a pound here, a pound there

Holding steady....better than last week when I was gaining but not quite where I want to be. I have started taking a diet pill to help with the weight loss. I am not going to name it, mainly because I don't like endorsing things on the net but I also don't want any failure on my part to be associated with this certain pill. I will admit that after 2 days on it that I had dropped 3 pounds back to my total of 7 pounds again. That was a welcome change that helped me decide to keep taking the pill for the whole month. I have a 30 day supply. I am still watching what I eat, I am not looking for a miracle that will drop the pounds even if I eat nothing but banana pudding all day long. I still need to keep the long term goal in mind. June 20th is creeping up quickly and even if I don't hit my goal loss I am still very concerned about the cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. I don't want more medication or a stricter diet dictated by a nutritionist or dietician.

goodbye....for now

Another one gone. So quickly they go by. Its almost like they were never here to begin with. Take too long to blink and zoom, it's Monday morning again. Sometimes I can't help but wonder where the time goes. I even tried to slow it down by lazying around Sunday but it was no help. One thing led to another and before I knew it, it was Sunday evening, the sun was gone, and I was setting the alarm. And waxing poetic, as poetic as I get anyway, only makes it seem like it was eons ago.

Ah well, onto the update portion of our program. I blew it this weekend. Saturday day was ok but I helped cater a wedding and I'll be dipped if I didn't succumb to the awesome wedding food. I even talked the chef into making me a nice piece of rare prime rib...not including the potatos, veggies, chicken, and of course cake. Then I got up Sunday and ate a wonderful breakfast. I really do understand why fat people are jolly, I am at my happiest when I am eating well. And I am blessed with loving a wonderful cook. So today is better. Small breakfast, small lunch, dinner is up in the air. I didn't even bother to weigh myself, that would have ruined the good mood I was in this morning. I promise to give a more concise update tomorrow after I conjur up the courage to actually step on the digital monster in the bathroom.

Can we swap around the 5 on 2 off thing?

How about someone proposing on the floor of the house that we work 2 days and are off 5. I am even willing to put in a couple of extra hours each day to help make up for the lost productivity. Maybe, say, two 12 hour days? Thats 24. More than some I know put in in a full week. Ah well, not gonna fly, I know. Might as well get on with the update.....

Gained back another pound this morning. I am not so sure what I am doing wrong, besides the whole cardio exercise omission thing, I mean. Yesterday my intake consisted of, and I shit you not, 2/3 cup of Hot Grape Nuts (with water, not milk), a frozen Lean Cuisine, One Salisbury steak, a cup of mac n cheese, a cup of corn, and a medium size piece of cake for dessert. That was it. How can I gain weight from that????? I am not a small human being, I will admit that I take up more of my share of the sidewalk. This had to be half of what I ate 4 months ago yet still I wieghed and there was one more there than there was yesterday. My doctor can shove this diet so far, that it will need a passport to breathe. This is not a fad diet where if I do one wrong thing then I have to start over. But I am still baffled. Oh well, one month until I go back for my follow up and then I can get the tests done again and we can see exactly what I have accomplished. There is more than just weight to deal with. Cholesterol and high blood pressure too. Keep focused on the long term goal. My new mantra "Long Term Success".

Oh, and this tournament might actually just be ok. It seems to be falling into place. If Mother Nature holds course and grants us some good weather then I think a success is in order.
Keeping my fingers crossed...have a good weekend.

Darth Tater

I love the Mr Potato Head as Darth Vader...errr Tater. Star Wars Episode III came out today. Or last night, depending on how much of a true geek you are. I will see it, but not quite yet. I want to let the theatres calm down a bit, plus a ten spot per is a bit much for any movie in my estimation. I have heard that this one is the best of the three...the new three that is. When Episdoe IV came out in the seventies I was in my pre-pubesent prime. I must have seen it more than 20 times in the theatre. I have the Video cassette limited edition set in my cabinet at home. I wondered what the first three would be like when I had heard Lucas was going to finish the saga. Then I went and sat through the first two, the first one good the second not so good. But that debate will rage on in geekdom for some time. Lemme get back to my own epic battle between good and evil....my battle with the bathroom scale.

Staying steady right now, total of 6 pounds lost. Feeling a little better. Clothes do fit a tad bit better, or its just wishful thinking. The dark side rears its ugly head every day...dark chocolate side most of the time. But the force is with me. Actually its just the fear of more doctor visits and a stricter diet that I know I would not stick to. So I trudge on, from meal to meal. Hoping some day that science will truly find that miracle fat pill that I can take and go back to eating what I want. Oh wait, all I have to do is check my email and I will find drugs for fat, erectile disfunction, married-single-christian-lesbian-gay dating, penis enlargement, and breast enlargement. It was here all along. Why am I complaining again?

Roller Coaster

Today is one of those days. Tossed and turned last night and I feel like I have had no sleep whatsoever. Grumpy, tired, hungry, I got it all today. Got to work and someone had left the fridge door open all night so my lunch that I had saved is ruined. Trying to save a little money so eating out is a no go. Speaking of eating, the diet is getting me down. I had lost a total of 7 pounds until this past weekend, then I noticed that I had gained 4 of them back. Not sure how that happened, must have been that hot dog at the baseball game Sunday. Who knows. The combination of my attitude this morning and being on a diet does not bode well for good eating habits. Fortunately I have someone behind me that cares for me and loves me enough to not let me drag around in self-pity feeling sorry for myself and being a general pain in the ass. So, with her pushing me on, I have shored up my resolve, turned my attitude around, and decided that today is NOT going to suck, at least the rest of the day. I may not be smiling through it all but at least I know that the end of the day is coming and tomorrow is another day to start over fresh.
There are a few things on my mind today, Mexico's president sticking his pie en boca (foot in his mouth) by making racist remarks. Now come on, in this day and age, there is no reason for anyone to make such comments. I am not talking about racism in general, there will always be people that will be small minded and stupid and put other people down simply on the basis of difference. I am talking about a public person, a president for crying out loud, making these types of statements in public. Hello? Is anyone at home at all? There are a lot of people pursuing public jobs and careers, politicians, actors, musicians, artists in general, all of which crave the public eye. Why would you pursue any of those careers if you didn't? But to say something inflamatory and ignorant in public or to the press is plainly stupid. We live in the ultimately Politically Correct era and this still happens. The only way it can happen is that these people that commit these little gaffes are just not thinking. Not thinking but yet still talking. Yeah, that makes sense.

Super - duper - stition

I wish I could tell you that I was unable to update the blog Friday because it was Friday the 13th, but, alas, I cannot. I can, however, tell you that I did not update the blog because I was lazy. Which fits my personality better anyway. I am not one to give in to superstitions. I have walked under ladders, lord knows I have broken mirrors. As clumsy as I am my grandkids will be paying for my bad luck.

No, I know that life is a series of ups and downs. It's all about your attitude. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. I always tell my kids, its ok to be angry/upset/sad/happy/whatever, the real consequence comes from how you react to those feelings.

And reaction to Friday and the weekend should be to chain up the refrigerator and Ghandi myself for the next 5 days. Ugh, I gained back a few pounds, as if you couldn't tell by my whining. This is the 90% that I am taking advantage of...this blog lets me react to my issues (like having that hot dog at the ballgame) constructively.

Now you can tell everyone that the Internet is not bad and it helps people. ;-)

Updates shmupdates

I come to the realization that people must really either appreciate sarcasm or just not care. The news, and life, is full of people who have gone over the edge. I know that a person's lifestyle is thier own and but come on...

Wacko Jacko as he is called....the lady who lied about the finger in the Wendy's chili...they guy with the finger in the custard that wouldn't give it back...the student pilot and the instructor who flew too close to the White House...Brittany and Cletus Spears...and that is just the top of the news day. It would take me days to include all of the people that I see every day. People who do and say things that make you just shake your head. How about I go a step further, the local people that I see in the mall or the ones that I see walking around this busy metropolis during the day. The lady with the pink hair whose spandex pants are screaming from the pain of trying to stay together. She has to weigh 300 pounds and is positive she still wears a size 8 in spandex pants. Right. The guy who is so self-absorbed in his cell phone conversation that he pushes right past two old ladies getting onto the escalator without so much as an excuse me. Then when he does notice someone its usually just to give some kind of dirty look like we are taking up his precious space and time. Or how about the guy who orders a double quarter pounder at Mickey D's with a super sized fries and a DIET coke. Oh, wait, that was me. Sorry. Anyway my point is this....it takes all kinds and I am ever so glad to be able to laugh right along with them. Or at them. Whatever.

Oh yeah, diet update. Didn't weigh myself today but did notice that I had gained one yesterday morning. Ugh, I made up for it by cutting back all day yesterday but this morning I just plain forgot to hop on the truck scale. I did help myself out by making sure lunch was the Jared way. Hopefully tomorrow I will remember to depress, errr I mean weigh myself.

To You...

You are the one...
You make me smile
You make me want to go farther and do more
You make it all worthwhile
You are the one that helps me turn those stay at home in bed days into get out and enjoy life days
You are the one that I enjoy life with
You are the twinkle in my eye
You are the butterflies in my stomach that are still there when we kiss
You show me what fun is.....every day
You show me what love is.....every second of every day
You are the better in my better half
You are best in my best friend
You care when it feels like no one does
You care that it feels like no one does
You show me what is truly important in my life
You show me why it is so important
You give me a reason
You give me love...

Weekend review

Strictly from a culinary point of view, this weekend was a bit wierd. It started out fine, I stuck to it as good as I have been, but then Sunday was different. I knew it would be bad, I had plans on making a mexican dinner with all of the trimmings, including sweet corn cake. But breakfast began the day with some hot cereal then swung into lunch where I really didn't have anything due to a small mixup with a newly tiled dining room table (more on that later). By 4:30 I was really hungry and ready to get knee deep in enchiladas. But I was good and kept myself to one plate. Albeit, two tacos to go along with a heaping helping of the now infamous enchiladas. A brownie for dessert later in the evening while I was ironing and I ended up having a pretty good weekend.

Now, onto said dining room table. Lemme splain to you...no, there is no time, lemme sum up. We had taken all of the cracked tile out of an older dining room table and was prepared to replace the tiles with more colorful ones including a small assortment of some really beautifully done stenciled ones. After running to the home improvement store (hint:initials start with Lowes) we got home with our supplies. Now, as a side note here, it is always a good idea to assume that you will end up spending more than you need and taking at least some of the supplies back. Even if you take them back and swap them with other supplies that you realized you needed. Just go with that, it always happens. Ok, after getting back from Lowes we set the tiles in the table. Looking bery bery good. Turning my attention to the supplies that I bought I started reading the directions. Yes, I read the directions. I know that is a slight departure from the norm for a male but having never set tile in a table before I wanted to make sure it was done right. As I read the directions on the grout I see a word that pops up a few times and I had never heard before....MASTIC. The grout directions kept referring to the MASTIC that was to be laid down on the surface and on the back of the tiles. Wonderful, I had neglected to purchase the adhesive that the tiles needed to stick to the table. All I had was the grout that filled the cracks. Ok, on to the hardware store. No more traffic fighting for me, I was frustrated enough without commiting some crime of road rage. I get back with the MASTIC and begin the project. The tiles set wonderfully. Now, Sunday arrives and we are impatient. We can't wait the 24 hours it recommends so by noon I am mixing the grout to fill the table. About a third of the way into this we realize two things....first off, the grout is taking off the stencils that had been so painstakingly applied. Second, there is not enough grout to finish the table.

Remember the side note from above? It applies right here. I needed more grout but I had about 15 extra tiles and a tile cutter that was never opened. So off I go back to Lowes to do some exchanging. Now, by the time I get back its going on 2 in the afternoon, dinner was not started yet and we still had to finish the table and decide what to do about the dissapearing stencils. Wait, you really didn't think I would have come home with the right grout did you? No way, I got the wrong color. In my haste to make sure I had the right brand, I picked up a lighter shade of beige. After a quick meeting of the minds it was decided that we will finish the holes and cover the darker color.

Almost an hour later, the grout was in but there was only two tiles that could be saved. Point to this story? No, there really isn't one. This is just how things go when you learn about them as you go. The table turned out wonderfully. It looks great, even with the stenciled tiles not quite up to snuff. We have our options still. But I will tell you that it will look fantastic in a dining room painted the color we like with the motiff that we have decided upon.

Oh yeah, I just couldn't weigh myself this morning. I think I will go light today and then see tomorrow.

What was the best thing BEFORE sliced bread?

Quick update....doing well except for lunch today. Kind of need to scale back a bit for dinner. Pasta AND Fried fish along with veggies, salad, and a sinful dessert that had crumbled oreos with chocolate pudding on top and whipped cream. They were lucky I didn't just take the whole freaking panful. This weekend is going to be a good test for me, baseball is at a minimum but then so is cash so need to be creative with the meals and my time so boredom does not become snackdom.

Cinco de Oktoberfest

I love drinking holidays. It gives the masses that excuse to head out and have a few just because. Here in my little corner of the midwestern world, our big drinking party is Oktoberfest. We even have the largest Biergarten west of Munich, or something to that effect. This along with Mardi Gras, New Years, and St. Patty's day gives this old conservative town a reason to kick up it's heels. Or at least hit a sports bar for some Corona's and nachos while we pretend to know what the 5th of May means to the Latin community. The radio stations send out thier "personalities" to the bars. Gets them paid and gets a good bit of specials on the beer and snackies. Every bar will be decorated for today.....Corona signs, Tequila inflatibles, Sombreros, and all of them becoming bi-lingual and saying Hola when you walk in. By coincidence, or not if you want to believe I am into conspiracies, I am making a huge Mexican feast for Mother's day this weekend. Just my way of falling into line, I guess.

Oh yeah, I am doing ok with the lifestyle change. I am slowly losing a bit and doing well by staying fed enough not to cheat, too much. A total of 4 pounds off in the last 2 weeks since I have kept track.

It sets in...

This must be the depressed part of the diet. On the scale I have actually gained a pound. My pants fit the same. No noticeable differences in the mirror. So, literally and theoretically the only thing that I have lost in the last two weeks is 14 days. ( I know, old joke so sue me). I hope this little change shows up at the doctor's office. If not, then trying to explain to him that I really did change the way I go about my intake is gonna be like trying to convince my ex-wife that she really doesn't need all of that child support. I know the look, or rather, the lack of a look. He will check the chart, see the number and ask me what I have been doing. His eyes will not leave the chart. As I plead the truth he will be mentally searching for that dietician's or nutritionist's name so I can get a referral. The only thing that might save me is if the other numbers have changed....cholesterol, blood pressure, yeah those. If there is no weight change AND no other change then I might as well have never went to the doctor. Its gonna be starting over and being even more strict with my diet. Good god, I already eat more rabbit food than I ever have. I am not sure changing to a "type" of diet is going to work since most of them can't be maintained over a long term. Even though the thought of Eggs, Meat, and Cheese is tempting and Atkins has worked for me before, its just not a long term solution. I just hope that what I am doing is going to work.