MONDAY, JULY 16, 2012

Almost another carbon copy of last two days. Had a little more appetite today, went with a 7 oz ham steak with the omelet (682 cals); doubled up on the salad and chicken (but not the dressing, 355 cals); and finishing off the pasta/meatballs/sausage meant enjoying a second sausage link cuz, hey, they come five to a pack (1165 cals).

Total of 2202, well under the 2610 deadline.

The good news is, no karaoke/beer Tuesday. My kids are in town, I get 'em for almost a week before they go back. They LOVE my teriyaki bowls! We have a day planned at a local amusement park, and God only knows what my dining options will be (a quick look at the park's website doesn't give me much hope; looks like there's a Subway inside, though, so there's always that).

And if I take 'em to the Chinese buffet one night (and the incalculable calories that go with it), I don't want to hear too much crap about it ITT, all right? This is a once-a-year thing.

Chinese buffet is fine. I hit it up like once a week, probably killing myself with all the sodium. There be plenty of meat and veggies. I do weird stuff though like dump the rice from the nigiri and grab a napkin to "clean" up my oily tilapia.

Nothing fried though brother and dessert be a few slices of melon only.

Literally clean eating ITT.

i eat hotpot/steamboat buffet somewhat regularly and still have only a hazy idea of how much i'm really eating in these sessions. i eat mostly fish/mussels/calamari/chicken/fishballs/mushrooms/tofu but also springrolls/fried chicken and beer. i eat til i'm on the edge of being uncomfortably full but not totally gorged. i assume it's in the range of 1.5k±500 cals but i haven't really put the effort in to figure it out properly

I wonder how much the fried chicken breast can get "cleaned" up? Haven't tried that one yet.

Good job yesterday YTF.

I had to attend a chinese buffet for a co-worker recently while trying to diet.

There were some healthy options... I had chicken and broccoli over steamed white rice with Tamari sprinkled on it. A few chicken on-a-stick things (although sometimes these are deep fried), and some steamed shrimp and veggies.

You can also just have whatever you want, since it's a once-in-a-while thing for you now.

I think this is doable but you have to know the consequences. If you eat 1500 in one meal you better be on point for the rest of the week.

Simply cut back during breakfast and lunch on the day of the buffet: Eat 2 lbs of veggies and 1 lb of lean meat during the day, and you will pretty much be free-rolling the buffet (in which you should probably cut a little back on the rice and deep-fried stuff).

PNHH got it. Chinese buffets are ez game for diets.

TUESDAY, JULY 17 2012

BREAKFAST: BK drivethrough. Grilled chicken sandwich (no mayo), double cheeseburger. 800 cals.

LUNCH: Beach Club sub from Jimmy Johns, bag of chips. 884 cals.

DINNER: Chinese buffet. Two plates, plenty of fried crap. ??? cals, but certainly sky-high.

Don't worry, no more crappy meals planned for remainder of kids' visit.

BTW, my son checks in at 4'11", 203 lbs. Ouch. And as predicted, he hasn't been tracking crap since I told him about MyFitnessPal. I signed him up last night, showed him how it worked, and we plugged in a typical day of what he eats to show him what the numbers look like. He was having trouble being honest with me about what he eats (he found the whole process terribly embarrassing), but luckily his sisters were there to rat him out. His standard day:

Giant bowl of Lucky Charms w/2% milk.

Ham/cheese sandwich with chips ("chips" could be potato chips, Cheetos, Doritos, etc).

Pop Tart for mid-day snack (two to a package, so eat 'em both).

Fast food for supper, where his standard order is a double QP w/chz, medium fry, diet coke. I know every time I call them and interrupt their dinner, they're usually out for pizza.

That day comes in around 2500 cals, almost all carbs and no fat/proteins.

MyFitPal set his daily target at just over 1700 cals, and I was preaching about the virtues of proteins and the evils of carbs. I wasn't thrilled with his reactions, he doesn't seem to excited about the prospect of giving up sodas, cereal, and Pop Tarts.

Actually, that's been pretty typical of the reactions I've been getting in real life from the heavy folks in my life who tell me I've inspired them to start eating right--that feeling usually passes the first time they want some crappy food. Suddenly, inspiration gets tossed out the window.

Not sure why he'd find it terribly embarrassing....oh wait.

Even though he may even have more massive motivation than you do to lose weight (being young enough where kids/family will openly judge him) it seems one thing that could potentially be helpful is helping him "face facts" and be honest with himself. If I were 4'11" and over 200 I'm not sure how I could have a positive self-image while still being completely honest with myself. The cognitive dissonance is just too powerful.

Also, who would want to give up soda, cereal, and pop tarts unless you view other food items as delicious too? Gotta help lead people to appreciate their new "choices" or else it's a bit of a non-starter. That's one reason I think you're doing so well, you've found a way to continue to consume the part of your diet you still view as "delicious" to some degree while limiting it and/or including some other stuff.

Speaking as a former fat kid, don't shame the poor boy. It doesn't help. Except now he'll feel like crap while eating crap.
After all, I wonder where he learned all his eating habits?
A mea culpa might open his eyes.

A man to man could be helpful. Part of growing up is making choices, and he's to the age where he can make those choices. But you can educate him about what he's doing, and give him an alternative. So if he wants to change his diet, he'll have the opportunity to do so.

Yeah, I'm sure he's had plenty of opportunities to feel incredibly uncomfortable about his appearance. Especially as he's entering the age where girls are no longer gross and what not (he's 12 right?). Making him get on a scale in front of you and talking to him about all these things in front of his sisters may just be incredibly demeaning and demoralizing to him.
Nhl's post is a good post.

This has to be the right play. Take responsibility to this point, but make him responsible from here on out. Then lead by example.

Good post nut.