Day 13

Reward Day!

Nothing special about the day except for the reward meal.  I went to a Korean Barbecue and had grilled pork and shrimp with lots of roasted garlic and vegetables.  I skipped the rice figuring I could have more pork and I did.  I've realized that this diet, and probably all diets, are easier to do eating alone or with someone who is also on the same diet.  Eating is a social activity for me and I get caught up with eating more than normal, especially when the meal is with good friends.  I need to practice a little more self restraint the next time on reward night.  The diet gives you plenty of food to eat so you really shouldn't have to stuff your face like I did on the reward night.  I am walking double tomorrow to make up for my extra feast.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl, this will be the first one in a long time where I am not eating or drinking at a party...and I really don't miss it!

Day 12

Chili Day!!!

That's right, the chili is incredible and only takes 10 minutes to make.  Lunch was a little different this time.  Last friday I was on the ski slopes with my tuna/onion on wheat english muffins which I fell on and completely squashed.  This time I made 3 half sandwiches and broiled them and they turned out excellent.  The dinner was chili as usual, one suggestion is to use the canned mexican tomatoes with habaneros if you find them, much spicier and tastier.  I got back on the walking thing today for 45 minutes BEFORE dinner.   I think I've mentioned that its better to exercise THEN eat immediately after to maximize the protein going to your muscles, I've definitely noticed a difference when I eat after exercising I feel better.

Tomorrow is cheat meal day, which I'd rather call Reward meal.  I'm thinking of going to Korean BBQ at Soot Bull Jeep, which I call "The Piggy High" because after you eat there...you are drunk on pork and garlic.  Its all protein and vegetables so its actually pretty healthy, I don't think I'll drink again this week.

Peace out.

 

Day 11

This was the stolen day from last week when I travelled.  The breakfast is the most filling of any days and tasty.  Lunch was great too, a fake "no guilt" BLT, however...let me get one thing clear...TURKEY BACON IS NOT BACON!!!  There is nothing baconey about turkey bacon!  (And I don't care if baconey isn't a word, it should be)  I think this meal might go better with canadian bacon but its not my diet so I'll deal with it. The sandwich was pretty good and filling so I was happy.  The cheesesteak sandwich I made with chicken since I don't do cow.  It was excellent!  Very filling and extremely flavorful.  

I've really started to appreciate the taste of vegetables, even onions which were never a favorite of mine.  I've also cooked all my meals for the last 11 days.  I eat out about 8 days a week so that is a major accomplishment.  I'm a pretty good cook, but the recipes are so simple to prepare anybody can do them, the only difficult things to make have been omelets and stir fry things but that's because I don't have any fat free spray.  

 I think I'll be under 190 lbs by the weekend and I feel great.  I'm not tired or in a bad mood and I feel especially alert.  I think my booze gland might be broken!  I am looking forward to drinking some wine again soon, but I don't think I'll drink for my cheat meal this weekend...but you never know.   I didn't really set a goal for how much weight I wanted to lose, but I want a flatter toned stomach.  I think about 10 more lbs will be perfect, then I'll start working on building muscle through weights, yoga and pilates.  The only exercise I am doing now is cardio, although I haven't walked the last 2 days.  I will exercise much this weekend.

Day 10

Another easy day for the diet.  I really like the tuna/guac sandwich for lunch and the stir fry for dinner is also excellent.  While making my lunch at the work kitchen I made an extra tuna/guac sandwich for someone at my office  they loved it too.  So it isn't just me liking the food.  I didn't get to walk tonite... I was out at a very cold club seeing a band and a friend said I was probably cold because I had lost almost 5 lbs of body fat.  Could this be true?  Tomorrow I get to have all the meals I couldn't have last thursday because I was traveling.

Until tomorrow! 

Day 9

Breakfast was much better using a tomato, the omelet was not as dry.  I probably could have toasted the bread (and next week I will) because the tomato had so much juice.  

I've learned that organic fruits and vegetables are so much better tasting than normally grown stuff, with the exception of celery which for some reason the organic type tastes bitter.

The rest of the meals today were great.  The chicken tonight is one of my favorite meals and I made it last week, so I'm walking my hour then microwaving the meal.

I got a text from my friend Frano telling me that Dave Zinczenko, the guy who wrote the book "The Abs Diet" who is also the editor of Men's Health, was on Oprah today talking about the book.  No, I was not asked to be a guest...an oversight I am sure.   Oddly enough Frano and his sister Mary went to school with Dave in PA!  I think I'll try to befriend him on Facebook.

Carpe Diem!

Day 8

The second go around with the meals should be easier.  All the meals were tasty, EVEN THE MEATBALLS!!!  The onions weren't that noticable.  I had frozen  the leftovers and they tasted great, a couple more onoins would have ben ine.  I don''t know if I'm used to them now or if the flavor lessened over the past week but they really were tasty.

I just read today that Dwayne "The Rock " Johnson did The Abs Diet too.  He actually endorsed it on the website.  

BACON TOMORROW!!! Okay, its Canadian bacon, but I'll take it!

Did not exercise my hour walk tonite.

Stats after 1 week

                         Start         Week 1

Weight:           196.4 lb        192.6

Body fat:           18.4%       17.0 %

Total Body Water : 53.3%       54.5 %

Bone Mass:           7.8       7.8

DCI:                 3757       3738

Metabolic Age:        31       27

So I lost almost 4 lbs!  Supposedly my body fat went down, my body water percent went up and my daily calorie intake went down very slightly.  My metabolic age went down 4 years!  Call me Benjamin Button I guess but my hair is still going grey.

Day 7, 1 week done!

For some reason last night's blog didn't post so here it is again.

Today was a travel day, but I prepared everything in the morning.  The breakfast was a little strange: a whole wheat pita stuffed with lettuce/turkey/lowfat cream cheese - but it WAS filling.  Lunch was a little blah but also filling.  Dinner was this kielbasa dish which I screwed up by putting double the amount of tomato sauce in, but it still tasted okay. It was really sweet tasting but I looked at the ingredients and there was very little sugar in the meal.  

I really like the low fat ice cream as a snack and will probably stick with it after the diet ends.  It's amazing how much your body gets used to sugar.  Now that I haven't had much for a week besides what is naturally in the meals I can really taste flavors better.  Also, eating 6 times a day you don't need to eat as much.  I'm never really hungry.  The portions are all I need.  I thought 1 cup of ice cream as a snack wouldn't satisfy me but it totally does.  The morning smoothies completely fill me for breakfast, the snacks come at the perfect time too, dinner portions might seem small but they also are just right.  I've walked each day except for wednesday at least an hour. I learned to walk BEFORE a meal and to eat within 30 minutes after exercise.  I wish I could walk before breakfast, I would benefit most from drinking the oatmeal/protein smoothie right after a workout when my body would absorb it best.

Turkey much too oniony meatballs tomorrow night which I am not looking forward to.

One week down, five to go!

Day 6, Cheat meal day!

Pretty easy day for the diet.  Breakfast smoothie, leftover turkey chili for lunch.  By the way the chili recipe is awesome.  I made it in about 10 minutes.  My sister, her boyfriend  and my friend ate all the leftover chili, they couldn't believe something that tasted that good was part of the diet.  The diet rewards you with a reward dinner meal on the 6th day of the meal week, which includes alcohol if you want.  Quite a few of my friends called and asked what I was going to drink with my crazy big meal.  Well, I had a few slices of great brick oven pizza that had no cheese with lots of vegetables as a topping but NO wine or alcohol!  I really didn't feel like having any, maybe next saturday that will change. The dinners are so good, except for Monday's turkey and onion and onion meatballs meal, that I just ate a pretty healthy meal.  I feel great and have lots of energy.  Tomorrow is a travel day and this time I'm ready, I have all meals prepared including the snacks that I like so much.  I made it through a ski trip without drinking or binge eating!!!  Wait...the bars are still open for 2 1/2 more hours!  (not a chance.)

Day 5

Today was a pretty easy day diet wise.  Great smoothie for breakfast and last snack.  Tuna and onions, still a little onoiny for me, for lunch.  Turkey chili for dinner.  

I Skied all day in fresh powder and burned tons of calories.  I only fell 34 times, once magnificently in front of a  crowd at the ski lift.  I only ran over one little kid and he DEFINITELY shouldn't have been in my way, although if he had had ski poles it might have been a fair fight.  In preparing for saturday's meal, I was quite excited and surprised to see that the diet says I can eat AND drink whatever I want...including alcohol!  It's a reward meal for saturday night for following the diet all week.  It's in the diet on the web page if you don't believe me.   I still don't think I'll drink or go crazy eating pizza or something like that, I'll probably have chicken and vegetables.  The diet is pretty easy to follow and I haven't been hungry, so why stop.   Sunday's a travel day so this time I'll be prepared.  Back to the slopes tomorrow for one more day of skiing, unless we're snowed in.  The weather calls for 10-18"snow from saturday until sunday.

 

Day 4 - Hell

Okay sports fans, today officially sucked!  I found out how hard it is to diet while traveling. (spell check says traveling only has one "l" is that right?)  I flew to Vail today and the diet could have easily fallen apart. 

Frustration leads to temptation.  

Breakfast was fine, and I figured I could get my morning snack at the airport... nope.  So no snack.  (That's fine...)  No one had what I needed for lunch so I settled for 2 pieces of romaine lettuce and a small chunk of chicken, then had to miss snack again. Now I'm a little irritated.  Dinner was also improvised and missing several main ingredients...mainly taste.  On top of everything, my friends and sister all drank this delicious looking microbrew beer. I know... wah, wah wah! 

The lesson learned is pre-prepare ALL meals if you are traveling. 

This is the first day I have been hungry and its because I did not follow the meal plan.  Instead of cheating or substituting I just went without certain ingredients.  I am now going on my mile high walk for an hour to the grocery store (in 26 degree weather) and am extremely psyched for for my late night snack of 2 frigging teaspoons of peanut butter and a cup of low fat ice cream.  Pathetic.

Tomorrow I hit the slopes.  I am pre-packing ALL meals.  

Peace out.

DAY 3

So far, this is my favorite eating day.  Breakfast smoothie tasted great, the lunch guacamole/tuna sandwich was awesome and I already made the stir fry (with chicken- not beef) so I know that it is tasty.  

I've lost 2 lbs in 2 days!  I'd guess that's because I haven't had any wine or alcohol and also because I've done a 1 hour brisk walk both days, and will continue every day.

I have not been hungry yet.  Its been hard to eat all the food, the exercise definitely helps burn through it.

Here's a question.

How can I lose weight while I sleep?  I weighed myself the last 3 nights before bed and then when I woke up.  I lost around .4 lbs each night.  No, I didn't wake up and use the restroom during the night and I haven't wet the bed either in case you're wondering.  The only logical conclusion I can come up with is drool.  I must drool .4 lbs each night.  Isn't that a sexy thought. If anyone else knows, please let me know.

I'm heading to Vail this weekend to ski.  I will most certainly miss eating at my good friend's Italian restaurant, voted one of the best in Denver, where he always has fantastic food, wine and port.  I shall also miss drinking brandy and beer on the slopes with my friends and sister.  I think the altitude and extra exercise will have an effect and help as well, I always lose weight in higher altitudes.   

3 days down, 39 to go!

Day 2

Wow, 2 whole days!  Let's see...breakfast.  I learned today that whole wheat bread toasted is really dry and tastes like crap.  Next time I'll eat the bread untoasted.  Also, an omelette isn't an omelette without cheese so that was a little disappointing but I got to have Canadian Bacon!

The lunch salad was huge and filling, lots of vegetables.  

Dinner chicken was fantastic, but a little small on the portion. 

I messed up on the order of the snacks again! 

Overall still a good diet, there's enough food to constantly keep you full.  I made the first 2 nights dinners and froze the leftovers.  Every time you cook a dinner you make 4 portions so you really only have to cook the first week, then you have dinners already prepared for the next 3 weeks!  By the way  I don't even miss the wine. (lie)

I'm keeping track of my scale numbers and will post them once a week.  Eventually I'd like to put up "before" and "after" pictures but not just yet...I don't want to give anyone nightmares.

I'd also like to thank Dave for pointing out that I can still go to Crustaceans but only have the garlic snap peas instead of the garlic noodles and crab that I love.  Oh how nice, Dave.

 

Day 1

Today:  3 meals, 3 snacks, 3 mile walk.

I shopped last night and bought food for I think at least 3 weeks. $265

I am substituting the 1% milk with almond milk because I don't drink milk.

2 hours in and I've already screwed up!  I ate my afternoon snack instead of my morning snack.  I don't think this is a big deal.

The breakfast smoothie is pretty good if you like oatmeal, which you can taste when drinking. It's very filling.  I made the oatmeal in the microwave and it didn't cool so I had a warm smoothie.  I think next time I'll make the oatmeal the night before and leave in the blender in the refrigerator.

I forgot the apple at lunch, so I just ate it now at 5:45 pm.  The diet encourages fruits and vegetables, so I don't think this is a big deal either.  

I've been stuffed all day.  I expect to be hungry on a diet, but not so far.

I'm going for my 3 mile walk and home to make dinner.  

Okay, the turkey meatballs with onions were reallly oniony.  If you don't like onions this meal might be tough.  I used a maui sweet onion.

Day 1 is a success! (except for all my menu mistakes)

Las Vegas odds.

How long do you think I'll last?

How much weight do you think I'll lose?

What are you wearing?

Starting statistics

Here are my starting stats

Weight: 196.4 lb

Body fat: 18.4%

Total Body Water : 53.3%

Bone Mass: 7.8

DCI: 3757

Metabolic Age: 31

Actual Age: 44

These were all calculated by my fancy new scale (Tanita Inner Scan)  I don't know how accurate or relevant any of the numbers are, but we'll see what changes)

DCI is Daily Calorie Intake.

Metabolic Age is the average age associated with my numbers.

I am following the 7 day meal plan which can be found at  http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=menshealth&channel=weight.loss&category=abs.diet&conitem=c54a99edbbbd201099edbbbd2010cfe793cd____&page=1

Bob's 6 week plan FAQ's

Bob, you're a wonderful, charming, very sexy man!  Why do you feel the need to do this?

Thank you.  I want to lose my belly, get healthier and reprogram my body into a fit, fat burning machine.

So you aren't drinking any alcohol?  For 6 weeks! How is that possible, aren't you an alcoholic?

First of all, I'm not an alcoholic.  Alcoholics go to meetings.  Yes I have been known to dabble in occasional wine tastings and have a fondness for home brewed beer, but I am committed to trying this for 6 weeks.

Wait wait wait.. YOU are seriously NOT drinking wine or alcohol for 6 weeks?   In a row?  That's pretty funny!

Laugh on fatty.

What about bacon and pork products?  I don't see those on the diet?

No.  I'd rather not talk about about that.

So do you see yourself becoming even sexier than you are now in 6 weeks?

I don't see how that's possible, but maybe.