Diary of a Loser

2020-01-10T21:10:00.005-06:00

January 8
Weight: Didn't weigh today
Exercise: No exercise

96 hrs into fast which will end at 120 hrs. I still feel great and energetic. Autophagy peaks out around 72 hours and begins to decline. Stem cell production peaks after 96 hrs.

Autophagy: The body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells.

“Auto” means self and “phagy” means eat. So the literal meaning of autophagy is “self-eating.”

It’s also referred to as “self-devouring.” While that may sound like something you never want to happen to your body, it’s actually beneficial to your overall health.

This is because autophagy is an evolutionary self-preservation mechanism through which the body can remove the dysfunctional cells and recycle parts of them toward cellular repair and cleaning, according to board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Luiza Petre.

Petre explains that the purpose of autophagy is to remove debris and self-regulate back to optimal smooth function.

“It is recycling and cleaning at the same time, just like hitting a reset button to your body. Plus, it promotes survival and adaptation as a response to various stressors and toxins accumulated in our cells,” she adds.

At the cellular level, Petre says the benefits of autophagy include:

removing toxic proteins from the cells that are attributed to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
recycling residual proteins
providing energy and building blocks for cells that could still benefit from repair
on a larger scale, it prompts regeneration and healthy cells

2020-01-08T15:29:00.004-06:00

January 7, 2020
Weight: 203 lbs. down another pound from yesterday. Still fasting.

Exercise: 35 minutes of weightlifting to fatigue. Only failed to match my last workout in reps and weight on chest exercise. I just read were it may be better to lighten up on weight while fasting.

Seventy six hours into fast. I'm feeling very energetic, alert and I don't have any cravings nor am I hungry.

Benefits (click on graph to enlarge):

2020-01-07T20:49:00.001-06:00

January 6, 2020
204 lbs. Lost 2 lbs. from yesterday. Still consuming only black coffee, water with electrolytes and apple cider vinegar and vitamins.

Exercise: 30 minutes of high intensity interval training on Elliptical.

Fifty two hours into fast and feeling great and energetic! I have been doing 16/8 fasting for several months, eating within an 8 hr. window and fasting for 16 hrs. . I've also done OMAD (one meal a day) fasting. I also completed a 58 hr. fast in December. If you consider fasting, I would recommend that you ease into it. If you are several pounds overweight, I would suggest you go on a KETO diet. This puts your body into ketosis (using fat for energy instead of carbohydrates). This has made fasting easy for me.

Benefits (click on graph to expand):

2020-01-06T12:20:00.000-06:00

Jan 5, 2020
206 lbs. I was 29 hours into my 72 hr. fast. I'm consuming only black coffee, vitamins and 16 oz. of water twice a day; containing a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon of Himalayan salt, 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar (for 800 mg of Potassium) and 10 drops of ConcenTrace Trace Minerals.

Benefits of fasting:

I feel GREAT! Not hungry. I even did 30 minutes on the Elliptical at 28 minutes in my 60 -70% maximum heart rate range and 1 min peaking to 95% max. hrt rate. I was concerned about my energy level going in but I completed and felt GREAT!

2020-01-04T23:54:00.001-06:00

January 4, 2020
207 lbs. down 1lbs from 1/4/20
I did 30 minutes of weight lifting today. All major muscle groups.
I started a 72 hour fast today at 12:30. It will end on Tues. at 12:30. Both meals today were KETO.

2020-01-03T19:10:00.001-06:00

Entry 1/3/2020 208 lbs. Down from 214 on 12/26/2019
I have now become a convert to KETO dieting. I have also started fasting.

Entry: 9/8/2013

2013-09-09T09:25:00.001-05:00

Weight: 200.8 lbs Down 17 lbs since 3/3/2013

Exercise: Weight Lifting. Upper body workout 1 hour. 9 minutes aerobics.

Breakfast: White toast/olive oil Can't Believe It's Butter/teaspoon local honey, 2 egg whites, 1 cup of coffee.

Lunch: Turkey sandwich (white bread) with tomato, mayonnaise, and mustard. One cup skim milk with teaspoon of whey protein.

Snack: 1 1/2 oz. walnuts

Dinner: Baked chicken breast/Mexican cheese blend/ hot sauce. 2 cups steamed broccoli. One cup skim milk with teaspoon of whey protein.

Ninety-eight percent of losing weight is motivation and 2 percent knowing what to do. Find something that will motivate you and the battle is over!

Entry 3/3/2013

2012-11-11T20:37:00.001-06:00

Weight:

218

Exercise:

none

Meals:

Breakfast: 2 olive oil fried eggs, coffee with cream and splenda
Lunch: BBQ Brisket, Boston Baked Beans, 1 pulled pork and cheese nacho
Dinner: Sardines, mixed vegatables, 8 oz. skim milk (Sardines are rich in Omega 3)
Snack: bowl of Raisin Bran w/skim milk

Got up to 224 last week. I'm sure that was due to overeating and water retention from too much sodium. My resistance for the last few months is around 215. Rededicating myself to get to 210 by the end of March

2012-11-03T02:07:00.001-05:00

How many Calories do you need per day?

Mifflin Equation:

For men: BMR (REE) = 5 + 10(wt) + 6.25 (ht) – 5 (age)
For women: BMR (REE) = -161 + 10 (wt) + 6.25 (ht) – 5 (age)
wt = weight in lbs ht= height in inches

assumptions

resting,i.e. ambient temperature variations should be minimal
emotional disturbance must be minimal

To lose 1 pound a week you must take in 3500 fewer calories than you expend (500/day)
To lose 2 pounds a week you must take in 7000 fewer calories than you expend (1000/day)

Entry 4/20/2012

2012-04-23T17:06:00.000-05:00

Weight 217.4

Was on a plateau around 223-225 pound for about 2 months. Did some minor tweaking and broke through it. Simple things. Like when I go to the restroom (4-5 times a day), instead of coming back to my office the same way, I walk briskly outside and around the building. It only takes an extra 3 minutes but it revs up the metabolism after sitting at my desk. I was snacking on nuts indiscriminately during the day and now I measure them out and eat less. Picked some better bad choices for late night snacks and try not to eat within 2 hours of bedtime.

Even though I was following my fitness routine faithfully (at least 45 minutes for at least 6 days a week) and eating reasonably, these small changes got me back on downward trend.

Entry 2/15/2012

2012-02-20T22:49:00.001-06:00

Weight: 223.8

Exercise:Aerobic training on Elliptical trainer for about 35 minutes. Includes 4 intervals of peaking at 80% + of heart rate and going back down to 70%, Cool down walk paced to let my heart rate come down slowly form 80% to 65%. Total time above 60% heart rate 52 min 12 sec. I always include about 8 minutes of stretching after every workout.

entry 2/14/2012

2012-02-20T22:41:00.000-06:00

Weight: 224.6 in the morning

Exercise: :Lower body workout. Total time of workout; measured from when I reach 60% of max heart rate to the time when it returns to 60% during a cool down walk; 51 min 46 sec. Avg heart rate 65% Peak 85%

2/13/2012

2012-02-19T19:10:00.001-06:00

Weight: 225

Exercise: Work with upper body weights after a 5-6 minuter warm-up on the elliptical trainer. I get my pulse rate up to my aerobic level (70% of max heart rate) and then go immediately to my first weight exercise. My weight workouts are not optimized to gain muscle mass because between reps ,I try to keep my pulse rate higher than 60% of max and up into the aerobic range. This is difficult after I have been exercising consistently (6-7 days a week for several weeks)because my recovery time is much shorter. That means I go from say 70% to 60% quickly between reps.. I do wait at least 30 seconds between reps even though my rate my fall below 60% so the muscles I'm working on can clear the lactic acid that builds up. After about 10-15 minutes into the workout it is easier to stay above the 60% level. Many times I experience a combination of some corollary of Parkinson's Law ( work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion) and Murphy's Law (if anything can go wrong it will) as applies to working out - "If there is only one other person in the gym they will just be getting on the machine I need to use next AND they will do 50 reps using little weight." I want to ask them why are they are using the machines that way but I mind my own business.

Toward the end of the weight lifting routine my heart may get up to 76-80% of max heart rate during some exercises. I do two sets of 12 reps. on each exercise. If I was trying to maximize muscle growth I would do 3-4 sets of 8 reps until I built up to 12 reps then I would increase the weight until I reached maximum fatigue at 8 reps on set 3 or 4. But I try to make my weight lifting fat burning and aerobic. If you've followed my blog you know that 60-70% heart rate is when your body burns fat.

After my last weight exercise I get on the elipical and get my heart rate up to 82-83% and then I walk/job for about 10-15 minutes at a rate that lets my heart rate come down slowly to about 60-65% and then I do a 8-10 minute stretch.. My work out time this day was 1hr 4 min. My avg heart rate during the workout was about 62%.

In case your wondering I use a Garmin Forerunner 405. to keep up with my workout statistics.

Entry 2/9/2012

2012-02-10T21:34:00.000-06:00

Weight: 225.8 I'm at the same weight I was on 1/31/2012. I'm not gaining in my waist so hopefully I'm still losing a little fat. I am almost at my old weight lifting maximums so I 'm not adding as much muscle (the calorie burning organ) now.

Entry 1/31/2012

2012-02-01T16:27:00.004-06:00

Weight: 225.8 Not too concerned that I'm not losing weight at this time. In fact I've gained about a pound since my last weigh-in. My waist size is going down and clothes are fitting more snug in other places. I've intensified my weight work outs (more weight and number of sets) . Muscle burns 15-20 calories per pound and fat burns 5 calories. So any good weight loss program should include weight lifting. Women should NOT be concerned about looking "unfemininely" bulky because you don't have the testosterone levels required for that much growth. Women body builders supplement testosterone and usually take steroids.

If you are lifting weights your weight will go down slower than if you just reduced calories. However if you gain muscle mass you will be able to eat more and prevent cravings. There is a balance to achieve between the calories needed for muscle growth and the excess fat calories burned. Example:

Mifflin Equation:

For men: BMR (REE) = 5 + 10(wt) + 6.25 (ht) – 5 (age)
For women: BMR (REE) = -161 + 10 (wt) + 6.25 (ht) – 5 (age)

BMR is Basil Metabolic Rate. That is the amount of calories a sedentary person needs in a day. to maintain their weight. For me that is 2400 calories. Since there is 3500 calories in a pound of fat in order to lose 2 pounds a week, I must burn on average 1000 calories more than I take in per day or 7000 (2*3500) a week. That would put me at 1400 (2400-1000) calories which is below the minimum that men should have each day.. Men should take in a minimum 1500 and women 1200. So I need to add back 100 calories a day. Now instead of burning 7000 more than I take in a week it is only 6300. 6300/3500 = 1.8 pounds. But wait! I exercise moderately 6-7 days a week so my calorie needs are at least 1.33 times more than my BMR or 3192. Now I can burn 1000 a day and be at about 2200 calories well above the 1500 calorie minimum and lose 2 lbs a week. See why exercise is so important if you are trying to lose weight! You can eat more getting all the correct nutrients you need and less apt to eat the wrong foods because you can eat more good foods that will fill you up and satisfy your appetite.

Entry 1/30/2012

2012-01-31T23:34:00.001-06:00

Weight: 224.8 Though I haven't lost weight the past week, I've lost fat. Back into weight lifting routine consistently.. Pants fitting looser in the waist and little more snug in the thighs. Muscle weighs 18% more than fat for a given volume. Remember the waist/height ratio for getting in shape?

Exercise: Ten minute warm up on Elliptical Stepper - heart-rate up to 80% of max. Upper body weight lifting for 25 minutes. Ten minute cool down to 65% heart-rate and 5 minute stretch.

Breakfast: Three egg whites, whole wheat toast (1 slice), tablespoon of salsa, 4 cherry tomatoes, 6 ounces skim milk, coffee with 3 tsp creamer and Splenda.

Snack: Ten walnut halves.

Publish Post

Lunch: 5 oz. low sodium Turkey, 1 cup raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. 8 oz skim milk

Snack: 10 Tamari Almonds. Too many nuts today but they are much healthier than some other snacks.

Dinner: 5 oz Salmon, 2 cups Birdseye Oriental Vegetables, 5 oz. skim milk

Entry 1/28/2012

2012-01-29T23:38:00.005-06:00

Weight: Didn't weigh

Exercise:: None today. 1st day I've missed in two weeks. An occasional rest to let the ole body rest is not a bad idea. That's not the reason I didn't exercise. A a 15 minute leisurely walk on a rest day would probably be better.

Breakfast: 2 egg whites, Salsa, piece of whole wheat toast. Coffee with 3 tsp Creamer and 3 tsp Splenda.

Lunch: Potted meat sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise. Weird huh? There are some days I crave a potted meat sandwich. When I do, there's nothing else I would rather have. Not a steak, Lobster, not anything. Maybe its a sub concious thing from my childhood. I Remember how good they tasted when my dad and would finally stop to eat after a morning of fishing. I would be so caught up in fishing. Then about noon it would hit me - "I'm starving ". We'd usually eat a potted meat sandwich or sardines in the boat.

It's ok to give in to a craving every once in a while. Just limit it to once or twice a week. Go right back to eating healthy. and counting calories.

Snack: 10 walnut halves

Dinner:: Ate at Gloria's, a Salvadoran restaurant. About 20 chips with a small bowl of bean dip and 2 bowls of salsa. The bean and salsa not so bad, but the Chips were a terrible choice. Would have been a "better bad" choice if I had ordered some corn tortillas for the bean dip and salsa. Carne Apodada (about 10 ounces of marinated Skirt Steak) and black rice and two fried Plantains.

Snack: Potted meat sandwich. LOL! Bowl of Campbell's tomato bisque soup beer. I was bad today! :) That happens when I don't exercise. Something about the endorphins from exercise that help control the appetite. Noticed more of a correlation in this as I've gotten older.

Heard another reason to drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day. Many studies that it helps prevent type 2 diabetes. Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, and Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology in China have cited the protective benefits of compounds in coffee that inhibit a substance called human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), which has been linked to diabetes, stated science and health news website Science Daily last week in a report on the new study. The study appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Agricultural & Food. hIAPP also is linked to Alzheimers.

Along with help in preventing prostate and colon cancer in men, and breast cancer in women this new discovery is why I'm upping my coffee intake. Those that are borderline Type 2 diabetic have to be careful of caffeine intake. However, good news, decaf coffee has the beneficial compound as well.

Entry 1/23/2012

2012-01-24T17:53:00.006-06:00

Weight: 224.5 Down 3.5 lbs. since 1/16/2012

Exercise: Eleptical stepper for 35 minutes. Intervals of 70% up to 80% Max. Heart Rate and back down. Two intervals of 70% to 85%,. 10 minute cool down walk with stretch.

Breakfast: Bowl of Cherrios with 2 tsp of Beneficial Fiber with 8 oz. Skim Milk, 1 fresh Pineapple wedge. Coffee with 2 tsp creamer and 3 tsp Splenda.

Snack: 10 Walnut halves

Lunch: Quarter pound Cajun Turkey. Raw Broccoli, Carrots and Cauliflower. 8 oz. Skim milk

Snack: 15 almonds

Dinner: 2 cups Pinto Beans, 1 cup Turnip Greens, and Green Beans. Iced Tea

How much should you weigh?

2012-01-23T14:41:00.006-06:00

One of the easiest ways to estimate how much you should weigh is the ratio of your weight to height. In general you want your waist to be at or less than half your height. Measure your waist 1 inch above your navel.

Here are some values of Weight to Height Ratios that I have come across:

Body Shapes	WHtR
Barbie Doll	25.0%
Ken Doll	36.0%
Female College Swimmers	42.4%
Male College Swimmers	42.8%
Willoughby Ideal	45.8%
WHO Increased Risk Females	49.2%
General Healthy Cutoff	50.0% Target
NHANES Risk Equivalent to BMI of 25	51.0%
WHO Increased Risk Males	53.6%
WHO Substantially Increased Risk Females	54.1%
NHANES Risk Equivalent to BMI of 30	57.0%
Willoughby Obese	57.7%
WHO Substantially Increased Risk Males	58.2%

WHO - World Health Organization
NHANES - National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Willoughby - David Willoughby, Physiologist (Extensive study on body symmetry and its relevance to fitness.)

These are guidelines based on studies.

1/22/2012

2012-01-23T14:16:00.004-06:00

Weight: Didn 't weigh

Breakfast: Oatmeal with Smart Balance spread. Coffe with 3 tsp cream and 3 tsp splenda. Half cup Blueberries. Bottle of Dan Active. 7 oz. skim milk with 2 tsp Beneficial Fiber.
Lunch: Gloria's (Salvadoran food) in Frisco with daughter, Son n Law and friends. Had about 20 chips with Salsa and Bean dip, Carne Apodado (skirt steak marinaded in house marinade and barbecued) and brown rice. Iced Tea
Snack: Pineapple wedge
Dinner: 6 oz Salmon. Mixed vegetables microwaved 6 oz milk.
Snack: 10 walnut halves. 1 beer

Exercise: Walked 3.7 miles. Slowly got up to 70% of pulse rate and tried to stay as close as possible to that during entire walk. Cool down and stretch. I was in the upper 70's so I went outside.

My Body Mass Index is 31.2
Use the BMI Calculator in the right sidebar to estimate your body fat.
Muscle weighs more than fat so I'm not too worried that my BMI puts me in the Obese range. My target is lower end of "Overweight Range".

Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:

It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

The BMI score means the following:

	BMI
Underweight	Below 18.5
Normal	18.5–24.9
Overweight	25.0–29.9
Obesity	30.0 and Above

Entry 1/21/2012

2012-01-21T14:41:00.001-06:00

Weight: 226
Food 1/20/2012 :
Breakfast: Bowl of Cheerios, Coffee with 3 tsp creamer, 3 tsp Splenda, 10 blueberries, wedge of pineapple and 7 oz. Skim milk with 2 tsp of Beneficial fiber.
Snack: 4 almonds, 10 walnut halves
Lunch: Cup of beans, 1/2 cup raw broccoli and carrots and 6 oz. Skin milk
Snack: Medium Apple 5 walnut halves
Dinner: 2 baked small chicken thighs and drumsticks, 6 oz wild salmon, 2 cups mixed cooked vegetables, 6 cherry tomatoes (mostly broccoli, carrots, sweet peas) 8 oz Skim milk with 2 tsp of Beneficial fiber. 2 oz Rose' wine.
Snack: 20 blueberries

Got up to 228 from 214 in late October, after slowing down on exercise, when it turned too cool for me to walk outside. Exercise consisted of maybe 1-2 weight lifting days with walking warm up and cool down each week. Not nearly enough for me since, I sit at desk for most of my day. Started back in earnest this past week after getting my blood work report. More on this later.

This past week , I'm back to my routine of 45 minutes weight lifting which includes ALL muscle groups with 15 minutes total warm and cool down walking; next 2 days walking (combination elliptical and track) for 35 minutes, with 10-15 warm up and cool down; and back to weight lifting the following day.

I wear a pulse monitor and during all workouts I warm up slowly to my 70% heart rate in approximately 5 minutes. On weight lifting days I move between sets so that my heart rate does not fall below 65% and peaks to 80% during most sets, sometimes 85% when working large muscle groups like back and legs. I follow with a cool down walk of about 10 minutes to 65% and then stretch. On the 1st day after weight lifting, after the warm up, I walk so that my pulse rate peaks at 80% and goes back down to 70% in intervals all during the workout. I then cool down to 65% in about 8-10 minutes followed by stretching. On the 2nd after the weights, I do essentially the same except during 1-2 intervals I'll get my heart rate up to 85%. Studies indicate intervals are better than keeping a constant heart rate. I think that is especially a good idea as we get older.

Entry 8/4/2011

2011-08-05T06:48:00.001-05:00

Sorry I've been off line for the past few months.

My weight today was 215 lbs. I've now lost 30 lbs. since we started the "Lard Off" contest at the office.

I reached a stubborn plateau about a month and half ago at 220-218. Appears that I've finally broke through about a week ago. It's amazing to me how the human body remembers these plateaus. This is the low point I reached last year and two years before that. Previously when I reached these, I would get discouraged after 2-3 weeks and start binging more often. Once the binging became more frequent I started gaining. Then food would begin to be the "medicine" to relieve the disappointment of gaining and other life problems. This time however I became more resolute. Partly because of the weight loss contest but mostly because of the significant health improvements I've experienced.

You might ask why were the health improvements not sufficient motivation in previous weight loss attempts. The difference is that I was not at the plateau as long then as I have been this time. Before I was at the plateau about 2-3 weeks. This time its been about 2 1/2 months. More time to recognize the changes.

In general, the higher a person's weight, the higher the body's metabolic rate.) Your weight-loss efforts result in a new equilibrium with your now slower metabolism. This means that in order to lose more weight, you need to increase activity or decrease the calories you eat. Using the same approach that worked initially will maintain your weight loss, but it won't lead to more weight loss.

(incomplete post. out of time. try to finish later in day)

Entry 3/26/2011

2011-03-26T20:00:00.001-05:00

Weighed 223.4 today in shorts T-shirt and shoes. I've lost 21.6 lbs since Jan. 31. That's when we started the "Lard-Off" contest at the office. (see older post) Been losing steadily.

I have been on low-carbs since Janurary. Wasn't paying that much attention to the fats. my Cholesterol was LDL 107 and HDL 40 as of my physical last May. For the past 4 years my Cholesterol has been normal. Before it was not. Through exercise low carbs and daily intake of omega 3,mainly through fish oil capsules and walnuts, I am able to keep it in the normal range. I want to get my LDL below 100 and get the HDL up to at least 41. I've been lowering my fat intake. The only meat I eat is turkey, chicken and fish. Have cut out almost all red meat. Recently I've cut down on white meat. I will never be a vegetarian and I will eat a steak every now and then, but I haven't had one in 3 months at least.

Lifted weights today. If you look at the older post you'll see details of my exercise schedule. In summary I walk/jog 2 days and lift weights on the 3rd day. Rarely miss a day. If I do, I do the exercise I was suppose to do the day before.

Entry 3/14/2011

2011-03-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

We started this contest at the office to lose weight. It creates another form accountability. You are going to lose weight only when you make up your mind to do it. But having another person to account to will help maintain discipline and multiply the pleasure of losing. We weigh in every Monday at 2 PM. I weighed 230 lbs today. We have a rule that the person who loses the most percentage of weight in a week does not have to put $1 in the pot. I lost 5 Lbs from last week. However there is another rule. If you lose more than 4 lbs in week you still have to put a $1. That's because its not healthy to lose more the 3-4 pounds per week.

Entry 3/13/2011

2011-03-13T20:14:00.000-05:00

Well I haven't been doing a good job of posting. I hope to do better. I wieghed 232 lbs on Friday. I've lost 13 lbs since Jan. 31. That's a little over 2 lbs a week which is perfect. I'm back into a steady routine of walking/jogging 2 mi. 2days then lifting weights on the 3 rd day and repeating. As I've said before I have to exercise to keep my brain chemistry tuned to eat correctly. Beginning today I'm starting to cut back on meats. For the past 3 months I rarely ate red meat. Cutting back on chicken and fish now. Turkey will be the meat that I mostly eat.