Freek Three 1/30 - 2/5

I'm trying to get the most out of my salads. I've started making them mostly out of spinach, and I always add a handful of edamame. This week, I'm throwing in a little cabbage to up the fiber content. It's also a little crunchier than spinach and lettuce, so it's more to chew. I need to chew. Major oral fixation.

1/30 Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt Lunch: ER Black Bean soup, salad, cheese stick, Snack: apple stick, Dinner: ER Cheese pizza, beet, carrots, cabbage, salad, 100 calorie bar, Late snack with movie: 2 beers, Starby's double shot, 2 pretzel rods.

1/31 Breakfast: 2 eggs, ER blueberry oatmeal, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee Workout: 5 min walking 3.5 mph 5.0 incline, 55 min running 5.8 mph 0.5 incline. Lunch: Subway 6" Turkey Breast on Wheat, Sun Chips Dinner: Monkfish, red potatoes, salad, 2 glasses of Cabernet, and two pieces of Ethel's Chocolate. Marky and I cashed in our loose change that we've been collecting for quite a while, and went out to Davis Street Fish Market with the booty.

2/1 Breakfast: ER blueberry oatmeal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt, coffee Workout: 1 hr alternating 5 min walk 3.5 mph, 5.0 incline/5 min run 5.8 mph, 0.5 incline Lunch: Jimmy John's Turkey and Ham on wheat with dijon, Skinny chips and diet soda Snack: Apple, cheese stick Dinner: ER Sesame Chicken, salad, beet, asparagus, 1 beer. It was the Big GAME, for crying out loud!

2/2 Breakfast: ER blueberry oatmeal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt, coffee, Super Bowl Table at Work: 8 pretzel sticks with sweet mustard, bowl of black bean soup, salad. I would like to take a moment and talk about the black bean soup that KT brought for this crazy spread. The soup was pretty basic, vegetarian, even. But there were add-ons like jalapenos, pepitas, onions, cilantro, lime wedges, avocado, and diced ham. I had it all, in small portions, with a cheese stick crumbled and melted on top. It was filling and delicious and reasonable, and a free lunch that made my day. Snack: Pear, cheese stick Workout: 30 min walking 3.5 mph 6.0 incline, 30 min elliptical trainer, 25 min kickboxing (jabs, hooks, crosses, straights, uppercuts, roundhouse kicks), situps with jabs, push and pull. Dinner: ER Soy Protein burger with multigrain bun, salad, cabbage, carrots, squash, 100 calorie bar.

2/3 Workout: 60 min walk 3.5 mph, 6.0 incline Breakfast: ER blueberry oatmeal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt, coffee Snack: 4 small pretzels with mustard Lunch: ER Vegetarian Chile, salad Snack: Pear, cheese stick Dinner: ER Chicken Enchilada, beet, asparagus, salad, brownie. I made brownies, and they are a little more than the 100 calorie bars, but we're doing well on working out this week, so what the hell? I also picked up a cookie midday, and put it down. That's a triumph. Oh, and I cut the brownies really small, and we only ate one each.

2/4 Workout: 40 min walk 3.5mph, 6.0 incline, 20 min run 6.0 mph 0.5 incline Breakfast: ER blueberry oatmeal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt, coffee Snack: Pear, cheese stick Dinner: ER Turkey meatloaf.  I went to have a couple drinks with Kelly after work, and of course, ate a couple brownies that were intended for the rehearsal that never was.  

2/5 Skipped breakfast--boo. Lunch: 1/2 Chipotle Chicken Panini and a cup of black bean soup from Panera, with French bread on the side--I should have gone with the apple, but Panera apples are always mealy and the other alternative was chips.  Snack: Pear, 2 slices of Swiss Cheese, 5 pcs Turkey pepperoni Workout: 10 min walking 3.5 mph, 6.0 incline, 48 min run 5.8 mph, 0.5 incline Dinner: ER Butternut Squash Ravioli, beet, asparagus, salad, Slim-A-Bear ice cream sandwich.

Freek Two 1/22 - 1/29

I forgot to mention in the last blog that my salads have dressing. I use Kraft Caesar, fully leaded. I use Olive oil occasionally on a baked vegetable at night, but for the most part, this is my fat/oil allowance. I hate hate hate the taste of light dressing. Honestly, I usually can't tolerate bottled dressing of any kind, but something about the stank of Caesar must override that polysorbate-phenol-triglyceride-ish taste.

1/22 Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt Lunch: ER Spicy Thai Noodle Soup, salad, cheese stick Snack: Apple, cheese stick Dinner: ER Chicken Enchilada, 1 oz Mexican cheese, salad, 2 glasses wine, 100 calorie bar. I went out with a friend for drinks after work, and didn't work out. Tomorrow I can't work out either, but I have two gigs coming up, and I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

1/23 Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee Lunch: ER Potato Leek Soup, salad, cheese stick Snack: 8 Triscuits, Apple, cheese stick Dinner:ER Cheese Ravioli, beet, salad, 100 calorie bar Indulgence: 2 glasses of wine, Small whole wheat tortilla with Mexican cheese. I wanted some White Castle Chicken rings after this gig. More than I can explain. SO badly. I had to make a little midnight snack. Oh, god, then Marky followed me home and offered me a slider and a half. What is wrong with him? Of course I ate them. Are you kidding? Forgive me, diet gods.

1/24 Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee Lunch: Turkey mini combo from Ruby Tuesday (2 little turkey burgers, fries, and a salad) Dinner: ER Sesame Chicken, Sweet and Salty Nut Bar. Workout: Jogged 45 min 5.6 mph 0.5 incline, Walked 15 min 3.5 mph 8.0 incline. Another gig night. I had a couple drinks at the bar, and a couple more at an after hours club. Jeez. C'est la gigue. No gigs for a while, thank goodness.

1/25 Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee Dinner: ER Lasagna with Meat sauce, salad, green beans and squash, 100 calorie bar Workout: assisted pullups, seated leg press, alternating lunges with lateral raise, cable chest press, crunch machine, cable push/pull, 60 min walking 3.5 mph, 6.0 incline. I usually don't skip lunch, but I woke up really late today. I should also try to make up for some of those extra calories last night.

1/26 Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee. Lunch: ER split pea soup, salad, cheese stick Dinner: ER Chicken Lettuce Wraps w/water chestnuts, carrots, green onions, snow peas, and 1/2 cup of soba noodles, 100 calorie bar Workout: 15 min jog 5.6mph, 15 min walk 3.5mph. Dinner tonight was like a religious experience. I stuffed my face.

1/27 Workout: 45 min walking 3.5mph 6.0 incline, jogging 5.6 mph 0.5 incline Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee. Lunch: ER black bean soup, salad, cheese stick Snack: Pear, cheese stick Dinner: It's pretty great to work out early. Sounds a little dorky, but I can ride that sense of accomplishment all day. Also, I can lose a lot of motivation throughout the workday. I'm more apt to do the whole hour when I'm not jonesing for late night TV on the couch. Getting out of bed is the hardest part. And Cash Cab is on in the morning!

1/28 Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee. Lunch: Healthy Choice Minestrone (this was gross and I'm never eating it again), salad, cheese stick Snack: Apple, cheese stick, Triscuits Dinner: Enchiladas Verdes from Buena Vista. 100 calorie bar, popcorn. Workout: Channel Surfing. Today was a shitty day, and Marky and I both needed comfort food. More about that in 10 days.

1/29 WEIGH IN - I lost 3%! Yippee!! Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, cereal, yogurt, coffee. Lunch: ER Black Bean Soup, salad, cheese sti... wait, that's what I brought for lunch. What I actually ate was a burger with fries. And not just any burger with fries, but Flub a Dub Chub. Can I get an amen from my apartment peeps homies? This is the definition of emotional eating, and I am so glad I'm blogging it all. Otherwise I'd have eaten a bag of goldfish and a Toll House ice cream cookie sandwich by now. Disgusting. I'm so full I could barfaroo. Workout: Bench row, Dumbbell fly, bench dip, curls, Sumo squat, Leg Press, seated cable row, Rope Triceps extension, Prison style Bulgarian squat. 20 minutes walking/10 minutes running. Dinner: ER soy protein burger, carrots and brussels sprouts, salad, 100 calorie bar.

Freek One 1/14-1/21

Just did the first weigh in. Not pretty. But I have to forgive myself. I survived the holidays, and I'm wearing a ton of clothes. It can only get better from here.

I'm trying to mostly eat Eating Right brand frozen foods/dry soup mix. I will call them "ER" for short. The "cereal" I eat every day is about 3/4 cup of ER Vital 100 with 2% milk and Splenda. 100 calorie bars are in the cereal section, ER brand. The workouts I do consist of 6 to 9 exercises, between 8 and 15 reps (usually 12), 3 sets each, and/or cardio. The reps and weights vary so much, I might not bother to get too specific with the report, but I'd be happy to answer questions if you have any. I'm trying to drink about 5 liters of water a day, not counting pop and green tea. Those are extras after the water is done.

1/14/09

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 Grapefruit, Yogurt, coffee

Lunch: Salad, cheese stick, soup(Cambell's Select Harvest Light)

Snack: Apple, cheese stick

Workout: 30 min walking 3.5mph/8 incline, 30 min jogging 5.5mph/.5 incline

Dinner: ER Chicken Enchilada, salad, beet, 100 calorie bar

I really deserve this enchilada after braving the cold to get my ass to the gym.

1/15/09

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 Grapefruit, Yogurt, coffee

Lunch: Salad, cheese stick, soup(Cambell's Select Harvest Light)

Snack: Pear, cheese stick

Dinner: ER Turkey Meatloaf, brussels sprouts, salad, 100 calorie dessert bar

No workout, just trying to stay alive in the -45 windchill.

1/16/09

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 Grapefruit, Yogurt, coffee

Lunch: Black bean soup, salad, whole grain roll (Whole Foods)

Snack: Apple, cheese stick

Dinner: ER Chicken and basil cream sauce, broccolini, salad, 100 calorie bar

Workout:40 min jogging 5.5mph/.5 incline, 20 in walking 3.5mph/8 incline

Honestly, I could have run more, but I didn't drink enough water today, and got runners cramp throughout. I have to be better about drinking water on my days off. I have replaced the occasional afternoon coffee with green tea, though. It's easy, since it's a good way to warm up in this weather. It'll be tougher when the sun starts beating down.

1/17/09

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 Grapefruit, Yogurt, coffee

Lunch: ER Potato Leek soup, salad, cheese stick

Snack: Apple, cheese stick

Dinner: ER Sesame Chicken, slice of Mexican cheese, beet, salad, 100 calorie bar

Workout: 20 minutes walking, 15 minutes jogging, 25 minutes stationary bike.

I had my apple snack pretty early, and was totally drained before my workout. I was just jumping from exercise to exercise, trying to keep myself moving for an hour. It wasn't easy. Then I broke down and had a slice of that gorgeous Mexican cheese, because it was staring at me from the fridge. God, it was delicious.

1/18/09

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 Grapefruit, Yogurt, coffee

Lunch: ER Split Pea Soup, salad, cheese stick

Snack: Pear, Cheese Stick

Dinner:ER Cheese Ravioli, salad, 100 calorie bar

Indulgence: I ate about 1/2 bag of movie popcorn at "Frost Nixon." God help me.

Workout:17 min jog 5.5mph, 13 min walk 3.5mph, chest press, pushups, pulldowns, stepup with curl, bent over row, leglifts, oblique bridge, isometric crunch, squat w/overhead press. After all the arm work, it was tough even swinging my arms in a jog.

1/19/09
Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 Grapefruit, Yogurt, coffee

Lunch: ER Potato Leek Soup, salad, cheese stick

Snack: Pear, String Cheese, 2 sugarfree Werther's candies - YUM!!

Dinner: ER pepperoni pizza, salad

Workout: None--I wimped out this morning sleeping in after the late movie. Feeling guilty. I have rehearsal, too, so I'm screwed. Maybe I'll do a double tomorrow.

1/20/09

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt, coffee

Lunch: Roasted Vegetable Lasagna from Mista, diet coke

Snack: none--felt a little guilty about the lasagna

Dinner: ER Whole Grain Beef, brussels sprouts and yellow squash, salad, 100 calorie bar.

Workout: 5 min walking 3.5 mph, 55 min jogging 5.6 mph, 0.5 incline. I tried to do some kickboxing after with Marky, then almost puked. I really wanted to kick and hit the punching bag like UFC. That's the most I've ever run in my LIFE, so he let me chill out with a gatorade instead of going forward with the training. I'll make up for it tomorrow.

My hairdresser and I talked about running the Shamrock Shuffle this year. It's in 10 weeks, and I felt totally ready to join in, remembering the 5K I walked a few years ago. Linda (that's my hairdresser) reminded me that the walk is 5K, but the run is 8K. So, tonight, I felt like I had to prove myself on the treadmill. I think in 10 weeks I'll be able to withstand air resistance and all that jive. And, hopefully, I'll be about 10 or so pounds lighter. I'm signing up tonight.

1/21/2009

Breakfast: Cereal, 1/2 grapefruit, yogurt, coffee

Lunch: ER Black Bean soup, salad, cheese stick

Snack: Pear, cheese stick, sugarfree caramel

Dinner:ER butternut squash ravioli, beet, zucchini, salad, 100 calorie bar

Workout: 1 hr walking 3.5 mph 6.0/7.0 incline

Overexposed Whore

Okay, that title is a little dramatic.  And, no, I'm not about to write about Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton.  

For the second time, I'm doing the Biggest Loser Comp at work.  It's a 5-month fight to the death... of fat.  And laziness.  And minimal sex appeal.  Seriously.  Last year, the whole office seemed to transform.  People looked better, but they also felt better, so they were more confident.  It was a really good thing for the whole crew.  Don't get me wrong, there was a downside.  The working out was exhausting.  All I wanted to do was sleep.  That fatigue made it difficult to navigate the questions about food and exercise.  Then when I got to the point where I should have been really confident and happy, I went to the mall to get some new clothes, and nearly had a nervous breakdown.  And then it happened again.  And again.  Poor baby, I know.  But the end result was difficult in a way I never could have imagined.  And then I got over it, and haven't been perfect since.  But pobody's nerfect.  I'm ready to jump back in.  

In a show of good will and support for my fellow losers, I'm committing to a weekly blog detailing my diet and exercise regimen.  There is no secret.  It's just a lot of work.  And if anyone has any questions about what a squat thrust or a prison-style lunge is, I will help you find a diagram, or demonstrate it, or refer you to an awesome personal trainer.  I have an easier time with typing than talking.  If people ask me what I'm doing, I'll show them my blog.  I'll be as honest as possible, exposing every little detail.  

My book, is, of course, advertised here.  No harm in whoring myself for a potential sale!

Scott Is Not Dead

I'm about to reveal myself as an educated guesser.  I really try to get my facts straight when it comes to music and movie reviews...  and I suppose this isn't really a music review.  It's more of a cry for help on behalf of Scott Weiland.  And I get really edgy about arguing music minutiae.  But I can take it.  So, if I get some of this half-correct, please be nice if you feel you have to correct me.  

Alrighty.  Marky and I were driving, listening to Q101 ostensibly, on December 19.  The DJ was talking about "Twisted XV," the concert which featured several bands over the course of a few days.  Scott Weiland was doing a solo thing the final night, since Velvet Revolver and STP won't have anything to do with him.  There was a big poster onstage, listing all the names of the bands.  According to this DJ, the band names were all cattywompus and mushed together.  Very rock 'n' roll.  Well, three of the bands feature some form of the word "death."  There were Eagles of Death Metal, Theory of a Deadman, and Hollywood Undead.  After three nights and eight bands, Weiland comes out to the stage (30 minutes late, reportedly), and sees this poster.  He freaks out and starts ripping it down, later admittting that he thought the poster said "Scott is Dead," or some crap like that.  Seriously, Weiland?

The DJ reported this, not with a laugh, not sensationally, just kinda concerned-like.  If Scott Weiland was a cat, he'd be on the seven or eight lives, by now, and I think the children of grunge are all bracing for a Layne Staley-type of ending.  His death still bugs me.  

One of my bandmates pointed out recently that one of the great misconceptions in life is the image versus the real life of a jazz musician.  He told me this after wearing a $3 thrift store jacket to play a concert that people paid hundreds of dollars to see.  I was watching the UFC reality show, wondering why Ken Shamrock is missing a tooth.  Can one of the coaches on UFC really not afford a tooth?  What's it like when the cameras stop rolling?  Then I got to thinking about the creative process.  If I didn't have enough strife, never had my heart broken, would I be able to sing the blues?  And if I really wanted to sing the blues, but I had a pretty great life, would I need something like heroin to fuck me up enough to get in that mindset?  And if I decided to clean up, and didn't have that wow factor, would anyone be interested in me?  An oversimplified version of the addict-musician lifestyle, I know.  But that's basically it.

Then there's the solitude factor.  The only people who want to be around junkies are junkies.  And junkies don't last very long.  And they're tough to save.  And saving them is a thankless job.  It looks to me like no one is interested in saving Weiland, least of all himself.  I would like to announce that as much as I love watching Scott Weiland slither around in tight leather pants and listen to his unmistakeable growl, I would sacrifice hearing his voice again if it meant he could clean up and kick the habit.