100 Days

What I ate today:

Breakfast (9 a.m.)
Tuna on wheat bread with fat free mayo

Lunch (12 p.m.)
Two lean pork sandwiches on wheat bread with fat free mayo and mustard.

Snack (4:30 p.m.)
Several handfuls of baby carrots

Dinner (9 p.m.)
Can of Tuna, no bread.

Drinks
Three liters of water
one bottle diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper

Approximate intake
1,300 calories.

Above you will see the newest feature to the 100 days quest. It is the food journal, noting everything I eat on the day in question.

We’ll get to the idea of this a little later, but first I want to take a look at the data. Two cans of tuna today, one in sandwich form. There are 150 calories in one can (60 per serving, 2.5 servings in a can). I also switched up the bread I am using, going from Sara Lee’s Country Potato (The best sandwich bread on the market in my opinion, but about 100 calories per slice) to Sara Lee’s wheat bread (still good, but only 90 calories for two slices). I had two lean pork chops left in the freezer, so I thawed them and slapped them on the Foreman for lunch. I forgot the nutritional information on the long discarded package, so a little internet research led me to estimate about 200 calories per chop. I figure that is right because I bought them on the initial shopping trip the day before I began this. I know I didn’t buy anything that was fattening. Although, I probably could have eaten only one today, but oh well.

I think overall 1,300 calories isn’t too bad. I also got a lot of protein in. I did some other calculations though and figured out that if I had replaced the two pork sandwiches with one tuna sandwich, I would have been down to 920 calories for the day. I know that there have been days like that so far, and that is almost astonishing. Honestly, there haven’t been any times during the first 13 days when I was arm-chewing hungry. That is a huge surprise considering I had to be eating at least 4,000 calories per day before this began. I still have urges to gorge myself on all things fried and melted, but the actual hunger I feel during those times is nothing more than normal. If anything, the overwhelming feeling I’ve had during this process is one of not wanting to eat. For my “dinner”, I ate a can of tuna at 9 p.m. because I had forgotten to eat earlier. Weird stuff.

Anyway, I promised yesterday that I would answer some of the questions and comments that have come from the first few days of this quest. So here it goes. The first comment comes from Bryce, my old roommate who has been one of my best friends since our freshman year of college at good ol’ Bowling Green State University (Ay Ziggy Zoomba).

From: Bryce
RE: Your diet won’t work!
You should call this the sandwich diet, because it seems like all you are eating is sandwiches. I realize you have a deep affection for the "big sandwich", but you might want to explore other types of food as well. What are you eating for breakfast? You MUST eat breakfast when you wake up. And please don't tell me a green pepper. You're not on the Iron Chef. Eat a normal breakfast. How about some cottage cheese or some fruit. How about some eggs?

Also, you need to eat at least five times a day. Small snacks in between meals. I'm sure you already knew this, but I can't quite see where you have been doing this. Why don't you give us a list of when you ate what?

Bryce is a guy who is three parts voice-of-reason, one part rain-on-your-parade. This is a very typical response from him, seeing as he knows how impetuous and quixotic I can be at times. Certainly he is looking out for my best interests and that is why he is my friend.

Bryce makes some good points here. The best point he made is his last, about giving a list of what I ate. I hope he is happy with the list at the top. It will be a daily feature.

But he also makes some snap judgements. I ate half a green pepper for breakfast only once. Also, the way my day is set up, I often leave the house around 9 or 10 a.m. and then get back at noon. So breakfast and lunch often come very close together. Lately I have begun to eat larger breakfasts, but for most of last week I had an orange for breakfast. I think that is in line with his cottage cheese/yogurt idea. However, cottage cheese intrigues me. I think I will pick some up this week.

He also talks about the sleep habits. I guess I haven’t really updated that. After the first weekend, I got my sleep habits back to normal. Since then, I have been in bed by 1 a.m. and up by 9 a.m. every day. I hope to continue that, but often my job (sports writer) will screw with my sleeping on a seasonal basis. Usually it takes a week or so to get on schedule. The spring season, however, doesn’t begin until March, so I think I am good until then.

As for his point about varying the diet, I have done so several times so far. However, the basic elements will remain until I simply can’t stand them anymore. I eat sandwiches because I like them and they fit in with the restrictions I’ve placed on myself. Honestly, I think I could eat nothing but sandwiches for the next 20 years and not get sick of them. I am not on Atkins, so I am not worrying about carbs (though I do want to keep them within reason). But when the time comes to find other means of sustenance, I will do so. But you know what, Bryce? Maybe I will call this the Sandwich Diet, and maybe I will make it work so I can write a book and become some sort of diet guru. “Eat all the sandwiches you want and lose weight! Just ask me how!”

And, finally, the exercise. I will admit he’s got me there. I do have a knack for finding ways not to work out. But in the last week, I have either walked or gone to the gym five times, for at least an hour each time. Still, I need to get exercise every day. I understand this, but you didn’t need to point it out, dick.

From: Michael J. West
Re: Subway
I recommend using concrete numbers, but inordinately large ones, when talking to the new vegetable girl about pickles. E.g., "Can you put about eighty more pickles on there?"

She won't actually physically count out 80 pickles, but it will get the point across.

This is the most useful tip I’ve gotten so far. It makes perfect sense. I will be using this the next time I get slighted on pickles.

From: Zingzing
RE: Sushi
Sushi is very good for you. It's full of protein, minerals, and vitamins, lowers cholesteral, and is fairly low calorie (only a few hundred calories for a pretty large portion.) plus it's good and weird.

I’ll agree, sushi is fantastic. In fact, when I went home to Detroit for Christmas, my favorite night was chillin’ at the sushi bar with friends Kristen, Jill and Kevin. However, I should reiterate the fact that the town I live in has no Italian restaurant, let alone a sushi place. I wish burritos were as healthy as sushi, because there are about 20 Mexican restaurants here. There is a store that sells nothing but bread. There are four places to get an oil change and about two dozen fast food places. But, I repeat, NO Italian restaurants. How can that possibly happen in a civilized society? Wait, I forgot, this place barely has paved roads.

Zingzing chimed in again with this next comment:

RE: I am a fatass too
I just started (yesterday, Jan. 12) working out at a gym for the first time since high school (I am as old as you are, Dan). I'm not really there to lose that much weight. I broke up with a girl about three weeks ago, and after the week of "No, I'm not hungry, I can't eat yada yada," the metabolism dropping off, the "God I'm hungry, feed me some goddamn tacos," the pudge coming on in my stomach, feeling unattractive to the opposite sex which I want so much right now. I felt I should. Needless to say, the first day was embarassing. I was curling 60 pounds, and my left arm was failing me. I dunno. I smoke, so running exhausted me after only five minutes. Runner's high? Ha! Runner's wooziness. But I brought my workout clothes with me today to work, I'm going right after I get off, and I'm gonna make that woman so damn jealous. I saw her last night, and it was the first time I've felt any confidence around her in a while. Keep up the good fight, Dan, and may we all get some action soon. Of course, stay healthy, keep working out, and don't fall apart. God, my shoulder hurts.

Zingzing is my new favorite guy who I’ve never met, seen or talked to. I hear ya buddy. Good to know I have your support. And don’t worry about that girl you broke up with. We all thought she was a bitch anyway (not that we ever met her).

From: Swingingpuss
RE: Your body hates you.
Dan, what kind of a diet are you on? Maybe you should join some sort of online support group for motivation and don’t overdo your exercises. If you are sore it means you are over exerting. Exercising should be an enjoyable activity that helps you feel energized not drained. Your body is telling you to slow down.

I am pretty sure I am in an online support group. You are reading it right now. In fact, you, Swingingpuss are a part of my online support group. I never would have made it even this far without this website. Anyway, the first day of working out didn’t drain me, it made me sore. I had the energy to do things that day, I just didn’t have the range of motion. Maybe I am wrong here, but I saw the soreness as my body telling me “Hey, what the fuck? You didn’t do this for three years, why the hell are you doing it now?” Well, it’s my body and he will do what I say. I expected the soreness after the first day of working out. After the second day, soreness was minimal.

From: Bennett
RE: Bennett loves The Biggest Loser.
After watching a few episodes of The Biggest Looser, especially the end shots where they show what these folks look like after shedding the excess baggage, I decided that it really has to be the BEST show on TV.

P.S. Don't feel too bad, biscuits and gravy are divine.

He’s right, Biscuits and Gravy were sent here by God. And the biscuits and gravy I had Saturday must have been kissed by Moses himself because they were amazing.

Anyway, Bennett commented on the biggest loser twice. He gives the show two thumbs up. I have only watched it sporadically, but I can say that it is much more fascinating than I thought it would be. My favorite part is when there is a 20-something girl who starts the show at about 270 pounds. I like to predict how hot she will be by the end of the show. That is a fantastic subplot that I don’t think NBC is pushing enough.

Also, one question, Why the hell didn’t I go on that show? I mean, instead of sharing my fat stories with a bunch of strangers for free, I could be sharing my fat stories with millions of strangers for a chance to win $50,000. In fact, don’t be surprised if I shut this whole thing down soon and send in my entry tape. I think I would be perfect for that show. And since my time has passed to get on Real World, The Biggest Loser is the next logical step, right?

From: RJ Elliott
RE: You are insane.
100 pounds in 100 days is just too much, too fast. I wish you the best of luck, but I really think 50 pounds in six months is a more realistic (and healthier) goal.

Again, I just want to stress that the goal is not to lose 100 pounds in 100 days. It is to be as healthy as possible for 100 days. I just have a theory that if I do that, the result will be a 100 pound weight loss. I may end up dropping only 50 pounds in the next six months, that’s fine. If the goal was to lose 100 pounds in 100 days I certainly would have come up with more of a fat burning diet. I would probably be on Atkins writing about how I had a pound of bacon for breakfast and 18 sausage links for lunch. The biscuits and gravy incident would have been fine if not for the biscuits. Atkins really is a beautiful diet, but just a little too risky for my tastes.

From: Aaman
RE: So what are your favorite foods?
So what are your favorite foods?

Interesting question, Aaman. Well, sandwiches obviously. But more specifically, big sandwiches (as Bryce referenced above). I like my sandwiches with about two pounds of meet and at least a pound of cheese. That isn’t a daily sandwich, that is only for special occasions. But I have quite a fondness for salami and American cheese, reubens, roast beef and pastrami. Outside of sandwiches, I like the basic shit food: Pizza, cheeseburgers, sausage, hot dogs, spaghetti, anything milk based, anything that started with a face, all cheeses. I am much more of a meat guy than a sweets guy. In fact, I am probably close to addicted to diet pop. I’ve never been a fan of regular pop though, because it is too sweet. I like chocolate, but only to an extent.

The best meal I can remember ever having came at a place called Lafayette Coney Island in downtown Detroit last summer. After a night of heavy drinking in The D with friends Guy and Kevin, we went to what can only be described as the Mecca of shitty greek restaurants. Lafayette is a pillar of the downtown Detroit bar scene because the only reason to not go there at 2 a.m. is if you are about to hook up. Anyway, I had five coney dogs and a side of chili cheese fries. When I was finished, I had chili all over my shirt and face and was damn happy. I paid for it for the next two days, but I would not have changed a thing. And yes, maybe I am romanticizing food here, but it is a big part of my life and has been since I was born. But like dealing with an ex girlfriend, I suppose I will have to cherish the good times while using the bad for motivation.

Does that make sense?