Year 2, Day 365: Detecto Says "178"

From a marketing perspective, it's very disappointing that I can only claim to have lost 48lbs and not 50 (or as in a month's ago weigh-in, 52). While I was tempted to lie about my weight to make it more exciting, I realized that that's exactly what this blog and my journey is NOT about. It's about giving the truth, and saying what I think and I feel and what's happening as it's happening. So for a long time I was told that "muscle weighs more than fat, so don't worry if you gain weight." The truth is, I was never doing anything but cardio back then so any weight gained had more to do with slippage than muscle gain. Today, though, I must acknowledge that whether it's a 'loosening' or muscle gain I am okay with a sum total loss of 48lbs. The truth is, I feel good, I have energy, my clothes fit and I like to look at myself in the mirror. Most days (except rainy days and Mondays) I am filled with the hope that today can be better than yesterday and also with the knowledge that I (and by extension, you) can do anything I set my mind and body to.

Breakfast
2 slices of Iggy's 7-Grain Bread
Super Chunky Peanut Butter
1 Small Apple
Coffee

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
3 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
2 pistachios

Lunch: Demo's
Greek Salad with Chicken Kebab

Dinner
Emily's kicked-up flounder
String Beans

Dessert
crusts of bread made for Magnolia
about 20 chocolate chips
1 spoonful haagen dazs chocolate

Of course, writing down everything you eat means you can look back over the days and see what contributed to a gain or a loss. There was clearly a period prior to getting weighed in where I was eating more food during meals and eating more snacks during the day (four instead of three, for instance, like today). I was being less of a zealot and more of someone who occasionally eats what he wants. Honestly that's not working for me. I'd rather be a zealot and keep my weight at 174 then to eat what I want and watch the scale go up. Watching the scale go up fills me with dread. So onto year three.

Year 2, Day 364: Tuesdays 'n' Strawberries

Emily purchased strawberries for Ruby last week and though buying strawberries out of season for me is strictly a no-no, I had one and thought it was good enough to start using in my cereal. Strawberries are excellent because out of all the breakfast berries they are the lowest in sugar/carbs and they taste good. Most strawberries out of season (even by a little bit) are white on the inside, not red, and while they may resemble real in-season strawberries, don't often taste like them. It's such an immense difference that I swore off off-season strawberries, but I like them so much 'even a bad one is good' sometimes. I noted that Russo's had very good looking ones and I have been buying them for Ruby. She likes a 'fruit plate' for breakfast—strawberries, grapes, apples, blackberries, bananas, whatever's around. I can't say I mind.

Breakfast
Kashi
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Strawberries
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
3 pieces Beef Jerky
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
100 Nuts (60 Pistachios, 40 Almonds)
1 Fuji Apple


Lunch: Russo's ($4.90)
Romaine, Tuna, Broccoli
Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Red Onions,
Feta, 2 bites of Grilled Tofu
Balsamic Vinegar

Dinner:
Cabbage & Romaine with Feta, Balsamic Vinegar
Robert's Chicken Soup

And on that topic...from the South Beach Newsletter: Teach Kids Healthy Eating Habits

Teaching children the principles of healthy eating at an early age will go a long way toward helping them live a healthier life. "Children who learn to make the right food choices — selecting colorful fruits and vegetables, good fats, and good carbs, while avoiding trans fats in packaged foods and fast foods — are more likely to maintain a healthy weight and enjoy lifelong health," says Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist (sounds like he prevents the practice of cardiology-Ed.) and author of The South Beach Diet®.

The first step is to set a good example yourself. They'll pick up on the fact that you enjoy eating fresh produce, lean sources of protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. It's equally important to have a steady supply of these foods in the house. Stock the fridge with fruit and precut veggies so your kids can easily reach for a healthy snack. Begin to abandon refined grains and sugary cereals, and replace them with whole-grain crackers, sliced breads, and high-fiber, low-sugar cereals. (Check, check and check—Ed.)

It's also helpful — and fun — to include your children in selecting recipes, shopping for ingredients, and preparing the dishes you eat together. As active participants in the process, they'll be more interested in tasting their creations. Let young kids pour and mix, and allow older children to measure ingredients and slice vegetables. At the grocery store, encourage your kids to choose an exotic fruit or a grain they've never tasted. (They like to make chocolate chip muffins, and the last pomelo and pluot did not fare so well—Ed.)

Finally, don't deem certain foods "forbidden." It's OK for your kids (and you) to indulge in an occasional dessert, for example. This flexibility is what distinguishes the South Beach Diet® from other weight-loss plans — and what makes it a program you can follow for life.

Year 2, Day 363: Badly Numbered Boy

As I get near the completion of my second year, I noted that by my own day count I was six days off when I know the calendar says I am only three days off. Who to believe? I went back through my posts and noticed that several times this year I have double posted (two day 178s, for instance). Of course, by the time you read this I may have fixed it, meaning this post is not only meaningless but downright untrue. Such is the life of a blogger-by-the-numbers.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
2 Soft Boiled Eggs
Coffee

Snack
5 Sticks Beef Jerky
50 Almonds
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Bag (~1.5 cups) Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch: Russo's ($5.65)
Romaine, Broccoli, Mushrooms,
Grape Tomatoes, Chicken, Feta, Red Peppers,
Red Onions, Balsamic Vinegar, Pepperocini

Dinner
Robert's Fantastic Turkey Crumble
Romaine Lettuce
Broccoli

Dessert
16 semi-sweet chocolate chips

Of course the first Monday back at work is a day that requires a lot of nuts. I also noted that the days you most feel like having that something special for a treat—in this case 16 semi-sweet chocolate chips—are not so much the days you have denied yourself, but the days you have already indulged yourself. This leads me to my central and oft-proved conclusion that abstinence (from food only) is a good thing. You should be hungry. You should not feed every time you have a hunger pang. It is good, because with withstanding that hunger is important. Besides burning calories it builds character. And most definitely, keeps the nuts at bay.

Year 2, Day 359: Sunday Night at the Oscars

Emily and I used to host an Oscar party every year. We'd send out invites and have people over and watch the telecast. Of course, the concept was good but in practice fraught with problems. For instance, the show was always on a Monday (since moved to Sunday), a school night. Also, it always ran over and people had to leave before best picture. There was always an issue of what to make that would taste good and be appetizing when sitting on a plate for three hours in the middle of our living room. Our two constant items were deviled eggs and rice krispy treats. I'm not sure why those became our staples, but they were. Out of some waxy nostalgic urge, we almost made them again tonight, until we remembered that we had to give our kids baths, read to them and put them to bed while the opening monologue was happening, and probably the award for best supporting actor. Thank goodness for TIVO.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Strawberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
A crust of Balthazar Bread (bread made for Magnolia)
Some Nuts
Some chicken from the soup I made

Lunch
Breast of Chicken
Romaine, Cabbage, Feta, Balsamic

Postworkout Snack
6 oz Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Dinner
Rober'ts Turkey Crumble
Lettuce Leaves

Also
Banana-Nutella Muffin with Marshmallow Frosting

Though we consume bananas at a good clip, every once in a while two or so will get brown, and like my Mother before me, that will instantly signal that I must make banana bread or something like that. Today I found a recipe on the Internet for Nutella-Banana muffins which I made which came out very well even though all the measurements were in grams and milliliters and I had to take out my conversion calculator to get it right. Still, it wasn't very sweet so I probably did something wrong. In a fit of pique, I decided to whip up some icing (banana breads are notoriously dull) and came up with a fluff-plus-butter-plus vanilla-plus confectioner's sugar that I whipped in two minutes. They were a huge hit, and naturally, I ate half of one while creating one, and the another half when Ruby and Magnolia didn't finish theirs after dessert (they both ate all of the frosting off theirs, though).

Fortunately, between making Chicken Soup and baking muffins and dinner, I had time to go to the gym and do 7 miles in 65 minutes and do 50 ab crunches. I am really getting it down to a science, I think.

Year 2, Day 358: Soooooo Sleeepy

Ruby had a basketball game today at 8:30AM. I realized this at 3AM last night when I was going to sleep. I actually got up around 8 and thought we could make it. Ruby wasn't up; Emily told me to let her sleep until she woke up. When she did wake up she did NOT want to go play basketball. Though I was disappointed, I know when to hold em and when to fold em. We all went back to sleep.

Breakfast
2 Slices of Balthazar Multi-Grain Pan Loaf plus the crusts of two other slices
2 Soft-boiled eggs
1 Knife's worth of Peanut Butter
Coffee

Lunch
Chicken Breast
Romaine & Cabbage and Parmesan Salad with Balsamic Vinegar
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Etc.
Cheese of 1/3 a slice of pizza
a few grapes
a few olives
one stick of beef jerky

Dinner
65% of 1/3 of lb of Pork Tenderloin
A few bites of hamburger
Last night's cauliflower
A pickle
A few carrot sticks

Dessert
12 chocolate chips

There are times as a parent when you are called on to perform without much sleep; but then there are times when you are simply just tired. Today was the latter and I tried to drink a lot a lot of coffee to just get through it. I dragged Ruby to my barber shop by again bribing her with something from Dunkin' Donuts. This helped me feel much better. Amazingly, after that she wanted a slice of pizza, possibly a pavlovian response to the smell and appearance of her fave pizza restaurant. I really enjoyed the donut-pizza combo. One day I fear she'll have to watch what she eats. But today it did not matter one bit.

Year 2, Day 357, Last Day of Vacation, Poker

I did get to the gym today—amazing since there was absolutely so much to get done on my one real vacation day at home (in between handing stuff at work via email). I did 7.25 miles in 65 minutes (at level 5) then I did my 50 ab crunches (5 sets of ten, roughly). I was keen on going to the gym for a lot of reasons, but one is the theory that it would help me at the card table. It did in fact help, in two ways. One, I always feel great after going to the gym—it's like cleaning out your desk, or finishing some long overdue task. That kind of thing, much like writing—the overwhelming need to keep doing one's chores can be paralyzing, but the freedom when you complete the task in inspiring. Secondly, it help to know that I burned off an extra 500 or so calories (that's a conservative estimate) so I worry less about the cavalcade of nuts that I inevitably will consume. As it turned out, I did do better tonight—coming in second—than I have done in the three previous games, so that's either a testimony to working out or the power of positive thought.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch
Chicken Breast
Cabbage & Romaine Salad with Feta

Postworkout Snack
1 Large Fuji Apple
2 Sticks beef Jerky
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Dinner/Poker
Cashews & Almonds
Pistachios
Boston Lite Popcorn
Moo Shi Pork
Beef with String Beans in Black Bean Sauce
Mongolian Chicken
Shrimp in Lobster Sauce (Dark sauce)
Boneless Spareribs
Szechwan Spicy Pork

We used to play poker in Lower Allston (nicknamed L.A. by the few hipsters that lived in between exiled KGB refuseniks and incoming Brazilian immigrant families that made up the neighborhood that lived in the shadow of the Mass Pike. The neighborhood wasn't much but EVERYONE delivered there, so there was a panoply of choices, though for about 8 out of every 10 weeks we ordered from Moogy's, a sub-shop operated by college staff so busy slacking off that they often refused our orders for reasons that strained credulity and made one suspect that for one reason or another they might be...incapable of fulfilling our order. One night it was because 'they ran out of buns.' One night "the toaster isn't working" and so on. We came to realize we'd need several backups. The truth is we ate so much (Funyons, Doritos 3-Ds, Cheese Cubes and Fritos) even before the food got there that we really could have done without the food. The point is, now we really only have two choices, deli or chinese. I tend to overeat more at the Chinese table, because it's my soft spot (one of many)

Year 2, Day 356: Return Home

You thought it couldn't get any worse, but it did. After another Palisades breakfast of Omelet & Bacon, we set out on the road at lunchtime with little in the way of provisions. This led to some bad eating and some 'what did I eat today?' moments as well as some tired, cranky and hungry people arriving in Boston.

Breakfast: Palisades
Omelet (Ham, cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms)
Bacon
Bites of pancakes (yum)
Lots of Coffee

Snack/Car-Ride
~4 cups Boston Lite Popcorn
1.5 Red Delicious Apple
1 oz Smartfood
2 Sticks Beef Jerky

Upon Arrival
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain Bread
Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Dinner: Bamboo
2 mini-Shumai
1 Gyoza
Sashimi Special (Salmon, Tuna, Whitefish, Octopus, Sable, Crab)

Right after arriving home it seemed like the dark-haired girls (Magnolia and Emily) wanted to nap, so after a quick snack I took Ruby out to Create-a-Cook (www.createacook.com) where they teach kids cooking and have drop-in-sessions for decorating cakes and cupcakes. Ruby and I made three cupcakes and had a great time. Surrounded by every single sugary candy in the world, I felt a great sense of serenity; I did not want for any of them. Though I did accidentally eat some frosting when I tried to clean my finger with my mouth. After we got back we decided to go see a movie and we grabbed a quick sushi dinner at Bamboo. Now I have passed this restaurant a hundred times and NEVER would have even gone in because 1) it's in a Holiday Inn in Dedham and 2) It's a SUSHI restaurant in a Holiday Inn in Dedham. However, Chowhound said it was good and I trust them with my life so we went, and you know what? It was pretty good. No complaints, I would absolutely go again. As a possible nod to their hotel-hosts they also have Chinese food and you could just tell from the intergenerational families coming in that a lot of their customers were hotel guests. Not a lot of takers on the Japanese fare, but it was fresh and good.

Year 2, Day 355: At the Pallisades, Day Two

The IBM Palisades is a state-of-the-art conference facility built near what was once of the largest IBM offices in New York (New York had a lot of them). It truly is amazing. It borders somewhere between being a like a Catskills Resort and a modern college dormitory. But then you have to add a soupcant of Buddhist retreat. The place is very peaceful on its rolling hills campus; deer were seen frolicking on our way out. It has a walking path, a man-made river and a series of tennis courts. It has a lobby with a fake fire and a large cafeteria that overlooks all the above. It is serenely home-y, and naturally, being IBM, it is completely Wi-Fi'd to the max. Aside from all that, it features a state-of-the-art fitness center, game room, and a little conference nooks for meetings on each hotel floor, replete with pads of paper and white boards. Though Emily and I find it quite sad to have to stay at a hotel when visiting our relatives, you really couldn't do a lot better. The downside is probably the food—they could do more with their breakfast, but I make do with several cups of hotel coffee and lots of bacon. At night, we had all the cousins come over and eat what was left of Amy's Ice Cream Cake in a conference room. Everyone went around the room and started with the sentence "I called this meeting because..." Ruby said "because I want to have ice cream cake for dinner."

Breakfast
Omelet (Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Ham, Cheese)
Bacon
Coffee

Lunch: The Great Neck Inn
Caesar Salad
Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Warm Bacon Dressing
Crab Cakes
Whole Wheat Rolls
Ahi Tuna (Black & Blue)
Grilled Salmon
Cheesecake

Snacks
1 Stick Beef Jerky
1 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 cup Boston Lite Popcorn
SO MANY ALMONDS

Dinner
Chicken Breast
Cauliflower
Broccoli

We are planning a party for my MOM and we are having the party at the Great Neck Inn. To make sure it would not be a food-disaster, we agreed to have lunch there. Because we were 'sampling' we ordered a lot of stuff from the menu. We didn't know they were picking up the tab, but everything we ordered was super-yummy even if the presentation needed work (see wilted greens, undressed greens, bad plates). However, the Turkey burger that I ordered was INEDIBLE. We had to send it back. For most of the meal, we were the only ones in the dining room. Later at Emily's sister's house, she had roasted almonds, that were in a bowl in the middle of the room. Do you have to guess? I dove off into the almond-pool and had marzipan dreams.

YEAR 2, DAY 354: Tuesdays at the Pallisades

As travel days go, it wasn't so bad. We made it to NY in record time. But as a food day, it was not so great. Lost the nut war, in a spectacular way. I was horking them down in the car, because I had become somewhat nauseous, and they were helping to settle my stomach. When we arrived, Emily's sister had freshly roasted a bunch of almonds (who does that?). There is a lot of 'hanging around' that gets done, and 'hanging around' often involves being in the kitchen, preparing food. We were all trying to make sure the kids don't go hungry, but we fed ourselves quite a lot in the meantime.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

On-the-road-snack & lunch
1 cup Boston Lite Popcorn
4 sticks beef jerky
1 chicken breast
3 dried apricots
1/2 peanut butter cookie
A LOT of cashews & almonds
a few leaves of lettuce
more unsalted, roasted almonds
2 egg yolks

Dinner
Chicken breast
salad (cabbage, lettuce, apple, walnut)
broccoli

After Kids in Bed:
Went to Bar
2 glasses of red wine
savaged the nut-mix bowl (mostly nuts and sweet'n'crunchy nuts)


After the kids were in bed, and Emily wasn't feeling well (sinus infection of some kind) I put her to bed and vamoosed off to the local bar, which is located just a stone's throw away from our hotel room. Got a few glasses of wine and asked for the nut-mix bowl. Waiting for it arrive I was pondering how much worse the nuts would be than the very old chicken wings that were gaining crust as no one paid them any mind. The nut mix arrived and I ate all the regular peanuts out of it, and then started to eat the beer nuts, and then the sweet 'n' crunchy nuts. Pretty much a nut disaster, but sometimes you have just to roll with it. At least I didn't eat the bread sticks or spicy sesame crunchers or whatever they were, but on the third glass they would have been gone, too.

Year 2, Day 353: Monday at Work, But Not Happy About It

Had to go to work today, even though I had originally scheduled my vacation for today. Drats. As I approached Russo's I started to worry that President's Day=slow shopping day=no chicken. Luckily, that turned out to be incorrect. At $5.53, my salad turned out to be right on the money.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
1 slice iggy's bread with super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: Russo's ($5.53)
Romaine, red pepper, red onion, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms,
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini


More Snack
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
2 STicks Beef Jerky

Dinner
Two Olives
Some Nuts
A few Shrimp
A few bites Hamburger
A little bit of Turkey Roll-up
Salad with Feta & Cabbage

The South Beach Newsletter: Quick and Simple Ways to Work Out at Work

The South Beach Diet® lifestyle includes eating delicious, nutrient-dense foods and participating in physical activity. If finding the time to exercise feels like a challenge because of the amount of time you spend at work, we have some solutions! Why not bring exercise to the workplace and build up your fitness while breaking up the monotony of the day? Dr. Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet® is a big fan of allotting small amounts of time for activity throughout the day — and squeezing in any amount of activity you can. After all, some exercise is always better than none. Here are 10 tips to help you get your workout at work:

Park farther away from the office, or get off public transportation at an earlier stop.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator, especially if you're only traveling a few floors.
Go for a walk during lunch. One way to do this is to skip your usual salad spot on the corner and find one a little farther away. If you bring your lunch to work, use the time you save buying lunch by taking a walk around the block.
Deliver messages by hand instead of by phone or e-mail, and walk over to co-workers when you need to chat with them. (In this modern world, this may also get you fired for being weird.—Ed.)
Instead of meeting in the office or over lunch, meet in the gym or while taking a walk.
Take frequent breaks to get up and walk around. (See my earlier comment—Ed.)
Find a gym near your workplace and exercise for 20 minutes during your lunch break or just before or after work.
Use your headset or cell phone and walk around while talking on the phone. (This is a bad recommendation—it annoys your coworkers).
Stretch occasionally while sitting at your desk. Check out the South Beach Diet® Fitness Club online for some smart moves.
Participate in workplace-sponsored sports activities or athletic fundraising events. (Is that the best they could do?)

Year 2, Day 352 Sundays with Chicken Caesar

Another Sunday, another 65 minutes and another seven miles. Now that the gym has become a staple in my life I'm realizing again how important the music element is. Now there are some workouts where I don't even want to listen to music, but most times I find it really makes the difference, between whether you are just doing the standard hamster in the wheel or really going for the Jennifer Beals-while-Maniac-by-Michael-Sembello is playing kind of thing. Because I don't watch videos or listen to the radio a lot every day, I don't get exposed to too much new music. This makes it hard to create new and exciting play lists frequently, and a lot of the music that I grew up on (Beatles, Springsteen, Costello) are not great workout records. Though I did do an all KISS workout today, just for an experiment. It was actually pretty good, but there was a lot of reaching for the iPod's skip button.

Breakfast
Kashi
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Bananas
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch
1/2 Blue Ribbon BBQ Buffalo Chicken Caesar
Brisket
Cabbage, Onion & Feta Salad

Snack
Almonds & Cashews
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Dinner
Turkey Crumble
Lettuce Wraps

Dessert
~16 Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 Kissables

Taking advantage of my post-work high-functioning metabolism, I ate the rest of the BBQ Buffalo Caesar my mother left over. It is a strange experience to eat a wrap as I hardly ever do it. It also happened to be FANTASTIC. I can't say for certain, but I did experience a chocolate meltdown later in the evening, when doling out the dessert for the kids.

Year 2, Day 351: Visit from MOM

It has been a very mild winter, and my MOM decided to come up and visit with all the kids. As a special treat we went and got a mess of Blue Ribbon BBQ, which more and more seems like the only thing I ever eat, but in fact it's not. Because all the food is essence, SoBe friendly (meats and vegetables) I tend to eat a lot. Today, I was caught unawares by the corn bread croutons. They came with the salad in a little side-plastic container. I ate EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. Sigh.

Breakfast
2 Slices of Iggy's 7-Grain Bread
Super Chunky Peanut Butter
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Coffee

Snacks
~4 cups of Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch: Blue Ribbon BBQ
Brisket
Burnt Ends
Big Green Salad
Beans
Pickles
Cole Slaw
Corn Bread Croutons
1 Bite of Corn Bread
1 bite of Maple Bread Pudding

Dinner
Big Green Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Hamburger
Pickles

Probably a perfect diet would not include the fatty cuts of meat that make up brisket or too many red meats like hamburger. I do get 93% lean sirloin, which I was initially afraid would be tasteless but is in fact quite good. I probably could eliminate red meats from our diet and we probably should. Whenever I talk to vegetarians or vegans about their diets, there is always a lot a high-carb stuff there: pasta, bread, rice, etc. They tend to be thin as rails so that's fine, but I continue not to be thin as a rail, so for now I'm sticking to the meat.

Year 2, Day 350: Workout in the AM

One of the great things about the JCC is on those now-rare days when I drop off Magnolia at preschool and then go work out. The mornings are generally not very busy and so I have the place to myself. This morning I ran seven miles in under sixty minutes at level five on the elliptical and burned of 600 calories. Then I went downstairs and did my 40 ab crunches (which continue to make me see blue stars) on the 45-pound setting. I drank my 32 oz of water and then I went to peek in on my daughter. I can't say I was enthralled by what I saw (lots of teachers resting and rubbing their heads instead of playing with children) but I content myself with the thought that that was just 10 minutes and maybe the other 10 minute segments are better. More on that as it develops.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Bananas
Blueberries
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Postworkout Snack
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 tablespoons super chunky peanut butter
1/2 of Magnolia's left over banana

Lunch: Russo's ($6.07)
Romaine, mushrooms, grape tomatoes
feta, chicken, broccoli, red peppers, red onions

Snackz
~1 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn
2 Sticks Beef Jerky

Dinner
1 Chicken Thigh, 1 Slice Brisket
Cauliflower
Carrots & Celery & Onions
1 Square Chocolate

Friday's at Kiki's
In 1999 and 2000 when I was working at Soldier's Field Road, living in Chestnut Hill and playing in a card game every Thursday that broke up past 1AM, Friday mornings were always tough. I had prearranged with my boss(es) that Friday mornings would be late, which meant I would saunter in between 10AM and 10:30. To get up and get showered, dressed and to work was a somewhat Herculean task, and to be honest, I didn't do any of those things that well. Though McDonald's and Dunkin Donuts were en route and frequent breakfast sites, I discovered a convenience store called KiKi's in Brighton on a short cut to work that became my regular spot. My sad but true goal in these mornings was to get coffee and something I could hold in my hand to eat, since it was often nearing 10 or after by the time I got anywhere near work. Dunkin Donuts was a bad choice to me, even then, because I would always want to get the coffee roll. Even at my weight, I avoided that mostly, but McDonalds could take too long. If I remember correctly there might have been a company meeting at 10 or 10:30 and it was considered bad form, but very common for people to bring their breakfast there. At Kiki's I discovered that they nearly always had Hostess Lemon Pies, which are all my time favorite thing to eat and when they were out, they also sold pop-tarts in special two-paks. Though I loved chocolate and strawberry, I often got cinnamon, because it was somehow 'better for me.' What a joke! Now when I see a 226 pound man eating a pop-tart two pak, I just shake my head, tsking as loud as I can. But that's who I was, and that's what I did, and I liked it.

Year 2, Day 349: Two Meals Out

Thursday has become our defacto "Date Night" and tonight though we have continued to try and get to the movies, it is just too big a time commitment and it takes too much planning. So we opted for dinner and the mall, which is a low-speed, low commitment exercise.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
2 Slices of Iggy's 7-Grain Bread
3 oz 50% jalapeno Cheddar
Coffee

Snack
1 Large Fuji Apple
5 STicks Beef Jerky

Lunch: Town Deluxe Diner
Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken
Balsamic Vinaigrette

Dinner: Olga Sushi
Edamame
Salad
Miso Soup
1 Shumai
Sashimi Deluxe Platter

I like Sashimi—for those of you who don't know, that's the version with just the fish and no rice and no seaweed wrapper (which by the way, is very high in carbs). One of the problems is I don't really like to pour over a sushi menu, but the Sashimi special is often like 25.00, which is the price I think about when I think about ordering lobster at Legal Seafoods, not just getting some plain, uncooked fish! So far, though, it hasn't stopped me.

Year 2, Day 348: Valentine's Snow Day

Simply a disaster, from a diet perspective. I thought it would be good because I'd be home with the kids and there would be some frolicking in the snow, but the temperature and weather conditions were so inhospitable that we did not go outside—I only went out to shovel the walk because I know how much worse it can get if you let it pile up and freeze. I got the ergonomic shovel—I think it gives you tremendous lower back pain instead of paralyzing lower back pain when you shovel heavy, wet snow. It was one of those days that I just ate my way around the house and did not stop myself. Some people on a diet say 'I couldn't stop myself' but I don't believe that— somewhere, even if it's very deep down inside you, you let yourself do whatever it is you think you're unable to stop yourself from doing. Since it was Valentine's Day, I allowed myself a lot of chocolate. Yummy.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Strawberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee (x2)
2 small bites of Emily's Iggy's 7-Grain Toast with Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch:
Breast of Chicken
Salad

Snack
1 Extra Smokey
2 Hard-boiled Eggs
4 oz. Popcorn
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
~ 1/4 cup Almonds/Cashews

Dinner
Brisket
Carrots, Celery, Onions
Cauliflower

Chocolate
1 Kissable
1 square dark chocolate

Because the storm kept most people from coming into work, there wasn't a lot to do or many people to talk to. There were a few conference calls though, because my parent company is in sun-kissed North Carolina so they don't know from snowstorms. That is, they know when one flake falls, they close ALL roads in and out of the state so freaked-out drivers don't careen off the road. Meanwhile, teachers and parents are sort of gritting their teeth because here it is three days from the start of a week long vacation and now a snow day! You can hear sobbing parents and teachers everywhere, with valentine's card trades and events cancelled all across the state. Sigh.

Year 2, Day 347: A Day with No Nuts

I insist on going without nuts today. I will take my life back. However, by 10:00 am I had already eaten four pieces of beef jerky, my day's allotment. I am not sure why I am so much hungrier now in the mornings. It could have to do with winter, or it could have to do with shifting metabolisms, but whatever it is, I am trying to be en guarde against it. But mostly, trying to hide the nuts.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
5 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 Fuji Apple
2.5 Cups Orville Redenbacher Popcorn

Lunch: Russo's ($5.73)
Romaine, red pepper, red onion, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms,
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Dinner
Ground Turkey
String Beans a la Emily
2 Pickles
1 of the thinnest slices of Iggy's Bread

Dessert
Chocolate Square
1 of the tiniest nibbles of a piece of cake and frosting that Carolyn made for Owen

Tonight (but not yet) they are calling for snow and lots of it. Right now it just super cold. A neighbor walking her dog asked me as I drove by "Is it cold enough for ya?" I know you can't believe that the cliche is actually alive and living but it is. Though she is a senior citizen, I replied foolishly "No, I'd like it a little colder," which fell pretty much on deaf ears, in both a figurative and literal sense. I had the good fortune to buy a lot of rock salt and extra ergonomic shovels, so I was ready for the onslaught. Emily has organized the crafts table, so we're ready for a school-is-cancelled stay home today for Valentine's Day.

Year 2, Day 346 nutsapalooza/fake Balthazar

When my Mom was up in December, she brought a TON of Balthazar bread, which we are just getting to the end of now. The last bag seemed different from the rest of the multi-grain and I was very suspicious of it. It seemed like just 'regular bread.' I decided not to eat any of it, but Emily thought it was OK. It didn't have any multi-grain texture to it. In retrospect I think it was Rye, but I can't help it, I'm on tenter hooks.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
1 slice balthazar bread
3 slices turkey bacon
coffee

snack
60 almonds
40 cashews
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
4 Beef Jerky Sticks
1/2 orville redenbacher popcorn

lunch: Demo's
Chicken Kebab 4 pieces
greek salad

Dinner
Cheeseburger with Onions
String Beans

Amazingly, I was reading the label of Orville Redebacher and I realized it was a Con Agra product (which is Spanish for "With Agra"). I determined that I should probably not eat any more Con Agra products, because of the recent article in the New York Times that said 'the more processed something is, the worse it is for you." I believe that Con Agra is responsible for creating food that is 250% processed. Just as I was thinking that I saw the article about how Peter Pan (a Con Agra product) sickened nearly 300 people across America. While I felt terrible for all the kids who were sickened, I couldn't help thinking that if everyone in the country would give up eating peanut butter with sugar in it, this would not have happened.

Year 2, Day 345- Emeril's Greens

When I was first watching Emeril, back in the days before he was famous and the show wasn't live and he didn't have a line of cookware, I saw him cook an amazing recipe that I instantly wrote down and continued to make throughout the years. It was greens, and it basically involved frying up a mess of bacon (or other pork fat), then adding whatever washed greens you want (I use collard greens, kale, and chard, but today I also had dandelion greens) add molasses and one beer and serve. Did I mention onion, garlics and shallots? They're in there too. I figured since greens are anti-oxidant powerhouses, I should make some. Sure the beer, molasses and bacon doesn't really meet the SoBe standard, but most of that gets cooked away, except for the bacon...

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Bananas
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
1 Joy Stick

Lunch:
Salad
Hamburger
Pickles

Postworkout Snack
6 oz plain yogurt
Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Dinner
Breast of Chicken
Greens (Kale, Swiss Chard, Red Chard, Dandelion Greens)

Feeling the slippage, I resolve to go without snacking. At the gym, I did 7 miles at level five in 65 minutes. I also did 40 crunches on the ab machine. I am feeling good about even entering the weight training and resistance area. I am hoping to eventually lose my gut, which has been with me basically since I could walk upright. I'm not sure how far I can get, but I am going to try and try and try.

Year 2, Day 344: Dinner at Jills

Dinner at Jill's is always a special treat. She is a great cook, and is always making sure to make SoBe friendly dishes. This is great for me because I can eat with no worries, but it's also a caution because there so much food, including appetizers and several side dishes. As usual, my kids played with her dogs, Ruby watched TV and Magnolia found her way to the dog bed, which she inexplicably loves. They all ate steak and little pizzas (another thing Aunty Jill makes for them) while I drank all of Jill's wine. It was yummy. I did skip the dessert.

Breakfast
Kashi

Snack (z)
1 cup Boston Lite Popcorn
1 Fuji Apple with Peanut Butte
Almonds & Cashews

Lunch:
Pork
Salad
10 Crackers with Jalapeno Cheddar

Dinner:
Salami & Cheese
Steak
Cauliflower
Asparagus
Sesame Cabbage Slaw
Red Wine

If I could make one request, it would be that people stop saying "I support you 150%." It's really not possible to do anything more than 100% is it? I mean I realize it's an expression, but it's one that irks me.

Year 2, Day 343: Sugary Chinese Lunch Leads to 100 Nut Day

The title of this post says it all. One of the reasons to avoid the carbs and the sugar is that it makes you crave other stuff that ultimately can be bad for you, like lots of fatty things. Essentially, skiing down the nut-cliff.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
Balthazar Bread
3 Strips Turkey Bacon
1 small toast of balthazar bread with super chunky peanut butter
2 slices of apple

Snack
Green Tea
2 oz 50% jalapeno
3 sticks beef jerky
60 almonds
30 pistachios

Lunch: Chang Shin Yuan
Meat of two dumplings
Chicken Soup (Shrimp, Tofu)
Moo Shi Pork
Chung King Pork
Shredded Beef with String Beans
Chicken with Spinach
Tea

Dinner
Tuna
Asparagus

Dessert
3 bites of Smartfood
1 Glass Red Wine (Coppola)
10 Chocolate Chips (Ghiradelli)

Sick on nuts, I hardly had any appetite for dinner. As a result, I ate a few asparagus, and maybe three ounces of tuna. Then I moved to get on with the night.


Study: Pistachios can lower cholesterol —Medical Laboratory Observer

Results from a new research study released at the 2001 Experimental Biology conference found that eating two, one-ounce servings of pistachios a day can help adults significantly lower their cholesterol levels. Pistachios joined the ranks of other nuts when clinical data was unveiled to show that if a person has a moderately high total cholesterol level (greater than 250mg/dl), the substitution of pistachios for other snack foods (20% of caloric intake) can significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels by nearly 10%.

Year 2, Day 342: Butter or Margerine?

From the South Beach Newsletter (BTW, I think you're always better off with the natural alternative than the chemical one, unless you have special needs—Ed.)

Which Is Better: Butter or Margarine?

In commercials and supermarkets across the country, butter and margarine face off in an effort to win consumers. But which is considered South Beach Diet®-friendly?

Trans-fat-free margarine. The reason lies in the different types of fat they contain. Butter, made from animal fats, is high in artery-clogging
FEATURED SPONSOR

saturated fats. Margarine, on the other hand, is made with vegetable oil, so it contains mainly polyunsaturated fat. But don't be deceived! While margarine contains less saturated fat than butter, the hard varieties (like stick margarine) are high in dangerous trans fats.

Trans fats are manufactured through a process called hydrogenation, in which liquid vegetable oils are transformed into solid fats. Trans fats are used in foods like crackers, cookies, and pastries to improve flavor and texture, and to extend their shelf life. Like saturated fats, trans fats raise LDL (the "bad") cholesterol, but trans fats have also been proven to lower levels of HDL (the "good") cholesterol. Therefore, trans fats may pose greater health risks than saturated fats.

Still, when it comes to spreads, butter isn't best! The healthiest choice is a trans-fat-free liquid or tub margarine. And, as of January 2006, the Food and Drug Administration required the trans-fat content of packaged foods to be included on the nutritional information panel, so it's easy to make an informed decision about which product to buy. (Be aware that companies can petition the FDA for an extension on the labeling requirement, so a product might not be trans-fat-free unless it specifically says so on the package.)

If you've been diagnosed with high cholesterol, you may elect to use one of the cholesterol-lowering margarine spreads made with phytosterols, also known as plant stanol esters. This compound, which is found in sources like soybean oils, can assist in reducing blood cholesterol levels. One last piece of advice: Use all fats in moderation.


Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
4 Beef Jerky
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Fuji Apple
10 Almonds

Lunch: Russos ($5.45)
Romaine, Grape Tomatoes, Broccoli, Mushrooms
Red Onion, Red Pepper, Feta, Chicken
Balsamic Vinegar, Pepperoncini

Dinner
Blue Ribbon BBQ plus salad

I love BBQ, and amazingly I'm on Chowhound and read over and over about how Blue Ribbon makes bad ribs or they chop their pork instead of pull it. I love the detail that these folks can review food at, but honestly there is not a bitter BBQ joint in the area, so I think that has to count for something. We used to love East Coast Grill before Jake & Earls split off and became their own restaurant (which has since been sold to a separate company that's running its good reputation and unbelievable location in Waltham into the ground). I was a Redbone's fan, but I recognize that the saucy rib is not for everyone. Porterhouse BBQ was never a real contender and that's really it. Every other place is really no better than an Applebee's (see Village Smokehouse, etc.). For more on BBQ in Boston (and New England) go to http://www.pigtrip.net/.

Year 2, Day 341: No Sour Cream Please

Had lunch with my old friend Steve today. In tribute to his love of Boca Grande, we went to Boca Grande in Brighton. Of all of them it's a very nice one with lots of space but a very bad draft problem, rendering at least half of the restaurant unusable by people who don't like an icy wind knifing their face during their lunch times. After surveying the menu, I decided to go with the big burrito, but I wanted to keep it healthy. Without asking they plopped the sour cream on it at the end but by that time they had custom made it for me and so what was I going to do? I guess if it had been year one I would have said "I can't eat that" but here it is year 2 so I just went with it.

Breakfast
Kashi
Heritage Flakes
Bear Naked Granola (Raspberry)
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee


Snack
2 oz 50% Cheddar
50 Almonds
4 Beef Stick Jerkys

Lunch: Boca Grande Taquera
Grande Burrito
Colorado Chicken
Grilled Vegetables
Red Beans
Guacamole
Hot Sauce
Lettuce
Salsa
Sour Cream (Not Asked For)

Dinner: Blue Ribbon BBQ
Brisket
Burnt Ends
Pickles
Salad

I am trying the Bear Naked granola which I know some people like but I am just not feeling the love. I think it is the low sugar element—granola minus sugar—that might be a non-starter. I love the muesli from Ikea, but honestly, I am not going to run over to Ikea every time I need some muesli. So far I haven't found a better, low-carb muesli, but that doesn't mean I won't keep trying. But I am ready for more Swedish meatballs and lingonberries from Ikea....

Year 2, Day 340: Delcious Winter Produce

The South Beach Newsletter, Once Again:

Delicious Winter Produce
If you're following the delicious and healthy eating principles of the South Beach Diet ®, chances are you're shopping for great-tasting fresh fruits and vegetables. During the winter this can be a frustrating experience in many parts of the country. Tasteless tomatoes, unripe strawberries (underline that—ed.), and avocados priced like precious gems are just some of the typical complaints. Your favorite fruits and veggies are either out of season or they come with a hefty price tag. So, should you give up on them until the spring thaw? Of course not! Here are three steps to sidestep the winter produce woes:

Buy seasonal produce. Readily available winter fruits include oranges, grapefruit, apples, and pears. Zero in on always-tasty winter vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery root, fennel, spinach, mushrooms, kale, chicory, leeks, Swiss chard, and collard greens.

Shop the frozen food aisle. Believe it or not, some nutrients (like vitamins A and C) are better retained in frozen produce than fresh produce, which loses some nutrients through exposure to air and light and during transportation. Plus, frozen produce is a real time-saver, as it usually requires minimal preparation. Also, by stocking your freezer with frozen produce, you'll always have fruits and vegetables on hand, even on days when you can't make it to the grocery store. This aisle is an especially good place to find berries and other off-season fruits. (Make sure you select frozen fruits packaged without added sugars.)

Breakfast
3 Slices of Turkey Bacon
2 Soft Boiled Eggs
2 small Slices of Balthazar Bread
Coffee

Snack
4 (maybe 5) sticks beef jerky
1 Fuji Apple
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Lunch: Russo's ($5.01)
Romaine, grape tomatoes, mushrooms
broccoli, feta, chicken, pepperoncini
red peppers, balsamic vinegar

Dinner
Shrimp and Snap Peas
2 bites of Ruby's Hamburger

I have to once again give thanks for brushing your teeth. I really know of no other way that's better to prevent yourself from eating. That's why as soon as I get the chance, I brush my teeth every night. It's good that my kids brush their teeth around 8pm, because if I have not brushed by then, it's a reminder to do it. It helps them to know that we're all brushing together, and it keeps me from wandering downstairs to pad around in the cabinets and to see what kind of thing I can eat. It isn't that I no longer pad, it's just that I never eat anything when I have that frosty toothpaste taste in my mouth.

Year 2, Day 339: Cold Monday, Bad Monday

It always feels good to make it through the day without overt bad snacking, but then 3:30 rolls around and watch out! In come the nuts.

Breakfast
Kashi
with Go lean Crunch!
Coffee

Lunch: Russos ($4.90)
Romaine, red pepper, red onion, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
2 cups Boston Lite Popcorn
35 Almonds
4 Beef Jerky Sticks
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Dinner
Chicken Breast
Cauliflower
Celery, Carrots & Onions from Last Night's Brisket

Dessert
Wine
Chocolate, Almonds

They say that after a big sporting event players' metabolisms are lifted for days. I'm not sure if that happens outside the sports world but I wonder if my little engine runs hotter or faster in the day after my workout day because I am always so much hungrier on Mondays than any other day. It is probably some combination of the post-workout metabolic lift and the anxiety of returning to work plus being in close proximity to so many yummy nuts. Someone please help me! I'm a nutaholic.

Year 2, Day 338—Slippage

Always worried about slippatge, especially after a great weigh-in. The feeling that I can "add" or "treat" myself to something feels like slack in the leash, but I'm never sure that I'm interested in that slack, because as Courtney Wayshak used to ask "Where does it end?" Of course he was given to hyberbolic rantings, but he still had a point. I'm afraid mostly that if I live life off the leash I'll go to the dogs in a hurry.


Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch
Breast of Chicken
Salad

Snack
1/2 apple
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons SCPB
2.5 Cups Boston Lite Popcorn

Dinner
Brisket
Carrots, Celery, Onions
More Salad

One of my favorite workouts today. I made it 8 miles, a new record, in just over about 68 minutes on level five. Then after that, I was able to get onto the ab cruncher and do my typical 30 reps. I got lucky because I arrived at 10:15am and signed for a 10:30am and 11:00am space on the elliptical, but the woman on the one I signed up for split halfway through her session, so I got a bonus 15 minutes.

Year 2, Day 337: Second Dinner

Of all the fatherly tasks I enjoy, making pancakes with Ruby has got to be near the top. I like any kind of cooking or baking we do together, but pancakes are especially fun since now we use Kodiak and they taste good and she likes them (and so does Magnolia). It also feels very much a like a 'weekendy' thing since there's no way I'd have time to do it during the week. Even with just one cup of mix I always end up with a few leftover and I always end up eating at least one (and today was no exception).

Breakfast
Kashi
1 Kodiak Pancake (with Super Chunky Peanut Butter)
Coffee

Snackzaplenty
1 Apple
1 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn
2 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1/4 cup of Almonds/Cashews
A few bites of clementine

Lunch
Scrambled Eggs
Lox
A few bites of a Quesadilla (Joseph's Net Carbs Tortilla and Cheese)

Dinner
Flounder
Snap Peas
Pork-Burger

It's strange how often I actually used to feel entitled to have a "second dinner." I think Emily coined the phrase, but it means when you sit down to a real full second meal because for one reason or another your first 'dinner' didn't comport to the standards we had, either real or imagined. This happened, embarrassingly, quite often, but now I know that you really have one chance each meal period to consume some calories and whether the food was tasty or not; satisfying or not, if you consumed your calories, you had your meal. In the old days we would say about a particularly bad meal "that sucked, let's have something else later." Those days, thankfully, are over.

Year 2, Day 336: Fridays at 669 Washington Street

I was just remembering that Fridays used to be a time when Emily and I would have a routine 'indoor picnic' in our inherited-from-her-sister-rent-controlled apartment in Washington Square, Brookline. It was a great apartment when we were young, carefree twentysomethings, but by the time we neared our mid-30s it was not very cool. At the end, there were rats (brought on my our neighbors, who were Russian, and had a habit of improperly storing their trash; celebrating their life every night by drinking vodka and tossing chicken bones into the impossibly crowded parking lot) and water bugs the size of a small reference volume that were black as coal and slow as molasses. They were hard to kill on soft carpet. You would have to do a Mark Morris like dance on whatever you were smooshing them with to kill them. It would be awful for killer and bug.
We had two cats and they never seemed very interested in fending off bugs. They were spoiled and just wanted food in their dish. But I digress. Because my job at a big-city newspaper weekly had a 40-hour a week MAXIMUM and I worked late on Wednesdays in production of the paper, I got to leave early on Fridays. Emily was a teacher, so we were both always home by about 2pm. I would have a big breakfast (usually something awful) and I would bring lunch home. It was almost always the same thing: A chicken breast sub from Il Gardino (The Garden, on Brookline Street in Fenway); a bag of Krunchers! (The best potato chip ever); snapple and diet coke; A copy of all of the day's papers (Times, Voice, Phoenix, Globe). We would meet, park it on the floor, the couch, a chair, and just kick back with our sub and start the weekend. I have lovely memories of it always being sunny and just putting on a CD and having those long moments of happiness where you're in the same room with someone but you don't have to say anything. You're just being together. Plus a bag of barbecue potato chips.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
2 Slices of Balthazar Bread
Coffee
A few slices of clementine, a few slices of apple

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
3 Beef Jerky Sticks
1 Fuji Apple
1 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch: Russo's: ($6.57)
Romaine, red pepper, red onion, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, broccoli slaw
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Dinner
Emily's Shrimp Gulag
(Shrimp, Leeks, Scallions)
1 Cheese Quesadilla

It's very hard to shop for salad when you're hungry, and when the chicken pieces are big, it can throw you off. Emily always used to discuss the 'vertical dimensions' of the plates I would create from a buffet line, especially a Chinese food buffet line. It's true that I was a plate-stacker from way back. At Russo's, I can tell I'm in trouble when I exceed the height limit of the aluminum container. You know you're in for a seven dollar salad then.

Year 2, Day 335; Two Meals Out and Still a Medium

I ate a lot today because I had two meals out. It's disingenuous to say it's not the kind of the thing you plan—in fact, I had planned the lunch with coworkers and a date with my wife, so it's also not true. But at V Majejstic I usually get the broccoli and shrimp—a lunch and diet staple—but this time we went off the board with a whole bunch of new stuff in volume. For dinner, Emily and I always think we're going to see a movie, but at the last minute decide the times don't work or we're just not up for it. If the movie has just come out we don't want to deal with the crowds; if there are no crowds we can't stand to see a movie on the postage-stamp sized 'back' theatre. So tonight we went to Fava in Needham, which was very, very good. I ate some her pate, which I rarely eat and never like. But they do it very well.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
2 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn
10 Pistachios

Lunch: V Majestic
Crab & Artichoke Soup
Vietnamese Pancake (Actually an egg-like omelet with chicken, shrimp, mung beans and mushrooms)
String Beans with Seafood

Dinner: Fava
1 Glass Red WIne
Caesar Salad
2 Bites of Fois Gras
Flounder with Pancetta
and sauteed Spinach

After all that eating, Emily and I went to the mall, specifically Eddie Bauer, after a series of department stores had frustrated me in my attempt to buy new clothes. The Gap, usually a stalwart choice seems to only carry distressed clothing and stuff that I wouldn't wear in public, the stuff at Macy's was too—I don't know what. After trying on a lot of stuff at Eddie Bauer, I was convinced that I was going to go home a three-strikes loser, but Emily pulled her aside for a consultation. The woman at Eddie Bauer said I was a medium—this shocked Emily and certainly was a surprise to me—I was picking out larges, and she told me that it was wrong. So we walked out with a bunch of medium shirts, go figure. They really are different. I always purchased the XL shirts because I was 'big.' I never thought of myself as a 'medium.' It will take a while to process. I hope it's because of my weight loss and not just too my 'getting older and shrinking.'