Problem Shopper (Day 180)

This post is for Thursday February 11th, 2010.

Today I went shopping near Atlanta for a few things we need for our trip to Costa Rica. My mother was kind enough to pick me up on the way to the gym and drive us shopping as well. I was looking for some heavy duty insect repellent that needed to have a high percentage of DEET. I found some 40% DEET at the REI in Kennesaw. I also found a pair of $100 sandals I was going to buy, until I found a pair on clearance for $30 I liked even better! My problems with shopping began last week at the Tanger Outlet mall in MB. I realized after we got home with some of the clothes I bought that I still think I have to buy XL shirts. I can still wear them, they're just really big now. Well today I bought size large shirts, but I found some REI specialized boxers for travel (they dry very quickly and you can potentially wear them for days if necessary) and without thinking I bought a size large. Tonight I looked at the size chart and realized the large are for waist sizes 36-38. They'll fall off of me. Luckily we've gotta go back this weekend to find a day pack/back pack for Kim, so I'll return them then and get size medium. It's so odd shopping now. I can't seem to make myself buy smaller clothes. It just doesn't seem possible to be buying size MEDIUM in anything. Children wear size medium, not grown, 198 pound men. Crazy.



Kim began her new job today and has already sent me a text telling me how much she loves it. Fantastic, 'cause we both hated her last job. Since Kim was at work I trained with my mother today. When we got to the gym we ran into one of our friends we used to train with who I haven't seen in about 4 months. She jumped off of her treadmill and ran over to give me a hug. She then went on to say that I'd lost an entire person. She's close, I've lost a little less than she weighs. On that same thought I'm gonna share a portion of an email my mother forwarded to me a couple of weeks ago. I had run into another family friend I hadn't seen in months and she sent the following message to my mom.

"OMG Joyce...saw Zane after I saw you at Kroger....I know you had said he had lost weight....but my goodness....he needs to send nutrisystems before and after pictures...I swear he could be like Jared for Subway....really just amazing....he is GORGEOUS....what a doll...know you are proud and rightfully so...love b****"

Pretty cool message I thought!

Back to today's gym experience and cardio. The cardio began with 30 minutes on the spin bike this morning, followed by 30 minutes of running on the treadmill as soon as we got to the gym. Mom and I trained back after the treadmill. 3 sets of pull downs, 3 sets of t-bar rows, and 3 sets of seated rows. I was tired before we even began the workout, so 9 sets wore us out. I did a set of pull-ups at then end of the workout, and they were awful. I think I did about 7-8 reps, but I was so tired I was shaking as I pulled myself up. They are so much harder to do at the end of the workout! Tonight I got in another 30 minutes on the spin bike after wimping out on my second ride last night. I did sleep better last night though. I don't know if it was from laying of the cardio or the sleeping pill. Bet it was the pill (1/2 pill actually)



Pretty good food day today, but while at my parents' house I was left unattended in the kitchen and ate some PEANUT BUTTER, and a few different nuts. PB is so damn good. It should be a controlled substance. Breakfast was granola cereal, yogurt, and a banana. Morning snack was a kashi bar. Lunch was a black bean burger and pasta with beef. Afternoon snack was another kashi bar. Dinner was a large salad and spaghetti.

We learned today that Kim doesn't have to be in her office until around 11 AM each day (other than during training), so we'll be able to train early in the day and avoid the testosterone fest that is our gym after 5PM. We're both delighted with this development. I used to train late in the evenings, but then I grew up and developed a hatred of teenagers and men who strut around like peacocks, bang their chests and scream at mirrors. Our gym is weird at night. Reminds me of the old song, "Freaks Come Out At Night." All this coming from a guy who used to train with crazy bodybuilders.

BodyBugg Info:
Calories In: 1500
Calories Burned: 3500
Calorie Deficit: 2000

My personal blog is here. My Flickr page/photostream is here. & finally this year's photo project (daily photo log) is here.

To Tired to Spin (Day 178)

This post is for Wednesday February 10th, 2010.

Today began with an early rise to take the Pug out and then hit the bike. We also needed to get to the gym earlier today so I could go to the dentist this afternoon and Kim could run some errands before beginning her new job tomorrow. We only did cardio at the gym to make sure we had enough time to eat before I had to be at the dentist, so today ended up being a cardio only day. By the end of the day I was so exhausted I decided to skip the final 30 minutes on the bike and rest. My legs still feel tired, so hopefully I'll rest well tonight and feel more recovered tomorrow.

My trip to the dentist went better than I expected. I don't have any major issues (no diseases, etc.), just multiple cavities that I'll have worked on over the next few months. That's what I get for skipping dentist visits for the past decade (and drinking Diet Dr. Peppers like a fiend, which I quit over a year ago). The next item I have on the calendar to look forward to (other than Valentine's Day with Kim) is a photo workshop in Atlanta next week. I can't wait to spend an entire day doing nothing but photography with someone who could shoot me under the table using an iPhone. Maybe I'll even pic up a few ideas on how to get a good sunset portrait of Kim while we're in Costa Rica.



Good food day again today. NS all day plus about 3 different granola bars. Too many bars I know, but I've been hungry this evening & I had left out all of the bread from my meals today. I think I had about 1800 calories on the day (including a skinny vanilla late tonight, trying to rally and stay awake past 9PM).



Tomorrow is back to the bike in the AM, treadmill and training (with my Mom) at the gym, and then off to Atlanta with my mom to look for a few things we need for the vacation. I'm shopping for good hiking shoes, sandals, waterproof socks, and a day-pack/waist pack for Kim.

BodyBugg Info:
Calories In: ~1800
Calories Burned: 3200
Calorie Deficit: 1400

My Legs Feel Like Kim Has Beaten Me With A Bat (Day 178)

This post is for Tuesday, February 9th, 2010.

I've found the past few days on NS to be so easy again. I'm not over thinking things. I'm not trying to add in extra protein or swap out veggies for veggie burgers. I'm eating more salads again. By doing these things I've easily kept my calorie count to around 1500-1600. For a few weeks (during the great Peanut Butter Problem of 2010) I continuously ate around 1800-2000 per day (still losing weight each week) but I was always hungry. Adding the salads and sticking with my old veggies seems to have helped with the hunger. I miss the PB though.

Since taking most of last week off from training while out of town, cardio this week has been a pain. No really, I'm hurting. My legs feel like Kim has been beating me with a ball bat while I'm sleeping. I'm not bothered during the spinning or while running, but afterward I'm dying. Walking upstairs HURTS. It feels like I'm training legs every day! I've got to make sure NOT to take any more extended breaks from my cardio, even while on vacations. I was so tired from training this afternoon that I had to get an espresso (a double mind you) when we arrived at the grocery store. As we were checking out I was still tired and knew I had to drive about 40 minutes to get home (we were in another town and stopped by a larger grocery store hoping to find arugula, with no luck) so I bought a sugar free Red Bull and a 4 hour energy shot drink. I don't think they helped at all. It kinda sucks getting re-acclimated to training.

Cardio today was 30 minutes on the spin bike this morning, 30 minutes of running on the treadmill at the gym, and 30 more minutes on the bike this evening. I'm running a little over 3 miles per day now and biking around 17 miles. Maybe by this summer I'll be able to run 4-5 miles in about 40 minutes each day. That will be a good goal to work towards. Our workout today was shoulders. 3 sets of hammer strength military presses (I was so weak at the end of my last set I couldn't even raise my arms up to grab onto the rack to help raise myself up, my arms just would not go above my shoulders!), 2 sets of lateral raises, 2 sets of upright rows, 2 sets of shoulder shrugs, and 2 sets of rear delts.



Today was an "on" plan day with food. Breakfast was lowfat granola cereal (my cat kept trying to knock over the bowl so he could drink the milk), yogurt, and an apple. Morning snack was another apple and more yogurt. Lunch was a salad and red beans and rice. My afternoon snack was chocolate crunch bar. Dinner was macaroni and cheese, cauliflower with cheese, a salad, bread, and a Kashi Pumpkin Pie bar. Dessert was a Special K granola bar (I'm kinda on a granola kick right now).

Tomorrow I have the delight of going to the dentist for the first time in years. It's been at least 7 years, if not 10. So long I can't remember when I went last. I've never had any issues with my teeth (I expect that to change tomorrow) and I guess I got busy and became unconcerned about going. Hopefully I won't have multiple mouth diseases and require anything more than a few fillings. The dentist I found to go to offers the new laser dentistry thing. Supposedly he will use a laser and water instead of a drill. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

BodyBugg Info:
Calories In: 1500
Calories Burned: 3500
Calorie Deficit: 2000

Back Home & Back To The Gym (Day 177)

This post is for Monday, February 8th, 2010.

Kim and I (and the Pug) returned home yesterday just in time to watch the Super Bowl. We've had a wonderful few days away from the diet and training. My foot feels like it has healed up nicely, so I'll return to the treadmill as usual today. We ate our way through Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas last week, so much so that I told Kim I was sick of food and couldn't wait to get back to my NS! I gained a few pounds, but I'll get rid of it all by next week sometime. The big news is we now have 19 days to get ready for our "real" vacation to Costa Rica at the end of the month! 100% on plan between now and then (should be easy since I can't stand the thought of food right now).

While in MB we had lots of seafood, soups (The.Best.She Crab Soup.Ever.) meats (I ate at one of the Brazilian Steak Houses), oysters, pomme frites, Indian, and I finally fulfilled my craving for nasty deep fried salty fish. I used the 8 hour drive home to wean myself off of real foods and back onto NS (I did eat a Subway sandwich on the drive as well). I had been craving (fiending) for lots of the meals we ate, so I don't feel bad at all for enjoying the break. If you're interested in reading about all of our adventures in MB, food reviews, and lots of pics, check out my personal blog here.



Cardio this morning was 30 minutes on the spin bike, 30 minutes on the treadmill (jogging) and then 30 more minutes on the spin bike this evening. Our workout today consisted of 3 sets of incline dumbbell presses, 3 sets of flat dumbbell presses, and 3 sets of push-ups. Fast, hard, and then get out of the gym!

Good food day today. NS only. Breakfast was a cinnimaon swirl bar, apple, and yogurt. Morning snack was more yogurt and a kashi bar. Lunch was cheesy homestyle potatoes with a veggie burger and arugula salad. Afternoon snack today was a coconut almond bar. Dinner was a small amount of left over rice and chana sag, arugula salad, cauliflower with cheese, and lasagna. Dessert was a white chocolate chunk cookie.



I've noticed today that after taking about 6 days off from running/jogging/spinning, my legs are exhausted. That's what I get for taking a break, I guess.

BodyBugg Info:
Calories In: 1601
Calories Burned: 3583
Calorie Deficit: 1982

Still at the Beach

Hi everyone. I've got a second with internet access so I thought I'd get a quick post uploaded. We're still in Myrtle Beach have a relaxing time. I've used the opportunity to rest a slight tendon aggravation on my right foot, thus I've only run once while we've been here. That plus the fact that the treadmill in the community center is scary made the decision not to train very easy.

We've been eating wonderful meals and having a very nice time this week. Today we're headed to Wilmington NC for the afternoon and then tomorrow we're headed back home. It'll be great to get back on plan and return to the normal gym routine.

While here on our trip we finished the final preparations for our trip to Costa Rica at the end of the month. We have been planning this for a long time and got the OK from Kim's new job a couple of days ago. We're not getting to stay quite as long as we wanted, but it should be a great trip. So I'll have about 3 weeks of time to be back on plan and train before heading out again!

I had a wonderful shopping experience yesterday. I was shopping for some Columbia nylon type hiking shorts/pants and I had to buy size Medium! I've NEVER worn a medium before as an adult. I was shocked!

Anyway, just wanted to get a post up so no one would think I'd fallen of the face of the Earth. Below are a few pics from our day at BrookGreen Gardens. What a wonderful place.



And finally a slide show of all the photos I shot a the Gardens and Zoo.

On The Road Again (Day 170)

Morning All!

Monday was a great workout day, terrible eating day.

The workout first. We trained chest very quickly around lunch. 3 sets of flat bench dumbbell presses, 3 sets of push-ups with our feet on a raised platform, and 3 sets of dips. Before the workout Kim did 30 minutes on the treadmill while I split my time between a fast pace on the elliptical and 15 minutes of running on the treadmill. The only other exercise of the day was about a mile walk with Jumping Jack Flash and 30 minutes on the bike.

Food was terrible. I decided we'd have lunch at the local Asian/Eastern Buffet. Lots of sushi to start with (I know, I've always said never eat sushi at a buffet, but it was good), then peanut chicken, shrimp, etc. Ate way to much. Last night I even ate some Pizza Rolls. Loved 'em. Why did I eat like a fool? I wanted to. I needed to. I've now lost 90 pounds from my all time heaviest. Tuesday is a new day and I'll be right back on plan then.

Finally, Kim, the Pug, and I are hitting the road for a few days. Posts may be sporadic at best for the rest of the week. We won't have reliable internet access while at the condo (I have to steal it from some of the neighbor's unprotected wireless networks). I'll post when possible. We do have access to a gym at the condo now, so we'll be able to train and run while there. I plan on eating NS except for one meal each day. We'll see how that goes.....

Weigh In and Another Sunday at the Gym (Day 169)

This post is for Sunday, January 31st 2010.

Today was a good day after the popcorn incident and subsequent chocolate debacle from Saturday night. Good "on" plan all day, 3 different cardio sessions, and a great ab workout.

Our workout (& entire day for that matter) was hobbled by our crazy sore legs. My hamstrings are wrecked. We did 12 sets for abs. 3 sets of weighted hammer strength crunches, 3 sets of incline crunches, 3 sets of hanging leg lifts, and 3 sets of V-sits. Fast & good reps each set. Cardio at the gym was 30 minutes of jogging on the treadmill at various speeds. The rest of the cardio for the day was 2 30 minute sessions on the spin bike at home.

Food was all NS for the day. I maybe added in a Kashi bar as my morning snack. Dinner was another thick crust pizza with veggie chorizo and an arugula salad. Delicious.



Time to hit the gym and then pack. Kim, the Pug, and I are headed to Myrtle Beach for a little bit. We need to check on the condo and make sure it's still there. I think we're gonna meet a long time friend for dinner one evening as well, assuming we can get the timing worked out. I'm taking my running shoes with me this time. No slacking off from cardio or training while we're gone.

Finally, I weighed in this morning and using my new average of WI's from both scales (both show a loss) I'm calling today's weight 198. That's another pound lost. About 8 to go!. 3 more and I've lost 80 on NS!