Year 2, Day 93: Turkey

I am not a big turkey fan anymore. I'm just not. I don't mind Thanksgiving and even other big holiday meals where it might be served. I used to enjoy the "Thanksgiving Sandwich"—turkey, stuffing, cranberry on a bulkie with mayonnaise all year long. Actually, I LOVED that sandwich, and no one made it better than a lil' sandwich shop called Pugsley's in Brookline (RIP). On reflection, I used to eat turkey sandwiches everywhere I went, but due to the wild disparity in sliced turkey quality, I was known to inquire whether the turkey was "off a bird." I realize now that that was idiotic way to determine whether or not the turkey was carved from a breast attached to a carcass with bones or came wrapped in cellophane from Boar's Head. But except for Emily rolling her eyes, no one came up with a better way to ask. Why was I so concerned? Because I was on a constant mission to avoid eating Turkey Loaf— the absolute WORST kind of deli-turkey there is. It's often foisted upon airplane travelers and other captive lunch audiences. Anyway, for about six years now, I just have not had the appetite for turkey like I once had, I'm not sure why. In fact, I had taken to calling things that were repellent "turkey." As in that's so "Turkey." But I think it has something to do with the fact that ham just doesn't last as long in your fridge like ham does. I like ham better because it's cured, so it doesn't taste old or get slimy quite like turkey does. Ooof, I have stop to writing about turkey now.

Breakfast
1 cup Kashi go Lean
1/2 cup Heritage Ancient Flakes
1 cup USM
Tea
1/2 cup blueberries

Snack
2 oz. cheese 50%
Celery with Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's ($4.64)
Red Leaf, Red Pepper, Red Onion
Broccoli, Chick Peas, Feta, Chicken

Dinner:
Red, Yellow and Orange Peppers
Soy-Snap Peas
1 Piece Dry, Awful Turkey Tip
1 oz. Cracker Barrel Cheese

So it is no surprise that when I came home and Emily tried to serve me turkey tips, I was literally not able to do it. This is first and foremost because these were specifically bad AND old turkey tips. I have eaten freshly cooked turkey tips, and when they are grilled, they can be very good. The funny part is that the reason Emily was serving me the turkey tips in the first place was because she had tried to give them to BOTH kids and they refused. Really made me proud of the kids.

In all fairness to Emily, who is a wonderful cook and obviously my partner in this whole thing, the turkey tips were purchased from Sudbury Farms (which is neither a farm nor in Sudbury, discuss).

Year 2, Day 92: "I Got a Rock"

Today I planned to meet some old cronies of mine for breakfast. We had worked together at The Coolidge Corner Theatre, which was a high point in a somewhat pointless career. We met at Zaftigs in Coolidge Corner, and while I tried to keep on the program, my two buddies had mimosas and french toast with bananas. I must say I was pretty envious. Sometimes in those situations I'm reminded of the Charlie Brown Halloween special where every kid is comparing what they got from each house and one kid says "I got a lollipop" and the other kid says "I got a chocolate bar" and Charlie Brown says "I got a rock." Of course, this is the same result every time for poor Charlie Brown. So that's what I hear in my head when other folks are ordering the high fat, very delicious breakfasts. Like all breakfast meetings, it went too quickly and then there we were waving Brenda and Eddy goodbye.

Pre-breakfast
4 Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwiches (comprised of two thin slices of banana and smooth peanut butter)
Green Tea

Breakfast
Lenox Omelet (Goat Cheese, Fire Tomatoes and Scallions)
2 Slices Canadian Bacon
1 Strawberry
1 Slice Cantaloupe
2 small slices of cooked potato

Lunch: Russo's ($5.21)
Red Leaf, Red Pepper, Red Onion
Broccoli, Chick Peas, Feta, Chicken

Dinner
Pork Cutlets
Cabbage Miss Emily
Peppadews

Now that the warm weather is here I'm hoping there will be more walks during the week, though today it was threatening to be so hot as to be unbearable to walk in the heat, especially in work clothes. I remember from last season it became necessary to have a second set of clothes specifically for walking. This was mainly because you would need long pants, etc.for the frigid air-conditioned temperature of the office. We have not yet found the magic way to adjust the temperature, easy as this sound like it should be on paper.

Year 2, Day 91: Working it Out

When you're a parent, and on a diet, you've really removed nearly all of the vices you could have once engaged in. Mostly because they all have side effects, such as keeping you up late or making you sleep late, neither of which you can do regularly when little ones bang on your teakettle before the sun comes up. So what do you do when you have the urge to splurge? Go on an iTunes shopping spree, naturally. I had a gift certificate from a special person in my life (for whom I wrote a recommendation for graduate school), so it wasn't even like spending real money. I blew nearly all of it on bunch of junk-food pop, including THREE songs from American Idol. Then, iPod loaded up, I went to the gym for a record second time this weekend and had more elliptical time. I have to say, it was great. I see why people to go to the gym multiple times in the week— but I'm still not sure I know how to break to the code to make this happen. I realize I complain about this a lot, but it takes me a long time.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/2 Cup Heritage Ancient Flakes
1 Cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 Small Banana

Snack
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Coffee
6 Sticks Celery
3 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch
Salad: Tuna, Celery, Peppers
Feta, Broccoli, Romaine

Dinner
Turkey Cutlets a la Emily
Broccoli
Peppadews

Late in the day (2ish) we decide to all go the pool. Naturally, this takes hours because you have douse everybody with suntan lotion and double-diapers and bring water and snacks. It doesn't make for a spontaneous thing. It wasn't too bad from a crowd perspective, and I must say that it's been a long time since I wasn't afraid to take off my shirt and get in the pool. I'm not quite at the point where I'm proud to do it, but at least I was able to do what several heavy-set men were not. I did notice a lot of them wading fully into the pool with their shirts on. Is this giving up for them, or just another sign of our slipping standards? Perhaps excited by my new found un-shame, I decided to try and swim a lap. The first half very easy, a cake walk. The second half, not so much. I tried a second lap but after half of that I knew it was time to throw in (or out) the towel. Still, a good day for the exercise brigade.

Year 2, Day 90: The Beatles and the Next Generation

Most people spent their holiday weekend mowing the lawn or doing other manly things. I decided to take Ruby to go see her cousin play softball up north. Really, it was a perfect day for it. It wasn't too hot and there was a nice breeze blowing. My nephew, by the way, hit a double and caught an inning-ending fly ball from the other team while I watched, so it was very worth it. In my short, but miserable time as a Little Leaguer, I don't think I did either of those for the entire season. But this was mostly because I was so busy pouting on the bench. I got up, had my usual breakfast and then Ruby and I vamoosed in the new Mini-Van (she only wants to go everywhere in the mini-van. It is an insult to be carried around in anything else). We had breakfast with my mom, brother, sister-in-law and niece and nephew.

Breakfast
2.5 slices Turkey Bacon
Two Eggs, Over Easy
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
Coffee
1 slice balthazar multi-grain bread
romaine/cabbage/feta salad

Brunch/Lunch
Black and Blue Tuna
1 bite of scallion pancake
bok choy
small caesar salad
some fruit (2 blackberries, 2 very thin slices of honeydew)

Dinner
Hamburger
Peppadews
Pickles

My nephew is in the middle of a Beatles fascination and grilled me extensively on my knowledge.
"How many Beatles albums do you have?"
"Why did they break up?"
"Did John Die?"
Though I was able to answer all of these questions by chapter and with verse, I decided our morning would be better spent if we asked the local talent (aka bassist and guitarist singing at our brunch) if they knew any Beatles songs. They did, and they played: "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket to Ride" and "I Need You." My nephew, obsessed with "Sgt. Pepper" was enthralled but not quite sure that these were Beatles songs. Ruby, having just listened to two out of three on the car ride, was probably comparing the versions in her head (you can guess who won). The guitarist told us that he played in them in order, as they were on the "Help" album. This drew blank, but appreciative stares from the kids. We rejoined the brunch table.

Year 2, Day 89: I Renounce Minado

Let me start by saying that many of my most favorite brunch memories are from being seated at an "All You Can Eat" buffet. Why just thinking about the phrase practically brings a tear to my eye. The Blue Room, the Hong Kong, The Spinnaker, Aku-Aku, all of these places in Boston and their surrounds were regular on my non-stop tour of SEW— Simply Eating Whatever I wanted to. I even dragged a bunch friends to "The Olde Country Buffet," which is populated by octogenarians and basically serves the menu of a hospital cafeteria.

In those heady-buffet days there were many discussions about how many times to go back to the bar, or whether you would mix with appetizer fare with entree fare; whether to mix sweet with savory; whether to let foods mix or to keep them separate. Many great weddings too, have featured at least one segment that features an 'all you can eat' component. Lastly, my ole' buddy Courtney and I used to frequent a place called Redbones in Somerville, MA where lunch was an all you can eat affair. Imagine if you will, having that "Thanksgiving Feeling" once a week, and then having to go back to work— real work, not just desk-jockey stuff. That's what I did. When you are on the SEW program, and your wallet is the lightest thing about you, "All You Can Eat" is music to your ears. It helps to be young, and to be active. When you're an older, slightly more affluent, suburban-drive-everywhere kind of guy who absolutely MUST watch what he eats, there really is no room for this kind of establishment on your dance card. There is just too much temptation, and even at my best I realize that I may be committed to the diet, but I remember Dale Carnegie's advice: "The best way to win an argument is to avoid having it." That's how I feel about that situation. I'm better off to avoid it in all reasonable ways. Obviously, I'm not going to avoid weddings, but I don't have to 'borrow trouble' by seeking out the endless buffet.

This dinner at Minado (which by the way is a fine place and apparently, a regional chain) reminded me that my next trip to Vegas will also be sadly disappointing; there are "All You Can Eat" buffets behind nearly every slot machine and degenerate out there. I suppose I'll just have to stick to losing at the poker table, if I'm committed to losing at the scale.

[long audible sigh]

I renounce you Minado, and all the "All You Can Eat Buffets" in America.

Breakfast
1 Egg
1/2 Chicken Sausage
Cheese
Green Tea

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
10 Grapes
1/2 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch:
Pastrami, Corned Beef
Cole Slaw
Sour Tomatoes
Pickles
Peppadews

Dinner: Minado (again)
Salmon/Yellow Tail Sashimi
Chicken/Shrimp Yakitori
Seaweed Salad
Spinach Salad
Assorted Other Proteins and Vegetables
Shrimp Cocktail

Of course the only reason I could even GO to Minado is that I did 55 minutes on the elliptical, starting slow, around 4.5mph and getting it up to the 7's by the end. According to the LifeFitness machine, which for all I know is as unreliable as all Diebold voting machines, I burned off 550 calories. However, I probably consumed an extra 550 calories today with the deli meats and "All You Can Eat" buffet, so the day, at best, was a wash.

Today at the gym I thought I would only make it for four miles, but an amazing thing happens when you're working out. Aside from my aforementioned predisposition to get choked up when I hear the queerest pop songs, I'm often calculating the time and exercise in my head, like so:

First Five Minutes: I'm only going to do a half hour today.

First 20 Minutes I think I'll be able to do the whole thing today.

35 Minutes: What the hell, I can push it.

45 Minutes: Limits, what limits!

Year 2, Day 88: The Brotherhood of Traveling Pants

Today I put on a pair of jeans, size 38 that Emily helped me buy last year when Iost 30 pounds. To my amazement and horror, they were like circus pants. I didn't have anything else to wear so I cinched the belt to notch #4 and gamely went about my day, but like a hanging thread in your mouth after a reckless hot-pizza-eating accident, I was aware of it all day, and it bothered me. When I got home I tossed them into the giveaway pile. It was only a few months ago that I parted with my size 40 jeans (that I loved). I hear a lot of stories about people who keep their 'fat pants.' I do not want to keep my 'fat pants'. I have a hard enough time both keeping my closet organized and choosing what to wear every day. I also NEED to get rid of the 'fat pants' because I need all the pressure I can get to keep on keeping on.


Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
4 Slices Ham
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Green Tea

Snack
1 Bag Popcorn
5 Stalks Celery
2 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Tantawan (A Thai Restaurant)
Tomato-Shrimp-Mushroom Soup
Beef Salad
Chicken with Peanuts and Lettuce

Mid-Afternoon Snack
2 Slices Pastrami
2 Slices Corned Beef
1 Pickle, 1 Sour Tomato

Dinner
Pork Cutlet
Green Beans
Guacamole
Bok Choy
1 Glass Yellow Tail Red Wine

My Mom arrived this afternoon, through the unbelievably drenchy downpour. She brought with her (at my request) meats from far away lands: mutton and lamb (er...) pastrami and corned beef, and a poultry mart chicken. Now if any of you know anything about New York Deli, you'll know that it's nearly impossible to resist it when you've been without for so long. Guilty as charged—both for bringing it in the house and for consuming it. I must admit that as of this writing, I don't feel all that swell, so maybe tomorrow it'll be off to the gym.

Year 2, Day 87: Open Letters to People at Russo's

Dear Parking Lot People:
First of all, don't park there. It's the place where people go into the market, the entrance. That's what you are blocking. It's not just a place to idle so we can inhale your exhaust. Someone, and I'm not saying who— is going to wheel a shaky-cart at your precious car and then you'll be sorry.

You Breakfast
Joseph's Oat Bran, Low-Carb Tortilla
1 Egg
1/2 Chicken Chorizo Sausage
Sprinkling of Cheese
1 Tablespoon Salsa
Green tea

Snack
2 oz. 50% Cheddar Jalapeno
12 oz. Coffee (half decaf)
6 Stalks of Celery, 2 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's ($6.21)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper
chick peas, chicken, feta
broccoli, olives, pepperocini
oil/vinegar

Dinner:
Emily's Salmon
Balsamic Leeks

Dear Salad Bar People:
First, don't crowd the salad foil bottoms and plastic tops. It's pretty obvious which goes with which. Take one and move on. Then, don't come wrong way down the aisle. And don't, whatever your purpose in life is bring YOUR CART DOWN THE AISLE. It can barely contain me and the two people vying to get ahead of me to get the last pieces of undercooked chicken. They're MINE because I WAS HERE FIRST. That's the law of the salad-bar jungle, do YOU GET IT? Don't pretend like you're "just trying to get some carrots" by entering from THE WRONG SIDE and then try to KEEP GOING. I WILL BLOCK YOU. I WILL ALLOW OTHERS TO GET TO THE CHICKEN. YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR CHICKEN. And so what if I take a long time with the broccoli? I like little pieces. I have to pick them out. You can suck your teeth and tap your foot all day. You think I don't know what you're doing when you reach out to grab the tongs on the cucumbers? I know you're "SENDING ME A MESSAGE." I REJECT YOUR MESSAGE. I am here to get salad. Once we get to the pasta station, you'll be free, because I am not loading up on $3.99/pound carb-laden pasta! I am here for my health. Good day to you!

Year 2, Day 86: Multi-Grain Tostitos

Another trip to the doctor, another visit to detecto, though again, the timing, after lunch, late in the day, I won't tell you for sure but I see that 185 is going to be a tough plateau for me to break through. She gave me the go ahead to get back on the exercise track, which is good, since I've already been on it. The D.G. went for a walk today, but it was not very brisk, it was more just a walk, which sometimes, like today, is OK. I'm hoping to get in two workouts over this holiday weekend. Maybe it will be the start of something big.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean!
1 Cup USM
1 Small Banana

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
7 Stalks Celery, 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Feta and Chicken

Dinner
Black Sesame Trout
Emily's Cauliflower

On the junk food front, Tostitos has introduced a new Multi-Grain chip, which promises to be tough, pulpy, and feature a taste like cardboard. Naturally, I am excited like a little puppy as the world catches back on to the proper way to make food—with real grains, and whole foods. They still won't be good for you, but they just might lose their 'avoid' status for South Beachers.

Year 2, Day 85: You Had a Bad Day

It's true, I'll admit it— I am an American Idol fan, though many people out there might have reason to believe it's just more pabulum aimed at dumbing down the masses. For whatever reason, it is guilty pleasure that I indulge in. Sorry. But for some reason, I made the mistake of agreeing to switch cable providers (from Comcast to RCN) on the Tuesday of the big finale show! Naturally, Fox was the ONLY channel that didn't work. This sent me into an apoplectic fit of rage as I feverishly paced back and forth, pushing buttons to try and make the channel come on. Ruby was laying next to me on the couch, our legs intertwined, and she said "I wish I could fix your show." (Very sad commentary on my fathering there). Finally, between the support person I got 10 minutes after I called and my thought of switching to the Hi-Def version of Fox, I managed to TIVO half the show, but it was too late— the best part was already over. It had been already been quite a day, as Emily and I achieved her dream of getting a mini-van, completing our transformation from cool young hipsters, to square suburban adults. Spent, I collapsed myself into the recliner, with Magnolia in my lap eating her very soggy "Mighty Bites" cereal. And in the corniest of all ways, I realized that she means everything, and everything else really means so little.

Breakfast
Joseph's Protein Tortilla
2 Eggs
1/2 Chicken Chorizo Sausage
Sprinkling of Cheese
Salsa
Green tea

Snack
2 oz. 50% Cheddar Jalapeno
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee
6 Stalks of Celery, 2 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's ($6.21)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper
chick peas, chicken, feta
broccoli, olives, pepperocini
oil/vinegar

Dinner: Minado Sushi
Salmon, Yellowtail Sashimi
Spinach Salad
Seaweed Salad
1 Piece Unagi Nigiri
1 Bite of Whitefish Wrapped Shrimp
2 Sticks Yakitori
1 Gyoza
Edamame Salad
Cucumber Salad
Shrimp & Cocktail Sauce

Now there is a lot of exciting talk about food today. For starters, I realized with these low-carb tortillas my brother brought me, I can realize my dream of recreating the McDonald's Breakfast Burrito nearly every morning. IT WAS FANTASTIC. I must use only one egg, though, because the wrap is small and the sandwich got a bit unwieldy. Be-Bop burrito also had something with eggs and chorizo, if I remember correctly, that I always got whenever I went there.

Tonight, Emily noted that she would not try and liberate a car from the dealership on an empty stomach. There were other places, but we sashayed into Minado, a place where the fiscally responsible dieter is punished because the only way to get value out of an 'all you can eat buffet' is eat two to three times what you normally eat. Since that was neither advisable nor possible for me, I just had to pay a lot for a little, but it was still a great time and I advise anyone who's just come from a desert island and craves Japanese food to head right there.

Year 2, Day 84: Stuffed French Toast

Headslapping news from California.

Stuffed French Toast Debuts at IHOP Restaurants Nationwide
GLENDALE, Calif., March 4-- IHOP (NYSE: IHP) is cooking up some new "stuff" this spring, as the family favorite has its grills hot for Stuffed French Toast, a delectable treat that combines the tradition of comfort food with an element of surprise. A limited time special, IHOP's new Stuffed French Toast is available at locations nationwide now through April 27, 2003.
Developed by IHOP's executive chef Monte Loiacono, Stuffed French Toast
features an abundance of whipped cream cheese inside a fluffy slice of
cinnamon raisin bread dipped in IHOP's special French toast batter and grilled to a golden brown. Guests may choose from a variety fruit toppings, including strawberries, blueberries and cinnamon apples along with whipped topping to crown their Stuffed French Toast. Available as part of a combo meal with breakfast favorites such as eggs, hash browns and bacon or sausage, Stuffed French Toast can be ordered for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
"Stuffed French Toast is part of our continuing effort to bring new and unique products to IHOP guests," said Gregg Nettleton, chief marketing officer, IHOP Corp. "Stuffed French Toast gives our loyal guests a new reason to visit IHOP this spring, and it also encourages those who may not have come to IHOP lately, to rediscover us again."
Stuffed French Toast is available for a limited time only at participating
locations.

No word about whether the untouched boysenberry syrup will continue to be available at tables. Also, I noted that nutritional values were not included with the press release.

Breakfast
1 Cup Ancient Heritage Flakes
1/4 of a banana
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 Cup Green Tea

Snack
1 Large Dunkin Donuts Coffee (Mostly Decaf)
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
3 Stalks Celery, 2 tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's ($5.47)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper
chick peas, chicken, feta
broccoli, olives, pepperocini
oil/vinegar

Dinner
Chicken Breast
Emily's Krazy Kabbage

Even though it was a Monday following a weekend of eating like crazy, I got back on the horse and moseyed up to the salad bar. This morning I realized how much more cereal and banana I wanted; I am experimenting with eating my portion, then just living with it. It's hard, and something I repeatedly most come to grips with. I sure miss the days of just eating the cereal out of the box with a wild abandon.

Year 2, Day 83: Jill's New House

Went to the gym today, in the hope that I could dispel the past few days of eating. I did five miles on the elliptical, but I did it in 65 minutes. According to the Life Fitness machine, I I burned off almost 600 calories. I'm not sure whether it's been the rain or what, but the gym has been fairly empty these past few weeks, and it has been great not to feel rushed. I have been taking it slower on the elliptical because of both the accident and just not being 100%, so I've been at about 4.5 miles an hour instead of in the 6-7 mph zone. If I am to believe the machine, this keeps me in the 'fat burning zone' instead of the 'cardio' zone which is good, because I need a lot more 'fat burning' than 'cardio.'

Breakfast
3 Eggs over easy
1/2 Chicken Chorizo Sausage Link
Coffee

Snack
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
11 Snapea Peas
3 Celery Stalks, 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch:
93% Sirloin Hamburger
Peppadews
Pickles
Salad with Feta

Dinner @ Jill's
Standing Rib Roast
Mushrooms
Sauteed, Carmelized Onions
Cauliflower a la Jill
Fiddleheads

We arrived ATt Jill and Sis' new house but couldn't leave the car due to a sudden, freak, seven minute hail storm. Huge, and what I could only imagine were hurtful frozen pieces of ice were falling from the sky in a biblical manner that scared both of my children, and kept us prisoners in the car until it subsided. The winds were so hard that even Sis and Jill knew they had to stay inside until the storm abated.

Then we went to see Jill's new house, which is by every standard, breathtaking and wonderful. They really did something amazing there, but it's no surprise since Jill is not only hard working but has great taste, so I would expect nothing else. On top of it, one of the reasons I love her is that she is the embodiment of this particular New York style that I relish, so naturally everything she does is something I'm going to love. This goes for the dinner, which was SoBe friendly, if only it had been eaten in moderate portions. So much for those 'extra' 600 calories. Glad I had them to spare. On the way home, Emily revealed that she is determined to make the same rib roast...one day.

Year 2, Day 82: Dim Sum

The day after poker is usually a slow-paced day, both from a physical movement as well as an eating perspective. Dim Sum, in theory is perfect for me because it allows you to eat a lot of different kinds of things, but there is not too much of any one thing. Of course, the wildly obvious downside is that everything is a carb. If it's not a carb, like Crab claws, it is deep fried. If it's not a carb like red beans, they add carbs to it. It's really an exercise in caution, but mostly, in suspending nine of out of ten tenets of the South Beach diet. On the plus side, we didn't really have any dinner.

Breakfast
3 Eggs over easy
1/2 Chicken Chorizo Sausage Link
Coffee

Snack
Strawberries
1 6 oz V-8.

Lunch/Dim Sum
Crab Claw
Eggplant with Shrimp
Pork Bun
Teriyaki Beef Stick

Dinner
Salad
Spinach
1 Bite of Hamburger
1 Bite of Ham
2 Bites Beef Stew

I can't remember the last time since I've been on the diet that I ate so much that I still wasn't hungry at the next meal. I'm not sure that's a very good thing, but I know that I desperately need to go the gym tomorrow. I noticed, with some concern that there are not a lot of vegetarian options on the Dim Sum menu. I'm glad we only do Dim Sum about once a year!

Year 2, Day 81: Poker

As always on the day of Poker, even going back to my amazingly irresponsible pre-SoBe poker days, I am always thinking about my day's diet. Knowing that I'll eat my weight in nuts, I try to strategize about my second snack, which every day this week has been celery and super chunky peanut butter. Studying my carbs-bible, I determine that Strawberries are a great fruit from a low carb, low-sugar perspective and I have those. I also had a very SoBe friendly lunch with an old friend. She was also sort of watching it, so we went to Legal Seafoods. She told me she was going to have the 'bread (the Legal Seafood Rolls) for dessert." True to her word, she did.

Breakfast
Two Eggs
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
Green Tea

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
~1 cup strawberries

Lunch: Legal Seafoods
Mixed Greens Salad
Tuna/Shrimp Combo
Broccoli with Cheese
Coffee

Poker/Dinner
2 slices Pepperoni w/ Cheese
Cashews, Almonds & Pistachios
Three Roll Mops: Corned Beef, Turkey, Swiss cheese, romaine Lettuce
Peppadews, Pickles
Cole Slaw

Nuts, Nuts and Nuts. There were a lot of nuts. Maybe not as many as there have been in the past, but there was a lot. And corned beef is not a 'fat-free lunch meat.' So it was a big eating night, any way you slice it. After all that, there was still blueberry pie, ice cream and whipped cream. For me, the guilty pleasure of a cigar and staying up late is enough. But some people just need a little more (they had seconds). As it was, I was the big winner, which I often attribute to my being able to go on a brisk walk the day of the game. But this time it was just simply 'getting the cards.'

Year 2, Day 80: Cauliflower

I didn't mention that me and another Domaniac went for a VERY brisk walk yesterday. She wanted to run, but didn't quite feel up to it. I must admit, I struggled a bit to keep up with her. But it was good.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
4 slices Ham
Tea

Snack
16 oz coffee (12 oz. decaf)
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
3 Stalks Celery, 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch: Won Ton Kitchen
Chicken with Eggplant
House Special Egg Drop Soup

Dinner
Magnolia's Cauliflower
Pork Cutlets

I may have to reevaluate my relationship with Chinese Food, and especially at Won Ton Kitchen. It has been especially gloopy lately, which I interpret as being loaded with corn starch, sugar and flour and other things that it shouldn't have and doesn't need. I do love chinese eggplant, but at what cost? By contrast, Emily debuted a cauliflower treatment that was out of this world. Even Ruby gave it the nod, which brings her total number of vegetables she can eat to three.

Year 2, Day 79: Tow Yard Roughs

It's funny how things work out sometimes. Through a series of events, mostly my crashing of my car, I am now driving a rented car that has a MP3 player. I have never seen this feature in a car before, but I was determined to give it a spin. So at work, I decide to just randomly throw some MP3s on a data-disc and try it out. Literally as I am burning a disc I get a call from Emily telling me I have to go take the license plates off my totaled car so they can junk it. If we leave the plates on, they'll charge us for storage. So I'm driving over to the tow yard, where tattooed men act manly and tough and lift up cars with a single hand, with grease embedded under their fingernails. As it would happen, as I'm driving up to the tow yard, the song playing was "Old Fashioned Wedding" from "Annie Get Your Gun." Though the event of consigning my car to the scrapheap of history was sad, I had to laugh at how badly I would have been pummeled within an inch of my life if any of those guys had heard me singing along with Gershwin as I got out of my car. Luckily they were all watching some nonsense on television. I borrowed a screwdriver and went about my business.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
4 slices Ham
Tea

Snack
16 oz coffee (12 oz. decaf)
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
3 Stalks Celery, 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch: Peter's Kitch
Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken

Dinner:
Emily's Sesame Tilapia
Leeks
Broccoli

Now into the so-called Phase Two of South Beach again I remember a lot of time spent waiting to eat. Though Emily says I could be eating free foods (read: celery, daikon radish perhaps) all the time, the truth is most of the time I want to eat it's not always about hunger. I keep it to a snack at 10:30 and one at 3:30. I realize that during these last few weeks that I gained weight I had skipped the snack. Obviously, that doesn't help, but then neither does eating Teddie Peanut Butter out of the promotional gallon.

Year 2, Day 78: Whoa Boy

Fresh off my 'success' I have a big breakfast and realize I better watch it or I'll be right back where I was. Since I'm used to having eggs and meat, if I'm going to have bread, I'm going to have it be a substitute for one of them, not an addition. I could probably eat the bread plain, it's just that good. I still struggle with how to vary my diet. If I was a five-star chef, I'd be having great breakfasts that include squash. But personally, I hate squash, so it's back to eggs. I used to eat peanut butter and bread, but then I'd have no snack to look forward to. I'm very wary about introducing too many carbs like popcorn or fruits like apples or sugars like yogurt back into the mix. Let's see if I can break the 180s. I think it's basically two weeks more on Phase One plus bread from here on in.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain Bread
2 Soft-Boiled Eggs
2 Slices Ham

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half decaf)
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
3 Celery Stalks, 2 Tablespoons S.C. Peanut Butter

Lunch:
Greek Salad
The Inside of 1/2 a chicken sandwich
the inside of 1/2 a ham & cheese sandwich

Dinner:
Emily's Sesame Salmon
Leeks

Then there's the whole meat controversy. Well, it's misleading to call it call it a controversy. It's really my desire to disbelieve the facts that red meat and pork are higher in calories than chicken and seafood. Sure I know it's true, but I don't want to believe it. That's the controversy. This Friday is poker, the ever-looming diet-buster, followed our neighborhood's traditional dim sum luncheon, where I will be tested by having delicious, carby things foisted upon me. I only hope, in the slightly hung-over AM, I am able to resist.

Year 2, Day 77: Detecto Says "185"— Again

Though Donna, the friendly nurse insisted it was "183-ish" and reminded me that I should subtract a pound for clothes. I can honestly say my clothes probably weigh a pound, but I've never really subtracted for them, so unless I'm desperate, or about to start lying to you readers, I can say that it was 185. That's a relief. I can live with that. I need to live with that. It's good to be back.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain Bread (YUMMMY)
2 slices Whole Foods Virginia Ham
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Snack
1 LARGE Dunkin Donuts Coffee (Half Decaf)
1 Joy Stick
3 Stalks Celery, 2 with 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch: Chinese
Spicy Green Beans with Chicken
House Special Egg Drop Soup with Chicken, Shrimp and Tofu

Dinner
Emily's Lightly Fried Chicken Breast
Krazy Kabbage
Guaca-Em-Mole

Now that I'm back to my Year 2 success weight, I suppose I can see how I went astray. I started adding just way too much stuff back too often and in volumes that were too big. I was having about four or five bananas a week on top of all that cereal, and bread. I was having soy milk in my coffee and nearly every day I was having a plain yogurt with peanut butter. And every day I was having more peanut butter. Longtime readers know that my goal is to both get into the 170s and to add more regular exercise to my regimen. It took me nearly 14 years to get so far out of shape that I feared for my life, and just a year to get into the best shape of my life. My sign is Cancer, which means I move sideways, slowly. I need to do things deliberately if they are to last, so in terms of this whole healthy lifestyle thing, I'm just getting warmed up. Unless we go to war with another country (I won't name any). If that happens, I'm buying up the cookie dough. Until then, it's vive la celery!

Year 2, Day 76; Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

Though I have mentioned it several times throughout my blogscape, it bears repeating. The three mothers in my life that have been responsible for being and staying on the program— Dr. Parent (a new Mom), my wife Emily, and my MOM. I realize that one of the things you desperately need when you're attempting a life change is the support of those around you, and I certainly have it. For that, I am most grateful. To show my support to my wife, Ruby and I baked Banana-Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Muffins this morning. Neither of my kids liked them, and I had only had a tiny bit of one. Don't ask why I'm obsessed with muffins, I can't tell you.


Breakfast
Two Eggs Over Easy
75% of 1 Chicken Chorizo Sausage Link
Tea

Snack
Coffee
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
2 Sticks Celery, with Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch:
90% Hamburger
Peppadews
Bubbies' Pickles
Tomatoes
Greek Salad with Cabbage, Feta

Dinner
Pork Tenderloin
Broccoli

Today I returned to the gym after a two week absence. I was little worried about my stamina—I wasn't sure how long I would be able to make it, and at what speed. I started slow—about 4.0mph, down from my usual 6.8ish. After a while, I got into the groove and got back into the fives, but I consciously decided to keep it low and slow. I ended up doing four miles in about 55 minutes, which is much slower for me, but I figured what with the accident and all I'd best take it easy. I'm happy to report that the gym has been fixed up very nicely and that there was no wait today for machines and that adding three machines has meant that no one is standing there, looking at their watch, impatiently holding a gym-machine wipe while you try to wrap up your work on the cardio. Lastly, today is the end of the two weeks of Phase One and if the torrential floods don't prevent me, I will try and get weighed tomorrow before I begin my slow, and cautious descent back into phase two.

Year 2, Day 75: Post-Trauma

Can't say all was well when I got up this morning. I was quite tired feeling and not very hungry. Unlike most mornings, I puttered around for about an hour before breakfast time. I did eat, and then sensing a 'shut-in' weekend, Ruby and I set out for the toy store where I picked up a checkers set, connect four and at Ruby's request—some unbelievably generic "Frog Game." I had "Mouse Trap" in my hand and a joystick that lets you play "Frogger", "Ms Pac-Man" and others for $20.00. I put them back and decided that three games would be enough for the weekend. Another sign of my slow, but obviously arriving, maturity.

Breakfast
3 Egg Omelet:
4 Slices of Ham, Broccoli and Jarlsberg Cheese
Tea

Snack
Coffee
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Lunch:
Romaine, Cabbage, Feta & Tuna Salad

Dinner:
Chicken Breast
Emmy's Bok Choy
A Few Peppadews

Perhaps due to the accident, or a life-hangover due to the fact that the world is a dreadful, weary and unprofitable place, I was forced to take to my bed for a two hour nap more befitting a man twice my age. To use more worn-out cliches I slept like the dead. I resolve to go to the gym tomorrow.

Year 2, Day 74: Car Accident!

This morning, following an especially disturbing NPR report regarding the fact that "there were no longer any checks and balances on the executive wing of our government," I apparently did not see a car coming through one of the world's most dangerous intersections and I crashed into another car. Luckily, nobody was hurt. I told the cop that I could drive away, but when I put the key in the ignition, it just made a 'dying noise.' Feeling stupider and unlucky then bad or broken, I just hung out in the misting rain, as people in buses craned their necks and people walking looked over their shoulders just a little too long to see what was happening. In my head I was calculating all the things from a time and money perspective that were about to go wrong, or become more complicated, but as everyone from the cop to the tow truck driver reminded me "be grateful. you can fix a broken car." This advice was later adjusted by self-same tow truck drive to not specifically apply to my car, but it was good advice all the same.

Breakfast
3 Eggs OVer Easy, One Broken
75% of 1 Sausage Link
Tea

Snack
1 half decaf coffee from Keltic Krust (painfully mediocre bakery across from tow year)
Celery with Super Chunky Peanut Butter (4 Tablespoons)
2 oz. 50% Cheddar

Lunch: Russo's $6.10
Red leaf, red lettuce, red onion
chicken, broccoli, chick peas, celery
feta, pepperoncini, escarole, oil & vinegar

Car Dealership
1 half-decaf coffee

Dinner
Three Eggs Over Easy
4 Slice Ham
2 oz. 50% Cheddar
Cheese of 1 Slice Pizza

Etc.
2 bites of a healthy choice bar

Of course, self-pity is a key ingredient to indulgence of the food variety, and in this regard I am no different in spirit than your typical pint of ice cream off the diet-diver. Though less extreme, I did two days worth of peanut butter that I had in my office (about 4 tablespoons) and I did eat the cheese off a slice of Pappa Gino's pizza and I did finish off the healthy choice bar that I started about 7 days ago. Though to be fair, I did split it with Magnolia. No doubt in the old days I would have been awash in cookie dough. It's just that something bad happened, it's both the haunting specter of how bad it could it have been, and the reality of taking all your stuff, valuable and trash alike, out of your wrecked vehicle.

Tomorrow if everything still feels OK, I am headed to the gym.

Year 2, Day 73: This Way Madness Lies

Often I am asked, "when are you going to be done with this diet?" Or "when will you start eating normally?" People regard my sometimes strict-as-a-monk SoBe diet pledge as some kind of TEMPORARY thing. It's not temporary. Not only that, I'm starting to make good headway into Ruby's food as well. She never eats hot dogs or hamburgers with buns, and with few exceptions, we have mostly banned high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils from the house. Sure, we have to pay a little more for the Whole Foods Brand Organic Fluff instead of the 99¢-for-a-gallon of Fluff at the regular supermarket, but it's worth it because I can sleep at night. Anyway, I never stop dreaming of a time when I am so fit that eating pizza is no big deal. But until then, I'm content to live the South Beach way.

Breakfast
Eggs Over Easy (What Else)
4 Slices Virginia Ham
2 oz. 50% Cheddar
Tea

Snack
Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee
1 Joy Stick
2 stalks celery
1 stalk celery, with super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: russo's ($5.81)
Red leaf, red lettuce, red onion
chicken, broccoli, chick peas, celery
feta, pepperoncini, escarole, oil & vinegar

Dinner
Steak tips
Broccoli
Asparagus

I am starting to have a thing for celery. Long time readers know that I am a creature of routine, and I like to eat the same things a lot because it's easier than thinking too hard about a limited repertoire of foods. So it's been great to have celery at work—I just grab a few stalks whenever I want and eat them and they are guilt free and crunchy, which is good because sometimes you just want to eat something for no reason and celery is PERFECT for that.

Year 2, Day 72- I Miss Cookie Dough

Continued days without walking or exercise is making me a little bit nuts. Add to that stress at work, and rainy, cold days and you've got yourself a full-blown snit. As I write this I am very glad tomorrow is Thursday, and I'm not usually one of those TGIF guys. I want to exercise. I want to walk. I don't want to feel blah, which I feel now. I must get back to the gym on Saturday/Sunday.

Breakfast
2 Eggs (Broke Yolk)
75% of 1 Chicken Chorizo Sausage link
Tea

Snack
1 Celery with Peanut Butter
1 Plain Celery Stalk
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Whole Foods Coffee (Half Decaf)
10 Roasted, but Unsalted Almonds

Lunch: Russo's ($5.47)
Red leaf, red lettuce, red onion
chicken, broccoli, chick peas, celery
feta, oil & vinegar

Dinner
Chicken Breast
Asparagus
Salad

Tonight I thought about how I miss cookie dough. Raw cookie dough, plain, from the supermarket. Sure, you can make it, but then you're eating raw eggs. I like it when it comes from the supermarket all chemical-y and safe. For a long time I always ordered cookie dough ice cream, but after years I stopped because I realized the only reason I was ordering it was because I loved cookie dough. But I would end up eating all this vanilla ice cream, which is always used as a base. Also, they were always so cheap on the cookie dough AND the cookie dough was usually not very good. So I quit because it didn't make sense to order that kind of ice cream for the cookie dough. So then I was back to chocolate peanut butter until I discovered Crescent Ridge Moose Tracks, and then Soy Delicious, which we give to the kids (but in fairness, we also give them Haagen-Dazs—don't call DSS).

Year 2, Day 71: Tuesdays with Teddie

I am now in the second week of both Phase One and the exercise embargo. Once you resolve to eat eggs for breakfast every day, the rest is easy, though today I did eat a second celery stick with peanut butter, which as you all know, is a diet buster. I must say, that on the topic of Peanut Butter, I have had a revolution in my life called Teddie. It is an all natural peanut butter, which I consider to be the best peanut butter on the market today. I think there are some people who like their peanut butter fresh-ground, but I don't mind a little processing, especially if it doesn't add any ingredients. I am so surprised in my role as parent to see so many other parents that give their kids peanut butter like Skippy or JIF that contain both unnecessary sugar AND high fructose corn syrup, as well as partially hydrogenated oils. I used to love the Whole Foods Whole Kids Peanut Butter because it was all natural AND contained sugar. But in my new life, I'm all Teddie all the time. Though I must admit, I find it nearly impossible to limit myself to two tablespoons a day. Hell, I just can't do it.


Breakfast
2 Eggs O'er Easy
75% of 1 Chicken Chorizo Sausage link
Tea

Snack
Celery with Peanut Butter
Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee
15 Roasted, but Unsalted Almonds

Lunch: Chinese
Moo Shoo Pork
Spicy Celery with Beef
Wonton Soup (no Wontons)

Dinner
Roast Pork Loin
Broccoli
Peppadews

Emily continues to experiment with new stuff and today was a pork loin, which was fantastic. We both are amazed at how often we eat at home— which is nearly always. If you compare that to any time prior to five or six years ago, you would have found that we ate out nearly every single meal— breakfast at Beans (a coffee shop); lunch out, dinner out. Sure, that's the lifestyle of young folk with no kids, but we continued to get takeout well into our first few years of parenthood. In fact, Ruby and I started to go to Bickfords for Pancake breakfasts as a regular thing. But obviously, now we both skip the pancakes in favor of more healthy things, like eggs.

Year 2, Day 70: Mumsday

I am not, by trade, an allergy sufferer. Sure, I'm allergic to cats and penicillin, and I can never eat marzipan again after the 'incident', but I don't have your typical red-eyed, sneezy, droopy, itchy allergies. Until this weekend, where I inexplicably have developed all of those afflictions, which caused me to run out to the local CVS to buy a box of Claritin. Deeply suspicious of all drug companies, and filled with paranoid ravings of Kevin Trudeau (www.naturalcures.com) I'm nearly convinced to leave the store without a box of anything. At the last minute I wisen up and take the box, but I insist on the 12 hour version instead of the 24 hour version, or the mysterious 'redi-tabs.' I note that almost all the Claritin varieties are sold out.

Breakfast
2 Eggs over EZ
75% of 1 Chicken Chorizo Sausage link
Tea

Snack
Celery with Peanut Butter
Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken
Feta, Pepperocini

Dinner
Flounder a la Em
Kicked up Sauteed Cabbage

I must take another moment to discuss the Chicken Chorizo Sausage from Bell & Evans. I'm not sure why I got it in my heads that Bell & Evans are the "Chicken Makers of Distinction" but it's in my head. It might have something to do with the fact that my Mother-in-Law used to say "Bell and Evans" as a synonym FOR chicken. In fact, I'm not sure she ever sent me to the supermarket for chicken, it was always for "Bell and Evans." For a long time we served Ruby exclusively Bell & Evans Chicken Nuggets (which I must say, having finished nearly 50% of them, are very good). Now Emily discovered a new product, which claims to have 84% less fat than its pork equivalent. I've only found at it DeWars in Newton, and it's not listed on their web site (Bellandevans.com, natch). I noted they had about four varieties of fresh (not cooked) sausage, including Rosemary and I think a Feta/Garlic. I had the Chorizo and I was hooked. Emily fried some in oil, and we made the other one on the grill, and a third on the broiler. All very yummy. You'll be reading about it here for a long time.

Year 2, Day 69: Another Pleasant Valley Sunday

If anything makes you feel like a suburban dork, it's waiting to get your propane tank refilled. Just standing around in elevator-style silence, trying not to look at each other is quite nerve-wracking. But it also forced me to recognize the horrifying fact: I'M LIKE THEM. Okay, maybe I'm not wearing docksiders, and maybe I don't have my cell phone attached to my Dockers shorts with a leather belt-clip, but I'm here ain't I? I'm admitting to the world that I HAVE AN EMPTY PROPANE TANK. Most people don't know that I have to drive right home after I get it filled, because I live in fear that I'll go over a bump and the car will explode.

Breakfast
2 Eggs Over Easy
2 Strips Turkey Bacon
2.5 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
Coffee
about 2 oz. Cashews/Almonds
1 Joy Stick

Lunch
Salad with Feta, Cabbage, Romaine and Yesterday's Tuna Salad

Dinner
93% Sirloin Burger
with 50% Jaleno Cheddar
Peppadews (1 Serving=1/3 Cup)
3 Bubbie's Pickles

The reason I'm filling up my propane tank is not for my grill, but for my Mosquito Magnet, the device I cling as Van Helsing clings to his cross while racing away from Dracula. I am eager to get to get to my grill, and I think its gas tank is still full, as it has not seen the light of day since one ill-fated attempt to use it three years ago. In an effort to eat healthy while also consuming carcinogens, I have resolved to grill this summer. I have vowed I will take another shot at it. It can't be that hard. Everyone does it, so why, oh why can't I? I am planning to ask my most grill-friendly friends to give me some advice. If all else fails, I guess I'll just buy grilled food at the supermarket.

Year 2, Day 68: Saturday's Alright for Fighting

Though there are many amazing things about having lost 35+ lb, one thing I am constantly marveling at is how I'm eating things that I just never ever thought I would eat. I remember specifically thinking "I cannot eat Celery and Peanut Butter." No kidding, really, I thought that, several times, as it has long been presented as viable snack alternative for dieters. I never thought that I could drink black coffee. Yet, here I am, doing both of those things every single day.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
2 Strips Turkey Bacon
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Coffee

Lunch
Salad: Romaine, Cabbage, Feta, Tuna

Snack
Celery Stick with Super Chunky Peanut Butter
Coke Zero

Dinner
Breast of Chicken
Broccoli
Peppadews

Rereading the South Beach Diet book today (as church-goers might consult their book) I came across the passage entitled "I've cleaned out my medicine closet." Indeed. I realize that with maybe three or four exceptions, I have nearly eliminated the need for most of the medicines I used to take regularly, and some close to daily, like Advil. I also don't have to take bayer aspirin any more, because my fear of heart attack has completely subsided. For those of you who weren't in my deepest, most neurotic circle, I did pick up quite a fear of that. Stoked by both my added weight, terrible diet and sedentary lifestyle, I used to joke from about age 31 on that I was going to have a heart attack, but within a few years and maybe twenty pounds it started not to seem like such a stretch. I'm not necessarily at my goal weight yet but it sure feels good to be out of them 'heart attack' woods.

Year 2, Day 67: "Cinco De Mayo"

At work, we had recently completed several large-scale initiatives, and so it was decided that the staff would go out for a celebratory lunch. It just so happened that day— today— fell on May 5th, or 'Cinco De Mayo' as it's known by those who want to peddle weak Mexican beer to college students. We think of it as "Mexican Independence Day", when a small, poorly equipped Mexican army defeated the French, but my experience is that most people don't even know why anyone would celebrate such a holiday. Considering the current Administration's stance on immigration and the French, you'd think it would be a much bigger deal.

Breakfast
3 Egg Omelet with
3 Slices Ham
Shredded Jarlsberg
Tea

Snack
Large Coffee (Half Decaf)
Celery Stick with about 2 Tablespoons SCPB

Lunch: Margarita's
1 Shrimp
1 Beef 'n' cheese thingy
Chicken "Picante"
Squash
House Salad

Dinner
Chicken Breast
Peppadews
Asparagus
Pickles

Of course whenever I go to a Mexican Restaurant hoping for the best (and always disappointed). Even with my low standards for Mexican food (I spent my youth devouring Taco Bell) I am disappointed. Why they can't make good Mexican food anywhere FAR from Mexico is a total mystery to me, though I understand it because anytime you get more than 90 miles from New York, the bagels and deli are nearly inedible. I should say something about churros, though, which are basically deep-fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar—sometime Emily and I first had in Puerto Rico and subsequently sought out everywhere we went. One time we were so desperate for Churros that on the way to the airport, we literally took every side street in California to make that plane in the hope that some road side orange vendor would know where to get some churros. Alas, we went back to Boston churro-less. Fortunately, at our honeymoon we found ourselves at the Mexican Pavilion at Epcot center, where I naturally ordered four, both of out of lusty desire for the fresh-baked treat, and some kind of psychosis brought on by waiting in a line for hours. When we got our order, we realized there FOUR in each ONE order, so we had sixteen churros. I tried to give them away, but even in a pre-9/11 mindset, no one was taking them.

Year 2, Day 66: Fluffernutter Ice Cream

After many rainy days, finally there was sunshine. This is generally a welcome relief, but because of my exercise embargo, it makes me realize that I would ordinarily be haranguing the gang to go out walking. Instead, we go for Chinese food. I do best to keep it healthy, but who knows what the food is made with aside from pork fat and MSG? In an uncharacteristic series of events, Emily and I also take Ruby out to dinner, where we realize that Ruby LOVES spaghetti and meatballs, despite the fact that we never served it to her even once. Kids, go figure.

Breakfast
3 Eggs, 2 of which were over easy (one broke in the bowl)
1 spicy thai chicken sausage (Whole Foods)
Tea

Snack
20 oz. Decaf & Caf coffee
1 Long Celery Stalk with 1.5 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Chinese
Wonton Soup (no wontons)
Shredded Pork with Cabbage
Shrimp & Vegetables
Sliced Chicken with Spinach
the inside of two dumplings

Dinner: Paparazzi
1/2 of a side salad
Breast of Chicken
Spinach
Two cherry tomatoes

Fluffernutter Ice Cream— from "Junkfoodblog."

Brighams Inc., a top selling brand of ice cream in New England, claims to have made the world's first Fluffernutter ice cream, based on the sandwich, a combination of peanut butter and marshmallow cream.

It's roots apparently go back a long way. The name itself is actually a registered trademark of Durkee-Mower Co., the company that makes the marshmallow fluff. It's said that fluffernutter sandwiches have been consumed for at least a century, thus spawning the creation of Durkee-Mower for the production of fine marshmallow fluff. Durkee-Mower promotes every October 8th as National Fluffernutter Day.

Brigham's Fluffernutter ice cream is made with Durkee-Mower's very own marshmallow cream, otherwise it just wouldn't be "fluffernutter" would it?

The new Fluffernutter ice cream is currently being scooped at all Brigham's locations and are available at grocery stores throughout New England.

Year 2, Day 65: Magnolia Got Hurt

For those still following, this is day three of Phase One in Year and Day 65. I don't find Phase One too terrifying anymore, though of course the hardest part is eating eggs for breakfast for 14 days. I try always to vary it, but in the end, you're pretty sick of eggs. For the time being, I am trying to mix it up with omelets, but by next week I'll be on hard-boiled, because as much as you get tired of eating them, you get even more tired of preparing them.

Breakfast
3 Egg Omelet with
4 Slices Ham
Shredded Jarlsberg
Tea

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee
1 Stick Celery with 1 Tablespoon Super-Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Demo's
Chicken Kebab Salad with Feta

Dinner
Steak Tips
Broccoli
Peppadews

Dessert as Anxiety Reducer
50% Healthy Choice Fudgicle

I was doing pretty well today, but tonight, Ruby accidentally closed the bathroom door onto Magnolia's head and left her with a very scary, but not very serious bleeding bruise. It's enough to make your heart flutter (in the bad way) and certainly made me turn to the ice cream bar (you are allowed up to 75 calories of reduced calorie dessert on Phase One). We were very shaken up, so we all tried to settle down. For the kids that meant going to sleep, for the adults, that meant watching the American Idol results show. But that reverie was broken when some family news came across the transom. (No one got hurt or died). Rather than go back to the chocolate bar, I brushed my teeth and set out for blog writing to calm me down.

Year 2, Day 64: Donuts for Breakfast?

It was absolutely raining cats and dogs this morning and because 1) I couldn't find Ruby's rain-slicker and 2) I have no umbrella, I decide to drive Ruby to school. I figure I can do it and get to work before a 9AM meeting. The problem is, I can't leave Ruby at school until the 8:20AM bell, and it's 7:55AM so I figure I'll go get some coffee before I drop her off. Naturally, she comes with me and I allow her to get anything she wants from Dunkin Donuts (even at her age, she knows to eschew the subpar bakery offerings at Starbucks). She chooses three powdered munchkins. An eyebrow raising choice for a kid who reliably picks chocolate. So, there we were, in the warm car, listening to the Beatles' Rubber Soul and she was chomping away, with more powder on her face than a French aristocrat. We were having a great time, and I couldn't help but wonder, who proposed Donuts as a breakfast item? I realize that at one time I was a perpetrator of this fraud, but it seems to me so crazy now. When you bring donuts to your workplace, you're basically saying "I've brought dessert instead of a meal. Enjoy." While South Beach Diet fans know that the Donut has been singled out as the worst of all possible foods for its high sugar, high carb, empty calories and amazing amount of bad fats, it still remains something that smells great when it has just been baked and is often very delicious. If just reading about donuts makes your knees go weak, you can inure yourself to them by viewing their nutritional value here: http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-030000000000000000000.html

Breakfast
3 Egg Omelet with
3 Slices of Ham
Shredded Jarlsberg
V-8

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half decaf)
1 Joy Stick

Lunch: Russo's ($4.74)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Pepper
Chicken, Broccoli, Feta

Dinner
Catfish a la Em
Leeks

In 2002, prior to the arrival of Krispy Kreme donuts in Massachusetts, but after they had become the "it" donut of the time, I noticed that they had installed one in Penn Station. During that year, Emily's mother was sick and Emily stayed in New Jersey with Ruby for about 10 weeks until the funeral. I spent those weeks alone, eating the worst of everything every night— big Chinese Food Combo dinners, Steak with friends, and my favorite, raw cookie dough (Emily disdained this choice mightily). It was a very difficult time made more difficult by loneliness. Every Friday night I got on a train and headed to New York, and just about every Monday morning, my father-in-law would drop me off somewhere in Manhattan, and I would make my way to Penn Station, and get back to work. Jill would nearly always pick me up from the station, and almost always, I would bring back two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for the Domania gang. Of course, you're crazy if you think I could be a on train for four hours every week with two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and not eat them all. Knowing this temptation, I would buy two separately for myself, and try to space them out on the train with coffee, so I wouldn't dig into the supply. If I ever have to wonder how I put on 40lbs, I just have to think of that time. I don't think it got any worse than that, but it didn't get a whole lot better until I knew I was going to turn 40. I knew choosing to lose weight would mean giving up donuts, probably for good. And you know what? I go to Dunkin Donuts several times a week now, and not only do I NOT miss them, I don't even miss buying them for the office. And I know that the office is glad about that, too.

Year 2, Day 63: Detecto Says 189!

1. The Scale Doesn't Lie. It's 189.
2. It's 189.
3. That's 3 or 4lbs up (depending on whether you believe Donna or the scale).
4. Exercise is verboten for another week.
5. Back to Phase One Today.

Breakfast
2 Eggs Over Easy
1 Link Chorizo Chicken Sausage

Snack
12 oz coffee
1 Joy Stick

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Chicken
Vinaigrette

Dinner
Breast of Chicken
Pickles
Cabbage with Dressing
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Let's face it, if I can't exercise, and I'm 3lbs up, it's gotta be phase one. No one likes it except for egg farmers. But there's no way out, just no way. When I look back, I guess I could see, it's just one too many blueberry muffins, one too many slices of pita bread, and one too many peppadews. You know, it's strange—I was able to stay at 196 for about six months. I see I'll have to work harder to stay at 186. Hmmmm. Wish me luck.