024 Maintaining

My mantra seems to be: not enough water yesterday, finished under calories, didn't do enough exercise.

Gotta change that somehow.

Errata from yesterday: Typo'd the weight. Wrote 256.6 when it should have been 265.6. I didn't suddenly lose 12 pounds.

Calories: -1054
Burned: 3065
Steps: 2281
H2O: 52 oz
Weight: 265.6

023 Making Progress it Seems

My sister-in-law said something the other day that made a bit of sense to me. She said that she was eating too few calories for too many days in a row, and needed to break the budget to surprise her metabolism for a minute.

Based on that, I decided to say yes to a hamburger from Jack-in-the-box last night. Just a sourdough cheeseburger with bacon, and a small curly fries, that's all. I broke my budget by less than 100 calories, but got it back in burned calories from my steps during the day.

I felt like I'd splurged and eaten an entire weeks's worth of fast food in that one sitting. How perspective changes.

Calories: -340
Burned: 3078
Steps: 2038
H2O: 72 oz
Weight: 256.6

022 Still Going in the Right Direction

Weight still going down, even though I didn't drink enough water yesterday and had 2 sandwiches near midnight.

Calories: -26
Burned: 2528
Steps: 2868
H2O: 48 oz
Weight: 267.4

021 In the Hunt

Nothing super exciting happened. I spent the day stressing about some online assessment tests I had to take for possible job placement. Ended up exceeding their expectations, so that's good. Interview went well.

Finished the day with about 50% of my calories left, so I blew them on some whole wheat waffles around midnight - I was starving!

Calories: -753
Burned: 3080
Steps: 1634
H2O: 20 oz
Weight: 267.6

019 H2Oh-No

Still having trouble with water intake. I just don't like the (lack of) taste of it, and powdered flavorants (made up that word) just trigger my IBS. Maybe some lemon would help...

Calories: -709
Burned: 2488
Steps: 2743
H2O: 20 oz
Weight: 269.0

018 A No Care Day

Spent the afternoon with my family looking at books.

First we went to the local public library. Pretty disappointing selection of computer and technology books, and their new categorization scheme, organizing by subject, left much to be desired when looking for something as specific as web development books.

Then we went to a Cracker Barrel for lunch. I wasn't impressed by their food, but my wife has been craving fried okra, which is nearly impossible to find here in Phoenix. I was highly annoyed that you're forced to go through their retail store full of candy and breakables at toddler-height in order to get to the restaurant. Then the menu was just meh to me. Generic schlock that you would expect from any Applebee's or their ilk. I had a 1/2 pound bacon cheeseburger, and I have no idea how many calories I consumed between that and the "steak fries".

Then we hit up Barnes and Noble. I got a book on HTML5 and CSS3, and a magazine from the UK with "22 Projects" to try out using HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc. The book I was really looking for, "HTML5 for Masterminds" wasn't there, but the one I got is pretty high up on my list of books I wanted after that. The kids each got a book, but my wife didn't look at anything for herself. She's going to go spend some time there alone today.

After that, I get to take down the xmas lights. Yay.

I don't have any numbers to report from yesterday, but my weight, which is still 268.0.

016 Stationary Bicycles Start Your Engines

Finally added in stationary recumbent bicycle last night. 30 minutes on the "hill" setting, 135 calories burned. Not bad, and it didn't kill me, so I think I'll keep that up but raise the intensity.

I also think I need to stay away from baking treats for my wife. I made her some brownies, and I couldn't resist eating some. 

Damn baked sweets are my cryptonite.

Calories: -426

Burned: 3082

Steps: 1203

H2O: 40 oz

Weight: 268.0

015 Just Another Day

Yesterday: root canal. Jaw aches, but otherwise I'm in less pain than I've been since I don't know when. I can drink a glass of cold water without wincing in pain when it accidentally goes into the left side of my mouth.

Calories: -493
Burned: 2512
Steps: 2501
H2O: 32 oz
Weight: 268.6

014 Root Canals and Choosing Not to be Lazy

My wife said something a few months ago. She said we should "make the choice not to be lazy." She was talking about our day-to-day lives, where we were in the habit of doing things with the least effort possible.

Because of this lifestyle, I was to the point that getting off of the couch, or worse yet, off of the floor, was not only difficult, but painful. Each time I had to get down on the floor to be with the kids, I dreaded getting back up because my body felt like a sack full of potatoes and my legs made of lead.

After she said that, it sort of triggered an epiphany in me. I realized that I was choosing to be lazy every chance I got. I resolved to reverse this behavior, and choose against laziness instead. Get off of the couch and play with the kids, clean as soon as we were done playing, and in general, move around more. To measure the success of this new plan, I got a Fitbit Zip, just to see how much more I'm moving, and it's quite dramatic.

Better than watching my step count each day, though, is how my body feels. I can still tell I'm heavy, but my legs don't feel like anchors anymore, and getting off of the couch or floor doesn't hurt and make me grunt. I was able to play at the playground with my son, climbing ladders and sliding down slides, and even lifting my body weight with my arms a few times. So, not only am I getting more healthy, but my quality of life is improving as well.

As a reward for my reduced calorie intake, and my increased activity, my scale dipped below 270 for the first time today.

Calories: -1070
Burned: 2792
Steps: 4706
H2O: 32 oz
Weight: 269.2

(If you're interested in buying a Fitbit, please visit my sister-in-law's website and purchase it through her - she is an affiliate and it helps finance her own weight loss blog and website)

013 Lucky Day for a Dentist Visit

Headed to the dentist today to finally remedy my teeth. I have no insurance, no idea of how bad it's going to be, and no inkling of how expensive it will be. I also have mild dental phobia, and needle phobia, which means I'm dealing with all kinds of anxiety here. All I know is that my jaw and credit card are going to get a workout today.

Yesterday I went to the park with my son, and we ran around and played on slides and various playground equipment. For the first time since he's been old enough to go to the park, I got over my "what will other parents think of a fat dad sliding on slides behind his son" and just played with abandon. It as also the first time that I've had the energy to do so, rather than feeling like a lump of lumbering flesh.

I think that's a more important takeaway for the day than the number on the scale.

On to the numbers.

Calories: -786
Burned: 2854
Steps: 4729
H2O: 40 oz
Weight: 271.8

012 and Codeine Fun

I'm on penicillin and Tylenol 3 for tooth pain until Monday when I see my dentist. Plus I'm taking a probiotic each night before bed, just to make sure the penicillin doesn't get me going in an IBS way.

I love codeine, it makes my legs feel like a roller coaster ride just before you crest that big hill, warm and tingly, when it first kicks in. It does a really good job of taking the edge off of my pain, but it doesn't totally stop the pain, just makes it so I don't really care about it. It also has the downside of causing insomnia, because it gets my brain firing on a bunch of creative cylinders that have been missing spark plugs for months now.

Last night we made pizza bread. This morning I made pancakes from scratch. I just can't drive or climb ladders.

Calories: -432
Burned: 2626
Steps: 3799
H2O: 32 oz

011 A Numbers Game

I should be gaming the system. It's a pure numbers game: burn more calories than you put in - done; burn more calories than the sedentary lifestyle that got you here - not done.

I need to burn 1,000 more calories per day than my average in order to lose 2 pounds a week (7,000 calories = 3,500 calories per pound x 2 / 7 days). I'm barely breaking even with the sedentary lifestyle calorie burning. No wonder my weight is already plateauing instead of going down.

Calories: -85
Burned: 2640
Steps: 3325
H2O: 20 oz (hard to drink water with agonizing tooth pain = excuse)
Weight: 271.2

010 The Binary Change is Coming

The toothache continues. It's sort of beneficial in that it makes it so that nothing sounds good to eat. Maybe I should start a web fund drive: "Fix Brad's Teeth". I keep waiting for the pain to turn back off the way it always has before, but it's not. Quite depressing, as anyone with chronic pain can tell you.

Finally back down to 270, I hope it drops into the 260s next instead of fluctuating back up again.

Calories: -361

Burned: 2613

Steps: 3309

H2O: 24 oz

Weight: 270.4

009 With a Toothache

No insurance means sometimes I get to deal with pain longer than folks who have insurance. I have some bad fillings that have started hurting on and off. 2 days ago, the nerves decided to "turn on" as my dentist calls it. Usually a dose of ibuprofen takes care of it, but this time it just doesn't want to quit. In the last 48+ hours, I've had about 2 hours of pain free time. May have to use a credit card if it doesn't turn back off soon.

Ended the day way down on calories, but still ended up +1 on the scale this morning. I have to get a daily exercise routine in somehow, because apparently 2-3K steps isn't enough, even with this drastic calorie reduction, to keep my weight curve trending downwards. Time to get my daily calorie burn above the "sedentary" level by 7,000 per week. That means I have to burn 3,675 cal per day, minimum.

Trending flat isn't acceptable to me.

Calories: -564
Burned: 2488
Steps: 2522
H2O: 36 oz
Weight: 272

008 or W5 D1 in the Old Accounting

Yesterday was a challenge. Had more snack attacks, and fended them off with caramel rice cakes and water.

Making the change from white flour pasta to whole grain pasta - slower carb - is my most recent goal. It has a different flavor and texture from normal pasta, but the benefits outweigh that. With my no-salt-added tomato sauce, I could barely tell the difference. Same calories as regular pasta, just how it burns in the metabolism is the key.

Calories: -98
Exercise: -43
Steps: 4797
H2O: 42 oz
Weight: 271

007 Blog...Calorie Blog

My step-dad is in town for a few days, and bought us dinner last night. Olive Garden. I opted for the lowest calorie thing I could see that was appetizing: Spaghetti with meat sauce. I ate about 2/3rds of the portion. What really killed me, though, was the 3 bread sticks I couldn't resist.

Went over calories, but also did some jumping jacks to compensate. Overall, I'd count yesterday as mostly a success.

I also picked up some caramel rice cakes to take up some of that late night snack urge.

Calories: +165
Exercise: -110
Steps: 3922
H2O: 32 oz
Weight: 272.4

006 And Home Made Beef Stew

Stayed under my calories today. Did a decent job getting some water down. Tried out a new recipe for slow cooker beef stew.

2 lbs of cubed stew beef
3 cubed potatoes
2 sliced carrots
1 chopped onion
2 cups beef broth (reduced sodium Swanson)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp paprika
1 minced clove of garlic

Place beef, flour, salt, pepper in slow cooker, stir until beef is coated. Add the rest of the ingredients. I added enough water to cover everything.

Cook 4-6 hours on high, 10-14 hours on low.

Makes 6-8 servings.

It was good, I seasoned mine to taste since I like more black pepper than comes in the recipe. My step-dad tried it and said it was good, too. I did the high heat method, it took about 4.5 hours to be done. The beef just fell apart and all the fat was rendered. The veggies were soft and flavorful. One serving, about 1.5 cups, I estimate to be about 460 calories (based on putting the entire recipe in Lose It, and breaking it down by serving).

I'd give this one a 3.5 out of 5.

Calories: -227
Fitbit: 0
Steps: 3747
H2O: 40 oz

005 More of the Same

Still had 600+ calories to eat by around 11:30 pm last night. I made some whole grain pasta with a bit of butter and garlic and Parmesan. Filled the void, slow carbs, and still finished the day under calories. I failed to drink enough water, though, and it shows in the +.6 lbs weight gain, which is most likely water retention.

Cal: -189
Fitbit: 0
Steps: 2222
H2O: 30 oz.
Weight: +.6

004 Now This is More Like It

Finally, weight is starting to trend downwards again. Water on board, calories in deficit mode, activity higher than sedentary.

When my son was born 2.5 years ago, I was full-time dad while my wife worked. Then we had our daughter, and we decided to relocate to a different city, so for the last year, it's been both of us home. Starting 2 days ago, my wife finally found another job, and I went back into full-time dad mode. My steps jumped by 1000 without even trying, since I'm the only one to play and chase, etc. Plus, without two adults and their various agendas clashing, we can set a more stable routine.

This is a good thing.

I do miss having my wife around all day, though, don't get me wrong.

Calories: -319
Fitbit: -8
Steps: 3561
H2O: 40 oz.
Weight: -1.2

003 Struggling Still

Cravings. Ugh.

Water. Ugh.

I keep finding justifications to eat things I know I shouldn't in proportions that I shouldn't. My weight is going in the wrong direction because of it. I need to get under control. Routine is the key, I think, and removing temptation - stop letting my loved ones bake cakes and cookies that I love.

And, drink water!

Calories: +343
Fitbit: 0*
Steps: 3055
H2O: 32 oz

*Fitbit sets my calorie burn goal number lower if I do under 1500 steps - to sedentary instead of normal. At least, that's how I think it works.

Day 002

Nothing really interesting to report today. Still recovering from sweets cravings due to holiday cake, cookies, and such, still trying to get back in the water regime. Otherwise, more of the same.

Wife started new job today, they called her and asked her to start a week early. This means I have both toddlers full time for the first time. Going to have to build new routines, but because of the change, I forgot to weigh in before I ate breakfast today.

Calories: -318
Fitbit: -427
Steps: 1958
H2O: 32 oz
Weight: *

001 Day Results

So, this is the new year. 2013 is here, 2012 is over, and the Mayan theories were wrong (because their calendar ended didn't mean they thought the world was ending any more than our world ends every December for us).

I had a craft beer journey this week, and discovered that I like malt a lot, hops not as much, so I'll be aiming for porters and milk stouts for the next leg of this journey. That's good, because Guinness is a lot like a milk stout - technically an Irish dry stout - and it's my favorite beer. Amazingly enough, Guinness is also a light beer! It only has 125 calories for 12 oz of Guinness, 210 for a pint, and tons of polyphenols, which are good for your heart.

I'm going to start a new, simpler summary, too.

Calories: -478
Fitbit: 431
Steps: 1726
H2O: 32 oz
Weight: +.4

New Year, New Count, Starting Fresh, 001

I lost track of calories yesterday. I had pizza, beer, cake, chips. Basically resorted to old habits.

2012 is over.

I'm starting a new count, instead of by week and day, I'm going to use the Julian calendar date like I used to in the military. If this continues beyond a year, then I'll use the 4 digit Julian, but for now, I'm just using the 3 digit single year method.

Day 001 is today. My calorie budget is 1,689, and my weight is 274.3 today. I'll be under my calorie budget, walk 2-3,000 steps, and drink at least 40 oz of water, and do some Wii dancing.

See you tomorrow.