Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Viva Las Vegas

Man, did I need that trip to Vegas. It helped me on several fronts. I was getting complacent in my weight loss. Even though I'm not where I want to be, people continually have given compliments about my weight loss. I was afraid complacency was setting in. Scratch that, complacency was setting in.


Vegas changed that, in a couple of ways.


I have a list of accomplishments that I'll share one day about my "goals" of weight loss. One of them was to ride on an airplane without feeling sorry for the person sitting next to me. And I'm not there yet. I still was overflowing into the seat next to me. So that was the jolt back from complacency.

It also led to some serious good days diet-wise in Vegas, as you'll see below. The first three days, I did pretty well on my diet while I was out there. Maybe not so much on healthy food wise, but definitely didn't pig out.

But Friday, Saturday and Sunday were a different story. I ate. And ate. And ate. Only one buffet for the whole six days, so that was fine. I also drank a lot of beer for the first time since I've started my diet.

Despite the quantities of food I ate, according to the Wii fit scale, I gained less than half a pound for the week. That was the other way Vegas changed my complacency. That made me realize that once I get to where I want to go, I can eat like that and it won't affect me, as long as I continue to run.

I did run in Vegas. On the strip. It was awesome. Lots of joggers. I ran from the Riviera past the Flamingo and back. About 3.2 miles. I ran it Wednesday and Friday.

Every other trip to Vegas I've been, my feet have hurt from any kind of walking. Not this time. My buddy and I walked everywhere. I didn't feel like a burden, like I did at my bachelor party, when I had to take extended breaks because my feet hurt so bad.

And let me tell you, weekend strip traffic sucks, so it was refreshing to be able to walk all the way to the Bellagio to watch the fountain shows.

All in all, it was a much needed trip. I needed to unwind. I haven't had a vacation in two years. And I've come back with a renewed vigor on the second half of my weight loss journey.

Tuesday
Breakfast
1 egg

Lunch
1 In N Out burger with mustard and peppers (no cheese)
1 neopolitan shake

Dinner
Way more chips than I should have and salsa and cheese
Chicken and beef fajitas
3 flour tortillas
50 oz dos equis

Wednesday
Breakfast
Banana
Myplex shake (210 calories)

No Lunch

Dinner
Braised lamb with carrots, celery, potatoes and peas
Three hot wings
Three wedges of flatbread
32 oz guinness
47 oz 4loko

Thursday
Breakfast
Banana

Lunch
Double-double from In N Out (two patties, two pieces of cheese) with mustard and special sauce
Cheese fries (fries with two slices of cheese)
Neopolitan shake

Dinner
3 oz beef jerkey
Bag of jalapeno chips (290 calories)
32 oz calorie free powerade

48 oz of water throughout the day

Friday
Lunch
2 bowls of chicken chili
3 hot wings
1 piece of greasy, cheesy, BBQ chicken pizza
1 serving of potato salad
1 serving of pasta salad
6 pieces of fried zucchini
Bowl of peach cobbler with ice cream
36 oz of unsweet tea
32 oz no-calorie powerade

Dinner
Half a steak sandwich
Plate of fully loaded nachos
45 oz of beer

32 oz of water throughout the day

Saturday
Lunch
Pho beef soup
4 pieces of sweet and sour chicken
Half an egg roll

Dinner
Three hot wings
Chicken fajitas with cheese, sour cream, salsa and four flour tortillas and a tablespoon of bleu cheese dressing
12 oz margarita
12 oz bahama mama
16 oz havana banana

Sunday
Breakfast
12 saltines

Lunch
2 chili cheese dogs
bag of corn chips
bottle of squirt

Dinner
One burger from In N Out (no cheese; one patty)
Order of fries
16 oz of 7up

Monday
Breakfast
One cup of oatmeal

Lunch
Two PB&J sandwiches

Dinner
1 filet of salmon
1/2 cup rice

Snacks
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 nonfat yogurt

42 oz of water throughout the day

Tuesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Snacks
Two nonfat yogurts
1 cup of sunflower seeds

96 oz of water throughout the day

Friday, March 25, 2011

Vegas Eve

So ready for Vegas. I haven't had a vacation in two years. This will be another serious test in my diet/exercise. We do have access to the fitness room, so I have no excuses. Now if I can just lay off the food, that would be grand. Next post will be after vacation.


EDIT: This was supposed to be posted Monday night, but I guess I didn't hit publish? I dunno.


Saturday
Breakfast
1 piece of toast with peanut butter

Dinner
1 package of brocolli cheese rice (650 calories)

Snacks
1 100 calorie package of mint chocolate cookies
1 100 calorie package of brownies

16 oz sugar water (peach lemonade)

Sunday
Lunch
1 piece of string cheese
2 oz dehydrated veggies

Dinner
Four cups tortilla soup
Five cornbread muffins
12 oz beer

Snacks
1 100 calorie pack of mint chocolate chip cookies

96 oz water throughout the day

Monday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two-egg omelet with ham and cheese

Dinner
Two ham sandwiches

Snacks
2 nonfat yogurts
1 bag sunflower seeds
1 tootsie roll
6 oz beef jerkey

20 oz diet pepsi (yes, vacation has officially started)

36 oz of water

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Almost at the halfway point.

Weigh-in was yesterday. I am now officially under 290 pounds. Grand total is 64 pounds. My goal when I started was to lose 133 pounds, so I'm 2.5 from the halfway point. Kind of amazing that I've lost that much and I'm not even halfway. I wish I had this drive years ago and I'd be finished now.

Vegas week looms. I leave Tuesday and don't come back until late late Sunday. This will be a difficult test for the diet. I am so glad I am so close to halfway, because I don't want to take a step back next week, and I'm pretty sure this will help keep me in check in the land of buffets and 99 cent, two-pound hot dogs. Not to mention I plan on drinking many, many beers, which I have cut out so far on the diet.

Wish me luck, and here's hoping my next weigh in finds me more than halfway to my goal!


Sunday
Breakfast
1 cup oatmeal with 10 oz of skim milk
1 piece of peanut butter toast

Lunch
100 calorie pack of cheezits
Package of beef jerkey (200 calories)

Dinner
1/2 a chicken breast
Six small pieces of bread
12 pepperonis
16 oz chocolate skim milk

64 oz of water throughout the day

Monday
Breakfast
Smoothie
1 cup oatmeal with 10 oz skim milk

Lunch
Pasta and italian sausage

Dinner
2 ham sandwiches

Snacks
2 nonfat yogurts

96 oz of water throughout the day

Tuesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with bacon and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
Bowl of chicken noodle soup

Snacks
2 tootsie pops
2 nonfat yogurts

96 oz of water throughout the day

Wednesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
2 ham sandwiches

Dinner
Salmon filet
1/2 cup rice

Snacks
2 tootsie pops

128 oz of water throughout the day

Thursday
Breakfast
1 cup oatmeal with 10 oz skim milk
Two piece of toast with peanut butter

Lunch
2 ham sandwiches

Dinner
None

Snacks
1 nonfat yogurt
1 100 calorie pack of cheezits

Friday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two-egg omelet with ham and cheese
16 oz chocolate skim milk

Lunch
2 PB&J sandwiches

Dinner
6-inch oven roasted chicken breast with pepperjack cheese on jalapeno bread from subway

Snacks
1 tootsie pop
1 nonfat yogurt
3.5 oz dehydrated veggies (carrots, taro, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Another 5K, another PR

Made excellent time yesterday (for me) at the St. Patty's Day 5K. Was hoping it would be my first sub-45-minute mark, and I nearly did it in under 44 minutes. I finished with a time of 44:04 chipped and 44:14 gun time. Whatever that means.

Unfortunately, it appears my weight loss has hit a plateau. And that sucks bad. Over the last two weeks, I've lost a total of 8 ounces. Half a pound in two weeks. That kind of progress just doesn't seem like it's worth it to keep trying. I need to make this week a great one, as I am going to Vegas the week after that.
 
Wednesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
1 cup of oatmeal with 1 cup of skim milk

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
3 cups of chicken and rice soup

Snacks
1 nonfat yogurt

64 oz of water throughout the day

Thursday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two-egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
Frozen healthy choice dinner (270 calories)

Snacks
130 almonds

Friday
Breakfast
Smoothie
1 cup oatmeal with 11 oz skim milk

Lunch
2 PB&J sandwiches

Dinner
200 almonds

Snack
1 nonfat yogurt

64 oz of water throughout the day

Saturday
Breakfast
Smoothie

Lunch
Three-egg omelet with mushrooms and bacon
Two strawberries
Four pineapple chunks

No dinner

64 oz of water throughout the day

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Fat Tuesday and Fatter Wednesday

The original title of this entry was Getting faster and Fat Tuesday. But that was before this morning's run that I just finished.

I was excited that it seemed the days of the 50-minute-plus 5K was behind me. I had been coming in under 50 minutes for the last two weeks. Definitely not a major milestone for the average runner, who is shooting for a 50-minute 10K. But for me, considering I couldn't even run for 30 consecutive seconds four months ago, a decent milestone. Along the way, I set a PR at a timed event Saturday with 46:33. I still wish I was faster and can get it under 45 minutes, and even though I've lost 55 pounds, I'm still carrying about 75 extra pounds, which is hampering my time.

And then along comes today. A nearly 53-minute piece of shit run. My body was stiff and sore from the start. Still, I checked my time at about 1/4 of the way in and I was less than 30 seconds behind my standard run. I checked it again at the halfway point and I was two minutes behind.

I blame Fat Tuesday. We had a potluck dinner at work, and man did I pig out. I haven't eaten like that since I started my diet and exercise regime back in November. I sure did pay for it today. At least that's what I'm blaming it on. I literally could not stop myself from eating. It was sad, and why I'm in the shape I'm in. I have no self control and am basically worthless when it comes to food consumption.

You'll see the damage in my food diary below.

Thursday
Breakfast
1 cup oatmeal with 12 oz skim milk
Smoothie

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
Frozen dinner healthy choice chicken fajita

Snacks
Two nonfat yogurts

128 oz of water throughout the day

Friday
Breakfast
PB&J sandwich

Lunch
Baked potato with chicken breast

Dinner
6-inch oven roasted chicken breast sandwich on jalapeno bread with pepperjack cheese from subway

Snacks
1 nonfat yogurt

160 oz of water throughout the day

Saturday
Breakfast
Smoothie

Lunch
Package of beef jerkey (225 calories)

Dinner
Chicken fajitas with three flour tortillas, rice and beans
About 20 corn chips with salsa

Snacks
1 100 calorie pack of cheezits
1 100 calorie pack of mint-chocolate chip cookies

48 oz of water
8 oz of liquid sugar (peach lemonade)

Sunday
Lunch/Dinner
Two chicken strips
Piece of quesidilla
Three small onion rings
Bowl of chili
Four saltines
1/2 french dip sandwich with swiss cheese

Snacks
Beef jerky (135 calories)
20 oz gatorade (45 calories)

60 oz of water throughout the day

Monday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two-egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
2-3 cups of chicken and wild rice soup

Snacks
1 nonfat yogurt
2 tootsie pops

96 oz of water throughout the day

Tuesday
Lunch
Four chicken strips
12 potato wedges
1/2 an ear of corn
Big serving of rice and sausage
4 deviled eggs

Dinner
20 potato wedges
36 doritos with bean dip
3 brownies
3 chocolate chip cookies
1 piece of coconut cream pie

Snacks
10 tostitos scoops with bean dip

64 oz of water throughout the day

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Another milestone

Not much new to report here, as evidenced by the fact I haven't updated in more than a week. I keep meaning to, but work keeps getting in the way.

I did reach another milestone last Friday at my weigh in. I am now under 300 pounds. It's been at least seven years since I was below 300 pounds. That 3 bill mark was always the point of "I better do something now about this." Apparently, now is seven years in my bizarro world. Now that I'm under it, I don't plan to go below it.

I truly believe running is now in my routine. I am glad for that. I still don't look forward to it (except, of course, the 10-day sciatic nerve reprieve I had. I definitely looked forward to it then), but I believe it is in my routine to the point that I made sure to get gym access at the Vegas hotel I'm staying at in 19 days and find a 5k route I can run on the strip in case treadmills drive me insane again.

I tell you what I do look forward to, though: Eating pizza, hot wings and drinking beer again. I have pretty much cut those foods out while I get to the weight I want to get to. I figured if I can go a year without those foods, I can eat them again as much as I want for the rest of my life.

Monday
Breakfast
Smoothie
One cup oatmeal with 1 cup skim milk

Lunch
Two chicken salad sandwiches

Dinner
Chicken and rice soup

Snacks
2 nonfat yogurts

128 oz of water throughout the day

Tuesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
1 cup oatmeal with 1 cup skim milk

Lunch
Two chicken salad sandwiches

Dinner
3 cups chicken tortilla soup

Snacks
2 nonfat yogurts
1 tootsie pop

128 oz of water throughout the day

Wednesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
1.5 cups potato soup

Snacks
1 100 calorie pack of cheeze-its

128 oz of water throughout the day

Thursday
Breakfast
Smoothie

Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Ham and cheese sandwich
Chicken salad sandwich

Dinner
Frozen dinner with chicken, rice and pineapples

Snacks
2 nonfat yogurts

128 oz of water throughout the day

Friday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two PB&J sandwiches

Dinner
One six-inch oven roasted chicken breast sandwich with pepperjack cheese on jalapeno bread from Subway.

Snacks
1 nonfat yogurt
1 100 calorie pack of cheez its

128 oz of water throughout the day

Saturday
Lunch
PB&J sandwich
16 oz chocolate skim milk

Dinner
Two ham and cheese sandwiches
18 pieces of pineapple

Snacks
8 almond hershey kisses
About 8 triscuits
About 8 tostitos scoops
Mexican seven-layer dip

66 oz of water throughout the day

Sunday
Lunch
PB&J sandwich
16 oz chocolate skim milk

Dinner
1.5 turkey italian sausage with mushrooms and peppers
Spaghetti noodles

Snacks
2 100 calorie servings of cheezits
1 100 calorie serving of mint chocolate chip cookies

96 oz of water throughout the day

Monday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
Two turkey sweet italian sausages (300 calories total) with peppers and mushrooms

Snacks
Two nonfat yogurts

128 oz of water throughout the day

Tuesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelet with ham and cheese

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
Chicken taco salad from Taco Bueno (lettuce, chicken, 1 tablespoon of sour cream, jalapenos and tons of salsa)

Snacks
1 stick of beef jerky
1 tootsie pop

64 oz of water throughout the day

Wednesday
Breakfast
Smoothie
Two egg omelete with ham and cheese
16 oz skim chocolate milk

Lunch
Two ham sandwiches

Dinner
Frozen healthy choice dinner, chicken basil I believe

Snacks
Two nonfat yogurts
2 tootsie pops

128 oz of water throughout the day