STICK A FORK IN ME, I'M DONE...

DAY 30

• This morning's weight:      229.4   (Yahoo!))   
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           140         
• Breakfast:                                               

       Plate of Migas

• Activities:

       Shopping with my sister at Hobby Lobby

       

• Lunch: 12:30 pm

       Tossed green salad
       Sliced rosemary grille chicken breast
       Oil & Vinegar dressing

       Stone Ground Whole Wheat Crackers

• Activities:

        Played gin, waiting to take me to airport

•  Dinner:

       

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

     Well, that's it - the end of my "30 days to better." I lost more weight than I expected, although I'm not through. My goal is 205-210. I got a lot of re-writing done - 13 chapters of Finding the Lost One. Though, not so much writing done on new devotionals. And, I wish I had read more over the last 30 days.

     I discovered a lot about myself. I have identified some specific things that need changing - we won't go into the details here. I changed some specific things that I am really happy about. I discovered and re-discovered some really important things - like how much I appreciate and love my wife.

     I hope those of you who followed this blog, even if only occasionally, will continue to encourage me and check in from time to time to see how I'm doing. Thanks for keeping me company in El Paso. I plan on doing some really big things in the future and I want you to be a part of it. 

     Won't you take this last opportunity to comment on this blog and let me know how you did over the last thirty days. Then I can archive the whole thing and take a look back in another 30 days and see how we're doing. Don't stay a stranger.

     My overall grade for the last 30 days: A+

     How did you do?        

TONIGHT IS THE LAST NIGHT...

DAY 29

• This morning's weight:      231.4      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           124            
• Breakfast:                                               

       2 frozen waffles
       1 banana sliced
       2 tblsp Promise (yuck!)
       2 tblsp Sugar-free Maple Syrup
       1/4 cup chopped pecans 

• Activities:

       Re-write, re-write - up thru Chapter 12!

       

• Lunch: 11:30 am

       Left-over Tuna Salad

       Stone Ground Whole Wheat Crackers

• Activities:

       Final Laundry
       Tracked my sister's flight from London to DFW on the computer - neat!

• Dinner:

       

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

     I spent most of the day watching the computer screen as my sister's flight, American #81, moved slowly across the globe, crossing Ireland, across the North Sea, clipping the edge of Greenland then Nova Scotia, across to the great lakes and down across Chicago and finally to DFW. At that point you can change the screen to one very similar to the air traffic controller's screen and watch all the airline jockey for position and come in to three different runways, all the while departing planes are interspersed. Really neat. You can put the Google aerial photograph map in the background and actually see the runways. Once on the ground, the reference disappears.

     Now as I write this, she is waiting in DFW to depart for El Paso in about 20 minutes. Then she has an hour and 20 minute flight home. 


     I just got a call from Justin and Kara is still under the weather. I am on my own for dinner tonight. I have already made a tossed green salad along with a rosemary grilled chicken breast for Gayle to have when she gets home. Arriving at after 8pm, it is really too late to go out to dinner, so I guess I will wait and split the salad with her for dinner.


     I have washed all my clothes and only have the sheets to strip from the bed in the morning and my bath towel. The house is spic 'n span, the yard is watered, the trash out, the dogs feed and I even washed and towel dried her car today. I am perhaps the greatest housesitter of all times!

     My overall grade for today: A+

     How did you do?        

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES...

DAY 28

• This morning's weight:      231.4      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           84             
• Breakfast:                                               

       1 Plate of migas

• Activities:

       Re-write, re-write

       Rake pine needles and sweep front porch

  

• Lunch: 11:30 am

       Tuna Salad
       1 Boiled Egg
       Stone Ground Whole Wheat Crackers

• Activities:

       Fix toilet valve

       Dust and clean

• Snack:

       Small Bag Microwave Popcorn

• Dinner:

       Cheese Nachos

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     I just realized my trip is one day shorter than anticipated. I couldn't explain why I was short 1 day of meds until I noticed my Southwest Itinerary showed my return flight was not on Thursday, April 29th, but was actually Wednesday, April 28th!


     Not only was I excited but a quick call to Liz and now the two of us are screaming and jumping around like the winners of a 5th grade spelling bee. I get to be home with my wife 1 day earlier.


     Tomorrow evening I pick up my sister at the airport at 8:10pm and then the following day I leave El Paso for San Antonio at 6:45pm - Wednesday.

     My overall grade for today: C, I shouldn't have had the nachos...

     How did you do?        

BACK ON TRACK... BUT WATCH OUT FOR THAT CURVE!

DAY 27

• This morning's weight:      233.0     
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           140            
• Breakfast:                                               

      1 cup Great Grains cereal

      1 cup 2% milk

      1 slice whole grain whole wheat toast

• Activities:

       Church

      

• Lunch: 2:00pm

       Left-over caldo de pollo

• Activities:

       Packed up all my books to Priority Mail back to SA

       (1-large, 1 medium flat rate box)
       Made Bar nuts to Priority Mail to David

• Snack:

       1/2 cup Bar Nuts

• Activities

        Went to self-serve Post Office - no lines, it's Sunday

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

      Well, I am back on track with my weight-loss program. I lost another pound, but that only puts me back to where I was before my Birthday Lunch. And today I was invited out to dinner at the Greenery in El Paso. There always seems to be temptations in life. Chile Rellenos are my downfall. So are éclair. But facing those temptations and trials only serves to build character if you make the right choice - it builds pounds if make the wrong choice.

     Life is full of choices. The great thing is that God allows us to make the choice. And, regardless of what choice we make, He still loves us the same. What say you, should we go on eating so that pounds may abound along with God's grace? When we turn down the temptation we are turning up our commitment to being better, healthier, holier. 

  

     Just got a call, Kara is under the weather, no dining out tonight. Overcome by temptation - ooops there goes another Bar Nut, kerplop!

     My overall grade for today: B weigh-in in the morning could drop it to a C.

     How did you do?        

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES...

DAY 26

• This morning's weight:      234.2      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           80             
• Breakfast:                                               

       Corned Beef Hash with 2 soft eggs

• Activities:

       Drove down to my old high school
       Washed patio and patio chairs

       Finished two projects around house before my sis gets home

       Re-write, re-write, re-write

       Laundry

      Walk 2 mi around Album Park

• Lunch: 2:00pm

       1 cup tomato soup

       1/2 Reuben Sandwich

       

• Activities:

       Short nap
       Re-write, re-write, re-write
       Another 1 1/2 mile walk

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

    

     THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR GOING OFF THE RESERVATION. 

  

     Don't read too much into that. I thought about what "going off the reservation" might mean to some people and almost considered just eliminating that statement and starting over but here goes. In my case, I am lamenting having eaten the Chile Relleno plate yesterday and going off my diet. My weight moved back up almost a pound and a quarter. I could have lived with just staying even but gaining wasn't part of the plan. 

     My son Josh claims that he can maintain good eating habits for 17 of 20 days and eat what he wants for 3. I would like to be able to subscribe to that thinking. However, I am not interested in "maintaining" my weight right now. I am determined to lose another 15-20 pounds before I put a flag in the ground and claim this is where I am going to stay. After my triple by-pass operation almost twenty years ago, I weighed 209. Liz thought I was skinny when I got out of the hospital. I felt great - physically and mentally. I would love to float between 205 and 210 pounds. But until I reach that level, there doesn't need to be any lounging in the pool. I already have an invite for dinner Sunday night from Justin and Kara so between now and then I need to put myself back in a P.O.W. camp environment.


     Spoke with Al today, he's in Denver, driving through lots and lots of snow. Spoke with Art today, we've got a date for lunch at Stinson Field when I get back. Spoke to Derrick today, we got a date behind the wood shed when I get back if he doesn't get the Blugatti ready. Spoke with my sister Gayle in England today. She had a great time in Spain and although she loves being with her family and grandson in England she is ready to be back. Thanks to the prevailing breezes or lack thereof, the flights are back on and she will be home Tuesday night. Spoke with Liz today, we got a date for the rest of our lives when I get back. Thank you Alexander Graham Bell for providing me so much joy today.


     It used to be women, now I can't get this Moto Guzzi out of my mind.

     I am on a roll with re-writing Finding the Lost One and even more encouraged now that my friend Art has asked for updated chapters to be forwarded to his IN box. So, let's get to work...

     My overall grade for today: A

     How did you do?        

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

DAY 25


Happy Birthday!

• This morning's weight:      232.8         
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           244*             

         * I forgot to take my insulin last night. 

• Breakfast:                                               

       2 pkgs instant oatmeal

       1 slice whole wheat toast (1 tsp Promise)

       1/2 cup 2% milk

       2 tblsp brown sugar

       

• Activities:

       Re-writing Chapter 7

• Lunch: 12:00 noon 

       La Terraza Mexican Restaurant - El Paso
            Beef Rellano Plate, rice & beans

• Activities:

       Re-write Chapter 8

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     Twenty-five days and almost 14 pounds lost!

  

   
    One of my new "best" friends, Pat Crowe, took me to lunch today for my birthday, gave me a birthday card and a great "Hat."

     The best part was his taking me to his house so that I could see his bike, a vintage Moto Guzzi. WOW! It was love at first sight. Fortunately the battery was dead because if I had sat on it, felt the motor's torque between my legs and managed to convince him to let me take it for a spin around the block... well, I would be half-way to San Antonio by now. There is a good chance I would part with either my wife or the Blugatti for this wonderful classic.


     Well, I guess I'm in enough trouble for tonight. I'm going to hold my tongue now, that is I am not going to eat for the rest of the evening due to my over indulgence at lunch.  


     This was a great day: lots of Birthday wishes, a new great friend, a new "lust" in my life, a new "Biggest Loser Weight Total" for me and a couple of chapters put to bed. If Liz had been here, it would have been one of the best days of my life.

     My overall grade for today: A+

     How did you do?        

ONE DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

DAY 24

• This morning's weight:     233.0         
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           104            
• Breakfast:                                               

       Migas Plate @ home

              2 eggs

              6 tostado chips (broken)

              1/2 serrano chile

              1/4 cup low-fat mozzarella

              1/2 chopped tomato

              2 tblsp chopped red onion

              2 tblsp salsa

              2 tblsp cilantro

• Activities:

       Re-write Finding the Lost One

• Lunch: noon

       Caldo de Pollo

              1/2 skin-on chicken breast, poached

              1 white potato

              1/4 head cabbage

              1/2 white onion

              celery

              cilantro

              carrots

• Activities:

       Meet with Ben Dowdy, pastor of Grace Bible Fellowship

• Snack:

       Microwave Popcorn

• Dinner: Baked Nada
• Activities: More re-writing
• Snack: Cinnamon Graham Crackers - oops, not on the list of approved food.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

    My good friend Al called me from Moab, Utah this morning. He is so excited about seeing the rock formations there. He had planned to visit the north rim of the Grand Canyon this trip but it isn't open yet. I only hope that at age 80 I will still be able to drive across country and enjoy people and the sites the way he is able to. Maybe in the "Blugatti?"

  

     Had a great insightful meeting with Pastor Dowdy at Starbucks. If you listen closely, it is amazing what you can hear from a "Man of God."

     I got out and mowed the lawn just as the wind was building and caught a few sprinkles but they both passed by.


     It appeared that tomorrow, my birthday, was going to be a dark emotional day. So, I prepared, I cleaned all the graffiti from my Facebook Wall and put out a guilt alert to all my friends and family. By midnight the Birthday wishes started flowing in. I look forward with great joy and anticipation to all the birthday wishes tomorrow. (Especially the grandkids Skyping me at 5:30 in the morning and Liz calling me at 5:15 on her way to work. Remember that the time in San Antonio is 1 hr. later than here in El Paso, in Ohio it was two hours later.)

     My overall grade for today: A

     How did you do?        

GOT A RHYTHM GOING HERE

DAY 23

• This morning's weight:      235.6         
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           114           
• Breakfast:                                               

       2 frozen waffles

       1 sliced banana

       Sugar-free Maple Syrup & Promise

       1 cup Earl Grey - yuck!

• Activities:

       Washed the car

       Ran to Walgreens

       Starting re-writing Finding the Lost One

• Lunch: Noon

       Red beans and rice and sausage

• Activities:

       Still re-writing Finding the Lost One

• Dinner: nada
• Activities: nada
• Snack: nada 

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     I've got to quit watching Food Network TV all together. Absolutely no good can possibly come from it. (Especially the show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate.)  All I want to do is grab a snack while I'm watching - something crisp, something sweet, something rich, something juicy... see what I mean?


     So, tonight as a form of punishment or as a treat, I am abstaining from everything except Crystal Light Lemonade. I have already decided to fix some pollo de caldo for tomorrow's lunch. I have a half, skin on, chicken breast, a head of cabbage, a baker potato, celery, onions, bay leaves, tomatoes, garlic, and carrots. Am I leaving anything out? This is so warm and rich and good for you - and low cal! I can't wait.

  

     I got a rhythm going today and whipped out four chapters of re-write. I am very pleased and look forward to hitting the ground running tomorrow right after breakfast. I think migas for breakfast. I have some low fat mozzarella, fresh serrano chiles and cilantro, some broken tostatos in the bottom of the bag, some fresh salsa and some chopped sweet yellow onions. Mix that with a couple scrambled eggs and can you say AYE CHICHUAHUA?
  

     I am going to get a cup cake for my birthday on Friday and celebrate by myself. I will only partake of the cupcake if I can get 333 to come up on the scale Friday morning. Please no telephone calls early Friday morning. You can post all you want on Facebook.

     My overall grade for today: A

     How did you do?        

DON'T EAT THE FISH 'N CHIPS

DAY 22

• This morning's weight:      238.2         
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           130            
• Breakfast:                                               

       Honey Nut Cheerios

       1 cup 2% milk

       X cups coffee - I am removing coffee from my menu

• Activities:

       Worked on projects around the house

       Watered the yard

       Re-write of Chapter 1 - Finding the Lost One

                        

• Lunch: noon

       Red beans and rice

       2 left-over spare ribs

• Dinner:

       Handful of tostados and salsa

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

     I have gotten off track again and it is hard to keep track of what day of the week it is. My time line is winding down and already I fear my goals are not going to be entirely met. But, there is some good news. My eating habits have changed substantially and I don't believe I am going to have a problem keeping off the 12 or so pounds I have already lost. In fact, I still have hopes of reaching -20 pounds by the time I step off the plane in San Antonio. 

  

     I have also learned to perhaps not put so much on my plate for me to accomplish. Just as sometimes I expect too much from friends and family, I also have perhaps expected too much from me. Or, maybe that's just a means of coping with my failures. I have seen the man in the mirror. There are some images I really like, some I see beginning to fade and some coming into focus. If I go home healthier, a better husband and father, a more sensitive and caring friend - then I will have accomplished a great deal.

     My overall grade for today: C+ - sometimes it's okay to be average.

     How did you do?        

IT WAS A GREAT 3-DAY WEEKEND

DAY 21

• This morning's weight:      238.4         
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           80             
• Breakfast:                                               

       2 packs of instant oatmeal - plain

       1/2 cup 2% milk

       1/2 cup orange juice

• Activities:

       Washed clothes, towels, bed linens

       Brought in trash containers

       Two chapters of Girzone's Joshua's Family

• Snack: 

        2 Blueberry Corn muffins

          

• Lunch: 12:30pm

       Cup of Tortilla Soup

       Chicken Green Chile Sandwich 

            at Juske's

       

• Activities

       Slept 4 1/2 hrs on the couch - no sleep last night

• Dinner:

       Leftover Vegetable Beef Soup

                        Paparazzi catches Liz at El Paso Airport

Fresh cut flowers await her at the house

   Al joins us for dinner at Olive Garden in El Paso

                                                 Liz waiting to go to the airport - sadly returning to San Antonio                          

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKEND: 

     

     What a great weekend! Thanks Gayle for the tickets. 

  

     I didn't record the food, activities and snacks for the weekend. All I wanted to do was enjoy a quiet, stress-free weekend with Liz. We read together on the couch, walked around the park, toured some of the city, went to the Olive Garden Saturday night with Al after three rousing rounds of Scrabble. We attended my new favorite church in El Paso on Sunday morning, then enjoyed a last lunch with Al at Appleby's and then Al was off towards Arizona, Utah and Colorado.

     It was all over too soon. And now back to 30 Days to Better. More weight to lose, more reading to do and considerably more writing to do. The Fish and Chips at Appleby's did me in. I was sick all Sunday night. I ended up sleeping most of the day today. The good news is that I am beginning to feel almost normal. My weight didn't suffer too much over the weekend and between naps, I caught up on my reading. Tomorrow I attack the writing.

     My overall grade for today: INC - sent to the principle's office for napping.

     How did you do?