OK, Rob. I am not an expert but this does not look good. I'll just say this so you know I said something. About a quarter of your calories here were from alcohol and only 725 from food. You're starving yourself for too long and too consistently. If I were you I would be concerned about nutrient absorption and other complications like gastroparesis. From what I understand, you may be altering your metabolism so that when you eventually stop losing weight (and that will happen at some point), it will come raging back. Take care of yourself, man!Alligatorob's Diary
- Thread starter alligatorob
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OK, Rob. I am not an expert but this does not look good. I'll just say this so you know I said something. About a quarter of your calories here were from alcohol and only 725 from food. You're starving yourself for too long and too consistently. If I were you I would be concerned about nutrient absorption and other complications like gastroparesis. From what I understand, you may be altering your metabolism so that when you eventually stop losing weight (and that will happen at some point), it will come raging back. Take care of yourself, man!
alligatorob
Respected Member
Rob, I appreciate your concern, and you do have me thinking. First yesterday was an outlier, I know I ate too little and drank too much. I was mostly happy that the drinking didn't lead to a binge, there was a time it would have. I don't know about my metabolism, I don't feel slowed down, if anything I feel more energetic than I have in years. I had to look gastroparesis up, first I have heard the word. I don't seem to have any of the listed symptoms. All that said I did manage to get an appointment with my doctor, not until the 17th, he has been on vacation. I do plan to talk with him about my diet and weight loss and get his insight. I agree with you I know I will have to stop losing weight at some point, and have been thinking a lot about that and how it might work. Its one of the reasons I follow your diary so closely, I know you are where I hope to be some day. In fact I spend a lot of my time here reading about how people have transitioned to and managed maintenance.
Not great news on the bike and exercise front, I took my bike into the shop today and they could not make the trainer fit. Problem is my tires and rims are too wide. The guy was however helpful and convinced me that I should try riding in the snow, and he looked up so lower priced Walmart exercise cycles on his computer. So when I got home I gave the bike a try, it didn't go too well. I did manage 1 lap, but slipped and slid too much, I kind of fell on the uphill part but landed on my feet. Not sure that's going to work. He did tell me that the track around the lake is flat and usually beaten down so I may try that on a sunny day, but its not a day in and day out solution. So I guess I am going to see what I can find for a stationary exercise bike. I need to get back on it.
Not great news on the bike and exercise front, I took my bike into the shop today and they could not make the trainer fit. Problem is my tires and rims are too wide. The guy was however helpful and convinced me that I should try riding in the snow, and he looked up so lower priced Walmart exercise cycles on his computer. So when I got home I gave the bike a try, it didn't go too well. I did manage 1 lap, but slipped and slid too much, I kind of fell on the uphill part but landed on my feet. Not sure that's going to work. He did tell me that the track around the lake is flat and usually beaten down so I may try that on a sunny day, but its not a day in and day out solution. So I guess I am going to see what I can find for a stationary exercise bike. I need to get back on it.
Yeah, if the bike's slipping, then I guess it's time for its winter nap, apart from the occasional sunny day around the lakeside path. As was being said the other day, a fall, especially of an over-50 body, can have effects that last for ages - it's a chance not worth taking.
I'm glad you've got the doctor's appointment in place.
I'm glad you've got the doctor's appointment in place.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Today was a better day than yesterday, got above 1,000 calories without alcohol. I am feeling good. Probably will go out looking for a stationary exercise bike in the morning.
You are right Amy, I don't need to risk a bad fall, and this body has been over 50 for a while.
Friday
breakfast
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
lunch
sardines 180
banana 100
dinner - a big salad
lettuce and greens 40
cheese 125
turkey 220
pickled beets 34
apple 94
snack
banana 100
total calories 1,083
Joanne's Sacred Scribes say:
Angel Number 1083 is a message from your angels that you are currently receiving Divine guidance and inspired ideas and thoughts from your angels. Listen to your intuition and take heed of its advice and guidance - then take positive action. Trust that the Universe will provide all that you need in your life as you live and serve your Divine life purpose.
Angel Number 1083 indicates that you are being guided by the angels and Ascended Masters through your meditations and intuition, particularly in regards to your material, financial and career aspects. Have faith and trust that the Universe will provide, always.
Olga on the other hand says:
The feeling Olga gets from Angel Number 1083 is fulfillment, wrathful, and embarrassed. The purpose of Angel Number 1083 is summarized in these words: Expedite, Conceptualize, and Educate.
Just noticed this disclaimer on Olga's website:
This is Olga's view of Angel Number 1083. It may not apply to you whatsoever. Do not act one way or another based on this information.
Probably the wisest words found there.
You are right Amy, I don't need to risk a bad fall, and this body has been over 50 for a while.
Friday
breakfast
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
lunch
sardines 180
banana 100
dinner - a big salad
lettuce and greens 40
cheese 125
turkey 220
pickled beets 34
apple 94
snack
banana 100
total calories 1,083
Joanne's Sacred Scribes say:
Angel Number 1083 is a message from your angels that you are currently receiving Divine guidance and inspired ideas and thoughts from your angels. Listen to your intuition and take heed of its advice and guidance - then take positive action. Trust that the Universe will provide all that you need in your life as you live and serve your Divine life purpose.
Angel Number 1083 indicates that you are being guided by the angels and Ascended Masters through your meditations and intuition, particularly in regards to your material, financial and career aspects. Have faith and trust that the Universe will provide, always.
Olga on the other hand says:
The feeling Olga gets from Angel Number 1083 is fulfillment, wrathful, and embarrassed. The purpose of Angel Number 1083 is summarized in these words: Expedite, Conceptualize, and Educate.
Just noticed this disclaimer on Olga's website:
This is Olga's view of Angel Number 1083. It may not apply to you whatsoever. Do not act one way or another based on this information.
Probably the wisest words found there.
Good luck with the search for an affordable exercise bike. They're not as much fun as the real thing but as long as the seat isn't too uncomfortable they can do wonders for tv time.
Managing my weight now after such a huge loss includes challenging a lot of irrational thinking, Rob. Some of the struggles you have mentioned are probably symptoms like lack of appetite, low mood, and the urges. That's your body telling you something. Glad you're going to see your doctor. Hopefully he'll be helpful.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Good point, I had not thought about it. It is possible the lack of appetite and lower mood are related to my eating. Not sure how to know if that's the case, will ask the doctor about it. The urges however are nothing new, had them all my life, the only difference is now I have had some success resisting them.
I know our problems are different and probably have different roots, but I think we probably share the irrational thinking thing, at least when it comes to food. One of the reasons I post my food here is that I don't trust my judgement with respect to diet. Writing everything down and getting feedback here helps. Thanks for your insight.
This one has, probably the result of less body mass to absorb the alcohol and less food in the stomach to slow the uptake. Being a cheap drunk has its advantages, I am spending a lot less on alcohol!
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day, I ate well, may have drunk a bit much, but feel good.
I got a stationary bike, found a good deal on a used one. It did not seem to have been much used, but I had to tighten every nut and bolt, and replace the batteries, once that was done it worked fine. Nothing fancy, but probably good enough. I rode it for about 10 min just to get the feel of it, will try and do more of a real workout tomorrow. I head to Dallas Monday morning for a day and a half, so probably won't really get into it until I get back on. I think it will be a fine substitute for the bike until the snow clears.
Spent a lot of the day racking and bottling (some) of our peach wine. This is the first time I have made peach wine, and I have to say its pretty dry with little taste, just a tiny hint of peaches and not much else. I know its low alcohol, it was relatively low sugar to begin with. No sugar now, all converted to alcohol. Hard to guess the calorie content, I know its less than store bought white wine. I do know the initial sugar content, maybe I can figure something out from that. Don't know the calorie change when you convert sugar to alcohol, but I can probably find it, I am sure it goes down, I just don't know how much. We bottled 12 liters, put another 12 liters into bottles to freeze (an old way of increasing alcohol and taste), and have about 30 more liters still in carboys. Should be a long lasting wine supply. Anyway I have never been able to rack and bottle wine without drinking some of it, today was no exception.
And LSU won, beating #4 ranked Georgia in Atlanta 10 to 37, not even close. This should (but might not) result in LSU rising to #1 in the BCS poll, we are already #1 in the other big polls. Its important because the BCS #1 team should get an easier first game in the playoffs. We'll know tomorrow.
Saturday
breakfast
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
lunch sardines 180
seaweed 30
dinner
lettuce, celery, and carrot salad, no dressing 50
lasagna 269
snack crackers and cheese 133
apple 94
homemade wine drunk whilst racking and bottling, a WAG 200
total calories 1,146
1146 saw very heavy rains in Europe causing crops to fail resulting in one of the worst famines of the century, or so Wikipedia says. I could not find anything independently published on the famine, and the reference cited by Wikipedia seems to be more about about a fourteenth century famine. Guess we have to take their word for it, its the internet it must be true.
I got a stationary bike, found a good deal on a used one. It did not seem to have been much used, but I had to tighten every nut and bolt, and replace the batteries, once that was done it worked fine. Nothing fancy, but probably good enough. I rode it for about 10 min just to get the feel of it, will try and do more of a real workout tomorrow. I head to Dallas Monday morning for a day and a half, so probably won't really get into it until I get back on. I think it will be a fine substitute for the bike until the snow clears.
Spent a lot of the day racking and bottling (some) of our peach wine. This is the first time I have made peach wine, and I have to say its pretty dry with little taste, just a tiny hint of peaches and not much else. I know its low alcohol, it was relatively low sugar to begin with. No sugar now, all converted to alcohol. Hard to guess the calorie content, I know its less than store bought white wine. I do know the initial sugar content, maybe I can figure something out from that. Don't know the calorie change when you convert sugar to alcohol, but I can probably find it, I am sure it goes down, I just don't know how much. We bottled 12 liters, put another 12 liters into bottles to freeze (an old way of increasing alcohol and taste), and have about 30 more liters still in carboys. Should be a long lasting wine supply. Anyway I have never been able to rack and bottle wine without drinking some of it, today was no exception.
And LSU won, beating #4 ranked Georgia in Atlanta 10 to 37, not even close. This should (but might not) result in LSU rising to #1 in the BCS poll, we are already #1 in the other big polls. Its important because the BCS #1 team should get an easier first game in the playoffs. We'll know tomorrow.
Saturday
breakfast
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
lunch sardines 180
seaweed 30
dinner
lettuce, celery, and carrot salad, no dressing 50
lasagna 269
snack crackers and cheese 133
apple 94
homemade wine drunk whilst racking and bottling, a WAG 200
total calories 1,146
1146 saw very heavy rains in Europe causing crops to fail resulting in one of the worst famines of the century, or so Wikipedia says. I could not find anything independently published on the famine, and the reference cited by Wikipedia seems to be more about about a fourteenth century famine. Guess we have to take their word for it, its the internet it must be true.
alligatorob
Respected Member
My new exercise cycle, behind you can see some of the shelves I spent the last few weeks building
, filling up already.
, filling up already.I like the comfort of reclining bikes but my hips aren´t too happy with them for longer use. Those shelves look great though! Alcohol has more calories than sugar (gram for gram) but of course not everything gets converted; some gets lost for the yeast´s metabolism. For normal wine the calorie decrease from juice to wine is somewhere around 15% if I remember correctly. A rough estimate, of course, but maybe it´s a start. Did you determine alcohol concentration?
alligatorob
Respected Member
That is the factor I was missing, what I did measure was the pre-fermentation specific gravity, it was about 1.10. So using the 15% loss I calculate:
1.1 specific gravity
268 g/l (sugar)
4 cal/gm (sugar)
1,072 cal/l (sugar)
15% calories lost in fermentation, the LaMa factor
911 cal/l (alcohol)
135 calories in a 5 ounce glass of wine
A few more than I had guessed, but probably a better estimate than my totally unscientific WAG, from now on I will go with it.
LaMa your knowledge of almost everything never ceases to amaze me. I could not find the 15% loss number, but I know enough about biochemical engineering to know it is in the right range, quite reasonable. Good enough!
I also see that the alcohol content is probably about 13%, higher than I had assumed. Between the calories and alcohol I guess I'll be drinking the wine more slowly. I figure we will end up with about 50 liters of finished wine (or the equivalent considering the freeze process), that's a little over 45,000 calories, will need to spread that out over a while.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Just did my first attempt at a real workout. 20 min, short but I can feel it in my legs, the muscles used are a bit different than on the real bike.
The thing has a heart rate monitor, I did not get a resting heart rate 80 was the lowest I saw, but that was after a minute or two of exercise. I adjusted the resistance until I was at about 118 to 120, then for the last minute I pedaled harder and went up to 125. I guess I need to figure out what a good target would be for me. It was easier than riding the bike up the steeper parts of the hill, but the resistance is continuous, like a long gentle slow uphill ride. It did get me breathing a little hard and perspiring a bit, not so much as the bike did. As others have said it is more boring than a real bike, guess I need to get a radio or something for the boredom. I won't be able to get back on it until late Tuesday or Wednesday, tomorrow morning I head to Dallas.
Oh, and the calorie thing on the bike says I burned 48, not very impressive. Not enough to make up for my wine calorie under count yesterday, about 70 when applying the LaMa factor. Once I get used to it I am sure I can increase the time, and maybe the resistance, we'll see. It will be a good alternative to the real bike for a while. The seat isn't great, but its better than the bike seat.
The thing has a heart rate monitor, I did not get a resting heart rate 80 was the lowest I saw, but that was after a minute or two of exercise. I adjusted the resistance until I was at about 118 to 120, then for the last minute I pedaled harder and went up to 125. I guess I need to figure out what a good target would be for me. It was easier than riding the bike up the steeper parts of the hill, but the resistance is continuous, like a long gentle slow uphill ride. It did get me breathing a little hard and perspiring a bit, not so much as the bike did. As others have said it is more boring than a real bike, guess I need to get a radio or something for the boredom. I won't be able to get back on it until late Tuesday or Wednesday, tomorrow morning I head to Dallas.
Oh, and the calorie thing on the bike says I burned 48, not very impressive. Not enough to make up for my wine calorie under count yesterday, about 70 when applying the LaMa factor. Once I get used to it I am sure I can increase the time, and maybe the resistance, we'll see. It will be a good alternative to the real bike for a while. The seat isn't great, but its better than the bike seat.
Yes, assuming on 135 calorie glass a day it should take about 337 days to drink it all, a year's supply! Of course I won't be the only one drinking it (hopefully), and I won't drink it every day, but the year is probably about right, unless we get really tired of peach wine. A distinct possibility.
alligatorob
Respected Member
It has to be close, as you say the yeast needs to take some of the calories to survive, but anaerobic processes (what the yeast does) tend to yield less energy than aerobic (what we do). I am more familiar with fermentation to methane and then aerobic oxidation of the methane. For that process 15% is about right, so I assume it is for ethanol fermentation also.
You'd measure your resting heart rate in the morning, Rob, after you wake up or overnight. I haven't been going by heart rate while exercising but I think it can be really helpful to do that. I recall maybe 70% of your max heart rate might be a good target. A simple formula for your max heart rate is 220 - age, so 152 for you. 65-75% of that is around 100-115 so maybe that range would be good for you but also good to mix it up. I'm sure Tru would have a lot more insight here.
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day, busy did some more wine bottling and had company. I ate well and feel good, my steak tonight was bigger than I have had in a while, but still did ok with the calories. Drank some more of the homemade peach wine, but less than yesterday.
Thanks for the input Rob, I am not sure how important the heart rate thing is, but it sounds like I can go higher and still be ok.
Headed to Dallas tomorrow, not taking my computer so I won't be logging in again until Tuesday. Not a big gap, but it will be my first totally missed day since beginning.
Sunday
breakfast yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
lunch - a big salad
lettuce and greens 40
turkey 200
dinner
steak, biggest I have had in a while 460
steamed broccoli 65
4 medium boiled shrimp 28
snack
homemade wine, less than yesterday 200
total calories 1,183
Having a hard time finding something new, not too violent, and interesting that happened in 1183, so will skip it tonight. It is getting increasingly difficult to find interesting historic facts. Guess my calories have been in this bracket too long, and I've used up most of the good stuff. Probably won't give up on this, it just may become more intermittent, we'll see.
Thanks for the input Rob, I am not sure how important the heart rate thing is, but it sounds like I can go higher and still be ok.
Headed to Dallas tomorrow, not taking my computer so I won't be logging in again until Tuesday. Not a big gap, but it will be my first totally missed day since beginning.
Sunday
breakfast yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
lunch - a big salad
lettuce and greens 40
turkey 200
dinner
steak, biggest I have had in a while 460
steamed broccoli 65
4 medium boiled shrimp 28
snack
homemade wine, less than yesterday 200
total calories 1,183
Having a hard time finding something new, not too violent, and interesting that happened in 1183, so will skip it tonight. It is getting increasingly difficult to find interesting historic facts. Guess my calories have been in this bracket too long, and I've used up most of the good stuff. Probably won't give up on this, it just may become more intermittent, we'll see.