Exercise: 90 mins treadmill, 30 mins strength training

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2604 calories (30% fat, 36% carbs, 32% protein)

Breakfast: egg/egg white omelet with cheese, pecan cherry bread, jam, orange (551)

AM Snack: protein shake, almonds (299)

Lunch: onion soup with baguette and cheese, smoked ham, apple (556)

PM Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, soy nuts (337)

Dinner: balsamic pork tenderloin, snow peas, butter, salad w/dressing (598)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (264)

Well, that’s me for the day.  It’s still above freezing so the rain we’ve had is slowly chipping away at the piles of snow and the ice on the pool.  It really does feel like Spring is on the way.  I’m pretty tired from my workout today.  It’s just crept up on my during the evening, so this could mean a good night’s sleep.  Tomorrow I’ll add the weight loss for the month to the  stats page and consider my goals for the coming month.  I did very well for March, although the plans/goals changed during the month.  That was with the addition of the strength training program, not because I couldn’t meet them. 

The morning was 2 x 30-min sessions on the treadmill. In the afternoon I did a 15-min warm-up on the treadmill, followed by:

Where there is a single number that confirms that I did the number of reps called for. Where there are two numbers the first is the amount of weight I used, followed by reps.

And I followed with another 15 mins on the treadmill. I think I might even have done more than the 24 lunges during the first set. Silly me, I think I was still counting to 15 each. I admit that except for the pullovers, I think I find this set of exercises a little easier. And easier just means I don’t feel like I’m dying in the middle of the routine.

Exercise: none, planned rest day

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2206 calories (31% fat, 34% carbs, 34% protein)

Breakfast:  2 eggs, pecan cherry bread, jam, orange (375)

AM Snack: almonds (164)

Lunch: mixed bean soup with parmesan, smoked back bacon/ham, apple (437)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts (269)

Dinner: sirloin steak, corn, snow peas, butter, salad w/dressing (523)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti, homemade protein bar (438)

Somewhere along the way today I ended up with fewer calories than planned.  I think it was due to the steak being a little smaller than I had expected.  I made up the calories with the homemade protein bar (well squares would be more appropriate a term) that I made for my mother a while back.  They really need a little work on the taste so I’ll have to work on that when she wants more.  Since it doesn’t matter much for her, I’ll likely add some cocoa powder and some spices next time.

This morning’s weigh-in brings me to 317.6 pounds, which is down 2.8 pounds since last week. I’m really surprised that the weight loss has been consistent the last 5 weeks. I’m not unhappy about it, just surprised. So that’s 7.8 pounds since I changed to the lifting routine, and adding calories each day. I can definitely live with that.

Oh, and whatever the problem was with my foot yesterday it’s almost back to perfect. I felt a small twinge somewhere along the way today, but if it’s still happening tomorrow I’ll start wearing shoes inside (instead of the usual socks).

It’s starting to get to the point outside where you actually believe that spring is coming. Some of the flower beds are free of snow, and the daffodils are springing up fast. The ice on the pool is still quite thick, but squishy on the top. We really do think that by the end of the week that we’ll decided on an opening date and call the guy who will do it. (Yay!)

Exercise: none, semi-planned rest day

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2209 calories (26% fat, 34% carbs, 37% protein)

Breakfast: egg white/egg omelet with smoked back bacon and cheese, pecan cherry bread, jam, orange (467)

AM Snack: almonds (164)

Lunch: lentil soup, smoked back bacon, apple (447)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts (269)

Dinner: pork souvlaki, snow peas, butter, salad w/dressing (496)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (366)

In the end I decided that I’d take both weekend days as rest days.  I’ll see how it goes next weekend, but it gave me time to get other things accomplished.  Somewhere in the afternoon I ended up with a sore foot.  I just can’t figure out what I’ve done to it.  I spent the morning working in the crawl space and had a shower, ran a few errands.  It seems to be when I put weight on the ball of one foot only.  The heel is fine and there’s no pain touching, poking, prodding, flexing.  I keep thinking if it was something I did Friday it should have been bothering me in the morning or even early afternoon.  It seemed to get really bad (ie. sudden) just before dinner.  Oh well, I’ll see what it’s like in the morning.  I’m horrible about not wearing shoes indoors, so it could be a fallen arch or some such thing.  If it isn’t better tomorrow I’ll probably put on my runners during the day to see if that helps.  We were out of hamburgers so they’ll get made in the morning (or afternoon) and the rest of the ground beef will end up as chili (only one left in the freezer).   I’m also going to make the last cup of starter into more breakfast bread (the pecan cherry loaf).  That should keep me out of trouble tomorrow. 

Cynthia - you’re right.  Although I did better with the ice cream (bars) than I’ve done in the past I think it’s still way to early to consider myself over it.  Although technically it’s not junk, since it’s a less processed item.  Just too high cal at the moment to consider it a common item.  More like an every now and then thing.  I make homemade fruit sorbets in the summer, which I do enjoy, but don’t seem to eat madly like I do sometimes with ice cream.

JenJen - thanks for the comments on the picture page.  I’ve decided I’m going to redo them maybe every 25 pounds or so (the next one at 300-ish).  I suspect the body shots will remain hidden until I reach goal (and maybe still hidden)!

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill, 30 mins strength training

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2608 calories (34% fat, 35% carbs, 30% protein)

Breakfast: egg white omelet with chicken & turkey sausage and cheese, orange (363)

AM Snack: ice cream bar, pecan cherry bread (290)

Lunch: onion soup with baguette & cheese, smoked back bacon, apple (507)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts, fruit salad (382)

Dinner: 2 hamburgers with condiments, 1 roll, salad w/dressing (787)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (279)

That last damned ice cream bar is gone. Although I think I did well, keeping 4 bars over three weeks (which is probably a personal record), I think it’s best to just stay away from them a while longer. Oh, and the pecan cherry bread is some kind of bread starter cult I got roped into by one of the neighbours. I did end up making it with oats (whizzed up in the blender) and cut some of the sugar out of it. I made them in little loaf pans and have managed to get some of it given away (with the extra starter). I do like to bake though, so once it’s used up I might go look for some whole grain bread recipes. Better mine I suppose than purchased. It worked out to about 70 cals/oz so I’ll probably end up using it for breakfast other days. Well, with two more loaves planned for new homes tomorrow that leaves exactly half of one here. I do have a cup of starter in the fridge which I might bake into more on Sunday though.

The morning was 2 x 30-min sessions on the treadmill. In the afternoon I did a 15-min warm-up on the treadmill, followed by:

Where there is a single number that confirms that I did the number of reps called for. Where there are two numbers the first is the amount of weight I used, followed by reps.

Followed with another 15 mins on the treadmill.  I think I’ve reached a bit of a turning point today.  The workouts are tough, so much so that at times I’m not sure I can finish them.  However, I’m seeing shorter recovery times after I’m finished now.  I’m still really dragging myself to finish those last 15 minutes.  Particularly since I tend to end the prone jackknife set pretty much collapsed on the floor.  It would be so nice to just stay there for a while.  However, 30 minutes out, having had my post workout snack, I’m not feeling too bad.  So this means either I’m not working out hard enough, or I’m getting marginally better at it. 

Oh, and I manged to do the first set of the prone jackknife without falling off the ball!  I still need to work on the form, but it feels like a small victory.

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2207 calories (23% fat, 44% carbs, 31% protein)

Breakfast: protein shake, 12-grain bread, peanut butter, orange (417)

AM Snack: almonds (164)

Lunch: beef mushroom barley soup, smoked turkey, apple, fruit salad (545)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts (269)

Dinner: corned beef, chicken & turkey sausage, cabbage with tomato, butter, salad w/dressing (550)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (264)

Kind of a quiet day around here. It is definitely warming up and finally we’ve got a few bulbs poking out of the ground. This is only in the few spots where there still isn’t a huge pile of snow. I’m still thinking that the ice on the pool will be melted in time to open it mid-April (fingers crossed). It might only be a week or so before only the big piles of snow are still around. Amazing what a couple of above freezing days can do!

I’m still on cat fight alert here today.  The one who started the kill-kill fight-fight (Gus) is pretty much over it.  He wants to be friends.  The little one (Shadow) does not want to be friends, but is somewhat tolerating him.  Until he moves too fast, or gets too close, then he’s a big ball of hissing fur.  He’s also pretty much staying on the living room/dining room/kitchen level.  This wouldn’t be such a bad thing if it wasn’t for the fact that his food and litter box are down on the lower level.  I broke down today and put a food bowl in the kitchen and a litter box at the back door.  I know he snuck down in the middle of the night last night, but I haven’t seen him anywhere but upstairs today.  I suspect it will be at least a couple of days before we’re back to semi-normal.  And at least a week before Shadow stops hissing at Gus every time he moves too fast or meets him on the stairs.  And poor stupid Gus doesn’t quite get it.  He’s become much more clingy than usual.  I took a picture of him draped across my arm (while trying to type this) but for some reason the camera doesn’t want to download.  Oh well, time for me to head off to bed.

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill, 30 mins strength training

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2600 calories (32% fat, 35% carbs, 32% protein)

Breakfast: egg/egg white omelet with cheese, 12-grain bread, orange (474)

AM Snack: protein shake, almonds (299)

Lunch: lentil soup, smoked turkey, apple (431)

PM Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, soy nuts (420)

Dinner: corned beef, cabbage with tomato, butter, salad w/dressing (546)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti, soy nuts (431)

Well, I’m on cat fight alert tonight. One of the cats (big one-Gus) has taken to sleeping on an old piece of furniture in the crawlspace. I think it’s got cushions on it for patio furniture we no longer own. It’s behind a set of shelves, and not easy to get in to. He’s slept there before, but not for a while. Lately he spends most evenings in there, and his little brother (Shadow) really doesn’t like it. Usually before I go to bed I shake the cat treat bag and lure him out. Tonight about 10:30 Shadow must have decided that he wasn’t going to wait for his big brother to come out. A few minutes later complete with hissing, growling and knocked over canned goods there really getting into it. They both go flying upstairs to the kitchen level where I found Gus stalking around with his fur all puffed up. He was okay with being lifted so I settled him down a little and brought him downstairs with me. Shadow was hiding under the couch, but seemed fine. Ten minutes later Shadow is mewling (kind of crying) because Gus is downstairs with me. The little bugger wants to keep fighting I think. Gus of course is pretty much over it, and just wants to go to sleep. I’ll keep an eye on them for a little bit and hope they don’t continue it at 3am or some such hour.

This is why they go to the vets together now. I thought it would be easier taking them one at a time this summer. Gus went on his own and that worked fine. The day I took Shadow on his own Gus decided to attack him when I brought him back. We spent two days trying to keep them apart. Gus spent a lot of time locked up in the downstairs bathroom. Once Gus was better he found out that his little brother held a grudge as Shadow spent at least a week hissing at him any time he moved too fast. I’m hoping this is just a little spat, which will pass soon. Kind of hard to believe that this is them, isn’t it?

Shadow is the one at the front.  Gus is at the back.  Two little angels who seemed to want to kill each other tonight. 

The morning was 2 x 30-min sessions on the treadmill. In the afternoon I did a 15-min warm-up on the treadmill, followed by:

Where there is a single number that confirms that I did the number of reps called for. Where there are two numbers the first is the amount of weight I used, followed by reps.

And I followed with another 15 mins on the treadmill.  Today, once again, I wasn’t sure I could do those last 15 mins but I did manage it.  I felt a pain in my right hamstring doing the lunges, but the walk out afterwards seems to have taken most of that away.  So, I’m back to the usual sore knee.  The only good thing about it is that it’s something I can live with, and will be a little better in the morning.  I see the sun shining and the snow is melting so I just keep thinking about the possible pool opening.  It seems to keep me going.  Of course with warmer weather comes cutting back the berry bushes, planting a few new ones in the bed I prepared last fall.  As well as cleaning out the pots and getting them ready to plant.  With such a long winter though I think I’m even looking forward to that kind of stuff.

Oh, I changed the notation slightly.  I realized that I’ve been putting the total weight for the dumbbells, instead of how much each one weighs, so I thought I’d change that now.  The pullover is the one I’m having the most trouble with.  Yes, even with the pain today during the lunges, I still found the pullovers the toughest.  We’ll see how I do with them next week, but I feel like I’m at the maximum weight with them at the moment.