Taking a Break

I am going to be taking a break from the blog. I have too many personal issues going on and can't present a blog of encouragement and happiness when I am not. I will still YOAD, no worries there. But the blog will be comatose, but not forever. Promise.

Thanks to everyone I've met here. Thanks for sharing your lives and your stories, your trials, your pains, your pleasures, your joys, your defeats, your sadness, your concerns. Good luck to everyone and please stay strong and motivated.

Thank you all for being a part of my life.

Rich

U Turn, or Going in Circles?

Why is it SO hard to get back on a diet plan once you get off? It's crazy! Is the motivation gone? Nope. Is it that maybe you're thinking 'oh, I've cheated, so one more day of cheating won't hurt'? Maybe.


I had full intentions of having a good YOAD day today. I did my walking, I had my Cheerios, I had my salad, I got out and was active, and then.....I went over to the dark side.

I drove by TGI Friday's with my daughter. TGI Fridays is her favorite restaurant and she asked if we could go. I said sure. I had very good intentions to be good and eat healthy. Well you know what they say about the road to hell and what its paved with. So we went in and I saw all the wonderful YOAD friendly foods and contemplated getting something really healthy and then I saw it.. You see, there's a 3 course special for $12.99 which gets you appetizer, entre and dessert. SO I gave in. (psst. the cinnabon cheesecake is awesome - just in case you were wondering).


My daughter and I had a good meal with good conversation. I came home around 3 and have been snacking since. Yeah, I feel guilty. I've told myself "I can get back on YOAD tomorrow"(how many times have we ALL said that??). So as I put down my pint of Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream, I write this, with a full tummy and a guilty soul. Tomorrow's another day. I go to work tomorrow and the temptation will decrease dramatically. Tomorrow's another day for me and YOAD.


And how did your Saturday go?

Back

Back on the treadmill,
Back on YOAD
Back on Track
Back as best I can with my life.

A Heart Felt Thank You

A Heart Felt Thank You to everyone for all your words of encouragement and support. I'm back in Albuquerque now, back from the funeral, back from a very emotional week. They say time heals all wounds, and in time, things will get easier I'm sure.

God Bless,


Rich

Sad News Today

It's with a sad heart that I tell you, my blog family, that my brother passed away this afternoon. He is 3 years older than me. He had been ill for a long time. He's had diabetes for several years and had been doing dialysis for several years. Today, he was in surgery to remove his lower leg (a complication from the diabetes) when he had a heart attack.

Please keep me and my family in your prayers.

Rich

Say Cheese

I had my colonoscopy today. It wasn't bad at all. They gave me some 'happy' drugs and I had a very relaxing day. I'm STILL getting over my sniffles, but feel a lot better than even a few days ago.

Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost

Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16
20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
21.....7/25/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
22.....8/01/2007.......231.....67........41.......16
23.....8/08/2007.......222.....75........39.......18
24.....8/15/2007.......221.....76........38.5....18.5
25.....8/22/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
26.....8/29/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
27.....9/05/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
28.....9/12/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
29.....9/19/2007.......216.....81........38.......19
30.....9/26/2007.......222.....75........38.......19
31....10/03/2007......219.....78........38.......19






Rich

Back from the Dead

The fever is gone, the throat is ok, still a little congested and blowing my nose, but all in all, I'm think I'm back from the dead. What a horrible little bug I caught. I did walk 30 minutes on Thursday and it TOTALLY WIPED me out. I think I pushed it earlier than I should have. I should have rested. I don't think I'm going to start the walking again until I feel 100%. I am back on YOAD though. Thanks to everyone for all your positive thoughts.

Rich

What Can I Say?

Ok, What can I say? Here's the excuses.. I was/am sick. I haven't walked in a 6 days, I ate comfort food, I drank a lot of fluids, I didn't do any strength exercises. As a result.. (bowing head in embarrassment) I gained 6 pounds. Can you believe it? Now, if I got all the physics right, I would have to eat 21,600 more calories (3,600 calories = 1 pound) than I burned off to gain 6 pounds. IMPOSSIBLE. That would be the equivilent of 108 (9 dozen) Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnuts.

My body is out of wack with this cold I have, I'm drinking a lot of fluid, but don't think I'm going to the bathroom that much. What I think is happening is my body is holding on to fluid. A natural response to having a cold? A response to cold medicine? I don't know. But what I do know is that 21,600 calories?? NO way. My waist is still the same (38").



So with that said, I'm feeling a little better. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill today and sweated a LOT more than usual. I have been running to the bathroom more often and I'm getting off the cold medicine. It will be interesting next week for sure. Which reminds me. Next week's weigh day will be skewed. I have a colonoscopy scheduled next Wednesday, so Tuesday will just be clear fluids and that wonderful 'cleaning out' medicine, so next Wednesday's numbers will be affected by that. No pictures this week. Nothing to smile about.


Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16
20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
21.....7/25/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
22.....8/01/2007.......231.....67........41.......16
23.....8/08/2007.......222.....75........39.......18
24.....8/15/2007.......221.....76........38.5....18.5
25.....8/22/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
26.....8/29/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
27.....9/05/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
28.....9/12/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
29.....9/19/2007.......216.....81........38.......19
30.....9/26/2007.......222.....75........38.......19



Rich

Reports of my Death have been greatly exaggerated

I'm not dead yet!! Getting better though. I made a big pot of chicken soup (whole chicken, celery, onion, peas, corn, green beans). Seems like it is YOAD approved. I havent' been walking and I know I'll pay the price on the scale tomorrow. I haven't been doing too much of anything except laying in bed, drinking and eating. But that's ok. Heal my body first then continue with the weight loss.

Thanks for ALL the positive thoughts.

Rich

Oh, the hoodia pops, I suck on one when I get a sugar craving or get a little hungry. Somedays I eat 3-4 other days none. They actually help. I just bought a new batch from ebay. I paid .62 cents each, but I had to buy multiple bags to average that price.

The Plague

Ok, I'm sure it's not the plague, but I feel like death has marched over me and is coming back for seconds. No energy, sore throat, draining sinuses, etc. I'm expecting green pea soup to come spewing any second. wait, hold on..... ok, it's safe, false alarm. Needless to say, I haven't been walking. In fact, the only thing I have been doing is laying around doing nothing for 4 days now. Blah.

So how's your weekend?

Peace,

Rich

It's About Time

F I N A L L Y ! ! ! I have broken through that horrible plateau of 218. My official weight today is 216!! 2 1 6 !!! I can hardly believe IT!!!

But wait, there's more!! With the arrival of being 216.. Drum ROLL PLEASE......

I'M NO LONGER OBESE!!!

After using the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator, I am now grouped in the OVERWEIGHT category. I'm NO LONGER in the OBESE category!!!! That bit of information hasn't quite set in yet. NO LONGER OBESE! OMG. Can anyone really be this excited about being overweight?? YEP YEP AND YEP!!

Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost

Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a

1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1

2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5

3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2

4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4

5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5

6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5

7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6

8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7

9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8

10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9

11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10

12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10

13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5

14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5

15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13

16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13

17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14

18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14

19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16

20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16

21.....7/25/2007.......229.....68........41.......16

22.....8/01/2007.......231.....67........41.......16

23.....8/08/2007.......222.....75........39.......18

24.....8/15/2007.......221.....76........38.5....18.5

25.....8/22/2007.......218.....79........38.......19

26.....8/29/2007.......218.....79........38.......19

27.....9/05/2007.......218.....79........38.......19

28.....9/12/2007.......218.....79........38.......19

29.....9/19/2007.......216.....81........38.......19

it.

Biggest Loser Tonight

Don't forget your weekly dose of The Biggest Loser tonight!

Yummy Fajitas Tacos

This was so simple to make, I'm sure it's out there somewhere, but I thought it up myself and it was quick, and easy and oh sooo yummy.

Slice 1 BELL PEPPER and put it in a gallon sized ziploc bag.
Slice 1/2 YELLOW ONION and put it in the ziploc bag.
Add 1 TBSP. of Olive Oil and Seal Bag, shake it up a little, mix it around and set it aside.

Broil Chicken Breasts (Broil whatever amount you want, but at least 1) and slice into slices and set aside

Prepare the Tomato-Salsamole on Page 302 in the YOAD book and set aside.

Add the Green Pepper/Onion Mixture from the ziploc bag to a hot skillet and saute until the unions are limp and set aside.

Take 1 Whole Wheat Tortilla and put a little bit of Olive Oil on 1 side with a dash of salt. Place oil side down on a baking sheet and oil and salt the top side. Place under a broiler until the tortilla starts turning brown. When the top turns brown, flip the tortilla over and brown the other side.

When the second side of the tortilla is brown, remove from the broiler and add some chicken breast slices to 1/2 the torilla, add the some of the onion/bell pepper mixture to 1/2 the tortilla, add some tomato-salsamole to 1/2 of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half to form a taco and MUNCH AWAY!

Let me know what you think if you try it. It filled me up!!

As Always,

Take Care, Eat Well.

Rich

PS. Dr. OZ will be on Oprah tomorrow (Monday, 9/17/2007)

Friday's Menu Numbers

I put in my menu from Friday into Sparkpeople and this is what it spit out.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE!!



Kinda looks to me, I'm right in my zone. Comments?

Rich

Monday Blues

Well, it's Monday again for me. (I work Friday thru Tuesday). I woke up with a new sense of determination to break through this hideous brick wall I've hit.

I put on a batch of oatmeal in the crockpot last night, so I woke up with warm, steel cut, cinnamon oatmeal. yummm. I did my hour on the treadmill and did the intermediate YOAD work out. For snack, I had Activia, for Lunch I had baked Talipia with Brown rice. For dinner tonight at work, I've premade my Salad (Romaine, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Smoked Turkey Breast, Feta, Craisins). I've had 2 Fuze drinks and I'm drinking gobs of water. I will spend 2 of my 30 minute breaks at work tonight, walking the parking lot.

Like I said, Monday Blues.

Rich

State Fair

I went to the New Mexico State Fair today. It is held near downtown Albuquerque at the state fair grounds. And let me tell you, I was bad.

Every year I have fried cheesecake. I know, I know, it's probably the worst thing I could eat while being on YOAD. I know, I know, "Fried Cheesecake?" Yeah, they take a frozen piece of cheesecake, batter it up, stick a stick in it and set that puppy in the deep fat frier. Then they sprinkly powdered sugar on it and pour some chocolate or raspberry sauce on it.!! I know, I know, you're thinking 'eeeew'.. but let me tell you, I crave it every year during the State Fair. And come HELL or High Water or YOAD, I'M HAVING MY YEARLY PIECE OF FRIED CHEESECAKE!!. Just one piece, just once a year.

I also had my annual "Navaho Taco". (It's fried bread (think big sopapilla), with red chili sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, ground beef, beans.) Besides for the Fried Bread, the Navaho Taco isn't that Un-YOAD. All in all, I had a fun day. I walked my 30 minutes on my treadmill before I went, and walked 4 hours while at the fair. (Except when I sat to eat my Fried Cheesecake and Navaho Taco (at different sittings, eating them together would just be gross)).

Anyway, I'm back home and my muscles ache. I guess that's a good thing. A combination of my 4.5 hours of walking today and my Intermediate YOAD workout yesterday (Shannon, I am too 'intermediate'!!). Tomorrow I'm back strictly on YOAD and on Sunday, I go back to the gym!! Damn this 218 roadblock. Come hell or high water, or Fried Cheesecake, I'm getting down to 197!!

Rich

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

The good news.. I didn't gain any weight.
The bad news.. I didn't lose any weight.

When I break through this horrible plateau I'm stuck at, I think I will do cartwheels!!

Week.....Date.......Weight.....Lost.....Waist....Lost
Start.2/28/2007.......297.....n/a.......57......n/a
1.......3/07/2007.......289......8.........56........1
2.......3/14/2007.......280.....17........55.5.....1.5
3.......3/21/2007.......275.....22........55........2
4.......3/28/2007.......274.....23........53........4
5.......4/04/2007.......271.....26........52........5
6.......4/11/2007.......267.....30........52........5
7.......4/18/2007.......265.....32........51........6
8.......4/25/2007.......262.....35........50........7
9.......5/02/2007.......259.....38........48........8
10.....5/09/2007.......254.....43........47........9
11.....5/16/2007.......253.....44........46.......10
12.....5/23/2007.......249.....48........46.......10
13.....5/30/2007.......247.....50........45.5....11.5
14.....6/06/2007.......241.....56........44.5....12.5
15.....6/13/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
16.....6/21/2007.......240.....57........44.......13
17.....6/27/2007.......237.....60........43.......14
18.....7/04/2007.......233.....64........43.......14
19.....7/11/2007.......230.....67........41.......16
20.....7/18/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
21.....7/25/2007.......229.....68........41.......16
22.....8/01/2007.......231.....67........41.......16
23.....8/08/2007.......222.....75........39.......18
24.....8/15/2007.......221.....76........38.5....18.5
25.....8/22/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
26.....8/29/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
27.....9/05/2007.......218.....79........38.......19
28.....9/12/2007.......218.....79........38.......19

Rich

The Biggest Loser

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

It's on TONIGHT, NBC!!! WATCH IT!!!

Yummy Find

I ran across these Nabisco Garden Harvest Toasted Chips - Vegetable Medley in the store yesterday.

I read the ingredients and nutritional information and everything looks YOAD approved. These things are down right Yummy. Can some of you experts check it out and let me know what you think?

Rich

WOW! Such Support

I read everyone's comments and thought how lucky I was to have such great support from everyone. Elizabeth said, "You are totally my inspiration". Chris said, "...congrats on another week of keeping the weight off! " Orlando said "Hang in there bud!"

I really appreciate your kind words of encouragement. From the amount of support from you guys, I'd have to say that YOU guys are MY motivation!!

Chris asks, "Is there anything you can 'tweak' on the diet at this point of the game?" I guess the only thing I can tweak is exercise. I'm eating around the 1500 calories a day. Based on what everyone says, if I go below that, I'll activate that dreaded 'starvation' mode and complicate things even more. But I'm already doing an hour day of exercising. How much of my day can I devote to walking my ass off (literally!) lol.


Dara asks "Did the green tea pills you once mentioned help? Do you still take them?" This will fall under the 'I don't know' catagory. I still take the green tea pills, but since I've not lost any weight in the last 3 week, I don't know if the 'fat burning' part of them is just hype. I do believe in the benefits of green tea though and will continue taking them for that benefit alone. I also drink Lipton's Diet Green Tea in a bottle. It tastes great! I don't know what to say about your plateau, I'm in the same boat. If you find the magic answer, let us ALL know! Congrads your 20 pounds and 5 inches lost!!

Orlando says, ".....and she went back to a pick-n-stick for breakfast designed to boost her metabolism. " What is 'pick-n-stick for breakfast'???

Elizabeth said... "Keep hangin in there, friend!" I am SO doing that!! I've come too far and worked too hard not to.

Look, I know plateaus SUCK!! We all work so hard and expect some sort of payoff come weigh day and when you step on the scale and there's no payoff we feel cheated. Plateaus are part of the process. I've said it before, this is NOT a race. There is no contest for me to get down to a certain weight by a certain date. This is a new lifestyle change for me. I WILL get to my goal, I will stay motivated, I WILL succeed. Failure is NOT an option. And with great support from friends like you guys, it will make these little bumps in this road a lot more tolerable. Thanks guys!

Rich