Determined To Succeed

Day one-hundred-three.

It’s Friday and I am sitting at my desk contemplating things, and I guess when I say “contemplating” I really mean “worrying about” things. I am “contemplating” the weekend, Thanksgiving, my birthday, the holidays (Christmas) and New Year’s Eve – all of which have one thing in common, food. I know I am the master of my own destiny when it comes to food and crap but ’tis the season to be jolly and ’tis the season to eat. Eat. EAT!

I already have worries enough about weekends, those times where I know I will either eat more than I should, not workout as much as I should or both. I don’t know why I worry so much, either. I mean I will be working out, at least tomorrow (Saturday) and might have a go on Sunday, too, but in my mind it’s social time, I guess. Not to mention our weather is starting to get colder and our animalistic instincts take over so we eat to store up fat for the winter. Grrrrr. I will just have to stay good and keep repeating that to myself as I take deep breaths and head to the gym.

Then, coming this next week, is Thanksgiving, my favorite food holiday, and I know I will be weak for all the trimmings that turkey brings to the table. I will be – wait for it – gobbling it all up (insert moans for bad pun here) and I just have to take deep breaths and know two things: one, that no one is going to take that food from me and two, that I should eat my first plate slowly and wait to feel full before I possibly – POSSIBLY – go in for plate two. Again, deep DEEP breaths.

Following Thanksgiving (again, a moment of silence for what is sure to be the pound or two I gain) is my birthday, and not just any birthday – my 40th. The 19th anniversary of my 21st and I do plan to celebrate life. I just have to remember to take deep breaths before diving into any kind of food stuffs (although I am sure a drink or six might be involved somewhere along the line).

Finally, the holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Eve – more food, making merry and eating! Egads! No wonder so many of us make resolutions to lose weight in the new year. We simply just want to lose what we’ve gained over the holidays and the winter being all animalistic.

So, O.K. There it is, laid out before us like a road on a map I sure as hell don’t want to follow but have to. And it’s not that I dislike this time of year. I like it very, very much. I just am slowly – SLOWLY – creeping back down in my weight (I am at 240.8 today) and I don’t want that headway to be lost. That’s all. But foods of this time of year are so full of warm, comforty goodness. Dammit! What’s a fat guy like me to do?

Stop.

Close my eyes.

Take a deep breath.

That’s what I have to do and hopefully that breath will fill my mind with the fresh air it needs to think clearly and fill my tummy with goodness so I don’t just stuff my face.

First thing’s first…let’s get through this weekend. Deep breath time. Have a great weekend, everyone, and good luck.

Happy Monday, everyone. Did you all have a good weekend? I have to say my weekend was good, and yes, I resisted food temptations and did exercise (even though the temps have consistently been in the 90s and continue to be so). I even resisted the awesomely wonderful smell of movie popcorn and had a Coke Zero (COKE ZERO – BAH!). I wanted a regular Coca-Cola so bad but I resisted, trying so hard to be good. It seems the food binge of a week ago cured me, at least temporarily, of eating like that again.

I woke up kind of late this morning (something that’s getting to be an annoying habit) and realized I have a speaking engagement to do this evening. I always feel pretty natural in front of crowds or on TV but I always feel the excitement, anxiousness and anticipation of speaking in front of a group, especially when weight loss is the subject.

Losing weight is truly one of the most personal things I have ever done and sometimes it hurts to remember and talk about things associated with my weight gain because a lot of it has to do with my mom and how we lived. I think back to when I was a fat kid and how all we had in the house was crap to eat. The guilt comes when I think about stuff like that because my mom, JoAnn, always did her absolute best to keep a roof over our heads and food in our tummies. For that I will always love you, Mama, and thank you. It wasn’t the best food but it was food, however it is part of what made me a fat kid.

It is especially alarming when you see how my personal story matches up with data just released in June in the report “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010.” Adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year, and declined only in the District of Columbia (D.C.), according to the report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). More than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.

That’s a helluva way to wake up on a Monday morning.

The report also highlights troubling racial, ethnic, regional and income disparities in the nation’s obesity epidemic. For instance, adult obesity rates for Blacks and Latinos were higher than for Whites in at least 40 states and the District of Columbia; 10 out of the 11 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the South — with Mississippi weighing in with highest rates for all adults (33.8 percent) for the sixth year in a row; and 35.3 percent of adults earning less than $15,000 per year were obese compared with 24.5 percent of adults earning $50,000 or more per year.

To put this into personal terms, and from what I remember from my mom’s paycheck, she earned an estimated $19,200 a year. Wow. That’s the first time I did that math in my head and figured out how up-against-it we were in terms of income, bills and health. Of course being lower income we were heavier. All the foods we could afford were bad-for-you foods but foods we could get to carry us from one week to the next.

It was what we had, but it helped make me fat. That is part of the vicious circle. That is part of my guilt in talking about it. But I have never hidden from it and have always been honest with you about things like that. How can I when nearly one-third of children and teens are obese or overweight. I am trying my best to help in any way I can and say we have to do better.

I am lucky, I know that. I am lucky because I bottomed out and realized I had to do something. I am lucky because I had support doing it. I am lucky because I now know my triggers and can stop myself if needs be. Not everyone has that. Some people have others, even loved ones or family members, trying to sabotage them. And some people unfortunately just don’t have safe places to play or workout and can’t afford healthier food.

Tonight when I speak to this group I’m going to do what I always do…tell my story and hope it helps inspire people to lose weight or others in their lives to lose weight. I wish, though, I could send money via Western Union to me and my mom way back then. Like instead of sending it anywhere in the world I would send it anywhen so I could help us out. I always wanted to help my mom, she worked so hard. I guess the only thing I can do now is honor her by staying as healthy as I can.

It’s not easy at all resisting the smell of warm, buttered popcorn popping in a theater lobby before a movie. Hell, it’s part of the movie going experience. But when you consider how many calories are in that popcorn, and how many people (including yours truly) are overweight and eating that stuff, choices at the concession stands are made simpler.

I want to be around for a good long time, no matter how jarring waking up on Mondays can be.

Hello, my friends. Yes, there was a purposeful reason for me being so late today with today’s entry – I was waiting until after seeing the dentist.

Yeah, I waited until after my appointment to write because I was all in a tizzy. You guys know what I’ve been through already with my teeth and I had to go back today because my mouth was feeling particularly sensitive to things like heat and cold and chewing…things it should not be sensitive to. Anywho, I went and it turns out everything is fine, and they put some desensitizing goo on my tooth and gums which tastes like a cross between a strawberry gum and Elmer’s Glue. Ick, but O.K. I’d rather have gone in for them to tell me nothing’s wrong rather than put it off only to have the Grand Canyon of problems happen.  The only drawback to the Elmer’s Goo (as I now call it) was that I had to wait half-an-hour to eat or drink anything and I sooooooo needed coffee this morning. And while I was at it I was a bit peckish so I did something different today…I went to Subway.

I haven’t been to a Subway in at least a few of years. I have nothing at all against them, it’s just that I think I overdosed on sandwiches from there when I was beginning to try to lose weight and eat better. The Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich was my best friend for a while and at only 380 calories (only 40 calories of which from fat with 4.5 grams total fat) it was (and is still probably) a tasty lunch or dinner.

Anyway, in the half-hour I needed to kill before my Elmer’s Goo set I went into uncharted territory and tried one of Subway’s breakfast Muffin Melts. I know I could have gone to McDonald’s (their sausage is made from addictive crack, after all) but I wanted to take it easy on the calories (and the fat) and I had heard that their breakfast sandwiches were at or around only 200 calories.  With that in mind I bellied up (all puns intended) to the ordering station and ordered myself a Western Egg & Cheese Muffin Melt (using egg whites) on English muffin.

You know what? That was a pretty tasty sandwich. It was fairly comparable to McDonald’s Egg McMuffin in terms of ingredients but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted (and how light it was) and how few calories it had.

Let’s compare:

One McDonald’s Egg McMuffin has 300 calories (110 of which are from fat, with 12 total grams of fat).

One Subway Western Egg & Cheese Muffin Melt had only – get this – 160 calories (35 of which are from fat, with 4 total grams of fat)!

That’s awesome! And the best part was that it tasted like a small, light western omelete. It wasn’t as greasy or as heavy as a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich can be (sorry, Clown but it’s true) and it was pretty cheap (excuse me – inexpensive) at only $2 plus tax.

I know places like McDonald’s or Burger King offer better monetary deals on their food (which is a shame because people eat what’s cheap and it’s the bad foods that are cheap) but for the money that new Subway breakfast Muffin Melt is pretty darn good and a beatter, healthier way to enjoy a fast-food breakfast on a weight loss journey. It may not be the drive-thru at McDonald’s (hell, I don’t know any Subway that even HAS a drive-thru) but it’s worth the few extra minutes it will take you to get out of your car…

…and you’ll even burn a calorie or two walking to get it. How cool is that?!

There are certain songs that will live forever. FOREVER, I tell you. Songs that make you tap your toes, chair dance in your car (c’mon, you know you do that from time to time) and sing along to when they come on the radio (or “shuffle” play on your iPod).

One of those songs for me is from what is arguably the greatest soundtrack ever, “Saturday Night Fever.” On that record (CD, MP3 download…whatever you kids call your new-fangled listening device of choice these days) is “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees. It has been well-over thirty years since that soundtrack was released and I still don’t quite know what Barry Gibb (the bearded one) is saying/singing in his high falsetto disco anthem. Hell, when I try to “sing” the damn thing all I end up doing is trying to imitate the high-pitched notes not sing the lyrics. I don’t even think dogs can hear singing that high. But tt’s fun, goofy and cheesy, like me. It’s got a great beat and I can dance to it. I give it an 87.

But something struck me last night as I ate a pretty late dinner – I have an eating problem. I’m a night eater. So sing it with me. “Night eater, night eat-tah. He’s got a way to chew it…”

Seriously, though, night eating is a problem for me. Even when I eat dinner at a reasonable hour there is something in my head that makes me want to eat late at night. I’m not even really that hungry. I just want to eat something. Anything. It could be chips, granola bars, ice-cream (which is deadly), leftovers, a Lean Cuisine, cookie, fries, bagel, cinnamon roll…anything. If it’s within reach, it better watch out ’cause I’m gonna boogie my way over to it, do the Tony Manero finger-pointy dance thingie, grab it and consume it.

But that can be bad, very, very bad, for two reasons.

One, according to Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed., some research has shown that way that that food calories are distributed may affect hunger—and that, in turn, could affect weight gain. A 1999 study in the journal Appetite found that when lean, healthy men spread their meals evenly throughout the day—as opposed to eating larger meals more infrequently—they were less hungry. Other studies have shown that people who skip breakfast, or who delay eating earlier in the day, are more likely to binge later.

Going for long periods without eating creates a state where the body is low on fuel. Metabolism may slow to preserve energy, and the body may be more sensitive to the calories that come later—it may be more likely to store those calories as fat and not use them. Irregular eating usually leads to eating larger meals to make up for the energy deficit. A big meal may overload the body’s capacity to use those calories, and the extra may be more likely to be stored as fat.

Irregular eating is probably more of a problem than night eating. People who skip breakfast often shift their caloric intake to later in the day, eating the majority of their daily calories at night. Many obese people (like moi) display eating behaviors that often involve skipping breakfast (something I have been truly guilty of in the past). Further, since the body slows down in the evening, calories consumed at night may be more likely to be stored rather than used. Not only is a person less active, but all cells operate according to fluctuations in their patterns of activity throughout a 24-hour period. Body processes—such as gut motility in digestion or the absorption of nutrients from food—also seem to operate on a kind of body clock showing decreased activity at night.

Very interestink (said using a very bad German accent).

Two, eating late gives me weird dreams, man. I mean weird (but that’s a whole other blog for a whole other day)

So how can I (and you) curb being a “night eater, night eat-tah…?” Let’s all try these simple steps:

• Most people try to eat too few calories during the day only to binge late at night. Eat 3 good meals during the day with 1 or 2 between meal snacks. Eating more frequent, smaller meals will prevent you from feeling hungry throughout the day. And if you’re eating fiber and proteins and drinking enough water, you’ll actually feel fuller for longer periods of time and will not have the urge to snack so often. Here’s a sample eating schedule you (and I) can adopt:

1. 7:00 a.m. – Eat breakfast
2. 10:00 a.m. – Eat a light snack
3. 12:00 p.m. – Eat lunch
4. 4:00 p.m. – Eat a another snack
5. 7:00 p.m. – Eat a small dinner with a treat

• A good insurance policy is to eat most of your calories before 6 PM. Generally, the rule of the thumb is to not eat anything within 3 hours of your bedtime. And, if you must eat, then eat something healthy like a piece of fruit or a very small handful of nuts.
• When you feel the urge to eat late at night, try drinking 2 or more cups of water. You can also make a cup of herbal tea sweeten with honey or artificial sugar. Hot liquids have a soothing effect on emotions and appetite.
• Remind yourself that it’s normal to feel hungry late and that night eating, night eat-ting comes from habitually eating late. Breaking this habit is like learning to quit smoking. Remind yourself of your weight loss goal and one of the keys to losing this weight is to STOP late night eating. The temptation to snack late at night will not be as great if you don’t give into the urge for several weeks.
• Much late night eating after dinner can be avoided by hiding the junk food. Put foods that you’re prone to eat late at night out of sight. Better yet, don’t buy junk food at all and keep healthier snacks in da houze.
• Tell yourself to “suck it!” Suck on hard candy. Most hard candy have only a few calories and they give you the satisfaction of snacking.
• Keep a written copy of your eating diary (if you keep one) in view, which will keep your goal of losing weight firmly fixed in your mind.
• Some people have great success by simply brushing their teeth late at night. This method has been known to curb late night eating for many people.
• The most vulnerable time for eating late is 1 hour after dinner right up to bedtime. Keep your life interesting by working on a favorite hobby (like Disco dancing, or finding out what the hell Barry Gibb is actually singing when he sings “Night Fever“) and NOT watching TV. The ads on TV can subconsciously trigger the impulse to eat. Boredom is your biggest danger to late night eating.

That’s it. I start my Tuesday a half-pound up from yesterday (grrrrrr). But, as I am always fond of saying “I will work it off,” and I will. And later on,  when it gets to be about the time I lay my head down to sleep I’ll I will keep these tips in mind…

…especially the one about occupying one’s mind with other things, for I would rather have a Bee Gees song stuck in my head all night rather than stuff my face and gain weight back.

Ugh. This Stanley Cup series is wearing me out. Have you guys been watching? It is an awesome series being played by two very good teams (go Hawks!), but the back and forth drama is enough to make me nervously eat for a month. Don’t worry I didn’t, even though I so wanted to drown my sorrows last night (the Blackhawks lost in OT by a score of 4-3) in the nearest pint of strawberry ice-cream. So today my “days without incident” now stand at three.  I actually ended up having steamed chicken and broccoli and brown rice from my fave Chinese food restaurant and – wait for it – a glass of ice water! Two points for me! Er, wait. Is that how you score points in hockey, with a field goal or home run or something? And when does the penalty kick come in?

Well, anyway, staying up late last night to watch the game made me tired as hell this morning. That, in turn, made me far less motivated to get up and join the world today. I know I have stuff to do but I am so waiting for the day we can mentally project what we want to do and have it be done (oh, well. Not in this lifetime anyway). So I lay in bed on mornings like this making my mental list of how cool it is to get out of bed. I know it sounds cheesy but you guys know I am Captain Cheese, Mr. Velveeta…if life were a Philly cheesesteak I’d be the “extra wiz” poured on top.

Chief on my list to accomplish today is more exercise. Yep, getting my ass up, throwing on sweats and gym shoes is top of my list to accomplish today. I am this/close to losing the first of the two pounds I re-gained recently by stress eating and I want those off me like a bad, cheap or ill-fitting suit. I don’t know about you guys but when you get to a certain point you just “know” when your body has gained even a pound or two. Well, I feel as though I’ve gained a whole freaking turkey recently and I want that sluggish, bloated ill-fitting suit feeling gone and done.

Next, I have errands to run in preparation for Friday/Saturday. I think it just hit me today as I lay in bed not moving how screwed up my body is going to feel tomorrow, Friday, because I have to sleep in the afternoon then get up at midnight to drive to this Oprah “win your OWN show” audition Saturday then sort of camp out in my car until the times comes to wait in line for a few more hours. Sigh. Thank God they make extra-large cups of coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts.

Finally, I have to plan out what I’m gonna eat during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I have always said eating should be very much like scuba diving – you plan your dive and you dive your plan.  A weight loss journey and eating healthy don’t go on hold just because it is time to play for the Cup, but eating while watching the game doesn’t have to be unhealthy. Some great food options (done in moderation not in mass quantities) to help everyone watching the game (or any game) keep their eating on track are:

Salsa

Salsa is made up of fruits and vegetables and contains no fat. Traditionally made with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and spices, salsa provides antioxidants and vitamins prevalent in those specific fruits and vegetables. Salsa variations can include beans and corn for additional fiber and nutrients. Salsa also is low in cholesterol. You can eat salsa with unsalted, baked, whole wheat chips for added nutritional and health value. Pita chips also are a healthy alternative. And remember, HERE is a kick-ass Slightly Spicy Black Bean Salsa recipe perfect for rooting for the Hawks (er, I mean your favorite team).

Roasted chicken or turkey sandwiches

Served on whole wheat buns or bread thins, either are a great option to add some protein to any game watching you might do. Chicken is a lean meat, and if served moist enough, requires very little in terms of fatty condiments. Skip the cheese and mayonnaise, perhaps add some mustard, and relax in front of the game knowing that the lean meat will provide necessary proteins without the fat of red or deep-fried meats.

Chili

Not big on sandwiches? Try some low-fat chili. Made with ground turkey, black beans, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, the warm goodness will provide a meal in itself with protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Protein helps build muscle, while fiber stabilizes blood sugar by slowing the rate that sugar enters the bloodstream. And again, fruits and vegetables provide invaluable vitamins and nutrients. Skip the Fritos, cheese and sour cream to keep fat-content low.

See, my day is now all on track. I am wide awake and raring to get started – at least I will be after some extra light, extra crunchy coffee which I am off to go get…

…now.

P.S. – Yes, I just read what I wrote and I do not know if I can stay up to watch the game tomorrow! Like Stewie Griffin from “Family Guy” would say (in a British accent) “Blast! What the deuce? How dare they hold the game and not accommodate my schedule!” I will have to find at least one way before tomorrow to have the game mentally projected into my brain as I lay there sleeping. Hmmmmmm…

Remember the glory days of school field trips? Oh, they were awesome. You were in home room and your teacher announced that the class was going to take a field trip to (insert museum, institution or performing arts center of your choice here). She/he handed out the requisite permission slips and it was like getting a free plane ticket. At least it was for me. It meant I got a chance to get out of the classroom and see something else. And one of the trips I remember was to the Art Institute of Chicago.

You’ve heard me talk about this place before and how it houses my favorite painting in the world (Paris Street: Rainy Day by French artist Gustave Caillebotte) but I distinctly remember my field trip to the Art Institute for another reason. The first time I saw naked people and not just any naked people, naked women. And not just naked women but beautiful, full-figured Rubenesque women with not only ample bosom and hips but also of, in some cases rolls of pudge and cellulite.

They were some of the most beautiful paintings I had (and have) ever seen.

My mom had always told me, even when I was a boy, the human body was nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about and here in this museum was the proof. Thanks to the art and influence of  Peter Paul Rubens we got to see “real” women, full-bodied women, voluptuous and zaftig who were painted as beautiful subjects full of life, ripeness and sensuality.

Now where in the hell did society go wrong? When did we go from seeing beautiful women of curves transformed into heroin-chic stick figures whom the fashion industry considers “beautiful.” For the life of me I can’t imagine why these women (and men) would be any more attractive naked than the Rubenesque women portrayed in the paintings I saw in the museum.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines naked in several ways after the customary 1) not covered by clothing: nude definition. The most interesting definitions, however, are the following:

3 a : scantily supplied or furnished b : lacking embellishment : unadorned

4 : unarmed, defenseless

5 : lacking confirmation or support

6 : devoid of concealment or disguise

7 : unaided by any optical device or instrument <the naked eye>

Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating that naked is exactly how people of size can feel when standing in front of the mirror at home. We lack embellishment standing there with our Rubenesque rolls (a.k.a. love handles, cellulite and pudge) staring back at us defenseless and vulnerable. It is a naked feeling to do this. Add to that the lacking of confirmation and support from society, the fashion, television and movie industries, etc., and we do truly feel naked. And it is because we cannot disguise or conceal our “ample size” we don’t show our legs or arms in shorts or tank tops. That is why we stay away from the beach in the summer. That is why I don’t wear shorts (that, and my varicose veins in my right leg). To the naked eye we are considered not Rubenesque we are just considered plain old fat.

Our days are getting warmer which means our clothes are getting thinner. They cannot conceal our figures. And that is OK. When we are naked we truly feel naked, and there isn’t a damn person I know at least who is completely 100% happy with everything their body has going on. So do not be embarrassed or ashamed about your bodies. They are yours and if you are on a weight loss journey they’re what you have to work with. You are doing your best to make them smaller, weigh less and become leaner. I know I am. But when I stand in front of the mirror every day I see my fat and extra skin from losing weight. Yep, I do. But it’s then that the words of my mom come back to me…

“…son, the human body is nothing to be ashamed about. It is beautiful.”

As I think of my mama more and more as Mother’s Day approaches I share with you her wisdom and lesson she imparted to me. Be proud of your naked body. It is not something to hide. While we may have extra rolls and skin we don’t want we are no less attractive and just every bit as sexy naked as those damned “high-fashion” models in the magazines…

…and every bit as beautiful as the model in the recent Lane Bryant television ad and the Rubenesque naked people depicted in some of my favorite paintings in my favorite art museum in the entire world. And if a little tubby kid from the South Side of Chicago can take that with him from one field trip and have it stay with him, there’s hope for humanity yet.

Today’s blog is gonna be a fun two-parter – a “cliffhanger” of sorts, and I’m gonna have such fun writing it. Here we go…

Let’s take a trip in the way back machine to 1991. The biggest movie of the year was “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” The song “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams, from the film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” was the biggest song of the year (and coincidentally from the second-biggest film of the year) and Kentucky Fried Chicken announced it was officially changing its name to “KFC” because health-conscious consumers associated the word “fried” with “unhealthy” and “high cholesterol,” causing some of them to completely shun the “healthier” menu items available. The new title was designed to lure back customers with foods branded “better for you.”

Jump back to 2010. This same, seemingly more health-conscious restaurant chain, just a couple of weeks ago, introduced a “sandwich” that can only be described as ridiculous, at least, and reprehensible, at most. It’s called the “Double Down,” featuring (per the chain’s website) two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce. Again, using their words, it’s a product so meaty, there’s no room for a bun!

Ick!!!! You’ve gotta be kidding. This beast of a “sandwich” seems so disgusting, even in theory, I find it hard to believe any one would try it. But because I’m a curious sort I went to the KFC website and gathered the following nutritional information on this “thick and juicy” piece of crap-tastic “food:”

KFC Original Recipe® Double Down

• Serving Size (grams): 241
• Calories: 540
• Calories from fat: 290
• Total Fat (grams): 32
• Saturated Fat (grams): 10
• Trans Fat (grams): 0.5
• Cholesterol (mgs): 145
• Sodium (mgs): 1,380

KFC Grilled Double Down

• Serving Size (grams): 253
• Calories: 460
• Calories from fat: 210
• Total Fat (grams): 23
• Saturated Fat (grams): 9
• Trans Fat (grams): 0
• Cholesterol (mgs): 185
• Sodium (mgs): 1,430

As you can see, my friends, the supposedly “healthier” grilled version of this “sandwich” has more sodium and more cholesterol than its Original Recipe® counterpart. Now I grant you that’s probably because it is a slightly heavier sandwich overall (253 grams for the grilled versus 241 for Original Recipe®), but still!!!

Ah, but while KFC is undergoing it’s PR nightmare over its newest “creation,” let’s hop across the street to Wendy’s and check out some even more frightening “nutritional” information on its own monstrosity – the Triple “Baconator.” You remember that “burger,” right? Or has the thunder been stolen by the Colonel, whose probably rolling over in his grave at the thought his restaurants are serving this crap. Here is the list of ingredients for the Triple “Baconator:”

Baconator® Triple

3 – Ground Beef Hamburger Patties (seasoned with salt), 3 slices processed American Cheese, 9 (count ‘em, 9!) strips Applewood Smoked Bacon, Mayonnaise, “Ketchup” (actually Tomato Concentrate made in part with High Fructose Corn Syrup), Mustard, Dill Pickles (4), Onion (4 rings), Tomatoes, 1-2 slices, Lettuce and all served on a “Premium” Bun (I guess the regular bun just wasn’t up to the task they had to import premium buns). And if you though the sound of the ingredients was bad, get a load of the numbers – the actual amounts of calories, fat, sodium and more you’d put into your body having one of these things:

Wendy’s Triple “Baconator” (Get ready for this)

• Serving Size (grams): 424
• Calories: 1,350
• Calories from fat: 810
• Total Fat (grams): 90
• Saturated Fat (grams): 40
• Trans Fat (grams): 3.5
• Cholesterol (mgs): 320
• Sodium (mgs): 2,780

What does this mean? IT MEANS YOU COULD HAVE TWO KFC ORIGINAL RECIPE ® “DOUBLE DOWN” SANDWICHES FOR THE UNHEALTHY PRICE OF ONE WENDY’S TRIPLE “BACONATOR.”

Shocking, isn’t it? And people still wonder why our country’s population is growing by leaps and bounds (and not in a good way).

I went to my friends on Facebook and here’s what some of them had to say about the KFC “Double Down:”

Stacy W. “Even my teenage son, who will eat anything, thinks that thing looks nasty!”

Angelique B. “I thought it was an April Fool’s joke when it first came out. I can’t believe this is real.”

Michael L. “No need to waste the calories. One look and you can tell it’s poison. Yuk!”

Julia Lewis: “That is just plain gross. I will try just about any food once, but I don’t think I could even manage a bite of this abomination. Scratch that. I wouldn’t even let my dogs eat that.”

But with all that said, I’m gonna get one today. I’m gonna go to my local KFC, find out how many of them they sell in a day, buy one and photograph me trying it (and you wondered where the cliffhanger part was gonna come in). I am with you guys. This thing sound horrible, and you will find out tomorrow just how horrible as I “take one for the team.” But always remember a quote from “Star Wars,” this one from, appropriately enough, one of the crappy prequels – Episode 1.

Qui-Gon “There’s always a bigger fish.”

And with the Wendy’s Triple “Baconator” lurking out there under the PR radar, there is, indeed a bigger – and more deadly – fish.

I am a people watcher. I love sitting in coffee shops, restaurants and stores, or being at huge major events, and just watching people. You see all kinds whern you do, too. If I’m lucky I also get to hear people. It’s such an insight into what makes America tick. And on lucky occasions, like yesterday, I got to be out and about and heard people’s thoughts on weight and exercise.

Co-incidentally, both instances happened after I got coffee. I was just sitting, enjoying the absolutely beautiful pre-summer morning we were having in southern New Jersey when I heard two guys talking – two “guy guys.” They were taking about having packed on some extra “poundage” as they put it around their middles. One asked the other, “so, what are we gonna do about it?” The other replied, “I guess we better start exercising, right?”I almost chimed in and said “hey, it works. Good luck,” but that breaks the rules of people watchng. Kind of like the Prime Directive on the old “Star Trek” – observe but do not interfere.

The other instance was later in the afternoon. I was again getting coffee and enjoying the day when I heard one guy talking to a younger couple. They had all just received their respective coffee drinks and I overheard the guy say to the couple, “you guys aren’t heavy. I’m heavy and have been heavier.” He went on to describe how he’d lost over 50-pounds, which the couple remarked was great. Then, the woman in the couple asked the inevitable question – “so how did you do it?” – with that look in her eye like she’s waiting for the magic pill answer everyone else expects. The guy looked at them both and said “exercise. Totally exercise. That was the key. You can have all the diets you want in the world but you have to exercise.”

I almost stood up and applauded, but again remembered the “Prme Directive.” But both cases underscore the great need for, and seemingly growing understanding of, exercise in any weight loss journey. I mean I would not be where I am today, which is ever-so-slightly better than yesterday – 237.4 – without hitting the gym and trying to workout IN ADDITION TO trying to eat better.

When I step back for a moment and remember back to when I was 400 pounds I thought exercise was impossible. I though working out was something thin people did, partly to taunt us fat people – like saying “see, you all cant do what I’m doing. HA!” But that’s not the truth. The fact is I started out just trying to lose the first ten pounds by doing the only exercise I could do – walking. That simple increase in activity was enough to get me started and it was awesome. And throughout this journey I’ve met countless others out there who have all said the same thing – that exercise combined with diet is the way. And exercise isn’t just for the thin. It’s for any and everyone, children and adults alike. So if you are heavy do not be afraid or intimidated into not exercising. There is a brave new world out there for you if you wish to boldly go and find it.

I finished my coffee and left the coffee shop smiling a little bit to myself.  Even though I had to obey the “Prime Directive” it was great knowing more and more people are catching on to the “there is no magic pill” thing and that exercise is a huge component to weight loss. As I got into my car I started to even quote the old opening of “Star Trek,” this time changing it around a bit…

“Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Exercise…”

I know, I know. I am such a geek…

My friends, good morning and Happy Eaters. Er, I mean, Happy Easter.

So sorry for the Freudian slip there. Even as us Christians celebrate the holiest day of the year, as always, it’s food that’s on my mind. While I have to say I didn’t do well eating yesterday at all, for the weekend I think I will end up doing OK. That means today is critical in my eating (especially since yesterday I mentioned how anyone – including yours truly – can successfully lose at least a pound a week).

As I said, for me and my mom it was always ham at the center of the Easter dinner. Nowadays we recognize it to be a higher-fat food, but you can still have it. If you’re trying to be good just choose extra-lean ham, which typically weighs in (ha, I’m punny today) at just over 100 calories and 4 grams of fat per 3-ounce serving. Or, you can try a tasty and low-calorie alternative – like a wonderful Low-Calorie Honey Glazed Salmon. It may surprise you how easy it is to prepare a healthy fish dinner! Pair that with steamed vegetables and a garden salad for a colorful and flavorful low calorie meal. Mmmmmmm, tasty.

Low-Calorie Honey Glazed Salmon

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 5 oz. salmon fillets
• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F

2. Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. In a small dish, whisk together the oil, honey, and garlic and set aside. Sprinkle the salmon fillets evenly with the salt and black pepper. Using a basting brush, spread the honey mixture evenly over the salmon fillets.

3. Bake the salmon for 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Serves 4

Per Serving Calories 244

Mom and I loved loading up our plates with side dishes. And the more the merrier. If her friend Rosalyn made dinner (which she almost always did) it was sure to be the best greens, corn bread, potatoes, both mashed and candied sweet, green beans – ok, I have to stop as my drool went into overdrive. These days, I try to stay away from tons of side dishes. It doesn’t always work but I do try. If you and your families are trying to be healthier focus on fresh, colorful vegetables to brighten your meal. Now, my mom and I were meat and potatoes people (being from Chicago it’s almost a necessity). So, below are two choices. One is Parsley Smashed Potatoes and the other is Honey Roasted Asparagus.

Parsley Smashed Potatoes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb. peeled, cubed yukon gold potatoes (about 3 cups)
• 1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:

1. Place the potatoes in a large pot, and add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until they are tender. Drain off the cooking liquid, and return the potatoes to the pot.

2. Add the milk, salt, and pepper. With a potato masher, mash the potatoes until they are smooth and free of lumps (you may use an electric hand mixer on medium speed for this step, if preferred). Stir in the parsley.

Serves 6

Per Serving Calories 65

Honey Roasted Asparagus

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp apple juice
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Whisk together the canola oil, honey, apple juice, garlic powder and salt in a dish. Add the asparagus, and toss together until the asparagus is coated. Lay the asparagus in a shallow baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the asparagus is fork-tender.

Serves 4

Per Serving Calories 66

Finally, mom and I were big (I MEAN BIG) on desserts. It really didn’t matter what kind of dessert as long as it was sweet, good and there was lots of it. Since I can’t ever say we made a homemade dessert of any kind except for the poor man’s version of strawberry shortcake (made with, you know, with the store bought round short cakes in a package, fresh strawberries and a small tub of Cool Whip). So I dug up a recipe that sounded good to me (and one I think she would have enjoyed) – a Milk Chocolate Chip Pudding:

Milk Chocolate Chip Pudding

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp corn starch
• 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups non-fat milk
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 oz. milk chocolate chips (2 Tbsp)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation:

1. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and cocoa powder in a medium-sized saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk until well-blended.

2. Over medium-high heat, cook the pudding, stirring constantly, until it starts to become thick and small bubbles begin to break the surface, about 4 minutes.

3. Have the egg beaten in a medium-sized bowl. Gradually add the pudding mixture into the egg, and whisk until well-blended.

4. Return pudding to the saucepan, over medium-high heat, and stir in the chocolate chips until they are melted and the pudding is smooth.

5. Remove the pudding from the heat, and stir in the vanilla.

6. Divide pudding among 4 small ramekins, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator.

Per Serving Calories 174, Calories from Fat 30, Total Fat 3.5g, Cholesterol 56mg, Sodium 78mg, Pro 6g, CHO 30g, Fib 0g

So there you have it. Some light recipes I hope will get you through your day watching calories AND wanting to eat and enjoy with family. I have to say writing this today brought back some cool memories of my mother which I love sharing with you guys. She meant the world to me, as I am sure your families, loved ones and friends mean to you. We may not have had a lot, but sometimes all you need is love and a few morsels to keep you going. So hold family tight today, tell them you love them and celebrate the day. And thanks for sharing at least a part of this Easter Sunday with me and my mom.

Mom, I love you and miss you very, very much.

Sorry this was so late today but I was in a quandry.

I’m going to sound like an old fogie (is that even how it’s spelled?) but I don’t know how to relate to kids these days. Well, I do and I don’t. Last week you heard me talking about a website and technology conference I attended in New York and, while there, I got a wonderful idea to try to help kids who might have weight loss issues through information and resources on my website.

However, the more I delved into the “what” of it all (like what kind of content to have, etc.) I realized I don’t exactly know how to reach kids these days. When I was a fat kid it was the late 70s/early 80s. There were no such things as the following:

• Cell Phones (which kids seem to have younger and younger these days so no texting, mobile internet, etc.)
• iPods (hell, I thought I was king of the world with my first Sony Walkman personal radio)
• Personal Computers (I had a small electronic typewriter that got me through school – a typewriter!)
• Internet (and with it the extension of ways to get and absorb news and information)
• E-Mail (back then we actually wrote letters to each other and sent them in the mail, or snail mail as it’s called today, or passed notes)
• Cable TV (there wasn’t even a fourth Fox network back then. Just independent TV stations and the big three – CBS, NBC and ABC)
• Facebook and Twitter (progress back then was called a “party line,” expensive phone calls people could make to join 20 others to chat on the phone hosted by someone whose only job it was to keep you talking to get you to pay more per minute)

Amazing, isn’t it? Over the last 25-30 years technology has really improved. However, it has made the job of reaching people, especially kids, such a hard thing to do. The only way I can describe it is as practicing “lucky science.” Science because you have to do it so surgically since you can’t reach really large numbers of people using very few media anymore, and lucky because you never know what will resonate with people and take off like wild fire (as Twitter has the power to put information all over the world in a matter of minutes).

So how do I reach kids these days and let them know my simple story? That I was once a chubby kid, who was made fun of in school, and who had the same social problems they do these days because I was obese? How do I let them know I know how they feel when you can’t find age-appropriate clothes that fit, or have to find clothes less attractive or popular because they just aren’t in your size? How do I let kids know it’s normal to feel sad and depressed because you’re made fun of and are different, but also let them know it’s OK to talk about it and try to do something about it?

Jeez! I do sound like an old fogie FER SURE! LIKE TOTALLY! I sound like I’m waving my cane at some hot-rodders burning rubber down the street yelling at them as I wave my cane calling them “young whippersnappers.” But I’m not old (at least not yet) and I do very much remember what it’s like to be the fat kid. Plain and simple – it hurts. It hurts and at a time that is really solidifying who you’re going to become as an adult there are these pressures from family (in some cases), society-at-large, media (particularly fashion magazines geared towards teens) and friends to be this perfect being. And sometimes we are just not and we do not need anyone pointing out our flaws!

I guess it would be simple enough to tell kids this. In fact, it might make it easier for them to believe me when I tell them my personal fat kid story. I just know that America does have a childhood obesity epidemic on its hands, driven by lack of food education, support and economics. Well, I am going to do my best to help in any way I can. Not because I am saying all kids need to be thin or anything. But because it is all about health. Things like asthma and breathing problems (which I’ve had). High blood pressure (which I’ve had). And you could go on with juvenile diabetes, joint pain, etc. That is why I want to reach out. Because if I could go back in time and talk to me I would tell me it’s OK and to not eat so much McDonalds or ribs or fried foods. I’d also tell me the dangers of eating that much and how much I weighed at my heaviest and what problems it caused me. I’d tell me I understand what it’s like not having money to buy better foods and not have the proper resources to prepare them. I’d offer to help.

This is a crazy, mixed up and fast-paced world in which we live these days. But no matter what, kids need our help. And no matter how we reach them and tackle this problem of childhood obesity, we are helping them to become the same old fogies we are today. And I’d rather be an old fogie waving my cane around at young hot-rodders than dead in my 40s from a heart attack brought on by obesity.