Monthly Update: January

Weight Lost since 1/2: 8.68 (Crap)

Things that went well

Weird month. First half was spent trying to get back to where I was pre-xmas. Then traveled to Wisconsin mid-month and got all screwed up. Then made some hay at the end of the month with a 3.4 lb loss. I had to stop lifting a few weeks ago b/c of my shoulder, so I started endurance running, and the weather cooperated, allowing me to run outside. I'm looking to get back into the gym this coming week.

Things to improve

I can feel myself getting bored with the food I'm eating, so it's time to expend some effort exploring new recipies and foods. I also need to be strict about my form in the gym to keep my shoulders and elbows healthy.

OVERALL PROGRESS

Weight as of 2/4: 174.2

Total Weight Lost: 32.6 lbs (7.8 this month)

Total reduction in measurements as of 2/4

Neck: 1.75 inches
Chest: 4.25 inches
Bicep: 2.625 inches
Gut: 8.125 inches
Waist: 5.875 inches
Thigh: 1.375 inches

Pant Size: 32 or 31, depending on brand

Chicken Piccata

Weight lost since 1/2: 8.80 lbs

This is one of our family favorites. We make a lot of it so that we have extra leftovers. It's a good amount of work, pick a weekend day where you have 2 free hours.

Ingredients
Family Size Chicken (2-4 lbs)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1 Shallot
3 Garlic
2 tbsp Butter
1 Bottle Capers
1/2 Lemon
white wine
1 large carton Chicken broth
Salt/Pepper
Whole Wheat Flour

Steps

Add Oil, butter and Shallots to large pan On medium, cook
Add Capers
Break Capers up in pan cook 5 minutes
Then add Garlic, cook another 5 minutes
Add 3/4 Lemon's Juice
Add Wine
Cook all ingredients until mixed
While everything is cooking, Pound Chicken breasts flat with a mallet, and then bread them with the whole wheat flour, salt and pepper..
After Wine has cooked off, pour everything out of pan and set aside
Add Chicken broth to SaucePan to reduce (boil for 10 minutes uncovered)

OK, now you have your sauce set aside, and your chicken is floured and ready to cook. Pour a tablespoon or two of the sauce into the pan, then put some chicken in the pan on top of it. Cook the chicken slowly. When it is cooked, put the chicken on a plate and cover, then repeat with more chicken until you are done.

Now add the sauce and the chicken broth, plus a little more wine to the pan (no chicken in it). Cook on high heat until reduced to a thicker sauce. Use the whole wheat flour to thicken, if needed. Pour some of the mixture over the chicken, put the rest in a bowl.

We also cook brown rice with this dish. Put some brown rice on a plate, cover with chicken and put sauce on to taste.

It's a good amount of work, but it's worth it. It reheats really well.

Balls

Weight Lost since 1/2: 8.24

Meatballs, that is:

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground round (at least 90% lean)
1/4 cup (1 ounce) finely shredded fresh Parmesan cheese (I use Pecorino Romano)
1/2 cup dry italian breadcrumbs
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Garlic Powder, sprinkled

Steps
Preheat oven to 400°.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl; stir well. I use my hands to make sure everything mixes well.

Shape mixture into 30 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs. Place on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until done.

Yield 30 meatballs (serving size: 5 meatballs)

Nutrtional data PER MEATBALL:

Calories
52.1

Calories from Carbohydrate
5.1

Calories from Fat
24.5

Calories from Protein
22.5

The Reward (Monday Morning Update)

Weight Lost since 1/2: 7.48 (Yeah, you read that right)

So I went to Billy's place for the SB yesterday. I brought my dinner and ate it right when I got there (around 6:30). I brought gum, because I didn't want to eat anything after dinner, and Billy had some snacks (healthy of course, but still) out. So I chewed a shitload of gum, and took some ribbing from Billy about it (don't worry, I gave him some back). I ended up winning $500 based on one of those "numbers" pools! Then I come home and go to bed. This morning, the reward: 172.2, a pound and a half lower than yesterday, which moved my average my almost a pound. Discipline pays, baby.

I lost 3.4 lbs this week! Awesome! I could not work out my upper body because of a bad shoulder, so I still lift my legs, but I've started running. I've found that running really drops weight off of me, but the measurements do not match compared to when I'm lifting. Meaning, if I lift all week and lose a pound, the measurements will typically be what you see below. What does this mean?

1. You should measure yourself and your body fat as well as doing the scale. When I was doing TT, I wasn't losing much on the scale, but my body composition really changed and I could tell I was losing fat and gaining muscle.

2. Nothing beats lifting weights for changing how your body looks.

Weight Average: 174.2- loss of 3.4 pounds this week (32.6 lbs total)

Measurements (Losses/Gains are for the week, not total)
Neck 14.25-Loss of 3/8" (Huh?)
Chest 38.25- No Change
R. Bicep 12.875 - Loss of 3/8" (Double Huh?)
Gut 33.125 - Loss of 1/4"
Waist 34.125 - Loss of 1/4"
Thigh 22.625- Loss of 3/8" (Triple Huh?)

Looks like the contest is getting interesting!!!

Power Foods

Weight Lost since 1/2: 6.56 lbs

Instead of a recipe today, I'm going to give you a list of some of the foods that have really helped me:

1. Coffee. Yeah, I tried the green tea. Not so much. I like coffee, it's 0 calories, and I have regular in the morning and decaf in the afternoon.

2. Eggs and Egg Whites. Almost every morning, great way to start the day with protein.

3. Optimum Power Cereal. Great source of fiber and it doesn't taste too bad either!

4. Kashi Oatmeal. See #3.

5. Low fat canola oil mayonaisse. Better for you than regular. (Whole Foods and some regular markets)

6. Pure Protein Bars. High in protein, easy in a pinch (BJ's, Trader Joes)

7. Amy's Cheese and Pesto Pizza with Whole Wheat Crust. A great treat that my wife and I love. It tastes great and it's much better for you than other pizza.

8. Boneless Whole Turkey Breast. Cook it up on Sunday, have turkey for lunch all week. Easy. (The best is at Whole Foods, but you can get it anywhere)

9. Vegetables. Still don't eat enough, but I eat more than I ever did.

10. Nuts. Great snack, much better than pretzels.

11. Pecorino Romano grated cheese. Adds flavor to a lot of things, and it's not a lot of calories.

12. Muir Glen Organic Soups. Canned, I know, but much better for you than regular canned soup. (Whole Foods, I've also seen it in the organic aisle of regular markets)

Feed the Warrior!

I love this commercial. My favorite part is how Lance looks at the guy after the guys says he just wants to do some "light cardio"

Sausage and Peppers

Weight Lost since 1/2: 5.48

I was in the lead for one day, then Billy weighs in at 150 or something like that. I think Billy's scale should be re-calibrated. Very Fishy.

Ingredients
3 peppers (1 red, 1 orange, 1 yellow or green)
1 lg. onion
1-1.5 lb. Italian Turkey sausage (sweet or hot)
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp oil
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 cup white wine

Steps
Separate links of sausage and prick with a fork. Place in Dutch oven with 1/2 inch of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until all water has evaporated and sausages have given up some of their fat and are lightly browned all over.

Drain fat from pan. Cut sausages into smaller pieces about 1 1/2 inches long.

Add wine, garlic, basil, oil and oregano. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes. Top with peppers, onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well.

Cover and simmer another 30 minutes or until sausage is done, stirring occasionally.