Mindflayer's looking for abs Log

Sept 24th I purchased a pedometer and started doing 10k steps/day. Upped to 13k steps on Oct 4th and upped again to 20k steps since November 25th.
Finally saw the Dermatologist on Dec 4, 2023. He switched me off NovoPrednozone. Thank G. He said that one of the side effects of NP was weight gain.
I have to admit I was perpetually hungry while on that 1/day drug.

I still gained weight and hit 190lbs on Dec 11th.

Started Taking Methotrexate on Dec 10th. Taken only 1/week.
My skin is way better now so I will not bore you with the details of my grind down. Back to 180 and losing about 1lb/week now.
Doc advised that cold showers were good for my skin and too hot was not good.
Hot showers and my 10k run are likely out.
May post again if/when I get down under 170 again.

Lastly I was in LV last week and hit 35k steps two days in a row. Walked from Mirage to MGM and back and thru Miracle mile shops and Caesar's forums etc.
did laps in the Casino while the wife was gambling too.

Also of note, during the LV trip, my wife hit a UNICOW on the "Invaders from the planet Moolah" slot machine. It gave 400 free spins. (455 by the end of the free spins, as extra free spins were added during the initial 400.) She won $331 on a c75 bet. The most interesting part is that it took about 45 minutes for the entire 455 spins to complete themselves. No need to push buttons during the bonus spins.

March 28
Wt: 173.7 lbs.
Steps 20,081
Dist 14.66km

I am posting today because it is my once a year 2 day fast.. Easter Friday and Saturday. Total time is about 60h with 0 calories.
16 oz coffee (2 cups) in the am 6 cups of water during the day and one can of diet soda in the evening.
I did the one day fast about 16x over the last 16 weeks (usually Fridays).
On Sunday am, I should be in the 171's.
Every day I have walked over 20k steps. I allow myself to miss once per month, as I sometimes am doing work or studying
in the evening and when I check the time, it is too late to get that last 1k steps on the treadmill. (its past 12)

I will start posting daily since my goal is to get down to 154 lbs which I think will be much harder than the first 17.
I will just post my steps and wt. Sometime I will throw in a food photo.

I will also have a semi break between May 30 and June 15 as I will be travelling during that time. Goal is to maintain wt. and
not gain any during that time, but no guarantee as I will be on a Cruise for 2 weeks with a lot of free food (included) with the
trip.

I am going to set a time goal on this at 24 weeks to hit 155lbs. That will be roughly -3/4 lbs per week.
If the scale says 159.9 on Labor day I will be pretty happy. Hope I don't lose too much muscle mass on the way down. Will keep
my protein up and carbs down, and throw in a bunch of weights 4 out of 7 days. (not heavy, but to keep muscle and toned.)
Cheers

March 30
Wt: 171.2 lbs. Yesterday was a fasting day
Yesterday
Steps 20,046
Dist 14.63km

I am 46h into the 60h fast. Not hungry. No noticeable weakness while on treadmill.
I estimate that the distance travelled is actually 10% high, as it takes me about 160-170 minutes on the
treadmill to complete 20k steps.. and the treadmill is at 3m/h or 4.8km/h and that is around 13.2km.
I also have the treadmill at 2-3% grade for the entire time.

I am still on medication for my skin, but it does not have the always hungry side effect.

Mar 31 2024
Wt: 168.6 lbs. Completed 60h fast.
Woke up and when I stood up, felt weak and dizzy! Put on my Runmefit and lay back down.
BP while laying down 108/68. Standing up 135/95! Took my time (1 min) getting up and was ok.
Was probably because I was dehydrated. My real wt. is probably 172 or so. This is what boxers
must fee like. Broke my fast with 1/2 avocado, protein shake, yoghurt, 3 scrambled eggs and toast.
Steps 21,117
Dist 15.41km Did a rough check on the distance my watch and it seems closer. Will do a more
accurate test this week when I have time.

April 1,
Wt: this am 172.9
Steps 20,314
Dist 14.82km

April 2,
Wt: this am 174.1
Steps 23,777
Dist 17.35km

April 3,
Wt: this am 173.6
Steps 20,055
Dist 14.65km

April 4,
Wt: this am 174.1
Steps 20,001

April 5,
Wt: this am 173.9
Steps 20,005

April 6,
Wt: this am 173.0
Steps 20,159
Dist:14.71km

April 7,
Wt: this am 173.5
Steps 20,194
Dist:14.74km

April 7,
Wt: this am 172.6
Steps 21,873
Dist:15.96km

I haven't been on in a while.
Should update.
Not trying to make excuses, but give an update of what went on in the last 3 weeks.
kept up the 20k steps per day except for a 3 day run when I was doing math exam prep.
It is a long story and if you needed more explanation it is in Business/Finance and investing.
Essentially wrote 3x 2.5h math exams each day for 3 days in a row, in prep for taking a Calculus 2 exam.
Wrote this exam 38 years ago and want to know if I still have what it takes to get a degree.

Second thing that came up in the last 3 weeks is that I essentially did my first deal
as a Real Estate Agent. Was an intense 2 week back and forth, but got the deal done.
Closing is on May 8th.
Weight balooned up to 176 lbs. again.

Will try to keep a more regular posting as this is my only way to keep myself accountable.
No more excuses as I have no more classes for 4months. Not even sure I will be going
back to school as my wife was not happy that I kept telling her to not bother me while
I was writing my prep 'exams.' The side story to that is one of her friends retired less than
6 months ago and died a two weeks ago. Funeral was 3 days ago and she wants to
spend more time with me, rather than me working and/or going back to school.

Starting over again...
Current wt. 176.0
Goal 158.
Will be back on schedule for 3 weeks then 2 weeks off as I will be in N. Europe.

May 5th.
Yesterday's wt, steps and km.
174.0 (fasted on May 3rd)
20,325 steps
14.62km

May 6th.
Yesterday's wt, steps and km.
175.9
20,707 steps
15.11km

May 7th.
Yesterday's wt, steps and km.
175.2
20,701 steps
15.10km
Adding one new small change to my daily routine.
I am making a protein drink (scoop of protein powder, collagen for my skin, 75% water and 25% 30 cal. unsweetened almond milk in the morning. Drink at 2pm after
any resistance/wt training)
I used to only have the protein drink maybe 2/week. now going for 6/week. (skip on fasting day)

May 8th.
Yesterday's wt, steps and km.
175.0
20,501 steps
14.96km

May 9th.
174.3
21,047 steps
15.36km
----------
May 10th. Friday Fasting Day
174.1
20,050 steps
14.63km
------------
May 11th.
172.6
22,547 steps
16.45km
------------
May 12th.
173.9
20,027 steps
14.61km
-----------
May 13th.
174.8
20,205 steps
14.74km
----------
May 14th. Try Fasting (failed)
175.0
20,642 steps
15.06km
---------
May 15th.
173.2
20,055 steps
14.64km
--------
May 16th.
176.5 =(
20,206 steps
14.74km

Finally back....from a decent vacation.
Will post regularly (multiple days of records) till I get caught up and get to post
my vacation results and pics at the end. Will post the full vacation update in
Other Topics > Travel

May 17th. fasting day ***
175.9
20,257 steps
14.78km
----------
May 18th.
171.7 lbs
20,046 steps
14.63km
------------
May 19th.
174.6 lbs
20,005 steps
14.60km

May 20th.
174.3 lbs
23,674 steps
17.26km
--------------
May 21
174.1 lbs
20,229 steps
14.76km
-------------
May 22.
174.8 lbs
20,041 steps
14.62km

May 23
175.0 lbs
26,098 steps
19.05km
---------
May 24 FASTING Day
173.7 lbs
20,223 steps
14.76km
---------
May 25
171.9 lbs
21,555 steps
15.73km
---------

May 26
174.3 lbs
20,056 steps
14.64km
---------
May 27
175.2 lbs
22,425 steps
16.37km
---------
May 28
174.6 lbs
20,386 steps
14.88km
---------
Tomorrow I leave on a 16 day vacation. I expect many fewer steps on flying days as i will not be moving for for probably 10-12h. Flying/Busses/Taxis etc.

May 29
173.7 lbs in the AM
Air Canada Lounge.. free food and beer on tap.
5 pieces of broccoli 1 egg and diet coke.. 150 cal?
21,008 steps
15.34km
----------

May 30
wt ?
lost 8h on the flight
ate 2 eggs, 1 sausage,0 hashbrown, coffee, 1 mini croissant
1/2 mini yoghurt 500 cal?
meal before landing
5340 steps only..
3.90km

May 31
wt?
Breakfast Coffee
Taxi from Southampton to Portsmouth
Spent the day at Portsmouth Historical Docks.
got to go in/on the HMS Victory.
This ship is the oldest 'active' warship in the world. Launched 1765
Scenes from Ridley Scott's movie Napoleon were filmed on this ship.
in the movie the ship was called HMS Bellephron.

Lunch at the Gunwharf Quay. It is a very nice first rate
mall on the Portsmouth waterfront.

13,157 steps
9.60km
--------------
June 1
wt?
Boarding Day at Southampton
up at 6am.
BP 108/70 heartrate 66 bpm.
6:20am Coffee, 2 pcs toast with marmalade! eggs, baked beans. 800 cal at the hotel.
check out is 10:45
Taxi Pick up 11am.
At cruise ship dock before noon.
On board the cruise ship
Sky Princess at 12:30
1pm hot dog and 1/2fries, Fanta soda 700 calories on deck 16 poolside. (not at the buffet which is also on deck 16 and open)
1:30-2:30 walking on deck 18 on the walking track
7 laps = 1mile , 3 laps = 1000 steps.
Explored the Gym, Spa and track.
We have a stateroom 320 sqf. which is a semi suite. I consider it very large in comparison
to anything that I have stayed in before.
6pm dinner/Caesar salad, Cod, Blueberry Crumble, Decaf Coffee. 700 cal
7:30pm 1 scoop of ice cream. 200 cal.
8pm+ walking on deck
25,352 steps, 18.51km

I am just guessing at all the calories. probably under estimating by 10-15%.
The goal is NOT to gain more than 4lbs. on this cruise. 2lbs/week and walk as much as I can.
It will be hard to resist the endless food.

Jun 2, 2024 day at sea.
Up at 6:30am
8k steps before 8am
breakfast .. coffee only.
walking after breakfast
Lunch, chicken taco and 1/2 fries, can of soda. 700 cal
more walking after lunch
took a nap 3pm-4:30pm still not 100% adjusted to the time.
6pm dinner salad, beef tenderloin, fruit salad. 500 cal.
tonight was a formal night.
I have a tuxedo, but did not bring it. I took it to get altered as it
is old. Tailor said the style is +20 years old and did not want to do it.
Recommended I buy a new suit instead.
Bought one and had it tailored to fit.
Of those I saw, 90% wore suits/ 5% not formal and 5% Tux.
Saw about 30 men that evening.. all 60-80 with 'outdated' tuxedos.
1 or 2 of those might actually have been smoking Jackets. (dark blue/ dark colored crushed velvet)
27/30 wore black bow ties, 2 were red, one was a blue bow tie.
7:30pm 2 scoops gelato, pistachio/mango. 450 cal?
1650 cal?
20,354 steps
14.86km

Jun 3, 2024. Day 3 of cruise: Port of Skagen. North tip of Denmark.
This is where the North Sea meets the Baltic Sea.
Up at 6:30am.
7700 steps before 8:30am
Breakfast is fruit and coffee two eggs and smoked salmon. 500 cal.
it is hard to not eat when your wife has a big plate of everything.
Sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, marmalade, juice, beans, and various other things...
There are at least 50 solid things at the breakfast buffet.
at 13,800 steps by 11am.
Lunch is smoked salmon, chicken sandwich, blueberry crumble, 2 cookies. 950 cal
Afternoon trip to the beach at Skagen.
"Put left foot in the North sea and right foot in Baltic Sea at the same time"
very touristy thing to do.
6pm Dinner
Cod and fettuccine Alfredo, Diet Coke. 700 cal.
10pm walking on deck.
snack, 5 pc shrimp 250 cal.
Wt? Est 2400 calories, 30,473 steps, 22.26km walking.

Day 4 Copenhagen Denmark
up 6:45am 8k steps by 8am.
weighed myself in the 24h gym 78.2kg = 172.4lbs..
probably off from my home scale by 1-2 lbs. but will record vs th 78.2kg on the ship.
Breakfast eggs, fruit, coffee.. 400 cal
after breakfast another 4k steps
11:30 walking tour of Copenhagen,
visited the bronze statue of the little mermaid and New harbour.
I have a puzzle of that place.
no lunch, dinner
shrimp and spinach, breaded haddock, mashed potato, carrots
Chocolate mousse 900 cal.
late night snack apricot crumble 200cal.
31,163 steps 22.75km

Day 5, June 5 Rostock Germany
up 5:40am 5k steps by 7am.
weighed myself in the 24h gym 78.45kg = 172.7lbs..

Early mustering at 7:50am.
2h30min train ride to Berlin.
While waiting in the theater to get assigned to a bus.. medical emergency of some elderly person.
Milk and 2 cookies on the train ride. 400 cal
walking, lots of photos. Berlin Wall, Brandenburg gate, Checkpoint Charlie, WW2 Museum.
lunch at a historic German style restaurant. sitting on wooden benches, old wooden tables.
1 slice beef, 1 potato, 1 sausage, diet coke. 500 cal.
Walking around tourist area, shopping.
Bought/shared a German chocolate cookie treat had 1/2 = 250 calories
Only 14k steps by 60m. Back in Rostock at 9pm.
Dinner Veal pate, Sausage Chocolate mousse and lemon cake, lemonade, 900 calories.
walked on deck till 11pm.
20,277 steps 14.80km