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?        

TONIGHT, TONIGHT WON'T BE JUST ANY NIGHT...

DAY 17

• This morning's weight:      235.2      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           75            
• Breakfast:                                               

       Honey Nut Cheerios - no milk, it's bad!
       A small handful of Strawberries

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Vacuumed
       Took out trash
       Made bed
       Took shower, shaved
             Can you tell my honey's coming tonight?

• Lunch: 12:30pm

       Vegetable beef soup
              from leftover roast/potatoes/carrots
              and add the green beans sans almonds

• Activities:

       Last minute grocery shopping - fresh milk
       Crystal Light and spinach

       Fill my sister's SUV with gas so we can trek 
       across the mountain to see Liz's brother.

• Snack:

       Handful of pistachio nuts

• Activities

       Fed the dogs and cleaned the fish bowl -

            
                                                       everything's ready for Liz's arrival.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

    
     From the moment I got up this morning I haven't been able to think of anything else but Liz's arrival tonight. She wasn't too crazy about me leaving home for a month. She at least saw it as something I needed to do to help my sister out of a bind but I have worked very hard to create other positive results of spending my time here without her. 

  

     I am healthier now, having lost almost 12 pounds since I left San Antonio two weeks ago. And I am capable of walking 2 or 3 miles at a good pace without the need for one or more nitroglycerin tablets. I have read one book in its entirety and parts of two others. I have written two devotionals. (I should have written at least 10-12 by now.) And when she leaves after this weekend I promise to bear down and finish my fourth rewrite of  Finding the Lost One before my sister returns from England. 


     I hope to be able to report some positive things that have occurred for her during this time away from each other. (And not that she and her attorney have completed an inventory of all the assets and the papers are ready for me to sign.)


     Pardon me if I don't thoroughly document the next several days. I will keep you posted to some extent, but I think I will wait until Monday to recap the weekend. I know you will be on pins and needles.

     My overall grade for today: A

     How did you do?        

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH A FRIEND

DAY 16

• This morning's weight:      235.6        
• Fasting Blood Sugar:            77             
• Breakfast:                                               

       1 cup Raisin Bran w/ 2 scoops and extra bran

       1 cup 2% milk

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Washed clothes, towels, sheets, bathroom rugs

       Worked on writing devotionals

• Lunch: Noon

       Tossed salad with Vinegar & Oil

       1/2+ cup tuna fish

       2 Whole Wheat Stone Ground cracker sheets

• Activities:

       Posted new blog on "From Where I Sit"

• Snack:

       More Beer Nuts!

• Activities

       Walked to Dollar General took the long way - 3 miles!

• Dinner:

       Bacon & Egg Sandwich

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     ALMOST 2 FULL POUNDS LOST SINCE YESTERDAY! 


     I now believe that there is nothing wrong with my metabolism. I've just been eating way too much for the past several years and that is why my weight has crept up very slowly. Turns out, if I just cut my consumption back, my weight will burn off. That doesn't mean I'm going back to the fattening stuff though. I still intend to eat healthy; healthy and less — less often and less volume.


     A good friend called me tonight and offered me some real encouragement and good advice. He said my "To Do" list was too long and too comprehensive. He said I was only setting myself up for failure and disappointment. He told me to pick one thing and get it done. And, I did. Thanks, Harry.

  

     I am filled with anticipation as Liz will be arriving in El Paso tomorrow evening. Friday we will be joining her brother Lee for his regular 2 mile mall walk and then have lunch together at a favorite Mexican Food haunt. I have only eaten out once since I've been here and that was Landry's. I got a hankerin' last night for Chico's Tacos as they were featured on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate - with my hands. And the featured item on their menu, the Chico Taco Plate. Normally people order six at a time.

     My overall grade for today: A

     How did you do?        

HALF WAY HOME

DAY 15

• This morning's weight:      237.4       
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           134             
• Breakfast:                                               

      
       Migas:
       2 eggs

       1 small handful of tostado chips

       2 green onions

       2 strips of crispy bacon

       1 Roma tomato, diced
       2 tblsp salsa
       splash of EVOO and viola! Migas.

• Activities:

       Several trips to Walmart and Home Depot

       Dismantling and sanding

       Cutting and staining

       Painting 

• Lunch: Noon

       Leftover tossed salad and vinegar & oil dressing

• Activities:

        Swept garage and patio       

        Moping (That's pronounced with a long "O". There are 2 "Ps" in mopping - get a clue.) 

• Dinner:

         You're not going to believe this:

         BAR NUTS - I got this recipe from a Food Network show,

          The Best Thing I Ever Ate, 

               Walnuts, Cashews, Pecans, Almonds - toast w/ Rosemary

               Toss with brown sugar, cayenne pepper and butter

          I ate so many, I decided it was dinner.

• Snack:

        Fat-free Cottage Cheese

        Ruby Red Grapefruit segments

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

     I began work today on another devotional, this one on "Discipline." It was recommended by my wife. She sent me a devotional she had read online. Of course, last Sunday's sermon was on discipline as well. When I went online to get the definition, I got a pop-up ad for a set of 6 CDs on "Self-Discipline," with a special $1.00 thirty-day introductory offer. If I'm not satisfied I can return them and get my $1.00 back! During the check-out portion of ordering  the CD's online, my computer froze and failed to respond. Was it God telling me not to spend the $39.95 (and that was half-price) but to listen to His Word and become self-disciplined? The online marketing company lost the sale. Look for my new post on Discipline at the "From Where I Sit" blog listed on the right side of this page. It should be posted by this afternoon. If not, maybe God will give me my $1.00 back.

          The restoration of my sister's charcoal grille is what I got accomplished today. It was a labor of love and God's proof to me that I could finish what I started. Now, I just need to apply that to my writing and my weight-loss program.

     My overall grade for today: C with a bullet!

     How did you do?        

WHERE DID I GET OFF TRACK?

DAY 14

• This morning's weight:      236.8      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           94           
• Breakfast:                                               

       Regular instant oatmeal

       1 slice whole wheat toast

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Lunch: 1:00pm

       Leftovers:
       2 pork spare ribs
       2 small pieces of sausage
       1/2 cup potato salad
       2 deviled eggs

• Activities:

       I can't remember, and there in lies the problem.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     I really can't remember what I did today. I know I must have eaten more than what's written down here because my weight crept back up. I Skyped the grandkids in Ohio yesterday. I spoke with Art, Tiffany and Liz on the phone. I did go for a short walk, and then embarrassed by its brevity I double-time march around the house for several minutes, frightening the dogs and exhausting myself. I knew I had failed at staying on task today.

  

     The television came on early and stayed on late. Recorded programs of House, Breaking Bad, Damages and who knows what played out till my mind was numb. I did finish my book, Same Kind of Different As Me. I was exhausted by it. The story had drained me emotionally. It had convicted me about things I've wanted to do, promised to do, but just haven't gotten around to doing.


     I hope that stops now.

     

     My overall grade for today: D-

     How did you do?        

SPENT THE DAY PREPARING A FEAST

DAY 13

• This morning's weight:      236.6      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           89           
• Breakfast:                                               

       1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios

       1 cup 2% milk

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Grace Bible Fellowship

       Preparations for Dinner:
            Potato salad
            Deviled eggs
            Pinto Beans
            Tossed Salad
            Made fresh salsa
            Made Guacamole
            Finished off ribs/sausage
            Made BBQ Sauce
            Prepared peach pie
            Prepared cornbread muffins and biscuits

• Lunch: 5:00pm

       

• Activities:

            Enjoyed great food, great fellowship
            Claudia did what she does best - cleaned the kitchen.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

    
     The day began with wonderful fellowship and a great message at Grace Bible Fellowship but soon after the day became all about food... and friends and more fellowship... and then I was full, very, very full.

  

     The exciting news is that even with all the forbidden food, I gained only.2 pounds! So, back to the grindstone. And, back to writing. 

     

     My overall grade for today: A-

     How did you do?        

10 POUNDS IN 11 DAYS!

DAY 12

• This morning's weight:      236.8        
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           133            
• Breakfast:                                               

       2 slices crisp bacon

       1 cup Kashi Lean Cereal

       1 cup skim milk

       3 sliced strawberries

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Put pinto beans on to slow cook
       Washed and dried clothes

       Went to Walgreen's for nitro patch Rx

       Went to Albertson's for tonights dinner out

       Watered backyard

                                                

• Lunch: 12:30pm

       Pastrami w/Swiss on Rye

       Tossed salad leftovers

       3 Zesty Pickle Spears

• Activities:

       Smoking ribs - spare and short and sausage

       Beans are done
       Preparing to do wild rice with toasted cashews for group dinner tonight
       Need to shower before tonight, I smell of mesquite smoke

• Snack

       grapes

       Crystal light lemonade

• Activities
• Blood Sugar before dinner: N/A
• Dinner:  9PM

        Pork Wellington:

           Split tenderloin of pork, stuffed with apricots, then wrapped with

           proccuito, puffed pastry and fresh herbs served with asparagus and

           wild rice.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     Unfortunately this is turning into a food blog. It was intended to be more about writing and reading and changing choices and character. One area I certainly have succeeded in is losing weight. Ten pounds! And, I have been able to occupy my time with things other than eating and television.


     I need to focus more on my writing and finish reading the books I brought with me. I only have several chapters remaining of Same Kind of Different as Me. I must say I was a little disappointed in the author dragging out the agonizing death to cancer of one of the main characters over 12 chapters. I suppose it was central to the story but it drove me deeper and deeper into depression. Now it has only a few chapters to lift my spirits before the final pages.


     Having dinner with Justin and Kara at their friends house was quite a diversion. There were eight of them in all. They meet Saturday nights to enjoy an exotic meal and a wildly diverse discussion. They are all teachers in their thirties. They all seem to share an affection for animals (There were five cats in the host's home) and a disdain for the school system, students and their parents. Which is why I edited the group photo and their names from these pages. 


     It was an entertaining evening — a conglomeration of Twilight Zone, The Simpson's and an assortment of reality TV shows.
  

     I look forward tomorrow to church at Grace Bible Fellowship and an early evening (5pm) dinner with Steve, Claudia, Pat, Kara and Justin. We're having a good old-fashioned Texas BBQ!

     My overall grade for today: A-

     How did you do?