Day 22

Back on the healthy eating track. Still have not started any regular exercise regimen.  I think I would like to stick to walking or jogging to start.  And then move into some sort of activity or contact sport (basketball, volleyball, etc.)  But my gimpy ankle still feels gimpish.  We'll see how things progress in the next few weeks.


Thoughts:

1. Write down funny and unique memories with Lee Steen to send to his wife Lauren.
2. So far I'm down 22 lbs!  It's incredible that this juicing/micro nutrient diet has netted about one lb/day for the last 3 weeks.
3. Still stuck on 20 pushups.  I feel that I may be able to do one or two more, but don't want to "push" it.

Day 21

Storm Clouds

I feel like I'm still in a state of shock.  Not really paying attention to what I am eating, exercising, etc.  Still can't believe that Lee Steen is gone.


Thoughts:

1. Pray for Lee's family.
2. Pray for my family.
3. Live everyday as if it was a gift from God.

Day 20 - Sadness

Lee and Kaylee Steen

Last night I found out that my dear, dear friend Lee Steen passed away.  I was in a state of shock last night.  Still am today.  He was one of the most intelligent and kind-hearted people I knew.  Lee was always good for a laugh, to go out for some wings, and always had a story or some project that he was excited about.  He and his wife were recently blessed to have a beautiful baby girl.  He was only 28 years old.  Makes no sense.  He is survived by his wife Lauren, and daughter Kaylee.


I thank God that I was able to call Lee my friend.


Thoughts:

1. Life is too short to take anything for granted.
2. Tell your spouse, significant other, children, and/or parents that you love them.
3. I want to be a better husband, father, and friend.

Day 18 & 19

No, I don't think I'd ever become a Vegan, but it is an interesting way to seek out daily nutrition.  Essentially, I feel like I've been living a "vegan" lifestyle.  Mostly fruits and vegetables.  Some seeds and nuts.  No animal products.  Now as I understand, Vegans don't use any animal products like leather for shoes, clothes, etc.  Seems a bit extreme.

Not a vegan, but sticking with only eating micro nutrients. 


Thoughts:

1. I admire how vegans are able to get their daily nutrition needs, but could never imagine being one for long term.  It would be like Be a Vegan Day.  And then I'd eat a big steak while wearing a leather jacket.
2. Down 18 lbs
3. Still stuck at 20 push-ups.  They are no joke.  I can't ever see getting up to 50, but we'll see.

Day 17

You ever feel like you're in Bizarro World?  It was this "bizarre" alternate universe in the Superman comic book series.  Where everything around you is the opposite of what you're used to.  But reading this Bizarro World Code or manifesto, makes me think I could live there.  What exactly is "big crime to make anything perfect?"  I don't know, but I'd want to visit just to see it.

Speaking of Bizarro World, at Walsh University, today was Opening Day and while it was really good to be there and see everybody, I can't believe the summer is over.  Yeah, I know, wah wah.  Poor baby, have to go back to work after the summer.  Truth is, I still worked almost everyday this summer, but that's beside the point. 

Here is the point.

I love sausage.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love sausage.  Sweet, Hot, Pork, Polish, Italian, Smoked, whatever.  And at this picnic there was sausage.  Lots of it.  And even though I've been on this body re-programming for 17 days, those old cravings are still there.

I did not eat any.  But boy did I feel like I was in Bizarro World.  I know it's not good for me, but I want to eat it.

Day 16

Have you ever watched Minute To Win It? I've only seen it in bits and pieces, but is highly entertaining!  I am responsible for coming up with a MTWI type game for our student orientation at Walsh University.

So using our trusty TIVO, I have recorded 5 MTWI episodes and am watching the show for research.

Juicing is still going strong.  I've recently tried Apple, Carrot, and Red Leaf Lettuce.  Really pretty good.  The color was a bit odd.  It looked like a brown, red, muddy sludge mess.  But it tasted great.


Thoughts:

1. Up to 20 pushups!  Thought I'd never make it.  Yikes.
2. Down 15 lbs.  15 more to go!
3. Down 16 days, 14 more to go.  And then I'm having a big juicy steak.  Just kidding.  I think.

Day 15

Half way done!!

15 days into my re-programming and I feel really good.  A little bored of the juicing, but I think it's because I want to eat something else now.  Although, I must say - I'm really impressed with the fact that I can get eating done in about 10 minutes.  That includes prep, juicing, drinking, and cleaning.  So that's a definite plus.

A significant challenge (and maybe a post for another time) is the social aspect of juicing.  It's odd to be at work or out with co-workers and not eat while everyone else is eating.  Case in point, we had a faculty retreat the past two days and lunch was provided.  I had to drink my diet soda and water and be content. 


Thoughts:

1. 1. Keep thinking long-term goal!  Short-term sacrifice for long-term benefit.
2. 2. Down 15 lbs. (1/2 way there!!!)
3. 3. Up to 18 push ups.  Yikes, I don't know what I was thinking with having a goal of 50 push ups.  That's just insane.  But I'm going big.  We'll see if I can get up as far as I can.

Day 14

Seemed to have hit a plateau on the weight loss.  Still holding steady at 14 lbs, which is an average of 1 lb. per day.  So that's good.  We'll see how this progresses.


Thoughts:

1. Down 14 lbs!
2. Up to 18 push ups!
3. Keep going mang!

Day 13

Back on the bus.  Had an Apple, Carrot, and Spinach juice.  I feel like I'm getting a hang of what I think will taste good.  I'm still not over Gingergate, so I think I'll stay away from that and cucumbers.  Tried watermelon and blueberries last night.  Not bad.  Peeling the blueberries was time consuming.  Just kidding.  Not sure why I wrote that.  Be sure to peel the rind from the watermelon though.  Seriously.

Thoughts:

1. Stay focused.
2. Be long-term oriented, this is a lifestyle change, not a quick fad or diet.
3. Up to 16 push ups this morning!

Day 12

Fell off the wagon a bit yesterday.

Was still in Pittsburgh and took the kids of the Carnegie Science Center.  Had a blast.  But the food options were somewhat limited.  Had grilled chicken caesar salad.  And no I did not eat the fries.  I licked the ketchup off the plate.  Just kidding.  But I did finish the salad.  It was really good.  I guess this is a sign of progress when I feel badly about eating a GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD!


Thoughts:

1. Got back on the wagon this morning with an Apple, Orange, & Carrot Juice.  It was great.
2. Up to 14 pushups!
3. Still stuck on -12 lbs.  Not bad, but I need to get back to a more strict juicing regimen, until I'm at goal weight.
4. Forgot how good Five Iron Frenzy was.  Listening to their live album (1999).  Incredible.

Day 11

Well the game didn't turn out so well...

But I was able fight off the temptation to gorge myself on food.  The only micro nutrient available to me was a bag of peanuts.

Hmm... something about stadium peanuts.  Maybe it's the fact that it ends up costing about $.93 per peanut that makes me savor them so much, but they were delicious.



Here are the remains of my conquest.


Thoughts:

1. Get back on the juicing train tomorrow morning.
2. Still on pace for eating just micro nutrients (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds).
3. Up to 12 push ups this morning.

Heinz Field

Here we are.  In enemy territory.

Test post

This is a test post from my Samsung Fascinate.  You can watch a review of the phone here, from CNET.

First time using the blogger mobile app!  Here goes.

Day 10

Disclaimer:  I am going to be on the road today, so I'm trying out the blogger mobile app.  Posts may be shorter.

Here it is.  Game day.  I'm traveling to Pittsburgh this morning to meet up with Jay to go to Heinz Field. I don't want to fall into a food relapse. I am determined to keep going with my re-phrogramming.

This morning:  apple, spinach, carrot.  Tried going without the orange this morning.  I missed it.  I really like the orange.

I stayed with found 10 pushups again.  I don't think I will be improving my pushup count as quickly as I thought.  Those things are hard!  Especially for fat and out of shape people like me.

Thoughts:
1. Keep up with the pushups!
2. Try more green vegetables in the juice.
3. Down 12 lbs today!

Day 9

What in the world is going on?!

This is the email coupon that I get from Red Lobster today.  A Happy Belated Birthday surprise from the restaurant.  Feel free to copy and paste this into a document and print the coupon if you are planning a trip to Red Lobster!  I am going to pass.  Not because I don't absolutely LOVE seafood, but I am into Day 9 of my juice/health/body reprogramming and I feel great.

Today for lunch I had an Orange, Apple, & Carrot Juice.  A consistent juice.  Still tastes great.  I have not gotten bored with this yet.  I've added more carrots recently and I haven't noticed too much of a difference in taste.


Thoughts:

1. In order to incorporate at least some level of exercise (read: minimal level), I have started doing push-ups.
2. I am going to track how many I can do in the next few weeks.  I started with 10 this morning.  My goal is to be able to do 50 push-ups in one set.  I've never been able to do this, so it's a pie in the sky goal.  But as I've heard before, go big or go home.
3. Even cleaning the juicer has gotten somewhat easier.  Granted, it's probably the most time consuming task when dealing with the juicer - but it's pretty easy.  I may post on this later.

Day 8

Juiced this morning and lunch: Orange, Apple, Carrot, & Spinach.  Really good.

The Breville Juice Fountain Elite 800 JEXL is still going strong!  I love the juicer.  The device works as advertised.

Scenario:
My good friend Jay called me the other day and invited me to see my hometown Philadelphia Eagles play the Pittsburgh Steelers! The game is at Heinz Field, and we live in Northeast Ohio, so I am going to be taking my family to Pittsburgh on Thursday, watching the game, staying overnight and coming back home on Friday.

Dilemma:
I love stadium food.  Who doesn't?! Absolutely love everything about it.  The smells, the sights, the sizzle.  Even the prices don't sway from partaking in: cheesesteak sammiches, fully-loaded nachos, wings, fried whatever.  Even just thinking about these things makes my mouth water.  And then there is the whole thought of staying in Pittsburgh on Friday and finding a juice bar.  Forget about it.  Just going to have to do micro nutrients as I see them.


Thoughts: 

1. I need a game plan BEFORE I go into the stadium and stick to it.
2. Remember micro nutrients (veggies, fruits, seeds, & nuts) are fulfilling!  And they're better for me, right?  
3. Drink lots of water and/or diet soda.  
4. Think of the long term gain.

Day 7

Starting Week #2

One week = 10 lbs.

While I know the pounds aren't going to come off as fast in the coming weeks, I feel great.

Juice for lunch: Apple, Orange, Carrot (my favorite thus far)

Thoughts:

1. Try to incorporate some exercise into my routine.
2. Don't give up!  7 days down, 23 more to go.
3. Down 10 lbs, about 20 more to go!

Day 6

Oh. My. Word.

I love Chipotle.

I fell off the juicing wagon for lunch today, but BOY was worth it.

I had a chipotle salad with everything (every micro-nutrient that is) on it.

Romaine lettuce, grilled onions, peppers, black beans, pinto beans, fresh tomato salsa, and roasted corn salsa.  Hmmmm...

Then for dinner I had an: Orange, Apple, Carrot, Spinach, and Strawberry Juice.  Really, really good.


Thoughts:

1. Don't take your family to Chipotle if you are on a juice fast.  Don't do it.
2. I now consider these last few days as more of a "Health Redux" rather than a true Juice Fast.
3. I could see total veggie salads being a staple in my diet.  (Lord, help me not to regret those words.)
4. I still am really into juicing fruits (mostly) with a few veggies thrown in.  Yes, I know carrots are a vegetable, but I mean the really Juice-Expert-Leafy-Greens (i.e. Kale).  That ginger experiment left me gun shy to try anything too crazy.

Day 5

Back on the juicing train.  After that horrendous ginger fiasco, I went back to an old favorite: Orange, Apple, & Carrot.  On a side not, I am down 10 lbs.  So that feels good.

Thoughts:

1. Start off with a sweeter juice in the morning.
2. Don't give up.  Already down 10 lbs.  20 lbs. more to go...
3. These veggies work well with apples: spinach & carrots.

Day 4

For lunch I had an: Apple, Cucumber, Kiwi, and Ginger Juice.  Sounds like a good one right?

It wasn't good.  In fact it was horrible.

I can't remember the last time I've been so disappointed with a food before.  It was so unexpectedly foul, I didn't know what to make of it.  I thought, I really like all of these ingredients separately, but boy do they make a horrible juice.

I still drank it, of course.  I didn't have any more ingredients to make another juice, so I thought - here goes.  Just added ice, held my nose and chugged it.

It may be that I used too much ginger (the juicing book recommended about the size of my thumb)?  Not sure.  Feeling a little bit queezy ever since.  Had two rounds already in the bathroom.

Sticking with a sweet apple, orange, and carrot juice for dinner tonight.


Thoughts:

1. Go easy on the ginger.  Real easy.  Like never again.
2. Keep juicing don't give up!
3. Lost 7 lbs since I started on Tuesday!  That's more than a lb. a day.  I know it's temporary but encouraging none the less.

Day 3

Got back on the horse after headache day.

For breakfast and dinner I had an Apple, Orange, & Red Leaf Lettuce Juice.  It was very good.  At first, the lettuce seemed to add a bitterness, but I actually think that was from bits of orange rind (at the bottom of the orange).


Thoughts:

1. Apple and orange make a GREAT combination.
2. Cut the bottom part of the orange off before juicing!

Day 2

Yesterday went well.


Today not so much.

Had a low-grade headache from about noon till about 2 pm.  Then it started to grow into a full blown, everything hurts headache.

Didn't have time to make a juice today.  Lunch was provided at work.  Had a veggie sandwich with a diet coke.

I'll be back on the juice fast tomorrow.  So really, day three will be day one again...  ugh.

I think I'll just go back to being content as fat and unhealthy.

Thoughts:

1. Plan out my meals better (prepare a juice in the morning for lunch and keep in fridge)
2. Prepare for the unexpected
3. Don't give up