Did a 5K race this morning...very hilly course but I did well and finished in 31:54. Recap later...got a long day at work, day 1D of our $50k guarantee starting at 1.

GL OP

Have you ever tried unsweetened cashew, almond or coconut milk? Way fewer calories than 1% milk. Silk Unsweetened Cashew milk is the nuts for cereal IMO but I gave up cereal (think I still have half a dozen boxes in the pantry I need to throw away) in an effort to cut down/out as much gluten/carbs as possible so now I just drink it with my morning egg muffins (these are awesome too, BTW) or protein bar.

I used to eat those types of granola bars for snacks, now it's either veggies (carrots, green beans) or if I need protein it will be jerky or a protein bar.

Nope never tried it but I'll give it a shot...haven't eaten jerky in forever.

Day 13

Race day! Weather was decent, it rained right before the race and was overcast the whole way. Course was very hilly with 2 small hills the first mile but big hills in each of the last two miles.

I started out really fast but felt great and held my pace pretty well even with the hills. Had to stop and walk towards the end of the last hill but after that I was strong for the last half mile that remained. Before the race I thought anything below 32:00 would be a good time for me and I had a nice finishing kick to come in just under at 31:54.

Pretty crappy day eating even though I only was a little over the goal. Long day at work, 11 hours and gotta be back again 12 hours from now. Not sure about running in the morning...probably gonna push my long run to Monday morning.

Breakfast: Assorted mini donuts/muffins after the race but everything was labeled-440 cals

Lunch: Seafood gumbo (11 oz), white rice (4.5 oz), 10 club crackers-653 cals

Dinner: Buffet at work...Stuffed pasta shell, baked chicken thigh, breadstick-795 cals

Snacks: Nature valley protein bar, popcorn, carrot cake (small slice)-445 cals

Totals: 2333 cals, 100g protein

Running:
Mile 1 10:02
Mile 2 10:16
Mile 3 10:32
5K 31:54

Day 14

Woke up feeling good and decided to do a long run. It was pretty humid when I got out there but I was able to do 5 miles at a pretty easy pace. Off day from running tomorrow, it'll be a gym day. Lowest calorie day yet but I gotta get the protein up...gonna find better stuff to snack on.

Hit a bar poker tourney after work but only had one rum and diet...can't remember the last time I had alcohol twice in one week. Won $50 and had a great time!

Breakfast: Omelette w/3 eggs, cheese and turkey, grits (.25 cup)-523 cals

Lunch: Grilled chicken, tortilla, Swiss, bbq-438 cals

Dinner: Clam chowder, 4 club crackers-496 cals

Snacks: 2 chewy granola bars, chocolate cake (small slice), rum-474 cals

Totals: 1931 cals, 91g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:27
Mile 2 11:15
Mile 3 11:21
Mile 4 11:35
Mile 5 11:23

Monday morning weigh in:

254.2

Week 1 -5.4 lbs
Week 2 -1.0 lbs

Total -6.4 lbs

Not disappointed at all, any loss is a good thing. Gonna keep increasing the miles every week and tweak the diet to include more protein.

Setting a mini goal of 235 by November 8th, the day of the half marathon. Time to start crushing...after a cheat meal at the Chinese buffet lol. Gonna be ok though, this one has a cook to order hibachi grill so I'll load up on shrimp and scallops and stay away from the fried crap as much as possible. I told my date to pick her favorite lunch place and that was her choice...and no she's not fat!! This is a second date and she's a bit out of my league so I'm hoping it keeps going well...update later tonight.

gl!

Day 15

Busy day...lunch date at the Chinese buffet. Went well, stuck mostly with the hibachi stuff, sampled just a little general chicken, broccoli chicken and pepper steak. In the past I would've crushed 3-4 big plates but today it was just one plate from the hibachi and one plate of the other stuff and I didn't finish any of it.

Hit the gym after but I was pretty fatigued so I stayed at the same weight and actually had to decrease the reps on the last set of each machine. Went over the calories but had a s**t ton of protein. Even busier day tomorrow, playing golf at 8, fantasy draft at 2 and dealing at 5:30. Not gonna be able to fit a run in there but I'll go straight thru from Wednesday to Sunday.

Breakfast: Usual-506

Lunch: Chinese buffet (hibachi shrimp, lo mein, broccoli chicken, pepper steak, general chicken, white rice)-957 cals

Dinner: Baked chicken leg/thigh, seafood gumbo, rice, 10 club crackers-1012 cals

Snack: granola bar-90 cals

Totals: 2564 cals, 205g protein

Workout:
Chest press
15x1x75
15x1x85
12x1x95

Shoulder press
15x1x40
15x1x50
12x1x60

Seated row
15x1x65
15x1x75
10x1x85

Day 16

Blah...didn't get home from work until 2:30 am Tuesday morning and came home to leftover Little Caesars pizza that my son had ordered. I was feeling a little hungry so I heated up two slices.

After I woke up I decided I'd just log those for today and skip breakfast. Didn't make it to the golf course since I got suck at work so late so I went for a run when I finally rolled out of bed around 10 am. Did an easy 4 miles but it was pretty hot and humid. After lunch headed to a friend's house to do a fantasy draft and there was more pizza! Three more slices, Hungry Howie's this time. Between the Chinese buffet and random pizza I think YTF would be proud!!

Didn't go over the calorie goal by much despite all the pizza but I gotta tighten up. Just got done with another late night dealing and I'm freaking exhausted but today was my Friday...back at it tomorrow with an easy run!!

Breakfast: Little Caesars (2 slices pepperoni)-551 cals

Lunch: Seafood gumbo, rice, 6 club crackers-629 cals

Dinner: Taco Tuesday 3 hard tacos-435 cals

Snack: Hungry Howie's (3 slices sausage)-760 cals

Totals: 2376 cals, 133g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:18
Mile 2 11:17
Mile 3 11:34
Mile 4 11:29

Fantasy team...it's a 12 man league that allows a second QB to be used in the flex position which means QB's are extremely valuable. I had the 2nd pick and wound up with Andrew Luck, Shady McCoy and Randall Cobb with my first 3 picks. Full team:

QB Andrew Luck
QB Philip Rivers
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Andre Ellington
RB LeGarrette Blount
RB Tre Mason
RB Ronnie Hillman
WR Randall Cobb
WR Brandon Marshall
WR Mike Wallace
WR Roddy White
WR Michael Floyd
TE Jordan Cameron
TE Larry Donnell
K Adam Vinatieri
D Houston

Day 17

Another late night at work Tuesday but I got out for an easy run around 10. I picked a route with more hills and ended up going 3.5 miles. Another easy run planned for tomorrow then the gym on Friday.

I wasn't hungry even after running so I skipped breakfast, which is rare for me. Picked up a couple tilapia filets that were coated with some kind of toasted bread crumbs...very tasty! Baked one for lunch and it was pretty big so I didn't even make any sides to go with it. Yet another first date at an upscale sports bar...went with grilled chicken fingers w/buffalo sauce and a baked potato. These things are amazing there...when they're fried!! Grilled not so much but they were decent.

Breakfast: Skipped

Lunch: Baked tilapia w/toasted bread crumbs...weighed 15 oz, I estimated 12 for the fish and 3 for the bread crumbs-716 cals

Dinner: Grilled chicken fingers w/buffalo sauce, baked potato w/butter-890 cals

Snack: Skinny cow, McDonald's soft serve cone-320 cals

Totals: 1926 cals, 170g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:23
Mile 2 11:33
Mile 3 11:40
Mile 3.5 11:25/pace

Day 18

Easy 4.5 mile run....pretty lazy day otherwise. Gym tomorrow then back to running Saturday. Put together a possible race schedule for the fall/winter season coming up:

9/26 5K
10/10 10K
11/8 Half marathon
11/21 Half marathon trail run (possible but not likely)
1/16 Half marathon
2/13 15K
3/5 10K
3/19 Half marathon
4/12 Half marathon
5/7 10K

It's pretty ambitious to think I can pull off competing in all those races but having a race to prepare for on the near horizon keeps me extremely motivated!!

Breakfast: Usual-527 cals

Lunch: Seafood gumbo (15 oz), rice (5.5 oz), 10 club crackers-803 cals

Dinner: Made baked chicken (thighs/breasts), had one of each (8oz total), rice a roni (6.5 oz), peas (4.5 oz)-702 cals

Snacks: Skinny cow, pudding-210 cals

Totals: 2242 cals, 135g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:01
Mile 2 11:30
Mile 3 11:38
Mile 4 11:23
Mlle 4.5 11:35/pace

Day 19

Gym day...added a new exercise, step ups!! Struggled with my last sets on all 4 machines but left feeling good. Back to running in the morning.

Breakfast: Usual-516 cals

Lunch: Tilapia w/toasted bread crumbs-754 cals

Dinner: Leftover baked chicken thighs (8 oz), rice a roni (7.5 oz)-603 cals

Snacks: Pudding, McDonald's soft serve cone-230 cals

Totals: 2103 cals, 160g protein

Workout:
Chest press
15x1x75
15x1x85
15x1x95

Shoulder press
15x1x40
15x1x50
12x1x60

Leg press
15x1x90
15x1x110
15x1x130

Seated row
15x1x65
15x1x75
15x1x85

Step ups-12" box
R leg 10x2
L leg 10x2

Day 20

Easy run this morning..went 4.5 miles but this heat is killing me. I don't carry water with me, usually drink a bottle before I go and then at least one after. Tomorrow I'm gonna try and do two 5K's with a quick water break in the middle for my long run.

I tried some Jack Link's beef jerky for a snack today and wasn't impressed. Tried the original flavor...I'll give the teryakyi a shot and see if it's better.

Breakfast: Usual-538 cals

Lunch: Grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes w/gravy, garlic bread at work-924 cals

Lunch: Leftover baked chicken (4 oz), rice a roni (7.8 oz), sweet peas (6.5 oz)-534 cals

Dinner: Leftover baked chicken thighs (8 oz), rice a roni (7.5 oz), sweet peas (6.5 oz)-534 cals

Snacks: Beef jerky (1 oz), pudding, Skinny Cow-291 cals

Totals: 2287 cals, 182g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:25
Mile 2 11:23
Mile 3 11:37
Mile 4 11:30
Mile 4.5 11:04/pace

I haven't had jack links in a decade or two. If you want to do jerky right try the good brands. There are lots of new all natural brands on the market: Krave, Epic, Country Archer, Caveman, Primal. They all have much less sodium than the Jack Links. Country Archer and Caveman are the lowest cal options I have found.

I have tried and like the first 3. I have some Caveman chicken flavors on order. I have not tried the Primal and probably won't given it is slightly more expensive than the other 4 brands. Vitamin Shoppe carries Krave/Epic in the stores here and have some of the other brands in their online shoppe. You can probably find some of them on amazon as well (I just ordered some Krave from there) and Kroger here carries Krave, and is supposed to carry Country Archer but my store didn't have any.

Cool...thanks for the info!! Hopefully winn Dixie will have one of those in stock.

Day 21

Got out early Sunday morning to do my long run and it felt great. It's hard with my schedule to always do that but I'm glad when I can. Ended up doing a full 10K, my longest run since March. I've got 9 weeks until the half marathon so just need to keep steadily increasing the distance every week.

Had a dinner date at home after work that turned into an overnight thing so I was happy with that. Made shrimp Alfredo that turned out really good!! Tallied up the calories of all the ingredients then weighed the whole pan after it was done to get an idea of how many calories per oz. It might not be exact but it's close enough. Went over on the day so no snacking but with 70 minutes of cardio I'm not concerned. Off day from running, gonna hit the gym later. Will update with week 3 weigh-in soon!


Breakfast: Usual-519 cals

Lunch: Chicken sandwich at work. Fried chicken breast, Swiss, bacon, bbq sauce, steak fries-960 cals

Dinner: Homemade shrimp Alfredo, breadstick-1050 cals

Snacks: None!!

Totals: 2529 cals, 182g protein

Running:
Mile 1 10:59
Mile 2 11:07
Mile 3 11:16
Mile 4 11:23
Mile 5 11:31
Mile 6 11:28
Mile 6.2 11:36/pace

Monday morning weigh in:

250.8

Week 1 -5.4 lbs
Week 2 -1.0 lbs
Week 3 -3.4 lbs

Total -9.8 lbs

Total mileage:
Week 1 17.2
Week 2 20.1
Week 3 22.2

Really feeling like I'm in the zone right now...lots of motivation and momentum!!

Day 22

Hit the gym but was feeling a bit fatigued and my legs were sore so I skipped the leg press. Stayed at the same weights but finished 15 reps of each set so I'll try and bump it up 5 lbs on Friday.

My date stayed over and made homemade waffles for a late breakfast. Had to ballpark it so just used a Waffle House waffle. Even though I had waffles and leftover shrimp Alfredo I still easily stayed under the calorie goal and wasn't super hungry between meals. I even walked away from a Little Debbie oatmeal cream pie that was left up for grabs in the break room at work!!

Back at the running tomorrow...gonna stick to the easy, slow runs a couple more weeks then maybe mix in some intervals and tempo runs.

Breakfast: Homemade waffle, butter (1 tbsp) syrup (2.5 oz)-678 cals

Lunch: Omelette w/ 3 eggs, cheese, turkey, grits (.25 cup), Pam-523 cals

Dinner: Homemade shrimp Alfredo-791 cals

Snacks: None!!

Totals: 1992 cals, 79g protein

Workout:
Chest press
15x1x75
15x1x85
15x1x95

Shoulder press
15x1x40
15x1x50
15x1x60

Seated row
15x1x65
15x1x75
15x1x85

Day 23

I had a late night at work Monday and found pizza again when I got home at 3 that my son had ordered. Two slices of Little Caesars so I did the same thing as last week and logged them for breakfast today. Got up and ran an easy 4 miles...wasn't bad despite being humid.

Fried some chicken breasts in a pan with just a little butter and some minced garlic. Seasoned them with garlic salt, Italian seasoning and Tony's Cajun...damn those turned out really good!!

Breakfast: Little Caesars pepperoni (2 slices but didn't eat the end crust and one was small)-469 cals

Lunch: Chicken wrap (5 oz chicken, Swiss, tortilla, bbq sauce)-438 cals

Dinner: Taco Tuesday!! 3 hard tacos w/cheese-500 cals

Snacks: McDouble, Skinny cow, popcorn-601 cals

Totals: 2008 cals, 112g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:08
Mile 2 11:17
Mile 3 11:24
Mile 4 11:05

Day 24

Ugh my eating and sleep schedule is getting out of whack. I had another late night Tuesday and was starving when I got home at 3 am. Had a bowl of cereal and a pudding cup before I went to sleep and logged it for breakfast Wednesday. Got out around 9 am and finished another 4-mile run then had an earlier shift at work. Six days in a row dealing...can't remember the last time I did that and I'm feeling it.

Breakfast: Usual-528 cals

Lunch: Homemade seafood gumbo, rice, 10 club crackers-949 cals

Dinner: Grilled chicken (7.5 oz), tortilla, Swiss, bbq-472 cals

Snacks: Pudding, Skinny cow, steak fries at work-414 cals

Totals: 2364 cals, 161g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:18
Mile 2 11:25
Mile 3 11:26
Mile 4 11:10

Day 25

Back on a normal schedule after an early shift Wednesday...another 4 mile run early Thursday morning. I went and got a new pair of running shoes also today...way overdue! Ended up getting a pair of Nike FS Lite Run 2's. Supposed to be an off day from running tomorrow but I may sneak an early run in to try them out.

I had another dinner date at home and made chicken Parmesan...yummmmm. Skipped desert and stayed right at my goal despite a 1,000 cal dinner 😊

Breakfast: Egg McMuffin, hash brown-450 cals

Lunch: Grilled chicken (7.9 oz), tortilla, Swiss, bbq-484 cals

Dinner: Chicken parm, thin spaghetti (4.5 oz cooked), bread stick-1012 cals

Snacks: Special K protein bar-170 cals

Totals: 2,116 cals, 155g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:23
Mile 2 11:24
Mile 3 11:19
Mile 4 11:12

Day 26

Two days off in a row....Let's go play some cards!! Tried out the new running shoes first...just did a fairly easy 5K. Think I'm really gonna like them once they get broken in. Hit the gym after and went up 5 lbs on every set.

No date lined up so I decided to play some live poker for only the third time this year. We can't play where I deal and it's about a 2 hr drive to the nearest room so I don't get to play often. Got off to a rough start playing $1/2 and was in the game for $300 but made a few hands, got some action and built it back up. Flopped a straight with Jd8d with a straight flush redraw and binked it right on the turn. Got paid off from a guy who also had J-8 plus it was good for a $100 high hand bonus. Cashed out +$505 then jumped in a $110 bounty tournament. Ran hot the first hour and had my stack over 25k (7500 starting) plus picked up 2 bounties. No good after the break though...bricked a combo draw against a short stack then lost with AQ vs AJ to another shortie. Got down to 8 BB's and shoved with KJ but couldn't improve against 10's. Oh well...picked up $50 for the bounties and hit the road!!

Breakfast: Wanted to try the buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich at McDonald's, it was decent but nothing special. Chucked part of the bun and no mayo, w/ med fries-896 cals

Lunch: 2 Special K protein bars playing poker-340 cals

Dinner: Grilled shrimp tacos at the poker room...damn those were awesome!! Had to ballpark it but it was 3 small soft shell tortillas, shrimp and shredded cheese-688 cals

Snacks: Pudding-60 cals

Totals: 1984 cals, 92g protein

Running:
Mile 1 10:53
Mile 2 11:00
Mile 3 11:09

Workout:
Chest press
15x1x80
15x1x90
9x1x100

Shoulder press
15x1x45
15x1x55
12x1x65

Seated row
15x1x70
15x1x80
15x1x90

Day 27

Back to work...easy 4-mile run in the morning. New kicks felt great! Pot roast lunch at work had more calories than I anticipated so a bit over on the day but no worries.

I have to say my week just keeps getting better and better. Had a $400 weight loss bet with another dealer at work that was gonna end on December 1st. He saw me in the break room last night and after seeing the progress I'm making offered to buy out for $250...deal!!

Breakfast: Usual-528 cals

Lunch: Big lunch but yummmmm...Pot roast, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, garlic bread-1122 cals

Dinner: Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich...held the mayo but added asiago cheese-520 cals

Snacks: Popcorn-142 cals

Totals: 2312 cals, 149g protein

Running:
Mile 1 11:05
Mile 2 11:06
Mile 3 11:20
Mile 4 10:59

Almost at the one month mark!

nice job, keep it up!