Monitoring My Input

December 17, 2007 · 9 comments

I don’t keep a food journal but every once in awhile I like to log what I eat just to keep myself honest, and to make sure I still have a good handle on how much I should be eating. I’ll keep track of my consumption during the day, grade how I felt it went, and then add up the calories to see if I am indeed aware of how much I am eating. I took the extra step today of logging my drinking as well. Sometimes I’ll be surprised at how many calories the day added up to - but as I go through this exercise I am surprised less and less. I typically know now when I have been bad.

This is a pretty typical day for me now, although I got home later than usual so I ate dinner later than I would like. I’d also typically eat a protein for dinner but being late also meant leftovers and the pickings were slim. I often have eggs for breakfast but not today.

5:30 12 oz V8, banana, yogurt
6:00 16 oz water
6:30 24 oz decaf black coffee, kind fruit & nut bar
7:15 16 oz water
10:00 16 oz water, banana
12:00 36 oz unsweetened ice tea (I added sugar free sweetener), Green Mill low-fat Thai Chicken salad, small bowl of chicken tortilla soup
3:15 16 oz water
6:30 16 oz water
7:15 16 oz water, kind fruit & nut bar
8:30 12 oz water, 1/2 cup wasabi peas, bowl of leftover spaghetti with sauce, 1/2 cup of canned corn, yogurt
10:00 12 oz water

Total of 180 oz of non caloric liquid, and about 1900 calories on the day which is about a 400 calorie deficit for the target for my weight. I also lifted weights this morning.

Overall I felt good about my consumption today. I could have skipped the soup at lunch, but other than that I did pretty well. I’m sure the dieticians in the crowd are cringing at my lack of veggies, fruit and protein. But just take a look at what I used to eat and recognize that the change is good, even if it is not perfect. But is a gallon and a half too much to be drinking?

Overall I feel good about this start to an important week for me. Tomorrow is key as I plan to get back to the cardio program.

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{ 9 comments }

Abimars December 18, 2007 at 2:06 am: Wow! thats alot of water, wish I could drink that much
Lauren December 18, 2007 at 8:23 am: Never too much water! Thats the rule all people trying to lose weight need to follow. I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, your progress is impressive. Just on your last post as well though, don’t try and make up too much for your bad week, its better to settle back into your rhythm again. You will find whatever damage you did will come off pretty quickly….oh and yeah, maybe a touch more protein and vegies!
Steve v4.6 December 18, 2007 at 10:30 am: Hydration is a good thing. Minimizing carbs after 5pm helps a lot too. Best wishes for your efforts this week!
Vilma December 18, 2007 at 1:18 pm: Hey John… good for you on the water thing. I agree with Lauren & Steve. It basically depends on your level of activity, your height, weight & other factors. Check out a couple of post that I wrote about earlier this year on water consumption.

http://vphealthandfitness.com/re-too-much-water

180 oz. if good for you. At one time I was consuming over 200 oz. myself but I was really active then. Right now I try and get in ATLEAST 128 oz ( 1 gallon) per day.
Debo Hobo December 18, 2007 at 1:39 pm: Wow your eating habits have dratstically changed for the better. The water intake level is very good as well. Is that enough calories foy you a day though? Calories are fuel and without the right amount of fuel you’re not doing your body any favors.

I think you are doing very well though. I need to up my water intake.
Fat Man December 18, 2007 at 7:47 pm: John, did you remember this at the end of the day or did you jot everything down as you consumed it?
john - from fat to fit December 18, 2007 at 7:53 pm: Thanks for the comments all.

Vilma, that’s a great authoritative post on water.

Fat Man - I wrote it down. The times for the water represent when I finished the water - I didn’t slam them, sometimes I nursed them for quite awhile. I get a bottle at McDonalds at the same time I get my coffee (this is during my commute) then I refill it throughout the day. Yeah I know bringing my own bottle would be cheaper but I’m a creature of habit…
Skinny Guy December 18, 2007 at 8:29 pm: Even if you don’t track every day, it’s a great idea to do it occasionally to keep yourself on track. As far as the water goes, I generally fall at the minimum end of the requirements, but as long as your back teeth aren’t floating away, you should be fine…
John December 19, 2007 at 7:17 am: Sounds like you are up for quite a long time each day. I think I have you beat though. I usually eat breakfast at 4:20 a.m. and have my last snack at around 11 p.m. Luckily that is only my schedule three days a week.