Wednesday was a day of golf with my crew-- not really drinkers, but we have one or two at the end-- which I abstained. I think everyone was impressed with my committment. Later, it was off to another drinking bud's house for a business meeting (usually over beers) and the Penguin Hockey Game (always over beers). Now, that was jaw dropping-- I had one sip of beer. Two cigars though!
A little frustrated with myself today, kept the sodium low-- about 1500mg but my fat was high due to the catfish at dinner. Should have gone with the orange roughy-- live and learn! Total calories were good and I was a little light on my workout.
Going to try for 9 holes tomorrow and hit the gym early as well. Last 3 days before the Big Day-- then what do I do? I think this is just the start of a new way of approaching my health, habits and eating in general.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Results Show... at half time
I am coming to call this cybergenics quick trim my induction phase to a larger diet regimen. Kind of "boot camp" for a fat guy. It really has been an awareness experience, not to sound too granolish!
So, here are the things that I am happy with at half-time:
So, here are the things that I am happy with at half-time:
- Lost 7 pounds, not bad for 7 days dieting!
- Not starving, light-headed, etc.
- Definitely lost a belt size or two
- Some of my "limberness" has re-emerged
- My face is no longer perpetually red (there was a reason that picture I submitted was in sepia tones). This happened almost immediately.
The next six days are supposed to be low sodium days, so no egg whites or tuna in a can (oh, see earlier post but the cat wouldn't trade). I am mystified at what to eat for breakfast as chicken is no low sodium alternative. I have been running at 2400 mg of sodium per day, about what the RDA is for the U.S. The UK calls for 1600 and a low sodium diet is around 1500. There is a lot of debate about salt and we opt for Sea Salt and a specific brand that is supposed to be good for you (see http://www.mercola.com/) So, how do we keep to the "spirit" of the program for the next few days and eat anything other than vegetables AND get protein? Well, according to my read of the program that leaves three options: Chicken Breast, Turkey Breast or Fish and I can't have them all four meals-- in fact, if you did, you would have (you guessed it) almost exactly the same sodium content. Don't blame me, it's not my math. So here was my compromise, nix the egg white, egg beaters or tuna and do two protein drink meals and two chicken/fish/turkey meals. Saves like 1000 mg and gets me to the low sodium threshold. I really see little other alternative.
I am very pleased so far!
Tomorrow I play golf and go out for the Stanley Cup Finals, two beer-fests if there was ever one to be had. Press On!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Recipes just like we make for company...
My kids had a great book, "Happy Winter"-- we used to read it every night. In it, they had a recipe for this special cake-- "just like we make for company". I will spare you the sugar and calorie rich explanation.
This diet has no recipes fit for company and being a aspiring gourmet-- I found that disappointing. Interestingly, my good friend and real chef from NYC, Vince, commented what a shame my culinary skills would be for not being on a diet! So, here are a couple tips I have found:
Chop up your chicken breast beforehand and freeze in portion packages. Pop in toaster oven at 350 for 7-10 minutes. I prefer as "rare" as posible to preserve flavor and moistness. Be careful, we have our chickens nearby, so we know we can potentially be safe at a bit less then the rubber chicken method.
Boy Scouts teaches you these weird things that stay with you. Recently, a guy passed out in the parking lot next to us and almost immediately-- I remembered to treat him for shock, clear his passages, keep him immobile-- straight out of the First Class Handbook! Also from the Cooking Merit badge was foil cooking-- perfect for these meals. I have made both chicken and fish with chopped tomatoes and zucchini. Seal the foil and bake at 350 for 10 minutes or so-- yummy and juicy.
Eggs-- a white omelot just sucks and you need to waste fat on cooking spray or olive oil. Hard boiled are good and handy but can be boring and cold. Oh, spinach and eggs will have to wait to Wednesday (see last post). Baked eggs (whites) are a nice change, put in ramiken or oven safe container, 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Warm and hard boiled texture like, yum.
John
This diet has no recipes fit for company and being a aspiring gourmet-- I found that disappointing. Interestingly, my good friend and real chef from NYC, Vince, commented what a shame my culinary skills would be for not being on a diet! So, here are a couple tips I have found:
Chop up your chicken breast beforehand and freeze in portion packages. Pop in toaster oven at 350 for 7-10 minutes. I prefer as "rare" as posible to preserve flavor and moistness. Be careful, we have our chickens nearby, so we know we can potentially be safe at a bit less then the rubber chicken method.
Boy Scouts teaches you these weird things that stay with you. Recently, a guy passed out in the parking lot next to us and almost immediately-- I remembered to treat him for shock, clear his passages, keep him immobile-- straight out of the First Class Handbook! Also from the Cooking Merit badge was foil cooking-- perfect for these meals. I have made both chicken and fish with chopped tomatoes and zucchini. Seal the foil and bake at 350 for 10 minutes or so-- yummy and juicy.
Eggs-- a white omelot just sucks and you need to waste fat on cooking spray or olive oil. Hard boiled are good and handy but can be boring and cold. Oh, spinach and eggs will have to wait to Wednesday (see last post). Baked eggs (whites) are a nice change, put in ramiken or oven safe container, 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Warm and hard boiled texture like, yum.
John
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Eggs...and my Dad!
We actually get our eggs at a farm nearby. Casual sort of thing-- you can get eggs from his porch and/or goat's milk-- all on the honor system. Bringing the egg cartons back gets you in much good graces! He must think we have lost our mind since the beginning of this diet. I can just hear him saying, "No wonder that fella isn't losing weight!"
This morning I woke up early so that we could get some yardwork done,etc. I was searching the freezer for some frozen spinach to have along with my hard boiled egg whites. There is a story about this that dates back to the late 60's and early 70's. My father never blanched from taking me to a bar when I was a wee fellow-- frankly, I always enjoyed it. Back then, at least in Pittsburgh, there were always these bowls lined up against the bar with two hard-boiled eggs set in a mound of steamed spinach. Not just in some bars but in all bars, or so it seemed to me.
One day I asked my father what they were and he explained as was his usual, "Oh Lad, you've never tried hard-boiled eggs and spinach?" Dad always had this way of making you feel that somehow, you were just missing out on a secret that all the fun people knew. He always ordered the unusual item on the menu and give us a bite... to which we would then suffer our diner's regret for our short-sightedness. In any event, he ordered me a bowl, like 25 to 50 cents, and I loved it. Bartenders would laugh their heads off when I would order one and scarf it down like a Hershey's Bar.
So tomorrow, I will lift my bowl in an appreciative nod to my Dad, as I east my spinach and eggs and remember a fellow I just wished I could've spent a little more time with...
John
This morning I woke up early so that we could get some yardwork done,etc. I was searching the freezer for some frozen spinach to have along with my hard boiled egg whites. There is a story about this that dates back to the late 60's and early 70's. My father never blanched from taking me to a bar when I was a wee fellow-- frankly, I always enjoyed it. Back then, at least in Pittsburgh, there were always these bowls lined up against the bar with two hard-boiled eggs set in a mound of steamed spinach. Not just in some bars but in all bars, or so it seemed to me.
One day I asked my father what they were and he explained as was his usual, "Oh Lad, you've never tried hard-boiled eggs and spinach?" Dad always had this way of making you feel that somehow, you were just missing out on a secret that all the fun people knew. He always ordered the unusual item on the menu and give us a bite... to which we would then suffer our diner's regret for our short-sightedness. In any event, he ordered me a bowl, like 25 to 50 cents, and I loved it. Bartenders would laugh their heads off when I would order one and scarf it down like a Hershey's Bar.
So tomorrow, I will lift my bowl in an appreciative nod to my Dad, as I east my spinach and eggs and remember a fellow I just wished I could've spent a little more time with...
John
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Ah Summer...
is finaly here! It has been cold, but bright-- which is always our challenge in the "rust" belt of America. So, hard to compalin-- but despite the brightness, it was 44 degrees until noon yesterday. Today is considerably warmer and is usually the way things happen as we transition out of spring. I am typing on our back porch with a cup of decaf.
Happy Hour is strange when you are not drinking. First of all, it is hard to keep up with water and everyone was drinking a particular lot last night. At about 7:00-- I HAD to leave as I was scheduled to eat and everyone had eaten there, so I tried to do the "normal" thing-- I invited everyone over for a night cap. That made things better, much better. Although, I never remember our group talking about food as much as we did last night! They ate, fried grouper, salad and dressing, bruschetta, two salads and baked potatoe with butter and sour cream.
Interestingly enough, I baked some halibut (yes a little fatter than it should be, I screwed up ordering, and did it in aluminum foil with Mrs. Dash and chopped tomatoes. Surprisingly satisfying.
Yes, I read the Mrs. Dash Label and found it was yummy.
Now my big challenge is my nephew's birthday party tomorrow. Fortunately, he is strength and conditioning coach at Robert Morris University-- so he knows the drill. His Dad even did this diet some years ago.
Slept in and missed my morning workout. Will be making that up later and adding a lot of yard work today
John
Happy Hour is strange when you are not drinking. First of all, it is hard to keep up with water and everyone was drinking a particular lot last night. At about 7:00-- I HAD to leave as I was scheduled to eat and everyone had eaten there, so I tried to do the "normal" thing-- I invited everyone over for a night cap. That made things better, much better. Although, I never remember our group talking about food as much as we did last night! They ate, fried grouper, salad and dressing, bruschetta, two salads and baked potatoe with butter and sour cream.
Interestingly enough, I baked some halibut (yes a little fatter than it should be, I screwed up ordering, and did it in aluminum foil with Mrs. Dash and chopped tomatoes. Surprisingly satisfying.
Yes, I read the Mrs. Dash Label and found it was yummy.
Now my big challenge is my nephew's birthday party tomorrow. Fortunately, he is strength and conditioning coach at Robert Morris University-- so he knows the drill. His Dad even did this diet some years ago.
Slept in and missed my morning workout. Will be making that up later and adding a lot of yard work today
John
Friday, May 23, 2008
You know...
When you pare what you eat down to seven things it has some advantages:
- Meals are easy to plug into my Fitday program-- just point and click
. Uh, did I mention chicken? - Shopping is a breeze, run through produce and then zip through poultry, careen into fish and you are through!
- Things like zucchini seem luxurious and wonderful
Well, Day 4 and despite a bit of what I am sure they thought was 'roid rage at the Health Club-- field trip kids pooped in the whirlpool, trashed the locker room, couldn't get to my locker due to clothes piled in front of it and a clueless staff -- I am doing well. Finished my second 40 minute cardio on the ellipse early.
Still not hungry, a little bored with the choices, but alas, beauty is hell!
Funny thing though-- our cat eats tuna in water, so I brought home some of the "expensive" stuff for me today-- it sucked. Now, I have to see if that little cat will trade me-- how embarassing!
Off to Happy Hour, this may be my big test. Seltzer water and lime at the ready!!
John
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A little cranky...
Despite my early morning enrapturement with Oatmeal... I began to fade into a funk. Weighed myself for the first time in years, ouch! It is obvious I am not getting this done in a mere two weeks. But, that is okay and this is a really great start.
Feeling a bit self-absorbed with this whole thing and the food seems to be a constant preparation and planning. Getting better though at knowing what and how much, etc. Probably the most eye-opening experience of this diet.
Not missing the wine, which is nice. Can always plan to moderate or eliminate after the two weeks to cut down on the calories. Am attending Happy Hours tomorrow evening, will see how HAPPY I am! LOL
Good night...
John
Feeling a bit self-absorbed with this whole thing and the food seems to be a constant preparation and planning. Getting better though at knowing what and how much, etc. Probably the most eye-opening experience of this diet.
Not missing the wine, which is nice. Can always plan to moderate or eliminate after the two weeks to cut down on the calories. Am attending Happy Hours tomorrow evening, will see how HAPPY I am! LOL
Good night...
John
An Ode to Oatmeal!!
My first thought of the day was my workout, the goal was 40 minutes on the bike-- up a third from the first two days. My control panel was working so I was able to keep track of my speed and miles. A jaunty 15 mph, thank you very much and almost 500 calories burned. So, next was the oatmeal. Food, glorious... something different food!!!
245 calories was my goal for the AM meal and I finished at 244!
But, ah, the oatmeal-- flavorful, meaty, heartwarming and I even get a potato later today. Although they tell you to get high carbs out of the way before the evening meals. Don't get me wrong though, I was hungry this morning but not famished and have been feeling quite good.
Til later...
245 calories was my goal for the AM meal and I finished at 244!
But, ah, the oatmeal-- flavorful, meaty, heartwarming and I even get a potato later today. Although they tell you to get high carbs out of the way before the evening meals. Don't get me wrong though, I was hungry this morning but not famished and have been feeling quite good.
Til later...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mrs. Dash be damned!
I abandoned my Mrs. Dash quest in favor or light sea salt, herbs and lemons. Oh, and lots of pepper.
Get a Food Scale...
That is my advice if you are going on this cybergenics diet. It is next to impossible to guess portion size and is cheap to buy. I had to add about two hundred calories to yesterday due to underestimating. However, still came in at about 1200 calories.
Speaking of 1200 calories-- I keep reading that you should never go under that amount without a Doctor's permission. Well, if I keel over and anyone finds this blog out in cyberspace-- please alert the authorities! I don't think anyone would look at my carcass and suspect to investigate for anorexia!!!!!!!!!!!
Today went surprisingly well. A fullish day at the office, so I had to order my early afternoon meal in from across the street. It is difficult to eat out on this diet-- people just look at you in disbelief when you insist that you want the fish baked or broiled, no sauce and a side of broccoli steamed. And, ask a question about portion-- forget about it. We ended up weighing it on the mail scale-- about 6 ounces. As I waited for my meal I was offered bread, side salad, cottage cheese, etc. from the astonished older waitress as she heard about the diet. Although, I did get three people to ask me for the link to trulyhuge for the product.
Not very hungry today at all. I sit writing this with 705 calories down and one meal left in an hour or so and not dizzy or hungry. Still planning my evening workout.
Not to jinx it, but the booze has not been a factor. However, I do find that I need something to do in lieu of quaffing a few in the early evening.
Speaking of 1200 calories-- I keep reading that you should never go under that amount without a Doctor's permission. Well, if I keel over and anyone finds this blog out in cyberspace-- please alert the authorities! I don't think anyone would look at my carcass and suspect to investigate for anorexia!!!!!!!!!!!
Today went surprisingly well. A fullish day at the office, so I had to order my early afternoon meal in from across the street. It is difficult to eat out on this diet-- people just look at you in disbelief when you insist that you want the fish baked or broiled, no sauce and a side of broccoli steamed. And, ask a question about portion-- forget about it. We ended up weighing it on the mail scale-- about 6 ounces. As I waited for my meal I was offered bread, side salad, cottage cheese, etc. from the astonished older waitress as she heard about the diet. Although, I did get three people to ask me for the link to trulyhuge for the product.
Not very hungry today at all. I sit writing this with 705 calories down and one meal left in an hour or so and not dizzy or hungry. Still planning my evening workout.
Not to jinx it, but the booze has not been a factor. However, I do find that I need something to do in lieu of quaffing a few in the early evening.
Tomatoes!
For the love of God, there are fat grams in tomatoes!!! Yep, you heard it here-- a whopping half gram (about 5 calories) from a cup of tomatoes.
Day 2 has begun and despite a small cold, I feel well. Stats for yesterday went well-- a little less than 1100 calories consumed and a little over 3500 calories burned. I am told it takes a 3500 calorie deficit to burn one pound.
I must say that Fitday.com has been very helpful in my tracking-- but I love all those graphs and reports.
Have a great Wednesday!
Day 2 has begun and despite a small cold, I feel well. Stats for yesterday went well-- a little less than 1100 calories consumed and a little over 3500 calories burned. I am told it takes a 3500 calorie deficit to burn one pound.
I must say that Fitday.com has been very helpful in my tracking-- but I love all those graphs and reports.
Have a great Wednesday!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
My First Post
Welcome to my blog. I am relatively confident that nobody will read this-- but I am hopeful it will have some therapeutic value to me as I embark on my cybergenics diet plan of 14 days.
If you have never heard of cybergenics-- it is a diet largely developed by bodybuilder types to promote fast shredding of fat. Technically, it is a carb-cycling diet-- where you are low-fat a few days and then low-carb the others. A LOT of chicken, fish, veges and baked potatos! The food is fine, but they really want you to watch the sodium-- so bland! Off to the store to look at Mrs. Dash or substitutes.
Calorie consumption is limited to 1100 or so and spread out over 4 meals. You have to drink a little more than a gallon of water a day.
My brother-in-law did this in the 90's-- for about a month and with the bodybuilding workout. He was a mess-- but got great results. Fortunately, the new program calls for two workouts a day and are limited to aerobic. You can supplement with weight lifting, but I am not sure if I will do that as well. I have pumped a lot of iron in my day and am focused on the fat burning this time around. We'll see how the energy feels.
A couple of meals into this and I do see that you have to eat when they tell you or you get light headed and a bit cranky. My poor family!
No alcohol or at least that is what I presumed. It will be tough to say goodbye to my wine-- but that saves me a bunch of calories alone. Saves money, too-- hard to EAT OUT on this diet. So, my guess is that I saved about $25-30 with the wine and no lunch out today. May be fun to do a running total.
A friend suggested I blog about this-- if you want to see my progress I am keeping an eating and exercise journal on http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=ramseypartners
Oh, least I forget-- you have to take about 6 pills a day as supplements. Which runs about $60.
Well, here goes-- 2 hours until meal time again!
If you have never heard of cybergenics-- it is a diet largely developed by bodybuilder types to promote fast shredding of fat. Technically, it is a carb-cycling diet-- where you are low-fat a few days and then low-carb the others. A LOT of chicken, fish, veges and baked potatos! The food is fine, but they really want you to watch the sodium-- so bland! Off to the store to look at Mrs. Dash or substitutes.
Calorie consumption is limited to 1100 or so and spread out over 4 meals. You have to drink a little more than a gallon of water a day.
My brother-in-law did this in the 90's-- for about a month and with the bodybuilding workout. He was a mess-- but got great results. Fortunately, the new program calls for two workouts a day and are limited to aerobic. You can supplement with weight lifting, but I am not sure if I will do that as well. I have pumped a lot of iron in my day and am focused on the fat burning this time around. We'll see how the energy feels.
A couple of meals into this and I do see that you have to eat when they tell you or you get light headed and a bit cranky. My poor family!
No alcohol or at least that is what I presumed. It will be tough to say goodbye to my wine-- but that saves me a bunch of calories alone. Saves money, too-- hard to EAT OUT on this diet. So, my guess is that I saved about $25-30 with the wine and no lunch out today. May be fun to do a running total.
A friend suggested I blog about this-- if you want to see my progress I am keeping an eating and exercise journal on http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=ramseypartners
Oh, least I forget-- you have to take about 6 pills a day as supplements. Which runs about $60.
Well, here goes-- 2 hours until meal time again!
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