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.

Year 2, Day 62: April Come She Will

WEIGHTY ISSUE—Obesity-suburbs link debated
Any way you study it, commute takes away time for healthy activity
By RAD SALLEE - Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Does suburban living make you fat? Probably a little bit, studies say. At least for some people.

It's common sense that a person who spends an hour or more of every workday commuting to and from the job will have that much less time left over for healthful pursuits.

A city dweller who can walk or bike to work, as well as to the cleaners, the grocery and so on, obviously would have the edge on fitness, other things being equal.

But they seldom are equal, and there's abundant evidence that obesity is strongly related to other factors, including income, education and race.

A small academic tempest followed news reports in February of a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago that seemed to refute a link between urban sprawl and personal spread.

One story about the report was headlined "Study finds suburbanites fitter.

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

Snack
Coffee with USM
1 crust of bread
1 quarter-square of matzoh
~4 oz almonds/cashews
1 or 2 bites of Magnolia's Cheese Stick (Ruby saved me by throwing it away)
1 chicken nugget
3 slices salami

Lunch
Breast of Chicken
Salad with Spinach, Cabbage, Feta

Dinner
Flank Steak with Ginger and Scallions
Salad with Japanese Ginger Dressing
Broccoli

Typical differences

Ewing's 2003 study examined 448 counties in 83 metro areas and concluded that sprawl had a small but significant connection with minutes walked, obesity, high blood pressure and body mass index (BMI), a calculation based on height and weight.

At the extremes, the study estimated, New Yorkers would weigh 6.3 pounds less than residents of Geauga County, Ohio, a distant suburb of Cleveland, after correction for height and other factors. Typical differences were much smaller.

On a smaller but far more detailed scale, Frank polled 11,000 Atlanta-area residents in 2004 and concluded that those living in mixed-use neighborhoods with walkable destinations within a kilometer of their homes were likely to be thinner. Among white men, where the linkage was strongest, Frank concluded that extreme differences in land use, population density and street connectivity correlated with weight differences of up to 10 pounds.

The recent Chicago study fell between those two geographically, but the data source was voluminous — records of 7 million drivers' licenses in the 10-county Chicago area. Body mass index was calculated from licensees' height and weight. Researchers also noted the subjects' gender and place of residence among 375 ZIP codes.
Maps were generated that show residents of the inner city and outer suburbs carrying more excess weight than those in the inner ring of suburbs

Year 2, Day 61: Trying to Get the Feeling Again

Stunned by the news that I was up 3 lbs (we'll double-check this on Monday) and laid low by the notification of having to give up exercise for two weekends, I am somewhat apprehensive about the weekend. I am repeatedly writing a note in my head to stay within the confines of the program, much like a soon-to-be married bride of the 50s might continually write her new married name on paper, just to see how it looks. I found it challenging to say the least. As is my wont during these times, I have to relook at the way I am eating— I realize that plain yogurt may be low in carbs (14g per serving) but I notice that it is high in sugars (12g). I probably should not have it once a day for a snack.

Breakfast
1 Cup Ancient Heritage Grains
1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean
1 small banana
1 cup USM
Tea

Snack
Coffee with USM
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
Less than 2 tablespoons of Super Chunky Peanut Butter
A few slices of salami

Lunch
Big Salad—Romaine, Cabbage, Feta, Tuna, Carrots

Dinner
Chicken Chorizo Sausage
Emily's Kickin' Bok Choy

According to http://www.junkfoodblog.com/ Nestle of Russia has introduced a new product called "Nestle Classic For Men." The site goes on to say that the company's product literature says they're positioning this as a "new, special form of tenderness created just for men."

Year 2, Day 60: Traumatizing Visit to the Doctor.

Or, "Do You Have a copy of Orgasm Magazine?" One of the greatest illustrations of embarrassment is in the Woody Allen film Bananas, were he is depicted as trying to buy the above mentioned magazine. He slips it in between ten other serious magazines, but when he gets to the cashier, she silently rings up each one until she has to call for a price on Orgasm Magazine. That's pretty much what happened to me at the doctor's today. There was a lot of trauma to go around:

1. Weighed 3lbs more than last visit (189)
2. Was advised to stop exercising for two weeks.
3. Nurse checking me out did not know how to file paperwork for embarrassing procedure that was recommended for me; causing her to yell out to the other nurses assembled about same procedure. I tried to keep my sense of humor, but it was no avail; the day was lost.

Breakfast
2 small slices of Balthazar rye
4 slices Ham
2.5 oz 50% jalapeno cheddar
Tea

Snack
1 medium dunkin donuts coffee (half decaf)
~2.5 oz peanuts

Lunch: Russo's ($5.69)
Red leaf, red onion, red peppers
chick peas, chickens, feta cheese
broccoli, olives

Dinner:
Chicken Paprikash
Emily's Stir-Fry Cabbage
Broccoli

Of course, in the back of my head I thought "Oh I'm going to the doctor, I'm going to get weighed" which isn't so bad, but I hadn't really thought through the fact that it would be at 2:15, an hour after lunch, which I suppose is the stupidest time to get weighed ever. I'm not listing it as a Detecto weigh-in, since it's not first thing in the morning as I always do. Detecto said 189, which was quite shocking, and I was certainly bummed out for the rest of the day. I resolved to go back on Monday and get weighed in (as I would have without the Dr. visit). My sister in law says she can weigh as much as five pounds more at the end of the day than at the beginning. But I say that begs the question "how much do you weigh?" Additionally, Dr. Parent, who has as saved my life twice now, recommended that I take two weeks off from exercising. I said "even brisk walks?" she said "yes." I said "what about slow ones?" At this point, I am acting more like her weird uncle Moey than a patient. Patients just do what she recommends, they don't negotiate. I am a problem.

Year 2, Day 59: The Girl Can't Help It

Emily used to have a poster of the movie "The Girl Can't Help It" in her apartment. I think it was from the Coop, or Mostly Posters, or some such store that sold that kind of poster-y bric-a-brac. I think of that sometimes when I'm with Magnolia and end up eating whatever she's eating. Tonight it was Elmo's Yummy Oatmeal. Of course it's yummy, because despite its organic quality, many of its ingredients are sugar. I'm not blaming her at all, it's all me. But the girl can't help it. That's the truth.

Breakfast
1 cup Heritage Flakes
1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1 small banana
Tea

Snack
Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half decaf)
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 tablespoons super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: Sushi 21 Bento Box
1 Unagi Nigiri
Chicken Teriyaki
Mescalun Greens/Seaweed Salad
2 Fried Shumai
Green Tea

Dinner
Hamburger
Asparagus
Peppadews

Afterwards
1 Bite of a Chocolate Kids Cliff Bar
2 Bites of Elmo Yummy Oatmeal

Went for a VERY brisk walk today with just one other from the gang. Second one this week—very encouraging. Glad that the weather supports this activity, because I have still not found my way to a second trip to the gym. During today's walk, I found it almost hard to keep up (did have to take a call about half way through). Definitely broke a sweat, which is good, because I ate a big lunch right afterwards, and I will probably see Detecto tomorrow.

Year 2, Day 58: Jill's Birthday

I didn't do anything for Jill's Birthday today, but she is right up there with my inspirations. One of the most sensible and healthy people I know, Jill was my cohort and coconspirator at old Domania. We went on many lunch runs for the staff, and it almost always caused us a great deal of aggravation as we sweated out forgetting the ketchup, getting the wrong kind of bread for a sandwich or getting plain diet dr. pepper instead of vanilla cherry diet dr. pepper with splenda. She was really the first friend I ever had that ran; went to the gym; ate properly; engaged in sports. Aside from all the other reasons I described in this blogosphere about my weight gain, I realize now that I had very few friends that ever cared about getting me moving. It's true that both my old bosses were constantly trying to get me to walk, and they even got me a book of "walking tours in Boston" as a gift. When I opened it, we all laughed. Such was my known state at the time. And Jill never made it an issue. She accepted me for who I was. For some reason, she was always picking me up at the hospital. She has been a great supporter of this diet, and blog. So happy birthday Jillz!

Breakfast
2 small slices Balthazar bread
5 (small) slices ham
2.5 oz. 50% jalapeno cheddar
tea

Snack
1 medium dunkin donuts coffee (half decaf)
~3 oz. Peanuts
1 Apple

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

Dinner
1 Ground Pork Burger
Emily's Stir-fry cabbage
Peppadews
1 oz. Cracker barrel cheese

I am starting to feel heavy again. Not sure why that is, but it could be that I need to scale back the eating. Could be a psychological disorder. Can't tell— I will know more when I face my nemesis-cum-friend Detecto next week. Have I stayed the same or have the pounds started to creep back on? How long can I sustain weight loss without adding exercise? What about Naomi? These and more questions will be answered next week.

Year 2, Day 57: Tuesdays with Morrie and Heritage Flakes

Having run out of Kashi Go Lean! cereal, I sashay over to Whole Foods to get another box. As always, I am trying to 1) try every cereal in the known world and 2) vary my diet, as I know it is a cornerstone of successful staying on a diet. It is very easy for me to fall into a rut; I could easily wear the same outfit every day and eat the same thing every day. I hope people don't think that means I lack imagination; it's just that I'd rather devote my creative senses to the day's pursuits, not the requirements of clothing myself and feeding myself. I realize many people can do both, but I'm not one of them. I have to work hard to vary my routine and make it work. I spied a bag of "Heritage Ancient Grains." Despite the lousy name, I am taken with their 'eco packs' which is a fancy word for 'no box.' I noted a few years ago that General Mills started selling boxless-bags of breakfast cereals that were copies of more well-known cereals like cocoa puffs, only theirs would be called 'chocolate puffs.'

Breakfast
1 cup Heritage Flakes
1 small banana
grape nuts
Tea

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts (half decaf)
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's ($5.41)
Red leaf, red onion, red peppers
chick peas, chickens, feta cheese
broccoli, olives

Dinner
Cheeseburgers
Emily's Stir-Fry Cabbage
Peppadews
Bok Choy

Anyway, the label on these massive bags of multi-grain flakes claim that they are made from "heritage grains such as spelt, quinoa and kamut." Since I couldn't recognize any of those things as food sources, I was immediately convinced that I had to buy the bag, though I had call one of the Whole Foods employees to help me load it into the cart. I've got to tell you, they are FANTASTIC. They have less sugar (4g vs. 6g) then Kashi Go Lean and less carbs (23g vs 30g) too. They had a sweet taste and even Emily liked it. Ruby liked it when Emily was eating it dry, but later when I offered it to her she demurred. So I'm giving a big recommendation to these flakes, though if you have a small car, you might want to start with the box.

Year 2, Day 56: Rainy Days and Mondays

I always liked rainy Mondays. Because of their appalling quality, it's so much easier to pity them to hate them. Barring the occasional snow catastrophe, you really can't start the week any worse than with a rain-filled Monday.

Breakfast

1 slice Balthazar Rye
4 Slices Ham
2.5 oz. Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
12 oz coffee (half decaf)
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 oz. super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken

Dinner:
Venison Sausage
Pork Quesadilla
Caesar Salad
Sirloin Steak
Asparagus
Red Cole Slaw
Collard Greens
Bite of Coffee Ice Cream

I went to dinner with my brother and a friend in our effort to launch a new magazine. It's hard to have dinner meetings because it's nearly impossible to discuss business when you want to relax but you can't relax because then you're not doing what you came there for. I tried to keep it very sobe friendly, as I have felt slightly off the wagon lately. There was a lot to eat, but the portions were fairly small. It was eating later for me, more, and more stuff that I don't usually have. What the hell, I thought, you only live once.

Year 2, Day 55: "Step Away from the Muffins, Sir"

Today was the grand reopening of the JCC fitness center. As a remorseful baked goods-consuming sinner, I entered expecting to see every available machine covered by some elderly semite person wearing a flannel oxford and carrying a record player. Fortunately, I got there early and this was not the case. I suppose Jews are afraid of gym grand openings? Since I thought all the elliptical machines were taken, I signed up for mine and went down to the fitness center and got a tour of all the brand spanking new machines they had. I explained that I wanted six-pack abs (though not in those terms) and a nice lady named Rachel (who had a cold) took me through some of the devices that could help me tone my 'core.' I must say that after trying a few 'reps' on these machines that I realized that my 'core' is not very strong. It's very disempowering to know that you have weak core. She suggested I come two to three times a week. I surmised she was a fitness zealot. She filled out a form with my name on it, and either as a provocative measure or simply out of an understanding of who I am she said she would 'file it in the back.' I did four miles on the elliptical in about 40 minutes, then a half mile on the track. During my 'run' I realized that they had added three more elliptical machines. When I was finished, I went home to bake more blueberry muffins.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
4 Strips Turkey Bacon
3 oz. Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Lunch
Chicken Cutlets a la Robert
Big Salad (Celery, Lettuce, Carrots, Parmesan)
1. oz Cracker Barrel Cheese
1/4 cup Almonds/Cashews

Etc.
1.5 Blueberry Muffins
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Dinner
Rainbow Trout/ Pork Cutlets
Broccoli

After having the blueberry muffins of yesterday, I realized two things were wrong: there wasn't enough butter and there wasn't enough sugar. I got a new recipe which called for more of both, and substituted yogurt for milk and added lemon zest. I could tell from the batter that it was going to work out much better. After they came out Ruby and I sampled them. Ruby liked them 'except for the blueberry part.' I brought the rest of them into work. Next weekend I'm going to try chocolate chips, unless I can get some therapy.

Year 2, Day 54: Gym Come Quickly

Today was sort of rainy and therefore my plan to be outside and be fit was somewhat ruined. In addition, I went totally off the rails with my insane and inexplicable desire to bake blueberry muffins. When you have kids, sometimes you just get that kind of crazy idea. Ruby did have a good time making them with me, though they tasted terrible. I had to eat a few of them to make sure I understood what they tasted like. It wasn't bad, just not sweet and muffin-y, more dry and biscuit-y. Size-wize, they were really mini-muffins, and they were made with whole wheat flour, but a muffin's a muffin, and I must confess, I had three of them. Not great.

Breakfast
1.5 Cups Heritage Cereal
1 Small Banana
1 cup soy milk
Tea

Snack
1 Cup Coffee with USM
3 blueberry muffins
~45 goldfish
1 joy stick
2 oz. 50% jalapeno cheddar

lunch
tuna
romaine, boston lettuce
celery, carrots, feta

dinner
sirloin tips
emily's vegetable wok medley: broccoli, celery, peppers and sprouts

etc.
1 organic kids hunka chunka chocolate chip cookie

Then, on our way back from a trip to Toys 'R' Us, I realized I hadn't eaten and I was alone in the car with only a bag of cheddar goldfish. Surprisingly, they are very low in carbs and have no High Fructose Corn Syrup or Partially Hydrogenated Oils in them, which is good, because they are staple food for a majority of the United States population in the 1.5-3.5 year old range. Counting out 55 of them (1 serving) I sadly consumed them in my never-ending quest to keep my blood sugar leveled out. After a reasonable dinner, the baby began her practice of opening the cabinet, grabbing something that makes a crinkle-noise and brining it to me. This time it was a bag of organic (frookie) double chocolate chip cookies. I thought baby might like one—no, she spit it out. I offered it to Ruby—she didn't like it either. Fate decreed I had to try this double-chocolate chip cookie that neither of my daughters (who love sugar AND chocolate) would not eat. I liked it. But all I could think is "I must get to the gym tomorrow—and stay there all day."

Year 2, Day 53: The Bread is Back

Today I returned to Balthazar bread for breakfast. It was good to be back, as it becomes tiresome to eat matzoh everday, not to mention how it plays havoc with your digestive system. On a positive note, Ruby has totally fallen in love with matzoh with butter, which is good, since we seem to have an enormous volume of it left. Passover can be cruel that way.

Breakfast
2 small slices of Balthazar bread
4 slices of not very good ham
3 oz 50% jalapeno cheddar
tea

Snack
Medium Dunkin Donuts (half decaf)
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 tablespoons super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: Not Your Average Joe's
House salad
Breast of Chicken with Pumpkin sauce (and pumpkin seeds)
Red Peppers and Spinach
a few bites of hamburger
five french fries

Dinner
More hamburger
Broccoli
Peppadews

Afterwards
One Nip

I wanted to write a song parody called "Balthazar" to the tune of "Zanzibar" by Billy Joel, but after a few hours, I realized the words just weren't coming, and this blog was already several days late in being published. You'll just have to content yourself with the knowledge that it could have been a very funny song, if I had done it right. I wanted to include a link to "Zanzibar" on iTunes, but I couldn't do that either.

Year 2, Day 52: Concern, As Always

The past few days at work have seen me adding a snack to my morning routine. This is a bad sign. For the first few days it was accidental pistachios. Today it was a banana—I wanted to counteract the sodium of the lox (smoked salmon) with some potassium from the banana. But for the longest time I was able to go without one. I know part of it is stress, but it's self-fulfilling stress because I'm stressed out that I'm hungry. I've also been super hungry after dinner, and that is a concern to me. I don't know if it's just spring, and I'm more active and therefore more hungry, or it's just I'm more hungry. Also, I have it in the back of my head that eating matzoh is not that great a staple on ANY diet. Fortunately, today, Passover is over, and I can return to my beloved Balthazar bread.

Breakfast
1.5 Matzoh Boards
Cream Cheese
Smoked Salmon (700mg of Sodium)

Snack
Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half Decaf)
1 small banana

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Feta
Pita Bread

Dinner
1 Piece Arctic Char, 1 Piece Pork Cutlet
Salad with Feta
Asparagus

Etc.
A bite of Ruby's Sugar Cookie
2 bites sesame chocolate bar (WILD)

I meant to call people's attention to an editorial written by Nicholas D. Kristof in the New York Times last week. It was a funny and frightening article warning us about the dangers of high fructose corn syrup, and how it's worse than anything a terrorist could throw at us. To wit: "Americans over the age of 2 get an average of 132 calories a day from high-fructose corn syrup, which is the major sweetener in pop and also found in everything from ketchup to hot dog buns."

Sugary drinks now account for one-sixth of the calories we ingest. They are particularly problematic because there's evidence that calories in beverages don't give us feelings of fullness that we get from the same number of calories in food. "When kids snack on Cheetos, that at least spoils their appetites so that they eat less at meals. But when they chug Coke, they absorb as many calories -- and it doesn't spoil their appetites. What's the bottom line on these drinks? An extra 100 calories a day, all things being equal, adds about five pounds a year to one's weight."

For years I drank Coke or Snapple Peach Iced tea for lunch, and they both were a staple at the card game. There was always water or diet versions of these drinks, but I went from thinking "it's no big deal' to "I'm out of control." It's very hard to take that first step, say switching to diet coke, or diet Snapple—mostly because they don't taste as good—but it leads to so many other good things (when you exclude cancer from untested sweeteners).

Year 2, Day 51: More Salad

Cream cheese? Why have I been avoiding cream cheese? Sure, it's high in fat, but VERY low in carbs. If you buy Zausner's (which I highly recommend- better even then TempTee) there's no junk in it. Just cream and cheese. Well you know what I mean. I made the mistake of buying low-fat cream cheese when I was home. It was AWFUL. Don't ever do that. If you're going to have cream cheese, just have it. Save the fat somewhere else, or skip something else (if you can).

Breakfast
75% of 1 Matzoh Board with Cream Cheese and a little Smoked Salmon
50% of 1 Matzoh Board with Cream Cheese and Rhubarb Raspberry Jam
Tea

Snack
Medium Black Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half decaf)
25 Pistachios
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 tablespoons peanut butter

Lunch: Russo's Salad ($5.41)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Peppers
Chick Peas, Olives, Chicken
Feta, Celery, Broccoli

Dinner
Emily's Ground Chicken Crumble (with sprouts & peppers)
Boston Leaf Lettuce
Leeks

After
a few bites of cantaloupe

I was discussing with a coworker today about my feelings about Russo's and salad. That is the feeling that I must 'de-fetishize' my lunch. Any one who worked with me during the past decade (and you know who you are) knows that I took lunch VERY SERIOUSLY. Really, I was aghast when I joined a company who had only ventured out to one (and not very good) sub shop. I insisted we visit EVERY SINGLE PLACE in walking and driving distance, collect menus and determine what our rotation would be. I did that at pretty much every place I ever worked. When I joined Domania in 1999, I met someone who was just like me, and together we became the unofficial food service directors of the company. Then we moved from Cambridge to Brighton and we had to start all over again. It got to a point where the discussion of lunch and where it should be from was a central operating point of my day, and that continued for years until I started the South Beach diet, came to my senses and lost 40 lbs. So now, I try to take my father in law's tact, that lunch is simply "a biological requirement." Of course I'll never quite be that unattached to lunch, but it's a good goal to have.

Year 2, Day 50: Return to Work; No Scooter Pies

Today was my return to work after four days away, and naturally, there was a lot to do. It always a mixed blessing to return— it's good to know you're needed, but sometimes it can be daunting when you realize how much there is to do. Not to mention the same struggle everyone has in balancing their life dreams, home responsibilites and work duties. On top of it all, you have to keep eating matzoh until Thursday.

Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana

Snack:
Medium Dunkin Donuts (half decaf)
25 Pistachios
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's Salad ($5.13)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Peppers
Chick Peas, Chicken
Feta, Broccoli

Dinner:
Pork Cutlets
Brocolli, Celery

Etc.
2 small bites of Ruby's Frosted-Sprinkle Cookies
2 small bite of Magnolia's Yummy Oatmeal

Amazingly, I was going to write about my obsession with Scooter Pies—which were sort of like giant malamars that were always available on the lowest shelf in the cookie aisle of the supermarket. I now realize, rather cynically, that they put them there so kids, who are naturally low to the ground, can both see them AND reach them to put them in the cart. I could not find an image of the Scooter Pie, so I may have to go out to the store and get a box (for demonstration only). They may be called something else now, or may have changed manufacturers, it's hard to tell now.
Amazingly, all I could find online was some reference to "Salerno Scooter Pies", which RESEMBLE the original. Salerno is apparently a company that was part of the Sunshine Cookie company that they sold. Scooter Pies were originally created by Burry, then taken over by Quaker Oats. No matter who makes them, you can still go out and get them I bet.

Year 2, Day 49: Patriots Day

People outside Massachusetts know that we have the Boston Marathon, but many people don't know that it is an official (see "State-level") day off. That is, the Government doesn't come to work, and lots of people who live on the marathon route either call in sick or take the day off. This is bad because it means no mail and you can't go to the RMV, but the good side is that taxes aren't due until tomorrow, making Massachusetts just that more liberal. I used to regularly take the day off not only because the marathon made the commute more difficult, but it was really fun when you live on the route (as I did for 11 years) to just walk out, take in the marathon for a little while, then return home. I always wondered why people from far away came to watch, when they have no discernible connection with the marathon. I guess it's just a desire to be part of the action, drink publicly, or urinate in an alley. I watched two of my neighbors get their kids packed up in the car and motor off to find a good 'spot' to watch the marathon. Yecch.

Breakfast
Two Eggs, Over Easy (but one broken)
3 Strips jennieo
2.5 Oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
Coffee with USM
1 Matzoh Board with Cream Cheese and Rhubarb Jelly
Pistachios

Lunch
Cabbage-Romaine Salad with Feta
Whole Wheat Bread Crumb Chicken

Dinner
Turkey a la Emily
with Emily's Leeks
Peppadews

In celebration of Patriots Day, I would have liked to go the gym, or at the very least, to have eaten my own weight in pasta the night before. With the JCC closed, and me watching everything, I had to just content myself with the thought that next Sunday I'd be back on the elliptical, and who knows? Maybe eating a bowl of whole-wheat pasta with pesto. It's not very patriotic, but it will have to do.

Year 2, Day 48: Easter Egg Hunt

The day began as it always does, with Ruby and I galumphing down the steps to greet the day. I made French Toast for the girls and I continued to look for a Easter Egg hunt locally. Note to churches: you are not optimizing your sites for search marketing; I could only find one church Web site that even listed the Egg Hunt as an activity. I can't describe what else I found, but I promise, it wasn't about Easter. On a tip from Emily, I called my neighbor, who was planning to go to a secular Egg Hunt at Wilson Farms in Lexington, MA. With unusual expediency, we put on our pastel outfits and lit out. It took all of about 15 minutes but I must say it was a nice affair.

Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana

Snack-Eez
1 Joy Stick
1/2 a Movie Popcorn
1 bite of a Easter Chocolate

Lunch
Romaine and Cabbage Salad with Feta
Emily's Whole-Wheat Breadcrumb Chicken

Dinner
93% Sirloin Burger
Emily's Stir-Fry Cabbage
Peppadews
String Beans

Dessert
1/2 of Ruby's Sugar Cookie

The greatest disappointment today was the fact that the JCC was closed "for renovations." To add insult to injury, they are closed for 10 Days! God made the world in seven days, but his people cannot renovate one room in that time. After getting fully dressed for the workout, iPod and towel in hand, I pulled up to the JCC with that feeling you get when you know something's wrong— no cars AT ALL in the lot. I couldn't believe they would be closed because I was just thinking to myself "I'm glad I'm a member of the JCC (gym)— I bet all the other gyms are closed for Easter." Zoinks! Since I'm already in my workout duds, I decide to walk around the neighborhood for as long as I can. I made it just about 55 minutes. Even with the iPod (I had typed walkman...) I find walking alone to be wildly boring. However, I did sus out, just a hop from my house is a walking path around the Cutler reservation that has a pond. I wasn't up to THAT walk today, but maybe by the end of the summer...

Year 2, Day 47: Return Home

Another day in New York and another 20 minute loss of life's magic time as we sit in yet another parking lot of highway. We remember why we don't live in New York, though proximity to the world's best fill in anything you want is tempting, and of course Broadway. Eager to hot-foot it back to Boston we pack the car and I make a brief stop to see a friend who's recently lost his father, and coincidentally lives on the way to the Englewood home for Balthazar Bread. Now, it's Passover, but I think it's OK to buy bread if I promise not to eat it till Passover is over. I know that's actually contrary to the laws, but I was never very observant about that one. I think ridding yourself of awful high-carb, high fructose corn syrupy white bread or fake wheat bread is great, but ridding yourself of Balthazar bread just because of a holiday is just flat out wrong.

Breakfast
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter
1 Banana
Coffee with Milk

Car Ride
Chicken Breast
1/2 of a Cheese Stick
1/2 Matzoh Board

Arrival Snack
Salad with Red Cabbage and Romaine
Feta Cheese
12-14 Jalapeno Chips (Whole Foods)

Dinner
Emily's Tilapia
Emily's Stir-Fry Cabbage
Some of Magnolia's Hot Dog

Now in retrospect, I think corn chips are not "Kosher for Passover" because they are made of corn which is one of the things, also called kitnios that we are forbidden to eat. Interestingly, not all Jews are forbidden to eat corn; Sephardim can eat them all day, but not Ashkenazim. However, I challenge anyone to sit in a car for a long period of time with a bag of chips and have them resist. Come on, I dare you!

Apparently, there is a wave coming where new and interesting foods will be available during passover, even those that are leavened (this is because they can be made with baking soda or baking powder, which does not ferment). According to one rabbi, the laws say if one of the five grains – wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt – sits in water for more than 18 minutes it becomes chametz, and one may not eat, derive benefit from or own it on Pesach. Sure makes it hard to find something yummy to eat.

Year 2, Day 46: Good Friday

Today, in our third day of non-stop traveling, we meant to go see my Mom. As Passover prohibits the eating of bread and things risen, we would eschew talk of Balthazar in favor of Bruce's macaroons, which are the world's best, hands down. As is typical in New York, we ran into a lot of traffic getting there, and waited in line with several loud, rude, pushy people. While it takes a little while to get reacquainted, I do feel at home in New York. Why isn't every one this way? On the train going to Manhattan I sat next to an Irish Dad and his son. They were going to a Mets game. This surprised me, since it was Good Friday AND it was raining. But nothing was going to deter them.

Breakfast
2 Eggs Over Easy
3 Strips Jennie O Turkey Bacon
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1/2 Matzoh board
Tea

Lunch
Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken
1 Chocolate Macaroon
1 Matzoh Board with Butter

Snack
3 oz. Cracker Barrel Sharp Cheese
1 Matzoh board

Dinner: Yasuda, NYC
Flash-Fried Striped Bass (Appetizer)
Assorted Sashimi (Including, but not limited to: Artic Char, Mackerel, Yellow Tail, Toro)
Assorted Sushi (Anogo, Unagi, Oyster, Sea Scallop)
Anogo Maki
Sake
Pear, Papaya and Honeydew

In perhaps a curious bad bit of planning, my closest friend and I agreed to have dinner at a Sushi restaurant for his birthday (he had taken me to the same restaurant for my birthday). We had had to reschedule a few times, and it's so rare that I am in NYC with a free night, so we decided to do it. For him it was good Friday (so it was good that there was no steak sushi) but for me, the rice and rice wine were strictly off limits. However, I decided that since I had avoided white rice all year it was OK just this once. We ate a small child's weight in fish, and it was heavenly. I can neither identify all the fish we ate, or tell you the amount of the bill. But you only turn 40 once (I hope).

Year 2, Day 45 Second Night of Passover: A Disaster

It's a cliche that people talk about the 'perfect storm.' For starters, it was an abysmal film. Aside from that, it refers to when a number of elements come together to create a situation that was otherwise unthinkable. A combination of stress, the holiday, and availability of chocolate sought to break me today and came perilously close; I may not have been broken, but I was bowed.

Breakfast
2 Eggs Over Easy
Three Strips Jennie O
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Tennis Snack
Apricot & Yogurt Bar

Lunch
Brisket
Salad with Feta, Almonds & Cashews
Pineapple
Chocolate Bunny

Dinner
Cheese, Matzoh and Chopped Liver
Gefilte Fish
Soup
1 Hard Boiled Egg
Chicken Breast
Brisket
Cole Slaw
Broccoli

Dessert
1 Chocolate Coconut Macaroon
1 bite sponge cake
6 bites of chocolate matzoh (some had toffee and carmel)

As I write this I feel absolutely terrible. Both psychologically and physically. There's a feeling of helplessness you have and a feeling of falling. Today, we played about two hours of tennis, which helped make up for last night's tawdry shameful eat-fest. I thought maybe I could keep it together, but my brother-in-law got Ruby a chocolate Winnie-the-Pooh and we all sat around eating it. That was the top of the ski-hill. Then we went to the next seder, and it was a bit stressful. There was stress about the food and who was doing what; there was bad traffic; there was some unprocessed feelings about the last-minute absence of the Seder Leader, and plus there were six kids 12 to 1.6 months and they were like herding cats. My cousin's wife brought a sinful array of her homemade desserts in addition to the desserts my brother brought (including the Bruce's Macaroon that leaves me weak and knocks me off my feet). Though I've said it before I'll say it again, I never crave sweets (though I enjoy wistfully strolling down memory lane when writing) but if I eat something sugary, it is hard to limit it to just one bite. I think that's why I don't generally seek out some kind of low-fat dessert; I don't need it; I'd rather do without it. Let me focus on my salty side and not my sweet side. At the bottom of the ski-hill, my skis are broken and I have to call the paramedics.

Year 2, Day 44: First Night of Passover

As always, the travel day is difficult because it represents a break with routine. It almost always also foreshadows more breaks with your routine, as you wake up somewhere else with a new set of diet-difficulties. Of course holidays are the very hardest, as you are exposed to more food, often under stressful or exciting situations which can either drive you to the food or distract you from your discipline. In addition, the whole 'hanging with the family' can be wildly tempting and misleading if you're staying at a house where people need to revisit the kitchen, fridge or pantry at around 10:30pm because they're feeling peckish.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 small banana
Tea

Snack
Starbucks Half & Half Dry Soy Cappuccino
1 Slice Balthazar Bread with Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Car Ride
2 oz. Cracker Barrel Cheese
1/3 Broasted Breast of Chicken
.5 oz. Peanuts

PreSeder
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Seder
3 Whole Wheat Matzoh Boards
1 Piece, Gefilte Fish with Horseradish
Brisket
Turkey
Asparagus
Salad

Dessert
A bite of one of three desserts:
chocolate ice cream cake, brownie, chocolate cake


I realize looking back on this day that I doubled-up on the peanut butter, which is not very good, but in eating both bread and matzoh, I probably doubled up on the bread-carbs too. At the end of this night I felt a little disgusting, have fed like a hungry heifer at the first seder. It's quite a meal, and always a marathon of eating: egg, potato, fish, soup, entree, dessert. Even if I could get past that, the dessert offerings killed me. But it was nothing compared to what happened the following night.

Year 2, Day 43: "Bring Something Home"

Tonight Emily went out to dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday and I stayed with the kids. I thought of how I used to say "Bring something home" whenever she would go out, or she to me when I would go out. And yet, with our new lifestyle, that's just not what we say. We don't eat after 8:00pm (most of the time). It's just one more example of a lifestyle gone away.

Breakfast
3 Slices of Ham
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
3.5 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack:
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half decaf)
12 peanuts

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad
Chicken, Feta, Carrots, Cucumbers
1 Slice Whole Wheat Pita Bread

Dinner
Steak Tips
Broccoli
Peppadews

Etc.
25 Pistachios
1 Bite of 50% Lite Dutch Chocolate Haagen-Dazs

Went for a VERY brisk walk with the Domania gang today. In fact, one of us could not even keep up. Felt good,though. Tomorrow night is the beginning of Passover, which last year was the easiest Passover ever, owing to the fact that you are not supposed eat any bread, and that Matzoh is especially bad, from a carbs-perspective. I am toting my own whole wheat matzoh this time, so we'll see what happens.

Year 2, Day 42: "Enjoy Your Dinner"

The other day at Blockbuster (which I would avoid if I could—woe is the independent video store) I was checking out the offerings for those, like me, unfortunate enough to be online. I must say, I was shocked, shocked at what was going on there. There was candy in two categories: the more known candies, such as Reeses, KitKat and Hershey's bars in a little cubby, and candies shaped like rockets, shooting devices and the like, on a display rack. The chocolates were thrown together as misshapen and disheveled and uncared for as any display for the public I'd ever witnessed. Once-crisp wrappers were wrinkled liked balled up wrapping paper after Christmas. Strangely, the candies were all 'unusual.' There was a white chocolate Hershey's Bar, a Mango-Lime Almond Joy and a special Double-Dark Hershey Bar. The rocket candies really floored me. My parents worried about artificial flavors and colors, in respect to how they were unnecessarily added to foods and things made for kids. But these things at Blockbuster literally contained no food or nutritional value whatsoever. Who would let their kids have this (please do not print this for me to re-read in three years). Those candies had neither the antioxidants of chocolate or the white grape juice of a frookwich. Even the popcorn they sold had partially hydrogenated oil in it, and more than half of its calories from fat. That place, nutritionally, and others, is bad news.


Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana

Snack
12 oz coffee (half decaf)
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 tablespoons super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: Russo's Salad ($4.78)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Peppers
Chick Peas, Chicken
Feta, Broccoli

Dinner:
Omelet with Ham, Onion and Swiss
4 Slices Turkey Bacon
Peppadews
1 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain Bread
1 Pizza Crust

Emily did not feel like cooking tonight so I agreed to pick up a pizza for the kids. As I picked up the pizza from Pappa Gino's and began to leave the young lady said "Enjoy your dinner." I realize that it's not very funny in print, but I thought it was kind of ridiculous that she thought that I ordered a small kids' cheese pizza for dinner. Amazingly, Ruby did not want to eat the pizza-bread, only the cheese (like father, like daughter). Faced with a pile of discarded pizza crusts, I had one. And it was GREAT.

Year 2, Day 41: Golf

I know that people love golf. I know that like classical music, it takes years to fully appreciate. I know that the top golfers are skilled athletes. But it's not really what I want to watch when I'm working out. It's quite boring, and I certainly can't tell what's happening without sound, unless I look at the elliptical-izer next to me, who is oohing ahhing and grimacing with every play on the Masters live tournament. Unfortunately for me, the only machine open was "F", which does not have a view of any other TV in the gym. So I did the only I could think of: picked shuffle "Queen" on my iPod and started to think about the next American Idol and who would sing what. I did five miles on the elliptical in 48 minutes, and then about a half mile on the track. And I wasn't even out of breath.

Breakfast
2 Strips Jennie O
3 Scrambled Eggs
3.5 oz 50% jalapeno cheddar
Tea

Etc.
Starbucks half decaf coffee
small slice of french toast
Bite of Banana
1/4 cup almonds/cashews
4 slices ham
2 cracker barrel cheese slices (2 oz)
1 teaspoon peanut butter

Lunch
Romaine Lettuce, Cabbage
Feta, Tuna, Carrot, Celery

Dinner
Emily's Brown Rice and Chicken
Guacamole
Tomato Slices
2 Bites of Ruby's Hamburger

Today just felt like a day way out of control. I felt like I had no idea what I was eating (but of course I always know). I realize that I am always much, much hungrier after a workout, but I try to plan meals so that I can eat after, and not be super hungry and eat lots of calories when I shouldn't be eating them. The weekends in general have been difficult–keeping them 'tight' on calories.

Year 2, Day 40: Un Dia Afterwards

Hung over from going to bed at 3AM (when will I break that habit), but up with Ruby at about 8AM. It's hard to think about fitness and proper living when your head feels like a concrete block. Lots of strong Emily coffee and I start think I am going to make it. Emily graciously allows me to nap later in the day. I dream that a giant chicken is chasing me and I attempt to throw my cat, hooper, to safety. Unfortunately, my throw is bad and the cat lands in the jaws of the giant chicken, who swallows him. I come back into the house and say "He ate him" and start crying hysterically. Then I woke up.

Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana
Coffee with USM
1 small piece french toast

Lunch
Salad with Tuna, Feta, Red Cabbage
2 bites challah with cream cheese


Snacks
Ugli Fruit
1/4 Cashew and Almonds
4 Long Sips of a Smoothie

Dinner
93% Sirloin Burger
Pickles
Peppadews
Broccoli with Cheese

Emily said to me last week "You've really changed the way you make food decisions." And she was right. It was an important and thoughtful comment which I appreciated and continue to ruminate on. I do think differently about what I eat. It's like being fiscally responsible (OK, I'm not there yet). You've got a budget, and you can spend it however you like. But in my old life, I just saw what I wanted and got it. I didn't think about the budget; there was no budget. I was simply racking up the credit card debt; enjoying it now, even boasting about enjoying it now, and knowing that I would have to pay for it later. Well just like on the fiscal side, you have kids or you just get older, and you realize that you can't risk it, you're not that young anymore. Not everyone gets a chance to live through the life-changing heart attack.

Year 2, Day 39: Poker and the Return of Gary

Poker day is here. As always, I am trying to strategize how to eat since I know that I will be consuming extra calories this evening, and most of them from nuts. As a precaution, I plan to eschew the peanut butter and yogurt as snack. I start thinking popcorn, but realize I'll have it tonight— that won't work. Finally, I settle on an apple. As I plan this I realize I have been fairly light in the entire fruit range lately. So that's good. Salad for lunch, and a meat-astic dinner. We have deli, which I think is better than the Chinese alternative.

Breakfast
3 Slices of Ham
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
3.5 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
12 oz coffee (half decaf)
1 Granny Smith Apple

Lunch: Russo's Salad ($4.78)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Peppers
Chick Peas, Chicken
Feta, Broccoli

Prepoker/Appetizers
Bites of Emily's Crispy Chicken (before the game)
Pepperoni & Cheese
Boston Lite Popcorn
Cashew & Almond Mix
Pistachios
TAB Energy Drink

Dinner
Roast Beef, Turkey and Corned Beef
Cole Slaw
Pickles & Sour Tomatoes
Peppadews

Dessert (Forced on me)
1/8th of a Homemade Brownie

After close to one year, Gary returned to the game (the last time he played was June of 2005). It was good to have him back. He did not lose all his money, though two other players did.

"But You Must Try It". Tonight a players wife made us some chocolate brownies. As it was a homemade gift to the poker game, I had no luck refusing it, as I was met with the kind of menacing glares that met anti-war folks shortly after the US began military operations in the M.E. Withering under the strain, I reluctantly accepted as a small a piece as could be recognized as 'having some.' An hour later, the game broke out the blueberry pie. Naturally I abstained, enjoying my pie-celebacy as four grown men ate pie, ice cream and whipped cream at 11:30pm on a Friday. I may not be joining them in the act, but I was totally with them in the spirit. But I didn't need the Rolaids at 3AM...

Year 2, Day 38: Oh, Those Brisk Walks and Mini Eggs

A sunny but crisp day greeted me and though I fretted that I had sent Ruby in appropriate dress (I didn't, it was 50 degrees in the sun by lunch time) it sure felt good to be alive. I realized it would be one of our only good walking days this week and in fact, we got out there and did a good walk. Sometimes, I can't believe how fast it goes by. Today we were near the end before I knew it and I was glad because I was super hungry, and almost had to eat a cookie just so I didn't pass out on line.


Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana

Snack
12 oz coffee (half decaf)
15 Cashews

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad
Chicken, Feta, Carrots, Cucumbers
1 Slice Pita Bread

Dinner:
Emily's Veal Patty
Leeks & Onions
Peppadews
2 of Magnolia's Bugles (Don't Ask)

One of the things we spoke about today on the walk was Cadbury Mini Eggs. These are milk chocolate shaped eggs in a crisp sugar shell. A co-worker suggested them, and I thought she was talking about the Cadbury Creme Egg. No, this is totally different. These are, as someone wrote in the candy blog "pure can’t-stop-eating-them evil." Passing them in the CVS the other day made my legs buckle with longing. You really can't believe it. They are like candy crack. Sure, you think it's a cliche. Go eat a bag and tell me what you think then. If you don't want to get hooked, you can get lost for hours on the candy blog http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/item/cadbury_mini_eggs/

Year 2, Day 37: Lost My Sense of Humor

Last night for no known reason, I completely lost my sense of humor, causing me to have to 'take to bed.' I could barely write anything. It was brought on by a confluence of things, including, but not limited to, enormous amounts of non-justifiable self-pity and feelings of woe about the world. Fortunately, a night's sleep and a freak April snowstorm snapped me out of it.

Breakfast
4 Slices of Ham
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
3.5 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
12 oz coffee (half decaf)
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 tablespoons super chunky peanut butter

Lunch: Chinese
Shredded Pork & Cabbage
Sliced Chicken with Spinach
Hot & Sour Soup

Dinner:
Char a la Emily
Broccoli and Celery

Wednesdays are my night with the kids, if only for a few hours. I do really enjoy it, though. It can be hair-raising, but when those kids are in the tub together, or I can carry them both at the same time, and I don't run out of energy, I'm really glad I changed my life because the old me would be lying on the floor, exhausted after just five minutes with them. It makes me think (about myself and others) I thought I could do so much before I was freed of my burden. But now I really know what doing a lot is. It makes you want to go help other people with their specific burdens, whatever they may be. But I suppose if I can just help raise two kids right, I'll be doing well.

Year 2, Day 36: But Enough About Me

I realize that one of the things that I said I stopped doing in order to lose weight was finishing my kid's food, but now that Magnolia is eating things besides breast milk and pabulum, I am having to watch out all over again. It's just here and there, but before you know it, you're eating all kinds of stuff that you hadn't planned on at 8:00 at night. That's bad.

Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana
The remains of Ruby's Peanut Butter & Banana Slice-Sandwich
Tea

Snack
10 Cashews
6 oz. Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's Salad ($6.89)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Peppers
Chick Peas, Chicken
Feta, Broccoli, Pepperocini

Dinner: Blue Ribbon BBQ
Pulled Chicken
Burnt Ends
Rosa-Style Grilled Asparagus

An unprecedented, almost seven-dollar salad today should have kept me going yet I reached for the yogurt as snack anyway. Another (possibly unfounded) fear is that I relax a little too much; let myself have a few too many things. If I can remember back to last summer, the berry season was irresistible.

Year 2, Day 35: How Low Can You Go?

This is a question I get a lot. I'm not sure where I can get, but as always, I live in fear that I will start eating Magnolia's left-over waffles and suddenly become the very heavy man that I was once was. I suppose it's like being an alcoholic— the progress and the fear of recidivism are intertwined so that you must keep doing one to stave off the other. I certainly feel more at ease with the occasional piece of cornbread (as I had tonight) but it does feel like there's not an ENDLESS amount of wiggle room there-- I feel if I eventually can get into the 170s— theoretically my optimal weight according to the chart in Dr. Parent's office that said at 5'9" and 226 I was obese-- I'll definitely be eating some Kaboom for breakfast.

Breakfast
4 slices of Ham
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar (170mg of Sodium per 1 oz. serving)
2 small slices Balthazar Multigrain
Tea

Snack
1 Medium Dunkin Donuts Coffee (half decaf)
1 oz. (2 Bags) Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch: Russo's Salad ($5.89)
Red Leaf, Red Onion, Red Peppers
Chick Peas, Chicken
Feta, Broccoli, Pepperocini

Dinner: Blue Ribbon BBQ
Pulled Chicken
Burnt Ends
Ribs
Emily's Stir Fried Baby Bok Choy
Baked Beans
Corn Bread

Effluvia
A few bites of Magnolia's Blueberry Waffle
A bite of Ruby's Healthy Choice Pop

I was in Dunkin Donuts this morning— and it didn't even smell tempting anymore. Mostly it's because I know how awful their bagels are, but I was glad to feel that I could totally withstand the wall of chocolate frosted, deep-fried items without despair; I no longer crave them at all.

Year 2, Day 34: No Ice Skating

On the plus side, I did my fastest ever elliptical; 3.5 miles in 37 minutes. Usually I'm on about an 11-minute mile or so. I sped it up today because we were on a tight schedule with the Springing Forward and other stuff lined up for today. After all that, I came back and found out that Ruby's swim lessons were today and conflicted with ice skating; so that's it for ice skating for the season. Sad, but true.

Breakfast
2 Eggs over
2 Strips Jennie O
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Tea

Snack
Coffee with U.S.M.
a little bit of french toast
30 pistachios
6 oz. plain yogurt
3 tablespoons super chunky peanut butter
grape nuts

Lunch
93% sirloin burger
peppadews
Greek Salad: Romaine, Purple Cabbage, Feta

Dinner
Emily's Sweet, Hot and Sour Crispy Chicken
Broccoli

I spent this weekend putting together my new office in the basement. Our house has been busy with painting and all kinds of changes. You don't think of it much, but seeing all your stuff piled up and moved away from the wall can really have an affect on you. I definitely got into a bit of a funk from it, which I didn't really understand until I was through it. But now it's fun to look forward to creating a play space for the kids, which we've never had up until now. I'll be spending my time on the indoor trampoline, but Ruby wants a treadmill. More on that later.

Year 2, Day 33: Soda and Sodium

A frequent reader of the site wrote in to ask about the sodium issues being on my diet, and the truth is that it is something I've worried about in the past. The RDA recommends you keep it under 2400 MG of Sodium a day, which I suppose wouldn't be so hard if you could have all the sugar you want. It seems for some reason that when things have the sugar taken out (like Coke Zero) they still need sodium. To me, it's amazing that calories, the basic component of all food that human beings need to stay alive, can be removed from food products, but they can't get rid of the sodium. Go figure. Let's talk peppadews— a serving size is listed as 1/3 of a cup, which is probably about 6 or 7 peppadews (I probably eat twice that). The Cabs in one serving is 9G and that has 80MG of Sodium, or twice what a can of Coke Zero has in it. ON the plus side, the peppadews contain dietary fiber (very important tradeoff) and vitamins A and C. It could be lower in sugar (8 Gs) but come on, you've got to live a little.

Breakfast
1 cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
1 cup Unsweetened Soy Milk
1 small banana
Tea

Snack:
25 Pistachios
1 banana
2 Tsps Peanut Butter (S.C.)

Lunch:
Breast of Chicken
Emily's Tomato-less Guacamole
6 Tortilla Strips
String Beans
Peppadews
1 oz. Cracker Barrel Cheese

Dinner
93% Sirloin Hamburger
Stir-Fry Cabbage
Peppadews
Salad with Feta

Now that the days are going to be longer, I can tell that it's going to be harder to resist my endless prowling of the kitchen, the preferred headquarters for kid-watching in the park. If I'm smart I'll actually be OUTSIDE with the kids, which then will make it better and easier to consume more pistachios or whatever we keep around the house. Which reminds me of an important rule: if it's not in your house, you won't eat it. Remember that as you spring forward.