And so it begins—again. My post-title search revealed that I embarked on a similar course of action exactly four years ago. Obviously, I failed miserably, and things are a lot worse now than they were back then. I’m motivated to get it done right this time. And man, oh man, I have a long way to go.
This morning’s starting stats:
- Weight: 267.1 pounds
- Belly Circumference: 52 inches
- Waist: 44 inches
Shocking, I know. I haven’t been on the scale in months, but the last time I weighed in I was around 235. I really let myself go.
So, the plan is a simple one: eat smarter, reduce carbs and calories, and exercise more. That means no more sweet treats, better meal choices, and yes, a significant reduction in beer intake. At tonight’s SOB I’ll be doing the gin and soda water thing. Interestingly, a shot of gin has more calories than a bottle of Zero beer (75 versus 60), although the beer is carby. Still, if I drink fewer shots of gin than than bottles of beer, that’s progress. My style is to order a gin shot in a tall glass, and a can of soda water on the side. I refill the glass from the can three times before ordering another shot. I just need to do a better job pacing myself so as to avoid getting floored.
I’ll be doing the ab work once again as well. Sit-ups and leg lifts to start. This morning I stretched my walk to over 9K as I once again endeavor to achieve a daily goal of at least 20,000 steps.
I installed a calorie tracker app on my phone to help me manage the food intake.
A boiled egg and some apple and orange slices for breakfast. Swan served a banana too, but I rejected that high-calorie option. For lunch I had a salad and a burger patty.
The only way to go from here is down. Or so I hope. My goal is to once again break the 200 pound barrier. Wish me luck!
And so it ends. The last day of my month of tracking expenses looked like this:
- Alcohol: 1350 pesos
- Dinner: 800 pesos
- Lady Drinks: 985 pesos
- Fruits and Veggies: 1000 pesos
- Trike: 100 pesos
- Charity: 2000 pesos
- Tips: 200 pesos
- Total for October 31: 6435 pesos
Hey, it was Halloween, of course I went a little wild!
And here are the results from the month of logging where it all goes:
Monthly Expenses % of Income
- Groceries: 78,600 pesos (21%)
- Charity: 59,000 pesos (16%)
- Rent: 38,000 pesos (10%)
- Helper Salaries: 30,000 pesos (8%)
- Alcohol: 27,900 pesos (8%)
- Dining Out: 24,400 pesos (7%)
- Swan Allowance: 16,000 pesos (4%)
- Transportation: 15,700 pesos (4%)
- Entertainment: 14,000 pesos (4%)
- Utilities: 13,700 pesos (4%)
- Lady Drinks: 13,000 pesos (4%)
- Healthcare: 12,800 pesos (4%)
- Tips: 8700 pesos (2%)
- Hotels: 7800 pesos (2%)
- Visa Extension: 6200 pesos (2%)
- Snacks: 4200 pesos (1%)
- TOTAL EXPENSES FOR OCTOBER: 370,000 pesos (-5000 pesos)
So, my expenses exceeded my income by 5000 pesos. I can and will fix that going forward. I see several opportunities for being a tad more frugal that will more than make up for the deficit. And just for the record, the 365,000 pesos I call income has a 30,000 peso cushion that goes into savings, so I wasn’t really in the red. Still, my goal is to save at least 50,000 pesos a month, so I need to do better.
And now, about last night. Swan and I dressed up and headed out to It Doesn’t Matter to celebrate Halloween.
Swan says IDM is her favorite hangout, and we spent most of our evening there last night. We had a brief nightcap at Wet Spot and ran into my neighbor Mike there. When it was time to go, I hooked up a free ride home with him. And you already saw the banana split I had at home.
Now for a look back at the past:
Someone new for today’s YouTube video: Joy of the Jungle. In just over two minutes, she tells us five things that will make your Filipina angry with you. Okay, if you say so. In my mind, I was comparing and contrasting with one of my favorites, the Filipina Pea. Well, the Pea is in a whole other category, the one where confidence and competence reside. It’s worth two minutes of your time to see for yourself. And Joy is cute enough, but she’s no Pea.
And now, the funny part:
Alright, some sit-ups to perform, then I’ll get ready for the SOB and hope the gin plan goes well. I’ll let you know about that tomorrow.
Today’s song was something I happened to come across randomly. I want to break free, too. But I can’t believe they express that sentiment in North Korea!
Sorry mate but ya need to cut out the drinking entirely mate for any significant weight loss to occur mate. Counting calories is useless as well mate, ya just gots ta stop spiking ya insulin likes mate.
Six to twelve a eggs and two or three steaks a day and nothing else and you’ll be solid. Look up Eddie Abbew, John. Otherwise I see this method of yours failing, and haven’t you tried this exact same method before? Why would you keep doing something that doesn’t work for you? Let’s enter the realms of stupidity please.
Congrats on restarting the fitness program. I’m in no position to condemn you for falling off the wagon, so I’ll just encourage you to keep with it. It’s not a “diet” or “program”—it’s a lifestyle, i.e., how you live from here on in. (I’m talking to myself as much as I’m talking to you right now.)
My style is to order a gin shot in a tall [glass and] a can of soda water on the side.
Given that problem with the waitress you’d had some years back, maybe you should take along a drawing of what you’re asking for so she’ll understand you.
I just need to do a better job pacing myself so as to avoid getting floored.
Please be more realistic in your self-assessment of self-control, too.
I installed a calorie tracker app on my phone to help me manage the food intake.
Seeing numbers can really help. Unless you’re in one of those “I don’t know, and I don’t care” moods.
A boiled egg and some apple and orange slices for breakfast. Swan served a banana too, but I rejected that high-calorie option. For lunch[,] I had a salad and a burger patty.
There’s the calories, and there’s the carbs. These two concerns overlap. Your calorie budget looks a little high, though, at over 2300 daily. Maybe shoot for 1900 or 2000. That’s a difference of 3-4 slices of American cheese. You’ll feel the pinch, but if you keep your mind occupied, you’ll also get used to it. I wouldn’t expect you to go full keto (5% carbs daily, or about 20 grams if you go by grams), but if you stick to “low carb,” you ought to be okay. Occupy yourself with more porn. Branch out and watch the kinky, fucked-up stuff.
By keto standards, a boiled egg is good, but fruits contain fructose, so stick with berries, which are high in fiber. Nuts are good; alas, the best nuts for you are my least favorite: Brazil nuts and walnuts. Cashews and pistachios, which I love, are considered barely okay but fairly high-carb. Your lunch looks a lot better: salad and a burger patty (no bread) = very keto as long as you’re avoiding sugary sauces like ketchup and BBQ. Start making your own sauces or have your caretakers make them. They’re not that hard to make, and I’ve got recipes for those, too. You might need some special ingredients, though. That’s probably the most annoying aspect of going keto or low-carb. A keto sauce needing no special ingredients might be sriracha plus mayo.
Hey, it was Halloween[;] of course I went a little wild!
From here on in, allow yourself 1-2 cheat days per month. That’s US Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus maybe two other days. Eat keto-ish whenever you can; I’ve got a chocolate-chip-cookie recipe for that. On a cheat day, you can make that recipe but use real chocolate chips (pref. dark chocolate—less sugar). Also, use Truvia brown sugar, which is partly real brown sugar. The cookies will still be much lower carb, but they’ll still taste awesome. They’re made with almond flour, which has 1/3 the carbs of regular wheat flour. Much better for you. Just don’t go overboard eating them.
So, my expenses exceeded my income by 5000 pesos. I can and will fix that going forward.
But you knew or suspected this already, yes?
I dressed up as the bag of garbage Biden says I am[,] and Swan went as my trashy girl.
My freshman year in college, a friend named Ann dressed up as a bag of leaves carrying around its own rake. Her stockinged legs were sticking out of the bottom of the trash bag, and the whole thing was pretty funny. Some cunt on M Street tried to light her on fire, though. That wasn’t so funny. Luckily, the crazy bitch failed.
A procession passed by on the highway serving as a reminder that Halloween is technically a religious holiday.
As close to fusion as one gets, I guess. Well, in Mexico, they celebrate El Dia de los Muertos on November 1 and 2. They use the singular in Spanish even though it’s at least two calendar days. What do they do in the PI for November 1? All Saints Day? Day of the Dead (from the Spanish occupation, I’d imagine)?
I see one site says this about 11/1 in the PI:
“In the Philippines, this holiday has three names: Araw Ng Mga Patay (Day of the Dead), Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day), or Undas.”
Well, good luck with whatever your plan of attack (lifestyle change) ends up being. Remember you’re not who you were 10 or 20 years ago, so blundering along alcoholically is going to bite you in the ass as long as you insist on not seriously cutting down in that area. Whatever magical genes have protected your heart rate and blood-sugar level thus far won’t last forever.
Seriously cutting down the drinking, dropping 90% of your bar habit—your budget will thank you if you do these things. I don’t expect you will, but imagine how much more of the country will open up to you once you have the free time! The only other ingredients you’d need would be curiosity and the itch to explore.
Hello Sir John,
Long time no have see my dear old friend.
It is good to see you and your kind magandang ginang have reconciliation after your fracas.
In Leyte we have a saying which translates as “If fireworks can be placed in water and still explosion, can we really even call them fireworks….?” I think it has very sincere and deep meanings when you think about it.
I believe additionally Revelations 17:4 sums up life with Filippino beauties perfectly…..
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.”
I am curious to know your sincerest opinion, my dear friend as we go into Christmas season with the Lord’s love in our hearts.
Many hugs and best wishes for you and your beauty, kind Sir John.
Your best friend,
Koko
Good luck with going for the weight loss. Those numbers are kind of shocking, and kind of a death sentance. I’m kind of lucky in that I have never cared for sweets and don’t often drink booze. That and working out 5 days a week keeps by weight about the same at 80 as I was at 30.
Just man up and do OMAD, John. Then you can devour what you want instead of suffering with homosexual tendency foods like salads and seeds and alfalfa sprouts. I always believed (and still do) that a man should be a man. Last I checked that meant eating cheeseburgers. Fistfuls of fries not pinches of chopped-up kale, please.
Same with the booze. You’re (for all intents and purposes) a man. Men drink vodka and whiskey make no mistake. Gin gives you flower breath, and you know who else likes smelling like flowers? That’s right! Effeminate pets, females, and poofs.
Life is pretty sweet when you’re spending more on charity than rent.
Stop worrying about being a fat, old cunt, ya twat. You got a load of dosh for out there and can eat what you want, drink what you want and fuck what you want whenever you want. Try doing that in California or Arizona or wherever on a pension and you won’t be getting fucked very often if at all.
I’m off for my winter sojourn to Asia for 6 months on Sunday myself. Not sure if Subic will fit in this tour what with all those tubby birds now (mind you, it was never great for lookers) but you enjoy it. Remember it is better to be here for a good time than a long time. Oh, and stop getting all worked up about elections. Neither Kamala or Trump gives a fuck about a peasant like you.
Fat Old Cunt, the idea is to stay healthy enough to live on and enjoy the blessings of living here. Plus, I’m tired of being called “Santa Claus.”
I don’t like Trump or Kamala, but things were better four years ago than they are now. Nothing wrong with Making America Great Again.
Enjoy your upcoming six months in paradise!
DS, yes, it is a blessing to be able to make life a little bit better for some unfortunates. Selfishly, it makes it easier for me to live a rich life in a poor country by alleviating some of the guilt. Truth be told, I consider lady drinks a form of charity for the underpaid bargirls, but I don’t count it that way on the expense chart.
Thanks for the insights, Scott. I don’t think I have the self-discipline for OMAD. I’ve lost weight before (over 70 pounds) doing low-carb, reduced calorie diet. I may attempt to skip one meal a day, but we’ll see how it goes.
I’m comfortable in my masculinity no matter what I’m drinking.
Thanks, Terry. Yes, I was shocked as well at those numbers as well. Hopefully, I didn’t wait too long to try and get back on track. Giving up the things I enjoy is a sacrifice, but I’m willing to do so within reason. I’m looking at low carb options to satisfy my sweet tooth and I’m willing to reduce, but not eliminate, my alcohol intake. What’s the point of being alive if you can’t enjoy the things that make you happy?
Thank you for the kind thoughts and words, Koko. Hope all is well with you.
You can read my sincerest opinions here everyday at Long Time Gone.
Wishing you all the best!
Kev, that’s an excellent way to look at it–lifestyle changes. You are what you eat, so eat what you want to be. Hmm, I guess that makes me a pussy. 🙂 But seriously, instead of thinking about what I can’t have, I need to focus on the universe of available options. That’s the mission!
There was only one blip with the gin and soda order last night–the first time, the waitress brought a tall glass with one shot and a can of soda water. I told her to fill the glass with soda water too. After that, no problems. But the gin drink is 185 pesos versus 100 for a beer. I achieved my goal of only two drinks an hour last night (I usually drink twice that many beers). So, that’s a good start. I plan to change things up tonight and sip on a glass or two of red wine. So many options, so little time!
Yeah, I’ll be doing the low-carb/low-calorie dance that worked for me in the past. The real issue will be maintaining self-discipline. I suck at fasting and could never do a full-day fast like you do, but I might be able to skip a meal (or replace a meal with some walnuts). We’ll see.
Ha! I need to put my budget on a diet, too. The deficit wasn’t as bad as I feared, and I see lots of opportunities to reduce spending. More of that self-discipline thing!
I’m glad things didn’t have a fiery ending for Ann back then. That’s a whole other level of crazy.
Yesterday was All Saints Day, and today is All Souls Day here. I walked by a graveyard yesterday, and it was packed. Today, more partying with the dead will be happening.
I know we disagree on the subject of alcohol, but it is part of who I am. It doesn’t keep me from doing anything and enhances what I do. Seriously, my drinking window is approximately four hours a day, so it’s a relatively small part of my life.
As always, I appreciate your concern and words of wisdom. Thanks for that!
Todd, thanks for the tip on Eddie Abbew. Hadn’t heard of him before. I’ll check it out.
I lost over 70 pounds on my method ten years ago. I fell off the wagon, got lazy, and lost my self-discipline. That’s what I need to focus on.
Thanks for the input, Aaron. Alcohol is a part of my life and I’ll make some modifications in content and amounts, but I won’t be giving it up entirely.
Getting that deja vu feeling all over again. LOL. Hopefully this time, there was be more of a long term benefit.
Re: switching over to G&T’s from beer. Probably discussed previously in one way or the other, but is it the taste of alcohol, the buzz you get from drinking, or just the atmosphere of sitting in a bar having a beer or three? From my 30000 foot perch, it seems as though you mainly enjoy the atmosphere that goes along with drinking. If that is case, just switch to having a Coke zero or soda water. If you like the buzz you get, then yeah, not much that can be done other than to continue drinking.
Re: Halloween costumes. Swan’s = good. Yours = well, unless you have explained it to me, I would have had no clue what you were trying to pull off. LOL. And I follow US current events. I am sure the locals there figured you were just making an impromptu rain jacket.
Re: expenses. You are in a good position. Nice to know how much you spend, but even better that you really dont have to watch it too much.
Brian, it’s the buzz that makes the bar atmosphere enjoyable. Funny how that works. I guess alcohol makes me more sociable.
Yeah, the trash bag over the head was a last minute costume idea. No one got the joke until I explained it. And yes, most thought it was improvised rain gear.
Regarding the expenditures, I could be smarter about some things obviously, but I’m fortunate to be able to afford my stupidity.