feed me
Friday, April 30, 2010

There is always a constant battle of food.  With all this fresh eatin' we found an awesome place where I can spend less on fruit and veggies that I can on other stuff even at big box mart.  By consequence that means things are more yummy so I have a hard time not eating seconds when we do make dinners.  Constant Battle.

I always get the feeling of snacks which is supposed to be how it should go but I have a tendency to go right to the fridge.  So we put the snacks on the fridge.  Constant battle.

For a few hours this morning I was reading up on some of the bills passed in regards to the food in our schools here in America.  I am pleased that there is so much more funding going into low income schools for daycares, school, afterschool food as well as more guidelines on physical activity and even funding for training of not just cafeteria workers but also for the kids.

There can be so much more done there.  I think I might be packing my daughters lunch.  This eating better portions is helping me realize I give my kids some pretty fatty stuff. Good thing they are super active. But this diet im on is helping to improve that so hopefully they will learn to grow up eating health.  Constant battle.

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

I havent been working out but we have been eating lots of wonderful foods lately.  Sure we have gotten sick of a few of them over the last little while but as we keep it "fresh" and bring in different things we can do this.  My sweet wifey posted a lost at first weight in and I have also lost 6.2lbs in a week and 2 days.

We got out walking with the kids today on their bikes and that was refreshing.  The food is refreshing and today I ate a weight watchers "twinky" which was one point.  I ate it and was left with the feeling that I enjoyed it but yet I didnt feel like it was way too sweet!  I dont feel like I have to brush my teeth right after or that I will get a cavity from all the sugar so it was most pleasant.  I feel that way about the food.  Im eating less in size, stuff with fresh veggies and fruit, and fresh seasonings so it is much better all around!

I can see the better food and it might sound funny but I can see a smaller belly and I fit pants better so Im happy!

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Things have been well here diet wise I have stayed under points over the weekend and on Monday though some days I used most all of them and some I had a few more to spare.  I have been tempted to not just eat more but also eat stuff that is just junk.  One night I ate some graham crackers which arent to terribly bad but they do take up points since they are a lot of calories.  I had some meetings about activities for my church and food was discussed at just about everyone and early every event.  It makes it hard to not want to go to those BBQ's.  What is it with church activities having to have food.  It is always good food, which Im grateful for but it seems that it all comes out of the woodwork when I cant eat it.

Last night for example we were driving to and from things and I was just watching all the big name food places and their signs wizz by and wanted to just eat something with fat.  I know that is so weird to say but I just wanted it.  Im a guy and sometimes I just crave meat.  It was like that.  In behavioral neurobiology there were two theories about hungry.  One is a bucket theory which is basically when your bucket is empty your brain said "EAT" and there you have it...hunger.  I think this could be very true.  Another thinks that there is some kind of chemical relation.  Either way it was totally like Pavlov's dogs experiment for me last night.  Pavlov rang a bell when it was time to eat regular dog food and sometimes he presented another sound when it was some kind of icky food.  Well over time the dogs learned to slobber when they heard the bell even if the food didnt come out.  I was a dog!  But I resisted.  So I came home shredded up some chicken from a previous dinner threw some cheese and it on a tortilla and nuked it in the microwave.  It alone was the most points of a "meal" I have eaten.  I enjoyed eating it but soon after I felt sick to my stomach.  I reflected on eating salads and yummy sandwiches with tomatos and lettuce and I didnt get nearly the enjoyment out of it as those or fresh strawberries or grapes.  So needless to say weak point over and now time to move on!

I also have noticed that I am less groggy in the morning and a bit more motivated to do things as well.  I am also taking a several vitamins too so perhaps it isnt just the food but either way I am happier with my lifestyle overall.  But the urge in my brain still comes out sometimes...."give me fat".  I guess I will always have that since studies show our brains crave the sugars and fats in foods anyway cus obviously they are so good.  Im hoping my brain isnt too assimulated like the borg though so my resistence wont be futile.

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Well I thought it would make an interesting title but I got nothing to back it up with except my weight, age and my wifes joyful/playful spirit to compare to my prude/boring attitude.  It is true and just another reason I love that woman by gally!

Today has been pretty good.  I didnt exercise which I probably could have just filled the space with other things I just so happened to remember.  I actually did want to exercise but I am finding out that it is the thing that I have least motivation to do in this whole diet thing.  In reflection on the matter it just occured to me why people pay for personal trainers.  I always found it odd they had those.  Yes even someone who is a step above caveman has thought provoking thoughts once in a rare moon.

As for points I did excellent.  I was well above what I needed so I made some Shrimp Scampi for dinner (low fat style).  If you want that recipie holla and I will type it up.  I also got me a Jamba Juice.  I did however tell the lady the wrong one and it ended up being twice as much calories and points...eek!  I survived but with the scampi and the jamba for my wife as well I pretty much zapped her points for the day.  Amazing that woman still loves me huh!

But I am finding a thrill in dashing in seasonings here or there.  The last time I did it this much was when I was in high school and I made tin foil dinners for myself and friends on our compulsive "campouts".  Somehow those always ended one kind of disaster or another, broken car window, burned/shinged hair and legs, County sheriff/FBI questioning.  That one was a thriller.  Good times.  See what a little spice can do to your life, it sounds so adventurous already.

Still under points but eating more the last two days with a bit more fatty foods so I will have to do better tomorrow!  We shall see at report time.

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Yesterday was even busier than the day before.  I didnt even get to each lunch cus I was out.  So naturally that made it so I was excellent on points.  I ended with about 20 to spare.  Mostly that was because I had veggies that were 0 points per serving.  I bought a steamer today and threw in some broccoli and carrots and ate those with the chicken for their serving size.  It was quite nice.  I did over cook the broccoli though but next time I know to do it a bit less.


At the grocery store I found a BBQ sauce that was only 35 calories with 0 fat.  It was honey garlic and so I thought I would give it a whirl.  I broke out the chicken breast and put it in a pan and then put the whole BBQ bottle on bottom and top and cooked for 40 minutes at 400degrees.  When I put the chicken on the plate to eat it naturally most all the sauce stayed in the pan.  So I just measured out 2 Tablespoons for a serving size and used it on the chicken.

As far as exercise goes I turned on the TV and did a back and ab workout for 10 minutes.  It was a bit awkward since the host was saying "you can do it ladies" or "here we go girls".  I dont know if it was that or the fact that I couldnt even do everything said to do cus it hurt.  Just means my belly is way to fat.  I also walked around the apartment buildings for nearly an hour while the kids were at a neighbors house.

Im not getting all excited yet but I weighed myself and I was 2lbs lighter than yesterday but that could just be water weight since I hadnt been eating or drinking much so we will see how it goes the rest of the week.  Monday is weigh in day.

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Two items pertinent to this are first official weight (after day 1) is 243.0  I guess I was about 245 so I was fat on the money there.  The other is I will be attempting to take a multivitamin, calcium, probiotic, antioxidant, phytosterol/omega 3, blood circulation.  It is like 10 pills total not to mention my seizure meds so i talk like 24 pills a day now.  It gets hard to choke down sometimes.

Despite having my plate being full...with to do lists not food, I had a normal day.  I didnt get any exercise done but with some of the work I did it is a mild 30 minutes of exercise since I did it fast to get it all done!  As far as eating goes still staying strong I currently have 14.5 points left and I probably will only use 4 or 5.  As each day goes by and I eat different foods I can see that Im eating just as often but smaller portions and better stuff.

I did make myself two very lean turkey sandwiches during the course of the day but I did use points to have a slice of cheese on each.  2 points for me slice of cheese is insane but that gives you an idea of how healthy it is huh.  I can honestly say I didnt taste the cheese it much cus i loaded on some fresh roma tomatos and it was delish!  So I dont see a need to even eat much of it anyway.

I did make dinner from a WW recipie though.  I made a meatloaf with italian spices which was 5 points for a small portion.  So I admit to eating another half portion and a very scrumptious corn on the cob which is 1 point woot woot!  So the meat loaf turned out alright and it very low on fat and calories and it is quite filling at least for me so if anyone wants my on the fly change it up for ingerdients I had recipie holla at me.

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After things went so well yesterday I was excited to start the day.  I actually got to eat breakfast so I was already going fill more points.  I didnt want to go out with the kids and it was quite rainy so I didnt get out to exercise.  Mostly I will admit it was a bit of laziness but it is hard to go with kids...nice excuse right.

I was great all day and we even went to Applebees for dinner to celebrate my finishing masters degree school and got the Weight Watchers (WW) meals.  I got a salad and it filled me and I didnt leave the place feeling like I dry packed myself with food.  It was quite a nice feeling.  My wife got a 4oz steak.  I remember looking at it when it came thinking "thats it, you call that a steak?".  Then next to it was a huge portion of steamed broccoli which actually looked quite delish!  For the first time in my life, that I can remember anyway, I had genuine envy for broccoli.  I know it is totally odd!  In talking with my wife we did enjoy not feeling gorged with food and realize how much steak we used to eat. It feel like it was a whole cow compaired to 4oz size.

Came home and we had some cheap imitation Martinelli's to toast finishing masters program and a snack and I finished with 28points.  I still was under which was exciting for me.  But again I am shocked at how little points women get.

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Starting out I get 39 points a day which seemed a lot since my wife gets 10 less than me.  It seems quite sexist if you ask me.  Feminists everywhere should be revolting and the ACLU should be suing!  But as it is I go with it.  The first day I was careful to make sure that I ate filling yet low point foods.  By 7pm I had only eaten 16 points and had exercised for 30 minutes.  Needless to say I was hungry but optimistic for doing so well.

My exercise to just about everyone else meant that I was basically the kid from diary of a wimpy kid.  I got on origially optimistic of my skills and cranked the difficulty level to 10 and after 1.5 minutes was burning all up my legs.  So I had to crank it down to level 5.

By end of day I ate worth 26.5 points so I was below what I needed and when I went to bed I still felt full enough I wasnt hungry which is the point.  I will spare you the details of what I ate but needless to day I did better than I thought and im fat and slow on exercise equippment

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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

So it has been decided based off the point system that I shall have no more than 39 points.  In reviewing all the info I am confident that I can easily do this.  It is also decided already that you get 35 points a week to eat anytime over the week.  Basically if you want to blow it they already account for that.  So I have decided personally Im going to shoot for no more than 35 points a day and no extra weekly points.  Perhaps that is too optimistic but we shall see!

Food shopping happened yesterday.  You should have seen us calculating on a calculator and discussion the points and if it was worth it or not to get.  Cheese was decided was a knix.  We came home separated things into portions, thanks to my babe!  Then we wrote the points/potion size on everything so we can already know and keep track easily.  Most of the work is done already.  After that we reviewed all the info on it and that is when we remembered that non fat cheese is around so we will have to re-eval that once we go to the store next.  For now though Im happy not going to have any to keep me healthier.

Downs - no more scrumptious and delectable desserts and foods.  Sorry you food bloggers who I follow I cant try those recipes without modification and after all I am a prude so it isnt gonna happen unless I have an overly assertive day.  Being a dad of 2 kids...doesnt happen often.
Ups - we found individually packaged jerky that are only 2 points each.  They are dried turkey but flavored the same as the beef ones so we are excited for that.  Also given my current endless addiction to Diet Coke I can drink away point free.  This might be my biggest problem once this system works.  Pop in general is just junk no matter if it is diet or now I say.  So weening will be a big step.  Another up is these little yogurts (which I love) that I get for the kids GoGurt are already packaged and only one point.

I went today to exercise this morning to test the crowd at the complex workout place.  One lady was there which isnt a big deal.  Cranked up the difficulty of the elliptical to 10/20 and thought this will be so nice.  After 1 and a half minutes on steep incline my legs were on fire already.  Yep fat prude and out of shape.  I adjusted it down to 5 and it seemed enough to get me working out but not enough to kill me.  So perhaps tomorrow I will have to find a better setting like 7 or something.  I brought the kids with me which obviously couldnt sit still and spilled water all over.  You cant get a proper workout with them around since the tv was taken out of the room.  So after 12 minutes on a level 5 I had to call it quits plus two more people came and I am self conscious and left.  So I needed to scout it out and find a time when no one is there or perhaps just go  2 or 3 times a day.

I did however enjoy the workout in the morning helped the sluggish feeling go away faster!  Im not counting on getting a proper exercise for at least a week while I get the schedule and level all worked out.

Off to a slow but steady start!

Ok people here is the skinny!  I am just another statistic in the obese nation that is America.  After evaluating my life and seeing myself more in a different way I have decided that I need to change.  First of all food sure is good and I love to eat it.  But there is a difference between enjoying and experiencing food and just stuffing your face. I was stuffing my face.  So all this plus combining the effects of thinks like Super Size Me, Food Inc and Jamie Oliver Food Revolution.  Also in the mix was a recent trip where I did a lot of walking and exercise and I came home and couldnt sleep well because I wasnt tired enough.

The fat and the lean of it all it is Im committed.  My wife is joining forces with me but is doing Weight Watchers. So portion control and decent food intake regulated by that.  Im hoping to throw in some recipes from there and people like Jamie Oliver and many others.  Sorry Martha no criminals will be cooked in my house.  Then exercise will be done.

Im going to attempt to write nearly everyday track my progress and say what I did and ate.  Dont worry no hairy white cellulite pictures or video will be taken so you dont have to advert your eyes away from any grossness!

So cheers to this new endeavor or adventure which ever you want to call it.  Tomorrow starts with weight exercise and an "experimental" day with this "point" system.