I never did get my lifting in today.  I decided in the interest of familial harmony that I would do some things around the house.  I even helped with the Christmas stuff… outside, in the cold.  Although to be fair I really only did a very little of that.  My mother did pretty much all of it.  Of course, that’s because she’s much more into it than I am.

I finished up the school work I needed to do, and checked my template for tomorrow’s AutoCAD final.  I don’t think I’ll have any trouble with it, although the weather sucks right now so I’m going to get up 30 minutes earlier than I would normally.  It’s a mixture of rain and a little hail/snow mix at the moment so who knows what the morning will bring.  Note to self - check forecast next weekend before bringing in the steak Sunday morning.  It was a nasty night to be barbecuing!

Food for the day:

Total: 2000 (31% fat, 38% carbs, 30% protein)

Breakfast: egg/egg white omelet with cheese, zucchini bread, jam , clementines (558)
AM Snack: none (0)
Lunch: meat sauce with whole wheat pasta, parmesan cheese, ruffles chips (517)
PM Snack: hummus, carrots (178)
Dinner: sirloin steak, corn, butter, salad w/dressing (652)
Late Snack: fruit salad (96)

The Sunday to Sunday loss this week is 2.2lbs. So, I’m slightly lower than my previous low number. The 9-week loss is 14.8lbs (1.64/week) which is usually the ‘number’ I look at to see how things are going overall. The other little compulsive number I look at is how many days I’ve been ‘on plan’ primarily with food. I still consider the maintenance week ‘on plan’ since I accomplished what I wanted to. So, since I started keeping track this is day 11 on plan with food.

I was doing progress pictures for another board I post on and thought I might be brave enough to post them here. These are what I would call ‘3 view’ pictures, that are in my opinion, brutally honest. As I don’t want to see them on the main page, I added them to the picture page. You can see them here:

Picture Page Link

So I think I’ve come to some kind of decision. I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing until the 6th (next Saturday). That will be me officially tracking for a year, and pretty much planning each day’s meals for that amount of time. I’m not sure I was as into the pre-planning the first little bit, but it wasn’t long before I was planning each meal before I went to bed. I do think that a short break is in order. So, it will be a week. Part of me wants to do it longer, but I think that will be enough. I still will likely plan two other meals out before the end of the year, so I’ll relax a little for them as well. Although I did do a meal out last year three days after starting to count, and managed to keep it in. Looking back though I did it by saving more than 50% of what I was eating for dinner.

During that break week I’ll be doing a final drinks (maybe dinner) with the guys on the Friday night. Although if we start (as planned) after the last exam I might not stay as late as dinner. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll also be going across the street to a party at one of the neighbours place. Although I’m sure mentally I’ll still compare things and not go nuts, I will try and relax a bit. I’ve decided that I’m just perhaps a little bit too tightly wound at the moment. It’s actually too bad that the college thing isn’t in town as I wouldn’t mind getting just a little sloshed… and I’m not thinking that the neighbour’s place would be a good idea.

I still have some homework to do. I seem to be avoiding working on my Communications proposal, but I will do it tomorrow. The good news is that I got a few other tasks done, and now I’m off to bed.

Food for the day:

Total: 1997 (27% fat, 38% carbs, 32% protein)

Breakfast: two fried eggs, cracked wheat oatmeal bread, clementines (424)
AM Snack: fruit & nut square (98)
Lunch: beef mushroom barley soup, cracked wheat oatmeal bread, apple (507)
PM Snack: carrots, hummus (178)
Dinner: balsamic pork tenderloin, green bean/carrot blend, butter, salad w/dressing (514)
Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad (276)

I have to admit something tonight. I’m feeling very burnt out on the diet stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still on plan, but I can’t put my finger on exactly what I’m feeling. I think it’s just the feeling like I’ll never be done. I think I’m just having a hard time staying on track, and making excuses for that. Ack, I don’t know.

Anyway, after all of our preparations, we didn’t end up presenting today for Communications. Basically three groups go each day, and we should have (as #6) but one of the guys from the seventh group was telling the teacher that he couldn’t be there next Tuesday. I got the impression that the teacher didn’t want to push them off until Friday (our last day of class) so we agreed to go first on Tuesday. To be fair I’d rather go first on Tuesday than last on a Friday afternoon. Although part of me would really just like to get it over.

So, on tap this weekend… school work. Gosh, my life is so interesting. I’ve got Metrology to get ready to hand in Monday (along with an in class test). I have an AutoCAD in class final as well on Monday, but don’t need to do any prep for that (although I might look at my template). I will also finish up my extra credit proposal for Communications… and then maybe tackle some other work (Math, Mfg Processes, and perhaps clean my desk).

Food for the day:

Total: 1993 (14% fat, 42% carbs, 32% protein, 8% alcohol)

Breakfast: protein shake with oatmeal and sour cherries (343)
AM Snack: fruit & nut square (98)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, smoked turkey, apple (424)
PM Snack: fruit & nut squares, jack daniels (260)
Dinner: meat sauce, whole wheat spaghetti, parmesan cheese, salad w/dressing (637)
Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad (231)

Yay, another workout!

I started off with 3 mins cardio (walking/jogging on the spot), the prescribed warm-ups, and then did:

Power Training - Strength Training (weeks 4-6)
Workout B4 (8 of 10)

1: One-arm Dumbbell Snatch - 45t/3, 45t/3, 45t/3, 45t/3
2: Bulgarian Split Squat - 55t/6, 55t/4, 55t/3, 55t/2
3: Supine Hip Extension - 6, 4, 3, 2
4: One-arm Dumbbell Incline Bench Press - 47.5e/6, 47.5e/4, 47.5e/3, 50e/2
5: Bent-over Row - 140t/6, 140t/4, 140t/3, 145t/2
6: Dumbbell Alternating Press - 35e/6, 35e/4, 35e/3, 35e/2
7: Negative Chin-ups - 6, 4, 3, 2
8: Corkscrew - 25t/8, 25t/8, 25t/8, 25t/8
9: Four-point Plank - 40sec, 45sec, 45sec, 45sec

Total time: 70 mins
HR monitor: 448 cals, Max: 158 (89%), Avg: 124 (70%)

Not too bad a workout, although I now recognize that earlier morning workouts are usually more cautious. What’s most important is that I got up, and I did it. Next lifting day will be Sunday, when I can pretty much pick when I want to work out.

I likely won’t get back on much today, but for all the Americans - Happy Thanksgiving. For us here in Canada, it’s just another day.

- - - -

So I’m not sure where the time went this evening. I did a quick run to Costco on my way home, had dinner, did a few school related things and suddenly it’s almost 11pm. So, I’m calling it a night.

Food for the day:

Total: 2309 (29% fat, 36% carbs, 32% protein)

Pre-WO: protein shake, clementines (249)
Breakfast: two scrambled eggs, zucchini bread, jam (411)
Lunch: beefy mushroom barley soup, cracked wheat oatmeal bread, apple (553)
PM Snack: fruit & nut squares, ruffles chips (285)
Dinner: orange pork, bean/carrot blend, butter, salad w/dressing (579)
Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad (231)

Ack, I spent the whole day on school work.  I didn’t even get the proposal started, although I did manage to find the old report that I’m going to rework into the proposal for Communications.  I just put it, and something for our presentation Friday, onto a USB drive, and I’ll maybe take the laptop with me.  I should have two hours between class (although we’ll have a group meeting in that period as well), but I can perhaps get some work done as well.

And I should have been in bed about 30 mins ago, but I had to colour my hair.  Long story, but it’s done now.  So, off I go.

Food for the day:

Total: 2003 (30% fat, 37% carbs, 31% protein)

Breakfast: egg white omelet, zucchini bread, jam, clementines (290)
AM Snack: fruit & nut squares (195)
Lunch: whole wheat pizza with tomato sauce, turkey sausage, olives, apple (498)
PM Snack: carrots, hummus (178)
Dinner: stewed beef, potatoes, bean/carrot blend, butter, salad w/dressing (567)
Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad (276)

Anyway, just adding in my food for the day and then I’m off to bed. I decided to have a very low key afternoon (that means I didn’t do any homework). I did tidy off the desk… a little. Oh, and I found the pictures / text so I can do my extra credit proposal for Communications. Tomorrow will be a ‘all school work / no goofing off’ kind of a day. The only acceptable goof off will be the treadmill. Hmmm… not sure which is worse.

Food for the day:

Total: 2310 (27% fat, 37% carbs, 34% protein)

Breakfast: two scrambled eggs, zucchini bread, jam (411)
AM Snack: fruit & nut squares, clementines (264)
Lunch: whole wheat tortillas, mustard, smoked turkey, apple (424)
PM Snack: PWO shake with sour cherries, carrots, hummus (445)
Dinner: corned beef, smoked turkey sausage, cabbage, butter, salad w/dressing (491)
Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad (276)

Oh look, a workout! It’s been far too long, but I’m really aiming for three this week.

I started off with 3 mins cardio (walking/jogging on the spot), the prescribed warm-ups, and then did:

Power Training - Strength Training (weeks 4-6)
Workout A4 (7 of 10)

1: Clean High Pull - 90t/3, 90t/3, 90t/3, 95t/3
2: Clean-grip Deadlift - 145t/6, 145t/4, 145t/3, 150t/2
3: Single-leg Romanian Deadlift - 55t/6, 55t/4, 55t/3, 55t/2
4: Push-ups (incline) - 6, 4, 3, 2
5: Bent-over Dumbbell Alternating Row - 47.5e/6, 47.5e/4, 50e/3, 50e/2
6: Push Press - 85t/6, 85t/4, 75t/3, 75t/2
7: Chin-ups (assisted) - 6, 4, 3, 2 (see explanation)
8: Windshield Wipers - 8, 8, 8, 8
9: Four-point Plank - 45sec, 45sec, 45sec, 45sec

Total time: 70 mins
HR monitor: 462 cals, Max: 155(87%), Avg: 126 (71%)

On the Push Press I heard/felt a crack on the second set, so I dropped the weight a little for the last two. It’s not painful, but I just didn’t like the sound. I think (but maybe I’m kidding myself) that I’m getting a little more off the ground on the chin-ups. Overall, it was a pretty good workout.