The Long Weekend, Butter Tarts, And A Cute Butt :-)

The long weekend is now upon us. One of the hardest times of summer to handle I think. It is a time to celebrate, and often a time of food and drink.

This weekend is no exception for me. We had a friend over for dinner last night, I am meeting friends out at a bar tonight (which I next to never do anymore) and tomorrow night is dinner at another friends. This is dangerous stuff for the foodaholic.

So far I am doing ok. I did drink a bottle of wine last night but I ate pretty healthy, and watched the portion sizes. The true accomplishment though was NOT eating any of the butter tarts that were out. They looked so delicious but I knew if I ate those it would really hurt my chances of making my August 11th weight loss goal. I resisted and I survived. Kind of proud of myself. They looked sooooooo good.

I think the best thing we can do for ourselves, is watch what we eat when we are NOT socializing. It goes right back to my Today Is The First Day Of Summer blog which I think I have said a million times is my favourite blog. We know events will happen so we MUST control everything around those events or we will be in a free fall.

The best part of last night came when our friend told me I had a cute butt now. It made my day. When I lose weight the first thing to go is always my butt...eventually someone always says "you have no ass". It's very depressing.

This time around I have been doing a lot of gluteal exercises at the gym. Maybe it has actually worked! I just wish I knew a trick to help all you ladies who say they lose their breasts when they lose weight. Afraid I can't help you with that one!

Hope everyone has a great long weekend (if you are in Canada and have one). If not...just have a great weekend.

Be healthy!

Alan

"Schools Out For The Summer....School's Out Forev..."...Well...Not Really.

I think I aced my test yesterday. Yeah! Last minute cramming might not be the smartest thing to do but it seems to often work for me.

The problem is it rarely works for me food-wise. As mentioned yesterday I really feel a need to eat when I study, and if I don't eat I have trouble studying.

As much as possible I think maybe the real habit to break is waiting until the last minute to study and then cramming. If I can get myself organized enough to study early my issues would be less severe.

So...even though school has officially ended until September 13th, I am going to vow to do the following over the summer before I return:

i) My assignment that is due September 23rd.
ii) The case study that we have already received as part of a take home Final Exam. This one isn't officially due until September 30th and we don't have all the information yet to do the second case study, but I have the info I need to do the first.
iii) Understand/Memorize the information I learned yesterday in preparation for our next test.
iv) Due all of the required readings for the remainder of the course.

It is a fair bit to undertake but I have time and I can do a lot during sea days on the cruise I think.

I know you are probably getting absolutely no personal value out of today's blog and it doesn't sound like it has anything to do with health, nutrition, or weight loss but it has everything to do with it.

The bottom line is: No matter what issue we wish to overcome...to succeed we need to plan and then follow through with our plan. The second part of that sentence is the harder part.

Please hold me accountable over the summer. When I am on the cruise, ask me how my studying is going.

I will be blogging from the cruise. Maybe not every day, but I will be blogging.

I am starting to get very excited. We leave August 11th!

Be Heatlhy!

Alan

I'M FREE!

I weighed in at Weight Watchers last night and I was down one pound but it was a very important pound. That makes me 184 pounds and that means that as long as long as I am able to weigh-in at Weight Watcher's once a month at no more than 2 pounds above this weight I never have to pay for Weight Watchers again. It is free!

The way Weight Watchers works is that you either have to reach their goal weight for your height (which is the same weight stipulated as the maximum healthy weight for your height in Canada Health Guide) or you have to reach the weight a Doctor's Note says is right for you. Once you reach that weight you have to weigh in at least once a month and not be more than two pounds above this "goal" weight or you start paying until you are back in the right range.

I have a Doctor's Note from long ago saying that 184 pounds is right for me so I qualify for "free" as of today. If you reach your goal weight for the FIRST time you have to do six weeks of "maintenance" before you are free but I have reached goal a few times so I don't have to go through that step.

I am still going to try and make the Canada Health Guide/Weight Watcher's goal weight of 179 pounds before I go on vacation. It will both be a really rewarding feeling for me and, realistically, leaves me a little wiggle room on my three week vacation.

I only have two weeks to go though and have to lose five pounds in that time. It is possible, and is only slightly above what is considered a healthy rate of weight loss, but it is going to be tough. You better believe I am going to give it all I can.

I had a really rough time battling my study/food issue yesterday. On the plus side I didn't eat unhealthy, but on the down side I didn't study much. I just can't manage to study without eating unless I am in pure crises mode. It is now 3:16 AM in the morning and I am up and ready to study. I will go to the gym AFTER class.

I am definitely in crisis mode.

Test is at 10:00AM

Think of me then and be healthy!

Alan

A Little Nervous Today + It's My 100th Blog!

Those of you who followed this blog in the early days know I have a "study" issue.

I think it dates back to University when I always studied for exams with Potato Chips and Coke. I needed the energy boost.

When I returned to school this year, at The Institute of Holistic Nutrition, the problem resurfaced. Every time I had a test or exam I ate like crazy while studying.

Eating junk while studying nutrition is the epitome of idiotic I think.

Well...today I am back in that same boat. I have a test tomorrow so it is going to be a day and night of pretty much solid studying. I will still go to the gym and to Weight Watchers because as far as I am concerned it is a necessity for me, but other than that is has to be a study day...a study day WITHOUT junk!

Just the fact that I have to weigh-in is probably going to keep me in-line during the day but I am honestly concerned I won't be able to study at all without the volumes of food.

There is SO much I need to know too. It took me two solid days just to read the sections of the texts we had to read, and now I have about 21 pages of class notes that I wrote down and need to memorize/understand. I don't think this particular class is really that hard...there is just a lot to know.

I intended to study last night but I had been up since 5:00AM and quite honestly after a day in class, I was just too tired. I went to bed real early though (8:00PM) and now, up at 5:00AM again, I am ready to go to the gym. Once that is over I have to hit the books until 3:30pm and then head to Weight Watchers, come home and start studying again.

After tomorrow's class the program breaks until September though so there is definitely a plus in all of this.

On a completely separate note, today I am celebrating the writing of my 100th blog! How time flies. I cannot tell you how rewarding it has been, and how much all of your input means to me. Last week when I went to our weekly meeting someone told me she had decided that she was going to skip Weight Watchers because she was having an angry day. Then she read my blog about "angry thin person" and knew she had to go. What better compliment can a person get than that!

It has come to mean so much, and I am so thrilled that that it means something to others too.

Wish me luck and be healthy!

Alan

Question: Is it Will Power or Skill Power? Answer: Know Thyself

In a response to yesterday's blog, Lea mentioned that she was going to make a point of avoiding going anywhere near a Baskin Robbins for the next few days. She knew she would be tempted by the Prailine's and Cream Ice Cream and wanted to avoid being anywhere near it. That, my friends, is what I call skill power.

It reminded me of a disagreement I had with my partner, Jamie, a couple of years ago. I remember it was just before Christmas and there were several boxes of chocolate in the house.

I really didn't want to be tempted by them but didn't want to ruin other people's enjoyment of them either. I asked Jamie to hide them when guests weren't in the house. If he wanted them that was totally cool but I didn't want to know where they were. Jamie wouldn't hide them.

He said I had to LEARN how to have the willpower to resist. Let me tell you I was pissed. It must have been when I was going through one of those "angry thin person" phases that I was blogging about last week. I turned it into such a big deal that we didn't speak for days. It wasn't the best of Christmases

In retrospect my reaction was WAY too extreme, but I don't think I was wrong.

The bottom line is we have to know ourselves. Some people have very strong will power and can resist temptation. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. If I could resist temptation I probably wouldn't be addicted to unhealthy food in the first place!

For me it is all about skill power. Will power is a tough one.

Even last night, after we had already finished dinner, which was just a small portion of turkey with veggies, Jamie asked me of I wanted to go for a walk. I said yes, but then when we were walking he said he felt like going for Thai Food. I knew right away it was dangerous territory for me, but I said I would go and not eat.

When I was there I think I was able to demonstrate both my lack of will power and my skill power.

When it came right down to it, and we were sitting in the restaurant, I caved...I wanted food. Will power went right out the window. Miraculously however, skill power clicked in.

I perused the menu for something I COULD eat and ordered the chicken soup which came in a very clear broth with tons of vegetables. Overall I finished off the day without going overboard food-wise.

I know people who's convictions are so strong that if they say they are going to do something they will stick with until the end and do it perfectly. I am like that with my work, but not with my food.

Just the knowledge of myself makes things so much easier to handle.

Perhaps "Know Thyself" is the first commandment of weight loss.

Be healthy!

Alan

A Weekly Weigh-In Is Mandatory For Weight Loss and Maintenance

OK...first of all I have to say I am back on track after my "day of eating" Saturday. I worked out hard Sunday and ate really really well. It feels good.

Even though I believe that weight is starting to play a secondary role for me in terms of importance it still plays an important role.

I would love to say that I got back on track because my desire to be healthy is so strong that it forced me right back in-line, but I would be lying.

The truth is I got right back on track because I know that come Wednesday night I have to step on the scale again.

The reality is, weighing in once a week keeps you in check. Having to be accountable to someone else, whether it be a person at a centre like Weight Watchers , a friend you trust, or to the "blog universe", acts as an incredible incentive.

I can't tell you how many times I have skipped the weekly weigh-in because I knew I would be "up" anyways (which can be embarrassing) but thought if I waited until next week I would be down for sure. It doesn't work. I have skipped weighing-in for almost two months before trying to make this work. It doesn't.

If you know in advance that you won't be able to weigh-in the following week it is even more dangerous. If I know I am going to have to miss the next Weight-Watchers meeting, you may as well give me a free pass to eat. It is for that reason that I have decided to make a commitment to weigh-in every Wednesday night, no matter what, when I am away on vacation. I will find a way to post my weight on this blog from whatever country I happen to be in while on my cruise.

So no matter where you choose to weigh-in, make no excuses, and weigh-in once a week. I will do this for the rest of my life. I know that making myself accountable to myself won't work...it's too easy to find a reason to avoid it...so if you are like me...make sure you weigh-in IN FRONT of someone you trust and someone who won't let you "skip it" for a week.

Trust me it works....and if you fall of track, knowing you have to get on the scale next week gives you an incredible incentive to get right back track.

Be healthy!

Alan

Just When I thought I had it all together!

I do have it all together. I just didn't yesterday.

I said in my blog two days ago that I knew I would still slip but I would not fall. Well, yesterday I took a HUGE slip.

I don't know what happened. Everything I had learned went out the window and I had the most incredibly bad day from a food perspective.

I was going to meet an old friend for lunch and I already knew that lunch might be a little "iffy" (that mentality right there was probably the start of my "slip").

I arrived at the lunch location half an hour early and started wandering around. There was a "Hero Burger" restaurant on the street and it had a sign in the window for milkshakes. They advertised a Caramel Shake that was supposedly all natural with no preservatives. The combination of my love for caramel and the advertised delusion of "health" resulted in my purchasing the shake. Yes, it was good.

I then went for lunch and ordered a pecan soy burger with fries. The bun was huge (at least it was whole grain) and I ate absolutely everything on the plate. After lunch I felt really bloated.

My next task was to drive over to a house I had listed for sale to put a "sold" sign on it.

I was walking to my car when I saw a Baskin Robbins. I recalled hearing on the radio that they were eliminating my favourite ice cream at the end of the month, Prailines and Cream.

I thought to myself..."I have to get back to healthy so if I don't have it today I will never have it again in my life" (as if no one else makes Prailines and Cream Ice Cream). Still, I was stuffed so I got in my car.

On the way to the house I saw another Baskin Robbins....still stuffed...so drove right past it.

By the time I was driving home, however, I wasn't as stuffed, and I drove in. Not only did I get the Prailines and Cream, I also added a scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

Driving home, and feeling totally disgusting I resolved to not have dinner that night. There is no way I would want to eat again!

I don't even know how to explain where my head was at but I not only HAD dinner, the dinner in question was three slices of pizza.

Oh yes...I didn't go to the gym yesterday either. Maybe THAT was the actual start of it?

The only good in all of this is that I am still not the old me. This will not lead to a week of eating, nor will it lead to a day of starvation. It will lead to exercise and healthy eating today.

As huge a slip as yesterday was, it was only a day...and it will remain a day. I refuse to beat myself up over it.

Be healthy!

Alan

The Organic Decision and Critically Organic Produce

Lets face it. Buying Organic can be expensive.

For some of us it is a real reality and for others it is a false reality.

How can it be a false reality? Well...if you have been following my blog I will tell you why it is a false reality for Jamie and I.

It is the alternate use of the same amount of money that matters. Although you can tell from my blog that Jamie and I end up eating out a fair bit, we used to eat out almost every night.

Jamie wasn't really into organic foods until he watched "Food Inc". If you haven't watched this movie WATCH IT!. I think it was the inhumane treatment of animals that won him over, although we both realize organic does not necessarily equal humane. You have to be as careful as you can.

The big issue for us was always the cost of going organic and we still struggle with that, but it was our realization of the TRUE cost that really started us on the right road.

About a year ago we were looking at an organic whole chicken and the price was just under $30. We thought. That is ridiculous! We would never pay $30 for a chicken!

We then left the store and went out for dinner. We each ordered chicken dinners where we basically got one breast, some vegetables and mashed potatoes. The bill was over $30 before we added in the drinks that we wouldn't have had if we had not been there.

That is when the ball dropped. If we simply made our own food at home we could eat organic and actually SAVE money!

We aren't perfect and we don't stress about it but we now eat organic as much as possible. The price can still be bothersome, particularly for meat, so we tend to pay twice as much and eat half as much. One half our normal serving size of meat is healthier anyway and tends to make things balance out better.

I realize though, that not everyone is in this scenario, and that even if you are, sometimes you still have to make cost effective choices. That begs the question: What should I buy organic and what should I not? I personally believe that when at home all meat should be organic. I don't stress about it when I am out as I know I am keeping things to a minimum overall.

If you are going to cut back on organic costs the produce department can be one of the best places where leeway is entirely possible.

In my Nutrition class the other day we were directed to the Environmental Working Group Website . It is a great website and you will find The Shopper's Guide To Pesticides . They evaluate food as it is normally eaten (if it is normally eaten washed and peeled they evaluate it washed and peeled).

From here they made a list of the 12 produce items that you should buy organic if you possibly can. EWG research has found that people who eat five fruits and vegetables a day from the "Dirty Dozen" consume and average of ten pesticides a day!

The 12 produce items that you should really buy organic are:

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Cherries
10. Kale/Collard Greens
11. Potatoes
12. Imported Grapes

The also have a list of the "Clean 15". These are the produce items that are lowest in pesticides (likely only to get 2 pesticides a day if you eat these in non-organic form):

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangos
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantelope
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon.

So there you have it! Your shoppers guide to organic/non-organic produce.

Of course buying all produce organic will ensure a higher level of nutrients in your diet, but if you have to "give" somewhere, the "Clean 15" would be the place to do it.

On a personal note yesterday was a "planned" day. I went out to dinner and a comedy show with friends and had Spaghetti and Meatballs and light beer. Am I concerned? Not in the least.

Why? Because I planned for it and ate light and healthy during the day :-)

Be healthy!

Alan

The Scales Are Tipping Away From Weight

I was sent a private message by someone who read my blog yesterday and pointed out that my weight loss was not the primary focus anymore. The point being that this reflects, in a positive way, on where my head is at in terms of my journey.

It really struck a chord with me. I realized that although I want to reach my August 11th weight goal, and I will reach that goal, when it comes down to it it really doesn't matter that much to me anymore.

Why? Because as far as I am concerned the weight goal is reached. If I stay the weight I am now, for the rest of my life, I will be totally thrilled. Making "goal" isn't much more than a challenge now and I am not sure I will stay there anyway. The knowledge of that feels amazing.

The really amazing thing though is that I think I have finally reached that point in my life where it is "off" for good. Will I gain ten pounds again? Yes. Will I have challenges? Yes. Will I be large again? Never.

There is a peace that comes with that knowledge.

When President Obama was elected, Whoopi Goldberg said that she had been wandering around the USA feeling like she belonged, but without even realizing it she felt, in the back of her mind, that as a black person she always had "luggage" with her. When a black person was elected President she felt like she could finally put her bags down.

That is how I feel today. I feel like I can finally put my bags down because I "get it". It is not really about the weight loss. It is about feeling you have a right to be who you are and who you want to be. It is about feeling in control of yourself.  It is about feeling "self-empowerment through personal responsibility" (I stole that quote from my nutrition course because I love it!).

I get it now...and I'm not going to let it go. I will slip from time to time, sometimes on purpose, but I will never fall.

Be healthy!

Alan

We Are Not The Only Ones With Issues

Ok be honest. What was you first reaction when you read the title of this blog? What did you think it was about?

Do you think I am about to write about being sensitive to other peoples situations, or do you think it will be about how other people aren’t perfect either so just “get over judging us heavier people”.

I have a feeling most people would think the latter but you would be wrong.

I had two experiences yesterday that really made me think.

I am so caught up in my own challenges that people who have challenges that may be the exact opposite of mine I quickly dismiss. I don’t believe them to have value.

I was working out with a friend yesterday and he started talking to me about how much trouble he is having gaining weight. My immediate response was: “I hate you!”.  Another guy in the gym heard us talking and said: “ I can’t help but overhear your conversation and it is nice to know I am not the only one who can’t gain weight. If I could bottle my metabolism and sell it I would make a fortune”

My response: “I hate you both!”

I was joking of course and, yes, they laughed. They laughed in much the same way I have laughed when someone jokingly referred to my chubbiness.

Yesterday Quade responded to my post and mentioned that: “unless I eat frequently, the blood sugar drops and I get cranky, fast. So I also associate being thin with being angry, though for different reasons. It’s one of those downsides to being skinny that people don't think about.”

First of all I have to say it is really cool that thin people are also reading and commenting on my blog. I know of two who contribute regularly. I think we all have view points to share. I also hope someday we will see posts from someone doing a program other than Weight Watchers and that we can all be supportive of whatever journey a person is on without being judgmental. It is so easy to believe our program is the best. It is also so easy to believe our “issues” are the only ones that matter.

When I was in the Weight Watchers meeting yesterday I started to tell my story about the two guys in the gym. I didn’t even get to the “I hate you" punch line and you could see the entire room going …”oh man…I wish I had their problems”.

This isn’t being critical of the group in any way shape our form. It was the exact same reaction I had had myself only a few hours earlier, and if I was being honest part of me really does wish I had their problems.

It doesn’t make it ok though. As “unnaturally thin” people we have never walked in the shoes of a person who feels too thin. Even if they look amazing, as these guys at the gym did, we aren’t in their shoes.

I think the blog today is more of a message to myself with the vague hope that others out there might reflect on what I am learning.

I guess that is what it is all about for all of us…learning.

On a really positive note I was down 1.4 pounds last night so only 5 more pounds to goal! That is completely doable by August 11^th (three weeks) and I am going to do it!

I would normally keep an anonymous person anonymous but there is one person out there who I am having fun trying to figure out and I think she is enjoying being sought. I think I may have figured it out last night. Are you “P”?

Be healthy!

Alan

Angry Thin Person? Not This Time!

Have you ever lost weight and become angry? I have. A couple of times. It only occurred to me yesterday that this time around I have managed to avoid that.

Jamie said to me: "You seem much happier losing weight this time", and  I realized that "Angry Thin Person" hasn't surfaced.

A female friend and I used to talk about this quite a bit and I was wondering if it is more common then we think?

The scenario, at least in my situation, goes something like this:

You grow up feeling like you don't fit in. Whether you gain weight earlier or later in life doesn't really matter, but the fact that you didn't "fit" made you try that much harder to be everyone's friend. Eventually, your role in life becomes the "people pleaser".

You are happy to do it...at least you think you are. Making other people happy makes you happy right?! :-)

Then the weight loss comes and with the weight loss comes the boost in confidence.

Other people don't change. They ask you to do the same things you have always done, but with your new found confidence you start to question why you are doing everything for everyone.

As the requests for assistance keep coming in the anger levels begin to heat up, and then all of the sudden....WHAM! Angry Thin Person.

You stop doing things for people, you talk back, you get into disagreements, and you feel empowered but...well...angry.

When it happened to me the first time I kind of compared it to "Rita" in Educating Rita, or "Eliza" in My Fair Lady (they are ultimately the same story anyway). In both cases the main character wants something badly and when they find it they don't know how to handle it. They go way beyond what they want and become an unattractive person altogether. Fortunately, in both scenarios balance eventually wins out.

I am wondering now if I ever found balance back then or if I just gained weight and that resolved the issue.

Nonetheless I am really grateful that person isn't with me now. I feel great, I feel healthy, and I am happy to help people...when I WANT to help them.

Life is good :-)

Be healthy!

Alan

Let The Fun Begin!

I am sitting in my nutrition class right now. It is so great to see my classmates again and I am really pumped about re-continuing this part of my journey.

I only have a few minutes before class begins so this blog will be real short but I feel soooooo on track right now.

Yesterday we visited our neighbours but I took two bottles on 67 calorie beer with me and had one chocolate there. I also skipped the Thai Food my partner ordered in for dinner and ate really healthy.

This morning went to the gym before class.

Life is good.

Jade...if you are reading this...your hair looks awesome!

Be healthy!

Alan

Back To The Institute Of Holistic Nutrition

A couple of months ago I had to temporarily suspend my attendance at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. I was studying to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist although I am still unsure whether I will actually use the designation or not. At this point the courses are primarily for interest sake.

I did take a two day food preparation course but other than that I have been out of school for a while.

Well...tomorrow I begin again. I am really looking forward to it.

To be honest it is really only a short return to school though. The Institute breaks mid-course for summer holidays in August so I will only attend four days (Tuesday and Thursday for the next two weeks) and then I will be off until September.

The course I will be taking is "Nutrition Through The Life Span", so I will be learning about changing nutritional needs from birth to death. Should be interesting.

I am also looking into a really good possibility at the Ontario Natural Food Co-Op. As Bed and Breakfast Owners we may be able to register to get Natural/Organic Food wholesale as well as health supplies, protein powders etc.

I am still researching how it works. The website seems to indicate you have to be a member for a year before getting the wholesale prices but then there is also an option of getting wholesale prices if five people join together and form a "club". Anyway I will investigate, but if the "club" option is the way to go and anyone from Ontario might be interested in joining the club to get organic and natural food, beauty, protein products etc., cheaper let me know.

Feeling great again today but I think I overdid the gym thing yesterday. I did a two hour workout in the morning and then my friend Anthony and I worked out again in the afternoon so I had three hours of working out. The lower back is sore today so I need to take it easy. I am skipping the gym entirely today to allow my body to rest.

Had Tempeh and Salad for dinner yesterday. I learned how to make a great marinade for it in the food preparation course. It was delicious!

Be healthy!

Alan

FEELING GREAT!

I have to tell you I feel great today. I just came back from an extra long workout (2 hours) and even though my tummy may not look ripped it feels ripped so I will just pretend that if I lift my shirt it is.

I don't think I can emphasize enough how important exercise is in this journey. I have lost weight before without exercise so yes...it is possible, but if you are really making a lifestyle change I think eventually you have to accept that exercise is critical to your overall health.

I completely "get" that many can't do the level of exercise I am doing. We all have our limitations. A huge amount of exercise isn't mandatory, but unless we are are in a coma we can all think of SOMETHING we can do if we are creative, and consult with a health care professional. Exercises in a pool for instance works for a lot of people.

I have to tell you exercise saves me.

It gets me through periods of stress and helps to compensate for those periods of food "indulgence".

Confidence levels also take a huge spike when you exercise.

Is it time you started thinking about starting or increasing your level of exercise? You may already be doing that, but if you aren't...I hope you will.

I was pretty good at my brother's BBQ yesterday. I didn't take the low fat processed hot dogs as I said I would.

I had a better idea and had a chicken and vegetable Kabob. It was great!

I indulged a little (not a lot) on peanuts and Nacho Chips, but today I did two hours at the gym instead of one and feel amazing.

Try it! You will like it!

Be healthy,

Alan

Eating Healthy Can Make You Fat!

Yesterday I took the second day of a two day course in nutritionally food preparation.

We made dinners and desserts with healthy ingredients and in a healthy way, and then, of course we ate them.

They tell you not to have breakfast because you will be eating a lot. I didn't have breakfast or dinner yesterday and even though I ate incredibly "healthy" food I still feel disgusting and bloated from it this morning.

We had things like home made Bean Patties, Cauliflower and Millet Faux Mashed Potatoes, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Energy Balls,  Muffins, etc. etc. I went to the gym after because I felt so horrible.

Don't get me wrong, the course was amazing and I will cook a lot of this stuff again...but never all at once.

Today we have a BBQ at my brother and his girlfriends. I need to compensate bad so I am taking those 35 calorie Schnieder's Low Fat Wieners and the slim Weight Watchers Hot Dog Buns. I know I know...you aren't supposed to BBQ with this wieners because there is not enough fat in them, but I don't really care if they taste like crap.

Today is about surviving the day. I can still have fun with food that doesn't taste great. Sometimes you just do what you have to do.

I do find it kind of ironic though that I am in a position where I have to eat total processed crap at this BBQ because I ate healthy yesterday.

Oh well, have a great weekend everyone.

Be healthy (but watch your quantitites! LOL)

Alan

Hang Overs

I don't get hangovers very often but I have one this morning ...sigh.

I went out to my favourite Pub, The House on Parliament, last night and had too much fun. No regrets though.

I think I may have had an amazing breakthrough on the Pub front though. I ALWAYS order a Burger with Sweet Potato Fries when I go there. It's just what I have always done.

I know sweet potatoes are healthy but not fried in restaurant oil.

The thing is, last night I actually took the time to TASTE the fries...I usually just blindly gobble them down. Guess what? The really aren't that good. OK...but not great.

I am really hoping I remember this and order something completely different off the menu next time. They have great food and there ARE healthier options.

Today I am off to my second day of the Institute of Holistic Nutrition's Food Preparation Course.

Maybe it will knock some sense into me.

Feeling good and ready for a healthy weekend :-)

Be healthy!

Forget What I Said Yesterday - NOT!

At one point the title of today's blog was simply going to be "Forget What I Said Yesterday".

I was on a bit of a rant yesterday because my weight loss has, at times, been dismissed as "luck" because I am a man and that means I tend to lose weight faster. The point, was that although I am grateful that I do lose weight faster my weight loss was anything but luck - it was hard work.

The problem is...when I weighed in at Weight Watchers yesterday it felt like what happened was indeed pure luck. It also flew in the face of everything I had said so I was a bit embarrassed. I wasn't even going to publicly state my weight loss in the meeting as I knew there were people there who had read the blog, and it seemed to fly in the face of my statements. My friend Albert singled me out though and forced me to speak (can you imagine....ME...being FORCED to speak? LOL)

If you read my blog yesterday morning, and the day prior, you will know that when I weighed-in on my own scale, which tends to be pretty close to Weight Watchers, on Tuesday morning I was up 2 pounds from my last Weight Watchers weigh-in. I only had 36 hours to go until my the next official weigh-in but I acknowledged that my weight fluctuates rapidly, both ways, and I could easily be "two pounds under" by last night.

I wasn't two pounds under. I was 4.4 pounds under.

To be honest more than anything else it just didn't make sense to me. It seemed like pure luck and all I could think was: "After my rant yesterday how the hell am I going to explain this in my blog? I have to tell people I am an idiot and to ignore yesterday's statements."

Upon reflection though, I am NOT going to say it was luck. When I eat well and the weight goes up, which does happen, I have to suck it up, so I shouldn't simply dismiss it when for some miraculous reason 6.4 pounds drops in 36 hours.

I am sure a lot was simply water retention letting go. I also went to the gym twice yesterday because I was frustrated with what I thought was a gain so I am thinking I went from an overly hydrated state to a dehydrated state, but the reason doesn't matter.

I worked hard this week and I even ate well at a Birthday Party BBQ, which is next to impossible for me, so I am not going to dismiss it as luck. Yes...its kinda freaky...but not luck.

That means I can hold my head up and still stand by yesterday's blog :-)

If I was indeed dehydrated it makes it hard to be "down" next week, but I am not going to focus on that. Simply on being healthy.

I just did the math and I have 7.4 pounds left to reach goal (not 5 as I said in the meeting for those of you who were there). I have 4 weeks to do it by August 11th as planned which works out to 1.85 pounds per week. Definitely doable :-)

Be healthy!

Alan

Muscle vs Fat - And My Man Bitch

Am I fighting against myself? Trying to gain muscle and lose weight at the same time? Particularly around the stomach area?

Many people who weight lift would say I am. Even trainers I have used in the past have told me that you cannot focus on building up and reducing at the same time.

I have contemplated this for ages. maybe years, and I have finally come to the conclusion that it is a load of crap.

Yes...it is true that muscle weighs more than fat (but a pound of muscle does not weigh more than a pound of fat) and if you are trying to reduce while simultaneously trying to "build-up" you are going to lose weight slower, or maybe even gain a little healthy weight temporarily, but you can still lose.

The thing is...if I am not working out and I want to I can lose 4 pounds a week. I have done it before. Perhaps it is an "advantage" of being a male but I kind of think it is a disadvantage.

When you are capable of losing 4 pounds a week you don't learn anything. You can get away with eating crap and starving, or eating crappy for two weeks and then healthy for two weeks. The simple fact that you KNOW you can take it off seems to give you permission to eat and that does not result in learning.

Working out while I try to lose weight is a whole new experience. I know some ladies will say I am still lucky because I can lose 1 - 2 pounds a week if I am working out and eating properly and they are right...I am lucky. But it doesn't come for free. If I am building up I really have to watch my intake. Weight loss doesn't come as easy.

With the exercise, however, I am now losing weight at a healthy rate...and that is more important than simply "losing weight" in the long run.

Losing weight in the RIGHT places is the real challenge though. I just have to hope that working on toning certain areas, like the tummy, prove beneficial in the end.

I only really have one bitch about being a man and losing weight. To be honest it has bothered me in WW meetings before but I didn't want to blog about it then because it would specifically point a person out.

Now that sufficient time has past and no one has done it recently I am going to bitch a little. YES it is true men are lucky because on average we lose weight faster...but ladies, please don't dismiss our weight loss as "luck".

A few weeks ago I had a significant drop in weight and the feedback at the Weight Watchers meeting was "you are so lucky your a man".

Let me tell you, it burned me up inside for about 24 hours.

Although I know that that week I was not following the Weight Watcher's plan, prior to my weigh-in  I had cut out bread, pasta, rice and potatoes for the entire week and done a three day cleanse of fruit and vegetables only. It was a lot of work and a lot of discipline. Although I AM lucky, my loss was NOT luck it was hard work that was instantly dismissed as "being a man".

OK...I think I am sounding like someone on an anger venting spree right now...I'm not. I am actually in a really good mood. I just knew that one day I had to make this statement and it seemed to fit with today's blog.

I often don't know what I am going to blog about when I start typing, and today was one of those days.

Be healthy!

Alan

Scale Watching

Scale Watching is a dangerous thing. I go through phases where I do it and then I don't. This week I have been doing it and I need to stop.

I think weighing yourself twice a week is ok. As one blogger pointed out earlier this week, one official weigh-in is "required" and a second one mid-week just to make sure you are staying in check can be beneficial.

The last few days I have been weighing pretty much hourly. It's not a good idea.

I simply get myself frustrated because I can eat healthy for a day or two and my weight still goes up. I know if I stick with the plan eventually I will see a big drop so I need to learn to just trust the process.

Right now, for instance, I am two pounds above where I was at my weigh-in last Wednesday night and official weigh-in day is only a day away. It freaks me out but I also know me...and I could just as easily be two pounds below my last weigh-in when I step on the scale tomorrow.

I will simply continue to do what I am doing, but pay particular attention to the salt intake as the last thing I need to do is retain water.

I really have to trust the plan works. It is hard when you see your weight rise. Sigh :-(

Be healthy!

Alan

Sometimes What We Don't Eat Is Just As Important As What We Do Eat!

Yesterday we had a surprise 50th Birthday party for my sister at Toronto Island.

I FINALLY managed to go to an event like this and behave resonably!

I didn't eat the following:

1) Potato Salad
2) Macaroni Salad
3) Creamy Coleslaw
4) Hamburgers
5) Normal Buns
6) Sausages
7) Strawberry Short Cake (had one bite)
8) Black Forest Cake (had one bite)
9) Regular Pop

What I did eat is not perfect, and would still make a nutritionist cringe but it was the following:

1) 3 low fat hot dog wieners
2) 3 Presidents choice blue menu thin hot dog buns
3) 3 Cobbs of Corn
4) Fruits
5) Vegetables without the dip
6) Coke Zero
7) Water

It wasn't a perfect day but I got through it, had fun, and my total weight watchers points for the day was only four points over my daily allowance.

Feeling pretty proud of myself today :-)

How did you do?

Be healthy!

Alan

Fasting By Accident

Friday night I cheated and stepped on the scale (technically I am only supposed to do this once a week at Weight Watchers). I almost freaked! I was up almost 8 pounds from my official weigh in last Wednesday night!

I wish  I could say it was just the fact that it was a different scale but I have found my scale is pretty close to Weight Watchers.

I now know why we are only supposed to weigh in once a week. Usually fluctuations in daily weight don't bother me but with my August 11th goal of being 179 pounds I damn near had a heart attack.

I decided to make SURE yesterday was a perfect day so I went to the gym real early and did an extra long two hour work out. After finishing I had a freshly made juice drink of celery, parsley, spinach and some other vegetable (can't recall) with a vegan protein shot.

That was when all hell broke loose work-wise (in a good way) and I ended up racing the clock until about 10:30 last night. At around 5:00 I had another freshly squeezed veggie drink (carrots, broccoli and celery) but that was it.

Normally I would say this was poor planning and I should have eaten more, but every week or so I fast for at least a day and this is pretty much in line with what I would have done when I am fasting. The only real difference is that it kind of happened by accident.

So..in the end I am happy. I just stepped on the scale and I am still up but only by a pound. I can deal with that. My weight fluctuates both ways very rapidly.

I once went on a two week cruise and gained 21 pounds. People say this is impossible but I have Weight Watchers weigh-ins to prove it as well as a picture of me getting on the ship and a picture of me getting off...completely different people.

Did I mention I am going on a two week cruise the day after I reach my goal weight August 11th? I like to torture myself :-)

Today will be a challenge as we are going to a picnic on Centre Island. I think I have a good mind set and I will eat before I go since I haven't really eaten in about 24 hours now and shouldn't go hungry.

Wish me luck and be healthy!

Alan

"It's Never Too Late To Do It Again...You Know...To Do Things Differently"

Drop Dead Diva

Have you ever watched this show? Love it! The subject line of this blog is from the episode Jamie and I watched the other night. I believe that those words may form the most important statement on the planet if you want change in your life. No matter what the change may be.

It's very simple. If you don't believe those words, then change isn't going to happen. If you believe it with everything in your very being, and you don't stop believing it, then change will happen. The only real bitch is that it won't happen fast, and it may not happen the first time, but keep trying and eventually it will happen. Patterns CAN be broken.

The set-up for this show is incredibly stupid: Beautiful dumb blond model dies in a car crash and goes to heaven, she then gets in an argument with the gate keeper, presses a button and accidentally gets returned to earth...in the body of a large, intelligent, female lawyer.

OK...now that you are over the stupidity of the premise you can relax and enjoy the show. The experiences of the former beauty going through life and discovering both the trials and tribulations of a larger person, as well as other forms of beauty in life, is really quite touching. She faces the realization that for better or worse she can do anything she wants with this life...but she needs to let go of who she was first...and that is so very hard. Sound familiar? Same problem most of us face.

"Maybe we are not just where we live, or what we eat, or what we do. We are who we are and that's always changing" - Drop Dead Diva

On the personal front, yesterday was "ok" but not great. We had a planned dinner out with friends and I started out well. It was an all you can eat sushi restaurant and I only ate the really healthy stuff until the end when somebody ordered sweat and sour spareribs (I know...that's not even Japanese) and I caved in and ate some...well...a lot. That means today I must be perfect.

I think the point of my blog today is to say we should all look at our past, at who we have become and what we are not happy with in our lives. From there...we need to focus on change because change IS possible. For me, at this point in my life journey, my focus is on changing myself to be a healthier person.

What is your focus?

Be healthy!

Alan

SHOCKING NEWS - I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE LEARNING!

Yesterday was a first for Jamie and I. We walked out of a restaurant before dinner...and we weren't even mad!

Friends were supposed to come down for the night last night but due to completely understandable circumstances they had to cancel. This left us pondering what to do for dinner....healthy or unhealthy.

We decided to take the middle line and have a treat night out somewhere we don't normally go, and order healthy options. The Keg Mansion became the restaurant of choice.

When we got there we were sent up to the bar for half an hour and were told we could have a drink and an appetizer while waiting for a table. I had a Caesar (for those non-Canadians reading, it is kind of a Bloody Mary made with Clamato Juice) and mushroom caps, and Jamie had a Virgin Caesar and some kind of chicken bite thingy.

Usually when you move from the bar to the dining room table the bill just transfers with you but this time they asked us to pay before we left the bar. The bill was $32.00

It is not really that the price bothered us (I am real good at spending money) but it did kind of hit us that we had already spent over $30 and we hadn't even started dinner yet.

Jamie looked at me and said...do you think we should go somewhere else? That was when the amazing happened....amazing for me anyway...I looked at him and said..."are you hungry?". He said "not really", I said, "neither am I" and we went home.

Imagine that...me....listening to my body...kinda freaked me out! LOL

They say that being in control feels good...I guess they are right...whoever "they" are. :-)

Be healthy!

Alan

Down 1.6 Pounds!

I really didn't expected to be "down" at Weight Watchers last night. I didn't expect to be "up" either, just about the same. So now I am 190.8 pounds. I loved the 80s and this is the only way I know to go back there again...so I will do it next week!

There were two people in yesterday's meeting who had achieved significant goals. One had lost the 24 pounds she needed to lose to become a life time member (meaning she can attend for free from now on) and the other had lost 25 pounds. Congrats to you both!

One of my "anonymous" bloggers had said on my blog last week that she was just over one pound away from reaching the big 25 last week so I am thinking maybe I figured out who this particular anonymous is. Am I right? :-) Seriously though...you don't have to say...it's just fun speculating.

I realized last night that the 1.6 pounds I lost doesn't really count toward the approximately 12 pounds I vowed to lose by August 11th. I did the calculations and after the loss last night I still have 11.8 pounds to go to reach goal.

Not that much has changed because I said I would do it at the end of five weeks from today (well....on the Wednesday night not the Thursday morning). I will do my final weigh-in just before vacation and I WILL be at goal.

I didn't do too well last night however. I fell into old habits of eating excessively AFTER getting on the scale. You would think I would have learned by now!

Oh well..it is a new day with a new beginning. We have friends coming to spend the night tonight but I am pretty sure I can still eat healthy.

Wish me luck and be healthy!

Alan

Hungry Days

Have you ever had a day that was just a "hungry day"? I think I have actually had "hungry weeks"!

Yesterday was a hungry day for me. I survived it and I only ate healthy but I wanted to eat everything in sight. Thank goodness for watermelon. I ate half a watermelon yesterday.

I am going to have to pay more attention to when these hungry days/weeks actually occur as this time my hungry day followed a couple of days of eating more than usual. I suspect when I eat too much my body gets used to more food and then I have to go through a really difficult day just to get back to normal.

If this is the case then it is one more thing to think about BEFORE eating too much.

Today is weigh-in day. I think I will be "the same" or up a bit. I can understand why, given the experiences of the weekend, but it would be the second week in a row I am "up" which isn't exactly going to help we with my goal of getting to 179 pounds by August 11th.

I will behave today and whatever it is it is but I MUST make smarter choices this week regardless.

I hope you will too.

Even if you don't need to lose weight....be healthy!

Alan

The Party Is Over - Time For a New Goal

It was a great weekend but even a better night last night. Our good friends Sue and Ivan invited us and another good friend John over for dinner and a swim in their pool in Dundas. Sue, Ivan, John and I have recently reunited as friends after about a 30 year gap. It is amazing how well we still "click". Just like old times :-). Sue and Ivan have two daughters who are about the same age we all were when we met. Stunningly beautiful girls with great personalities. We loved them!

Dinner was absolutely delicious and quite healthy I think. The dessert was to die for...complete with home made ice cream. Sue...you outdid yourself! Perhaps I added a few extra calories between dessert and wine but it was well worth it. What a fantastic night!

Now that the party weekend and dinner party are over, however, it is time to ground myself once again. Still have a dinner out with friends, probably on Thursday, but I should be able to  manage that and still keep the week healthy (my Weight Watchers week runs from Thursday to Wednesday)

My short term goal before this weekend was to be able to walk shirtless at Pride. I did it but it now leaves me without an official goal.

So...I must set a new one.

The exciting part of setting this goal though is that I think I am close enough to the final "weight" goal to set the end prize as my "target". So...the goal is....by August 11th I will be 179 pounds and at goal!

I have about 12 pounds to go.

The timing for my goal is a little bit on the ambitious side as we are supposed to lose, on average, 1 - 2 pounds a week, which would mean that it should take at least six weeks and I am only giving myself 5 weeks.

I am doing this for two reasons:

1) When I really behave I tend to naturally lose more than two pounds a week.
2) I am going on vacation August 11th. What better motivation to behave on holidays then to have reached goal just before you leave.

Wish me luck and...be healthy!

Alan

Is giving myself permission to eat ok?

Pride is over for yet another year. It was a good one I think :-). I have been pondering something "post pride picture posting".

After the picture that I posted yesterday was taken I consumed a lot of calories. I'm not really talking about binge eating although I easily could be.

I think when you are "binging" you know you are. You just have this ravenous need to eat everything in site and feel out of control. Sometimes though, one can eat as much as they would eat if they were binging without feeling that "need" for food.

That was the case with me yesterday. When I look across the day I ate a lot. Throughout the day I had a fried egg sandwich, two ice cream cones, a double burger with cheese, and sweet potato fries. I also some vodka jello shots at a friends party, and had  a couple of beers (at least they were the 67 calorie beers).

The thing that struck me though is that I knew I was making bad choices but they were my choices and I felt in control. I also knew I would be going to a really good friends for dinner tonight and that I would probably eat and drink a bit much there. I feel in control. I know I will eat really well during the day today, have some fun tonight, and be right back on track tomorrow.

So the question is: Am I rationalizing having what I want or am I figuring out how to "balance" fun times? I also contemplated if I was throwing my body into a major tailspin with constantly changing messages.

I kind of think it is a bit of all three. It is good to know how to have fun, but I have to watch the "rationalization" side as fun leads to more fun which leads to more fun which leads to fat.

I also think it is good to send your body constantly changing messages as redundancy won't keep the body alive...it will settle into a pattern in much the same way doing the same exercises over and over again has decreasing beneficial results. That doesn't make it ok to eat crap though. You can just as easily confuse your body with healthy foods by rotating your "healthy" diet.

It is summer time and there are going to be social engagements. As I have said before...there are no real surprises in summer...we already know it tends to be a bit "social" so my goal right now is the same as it was in my "First Day Of Summer" blog. Be in control and healthy every second I can so I can feel a little "free" to enjoy the social times.

Be healthy!

Alan

VALERIE BERTINELLI EAT YOUR HEART OUT! ALAN - REVEALED!

I did it! I kept my commitment and walked around the Pride festivities shirtless yesterday (if you want to see the pic now scroll down to the bottom and then scroll back up and read this excessively long blog).

I must admit I was scared before doing it. I was meeting my friend Anthony at 4:45 but to get to him I had to walk through the crowd of people (with my shirt on) and even though I knew there were shirtless guys out there who looked worse than me my eyes only went to the shirtless gods (that's what my eyes are naturally trained to do) and the thought of taking my shirt off actually made me feel nauseous. I was really quite surprised by how much it was freaking me out.

Once the shirt was off though, it was like the weight of the world had been lifted off me. I had done it and no one was even noticing. Again..I knew this would be the case, but when you have learned to hide your body your whole life it is a HUGE step to take. I suddenly felt so relaxed and walked around the street for an hour and a half with no shirt. Felt great!

I really have to thank Anthony for taking the pics, but also for working out with me for so long and encouraging me with nutritional advice to get to the point I am at now in a safe way. I didn't always listen but I tried. Also a big thanks to Cindy and the whole gang at Weight Watchers for sticking with me and giving me support for the last few years...and of course...my new blogger friends...what an amazing support group!

OK OK I know...it's just a pic outside and I am giving a frickin Oscar Speech . You have to understand though that it does mean a lot to me, and these people have helped me change my life.  Given the impact this has had on me, and probably my life span, I can never thank them enough.

Don't go away on me yet though....I'm not done! LOL

I actually posted four pics below as I wanted to document my journey a bit in pictures.

If you start at the bottom picture and work your way up, you will see a picture of me in June 2004.  Look at the size of the tummy! Sadly, I had lost 54 pounds before that pic and gained it all back. This time is different though. This time is for good.

The picture that is second from the bottom is taken May 15th of this year which is three days after I committed on my blog to taking my shirt off during Pride, and the day I wrote about "cleaning up your environment" (meaning cleaning up your body). I swear to you I am NOT pushing my stomach out. For you guys out there who think cleaning yourself up is girlie, I say that unless you are into 'bears' even you gotta admit my chest looks better shaved. Feels better too :-)

The third pic from the bottom is just me having fun just before the shirt was taken off (yeah I'm sucking it in LOL) but if you look behind me to the right in the pic you will see the kinda shirtless guys I was up against...the oiled, lean, mean, killing machine twenty-two year olds in their underwear.

Finally the top pic is me baring the upper half yesterday. I DID IT! You have my word that there is no photoshop involved (thanks for the offer though Quade). It is not perfect but compared to where I was....I am real happy.

I was asked by the President of The Toronto Real Estate Board yesterday if I would be on the Board's Pride Float today. I would have done it but unfortunately I will be working at the time of the parade.

I briefly thought about making a new commitment on this blog to be on the float next year, dancing shirtless, but then quickly discounted it because I didn't know what weight I will be next year. I then realized that that is still "Fat Alan" talk. I DO know what what weight I will be next year and it will be a healthy weight! So...deep breath...assuming the Toronto Real Estate Board has a float in the parade next year, I am going to commit to being on the float and dancing topless (even as I write this my head is telling me...you're insane!).  What did Britney say? "Whoops...I did it again"! LOL

This is turning into a really long blog but I do have one more story to tell before I go.

When I was in my early 20's I used to go to this bar in Hamilton called Billies. There was a guy who was probably ten years older than me (10 years older seems like 40 years older to a 22 year old) who I don't think I ever spoke to but he would go to the bar and cruise me constantly. Yesterday...shortly after taking my shirt off...I ran into him...25 years later.

I think he had forgotten that we had never actually spoken all those years ago and he just started chatting up a storm with me and yes...cruising me. He's not cute but at my age (47) if someone cruises me...I'm flattered. He started touching my chest while talking to me and then rubbed my nipples and said "thank you so much for coming out and enticing us". With that he gave me a quick peck on the lips and went merrily on his way. Having just bared my chest for all to see...it was exactly what I needed to happen. Thank you universe!

Have a great Pride Day everyone.

Please remember that pride is about accepting diversity....not about being gay...so happy pride to every type of individual out there...including straight people. It pisses me off that the pride signs around the city include every type of diverse group out there except straight. If we are going to accept diversity there is no excuse for not being 100% inclusive so Happy Pride EVERYONE!

Be proud of who you are in life, and be healthy!

Alan

I cut my nipple!

OK...I'm in a bit of a state of panic.

I drove down Church Street yesterday and the muscle studs were already out everywhere with their shirts off and looking ripped. I suddenly felt nauseous thinking about the fact that I had committed on this blog to joining them today and then posting a picture of myself shirtless on this blog tomorrow. It felt like a really big mistake but I committed to it and I am sticking to it.

I actually don't hate my body...I just wish I had one more month!

I do know it is all in fun though so I am staying level headed and trying not to have a total meltdown.

Every now and then I decide to shave my chest (I'm gay...it happens!) and after taking a "pre"picture of my tummy when I blogged about "cleaning up your environment" on May 15th I decided that shaving was a necessity for this pic. So I shaved it...no problem.

Yesterday I was at the gym and decided to do a bit of a "clean-up"...problem.

I went into the shower stall at the very far end for maximum privacy, closed the shower curtain, and went to town with the razor blade. At some point someone decided to use the shower next to me. I didn't hear him approaching but when he pulled the shower curtain open it startled me. I turned quickly like a kid caught stealing candy and ...you guessed it...I cut my right nipple with the razor blade. Did you know they actually bleed quite a bit?

Now I have been at the gym with a razor cut to my face before and that is mildly embarrassing but trying to get from the shower to your locker and get changed without anyone noticing your nipple is bleeding is HUGELY embarrassing!

The only thought that was really running through my mind though was ...."great....this is going to look FABULOUS in that pic!"

Thank goodness for small mercies. I can feel the cut this morning but I can't see it. Whew!

Yesterday I ate a lot of food at my Food Preparation Course for the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and it was mostly grains. Good food but again...not great for the pic.

I got home around 4:00 and on the advice of my nutritionist friend Anthony I tried to counter-balance by only eating watermelon and celery last night. This is apparently very slimming.

Today I will have a small coffee to avoid the caffein withdrawal headache but other than that until the picture is taken (be at the corner of Church and Wellesley at 4:45pm if you want to watch me make a fool of myself) it is watermelon and celery only.

Wish me luck and be healthy!

Alan

Won The Face-Off With The Bread Roll

Had a great Canada Day yesterday!

When you work in Real Estate a day off is virtually unheard of. When clients are off you are busy showing them properties, and they all search the internet and email when they are at work so during their work time you are answering emails and running searches yourself.

Yesterday I actually had a day off! I think I only sent two work related emails. What a treat!

I also had a great day food-wise. The only challenge was at dinner. We were lazy so we went to Swiss Chalet and I ordered the "Health-Check" version of the 1/4 chicken dinner and took the skin off the chicken.

The health-check dinner advertises itself as "1/4 chicken and Salad - no roll". Of course when it arrived the roll was sitting there staring me in the face. I should have told the waitress to take it away right away but I didn't.

Jamie said the waitress was probably trying to be nice by giving it to me but they need to learn that nice is not always nice. When you specifically order the health check version it is BECAUSE you don't want to see that stuff.

So I ate my chicken and salad but the whole time that damn bread roll kept staring me in the face. I found myself thinking "it's only one", and I came sooooooo close to eating it.

I didn't eat it and spent the rest of the evening smiling like I had just won gold at the olympics.

Funny how victories like this can mean so much :-)

Off to the gym and then to cooking class today. They said we will have a big lunch there so not sure how the day will turn out but I will do my best.

Be healthy!

Alan

Where Do I Start...

I have to admit there are days when I wake up and I don't know what I am going to blog about. Today there are a multitude of possibilities running through my head.

First and foremost though, I have to say a HUGE congratulations to Pamela who weighed in at Weight Watchers last night and has now officially lost 50 pounds! We are proud of you, but more importantly, you should be proud of yourself. What an accomplishment!

I, on the other hand, was up 1.2 pounds but I am totally ok with that. Last week I weighed in after three days of eating only raw fruits and vegetables. I was down over five pounds then but I knew some of it was artificial so I think things were just balancing out to reality this week.

After the meeting I met my old friends from Nutrition class at a local pub for Karaoke Night. To those who have heard me sing...don't worry....I didn't LOL!

I discovered a little secret last night though and that is that Nutritionists (or at least budding Nutritionists) are not always healthy! I didn't see a salad on the table all night but there were plenty of sweet potato fries, chicken wings and a burger (that was mine). Of course there was also an incredible amount of alcohol.

We had a great time but I have to say I am jealous of Lauren in our class. I don't think she drinks (at least she didn't last night) but she is so incredibly high on life. I don't think I know anyone else quite like her. Such an amazing spirit :-) I wish I had her energy and positive attitude. I think I need alcohol to even begin to touch the level of "high" she lives in daily.

I also had a bit of a shocker when I told my friend Jade in class I was old enough to be her Father. She may have just been being polite when she said "no your not", but then I asked her how old her Dad was. I am older. SHIT!!!!

Truthfully though, I like being old and young at heart. It is good to have young friends.

On to another topic...this damn picture I promised to take. I worked out with my friend Anthony today and found myself saying "why the hell did I ever say I would do this?!". He reminded me that it has motivated me to drop the weight, but also pointed out that it might have been better if I had panicked about three weeks ago instead of now.... a very good point I think.

The good news is I have inadvertently set myself up so that I cannot starve myself prior to doing it. One of the requirements in the program to become a Holistic Nutritionist is a two day Food Preparation course. Since I am not enrolled in any other courses right now I figured this would be a good time to do it so I am in cooking class tomorrow and July 16th. They told us not to eat breakfast as we will be having a large lunch. From what I can see it is a combination of Muesli, Pancakes with Jam, Manna bread, Hummus, Quinoa, and Maki Sushi Rolls. Not exactly "Ab" friendly meals but at least it makes it impossible to starve myself Friday so the pic I take will be pretty "real".

I have decided I am going to take the picture Saturday and post it Sunday for a couple of reasons:

1) Sunday is "pride day" so regardless of the pic I think it is appropriate to post an accomplishment I am proud of that day (in comparison to what my tummy used to look like I will be proud no matter how the picture looks).
2) I am going out Saturday night and want to be able to enjoy myself without worrying about a picture being taken the next day.

OK OK...reason number two is the real reason....reason number one just sounds good.

Now that I have finished writing this novel of a blog I will sign off.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Be healthy!

Alan