… and we’re back.

The 2 week challenge was a complete disaster once I got on vacation and was surrounded by nothing but fried foods and cheap beer. But what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger, right? I hopped up a little bit during the last week, and this morning I’m back at my pre-relapse weight, so I’m going to try this whole 2 week thing again. Good-bye, alcohol! Hello, exercise!

Morning weight
183.2

Breakfast
1 piece of toast with avocado and goat cheese

Popularity: 1% [?]

Man, 4 days into the 2 week challenge and it’s already fallen by the wayside. It is doubly extra hard to stay healthy on vacation, especially when you’re vacationing with little kids in a town that has a store that sells every type of candy ever made. I am sad to report that I have FAILED in my 2 week challenge. And when that happens, I have to begin a new 2 week challenge. Which I will be doing as soon as I return from Oregon.

Morning weight:
183.2

Breakfast
sausage croissant from Jack in the Box (horrible)

Lunch
4 tiny pieces of turkey on french bread w/ cheese
baked potato soup
berries

Dinner
salmon Caesar salad
5 pieces of bread w/ roasted garlic, ranch dressing
1 pint of some lager

After-dinner snack
like 10 pieces of ultra-sugary candy
3 smores

Popularity: 1% [?]

Morning weight
183.6

Breakfast
(in)
2 pieces of toast w/ cream cheese

Mid-morning snack
1 plum

Lunch
(in)
2 pieces leftover lasagna
salad

Afternoon snack
1 apple

Dinner
(in)
3 (small) slices of pizza
1 bowl of salad

Exercise
7 mile bike ride

Popularity: 1% [?]

It’s too hot to ride a bike. Plus I have to go to Hollywood tonight after work so that’s a really long bike ride. I will make up for it by doing some runs in Portland this weekend. And possibly tennis tomorrow morning.

Morning weight
183.4

Breakfast
(in)
cereal with fresh plum & strawberries

Midmorning snack
1 plum

Lunch
(in)
leftover squash stuff
salad with salad stuff

Dinner
1 piece Zankou chicken
1/2 a piece of pita bread w/ hummus
babaganoush
melty cheese
figs
white rice
green bean salad
salad salad

Popularity: 1% [?]

3 MONTHS!!! WOO-HOO!!! YEAH!!! WEIGHT LOSS USA!!!

The game is back on, folks. As of today, I am weight loss challenging by all-new, somewhat stricter rules.

The most difficult one is going to be the no alcohol rule. But ya’ know, who needs it? It’ll do my body good to not drink for a couple of weeks. I’ve faced much more difficult challenges in the past. And now maybe we can get a better picture of just how much alcohol contributes to the fattiness. I take on these challenges so you don’t have to! Call me Kid A!

Morning weight
185.2

Breakfast
(in)
Go Lean Crunch with strawberries & 2 % milk

Midmorning Snack
1 apple

Lunch
(homemade)
corn & tomato salad
2 pieces of lasagna

Okay, I know what you’re thinking … lasagna is not a healthy food item. But we made this at home on Friday night … all natural ingredients, with loads of greens. And it is so delicious and we have tons left, so it must be eaten. The salad should be a nice balance, and then I plan on eating a super healthy dinner of green beans and butternut squash and a salad. Barring any unexpected pie-eating contests, I think we can declare day 1: a success!

Dinner
(home)
butternut squash w/ peanut butter & coconut milk & rice
salad with good salad stuffs

Exercise
7 mile bike ride
day 1 of 100 pushup challenge

Popularity: 1% [?]

Monday begins Day 90 of the Weight Loss Challenge. 3 months. I think we can all agree it’s been a smash success. I’ve lost 15 pounds, my pants size has gone down, I was finally able to fit into my wedding suit again. But I’ve been stuck for the last month at 185, and my original goal was 175. Which got changed to 170 with the realization that 175 is just a hair below overweight. I’ve become complacent. I know what I need to do to maintain 185, and that’s what I’m doing. I’ve begun ignoring my own rules … I’ve been eating after dinner. Snacking in-between meals on substances that were not fruit. Having 3 drinks when I would’ve done just as well with 1.

It’s time to regroup and double-up my efforts. So, starting Monday, August 23rd, I will begin the Weight Loss Challenge Mini-Challenge: 5 pounds in 2 weeks. Here are the new rules:

- NO ALCOHOL. Not a drop. For 2 weeks, anyway.
- Exercise at least 4 days/week. (biking to work is an easy way to knock this one off.)
- light dinners! I’ve been eaten some pretty gnarly stuff at night. No more fried chicken!

In addition, all of the original rules still apply:
- nothing but fruit for snacks.
- no eating (or drinking caloric drinks) after dinner
- 3 meals per day, as natural as possible

Let’s do this! Harmon, you with me?

Popularity: 1% [?]

I had a moment of panic this morning when I stepped on the scale and, 3 times in a row, it told me I weighed 167 pounds. Now, that would be a lovely sight to see, but I find it a little doubtful that I would lose 16 pounds in one night. So I got off the scale, jumped in the shower, and asked Sarah to weigh herself. She stepped on the scaled and groaned about being too fat, so I assumed we were back in normal range. After the shower, I gave it another shot. I was back to normal, 16 pounds heavier. Did I mention I shower in sandbags?

Morning weight
183.6

Breakfast
(in)
1 bagel, 1/2 with cream cheese, 1/2 with butter
1 tiny orange
scrambled eggs w/ spinach

Lunch
(out)
1 fried chicken breast, 1 wing (leftover)
1 biscuit
1/2 a waffle

Dinner
No idea

Popularity: 1% [?]

Morning weight
183.4

Breakfast
(in)
Cracklin’ Oat Bran w/ fresh peach

Lunch
(out)
seitan wrap

Dinner
(out)
salmon w/ pesto sauce & creamed corn
1 1/2 pieces bread w/ butter
a few bites of a Caesar salad
a few bites of mac & cheese
far too much Welsh rarebit
a tiny bite of cheesecake
2 pints Sam Adams

Popularity: 1% [?]

Matt left yesterday, parents arrived today. To life!

Morning weight
185.4

Breakfast
(in)
GoLean crunch + fresh pears

Morning snack
1 banana

Lunch
(out)
1/2 Subway veggie sandwich

Afternoon snack
1 apple

Dinner
(out)
Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles – 3 pieces fried chicken, 1/2 a waffle, 1 biscuit
1 GLASS WHITE WINE
1 piece chocolate Grand Marnier cake (Dad’s b’day)

OOF. Man, I felt so awful all night after that dinner. Unhealthy food is not good for a man’s constitution. Let this be a lesson to me!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Yes! I’m here. I am really here. Visitors and what not. You haven’t missed much, though. I’ve basically been maintaining. Which is somewhat obnoxious, because I want to keep losing weight. But also somewhat awesome because I haven’t been trying very hard. I can maintain at 185 and eat pretty unhealthily. That is a nice new revelation.

While I was away, I got some new jeans. Size 34. I tried on some 32s, but I’m still a wee bit big for those. Still, at the end there, I was really straining to get into my 36s, so I would say I’m doing all right.

Morning weight
184.2

Breakfast
(out)
1/2 order scrambled eggs and chilaquiles, which, if you’ve never had chilaquiles, it’s fried tortillas + eggs. Probably about as healthily as LIttle Chocolate Donuts. Yet amazingly, I maintain.

Lunch
(out)
1/2 Togo’s sandwich (left over from Awkward shoot on Sunday)
salad

Dinner
(out)
left over sausages from Red Lion on Sunday
salad
mashed potatoes
sauerkraut

Popularity: 1% [?]