melworks

Today was super-busy at the store. J left around 3PM to come home and get some sleep. He's trying to quit smoking and the effort has left him tired and grumpy.

After work, I went by the store and grabbed dinner, then came home and fixed it.

I ate:
1 package of microwave brown rice
1 can of chunk chicken
1 small can of peas & carrots
1 can of unsweetened apricots
3 bananas
1 apple
1 package of cashews.

Altogether that's about 1690 calories.

So far, so good.

Gratitude: Today, I am grateful that I am not addicted to cigarettes or booze or anything like that. Because, if I was, I don't think I could shake it at this point in my life.

Today was a 1700 calorie day.

I ate about 1946 calories.

Eh.

I ate some rice w/chicken, whole kernel sweet corn, sweet peas, a package of honey-roased peanuts,three bananas and a honey bun.

The honey bun pushed me over but I didn't really care because it's been a long, rough day. Tomorrow, I shall compensate.

Gratitude: today I am grateful for socks. I know, it sounds stupid, but I love wearing socks at this time of year. It makes me feel warm and comfy. :)

Tonight, I ended a three year friendship.

It wasn't something I planned to do but it was necessary.

When you have toxic people in your life, the best thing to do with them is cut them out.

I wish that I could say that I am unaffected by my decision, or that I handled the emotional fallout in a responsible way, but that would be a lie.

I have basically eaten my feelings.

I feel sick and gross and bloated and I'm still angry as fuck that I wasted so much time on someone who, ultimately, was not worth it.

But life is a learning experience and this is just another learning experience.

Right?

Tonight I am grateful for strength of will. For the fortitutde of spirit and mind to do what is necessary even if it isn't pleasant.

Today was a work day and my first 1700 calorie day.

I ate an Original Chicken Sandwich from Burger King for lunch, with a diet soda.

For supper tonight, I had a spinach salad with chicken breast meat and a can of peas and carrots. Spiced it to taste then added some Ranch Dressing. It was delish.

For desert, I ate a container of mango sorbet.

The entire day was exactly 1700 cals.

Today I am grateful for reasonably clear skies and reasonably good weather. It rained a bit, but at least it wasn't snow. Some friends of mine live in the Midwest and they're getting hammered right now with blizzards.

So, yes, I am grateful for our good weather.

I stepped on the scale this afternoon and discovered that I'd lost a pound.

Don't ask me how, with all the food I've eaten since Thanksgiving.

I also checked my numbers, and I'll be adjusting my calories & protein starting tomorrow.

New caloric range is 1200 to 1700 cals a day to lose weight. Actually, I can hit 2000 cals a day if I want, but that will slow my weight loss.

My current BMI is 30.3. I'm still considered Obese but I'm now Obese Class 1, as opposed to Obese Class 2. I lose two more pounds and I'll just be considered Overweight. At 179 lbs I'll be Normal. Hahahaha.

Yeah.

Right. "Normal" is something that happens to other people. :)

My daily protein is now at 55 grams per day, minimum.

Today, I am grateful for patience and progress. Both in myself and the people around me.

So, after a couple of days of holiday excess, I'm back on track.

Today, I ate:

1 Cherry Coke
1 Spicy Chicken Salad from Chick Fil A
1 Large Salad w/Fiesta Chicken Rib Meat, corn, peas & carrots
1 Red Delicious Apple.

Altogether that's about 1540 calories.

A little over, but it could have been worse.

I honestly expect to gain weight this week.

Today, I am grateful for good shoes. I have very bad feet. Flat as a duck's. Plus, I suffer from plantaar fasciitis (which the weight loss has helped with) and joint pain on the top of my feet. Good shoes have been a godsend, as have thick socks and padded shoe inserts.

As I'm writing this, J's band is jamming in the room next door. Their premier gig at the start of this month was such a hit they've already got three more gigs lined up. They're currently working on some new material.

I haven't felt particularly creative lately. I haven't done a post on the writing/d&d blog in ages.

I do have a project in the works. As y'all have probably noticed, I mention making YouTube videos every once in a while.

Well, I started a channel a while back, with the initial focus on my weight loss and how I've accomplished it. Well, starting December 1, I'm going to do a vlogging challenge. I'm going to make and post 1 video a day through December 21st. I'm calling it the Solstice Challenge (not affiliated with the geocaching challenge of the same name).

I'm doing it for two reasons:
1) To see if I can create daily content and (2) to stretch myself as a creator. I'd like to talk about more things than weight loss on the channel and I think this will help me expand my repetoire, so to speak.

To say I'm somewhat nervous to be doing this is an understatement. Some days I think about it and I'm perfectly fine. Excited even. Then there are the other days when I think about it and wonder if I've gone batshit crazy? I suppose we'll find out soon enough.

Anyway, today is a 1500 calorie day and I have eaten:
1 Package of Asian Medley vegetables
1 Package of Microwavable Long-grain Brown Rice
1 Can of Chunk Chicken Breast
1 Package of Thin Bread Sticks
1 Red Delicious Apple.

Altogether, that's 1460 calories. So, not bad.

Since this week is Thanksgiving, I'm taking Thursday as a Free Day and have tomorrow as a 1500 calorie day.

I fully expect to gain weight this week with the holiday and all.

If I don't, I'll be pleasantly susprised.

Today, I am grateful that I am not the homeless people I see on the street, holding signs, asking for help. I'm grateful that I have a job and a home and friends who care about me, that I don't suffer from mental illness or have experienced anything so devastating that it would reduce me to a homeless, penniless vagrant.

I'm tired.

It's been a long day.

Today, I have eaten:
1 package of microwave long-grain brown rice
1 tin of chunk chicken
1 small can of peas & carrots
2 low-fat strawberry yogurts.

Altogether, that's about 1000 calories. I'm compensating for yesterday's binge.

I haven't had any caffeine today. At all.

Today I am grateful for my health. I'm in reasonably good health, even if I'm not in great shape. So far, I have avoided the colds and flues making the rounds this year. I'm grateful for that too.

Today I got up and was going to go for a walk, but it was too breezy out so I decided against it. It's warmed up quite a bit now, so I'm thinking I might go after doing this entry.

I said I was going to do laundry tonight, but I might wait until tomorrow.

I went by the bank this morning, then thru the drive-thru at McDonald's to grab J some food. Dropped that off at the store, then went off to the witchy little store where I like to buy my incense. I only got three packets this week, and a wooden bead bracelet that I saw and liked.

I don't know why I'm suddenly wearing bracelets. I've never been a big jewlry person, but lately I have this urge to wear stuff. What's up with that?

Then, it was off to the grocery store where I bought tonight's supper.

I have:
1 large can of baked beans
1 Can of Sliced White Potatoes
1 Can of Pineapple Chunks.

Altogether that's 1375 calories I'll be consuming out of a 1500 cal day.

Today, I am grateful for the witchy store I buy my incense at. I love to walk into that place because it smells remarkable and the lady who runs it is super-nice. It had great energy and if I'm feeling out of sorts or negative, that bad mood seems to evaporate as soon as I walk through the door. :)

UPDATE:
Alright, I have had to change what I ate today. I have had:

1 can of sliced white potatoes
1 venti Starbucks strawberry & creme frap.
1 can of pineapple chunks.

So that will put me at about 1000 cals for the day.

This entry is being post-dated as I am actually typing it at 1:40 AM on Monday morning.

Today, I ate:
1 Slice of Rum Cake
1 Tune Fish Sandwich
1 Medium Bag of Potato Chips
2 Danish Butter cookies.

Altogether, that's about 1490 calories out of an 1800 calorie day.

Today, I am grateful for my friends, for taking my mind off of my problems and allowing me to vent about stuff that probably seems stupid to them, but they listen anyway.