Ready for baseball

"Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes." ~Robert M. Hutchins

How true is that quote? I have to divulge that I've had many moments where I've come home after a day of work thinking that perhaps I should go exercise. However, by the time I've helped the boys with their homework, started the laundry, ate dinner and washed dishes, all I want to do is find the sofa and lie down in front of the television. It doesn't take much for the feeling to pass.

Lately, in the evenings, we've been eating dinner and then driving to the gym to engage in some much needed physical fitness. It's a whole new concept for our family. I'm sure it will change once the days grow longer and weather transitions to spring and baseball season begins. If we fall back into our old patterns we will be dining on concession stand delicacies such as buttered popcorn, nachos and cheese and peanut M&Ms. The most exercise we'll get is climbing up and down the bleachers and swinging our arms to swat away the mosquitoes. By the end of summer, we'll have acquired what I fondly refer to as our "big ole bleacher butts".

Sincerely, I hope that isn't the case this year. I suppose you’ll have to keep reading and see what happens

Got to love the inlaws

"I keep trying to lose weight... but it keeps finding me!" ~ Author Unknown.

Thanks to my sister-in-law, I have proof that in 2010 I did in fact try to lose weight and it most definitely found me back. Shortly after Christmas, this lovely photo of our family appeared on my Facebook page. My first reaction was... "Yikes, who is the fat dude crowding out the rest of the little people in this photo?"

Realizing the photo had been taken at my in-laws during Christmas, I began speculating... "Which one of my sister-in-laws posted this obscenely vulgar photo of me on my Facebook page?" At first I was ready to hold my mother-in-law responsible since she was the one who insisted we take the photo before we left the house.

When I discovered it was my sister-in-law Cathy, I completely understood how the photo got posted on Facebook. She and her husband Dennis are building a house and she mistakenly categorized my photo with the house photos. I can see how she would be confused because I look as BIG as a house in the photo.

I can't really complain about the quality of the photo. However, I really think my sister-in-law should consider returning the camera because it has a tendency to add 30 pounds to her family and friends. Let's hope I get my sister-in-law's name for Christmas. We pick those at Easter. I’ll be getting her a new camera complete with airbrushing capabilities. Otherwise I’ll be wearing a sign at Christmas that reads, “No photos of me unless you have written consent and all photos must be taken from the neck up.”

Of course the last photo I had taken from the neck up was my driver’s license photo. As I recall, I wasn’t particularly happy with that photo either.

Plenty to read while working out

"If you have formed the habit of checking on every new diet that comes along, you will find that, mercifully, they all blur together, leaving you with only one definite piece of information: french-fried potatoes are out." ~ Jean Kerr

I was boxing up some books today when I found a box filled with the many diet and exercise books that I have purchased over the years.   In this photo there are only twelve, however I'm sure there are some missing. 

Each book contains its own basic ingredients on how to shape a fat overweight person into a slim muscular god or goddess. I've undertaken and struggled with all of these weight loss guides. I don’t believe I've ever followed any of the plans word for word. Some of the programs were more superior to others. Each author has introduced me to something new such as weight lifting, yoga and interval training. However, over time I've come to the conclusion that each book is merely a guide on how to diet and exercise.

And it is true that not one of the books recommends French fried potatoes.

Eating less, eating light

"Never eat more than you can lift." ~ Miss Piggy.

I did lift weights today however I did not eat what I lifted. I gave it a good try by eating an oversized Chicken Fajita. I obviously didn't try hard enough because I couldn't finish it.

Worse than chewing on leaves

“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” ~ Doug Larson.

Earlier this week, Paula introduced a new class of salad to the boys. I was pleasantly surprised to have the spring mix as a salad option and the boys were surprised as well. However, I wouldn’t consider their surprise to be so pleasant.

Logan picked up a piece of the lettuce and was instantly repulsed. “Ick, what is this?” he asked. “Did you pick this off the tree in the backyard?”

Paula insisted it was salad and told the boys to give it a try.

“I’m sure it tastes like the leaves from the trees in our yard,” said Caleb.

Paula assured them it was good for them.

Derek wasn’t buying it. “There’s not enough ranch dressing in the house to make that stuff taste good,” he declared. “From now on just get the normal lettuce.”

Paula and I are assuming normal lettuce would be iceberg or romaine lettuce. No more of the spring mix for the boys. I told the boys that a couple of weeks ago I was at hotel in Kansas City where the same lettuce was served to me and it cost me nine dollars. As far as they were concerned, it wasn’t worth nine cents.

“Why pay nine dollars when you can go in the backyard and pick leaves off the trees in the back yard for free!”

Drive-thru for a Baker's Dozen

"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand." ~ Author Unknown.

Did you know that when you order 12 chocolate chip cookies at McDonalds they put them in a  tiny little cardboard tote and you get an extra cookie thrown in for free?  And how would i know this?  Well it is not because I ordered that many at one time  My family and I stumbled on to this good news one evening when we all wanted cookies with our meal.  We were so impressed with our little red box of cookies.  A baker's dozen - what a clever idea. 

I could really use a chocolate chip cookie right about now!

The analysis confirms you are indeed fat

"I'm allergic to food. Every time I eat, it breaks out into fat." ~ Jennifer Greene

Speaking of fat, have you tried out one of those body fat percentage calculators?  Enter your height, your weight, your sex and your age into the gadget, then press ready and hold it until the sophisticated piece of cheap plastic comes back with a reading that tells you that you are most definitely FAT!  As if I needed a yet another instrument to analyze every cell in my body to confirm that I have grown in size.  I already have a scale, a mirror and clothes bursting at the seams to tell me I'm fat! 

Luckily, the scale is being kind to me lately and speaking in terms that I prefer.  It could speak to me a little nicer but at least it's not screaming for me to get off its back.  The mirror is becoming more of a friend again and the clothes aren't as tight as they did during the holidays.  As for the body fat calculator, I've not used it since the first of the year.   I'm certain it was broke when I used it.  I had a body fat percentage of 24.5% and BMI of 29.4.  According to the reading it took, I'm overweight.  That's simply absurd.   If it wasn't broke, then perhaps it needed new batteries.  Yeah, I don't need to be using that electronic gadget for quite some time.

I certainly hope your scale is being friendly and speaking words of encouragement to you as well.

Low calorie hot fudge, seriously?

‎"Avoid any diet that discourages the use of hot fudge." ~ Don Kardong

Believe it or not I have found a healthy low calorie hot fudge sundae recipe. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? I haven’t a clue if it is any good. I didn’t have time to fit it into my day. It’s been an extremely busy day. It’s already late in the evening and I still need to fit in some kind of exercise.

On an evening very soon in the near future, I’m going to gather all the necessary ingredients and make these healthy low calorie hot fudge sundaes and let you know how they actually taste. Things I’ll need are cool whip lite, a pint of frozen yogurt, sugar-free maple syrup, hot fudge sundae topping, bananas, chopped almonds and maraschino cherries. How this could be low calorie is beyond me?

Any Given Monday

"The second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day, you're off it." ~ Jackie Gleason

Have you started a diet on Monday and by Tuesday you are rushing through the fast food drive thru with your family ordering the 50 piece nugget meal deal because you have to be to a ball game in ten minutes and it’s the only thing you can eat while driving the car?

Have you started a diet on Wednesday and by Thursday you’ve had such a bad day that the only thing that will comfort you is a dozen of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies?

Have you started a diet on Friday? Why you would do that I don’t know? But suppose you did start a diet on a Friday. You get up early on Friday to work out and by Saturday you are so blasted tired you can’t get out of bed early, let alone find the motivation to even drive to the gym.  And it's Saturday for love of God.

It’s all happened to me and I’m sure similar situations have happened to anyone else that has tried to lose 10 pounds or a 100 pounds. Most of us have started or restarted our diets on a Monday and tomorrow is just that … another Monday. I’m praying that tomorrow those of us trying to get healthy and well and physically fit make it through Monday and by Tuesday we are all still committed to being healthy, well and physically fit.

Immense blessings everyone.

Six pack abs or a clean house

"I bought a talking refrigerator that said 'Oink' every time I opened the door.  It made me hungry for pork chops."  ~ Marie Mottean

I didn't eat a pork chop today, but I did eat a leftover steak that was calling my name.  Someone had to make room for all the high dollar healthy food we purchased at the local Wal-mart today and I was more than happy to finish off the sirloin.  It will have to be salad for dinner this evening.

Once the refrigerator was restocked and the sirloin and veggies were consumed, I encouraged my wife to go to the gym with me to workout.   We should have stayed home to clean the house.   I almost considered logging in some time cleaning house.   However after researching it further, I discovered that a person only burns 210 calories while cleaning the house for an hour.   Forty-five minutes at the gym walking, running and lifting weights burns 420 calories, enough to burn off the calories from that sirloin I had for lunch.   I'm thinking we made the best decision.  I would rather have a dirty house than a big belly.

Walk the line and pass quickly by the cream pie

"I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days." ~Totie Fields

It happened today, I was faced with the dreaded buffet.  Attended a work meeting and was invited to join everyone afterwards for the catered lunch.  A delicious meal prepared by none other than Osage Catering.  I already knew there would be cream pie.
 
I walked the line with plate in hand.  Spinach salad.  Yes, I can have that.  Mashed potatoes and gravy.  No, let's keep moving down the line.  Green beans.  Yes, get a big spoonful of that.  German Pot Roast...um...I'm thinking don't rush me.   I'll take a small spoonful of the roast.  Fried Chicken.  Yes, I'll have a breast piece.  And there's the chocolate cream pie with the whip topping.   No, no and no.  Keep walking.
 
It was a delicious meal minus the pie which I'm sure was delicious too.  I opted for a four dark chocolate candy kisses to sooth my cravings for something sweet. 

Fat Tuesday, Bigger Slacks

"Bigger snacks mean bigger slacks!" ~ Author Unknown

I don't believe I've ever shared my own personal story about "bigger slacks" with anyone until today.

On Fat Tuesday of 2009, for the first time in my life, instead of purchasing a pair of slacks with a waist size smaller than 34, I had to purchase a waist size that was larger than 34. I had tried on several pair of dress slacks that day in several stores fully expecting to find something with a 34 waist that was going to fit. Unfortunately it did not happen. There was no way my big ole behind was going to fit into a size 34 without splitting my pants.

I came home with two pairs of slacks, one that was 35 and another one that was 36, and mild depression. It didn’t help that someone had told me it was really no big deal. “It’s only one size bigger,” she said. “You are getting older you know.” I was annoyed. Seriously, does getting older mean you have to get bigger around the mid-section. Being Mardi Gras, I went out that night with the family to comfort myself with the very thing that had put me in a bigger size slacks – FOOD.

I woke up the next morning determined there would be no more Fat Tuesdays in my future. I would diet. I would exercise. I wouldn’t be wearing a size bigger come Fat Tuesday 2010. In fact, I was determined I would be wearing a size or two smaller. Unfortunately, my worse fear would come true and I was faced with yet another Fat Tuesday wearing slacks that were another size bigger.

By the time Fat Tuesday of 2010 rolled around, I was wearing a pair of slacks with a waist size of 38. I also weighed 222 pounds which was more than I had ever weighed in my entire life. I thought to myself, “What happened to no more Fat Tuesdays?” Obviously, I had lost track of that goal somewhere along the way.

Again in 2010, I vowed that this would be the year that I said farewell to “bigger slacks”. I did manage to lose twenty pounds in the early part of 2010. However, I lost sight of the goal once again. By the end of 2010, I had gained back the twenty pounds I had lost. It was frustrating, to say the least.

Fat Tuesday 2011 is only seven or eight Tuesdays away. I’m hoping that I won’t be wearing pants with a waist size of 38 or 36. We’ll see what happens. All I do know is that I want to be through with Fat Tuesdays, all of them, not just the one that everyone else celebrates once a year.

Weight in grams, not recommended

"If you really want to be depressed, weigh yourself in grams." ~ Jason Love


‎Today's quote inspired me to actually calculate my weight in grams.  After calculating my weight in grams (95,000 plus)... I'm thinking the number on the scale is actually looking much better.

I've been stepping on the scale every morning since the first of the year.  I've been plugging the numbers into the Google15 application that's available through iGoogle.   The application averages your weight loss or gain depending on what your goal might be.   If the number you enter takes you closer to your weight loss goal it says, "Great job.  You are on your way to your goal."  If the number you enter takes you away from your weight loss goal it says, "Danger.  You are headed away from your goal!"  I don't really like those days when it says, "Danger!"  It's a bit over dramatic don't you think?

Since the first of year, I've averaged a weight loss of seven pounds. 

Anything to stop eating

"When I buy cookies I eat just four and throw the rest away. But first I spray them with Raid so I won't dig them out of the garbage later. Be careful, though, because that Raid really doesn't taste that bad." ~ Janette Barber

We do the silliest things to prevent ourselves from eating and to lose weight.  

Last year for Lent, I stopped eating all processed carbohydrates and gave up Facebook.   Giving up Facebook had nothing to do with eating right and losing weight.   I just thought I would see if I could do it.   However, giving up processed carbhoydrates had everything to do with losing weight and cutting back on the amount of food I was putting into my body.  Giving up processed carbohydrates was quite difficult for me.  I'm a guy who loves french fries from McDonalds, pasta and bread sticks from the Olive Garden and pizza from Dave's Pizza and Wings in Linn, Missouri.  I am particularly fond of chocolate chip cookies.  It's not a trip to Sam's Wholesale Club without coming home with a tub of Pillsbury cookie dough, the kind you can eat directly from the carton.

It's called comfort food for a reason and boy did I miss the comfort during those six weeks.   I lost over ten pounds during Lent in 2010.  It was a great way for me to jump start some additional weight loss because by May I lost another ten pounds abstaining from processed carbs.   However, after May, I went back to eating processed carbs and the results were eventually disastrous.  By the end of the year I had gained back 18 of the 20 pounds I had lost last spring.   It was devastating to get on that scale and see all that weight was back.

This time around I'm trying to eat healthy and exercise.  Interesting concept don't you think.  We'll see how it goes.   Don't deny yourself people.  Eat..eat...eat!

Chew your food

"My advice if you insist on slimming: Eat as much as you like - just don't swallow it." ~ Harry Secombe


My problem isn't that I don't swallow, it's because I forget to chew and usually swallow everything whole.  I rearely stop and think about chewing when I eat.  I take a bite of the food and chew until the food gets to a point where I can swallow it whole. 
 
From what I've read, chewing unconsciously can actually hinder weight loss.  It's probably why I don't feel satisfied after eating because I'm inhaling my food and don't stop to taste it fully.  I've been trying my best to eat slower and actually enjoy what I'm eating. 
 
I've been like this all my life.  In the first grade I was always the first one done with my lunch.  One day a friend of mine decided she would imitate how fast I ate.  She bit off a huge portion of her hamburger, started chewing, and unfortunately she started laughing causing her to throw up.   Of course, I got in trouble for it and was told that I no longer needed to always be the first one done.
 
On days like today when I'm overly stressed about getting something accomplished such as the mountain of school projects my sons brought home, I have a tendencay to swallow first and wish I had chewed my food later.  I've ate some good food today but not been overly satisfied.  
 
Tonight we are having steak, baked potato and salad.  Since the diorama of the coral reef is constructed, the black labrador hand puppet is made, the can is transformed into Jackie Robinson, the white poster board is filled with a majestic forrest and the essay on being a responsible Catholic citizen in a free society is written, I think I might be able to relax and enjoy chewing, swallowing and eating my dinner.  Let's hope for the best.
 
Tip of the day:  Chew and swallow your food with your mouth or you'll see it later on your big o'le behind!

Dieting now a habit

"I've been on a constant diet for the last two decades.  I've lost a total of 789 pounds.  By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet."  ~ Erma Bombeck.

Hilarious quote, don't you think? It's so funny that it's true. I know I've been watching my weight since I was eighteen. That would be over two decades for me. I should be the size of a charm, at the very least a shiny sparkling diamond ear ring.  I've been dieting for so long, it's simply become a habit, a way of life.

Eat, drink, and be merry

"I'm in shape. Round is a shape..isn't it?" ~ Author Unknown. 

After finishing an Italian feast of spaghetti, fettucine alfredo, manicotti, zesty salad and creamy cheese cake at the Taste of Italy, I'm sure I'll wake up the shape of a barrel.  Oh well... eat, drink and be merry, all for a good cause!

Keep the sense of humor

"The first thing you lose on a diet is your sense of humor." ~ Author Unknown.

I totally disagree with the unknown author of today's quote.  I do not believe the first thing you lose on a diet is your sense of humor because I have read some extraordinarily hilarious posts about dieting and exercise since the beginning of the year, especially on Facebook.

Here are some of the posts that have cracked me up over the last few days...

"I have the body of a God, but unfortunately it's Buddha... today is day one of the diet... pray to God no one gets hurt."


"Thought the scale at the gym was not working properly, so I weighed a 5 pound weight (it weighed 5 pounds) Weighed a 10 pound weight (it weighed 10 pounds). So therefore I have came to the conclusion that not only is the scale not working, the weights are OFF!!"


"Tried out the gym for the first time this year, but I didn't stay long because I had my mother in laws chocolate cake waiting for me at home.......it was all I could think about."

"Did you sweat?  You got to sweat like a hog to look like a fox!"

"I just ate the best Weight Watchers meal ever.  Either I was starving from this whole diet business or my taste buds are no longer working."

"I'm allergic to exercise."

I'm sure there are many, many more.  However, these have sincerely made me laugh and have made being on a diet somewhat bearable.

Tracking calories

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets." ~ Author Unknown.

Well my friends, I’ve not been hungry at all. In fact, I’m eating all the time. I’m eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between meals. I usually cap off the evening with a small glass of chocolate milk. However this evening, I had to calculate my calories to see if I could actually have that glass of chocolate milk. After adding it all up, I realized if I wanted that glass of chocolate milk I better do some exercising.

I kept the exercising simple this evening. I’d been on the go all evening – haircut, ballgame, pizza place. I was wiped out when I got home, not to mention it’s freezing cold out there. I had no desire to get back outside in this weather to go sweat myself silly at the gym. I opted instead for about twenty minutes of abdominal exercises. Now my stomach is so soar I can’t even lift a laundry basket. I’m not sure how the laundry is going to get done. I always wanted an excuse not to do the laundry.

If I had a tip for today, I would share it.  What's working for me right now is tracking my calories with the LoseIt! app on my iphone.  I know that tracking calories doesn't work for everyone and it doesn't always work for me.  For the last 13 days it's been working for me. 

Surrounded by chicken wings

The cardiologist’s diet: If it tastes good, spit it out.” ~Author Unknown

I found myself surrounded by a room full of chicken wings and pastries this evening while attending the Taste of Jefferson City.   It sounds like a bad dream, perhaps even a nightmare, for a person trying to eat healty and exercise.   Restaurants and caterers circled the hotel ballroom and there were plenty of good things to taste and as the quote says... "if it tastes good, spit it out."

I managed to make it out without falling off the healthy eating wagon.  I had two chicken wings, a tiny buffalo shrimp stabbed with a toothpick and bottle of water.   It all tasted good and I didn't spit any of it out. 

Tip of the day: I ate an apple, a few pieces of cheese and several slices of turkey an hour before I went to the event walking into the room with an already full stomach. 

Snow day comfort food

"More die in the United States of too much food than of too little." ~ John Kenneth Galbraith, The Affluent Society

Back home this evening in Linn, Missouri listening to the wind chimes violently rattle as the wind swiftly crafts a huge snow drift in the driveway. I’m snuggled under an afghan watching television as the flames from the fireplace dance on the ceiling. It’s a pleasantly cold and dark evening perfect for a cup of piping hot chocolate loaded with white creamy miniature marshmellows.

What is it about snow and below freezing temperatures that have us dreaming about comfort foods like blueberry muffins, creamy potato soup and spicy hot chili?   Don't these foods make you want to flip on the oven, drag out the pots and start preparing all your favorite comfort food recipes.  You're ready to abandon that crazy, insane resolution to eat healthy and exercise, aren't you?

I admit that a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies sitting beside that mug of hot chocolate sounds very tempting.  However, I realize that would be a deliciously sinful mistake.   If you want proof, flip on the tv, you're missing the Biggest Loser.  :-) 

Staying under the feed limit

"A diet is the penalty we pay for exceeding the feed limit." ~ Author Unknown

My hat is off to those who have to travel and eat out all the time.   I can only imagine how difficult it is to motivate yourself to exercise as well as eat healthy meals.   It's been a real challenge today making sure I don't exceed my feed limit. 

Using the Lose It application on my phone.  I just finished entering my food and exercise for the day.  The results were good.  I managed to stay under my daily calorie allowance.  I still have some calories to spare but the cheesecake will remain tucked away in the refrigerator. I  have no plans of going over my limit for the day.   I certainly hope I remember to bring the cheesecake with me when I leave tomorrow.

Immense blessings to everyone trying to stay healthy, well and physically fit.

Calories and more calories

"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas." ~ Author Unknown.

Today would be one of those days when I need to be worried about what I eat between the New Year and Christmas.  I'm in Kansas City attending a conference with plenty of opportunities to avoid eating right and exercising. 

When it came time for my co-worker and I to select a place to eat, I recommended the Cheesecake Factory of all places.  I did my best to find something grilled with veggies.  I was certain that a sandwich that included the word avocado would be healthy.  So it had a little bacon on it.  Big deal. 

When I returned to the room, I went online in search of the exact number of calories in my entree.  In case you were wondering the Chicken Avacado Club has 43 grams of fat, 60 grams of carbohydrates and 44 grams of protein.   And are you ready for this... 800 calories!  Whoa, good thing I didn't eat much earlier in the day!

After calculating my calories for the day, I decided it was best if I tucked the Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake safely away in the refrigerator.  Since it was my co-worker's first time to the Cheesecake Factory I insisted she had to order a piece of cheesecake even if she had to get it to go.   I'm not sure how it happened but not only did we walk out with a piece of cheesecake for her, but we walked away with one for me as well.  

In case you are wondering, I did look up the number of calories in a Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake.  SPOILER ALERT... and I do mean SPOILER ALERT... if you don't want to know STOP reading now.  It has 67 grams of fat, 77 grams of carbohydrates, 12 grams of protein and 920 calories.   I think I'll wait until tomorrow to eat the cheesecake.  

Modern day torture device

"In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and chains.  Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale."  ~ Stephen Phillips

I'm happy to report the scale at the gym and the scale at home are working once again.  A week ago on New Year's Day, I stepped on the scale to discover that I had gained back all the weight I had lost the year before.   One week later and the scale registered five pounds lighter.   On Monday, the scale at the gym was a pound less than what I weighed on New Year's Day.  Today when I got on that scale at the gym it said I had lost only 2 pounds.   So, who do you believe? 

Immense blessings to all of you losing weight.  My prayer for you is that you are able to lose it and keep it off!

Wipe the dust away and get movin'

"When friends tell you how awesome you look, drop the "I still have more to go" crap.  You worked hard and you deserve the compliment!" ~Jillian Michaels.

Well Jillian, I still have more to go.  I'm working hard, but I still have more to go. 

Tonight I drug out the beast.  The Nordic Track was pulled out of storage.  It hasn't been out in over a year.  Every year about this time it makes an appearance in the basement.   It gets used once.  Then, back into storage it goes.

I wiped off the dust from the tracks, got my tennis shoes on and went to town.  New record tonight... 21 minutes of exercise instead of 20 minutes.

Thirteen minutes

"I feel about airplanes the way I feel about diets.  It seems to me that they are wonderful things for other people to go on."  ~ Jean Kerr

I myself would rather go on an airplane any day of the week than to go on a diet.  However, I do feel about treadmills the way I feel about diets.  They are wonderful things for other people to go on. 

It wasn't until 4:39 p.m. that I found myself on one of those awful mechanical beasts.  It had been my plan to be on one much earlier in the day.  Although when the alram went off this morning at 4:45 a.m., I wasn't all that interested in getting out of my warm bed.  I pulled the blankets up over my head and drifted back to sleep.

As I walked the treadmill listening to my tunes, I was getting seriously pumped.  This had worked out so well for me.   I went home at lunch.  I found a roast in the freezer, slipped it in the microwave to defrost and got out a crock pot.  I didn't have to rush home to prepare dinner, it was already simmering in the crock pot.  All I had to do was show up, slice it and place it on a wheat bun.  

I turned up the music a notch and went into a full jog, eventually I hope to report that I went into a full sprint but for now I'll have to settle for a full jog.   I hit the incline buttun a few times.   I was on fire.   Then my music gets interrupted by a text.   What?  I haven't time to socialize.   No texting and walking on a treadmill that could be seriously dangerous.  

Although I wanted to, I couldn't ignore the text.  I had called my ten-year-old son, Logan, before I started exercising.   I asked him to check the roast and before I hung up I told him, "Don't let the roast burn or the house catch on fire."   So, fearing the house might be on fire, I checked the text message.   It was Derek.  His baseball practice had ended early.   He needed me to pick him up.  

Of course I stopped jogging.   I sent him a text and said, "Ok, be there soon."  I looked at the treadmill.  I got in thirteen minutes of exercise and that would likely be all the exercise I would get for today. 

Eat this, not that

"Thou shouldest eat to live, not live to eat." Cicero

Seriously, what does this Cicero dude know about eating?  He was born in 106 BC.  He was a Roman philospher, statesman, lawyer and I've been told he was one of Rome's greatest orators.  The man was obviously too busy to eat and it's not like McDonalds was down the hill from his house.

Although I find much more fun in living to eat, I'm staying committed to eating to live.  We are five days into this year and I have to ask just how is everyone else doing with their new year's resolution.   Is eating to live working for you?

I'm sitting here in front of the television flipping through a copy of the Eat This, Not That book.  I do have good news.  The Planters Chocolate Lovers Cashews are on the Eat This list.  Ten pieces are only 230 calories.  Of course, I'll ignore the fine print that reads, "Think of this as a candy bar alternative, not as a healthy snack." 

If ole Cicero was alive today I'm certain he would be writing his own version of the Eat This, Not That books.   "Thou shouldest eat the Krispy Kreme Sugar Doughnut, Thou shouldest not eat the Powedered Cake Doughnut."  

The black suit

"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake." ~ Author Unknown.

In my case, the thin person struggling to get out can be sedated with not one or two chocolate chip cookies but at least a dozen or more.   Today that thin person wasn't all that happy with me.  I suppose when nothing in your closet fits your big ole behind, you'd be a little grumpy too.

Next week Tuesday, I have to stand in front of a room full of people at a conference in Kansas City and give a presentation.  As I was preparing the presentation today, I was trying to visualize what I would be wearing while I give the presentation.   I assure you it won't be my black suit, because the pants won't even come up past my knees.

During my lunch hour I went home to eat.  While I was there I went to the bedroom closet.  I pulled out my black suit and looked at it with envy.  I tried on the jacket and was pleasantly surprised it still fit.  If I don't button it, it actually looks quite good on me.  

While sifting through my closet I did find some "big boy" pants that I think would be suitable to wear with the suit jacket.  However, I'm not sure I have enough "big boy" pants to wear throughout the entire conference.  I might be spending my evenings in the guest laundry washing my clothes so I can wear them again the next day. 

An expanding waist line sucks, but luckily I stayed within my calorie intake today and I managed to get in 40 more minutes of exercise before the day was over! 

Immense blessings to each and every one of you working on getting back into shape in 2011.

Chewy, plastic cheese

"The one way to get thin is to re-establish your purpose." ~Cyril Connolly, The Unquiet Grave.

Re-establish your purpose in life? I'd have to know what my purpose in life is before I could re-establish it. I do know for sure that my purpose in life is certainly not cooking.

Nothing like fat free cheese to ruin a perfectly good dish. While preparing chicken parmesan for supper, I realized that I was out of mozzarella cheese. While the chicken was baking in the oven I made a quick trip to the grocery store for cheese. In a hurry, I grabbed the first bag of cheese I found in the store.

A few moments later when we are cutting into their chicken. I notice everyone at the table is chewing and chewing and chewing and chewing on the cheese. "Something is not right about this cheese," says Paula. "It tastes like plastic," says Derek. We all broke out into laughter.

Once the dishes were cleared from the table I began cleaning the plates. While scraping the plates, I stated there was a possibility the cheese might clog the garbage disposal. "Can you imagine what it's doing to our stomach and intestines," says Paula. "We may not have a bowel movement for days."

One dish, 1500 calories

"Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork. " ~ English proverb.

Seriously, I could have used this proverb yesterday. A trip to Columbia with the family resulted in a little trip to the Olive Garden. I enjoyed a salad, two breadsticks and a 1500 calorie Chicken Scampi. Yes, I said 1500 calories. It's a good thing that I waited until this morning to look up the calories in an Olive Garden Chicken Scampi today instead of yesterday before I went to the Olive Garden. It would have completely messed with the joy of eating that dish.

I topped off my daily calories with five brownies. Before bed, Paula prepared us a bedtime snack. I thought I would eat maybe one or two. By the time I went to bed, I had finished off five brownies.

As for exercise... I thought about walking. Does that count?

Willing to risk it

"When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and our honesty." ~ Woody Allen.

Well Woody, I'm willing to risk it.