Alligatorob's Diary

Speaking of relative measures, somewhere I heard that "muscle weighs less than fat". I never quite understood that - a pound of fat would weigh the same as a pound of muscle. Maybe it's something like a square foot of muscle would weigh less than a square foot of fat? Probably.
A cubic centimeter of muscle weighs MORE than a cubic centimeter of fat, not less. Fat floats, muscle sinks.
 
A cubic centimeter of muscle weighs MORE than a cubic centimeter of fat, not less. Fat floats, muscle sinks.

Right - I must have reversed it. Memory is treacherous.
 
It was a good day, I ate well and the headache is 99% gone. I went a little under on calories, but I ate a late dinner, a big salad and just feel full. It was only 16 calories....

Today I spent a lot of the day helping a niece move, it was hard work and I was on my feet for hours. Not something I could have done before losing weight, I impressed myself. I have an exercise confession, I don't much like planned exercise, but I do like physical labor and the like. I pushed hard on the bike to get to the point that now I feel like I can go on rides when the weather warms up, but I am not highly motivated to work out every day on it. Walking is also something I can do now, and I am doing a lot more of it, but doing a regimented daily walk isn't something I would like. I am thinking about getting some kind of step counter, like I see a lot of folks here using, just to see how much walking I am doing. Any suggestions on make or model would be appreciated. I bought one, some kind of wizbang bargain smart watch. After an hour of frustration at not being able to get it to do anything I sent it back. Guess I wasn't smart enough for that watch.

Thanks LaMa, W2L, and Petal I will be careful, good suggestions. I've been watching a Great Lectures series on the history of the plague, certainly has me thinking.

There used to be some ad campaign that said the best thing about a headache is when you notice it's gone.
Thanks Jack. My father used to say something about a guy who enjoyed hitting himself on the head with a hammer, it just felt so good when he quit, similar idea. Maybe that could be applied to my years of overeating, it does feel good now that I've quit.
"muscle weighs less than fat"
I think Jack got it right the first time, and if muscle doesn't weigh less it certainly should!

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984 was the year Ragnhild Eriksdotter died. Ragnhild was the daugher of Eric Bloodaxe who according to Norse Saga was "was an ambitious and scheming woman"; she may have been, and it seems she was pretty good at it. Thorfinn Torf-Einarsson, was Ragnhild's Earl (the Earl of Orkney). Ragnhild first married Arnfinn Thorfinnsson, eldest son of Thorfinn. Arnfinn was then murdered. Her next husband was Arnfinn's brother, Havard Thorfinnsson who may have been involved in his brother's murder (Ragnhild's first husband). Next Ragnhild convinced Thorfinn grandson, Einar Klining, to kill Havard for which she would marry him and make him Earl. Havard was killed shortly thereafter. Before Einar Klining could marry her, Ragnhild had promised Einar Hardkiopt, another grandson of Thorfinn, the same thing, if he would kill Einar Klining. This he did, but then Ragnhild took Havard's younger brother Liot Thorfinnsson as her husband. After Liot went on to defend Orkney and claim the Earldom, he died of his wounds from the battle of Skidmoor in Caithness. Even if she was guilty of of only half of this, she was a pretty amazing women, not one I'd want to marry though.
 
Glad the headache's pretty much gone Rob. What a relief that must be.

I get what you mean by enjoying getting your exercise from working rather than an exercise regimen. i think I've always been similar in a way. I used to get most of my exercise just from daily life. I am happy now though that I'm incorporating my daily walks, as my daily life isn't offering me as much natural exercise and I really love walking. I think it's all about finding what works well for each person, as long as we find some way to keep somewhat active.
 
I went a little under on calories, but I ate a late dinner, a big salad and just feel full. It was only 16 calories....
Then I assume you didn't add a dressing. Try to always have a little fat with your meals, even if it's just a teaspoon of oil (50 cal) or a couple of nuts: not all vitamins are water-soluble and the fat-soluble ones will just go through you if you don't eat them with a bit of fat.
I think Jack got it right the first time, and if muscle doesn't weigh less it certainly should!
You can try it out yourself with a bowl of water, a piece of lean meat, and a piece of fat trimmings.
Even if she was guilty of of only half of this, she was a pretty amazing women, not one I'd want to marry though
If she had been scheming so much why not marry the young guy right away, *then* convince the old fellas to murder each other until he made earl? This way she would've risked counter-deceit and exposure at every step, I don't think that makes sense. Sounds like history blackening her name after the fact to me.
 
Rob I got rid of my Fitbit as I ended up getting frustrated the days I didn't achieve much. It was a motivator for a short time . I am busy around the place most of the time when I do get out for a proper walk I enjoy it and I try to be more active . I don't miss my tracker or the stats at all. It was yet more technology taking over my life. But lots love them .

You know you can buy a very simple step counter to put on your waistband . That might work for you or if your phone is a smartphone it should count your steps if you keep it in your pocket.
 
Then I assume you didn't add a dressing. Try to always have a little fat with your meals, even if it's just a teaspoon of oil (50 cal) or a couple of nuts: not all vitamins are water-soluble and the fat-soluble ones will just go through you if you don't eat them with a bit of fat.
Thanks LaMa, I didn't know that. I never (or not since this diet started) put dressing on salad. I went back and looked, over the last 15 days I have had between 9 and 40 grams of fat a day, most days are between 10 and 20 grams. Is there some minimum I should target? The new calorie counter thing I am using tracks fat, but I have not paid much attention to it. I guess I just assumed the less the better. One thing that surprised me is that on my higher fat days much of the fat comes from my peach wine, I did not know wine contained fat. If it really does that could be a solution I would like! Scientifically I know you are right on the weight of fat vs muscle thing, but if I were writing the laws of the universe muscle would weigh less, it only seems fair.
I don't miss my tracker or the stats at all. It was yet more technology taking over my life.
I understand, and that may be the way I go. I am not really adapted to cell phones... and as to technology taking over my life I find it mostly irritating. I will see if there is something on my iphone that will count steps. Never thought of that, but to be honest about the only thing I do with my phone, other than make calls, is to take pictures and I'm not very good at that.
I really like my Fitbit Charge 2 & think it is reasonably accurate & simple to use.
Thanks Cate, I will look into it.
I think it's all about finding what works well for each person, as long as we find some way to keep somewhat active.
Thanks Liza, and I think that is what I am doing, but you put it to words better than I. It sure feels good to have lost enough weight to have options, being able to walk and ride a bike again really feels good, even if I don't do it every day.
 
Rob - you don't use salad dressing? That's pretty amazing. I really need to get out of that habit - there are so many sneaky calories in there.

As far as the fat weighing less the muscle, it does seem unfair - but then again, I'd rather be muscular and fit vs. fat and unfit, even if the fit version of me weighed more.
 
Here´s some light reading about dietary fat, in case you´re interested: Healthy Fat Intake | Cleveland Clinic
If that´s too much reading (it isn´t): back when I did WW we were told to eat at least 3 teaspoons of oil a day no matter how low our points were. Just for basic bodily functions. It´s been a while but they weren´t very fat-friendly at the time so I´m going to guess that IS a pretty basic number.
 
Here´s some light reading about dietary fat, in case you´re interested: Healthy Fat Intake | Cleveland Clinic
Thanks LaMa, I did read it and afterwards did some online research. That article recommends 30% of calories come from fat, right now I am averaging about 15%. A lot of other folks seem to agree with the 30% number, but I found what seems to be a pretty well researched article that disagrees (Is an Ultra-Low-Fat Diet Healthy? The Surprising Truth). In that paper they are talking about an Ultra-Low-Fat diet, 10% of calories from fat, and conclude that it can be healthy and lead to more weight loss. I am a bit above the ultra-low 10%, but kind of in that range. You certainly have given me something to think about.

Jack, I agree salad dressing is one of the sneaky calorie things. When I started keeping close track of calories I discovered that and decided to try going without. It took a while to get used to, no question salad dressing can make salad taste better, but over time I grew adjusted to it and now have no desire for the dressing. That said in most cases even a dressed salad is probably better than many higher calorie meals.
 
That article recommends 30% of calories come from fat, right now I am averaging about 15%. A lot of other folks seem to agree with the 30% number, but I found what seems to be a pretty well researched article that disagrees (Is an Ultra-Low-Fat Diet Healthy? The Surprising Truth). In that paper they are talking about an Ultra-Low-Fat diet, 10% of calories from fat, and conclude that it can be healthy and lead to more weight loss.
You do you, of course. I´m a hypochondriac so I get scared my brain functions might suffer in the long run (and I know my bowels hate me when I don´t eat enough fat even just for a day or two) but if you´re feeling good that´s what matters. Fresh herbs with cut-up citrus fruit or flavored vinegars can be very nice as fat-free dressings for salad, by the way.
 
One compromise that I’ve learned is that I never put dressing on a salad anymore. I dip my fork in the dressing before I load it up with salad. So I taste boost but use so little dressing. Like maybe a 1/2 a tsp to a tsp over the course of eating a salad. Just a thought for those who still can’t go dressing cold turkey.
 
Just did a good bike ride. It has warmed up a bit and a lot of the snow is gone so I decided to try a trail I found online. Its an old railroad bed that's been converted to a trail. It goes to the salt evaporation operations on the Great Salt Lake, a pretty desolate area. I only rode the last 3 or 4 miles and back, probably a 7 mile round trip. Its a part that's closed from March to October for bird nesting so you have to do it in winter. Not much scenery, flat dead looking marsh land no buildings, no people, only the salt operations in the distance, probably 5 miles away. But at least I now know what's there. The trail was flat, and a mix of mud and gravel, pretty wet so I was glad for the gravel where it was.

The picture is taken near the trails's end.

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Well done, Rob on the ride. 7km is excellent. It would have been hard going. That looks so desolate.
 
Not much scenery, flat dead looking marsh land no buildings, no people, only the salt operations in the distance, probably 5 miles away.
I guess marshes would always look dead in winter, right? I love that picture though: those wide open skies!
 
I actually like the sound of that trail. Sounds nice and quiet and peaceful :) I do like when I see people on trails now and again though in case one gets a sprained ankle or something and could use some help!
 
It was a good day, I ate well, got in a good bike ride and feel good. Dinner was a little challenging, ate at friends who did not fix anything very diet friendly. No veggies without lots of cheese and goop, and no salad. I managed to eat some pork and salmon, it was good so I did fine.

If you have an iphone, Rob, it counts your steps. Just keep it on you when you're up and about.

How to turn your iPhone into a step counter
Thanks Rob, I will try than, now to figure out how. As a friend suggested I may turn it over to my IT team, the grandkids.
One compromise that I’ve learned is that I never put dressing on a salad anymore. I dip my fork in the dressing before I load it up with salad
Thanks Frank, that's a really good idea, thanks, I will give it a try.
That looks so desolate.
It really is, the margins of the Great Salt Lake are. Wet most of the time, fresher in dry years (as the lake recedes) and saltier in wet years (as the lake rises). No permanent development is possible, the only human activity out there is salt drying operations, and a trail or two. Winter is the only good time to go, even if you are allowed in summer it's extremely buggy and smells pretty bad.
I guess marshes would always look dead in winter, right? I love that picture though: those wide open skies!
Yep, all the vegetation is frozen and dead. Actually there is a low fog that is limiting visibility to about 5 miles, on a clear day you can see mountains 100 miles away, and nothing but a little marsh, Salt Lake, and barren desert in between. I do like the desert.
Sounds nice and quiet and peaceful
Yes, but one thing I didn't mention is that duck hunting is allowed in the area and I could hear firing in the distance. No ducks or hunters along the trail. I have mixed feelings about that, but understand, the ducks are well managed and not endangered. More importantly though it broadens political support for preserving places like this. There are a lot of hunters who are pretty conservative politically and would oppose "locking up more land" except for the hunting. So I am ok with it. But I am not a duck hunter.

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1012 on the Muslim calendar is about 1603 on our Gregorian calendar, and 1603 was the year that the Dutch established their first trading post in what is now Indonesia. I don't know much about the history of the Dutch East Indies, except that it gave us Mata Hari. I have done some work in Indonesia and found it a very interesting place. I don't suppose Dutch colonization went any better than it did with the other Europeans. One thing I found of interest was that at one point I was asked to find a "world class expert" on a fairly specific topic. The best person I knew was Dutch and so I nominated him without thinking much, he was quickly rejected without official explanation. I was told informally that they did not want a Dutch guy. So I guess there may still be a few hard feelings. Other than that I found the Indonesians I worked with to be very nice people, and quite professional and competent.
 
Rob that's a great bike ride and a lovely photo too. I'm so delighted you are out enjoying the bike rides now . What a different person to 8 months ago.

Regarding dressing on salads my friend never has on hers and she is probably a US size 0 . Go figure !
 
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