Day 28

I slept a bit longer than I usually do on Sunday morning.  Instead of eating breakfast, I went for a turkey burger a little later.  I don't think I'll do the skipping breakfast for the late breakfast/early lunch again as it left me hungry all day.

Dinner was at La Fiesta.  I usually get my "dining out" experience on Friday night but the super-duper-mega-blizzard of 2010 that hit The Fort this week threw me a curve. 

Goals for this week include eating more fruits and veggies along with hitting the streets for some low-impact walking...weather permitting.

Breakfast	Calories
Slept In…Skipped Breakfast	0
Total Breakfast	0
Lunch	Calories
Turkey Burger	480
Spicy Cheez-Its	150
Total Lunch	630
Dinner	Calories
Chciken, Rice and Cheese at La Fiesta
Total Dinner	0
Snacks	Calories
Chicken Wings	190
Fruit	210
Total Snacks	400
Total Calories	1030

Day 27

Breakfast	Calories
Egg and Cheddar Sandwich	360
Total Breakfast	360
Lunch	Calories
Turkey Chili	350
Sweet Potato Fries	85
Total Lunch	435
Dinner	Calories
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	300
Fruit	100
Total Dinner	400
Snacks	Calories
Kashi Roll	190
Fiber Bar	150
Chicken Wings	250
Cheese and Crackers	350
Total Snacks	940
Total Calories	2135

Day 26: SNOW-MAGEDON or ICE-POCALYPSE

I have yet to choose a name for the winter storm that hit The Fort on Friday. The actions of the weathermen and weatherwomen on television and reactions of grocery shoppers left me searching for nomenclature for said storm. I saw the above suggestions on Facebook and thought I'd share.


Let's talk about lunch. I had my leftover turkey chili and chipotle sweet potato fries that I was ready to eat for lunch on Friday, but then it happened. I walked into the office after taking a group for a tour of some Wingfoot facilities and it hit me. OMG BBQ!!! Someone had purchased lunch for everyone at the office and it was from one of my favorite restaurants in The Fort, Pink Flamingo.

I don't know if the dreary day of ice and snow had tricked my olfactics; more likely it was all the tire rubber we were around as I led the tour of a Wingfoot retread plant and Wingfoot sales facility, but the smell of BBQ hit me in the face as soon as I entered the building. Typically free BBQ means a very happy Travis, but also leads to a very stuffed Travis. This was going to be a true test. I know I'm going to be in situations throughout the rest of this year (and life) where I'm going to have to know when to push back from the table. It's okay to have some BBQ, heck it's almost un-American to not have some BBQ. I just have to know when to say "when," and I am working on that. So, that's what I did. I ate some BBQ….just some. I didn't go overboard and fall off the Benjamin Droppin' wagon, I just ate "some" BBQ. I had a piece of sausage, a serving of chopped brisket and a pickle spear. I avoided the side items, cookies and bread. I wanted more when I finished my plate, but I pushed back from the table and was done. I really wanted to go back for seconds or thirds for the next 10 minutes or so, but I refrained. Hopefully the scale will reward me on Wednesday.


Breakfast Calories
Turkey Sausage Muffin 260

Total Breakfast 260


Lunch Calories
Pink Flamingo BBQ 566

Total Lunch 566


Dinner Calories
Turkey Sandwich 410
Hot and Spicy Cheez Its 150

Total Dinner 560


Snacks Calories
Steamed Veggies 80
Fruit 210

Total Snacks 290


Total Calories 1676

Day 25

Breakfast	Calories
Kashi Blueberry Waffles	170
Banana	105
Total Breakfast	275
Lunch	Calories
Lean Cuisine "Asian-Style Pot Stickers"	260
Total Lunch	260
Dinner	Calories
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich	300
Fruit	100
Total Dinner	400
Snacks	Calories
Kashi Roll	190
Chicken	400
Fiber bar	160
Total Snacks	750
Total Calories	1685

Day 24

Breakfast	Calories
Turkey Sausage English Muffin	260
Total Breakfast	260
Lunch	Calories
Lean Cuisine Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo	300
Total Lunch	300
Dinner	Calories
Turkey Chili with Fritos	640
Total Dinner	640
Snacks	Calories
Oatmeal	160
Kashi Roll	190
Cheese	60
Total Snacks	410
Total Calories	1610

Bowling Ball

Last fall I joined a bowling league.  We go, we have fun, we don't take it serious, and we sometimes make fun of those that do take it serious.  I thought it would be a fun thing to do every Thursday night, and I was right.  We're having a blast and the other teams hate us because of what we call our "gold jacket, green jacket" attitude.

What does bowling have to do with a weight loss blog?  Well, I had an epiphany as I walked into the bowling center tonight.  I was carrying my bowling ball, which weighs 14 pounds, and I realized that this ball is kinda heavy.  Which got me to thinking...I am this much lighter.  The perspective was in my hand in the form of a Brunswick Avalanche bowling ball that I was carrying across a parking lot.  So there you have it; bowling and a weight loss blog.


Side note:  I know, I know...if you own a bowling ball, how are you not taking it serious.  All I can say to that it, "Good point...we did just take over 1st place in the league."

 

Unfortunately There Isn't a Fifteen Dollar Bill, sooooooo: Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Lincoln...Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Hamilton.

 

Weigh-In #3

I went to the doctor's office earlier toady.  I had another successful week and I'm excited to announce that...

I dropped 3.6 pounds in the third week.

Day 23

Tuesday was extremely busy/frustrating.  There was work, a Girls Inc. board meeting at noon and a city directors meeting at 6pm.  Work and Girls Inc. weren't all that frustrating.  The city directors meeting was.  These are the type of days, just a month ago, where burger, fries and a coke would've been eaten for lunch and dinner. 

After work, I resisted the drive-thru as I went to the city directors meeting.  In the past, I would've hit McDonalds (or somewhere) on my way to the meeting.  I thought about it, but I didn't.  I found it even more difficult to resit on the way home...especially after sitting through a frustrating directors meeting.  Why the frustration?  I didn't feel that a clear, progressive vision was reflected with a majority of our directors...at least publicly anyway.  I'll save additional comments on that topic for a different arena.  In the past I'd take the frustration out with what I ate.  I'm glad I didn't do that last night.  I had some grilled chicken instead.

Breakfast	Calories
Turkey Sausage English Muffin	260
Banana	105
Total Breakfast	365
Lunch	Calories
Healthy Choice Steamer "Orange Zest Chicken"	300
Total Lunch	300
Dinner	Calories
Chicken	360
Total Dinner	360
Snacks	Calories
Turkey Sandwich	220
Fruit	210
Fiber Bar	150
Kasi Bar	190
Total Snacks	770
Total Calories	1795

Facebook Update: I Hate Cauliflower

I was checking the "Droppin' a Benjamin" Facebook page and was surprised to see there are 100 people that are "fans" of this blog.

We hit 100 so fast that I issued a little challenge.  I told the Facebook crowd that I'd eat a cauliflower sandwich if we hit the 200 fan mark.  Also, I hate cauliflower.

Here's a link to the Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Droppin-A-Benjamin/241953233875

Day 22

My lunch calories were a mystery.  Sacred Grounds catered a lunch meeting for YEL on Monday.  The lunch included a sandwich, chips and salad.  I stayed away from the chips.

Breakfast	Calories
Turkey Sausage English Muffin	260
Total Breakfast	260
Lunch	Calories
Sacred Grounds Sandwich
Fruit	210
Total Lunch	210
Dinner	Calories
Turkey Burger with Provolone	470
Total Dinner	470
Snacks	Calories
Fiber Bar	150
Yogurt	70
Total Snacks	220
Total Calories	1160

Time for a New Profile Pic

It was time.  Plus, my hat was crooked in the last pic. 

Fake mustaches are the coolest.

Day 21: Firehouse Duds

Wow...lesson learned.  Just because it's a sandwich doesn't mean the caloric content is all that low.  A little turkey...a little ham...some bread...some mustard...660 calories???  Thanks for nothing Firehouse Subs. 

Breakfast	Calories
Egg Sandwich	310
Total Breakfast	310
Lunch	Calories
Firehouse Sub	660
Total Lunch	660
Dinner	Calories
Baked Chicken	500
Total Dinner	500
Snacks	Calories
Chex Mix	170
Mixed Fruit	210
Kashi Bar	190
Kashi Blueberry Waffles	170
Total Snacks	740
Total Calories	2210

Day 20

We went out for Mexican food Saturday night.  I had the Steven's Special which is pretty much chicken and with with cheese sauce.  I have no idea what the caloric content of the dish was.

Breakfast	Calories
White Cheddar and Egg Burrito	370
Bran Muffin	180
Total Breakfast	550
Lunch	Calories
Turkey Wrap	220
Total Lunch	220
Dinner	Calories
Chicken, Rice and Cheese
Total Dinner	0
Snacks	Calories
Cayenne Pepper Sweet Potato Fries	85
Kashi Bar	190
Dark Chocolate	80
Total Snacks	355
Total Calories	1125

Day 19

Breakfast	Calories
Turkey Sausage English Muffin	260
Bran Muffin	180
Total Breakfast	440
Lunch	Calories
Talpia	230
Total Lunch	230
Dinner	Calories
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	300
Total Dinner	300
Snacks	Calories
Turkey Peperoni Sandwich	240
Greek Yogurt	90
Fruit Leather	45
Chicken Nuggets	400
Total Snacks	775
Total Calories	1745

Day 18

Breakfast	Calories
Bran Muffin	180
Turkey Sausage English Muffin	260
Total Breakfast	440
Lunch	Calories
Protein Bar	280
Steamed Carrots, Barley, Snap Peas	140
Total Lunch	420
Dinner	Calories
Turkey Chili with Fritos	640
Total Dinner	640
Snacks	Calories
Banana	105
Greek Yogurt	90
Fruit Leather	45
Kashi Bar	190
Total Snacks	430
Total Calories	1930

Day 17

Breakfast	Calories
Bran Muffin	180
Turkey Sausage English Muffin	260
Total Breakfast	440
Lunch	Calories
Turkey Pepperoni Sandwich	240
Banana	105
Total Lunch	345
Dinner	Calories
Tilapia	460
Turkey Chili	300
Total Dinner	760
Snacks	Calories
Fruit Leather	45
Fruit	210
Turkey Wrap	220
Turkey Pepperoni	70
Total Snacks	545

You Can Call Me Aaron Burr...I've Officially Dropped A Hamilton

 

 

Weigh-In #2

I just got back from the doctor's office.  This time I wasn't anywhere close to the 9 lbs lost like last week.  However, I was above my goal of 2 lbs a week.

I dropped 2.8 pounds the second week.

Day 16

Yes...I did eat at Chick-fil-A again last night.

Breakfast	Calories
Banana	105
Toast	200
Total Breakfast	305
Lunch	Calories
Boca Veggie "Chicken" Patties	320
Steamed Asparagus	60
Total Lunch	380
Dinner	Calories
Chicken Sandwich	300
Fruit Bowl	100
Total Dinner	400
Snacks	Calories
Kashi Go Lean Roll	190
Greek Yogurt	90
Turkey Wrap	220
Fruit Leather	45
Total Snacks	545
Total Calories	1630

Droppin' a Benjamin is on Facebook

Droppin' a Benjamin has joined Facebook.  Become a fan of the Benjamin Dropping-est page on all the internets at:  Droppin' a Benjamin Facebook

Somehow we've already got 90+ people on the Facebook page following all the Benjamin Droppin' action.

Day 15: Travis > Jared

The lack of freshly baked cookies at the Monday night poker game made it a little easier to focus.  It's a lot easier to donk off chips when you're not fighting the urge to fall off the cookie wagon. 

I was running a little late to poker, so I hit the Chick-fil-A drive thru.  I liked Chick-fil-A before I decided to "Drop a Benjamin," but now I am a huge fan.  Their website has every bit of nutritional info I need to make a healthy decision, and the food is great.  I was able to grab a grilled chicken sandwich and a bowl of fruit without breaking the calorie bank. 

Writing this post gave me an idea.  Maybe I should be the spokesman for Chick-fil-A.  I'd even be willing to share the spotlight with their spelling-challenged cows.  Think about it...I'm way cooler than that Jared guy from Subway.  If that mouth-breathing doofus can get paid for eating sub-par sandwiches, I should be able to cash in for dropping weight eating delicious grilled chicken sandwiches, scrumptious salads, healthy alternative side items, all while washing it all down with a refreshing, zero-calorie, unsweetened iced tea.  Aaaaaaand, scene.  Now, that's how you sell a chicken sandwich. 

The ball is in your court Mr. Cathy.

Breakfast	Calories
Turkey Sausage Breakfast Bowl	230
Toast	200
Total Breakfast	430
Lunch	Calories
Veggie Pot Pie	360
Total Lunch	360
Dinner	Calories
Chicken Sandwich	300
Fruit	100
Total Dinner	400
Snacks	Calories
Trail Mix	150
Greek Yogurt	90
Total Snacks	240
Total Calories	1430

Day 14

Sunday dinner with the family was pot roast and all the fixins.  Instead of filling up a regular size plate of grub, I grabbed a smaller plate and tried my best to choose portions.  Even with my eye on the plate size, Sunday was the highest caloric content in the past couple of weeks.

Breakfast	Calories
Yogurt Smoothie	160
Total Breakfast	160
Lunch	Calories
Pot Roast	340
Veggies	170
Mac and Cheese	340
Roll	210
Total Lunch	1060
Dinner	Calories
Pot Roast	340
Veggies	170
Mac and Cheese	340
Roll	210
Total Dinner	1060
Snacks	Calories
Triscuits	240
Total Snacks	240
Total Calories	2520

Day 13

Pancakes and syrup...biscuits and gravy...bacon...hash-brown casserole...sausage...YIKES!!!  Breakfast with the family at Cracker Barrel on a Saturday morning is a scary thought for a guy trying to drop a Benjamin. 

I did my best to avoid all the "good stuff" and tried to eat a sensible breakfast/lunch/brunch.  I did my best guestimate as to the caloric content of the meal by looking up some info online since the Cracker Barrel is another place that doesn't publish their nutrition info.

I didn't really skip lunch.  Breakfast was just so late it kinda ended up being a brunch instead.

Dinner was once again at Wing Stop.  And yes, I'm finally over my buffalo wing craving.

Breakfast	Calories
Oatmeal	320
Apple Bran Muffin	330
Turkey Sausage	120
Total Breakfast	770
Lunch	Calories
Total Lunch	0
Dinner	Calories
Buffalo Wings	1000
Total Dinner	1000
Snacks	Calories
Yogurt Smoothie	160
Greek Yogurt	90
Fruit Leather	80
Total Snacks	330
Total Calories	2100