1 ear corn with 1 tsp butter
8 oz boneless skinless chicken

snack
4 small mandarins

dinner
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
13 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa
1 large apple
1 small apple

snack
2 cups air popped popcorn, salt and a little butter(2 tbsp for a whole giant bowl, maybe a tsp on what I ate).

A message to a friend....

Tonight, a friend asked how he should commemorate the third anniversary of his younger brother's death. I told him to make the choice to live a long and healthy life. My friend is overweight, and in poor health. I worry about him, because of it. In a later conversation, this is what I told him:

We are all driven by two prime motivating factors. Everything you and I do, we do either out of our need to avoid pain or our desire to gain pleasure. You have to find a way to associate so much pain with your self defeating behaviors, that you absolutely have to change. Right now, your fear of change, and the pleasure you get from the way you have lived your life, is overriding the fear of being unhealthy.

You can change this, you can take control of your health. All it takes is a moment of decision, a single moment to decide you WILL NOT live this way ANYMORE! You will fall from the wagon, you will have setbacks, and moments of doubt, and perhaps even times when you temporarily give in to despair and feeling sorry for yourself. But, if you make the decision to change, you WILL do it.

Nobody can make you healthy. There is no magic road to weight loss, or to healthy living. It is long, and it is hard, and sometimes it sucks. But I tell you now, it is worth it. I am down 60 lbs from last year. I have erased 6 years of weight gain and unhealthy living. I have over a hundred more to lose, to be healthy by medical standards. But I can tell you, the difference it has made in my life is incredible.

Decide you WILL change, that you deserve a good life, that you deserve to be healthy, and change will happen. Start now. Pick one unhealthy habit, and decide to stop. Cut out soda, or cookies, or pizza. Just one thing, something you won't miss too much. After you've gotten used to not having it, pick another. Meanwhile, ten minutes of exercise a day. Ten minutes. Crunches or situps. Hell, curl a barbell for ten minutes while you watch tv.

The fear of making the change is far worse than the reality, I can tell you. And the rewards are astronomical. Monday, I got up, walked out my door, and walked two miles in 45 minutes without stopping. Last year at this time, I couldn't make it upstairs without my knee feeling like it was going to snap in two.

Stop thinking about it, DECIDE NOW to make a change. Live your life like a Viking.

I thought it needed to be posted.

Snack
4 oz ham
1 slice whole wheat
12 oz coffee with raw sugar

breakfast
2 sausage mcmuffins(I suck, I know! Left the house without my emergency rations!Had to eat or hurt someone!)

snack
1 small apple

walked one mile(no time for two, too much to do today)

snack
1 small apple

lunch
4 oz ham
2 slices whole wheat
13 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa

snack
1 black bean brownie

dinner
1 met rx bar

snack
1 small apple

Breakfast
6 brown and serve sausage links
1 hash brown patty
1/2 small banana

lunch
2 burritos(2 flour tortillas, 1 cup chili beans/rice mix, 2 oz ground turkey, 1 oz cheddar cheese)

Snack
1 Black Bean Chocolate Brownie(yes, you read that correctly. They are delicious!)


Black Bean Chocolate Brownies

1 (15 oz) can black beans
1 package Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies Mix

Drain and rinse beans. Place back in can and add water to fill can. Pour into blender and puree. Mix with brownie mix, then spread into pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F as directed on box. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut into 24 2"-square pieces.

Number of Servings: 24

Dinner
2 slices Wheat Bread
4 oz ham

Desert
1 black bean brownie

Well, crap.

Weight record:
329.8 lbs-2/1/2010
324.4 lbs-2/5/2010
323.2 lbs-2/6/2010
323.4 lbs-2/7/2010
335.0 lbs-2/14/2010
326 lbs-2/21/2010
323.2 lbs-2/23/2010
322.8 lbs-2/26/2010
321.8 lbs-2/28/2010
320.6 lbs-3/2/2010
319.6 lbs-3/7/2010
317.8 lbs-3/13/2010
314.8 lbs-3/21/2010
314.6 lbs-3/22/2010
313.8 lbs-3/29/2010
312.4 lbs-4/1/2010
310.2 lbs 4/4/2010
309.8 lbs 4/5/2010
307.4 lbs 4/12/2010
307.0 lbs 4/16/2010
307.0 lbs 4/19/2010
305.8 lbs 4/26/2010
307.2 lbs 5/3/2010

That sucks. But, can't say I didn't expect it, I've been a bit of a slug this week, feeling down and such. Back on it today though. Walked two miles in 45 minutes. Not too bad for a fat guy.

Breakfast
12 oz coffee with raw sugar
1 small apple

Lunch
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
1/2 cup salsa
13 Doritos chips

Dinner
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
1/2 cup salsa
13 Doritos chips

After Dinner
2 glasses sangria

Got some exercise today, wandering around Walmart. Better than nothing. Getting more regular with meals again, now I need to add the snacks back in and spread out the calories some more. Did some Hindu pushups and some situps, too.

Breakfast
20 oz coffee with raw sugar
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
13 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa

Lunch
low carb six dollar burger
2 cups green salad
2 tbsp balsalmic vinaigrette dressing

Dinner
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
13 tortilla chips
1/2 cup salsa

I did a bad thing...

I ate nothing from dinner last night until about 3:30 this afternoon. Granted, much of that time I was asleep, but still, not helping my weight loss.

Breakfast
none

lunch
none

3:30 snack(or something)
1/2 cup salsa
2 slices whole wheat
4 oz ham
15 tortilla chips

snack(from 4:30-6pm)
2 cups mixed nuts

dinner
6 oz chicken breast(boneless skinless)
2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
1/2 large apple
1/2 cup dried mixed berries

I've missed too many workouts, my sleep has been too random, and I am not eating right. It ends now. I'm going to get some sleep tonight, and workout early tomorrow.