I'm finding that morning is the hardest part of the day to get through since my life has been thrown into some minor chaos with leaving the restaurant. Between the tiredness, Betsy & Edie rolling in lockstep, and my mind naturally going to pessimism, it's something I need to strategize -- whether it's food (jump start with chocolate covered coffee beans?), a routine or a ritual, I dunno. I lift weights M-W-F which definitely helps, but I think doing it more than that might be excessive. Maybe a combination of food, an act to help with a work search, and a light yoga routine? Hmmm, could anyone advise me on a light self-guided daily 10-minute yoga routine?!
TODAY'S COOKING
Ice Cream Sandwiches: Last week's left over mint ice cream was enough for about 15 sandwiches. Forgot to freeze the barrel, so will have to make to make the vanilla ice cream for another dozen tomorrow.
Health Salad: A nice simple vegan slaw for our vegan picnic on Monday!
BREAKFAST: 9am, iced green tea, 5 small pancakes, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 12:30pm, penne in sauce with shrimp, ginger ale, 2 cc cookies, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3:15pm, 1 small ice cream sandwich
Wasn't planning on eating this but MAP came over, and mommainlaw, B, MAP and even Edie were all eating these things I ate this morning, so I ate one to be sociable. Edie was going nuts on mommainlaw;s sandwich, licking the ice cream then grabbing her hand and pushing her face into it when it was pulled away from her, all the while strenuously repeating the word, "CAKE!"
PM SNACK: 4:45pm, slice of streetza, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Was in the playground, B was feeling hungry because all she had to eat all afternoon was...an ice cream sandwich, so I got a slice for her, and I couldn't just let her eat alone!
DINNER: 6:30pm, shrimp toast, small amount of beef & string beans with white rice, ice cream sandwich, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 9:30pm, left over beef & string beans with rice, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Saturday, July 2
Friday, July 1
Of Two Minds
230.2--->227.4--->221.0
Well, this is the lightest I've been in a while. I'm of two minds, as I usually am about this stuff...
TODAY'S COOKING
Creme Anglais: Another round for ice cream sandwiches for taking to various holiday weekend events, this time sticking with traditional vanilla, though more vanilla-y than most.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Used dark chocolate chips, a bit further with the brown sugar and less with the white. Had to bite Betsy from going beserk on them when she got home, now under lock and key in the freezer until ready to be sandwichatized.
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 10:45am, smoothie, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
Milk, banana, flax, a lot of fresh blueberries that Edie hasn't been eating but we got a lot from the CSA, frozen mango and cherries, vanilla extract and salt. Forgot the yogurt, still exceptionally thick and filling.
LUNCH: 1:30pm, red curry with shrimp, basmanti rice, a beer, a few bites of cookie, a few bites of cupcake, water, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
Celebratory lunch on the UES with B & her momma, we just had an anatomy scan to check the new bebe for health and gender. Yep, it's a healthy babay!
PM SNACK: 4:40pm, watermelon, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 7pm, large green salad, breaded tilapia fillet, pickle, water, 1 cc chip cookie, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 9pm, popcorn, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
I used twice the amount of butter and olive oil in making this batch -- Betsy said it was the best yet, though I didn't tell her why, he he he.
Well, this is the lightest I've been in a while. I'm of two minds, as I usually am about this stuff...
- Negative: Work stress from finishing up at the restaurant definitely saw a lack of appetite for a few weeks -- starvation diet is not sustainable, healthy or desirable.
- Positive: I've been riding a lot more the past few weeks, I've cut back on restaurant and take away food to try to budget better, and this past month I've notched up the amount of weight I've been lifting three times a week. My routine now includes two sets of push ups, 18 and 9. The greatest number of push ups at my peak strength in high school was 10. I'm sure if I tried to blow out, I could hit 25 to 30....
TODAY'S COOKING
Creme Anglais: Another round for ice cream sandwiches for taking to various holiday weekend events, this time sticking with traditional vanilla, though more vanilla-y than most.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: Used dark chocolate chips, a bit further with the brown sugar and less with the white. Had to bite Betsy from going beserk on them when she got home, now under lock and key in the freezer until ready to be sandwichatized.
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 10:45am, smoothie, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
Milk, banana, flax, a lot of fresh blueberries that Edie hasn't been eating but we got a lot from the CSA, frozen mango and cherries, vanilla extract and salt. Forgot the yogurt, still exceptionally thick and filling.
LUNCH: 1:30pm, red curry with shrimp, basmanti rice, a beer, a few bites of cookie, a few bites of cupcake, water, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
Celebratory lunch on the UES with B & her momma, we just had an anatomy scan to check the new bebe for health and gender. Yep, it's a healthy babay!
PM SNACK: 4:40pm, watermelon, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 7pm, large green salad, breaded tilapia fillet, pickle, water, 1 cc chip cookie, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 9pm, popcorn, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
I used twice the amount of butter and olive oil in making this batch -- Betsy said it was the best yet, though I didn't tell her why, he he he.
Thursday, June 30
A Walk Around
Chill day, play ground with Edie in the morning, a walk around downtown in the afternoon and meeting with B for dinner in a park then more wandering. Prelude to the holiday weekend, I suppose.
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
LUNCH: 11:30am, good yogurt with honey, vanilla, peanuts, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 5pm, falafel platter, small piece of baklava, lemonade, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACKS: 9-10pm, chocolate chips & peanuts, 2 small burritos, small amount of pasta, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
LUNCH: 11:30am, good yogurt with honey, vanilla, peanuts, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 5pm, falafel platter, small piece of baklava, lemonade, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACKS: 9-10pm, chocolate chips & peanuts, 2 small burritos, small amount of pasta, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
Wednesday, June 29
1-Pack
Woke up to Edie doing a hard belly flop onto my middle (OOFAH!) As I was doing a small stretch in prep for weight lifting, I noticed a weird curve in my upper-midsection. I felt it, pressed it, prodded it, is it a hernia? It felt firm but pliant, no discomfort or pain...it's a muscle!! I have a 1-pack! Call the fitness magazines! Call Hollywood! My fat pad still pretty much hides whats been developing these past 3 or so months, but it was still pretty nice to see, however fleeting.
Edie had the day with the sitter & summer camp, so I spent part of the morning working on work-related matters, then road the bike to Coney Island and back. Indulged in a Chinese brick -- it makes sense to do this for lunch and after a strenuous activity, as compared to a bigger brick for dinner, where I probably hadn't done much of nuthin'. And a full stomach helps shopping rationally at the supermarket, which I did right after.
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:30am, 4 small buttermilk pancakes, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 2:15pm, lomein & fried rice, small wonton soup, water, 1.5 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 7:45, green salad, 2 pieces breaded tilapia, large piece of watermelon, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
I bought a big bag of breaded raw tilapia at the supermarket, a few pounds for under $12. Farm raised in China, I wonder if this cheap protein is ok. Funny to eat it with a green salad of CSA vegetables. One side organic and local, the other side of the plate....less so.
EVENING SNACK: 10pm, peanut butter with chocolate chips, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Edie had the day with the sitter & summer camp, so I spent part of the morning working on work-related matters, then road the bike to Coney Island and back. Indulged in a Chinese brick -- it makes sense to do this for lunch and after a strenuous activity, as compared to a bigger brick for dinner, where I probably hadn't done much of nuthin'. And a full stomach helps shopping rationally at the supermarket, which I did right after.
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:30am, 4 small buttermilk pancakes, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 2:15pm, lomein & fried rice, small wonton soup, water, 1.5 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 7:45, green salad, 2 pieces breaded tilapia, large piece of watermelon, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
I bought a big bag of breaded raw tilapia at the supermarket, a few pounds for under $12. Farm raised in China, I wonder if this cheap protein is ok. Funny to eat it with a green salad of CSA vegetables. One side organic and local, the other side of the plate....less so.
EVENING SNACK: 10pm, peanut butter with chocolate chips, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Tuesday, June 28
Kale Fail
The day wore me out in a good way yesterday, fell asleep around 11 and got 9 hours sleep. Woke up sore and muscle-tired in a few places. Took Edie to a music event in Madison Square Park in the morning, out to the swings in the afternoon.
Cutting back restaurant and take out food, ate everything mostly homemade today. Got a load of salad greens at the CSA, had a bowl full o' them before my heaping bowl of pasta.
TODAY'S COOKING
Kale chips: Got an excessive amount of kale from the CSA today. Deveined it, chopped it, tossed it with olive oil and old bay seasoning. Roasted at 375 for 12 minutes. Discovery: too much oil, came out crunchy in spots and wet in others. Ate a little, then had to toss. Will do it better next time.
AM SNACK: 9am, green iced tea
AM SNACK: 9:45am, banana
LUNCH: 12:45pm, 3 mini burritos, 2 pickles, a lump of brown rice & lentils, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3pm, watermelon, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 6pm, a few kale chips, pasta with sauce and fresh basil, salad greens with Greek dressing, a small piece of CSA cheese, can of ginger ale, 2 mint ice cream sandwiches, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Cutting back restaurant and take out food, ate everything mostly homemade today. Got a load of salad greens at the CSA, had a bowl full o' them before my heaping bowl of pasta.
TODAY'S COOKING
Kale chips: Got an excessive amount of kale from the CSA today. Deveined it, chopped it, tossed it with olive oil and old bay seasoning. Roasted at 375 for 12 minutes. Discovery: too much oil, came out crunchy in spots and wet in others. Ate a little, then had to toss. Will do it better next time.
AM SNACK: 9am, green iced tea
AM SNACK: 9:45am, banana
LUNCH: 12:45pm, 3 mini burritos, 2 pickles, a lump of brown rice & lentils, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3pm, watermelon, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 6pm, a few kale chips, pasta with sauce and fresh basil, salad greens with Greek dressing, a small piece of CSA cheese, can of ginger ale, 2 mint ice cream sandwiches, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Monday, June 27
Riding
Edie started summer camp today, just a few hours in the morning Mondays and Wednesdays, in the same place where she'll be starting preschool in September. She's growing up!
Lifted weights in the morning. The weather was too perfect to not cycle, so I rode up to Nyack and back. Weird riding out there on a Monday. Not many other cyclists, but a lot of tree-trimming trucks, Con Ed and Verizon trucks, etc, jamming up the roadways.
AM SNACK: 7:30am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:15am, toasted bagel w/ cream cheese, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
BIKE SNACK: 1pm, bag of corn chips, banana, pack of 3 cc cookies, 24 oz Gatorade, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 5:30pm, pancakes, can of ginger ale, one mint cc cookie ice cream sandwich, water, 1.75 bowl, hunger 4/5
On the way home I was kinda vibing on getting a brick of Chinese, but B texted that she wanted pancakes, so instead of spending $6 on a brick, I stopped by the local market and got $6 worth of top-shelf buttermilk and cooked up enough pancakes to last me & the fam a solid week. A good investment.
Lifted weights in the morning. The weather was too perfect to not cycle, so I rode up to Nyack and back. Weird riding out there on a Monday. Not many other cyclists, but a lot of tree-trimming trucks, Con Ed and Verizon trucks, etc, jamming up the roadways.
AM SNACK: 7:30am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:15am, toasted bagel w/ cream cheese, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
BIKE SNACK: 1pm, bag of corn chips, banana, pack of 3 cc cookies, 24 oz Gatorade, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 5:30pm, pancakes, can of ginger ale, one mint cc cookie ice cream sandwich, water, 1.75 bowl, hunger 4/5
On the way home I was kinda vibing on getting a brick of Chinese, but B texted that she wanted pancakes, so instead of spending $6 on a brick, I stopped by the local market and got $6 worth of top-shelf buttermilk and cooked up enough pancakes to last me & the fam a solid week. A good investment.
Sunday, June 26
Harmonious Ice Cream Sandwiches
I went out in the morning to collect a few local delicacies -- knishes, bialies, pickles -- for a couple of B's friends who came over for an easy brunch.
I assembled the ice cream sandwiches in the morning, and they were pretty good -- the cookies were only about 1.5 wide, so two or three of them could make a portion. The strong vanilla presence in both the ice cream and the cookie really tied it together, but the mint of the filling and the brown sugar and chocolate of the cookie sang together in good harmony.
Also in three-part harmony, B, Edie & I all took blissful naps in the afternoon and got back to it after a quickie lunch. I took Edie out to the swings, then food shop, then once home, I took off to visit the HVS in Brooklyn. After a local restaurant meal, the rarest of rare happened: a snicklebikeride! We did a loop around Prospect Park on one of the most beautiful nights of the year, not cold, not warm, just right.
We spoke of a weight-loss challenge, which I think will be good for me about now, so starting Friday the 1st, I'll institute some new rule or approach to limiting my calorie intake and increasing my low-density food intake....
BREAKFAST: 8am, iced green tea
AM SNACK: 9:30am, 6 misshapen chocolate chip cookies, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
BRUNCH: 10:30am, knish, half a mimosa, a pickle, one mint ice cream sandwich, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3:45pm, half a knish, a little watermelon, water, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
SNICKLEDINNER: 7:30pm, vegan singapore mei fun, a few veg dumplings, a few veg samosas, half a peanut butter bomb, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
I assembled the ice cream sandwiches in the morning, and they were pretty good -- the cookies were only about 1.5 wide, so two or three of them could make a portion. The strong vanilla presence in both the ice cream and the cookie really tied it together, but the mint of the filling and the brown sugar and chocolate of the cookie sang together in good harmony.
Also in three-part harmony, B, Edie & I all took blissful naps in the afternoon and got back to it after a quickie lunch. I took Edie out to the swings, then food shop, then once home, I took off to visit the HVS in Brooklyn. After a local restaurant meal, the rarest of rare happened: a snicklebikeride! We did a loop around Prospect Park on one of the most beautiful nights of the year, not cold, not warm, just right.
We spoke of a weight-loss challenge, which I think will be good for me about now, so starting Friday the 1st, I'll institute some new rule or approach to limiting my calorie intake and increasing my low-density food intake....
BREAKFAST: 8am, iced green tea
AM SNACK: 9:30am, 6 misshapen chocolate chip cookies, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
BRUNCH: 10:30am, knish, half a mimosa, a pickle, one mint ice cream sandwich, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3:45pm, half a knish, a little watermelon, water, .25 bowl, hunger 4/5
SNICKLEDINNER: 7:30pm, vegan singapore mei fun, a few veg dumplings, a few veg samosas, half a peanut butter bomb, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Saturday, June 25
Pretty lucky
The scene I witnessed yesterday made the cover of the NY Post -- oddly pushing coverage of the passage of gay marriage in NY State off the front page. The woman lost her job and her boyfriend dumped her on the same day, and I think the article mentioned she was only living in the building for a week, so I imagine that could have been an unstable situation, too. I'm a pretty lucky guy.
A little sore from lifting yesterday, which is a good thing -- soreness means the lifting is making a difference. And Gawd knows so many people work out mindlessly with out the push to get out of the comfort zone, and wondering why nothing changes. Something is changing!
TODAY'S COOKING:
Machta Ice Tea: Haven't had tea in a while, time to get back on that horse. 1.8 ounce of the stuff was $16, so I think I'm going to either switch or find it in bulk on-line, like I do with uber-expensive vanilla beans. In the meantime, I used .9 ounce to steep a gallon of water, but I noticed on the packaging the leaves can be used twice. So though it'll fill the fridge up for a while, it's a good efficiency.
Mint Ice Cream: Made the custard yesterday with mint we got from the CSA. Tastes pretty damn fresh, and the extra vanilla bean doesn't hurt.
Chocolate Chip cookies: How does one define a chocolate chip cookie? Chocolate chips, sure. Vanilla flavor cookie, ok. Equal parts brown and white sugar creamed with butter, that's key. It's such a constricted formula, but it tastes so good!
Rice & Lentils: Wanted a side dish for burritos. Dumped a 2 cups of shortgrain brown rice and 1 cup of black lentils into the rice cooker with 8 cups of water, salt, smoked paprika, ground up some dried mushrooms, onion powder and white pepper. Came out pretty tasty.
BREAKFAST: 9am, banana
LUNCH: 1:15pm, watermelon, pasta with sauce and a little cheese, a spoonful of mint ice cream, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3:30pm, a beer, a slice of pizza, a small square of blackbean brownie, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 8:30pm, 2 homemade burritos, brown rice & lentils, water, 4 chocolate chip cookies, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
A little sore from lifting yesterday, which is a good thing -- soreness means the lifting is making a difference. And Gawd knows so many people work out mindlessly with out the push to get out of the comfort zone, and wondering why nothing changes. Something is changing!
TODAY'S COOKING:
Machta Ice Tea: Haven't had tea in a while, time to get back on that horse. 1.8 ounce of the stuff was $16, so I think I'm going to either switch or find it in bulk on-line, like I do with uber-expensive vanilla beans. In the meantime, I used .9 ounce to steep a gallon of water, but I noticed on the packaging the leaves can be used twice. So though it'll fill the fridge up for a while, it's a good efficiency.
Mint Ice Cream: Made the custard yesterday with mint we got from the CSA. Tastes pretty damn fresh, and the extra vanilla bean doesn't hurt.
Chocolate Chip cookies: How does one define a chocolate chip cookie? Chocolate chips, sure. Vanilla flavor cookie, ok. Equal parts brown and white sugar creamed with butter, that's key. It's such a constricted formula, but it tastes so good!
Rice & Lentils: Wanted a side dish for burritos. Dumped a 2 cups of shortgrain brown rice and 1 cup of black lentils into the rice cooker with 8 cups of water, salt, smoked paprika, ground up some dried mushrooms, onion powder and white pepper. Came out pretty tasty.
BREAKFAST: 9am, banana
LUNCH: 1:15pm, watermelon, pasta with sauce and a little cheese, a spoonful of mint ice cream, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 3:30pm, a beer, a slice of pizza, a small square of blackbean brownie, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 8:30pm, 2 homemade burritos, brown rice & lentils, water, 4 chocolate chip cookies, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Friday, June 24
OOFAH!
When Edie jumps on me in the morning, the noise I make when the air is pushed out of my chest is, more or less, "OOFAH!" Now Edie likes running up to me or B with a slap/hug and shouts "OOFAH!"
Well, I left the restaurant, and while I did give 2 weeks notice, my last day was this past Monday, with the drama and silliness I expected from a boss with whom my relationship was rather odd and always sort of unstable for the two years I worked with him. Basically, for the past several weeks the wind has been knocked out of me in slow motion, and is only slowly coming back to me in the same sluggish way.
I've been taking it easy this week, and B has been spectacularly supportive, the best wife/friend/life partner/mom I could have ever hoped to meet (and marry & impregnate & stuff!) I don't know if the wallowing and the existential crisis and the feeling-sorry-for-myself is over yet, but I'm starting to come back to normal, and have a more positive outlook. I lifted weights this morning for the first time in weeks, felt good. Got a call about a potential gig from a contact last night, don't know if it's for me but taking a meeting next week.
My family is in good health. Our home is clean and comfortable. And I don't ever have to go back to work for that guy. My three goals: cook some, see friends I've neglected lately, and slowly ease into a work search.
BRUNCH: 11:15am, small pastrami sandwich, a little lomein, a little coleslaw, pickle, a cheesy cracker, a few weird multigrain pringles, a bite of pizza, a forkful of pizza, a spoonful of ice cream, .75 bowl, hunger 45
Edie graduated from her NYC funded early learning and literacy program, which she has been attending twice a week for the past 3 months or so. B came, and there was a parent-donated spread, which was fun to graze through.
After dropping B off at the subway, we came upon a dramatic scene at the corner of Canal and Essex. The entire intersection was roped off with police tape, and hundreds of people were standing around looking at a roof. We joined the crowd and looked, and there was a young Asian woman sitting awkwardly on the edge of a building, while two beefy cops seemed to be talking to her. After a couple of minutes, she started gesturing and seemed to start sliding off, when the cops grabbed her and dragged her out of view. There was a collective gasp, then a collective cheer. Walking away as the crowd dispersed, I couldn't help but think why she was there. It's easy to dismiss as simply a crazy person, but what if it was something else? Family problems? Lost her job? Lost her life savings? Betrayal? Made a mistake she can't live with? Who knows? It's sad. My times are hard right now, but not in a jump-off-the-roof hard. Thank goodness for B&E! And the foundation my parents gave me. And my friends. And my bicycles.
DINNER: 6:25pm, 4 small homemade burritos, seared shrimp, water, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
Made blackbeans overnight a couple of days ago, nice and thick and tasty. Today made some guac and grated some mild cheddar, wrapped them in small whole wheat tortillas. Skipped the rice. Between the intensity of the beans and the onioniness of the guac, think these are my best yet. Betsy got rather upset about the heavy oily shrimp steam released into the house, agitating her impregnated state. Man, no meal without heavy emotional drama today.....
EVENING SNACK: midnight, cheese steak, watermelon, chocolate chip & peanuts, 1.5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Feeling relaxed in a quiet house, got the munchies and went to town. Not the healthiest eating day nutritionally, but definitely a healing day emotionally. Gotta get down on some salad yo.
Well, I left the restaurant, and while I did give 2 weeks notice, my last day was this past Monday, with the drama and silliness I expected from a boss with whom my relationship was rather odd and always sort of unstable for the two years I worked with him. Basically, for the past several weeks the wind has been knocked out of me in slow motion, and is only slowly coming back to me in the same sluggish way.
I've been taking it easy this week, and B has been spectacularly supportive, the best wife/friend/life partner/mom I could have ever hoped to meet (and marry & impregnate & stuff!) I don't know if the wallowing and the existential crisis and the feeling-sorry-for-myself is over yet, but I'm starting to come back to normal, and have a more positive outlook. I lifted weights this morning for the first time in weeks, felt good. Got a call about a potential gig from a contact last night, don't know if it's for me but taking a meeting next week.
My family is in good health. Our home is clean and comfortable. And I don't ever have to go back to work for that guy. My three goals: cook some, see friends I've neglected lately, and slowly ease into a work search.
BRUNCH: 11:15am, small pastrami sandwich, a little lomein, a little coleslaw, pickle, a cheesy cracker, a few weird multigrain pringles, a bite of pizza, a forkful of pizza, a spoonful of ice cream, .75 bowl, hunger 45
Edie graduated from her NYC funded early learning and literacy program, which she has been attending twice a week for the past 3 months or so. B came, and there was a parent-donated spread, which was fun to graze through.
After dropping B off at the subway, we came upon a dramatic scene at the corner of Canal and Essex. The entire intersection was roped off with police tape, and hundreds of people were standing around looking at a roof. We joined the crowd and looked, and there was a young Asian woman sitting awkwardly on the edge of a building, while two beefy cops seemed to be talking to her. After a couple of minutes, she started gesturing and seemed to start sliding off, when the cops grabbed her and dragged her out of view. There was a collective gasp, then a collective cheer. Walking away as the crowd dispersed, I couldn't help but think why she was there. It's easy to dismiss as simply a crazy person, but what if it was something else? Family problems? Lost her job? Lost her life savings? Betrayal? Made a mistake she can't live with? Who knows? It's sad. My times are hard right now, but not in a jump-off-the-roof hard. Thank goodness for B&E! And the foundation my parents gave me. And my friends. And my bicycles.
DINNER: 6:25pm, 4 small homemade burritos, seared shrimp, water, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
Made blackbeans overnight a couple of days ago, nice and thick and tasty. Today made some guac and grated some mild cheddar, wrapped them in small whole wheat tortillas. Skipped the rice. Between the intensity of the beans and the onioniness of the guac, think these are my best yet. Betsy got rather upset about the heavy oily shrimp steam released into the house, agitating her impregnated state. Man, no meal without heavy emotional drama today.....
EVENING SNACK: midnight, cheese steak, watermelon, chocolate chip & peanuts, 1.5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Feeling relaxed in a quiet house, got the munchies and went to town. Not the healthiest eating day nutritionally, but definitely a healing day emotionally. Gotta get down on some salad yo.
Wednesday, June 15
Update
OK, maybe I wasn't totally honest in my last post. Part of my lack of appetite was the heat, but another part was things changing at work -- it seems my last day at the resto will be this coming Wednesday. I'm still eating lightly, and this weekend I'll attempt my longest bike-ride yet, 145 miles. I'll be back to reporting everything I eat when my appetite goes back to normal, probably next Thursday!!
My only concern is prepping for the weekend ride -- I can not attempt a ride like that without topping off the glycerin supply in my muscles a day or two before. Good thing I'll have time with my wife and my beautiful Edie to relax with!
My only concern is prepping for the weekend ride -- I can not attempt a ride like that without topping off the glycerin supply in my muscles a day or two before. Good thing I'll have time with my wife and my beautiful Edie to relax with!
Update
OK, maybe I wasn't totally honest in my last post. Part of my lack of appetite was the heat, but another part was things changing at work -- it seems my last day at the resto will be this coming Wednesday. I'm still eating lightly, and this weekend I'll attempt my longest bike-ride yet, 145 miles. I'll be back to reporting everything I eat when my appetite goes back to normal, probably next Thursday!!
My only concern is prepping for the weekend ride -- I can not attempt a ride like that without topping off the glycerin supply in my muscles a day or two before. Good thing I'll have time with my wife and my beautiful Edie to relax with!
My only concern is prepping for the weekend ride -- I can not attempt a ride like that without topping off the glycerin supply in my muscles a day or two before. Good thing I'll have time with my wife and my beautiful Edie to relax with!
Friday, June 10
Heat Break
The last couple of days has been unprecedented heat in NYC, way too hot for this early in the season. The result has been a lack of appetite, drinking a lot of water, but not a lot of eating. Being that I'm spending a lot of time in the kitchen this weekend cooking for Edie's 2nd birthday party this Sunday, I'm going to take a break from this blog and return on Monday with a summary! Thanks, all my 2 readers....
Tuesday, June 7
Proper
This morning, Edie insisted on sharing my bagel with me. Shed stand next to where I was sitting at the kitchen table and say, "more!" until I gave her a bite. It's a real NYC bagel, so shed sink her teeth in as far as she could, then pull back with her full weight until her bite tore away. Even before she would swallow, shed ask for more and I had to tell her to chew and swallow before another bite. Yep, she's being raised to be a proper NYC gal.
BREAKFAST: 7:45am, iced green tea, pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 12:45pm, 3 slices superthin pizza, 8oz Sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 4pm, green salad, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 5pm, 3 slices of cheeseless sauceless mushroom and onion pizza, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
BREAKFAST: 7:45am, iced green tea, pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 12:45pm, 3 slices superthin pizza, 8oz Sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 4pm, green salad, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 5pm, 3 slices of cheeseless sauceless mushroom and onion pizza, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Monday, June 6
Yogurt Duality
Edles was up a bit last night, wanting nothing other than momma-time, but it still kept me up for a while. Woke up a bit later than usual, but still managed to fit in a round of weights due to a very generous wife.
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:30am, good yogurt with homemade granola, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
I skipped the usual mix-ins and threw in my sweeter-than-usual granola. It was interesting, the unhidden tartness of the yogurt side by side with the sweet nutty crunchy savoriness of the granola.
LUNCH: 1:15pm, 3 slices Sicilian, 8oz Sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 2:30pm, 8oz Sprite
PM SNACK: 4:30pm, green salad, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 5:30pm, tortilla thing with moz and pepperoni, tortilla chips, 8oz Sprite, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 7pm, chocolate chip cookie, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
AM SNACK: 8am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:30am, good yogurt with homemade granola, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
I skipped the usual mix-ins and threw in my sweeter-than-usual granola. It was interesting, the unhidden tartness of the yogurt side by side with the sweet nutty crunchy savoriness of the granola.
LUNCH: 1:15pm, 3 slices Sicilian, 8oz Sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 2:30pm, 8oz Sprite
PM SNACK: 4:30pm, green salad, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 5:30pm, tortilla thing with moz and pepperoni, tortilla chips, 8oz Sprite, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 7pm, chocolate chip cookie, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Sunday, June 5
"Snacks!"
To bed at 11, woke up close to 9 but not quite energized. Took Edie out in the morning, swung by the local diner for "snacks!", and found myself in a deep 3 hour snap in the afternoon after lunch. Never quite energized after that. Yesterday's 85 mile ride was fun and strong, but definitely took the wind out of today.
However, an article in today's NY Times makes me think that this might be the next step in my bike hobby. I've always kinda avoided clubs and teams and such, but this kind of challenge -- distance without regards to speed -- seems like something I'd slot into naturally.
AM SNACK: 9am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 10:30am, 2 pancakes, bacon, water, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 1:45pm, hot dog, large serving of health salad, pickle, a few bites of leftover veg fried rice, 1 bowl, half a ginger ale, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 5:30pm, vegetarian Ethiopian platter, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
However, an article in today's NY Times makes me think that this might be the next step in my bike hobby. I've always kinda avoided clubs and teams and such, but this kind of challenge -- distance without regards to speed -- seems like something I'd slot into naturally.
AM SNACK: 9am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 10:30am, 2 pancakes, bacon, water, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 1:45pm, hot dog, large serving of health salad, pickle, a few bites of leftover veg fried rice, 1 bowl, half a ginger ale, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 5:30pm, vegetarian Ethiopian platter, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Saturday, June 4
Riding
A pretty simple day. Up at 7, out by 8, on a ferry to Sandy Hook at 8:15, 9 to 12:15 road down to Seaside Heights, 1 to 5 back, with a half hour goof-off in Asbury Heights, where a few friends were renting a house for the weekend. Between their hang overs and complaints about mild weather (which was PERFECT for cycling), I think I got the better end of the deal. Home early enough to see Edie all happy and some couch time with B before bed.
BREAKFAST: 7:30am, iced green tea, organic chex with organic dead milk, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
AM SNACK: 8:15am, 2 donuts
LUNCH: 12:30pm, eggplant hero, fries, diet coke, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 5pm, bag full of homemade granola, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 8pm, beef lomein, egg roll, shrimp toast, ice cream square, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
BREAKFAST: 7:30am, iced green tea, organic chex with organic dead milk, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
AM SNACK: 8:15am, 2 donuts
LUNCH: 12:30pm, eggplant hero, fries, diet coke, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 5pm, bag full of homemade granola, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 8pm, beef lomein, egg roll, shrimp toast, ice cream square, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
Friday, June 3
Cookin' for fun
Woke up at 4 after 6 hours of sleep and couldn't get back to sleep. Got a lot done before lunch, a few recipes, laundry, Rufus to the vet and other chores. When B & E went down for a nap, I found myself failing and fell asleep too. I woke up to find them gone. I tried to watch TV but felt restless, so I went into the kitchen and cooked some more, just because it was fun. A bad movie on tv then to bed early, not a bad day.
TODAY'S COOKING
Tomato Sauce: A little too much balsamic forced me to balance it out with a bit of sugar, which resulted in a big flavor. Hmmm.
Lame Potato Salad: B made me make this, pretty run of the mill. Replaced dried tarragon with fresh, quartered the potatoes after boiling, eh.
Goldfish crackers: Used this recipe, came out pretty good. Used all whole wheat flour, and didn't have any onion powder. Used a sharp, sharp Australian cheddar that gave these some character, The commercial stuff has relatively few ingredients, too, though they use a blend of vegetable oil instead of butter, and their cheddar is so....generic. These had some oomf.
Pumpernickel loaf: Threw everything in the bread machine. Good thing I didn't go out, because the dough looked too dry, so I was able to slip in a half cup of water while kneading and it came out ok.
Granola bar crumble: Gotta apply the binder while it's still hot and press it quick -- the brown sugar recrystallizes and is an important factor in helping bind -- I let come to room temp and had to shatter it out of the pan and into another, silly.
AM SNACK: 5am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 6:30am, fruit smoothie, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 11:15am, 1 fish stick, health salad, potato salad, 1 ice cream square, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACKING: 3-6pm, goldfish crackers, watermelon, an ice cream square, granola, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 8:30pm, small bowl of ziti with sauce, a pickle, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
TODAY'S COOKING
Tomato Sauce: A little too much balsamic forced me to balance it out with a bit of sugar, which resulted in a big flavor. Hmmm.
Lame Potato Salad: B made me make this, pretty run of the mill. Replaced dried tarragon with fresh, quartered the potatoes after boiling, eh.
Goldfish crackers: Used this recipe, came out pretty good. Used all whole wheat flour, and didn't have any onion powder. Used a sharp, sharp Australian cheddar that gave these some character, The commercial stuff has relatively few ingredients, too, though they use a blend of vegetable oil instead of butter, and their cheddar is so....generic. These had some oomf.
Pumpernickel loaf: Threw everything in the bread machine. Good thing I didn't go out, because the dough looked too dry, so I was able to slip in a half cup of water while kneading and it came out ok.
Granola bar crumble: Gotta apply the binder while it's still hot and press it quick -- the brown sugar recrystallizes and is an important factor in helping bind -- I let come to room temp and had to shatter it out of the pan and into another, silly.
AM SNACK: 5am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 6:30am, fruit smoothie, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: 11:15am, 1 fish stick, health salad, potato salad, 1 ice cream square, water, 1.25 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACKING: 3-6pm, goldfish crackers, watermelon, an ice cream square, granola, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 8:30pm, small bowl of ziti with sauce, a pickle, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Thursday, June 2
Afternoon Reverie
Up and out to class with Edie in the morning, a healthy lunch, then the nanny came and I took the afternoon up in Central Park, reading the paper and listening to music in the Sheep's Meadow. Ahhhhh!
TODAY'S COOKING
Iced green tea: This batch is a sencha with toasted rice in it, should be different.
Health Salad: Between eating green salads at work and B not being in the mood for vegetable salad, made a batch of this cabbage slaw to help up my veg content at home.
AM SNACK: 8:30am, half a pint of iced green tea
LUNCH: 12:30pm, sardine & avocado on oatmeal bread, 2 ice cream bars, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 6pm, a little tortellini & gnocchi, potato tater tots, ginger ale, water, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 9pm, small apple pie, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
TODAY'S COOKING
Iced green tea: This batch is a sencha with toasted rice in it, should be different.
Health Salad: Between eating green salads at work and B not being in the mood for vegetable salad, made a batch of this cabbage slaw to help up my veg content at home.
AM SNACK: 8:30am, half a pint of iced green tea
LUNCH: 12:30pm, sardine & avocado on oatmeal bread, 2 ice cream bars, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 6pm, a little tortellini & gnocchi, potato tater tots, ginger ale, water, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 9pm, small apple pie, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Wednesday, June 1
Expected
228--->230.2--->227.4
The weigh in this morning brought expected news: my weight has not significantly changed the last month. My weight regimen continues to see results, with various muscles feeling harder and stronger, and dare I say it, slightly bigger. Not enough for people to notice yet, but if I keep on this track, maybe within a year... Think I'm going to increase the weights to the next increment, as I'm not getting particularly sore from the lifting lately.
AM SNACK: 7:30am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 8:45am, good yogurt with vanilla, honey and almonds, a few bites of watermelon .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Cut up a bunch of watermelon for Edles -- not quite in season yet, but didn't stop Edie from wolfing down a ridiculous amount.
LUNCH: 12:45pm, 2 slices pizza with sausage and onion, 8oz sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH 2: 3pm, 2 slices sicilian, 8oz sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
B stopped by the resto by surprise, and the pizza jumped down my throat.
PM SNACK: 6pm, 1 meatball
PM SNACK: 8pm, green salad, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 11pm, brown rice California roll, pork tamales, chocolate cheesecake, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
A nice end-of-work-week meal from the Wholefoods shopping.
The weigh in this morning brought expected news: my weight has not significantly changed the last month. My weight regimen continues to see results, with various muscles feeling harder and stronger, and dare I say it, slightly bigger. Not enough for people to notice yet, but if I keep on this track, maybe within a year... Think I'm going to increase the weights to the next increment, as I'm not getting particularly sore from the lifting lately.
AM SNACK: 7:30am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 8:45am, good yogurt with vanilla, honey and almonds, a few bites of watermelon .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
Cut up a bunch of watermelon for Edles -- not quite in season yet, but didn't stop Edie from wolfing down a ridiculous amount.
LUNCH: 12:45pm, 2 slices pizza with sausage and onion, 8oz sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH 2: 3pm, 2 slices sicilian, 8oz sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
B stopped by the resto by surprise, and the pizza jumped down my throat.
PM SNACK: 6pm, 1 meatball
PM SNACK: 8pm, green salad, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
DINNER: 11pm, brown rice California roll, pork tamales, chocolate cheesecake, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
A nice end-of-work-week meal from the Wholefoods shopping.
Tuesday, May 31
Work
Restaurant wasn't too busy, but it was rode hard and put away wet the day before, so it was a bit of work to bring it back to organizational and cleanly standards.
AM SNACK: 7:45am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:45am, organic cheerios with organic dead milk, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: noon, 2 slices white pizza, Manhattan Special, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH 2: 4:15pm, 1 slice Sicilian, large green salad, 8oz sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 6pm, 8oz diet coke
DINNER: 7:30pm, meatballs, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 11pm, ice cream square, small apple pie, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
AM SNACK: 7:45am, iced green tea
BREAKFAST: 9:45am, organic cheerios with organic dead milk, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH: noon, 2 slices white pizza, Manhattan Special, .75 bowl, hunger 4/5
LUNCH 2: 4:15pm, 1 slice Sicilian, large green salad, 8oz sprite, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
PM SNACK: 6pm, 8oz diet coke
DINNER: 7:30pm, meatballs, 1 bowl, hunger 4/5
EVENING SNACK: 11pm, ice cream square, small apple pie, .5 bowl, hunger 4/5
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