Oct 10 update

187 today. Hooray, I finally broke the 188 barrier. 180 by my birthday doesn't seem likely now, that's 14 days to lose 7 lbs. I am exhausted today. Basketball is tiring but also hard on my knees and achilles.

Ah, autumn. Well, it appears to have lasted exactly one day. It was 88 degrees on Sunday, really nice and around 75 yesterday, and today it's 52. Brrr. They say we only have two seasons here in Chicago, winter and construction.

Exercise:

• none - I was up until 1:00 preparing for cub scouts, and had to run cub scout errands at lunch time, I'm tired and sore, yadayadayada. Lame excuses, I know.

Food:

• coffee (x3) with equal and milk
  
• 1 granola bar
  
• 6" tuna sub at Subway, no cheese
  
• 12 oz ribeye steak, onions, zucchini, and red bell peppers

- schneid

Oct 9 update

188 this morning. That's 4 lbs less than yesterday, so I guess alcohol + salt = water retention. Tim and I had a good run yesterday despite the heat (the day after they stopped the Chicago Marathon), and I drank lots of water in the afternoon. Fortunately, it's much cooler today and will continue to be more seasonal. I can't wait to run when it's 60 degrees.

Food:

• 1/2 apple, 1 granola bar, 24 oz coffee w/milk and 2 equals
  
• taco salad - grilled chicken, lettuce, black beans, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, salsa fresca, giardiniera, and 1 tbsp sour cream.
  
• taco salad - yes - I had the same thing for lunch too. Ground beef, and pretty much the same as earlier, except non-fat sour cream and no beans.
  
• small handful of soy nuts

Exercise:

• basketball at lunchtime - it really felt great today. I can play without running out of gas. I haven't been able to do that in about 6 years. And I played decently and hit a few shots.

- schneid

Oct 8 update

192 this morning. That means I gained 4 lbs this weekend. I'm totally embarrassed to admit it, but that's how this blog works. We were out of town and I cheated. I didn't think it was that much but I guess it was. Weekends have been killers for me so I'm redoubling my effort this week. I'm going for a run today and hopefully by the end of the week, I can be back where I should be.

Food:

• 2 granola bars, 1 orange, handful of sunflower seeds
  
• 3/4 pork chop, 1/2 cup brown rice, butternut squash with butter and brown sugar

Exercise:

• ran 2.5 miles and walked 1 mile

- schneid

Hanging out with Tim M

Tim M just became a Green Beret! He passed the Selection last year, and just finished the Special Forces Qualification Course which is almost a year of training. Not only did he complete it, he did a fantastic job. And it's not easy for an old man like Tim. Bahaha! Congratulations Tim!

Tim was in town for the weekend to see his parents, so I drove up to Woodstock to partake in some beverages and lively conversation. We went to some dive bar in Woodstock, and I didn't know the Bears game was on...but believe me, when I walked into the bar, I knew it. The place was jammed with rowdy young people wearing Bears jerseys and face paint. They didn't look old enough to be in a bar. Guess I'm getting old. We were able to find a quiet spot to talk. I always enjoy our social and political discussions. Tim will move back to Chicago in January. He's in the National Guard, so despite being a Green Beret, his military commitment is still only a few weeks a year unless he gets called to active duty.

- schneid

Oct 6 update

Don't know my weight today.

Food:

• 2 cups coffee with sugar and milk
  
• 2 little cinnamon breakfast thingies, about the equivalent of 1 nutrigrain bar

Exercise:

• we'll see

- schneid

Oct 5 update

188 today. Probably no updates this weekend, we're going to Michigan.

Food:

• 1 cup coffee with h/h and 2 equals. Forgot to eat breakfast.
  
• ahi tuna sandwich
  
• dinner at Ruby Tuesday - salad bar, 7 oz sirloin, baked potato with some sour cream. The salad bar there was great.
  
• pint of Sierra Nevada pale ale - I forgot how much I like this beer.

Exercise:

• none today. I'll try to do a run on Saturday.

Have a good weekend!

- schneid

Oct 4 update

188. I was really sore this morning from basketball and didn't feel like running today, but once I got some coffee in me, I'm ready to go!

Exercise:

• 4.5 miles - guess I wasn't ready to go because we walked more than 1/2 of this. My legs were dead from 2 consecutive days of basketball, and Tim ran last night.

Food:

• 1 yogurt, 20 oz coffee, mongolian stir fry with szechuan sauce, 2 granola bars, 3 slices frozen pizza, 1 tbsp peanut butter

The kids had pizza because Suzette had to leave for class at 5:30 and I just didn't feel like making anything for me.

- schneid

Oct 3 update

188 this morning, although I'm reluctant to record it since I feel dehydrated. But I always weigh myself at the same time, in the morning, when I'm feeling lightest.

Exercise:

• played basketball 3 on 3 today

Food:

• 1 lowfat yogurt
  
• 2 granola bars
  
• 12 oz black coffee
  
• 1/4 lb cheeseburger, no bun, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, mustard
  
• 1 orange
  
• seared ahi tuna with zucchini and onions YUM! and some corn with butter.

Yes, I ate a cheeseburger. But I thought that was reasonable since there was no bun, no fries, and no mayo.

- schneid

Oct 2 update

189 this morning - ran 5 miles yesterday and didn't eat much. 9 lbs left to go in 22 days to get to 180.

Exercise:

• basketball 45 minutes

Food:

• bowl of granola cereal
  
• 20 oz coffee with h/h and 2 equals (I may have overroasted the Zimbabwe coffee)
  
• taco salad: iceberg lettuce, grilled chicken, lots of salsa fresca, about 1/4 cup refried beans, a tablespoon of sour cream, and giardiniera
  
• 24 oz diet coke
  
• 1 pork chop
  
• 1/2 acorn squash with 1 tbsp brown sugar and 1 pat butter
  
• 1 cup sauteed mushrooms and onions
  

I felt great at basketball today, didn't get winded. That was nice for a change. And I actually made a few shots. I haven't played in about 6 months. I plan to play twice a week.

- schneid

Oct 1 update

I just ran 5 miles!!!

Yes, I walked a little of it. I ran 0.6 miles to McDowell (that always makes me think of McDowell's restaurant in the movie Coming to America), then ran 0.5 miles and walked 0.3 miles because I was early. Tim and I did 3 loops (3 miles) today. Then I ran back 0.6 miles.

I've only run 5 miles one other time in my life, with Gary 10 years ago. If you had told me just 1 month ago that I could do that in less than 3 weeks, I would never have believed it.

190 today. Yes, that's the first time I gained weight. It was a fun wedding weekend in Bloomington, so I've got my work cut out for me now, especially to drop 10 lbs by October 24.

Food:

• 2 granola bars
  
• 20 oz black coffee
  
• 1 orange
  
• 1 lowfat yogurt
  
• 1 slice Domino's veggie pizza
  
• salad: lettuce, spinach, carrots, homemade curry dressing, added balsamic vinegar because it did NOT taste good. Didn't help much. I missed the onions, green peppers, and zucchini REAL bad but we didn't have any.
  
• 5 cheeseits
  
• 1 lowcal fudge ice cream bar, 50 calories

Exercise:

• mostly ran 5 miles

I'm determined to drop 10 lbs in the next 24 days, so keep checking on my progress.

- schneid