Year 3, Day 220: Trip To New York City

There is so much to say about a trip to New York City, but for this blog entry it will have to suffice that for me, it means getting up before crop-dusting hour to make sure I can get on plane at the right time. All this really means is I have to vie past a few tractor trailers on the way to the highway, but it's nothing I can't handle.

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

Airplane Snack
Almonds, Cashews
1 Small Apple (Kind unknown)

Lunch: Better Burger
1/2 pound beef burger
veggie slaw, veggie chili (too much curry)

Dinner
Steak
cauliflower
2 onion rings
asparagus
seafood (shrimp, oysters, crab legs)

A colleague and I had the pleasure to be taken out to a nice restaurant in mid-town for steak and seafood. The food was great, and so was the company, though we were on a tight-timetable. I had an onion ring for the first time since I can't remember but I was LOVING IT so hard that I had that scary-tingly feeling that I needed to break out of the restaurant lest I consume every onion ring in site. Luckily, our car came and we vamoosed to the airport.

Year 3, Day 219: Cookies Are Everywhere

Though I forgot why I titled this entry this way, it doesn't matter. The statement is as true now as it was then, and really, it's not helping me any. I love cookies. I love nearly every kind of cookie there is. Except, I'm not that crazy about the colored Italian cookies that smell like marzipan and come in the tin. Really, I could do without those. But chocolate chip? Ginger snap? Wafer? Oreo? I mean come on, that's what I'd be eating right now if I weren't so afraid I would gain all 50lbs back following the cookie binge.

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

Snack
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch:
1/2 Chicken Rollup
Ham & Cheese with Mustard
Cole Slaw

Dinner
Hamburger
Onion
Broccoli
Salad

Dessert
Apple

On the plus side, the honey-crisps are so fantastic that I must eat one every day. They have a short-lived season and I have noticed a significant difference in the ones they sell at Volante farms and other farm stands and the ones sold anywhere else (Russo's, Whole Foods). Stick to the farm stands-- like taking the road less travelled, it makes all the difference.

Year 3. Day 218: No school & 88 worst foods

From Slashfood.org

The 88 most unhealthy fast food items
Of course, a lot of people would say "just avoid fast food altogether!" But sometimes you just need a Wendy's double cheeseburger and fries.

The folks over at A Calorie Counter have looked at the nutritional info for all of the fast food outlets (McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, A&W, Arby's, Hardee's, In-N-Out Burger, Jack in the Box, Little Caesars, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Sonic, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy's, White Castle, Popeyes, Del Taco, Carl's Jr., and Dairy Queen) and have compiled a list of the 88 worst foods you can buy, in terms of the amount of trans fats. After the jump, the 10 worst. The link above gives you the whole list.

1. White Castle Homestyle Onion Rings (sack): 30 grams
2. White Castle Fish Nibblers: 16 grams
3. KFC Chicken Pot Pie: 14 grams
4. Burger King Hash Browns (large): 13 grams
5. White Castle Chicken Rings (20 rings): 13 grams
6. Jack in the Box Fish & Chips (large): 12 grams
7. Jack in the Box Bacon Cheddar Potato Wedges: 12 grams
8. White Castle Clam Strips (sack): 12 grams
9. Dairy Queen Chicken Strip Basket (6 piece): 12 grams
10. White Castle French Fries (sack): 11 grams.

The whole list is here http://www.acaloriecounter.com/fast-food-trans-fat.php

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

Snack
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 Honey Crisp Apple
2 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch: Wonton Kitchen
Spicy Pork with Broccoli

Dinner
Chicken with Asparagus and Broccoli

Rice Crispy Treat (s)
1 bite of Apple Honey Crisp

Isn't it amazing that Hardee's is not even on this list?

Year 3, Day 217: That's What I'm Talking About

When you're on a bender, going to the gym is a lot like waiting to exhale. (Not the awful movie).
At the gym: 7 miles in 65 minutes. 50 reps on the ab machine. 14 squat thrusts.

Breakfast
Kashi
Heritage Flakes
1 Green Banana
Driscoll Strawberries
Old Blueberries
Coffee
Unsweetened Soy Milk

Lunch:
Salad with Feta, Cabbage
Some Brisket from Blue Ribbon

Microwave Popcorn

Snack ~ Soccer
1/2 Apple with Peanut Butter
1 Stick Beef Jerky
Cashews & Almonds

Dinner:
Chicken & Asparagus Stir-Fry

1/4 Honey Crisp Apple (split with Ruby)

I don't know that I'll ever get to care-free food life, but I do know that on workout days, It sure does feel good to eat pretty much whatever I want.

Year 3, Day 216: On a Flying Guitar

We woke up at 8:46 and we had a 10:30 date with Steve songs. No time for the usual breakfast, and not much stomach for it either. One of the first times that Ruby, Emily, Magnolia and I all went to the same paid-for-event. We all love Steve songs, though the Capitol is not excellent for kids shows since its aisle space is limited and kids really want to mosh, or whatever the kid equivalent of moshing is. When the music starts, Emily and I both think we're going to break into hysterical sobs--we are on the razor's edge of an emotional breakdown lately due to the construction--but at least one of us avoids it. The concert, mercifully, is short, and we high-tail it out of Arlington in record time. However, we are pulled over by the pull of Blue Ribbon BBQ.

Brekafast
2 SLices Jane's Bread
SUper Chunky Peanut Butter

Snack En Route
Beef Jerky
Some Popcorn

Lunch: Blue RIbbon Arlington
Sausage, Cole Slaw and Eggplant

Dinner (Party for Noelli)
Some inside of chicken enchilada
a chip with salsa con queso
a bite of plain quesadilla
mole chicken
carne asada

Post Dinner
2 Clementines,
Apple with Peanut Butter
More nuts

I'm not sure why I ordered eggplant with nutmeg at Blue Ribbon, and the rest of the day wasn't any more sensible. I can only hope that tomorrow I wake up and there's a session at the gym waiting for me.

Year 3 Day 215: October & Poker

A walk-less week and a tennis-less week makes me grumpy and frustrated. Then even though I look forward it, my night of being out with the guys, I realize it's not great for the program, so it's with some mixed emotions.

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

Snack
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 Honey Crisp Apple

Lunch: Fordee's
Mediterranean Platter/Schwarma Plate

Dinner/Poker
Boston Lite Popcorn
Cashews, Almonds & Pistachios
Chinese
Moo Shi Pork
Kung Pao Chicken
Boneless Spareribs
String Beans with Pork
Chicken with Ginger and Scallions

They say 'the more you resist the more you can resist' and similarly, 'the more you give in, the more you give in.' Sometimes a week without proper exercise can feel like swirling around the bottom of the drain getting ready to get sucked in. In lucid moments I can remember that one night, even one week, really won't break a diet, especially one that's been going strong for three years. On the other hand, it's that fear that will get me to the gym on Sunday, even if it is distracting me from winning at cards.

Year 3, Day 214: No Tennis, No Walk No Nothing

It was hot today, and no kind of a day for a walk. Unfortunately, our tennis date was scuffled when we failed to reserve a court and none were available. Instead, we went on a date to Blue on Highland, a chic new restaurant in Needham that is secretly owned by Steven Tyler & the Hard Rock Cafe gang. It was quite good, and the dessert menu boasted four items that I love: cheesecake, chocolate bread pudding, chocolate cake and a brownie sunday. As usual, we got no dessert and went home.

Breakfast
(back to normal)
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Russos' ($5.95)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
1 extra smokey
4 sticks beef jerky
2 clementines
1 honey crisp

dinner: blue on highland
arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette
mahi-mahi with spinach, jicama
a few french fries

At least if I had gone a walk we could've had dessert...

Year 3, Day 213: Reese's Peanut Butter Cake

Friendly's Reese's Peanut Butter Cake (from www.junkfoodblog.com)

Imagine yourself eating a giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup weighing in at 3.75 pounds.

Now imagine the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup being made out of ice cream.

That's what this new ice cream cake from Friendly's is like.

Friendly's is a chain of restaurants throughout the Eastern USA, and are known for their ice creams and ice cream cakes.

Their new Reese's Peanut Butter Cups variety is made with two layers of Friendly's premium peanut butter ice cream separated with chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, then covered with deep, dark chocolate truffle and bordered with whipped icing.

You can pick one up at any Friendly's locations...
http://www.friendlys.com/locations/

Breakfast
Kashi
Heritage Flakes
1 Green Banana
Driscoll Strawberries
Old Blueberries
Coffee
Unsweetened Soy Milk

Lunch: Russo's ($6.25)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
1 Honeycrisp Apple
4 sticks beef jerky
.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
1 Entire Bag of Orville Redenbacher

Dinner
Pork Cutlets
Broccoli

Did I mention I used to work at a Friendly's? It was my very first job. I quit when I had the chance to go away to my father's house in Long Island with my then-girlfriend. The manager had wanted me to work an extra shift when I wasn't scheduled to work and he told me I either had to work it or lose my job. I think I told him I would mail him back my herring-bone itchy-wool friendly's shirt they made me wear. My boss also had an 's' whistle and was joking with me in that unfunny way that only bosses have not to 'overscoop' him. He lived in fear that his young employees would violate the scooping volume/rules and run him out of business. Though Friendly's (and other ice cream shops) all over the world are filled with young employees, I don't know too many of them that go out of business from being 'overscooped.' I could be wrong, though.

Year 3, Day 212: When the World Gives You Flies...

Tuesday found me a bit under the weather. Fly infestation is back.

Breakfast
Jane's Bread
Super Chunky Peanut Butter
A Few Mini Wheats

Lunch: Demo's
Chicken kebab
Greek salad

Snack
1 Honey Crisp Apple
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
30 Smokehouse Almonds

Dinner
Caesar Salad
1/2 Ribeye Steak

The exterminator explained it all to me. She said "did you have a bad smell in your house about two, three weeks ago?" Sound of jaw hitting the floor. She said "those flies will be gone soon, they're your best friends." You could have knocked me over with a feather. Really. A feather.

Year 3, Day 211: Bleak Outlook

Monday. Nut Day. Nuff said. Six dollar salad is a known 'cry for help.'

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

Snack
1 oz Boston lite popcorn
1 honey crisp apple
3 sticks beef jerky
10 pistachios, 30 smokehouse almonds

lunch: russo's ($6.05)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

dinner: Bernard's
mongolian beef,
pea tendrils
a few boneless spareribs

dessert
a few cashews
a few chocolate chips
a few bites of super chunky peanut butter

Emily and I continue to bum out about the construction in our back yard. Quite overwhelming. Can't blog about it.

Year 3, Day 210: Fitness-a-thon and Eat-a-thon

More tennis; I played both my brother-in-law, and my sister-in-law. I beat my bil 6-4, and lost to my sil 4-6.

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

Lunch:
Fritata (by Amy)
1/2 chicken sausage, 1/2 pork sausage
salad

1.5 apples
a few tablespoons peanut butter
1 oz Boston lite popcorn

dinner: Bernard's
moo shi pork (2 pancakes)
shrimp soong (1 lettuce wrap)
1 boneless sparerib
pea tendrils

Wherein I demonstrate that I can eat Chinese food nearly every single day.

Year 3, Day 209 Fitness-a-thon

Got up this morning with a sore neck and shoulders, but went to the gym anyway, doing my customary 6 miles in 65 minutes. Not tremendously fast, but still good. Then my brother in law and I played three sets of tennis, which he won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. It has been a long while since I've played with anyone who could go three sets (except his wife, my sister-in-law).

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

Lunch:
Fritatta
Chicken Breast
Assorted Cheeses
Salad

Snack
Almonds & Cashews
Several parts of donuts

Dinner: Elephant Walk
Salmon
Heirloom Tomatoes
Trout
Lots of Wine

Having been looking around Chowhound, Yelp and such before I went out the vineyard, I had spotted "The Hole"-- legendary for having the best donuts anywhere. It so happened that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were 'down the cape' and my bil loves donuts, so I mentioned it. They went and returned with every conceivable donut. This, of course, sent the household in an apoplectic frenzy of donut-avoidance, eating, and then running away from the donut bag. Later that night, we went out for a luxurious dinner for four at the Elephant Walk. We were going to go to Burdick's in Cambridge for an all-chocolate night-cap but alas, they were closed. So like young tourists, we went to the North End and got a canoli. (Big kudos to Emily for getting us there, since every single road, exit and sign has changed). The Red Sox game was on so the place was lit up like a pinball machine. In a secondary amazing feat by Emily, she found a free parking spot, and we cruised around for 20 minutes till we remembered we were old, and then drove home.

Year 3, Day 208: Bad, Bad People Behind My House

Ruby had trouble going to bed. Then she was up in the middle of the night. Then up at 6:15. Not very promising for a day. When I came home at night I noticed they had totally taken down the forest behind my house. There was no wine, so it was straight to the chocolate.

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

Lunch: Russos' ($5.69)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
Jerky
1 Honey Crisp Apple
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
30 Smokehouse Almonds

Dinner
Steak
1 Applegate Organic Hot Dog
Cauliflower

Dessert
1/3 Dark Chocolate with Almonds

A dark day. I can barely type.

Year 3, Day 207: Chinese Food Train Out of Control

We went to Shangri-La today and we were duty-bound by the code of restaurant-samplers to order everything we read about it in a restaraunt review. Sadly, it was not as good as the stuff described in Chowhound. Another strike against the so-called 'traditonal media.'

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

Lunch: Shangri-La
Bean Curd Skin Roll
1 Spicy Ravioli
Sprouted Pea Tendrils
Chun King Pork
Pork Meatball

Snack
The last of 4 sticks of jerky
100 Pistachios

Dinner
Romaine, Cabbage, Tuna, Feta, Balsamic

On Monday, Emily had signed me up for a massage at a new concept place called "Massage Envy." They are, I suppose, aiming to bring the massage world to mainstream (and from the looks of it, Corporate) America. By lending it legitimacy (see: paying by credit card, real signs, no odors) they are hoping to lure those curious massage-needers who were to afraid to call someone from the back of the Phoenix or duck into the office near where they get their taxes done. You can't judge a concept by one masseuse, but I'm not sold.

Year 3, Day 206: Ruby Sick?

Ruby had a stomach ache this AM. Laura sick earlier this week on Bus. We gave her the benefit of the doubt. Minutes after bus pulled away stomach illness went away, but right around dinner it returned. We determined it was constipation... I made a blender drink of prunes, apricots, blueberries, yogurt and honey and made her drink it. We'll see if that stirs things up.

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

Stay at home snack
6 oz stonyfield fat free plain yogurt
super chunky peanut butter

Lunch
Salad & 2 Steak tips

At work snack
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
4 Sticks Beef jerky

Dinner
Chicken & Peppers
Hamburger/Cheddar
Cauliflower
20 Cashews

When Emily returned, I headed to work. This of course, meant more snacks. When I returned, everybody seemed fine, no worse for the wear.

Year 3, Day 205: Bad Scallops!

Part of my routine is visiting our favorite Chinese restaurant around the corner. Though I usually demur from eating scallops (bad scallop eating experience when I was younger) my colleague today wanted them so I acquiesced. Unfortunately, my timing was bad as we both determined that they were not fit for eating. The bad news: I had already eaten one when I suggested their unfit quality. Back at work, fearing an attack of bad-scallop-itis, I downed one hundred almonds. The final insult was that there was no walk today.

breakfast
kashi (too much for first time ever= i may be reaching saturation
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

lunch; chan shin yuan
pea tendrils
spicy beef with celery
bad scallops (returned)

snack
1 honeycrisp apple
5 sticks beef jerky
100 almonds
1 coke zero (too sweet)

dinner
hamburger
shrimp
steak
broccoli
1 very silly bbqed cauliflower

Maybe Bobby Flay can cook cauliflower on the grill. But I'm quitting that particular vegetable and cooking medium combination.

Year 3, Day 204: 5768 Getting Started

First day of the new Jewish year begins with the same old breakfast. I realize I write about this a lot, but it's on my mind.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee
Quebec Strawberries (netted at Volante, natch)


Snack
4 Stick Beef Jerky
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Russo's $5.69
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini


Dinner: Bernard's
Boneless Spareribs
Shrimp Soong with Lettuce LEaf
Broccoli

Tonight was the pilot "Daddy and Daughter date." Ruby takes a clay class close to where I work. The class ends at 6pm. So the idea was: I leave a bit early (5:45), go get her, and we go out to eat somewhere. We were supposed to go to Cabot's, which is a great hamburger and ice cream place, but of all things they turned out to be closed on Mondays. So much for the well-thought out plan. I asked her where she wanted to go instead. She said 'the place with the meat." Several unhelpful clues later, I realized she was describing Bernard's, an upscale Chinese restaurant in a nearby mall. So we went there. It's funny, I always want Chinese food, but Emily rarely does. So now my daughter wants to go. Go figure.

Year 3, Day 203: The First Day of the New Year

Workout today, 7 miles in 58 minutes. Felt good, went fast. Sweated a lot. Not tired. Then 60 Ab crunches (bad neck feeling) and 20 squat thrusts. I had to get out there of in a hurry because X was looming. For those of you who have not been following, X is a team member at the gym who properly suspects me of having not worked out with a trainer, which I suppose is a no-no. They want you to have a good consult before working out on all the equipment. I tried to do that a few times, but honestly it just didn't work out. I'm hoping the relationship between me as a paying customer and him as a service provider will not pass into some kind of other horrible situation where I am upbraided for my lack of rule-following.

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

Lunch;
White Fish & Lox
1 Slice Balthazar Bread with Cheddar Cheese
Peppadews
More Goat Cheese
3 Deviled Eggs

Snack
1.5 Honey Crisp Apples
.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
14 Almonds

Dinner
Steak Tips
Grilled Peppers
Salad

Other
Inside Out Whoopie Pie

I decided to make a devil's food cake today. It was supposed to be a whoopie pie, with two layers of cake and one layer of whoopie, but due to breakage out of the pan, I tried to ice them together but the whole affair just reeked of desperation. As usual, we brought it to our neighbors, who devoured it, but only rated it 'fair.' To be honest, that was probably kind.

Year 3, Day 202: Another Fast Done With

Well I must say that I dislike fasting but since starting the South Beach program it's been a different cup of tea. It's definitely difficult to go without food (and mostly without water) but breaking the fast has become more challenging, too. My old breakfast was bagels, cheese, etc. And mostly I've avoided those. But in my new, relaxed "phase three" mode, I let myself have it.

Break Fast
Cashews
1 Slice Challah
1 Glass Red Wine
1 Glass White Wine
Coffee
1 Whole Wheat Everything Bagel
Cream Cheese
Lox
Whitefish
Assorted Cheeses
Chicken Soup
Peppadews
Pickles

1 taste of ice cream
1 square of chocolate

We had a bunch of folks over including Jillz and following the breakfast we watched the Red Sox game. As tradition has it, we pepper our fanatical Red Sox fans with questions that they find irritating but answer because they love us and they're at our house. The Red Sox need help and we summon up the rally monkey. This has the desired effect and we all go to bed happy, and very, very full.

Year 3, Day 201: Yom Kippur Evening

Yom Kippur night means not eating for a whole next day. Eeek.

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

Snack
4 sticks beef jerky
1 honey crisp apple
1 bag microwave popcorn

lunch; russo's ($5.95)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

dinner:
steak
cauliflower
20 cashews

The idea is that for your last meal of the year you eat meat, and for the first meal of the new year you eat dairy. Jewish law forbids meat and dairy from being consumed at the same meal, which is why I cannot generally observe the kosher laws, since it would have prohibited me from having a bacon cheeseburger, which is simply one of the greatest foods known to man. That aside, we had a modest meal and I, prepared to fast.