Day 6 – Part I and II: Spicy Veggies, Diamond Head, Subway

Today was a long day. It’s six o’clock pm and I’m just getting a chance to blog. Started off this morning with a single slice of dry wheat toast for breakfast (90 calories) and hurried out the door. It was the usual one mile bicycle ride from my apartment to UH Manoa. After class I walked past the sustainability courtyard and got a wonderful whiff of what I later found out was Spicy Garlic Vegetables. I ordered a plate and sat down with my camera to take a quick picture, shoot a short video and chow down. I don’t even know what kind of vegetables were in this plate but they were delicious. The garlic was light and didn’t overpower the dish and the spice was perfect, just enough to make me breath fire but not too hot that I couldn’t handle. By the way, I love spicy food!

After my Spicy Garlic Veggies I walked across campus to use the computer lab so I could print out the study guide for one of my class finals. Along my way I spotted this sticker and it made me laugh because the pig was so cute and I’ve been dabbling in vegetarianism lately. I like eating vegtables, at least what I’ve tried so far but I couldn’t see myself going full on vegetarian fanatic. I mean I love to eat the flesh of poor little animals, if only they didn’t go strait to my hips.

After the computer lab I got back on my bike and headed to another campus, Kapiolani Community College which was a two mile bike ride. I had to go to the testing center to do a written composition for my Spanish class. After that was done I suddenly realized that I had at least two free hours and that I was standing in the shadow of a very popular volcanic crater known as Diamond Head. If you have ever visited Hawaii, Oahu, Waikiki then you’ve probably hiked Diamond Head. It’s about a thirty to forty five minute hike depending on your stamina and the amount of foot traffic. So I pushed my bicycle up the hill, through the tunnel, into the crater, payed my $1 entrance fee and locked up my bike.

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Diamond Head (Leahi) is a 1.6 mile roundtrip and the elevation gain from the trail head to the top is 560 feet. I got to the top in 30 minutes and back down in 15 minutes. I  set the timer on my camera and took my own picture. In the background you can see the Ko’olau mountain range which has dozens of hiking trails ranging from two miles to twelve miles. Most of those trails require a full day or at least a half day to truely enjoy. Maybe once this semester is over I will be able to get back to some real hiking. But for today, Diamond Head was a perfect little starter hike to help get me back in shape.

After my Diamond Head hike I got back on my bike and headed 3 miles across town to yet another campus, Honolulu Community College where I had to take en extra credit exam for my Philosophy class. By the time I got there I was dog tired. Luckily the exam took me about an hour and a half  so I got to rest and munch on pretzel twists (120 calories). Once I was finished with the exam, and the pretzels, I got back on my bike and made the two mile ride to the McCully neighborhood where I picked up my son from school and headed home. I was exhausted but the day wasn’t over yet. After an hour of rest it’s another mile back to UH Manoa for my last class of the day, week, semester and year. 2011 is just about over.

After class I went to the campus center and had a six inch turkey and ham on wheat, toasted and topped with lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and peperoncinis. Remember I like it spicy! I was so hungry I forgot to even take a picture of my sandwhich. That’s okay, I took a shot of the Subway sign instead. After devouring my sandwhich I began to wipe my mouth with the napkin and noticed, what’s this? They did me a favor and printed the calories count of my sandwhich on my napkin. How considerate. 325 calories with 7.5 grams of fat. If I add in my wheat toast breakfast and afternoon pretzels I’m at about 545 calories plus whatever my Spicy Garlic Veggies and brown rice come out to… I’d say I’m still under 1000 calories so far.

Oh and I’ve bicycled 9 miles today, hiked 1.6 miles and I still have a 1 mile bike ride back home tonight.

Day 5 – Part II: Counting Calories

It’s almost seven o’clock in the evening and I just had a homemade spicy chicken and pepper jack cheese quesadilla. Yum! This is one of my favorite things to cook at home. It doesn’t take much. I planned on making a video of the preparation or taking some photos of the finished product, perhaps another day.

Flour tortilla – 130 calories, 30 from fat

Cheese – 110 calories, 80 from fat

Shredded chicken, light and dark –  150 calories

1 Tblspn canola oil – 120 calories, 120 from fat

2 Tblspn Salsa – 20 calories

It was about 510 calories and well worth it since I’ve been dining on apples, oranges and pretzel twists lately.

This morning was a bowl of cereal – 170 calories with skim milk – 90 calories.

Midday snacks of a mandarin orange – 35 calories and pretzels – 240 calories.

Tortilla chips and salsa – 280 calories.

Grand total for Day 5 is 1345 calories, just under my 1400 calorie average. Somebody gets a cookie later, I mean an apple!

My calories count for yesterday…

Mandarin oranges (2) – 70 calories

Honey wheat pretzel twists  – 240 calories

Tortilla chips and salsa – 280 calories

Before going to class I shared a pack of Sapporo Ichiban Japanese Style Noodles with my son – 470 calories, 180 from fat which only half went to me.

Noodles – 235 calories, 60 from fat

Mandarin oranges (2) – 70 calories

And for dessert, a chocolate chip cookie – 100 calories

Total for Day 4 was only 995 calories. Wow, that’s low!

Day 5: The Bicycle

This morning I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast.

1 cup of Honey Bunches of Oats is 170 calories, 20 from fat.

1 cup of Skim Milk is 90 calories, 0 from fat.

After taking the kids to school I came home and prepared to start my day via “The Bicycle.” I love my bike, it’s my bread and butter. It is my main mode of transportation, recreation, meditation and acceleration. Like I said in my intro video, I ride my bike at least 5 miles a day but without a healthy diet and other forms of exercise, it’s just not enough to lose these extra pounds.

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First I biked across town to Honolulu Community College in hopes of selling back a few text books, only to find out that the book buy back does not begin until NEXT week. So I biked back across town and up to UH Manoa to spend my day in the library, finishing my papers and writing my Strong Mind Healthy Body blog for the day. But the morning wasn’t a total waste since I got in a five mile ride before 10 am when 5 miles is usually my total for the entire day.

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This last video is me riding up University Ave. to UH Manoa with one hand while the other held the camera. The risks I take to document my weight loss for you people! Well I made it up the hill safely and with enough energy left to lockup my bike, walk across campus while eating a mandarin orange (35 calories) and perform by blogging responsibilities. Now onto that paper that I’ve been procrastinating about.

Day 4 – Part II: 10 lbs in 4 days? No Way!

Okay, 10 lbs in 4 days is just not possible. It must be water weight that I’ve lost. I guess that means it’s time to start working on the hard stuff. Fat!

Dec 3rd - 250 lbs

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I know my bathroom scale isn’t the most scientific of weight measuring devices but I made sure it was all balanced out both times before I weighed myself.

Dec 6th - 240 lbs

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Well I guess I only have 40 pounds to lose now. That makes things a bit easier or at least puts me somewhat closer to my goal weight of an even 200.

It’s three o’clock in the afternoon and I just finished my favorite snack of chips and salsa (280 calories). This morning I only consumed 70 calories from the two mandarin oranges and another 240 calories from the pretzel twists. Add that with my after school snack and I’m looking at 590 calories.

I’ve got a 6 PM Spanish class at the community college which requires a three mile bike ride and quarter mile uphill bicycle push since I’m still not able to peddle this steep incline. I just got to make sure I eat dinner before I head out the door at 5PM cause I won’t be back home until 8 and I got to really try and stop eating late at night.

Day 4: Discipline is Key!

It’s all about discipline. This morning I got the kids ready for school and was tempted to polish off the plate of Eggo waffles which my son hardly even touched. I didn’t. Instead I put two mandarin oranges in my backpack, filled up my water bottle and headed out the door.

After dropping off the kids, I made the two mile bike ride up to the campus where I dined al fresco (outside) on my nutritious breakfast of oranges and H2O. On the ride in I passed numerous fast food restaurants including McDonalds, Burger King and Jack In The Box. I just wanted one little bite of a breakfast sandwhich!

After my first class I’m back in the library munching on Utz honey wheat pretzel twists and trying to finish up my last paper of the semester. Tomorrow there is a retirement party for one of my professors and I will be in attendance. I tell myself that I’ll just have one “light” beer and hope there will be some healthy foods.

Last night I did pretty well with disciplining myself. I had two mandarin oranges and then snuck one of my kids chocolate chip cookies before bed. I added up my calories from yesterday and then guesstimated for the Egyptian Curry and figured I still came in at under 1400 calories for the day.

Today I’m debating what to eat for lunch. Another vegetarian dish on campus or go home and try to whip up something healthy on my own. I haven’t taken any pictures or shot any video today and I’m trying to think what food choice or activity can I document?

My blog has gotten a few likes and a few followers so that’s cool. At least I know I’m not talking to myself.

Day 3 – Part II: 12 laps, 3 miles, 1 hour, and a pomelo.

It’s eight o’clock in the evening and I just returned from my walk/jog around the elementary school. I made myself keep going even though I was pretty tired after the 8 laps which I thought would be my usual. It’s good to know that I’m capable of doing more than I previously thought.

On the walk home I spotted a pomelo tree full of fruits in my neighbors yard. I didn’t hesitate to pick one for myself as there was enough to go around. This will make a good snack in the days to come. If you look closely at the picture you can see my daughters hands begging for the pomelo and my son in the background playing Lego Indiana Jones on the Nintendo Wii.

After my wonderful lunch of Egyptian Curry I bicycled the two miles home and munched on my usual helping of chips (280 calories) and salsa (20 calories) and two mandarin oranges (70 calories). It’s getting late and I shouldn’t be eating but since my calorie intake has been so low and my output so high, I think I can treat myself to a quesadilla. Or maybe just an apple. I’ll let you know in the morning.

Day 3: Egyptian Curry

I woke up this morning and every muscle from the waist down was sore. Well, not every muscle, but my thighs and calfs definitely were. That stair climbing really works.

Oh last night I had 14 tortilla chips, 280 calories, 120 from fat and four tbsp. of salsa, 20 calories. A mandarin orange, 35 calories and one of my children’s chocolate chip cookies, 100 calories. Add that to yesterday’s 905 calories for a total of 1340 calories.

So today I got the kids ready and took them to school at about eight o’clock and then proceeded on my two-mile bicycle ride up to the University campus. But before leaving home I ate half of my son’s Eggo waffle with butter and syrup, it was only 3 bites.

I spent most of the morning in the library doing last minute tweeks to a ten page paper while snacking on a ziplock bag of pretzel twists that I brought from home. 14 twists at 240 calories, 40 from fat.

At about one o’clock this afternoon I ventured out of the library and walked over to the “sustainability courtyard” to find some lunch. There are two places that serve up some really tasty vegetarian cuisine. My favorite is the Egyptian Curry plate for only $4.76

Day 2 – Part II: Zucchini Tempura

It’s almost five o’clock and we’re having an early dinner of Vegetable Tempura, Zucchini to be exact. I did a little research online and got conflicting results about the calorie count on tempura vegetables. One source said 270 calories for five piece while another source said 11 calories per piece. The first one sounds more likely, and I had six pieces so I’m going to call it an even 300.

Earlier this afternoon, after my stair climbing, I had a bowl of cereal followed by a mandarin orange and single serving of pretzel twists.

1 cup of Honey Bunches of Oats is 170 calories, 20 from fat.

1 cup of Skim Milk is 90 calories, 0 from fat.

1 Mandarin Orange is 35 calories, 0 from fat.

7 pretzel twists is 120 calories, 20 from fat.

So 415 calories added to my 300 calories from the vegetable tempura and 190 calories from this mornings breakfast gives me a total of 905 calories for the day. I guess I won’t have to feel guilty about snacking on chips and salsa later tonight.

I’m feeling good. Maybe I’ll go do a few laps around Lunalilo Elementary.

Day 2: Weights and Stairs

It’s Day 2 and things are going pretty good. For breakfast this morning I had another medium sized Fuji apple, 100 calories and a slice of dry wheat toast, 90 calories, 10 from fat. I also had a few slices of a mandarin orange that my son didn’t finish. That’s a hard part about being a parent and eating healthy is the habit of finishing your children’s snacks, but if I give them healthy snacks then finishing what they don’t eat shouldn’t be a problem.

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I worked out with my weights today and did 3 reps of 20 curls with a 20 pound curl bar. I also did 3 reps of 15 “somethings” I don’t know what they’re called. If you do, please tell me. Then I did 3 reps of 10 “something else” with a ten pound dumbbell, again I don’t know what they’re called, in fact I kind of just made it up.

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After my weights I tied on my shoes and headed for the stairwell. I did really good on the stairs. Starting at the ground floor and climbing to the roof was 134 stairs and I did it 4 times so… 536 steps up and 536 steps down. I didn’t time myself but judging from the amount of sweat I produced, oh hell I don’t know.

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After the stairs I’m back in my apartment, uploading videos and thinking about what to have for lunch today. One of my homemade chicken and pepper jack cheese quesadillas sounds good right about now. I counted how many calories it would be to make one and it’s about 500 calories, half of them from fat. That’s not bad for lunch, right? Maybe I’ll just have a bowl of cereal instead.

If anyone has any advice about what I can do to make my diet or exercise work better for me, please don’t hesitate to tell me.

Day 1 – Part II: Run Fatboy Run

Getting ready to go run for the first time in a long time. The sidewalk that wraps around my sons school is the perfect track for running. Four laps equals a mile.

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It was a good start. Fern, Hauoli, Citron and Pumehana. These four streets wrap around Lunalilo Elementary. I did 8 laps in about 45 minutes, taking turns walking, running, walking, running.

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I’m home now and I’m hungry. A quick snack of Honey Wheat Pretzel Twists. Seven twists is 120 calories, 20 from fat. It’s almost six o’clock so whatever I eat in the next half hour is my last meal for the rest of the night. Not eating late at night is going to be my toughest challenge.

Late night challenge. It’s almost 9 o’clock and I’ve had two mandarin oranges at 35 calories each, 70 total, 0 from fat.

One ounce of salted cashews, about 18 pieces, 160 calories, 110 from fat. “Holy Sh*t! Who knew?”

14 tortilla chips, 280 calories, 120 from fat. Four tbsp. of salsa, 20 calories, 0 from fat.

650 calories, 250 from fat since my run tonight. Add that with the 760 calories, 30 from fat from the first half of my day and I’m looking at a total of 1,410 calories, 280 from fat for the whole day.

What have I learned? Most of my fat calories came from the cashews and chips I had tonight so those are out of the picture. Eating fruit isn’t really that hard to do. Well tomorrow is another day.