No. Calories Needed

97 Days Without Caffeine

By NCN, on January 4th, 2009%

I should have waited until Wednesday, and this post would have had the much snappier title – 100 Days Without Caffeine – but I couldn’t wait!

I have been without caffeine for 97 days – and counting!

I stopped drinking soda on September 29 – see The 929 Project and my Health Optimization Plan for more information about what I am and what I am not eating- and I haven’t had one since. The only thing I’ve had, besides water, was a thimble full of grape juice for communion. Other that that, it’s been H2O all the way. And I feel great!

I don’t like talking about the past, especially now that I’m focusing so much on my future, but I will say that there was a time, not long ago, when I could drink a liter or two of Diet Mountain Dew – a day. Ugh. Now, I’m soda-free and caffeine free.

It took, maybe three or four days, to get rid of the craving for soda. Caffeine withdrawal headaches are painful! But now that I’ve gotten rid of the soda, I’m saving money at the grocery store, I feel much better, and I’m drinking lots of beneficial water.

Oh, and when I wake up, my brain doesn’t feel “cloudy” either. In the past, I didn’t “wake up” until after a couple of cans of the Dew. Now, I wash my face, brush my teeth, and drink a big, cold glass of water – and I’m wide awake. Amazing.

Weigh in in the morning!!!

50 Days Without Sugar, Flour, Potatoes, Bread, Or Soft Drinks

By NCN, on November 18th, 2008%

So far, I’m 50 for 50.

I’ve gone 50 days without eating sugar, flour, potatoes, or bread. I haven’t had a single piece of candy – or gum. I’m completely done with soft drinks and I only drink water.

On September 29, 2008, I finally decided to focus, with all of my energy, on losing weight. I created my Health Optimization Plan and my Weekly Workout Plan – and I’ve (religiously) stuck to them both.

My diet, such as it is, consists primarily of -

Strawberries, almonds, cucumbers, lemons, lettuce, cashews, green apples, grilled chicken, turkey, lean beef, pecans, eggs, and water.

Basically, I’m following a lower-carb diet, as suggested by Doug Kauffman from Know The Cause. For the first four weeks, I was taking several anti-fungal supplements and now I’m taking pro-biotics.

I’m rarely hungry, and when I am, I simply eat one of the foods on the above list. I feel great – I feel better than I have in 5, maybe 10, years! Seriously. I’m exercising (a minimum of) 5 days a week, I’m sleeping better, and I have so much more energy.

I’m going to do this. I am going to reach a healthy, sustainable weight, and I’m going to feel good about myself. This time, unlike any other time in my adult life, I’m absolutely committed to being healthy.

50 days down, a lifetime to go. Rock on!!!

Why I Will No Longer Eat Wendy’s Grilled Chicken

By NCN, on November 6th, 2008%

As part of my diet, I’m avoiding foods that contain refined sugars and starches. Yesterday, for lunch, I went to Wendy’s and ordered a grilled chicken breast (just the meat, no bun) and a side salad. After eating the chicken, I felt that old “rush” – which I know to be associated with the eating of sugars. Confused, since I assume that I was just eating a piece of grilled chicken and some lettuce, I went to the Wendy’s website and searched for nutritional information (pdf) about their food.

Under grilled chicken breast, here’s what I found -

Ultimate Chicken Grill Fillet: Chicken Breast, Water, Seasoning (salt, natural flavors, corn maltodextrin, autolyzed yeast extract, modified corn starch, onion powder, paprika, spice, garlic powder, sugar, disodium idosinate, disodium guanylate, dextrose, artificial flavors), Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Phosphates. (Information correct as of October 2008.)

I ordered a piece of grilled chicken, but what I got was chicken plus sugar and sugar-type ingredients. So, from now on, I will not be ordering grilled chicken from Wendy’s – or anything else from their menu.

I’ve only had “fast food” twice in the last month, so not having it all will not be that big of a deal. I’ll just have to do a little better job of planning, so that I don’t find myself hungry and without something to eat.

Breakfast For October 3

By NCN, on October 3rd, 2008%

Foods Eaten -

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 tablespoon honey

Caloric breakdown -

This week, I need to keep things simple and straightforward. I’m not going to attempt to write about anything other than my actual diet. I will not pontificate, speculate, complain, or opine. I will simply list what I’m eating, track my water intake, and see just how much weight I can lose. I’ll also mention any exercise.

Water Intake -

2 cups

Exercise -

None Yet

Current Weight -

250.4 pounds (Down 1.8 pounds since 09/29/08)

Breakfast For October 2 (Down 1.8 Pounds)

By NCN, on October 2nd, 2008%