Three Down

This time I got the chance to experience the newest stadium in the league.  Marlin's Park.  I gotta say maybe it's just because it is in Miami and I love Miami so much... But that stadium turned me into a bit of a Marlins fan.  I didn't think it was possible.  I always joked about being a Yankee's fan, just to get people mad, but in all reality... I have no allegiance to any baseball team until now because I really didn't care a bout baseball at all.  To be honest I still kinda don't, but that doesn't detract from the allure of an amazing stadium like Marlin's Park.  It actually looks like somethign from the futre.  Both games that I went to were played with the roof on so I guess I'm kind of obliged to see one with it off.  It's July and hopefully I will knock off the White Sox, Dogers, Royals, Cardinals or Brewers maybe.

The Marlins lost the first game I went to in amazing fashion thanks to Heath Bell giving up 4 runs in the ninth inning, making it the first game that I've been to where the home team hasn't won.  Fourtunately they redeemed themselves on Friday night. Hey don't count the Fish out there are so many Baseball games.

Two Stadiums Down.

Well obviously a lot has happened since my last blog post.  I've visited two baseball stadiums, traveled a whole lot, been the sickest I've been in a long time and lost a lot of weight because of it.  Let's get to the fun stuff first. Cleveland is awesome.  You can't underestimate Progressive Field.  Wonderful stadium.  Combine that with the fact that you can get a chicken sandwich between two waffles there and you just scored yourself something amazing.  I was also able to talk to one of the ushers at the game to score some better seats a few rows up from third base.

Cleveland as a city was great too.  I really can't knock it.  I didn't do much because I was only there for a day and it was pretty rainy, but I did have the best fried chicken of my life there, and also had amazing sandwiches from Melt.

Then there was Denver,  I've gotta say to everyone who isn't a baseball fan, you've gotta see a game live.  I mean it wasn't the most exciting thing in the world, but Coors Field was also pretty great.  Of course I just had to have a Coors being that it was Coors field, but then switched to Blue Moon.    They also had Rocky Mountain Oysters there but even my adventurousness as a foodie led me to pass on it and get the Denver Dog.  I still don't remember what all was on it but it was pretty good.  It was kind of crazy too because I got to see Moyer get two RBIs.  Kinda funny for it to happen with a 49 year old pitcher.

I guess I have to be some sort of a good luck charm too, because every game I've been to, the home team has won.

Ah well so many more stadiums to go, and I can't wait.

Restaurant Week 2011

BLT American Brasserie

Frisee and Arugula Salad/Prosciutto Wrapped Egg/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Scottish Salmon/ Baby Bok Choy/ Shiitake & Ginger Vinaigrette

Tuxedo Cheesecake/ Raspberry Marmalade/ Hazelnut Crumble

Ricotta Beignets/ Blood Orange Caramel/ Vanilla Bean Cream 

Vermillion

Bistronomic

Homemade parmesan gnocchi (Substituted with farfale)

Rock shrimp/ braised saffron leek / lobster tarragon emulsio

Coq au vin

Bacon lardons / pomme puree / Beaujolais wine reduction

Cafe Spiaggia

Gnocchi 

wild boar ragu, 

Parmigiano Reggiano

Fegato 

chicken liver mousse,  

cranberry compote, arugula, crostini

Frito Misto

Tiramisu

C-House

ROASTEDWINTER SQUASH SOUP

SPICY PEPITAS, MOLE, AND CILANTRO

BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS

BLACK TRUMPET MUSHROOMS, BARLEY, AND ROASTED BEETS

Sauteed Brussel Sprouts

ORANGE STEAMED PUDDING 

CARAMELIZED WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND STAR ANISE ICE CREAM

The time that has passed since my last blog posting has been a very trying one.  It started off pretty good.  I had a lot of fun at restaurant week, as demonstrated by the extensive display of food that is in this blog posting.  It was a good time.  I was very impressed  with BLT, Vermillion and Cafe Spiagga.  Not so much with Bistronomic.  I also walked away from C-House, thinking eh it's worth it, though it clearly wasn't the spectacular experience I was expecting.  The best thing I had at C-House as a matter of fact was the drink.

Enough about the food.  Work has been very tiring as of late.  I guess in retrospect that's what happens when you work 12 hours a day, six days a week.  Throw in a hour commute each way and a hour and a half of getting yelled at by Tony Horton, and it makes for a very busy day.  I had to stop P90X though unfortunately. Due to the fact that I got very sick all of a sudden at work one day.  I was just sitting down and suddenly felt very dizzy.  I've been fighting it off for the most part, but the nurse says she think's I am coming down with some type of virus.  Still I thought it best to stay away from working out and just get a lot of rest.  I feel like the normal cold type symptoms now.  Your headachey, stuffy types.  Mix in a little of a sore throat.  I plan on doing some light workouts shortly and going back into P90X when I'm done working the outage at Quad Cities.

Song of the Day: "Anne Braden" by Flobots



When I hear people tell me "Black people don't" fill in the blank-scuba dive or be gay in Africa or whatever-I think, You're ignorant.  Because the beautiful diversity of Blackness it the most remarkable feature of a Blackness that we continue to try to quarantine Blackness but the beauty of Blackness is that it's a rash that breaks out everywhere.
Who's Afraid of Post Blackness by Toure

The First Ten

I hate Tony Horton.  He has got to be one of the most obnoxious assholes on the face of the earth.  That being said I cannot argue with the results of this program. I look different every day.  A look in the nitrite helps me to turn on that DVD player and force myself through another 60+ mins of workout. Another source of motivation comes from an unlikely source, a coworker telling me that I'm not extreme enough for P90X and I should just do P90. We'll see if that theory holds up over the next 80 days. I feel like I can do anything right now.

You can't skip a day. You would never be able to catch up.

With regards to solid foods, I immediately started to eat meat again though my diet is mostly vegan now a days. No intention of becoming a full on vegan but I can attest to the fact that I do feel a lot better eating less than half a pound of meet per day.  This seems like it should have been harder, taken longer.
"But imagine for a moment if we knew, strictly as a matter of course, these few unremarkable things: What it is we're eating. Where it came from. How it found its way to our table. And what, in true accounting, it really cost... We eat by the grace of nature, not industry, and what we're eating is never anything more or less than the body of the world."
From An Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Song of the Day: Daydreamer by Adele

Day 31-40: The Battle, The Bible, The Beginning

Man I can't believe how lazy I'm getting with these posts.


The Battle


I arrive
The rhythm of the drums in my ear
It motivates me
I move up the stairs with energy
I arrive
To endure torture for another hour
Feeling optimistic I press forward
I'm ready
A half hour in it starts to taunt me
It laughs at me
It spits in my face
Each number seems so slow or so low
How could this be
My anger grows
I arrive
At the base of the electronic hill
How well equipped I am for this
Silly hill did you think you were a match for me?
The power of my legs,
The beat of my heart
The breath of my lungs
The guitar solo
Feeble foe you are easily defeated
I take all of my anger
Most of which you have created
Reflect it back at you
And I get stronger
Faster
Healthier
I arrive
At the end
I emerge victorious
Head held high
I went into the cave and slayed the dragon
I made the eighty yard drive to score the winning touchdown
I climbed Mt. Everest
I shot the buzzer beater
I crossed the finish line first
All in only one hour


It's been a long time since I wrote on this blog or wrote poetry too for that matter. This has helped me to discover a lot.  This is one of the best things I have ever done in my life and I don't think that I will ever be the same.  Twenty-six years of walking this earth and I finally go through something that takes me through a dramatic change.  I had time to closely examine all of my shortfalls.   For so long there was a sense of blind belief.  Just going through the motions.  To lazy to check the facts.  This has been my bite from the tree of knowledge.  My Rosetta Stone.


Physically, I am already 34lbs lighter.  That is a tremendous amount of weight.  At a supposed healthy weight loss rate, I am 240 days ahead of schedule.  This is just the beginning though.  I still want to cut about 20 more pounds off.  That would put me back into my "normal" weight range.  The challenge will come when I start to integrate solid food back into my diet.  As previously stated, this is the end of fast food consumption.  That's going to be the hardest part of this.  Ending a tumultuous relationship with a food that continues to do nothing but put health in peril.  For what?  The comforting feeling of the taste of highly processed ground beef treated in a high pressure ammonia bath, sent frozen through a processing facility and then cooked and reheated in a microwave. I've been hungry during this fast, very hungry at times.  Now armed with knowledge of how long the human body can endure without food, the human spirit is strengthened and I have enjoyed my last burger and fires.


Emotionally, this has been quite the roller coaster ride.  The highs have been really high and the lows have been really low.  It's also a little disheartening that most of the goals that were set to be accomplished from this fast were left on the shelf.  The only thing that I did end up living up to is the food part. In a little more than three days, this will have been the longest period of my life I have endured without meat.   Upon examining that previous sentence it really speaks to a bigger problem a bigger societal ill. It is no secret that our food system is flawed.  America doesn't grow meat.  It manufactures it, in order to meet unrealistic demands for said beef and pork products.  That is much to the detriment of man millions of animals that suffer a short and sick frail existence only to be slaughtered.  It is not right.  I feel healthier and better than I ever felt in my life even though over this time period I've consumed about 10% of the protein recommended protein intake.  Meat is very appetizing.  Tasty.  Now this starts a new trend of responsibility and ethical system for me to greatly reduce my personal meat consumption.


Spiritually, my religious views have completely changed.  I do feel closer to God now than when I started and I do carry with me the basic tenants of the Christian faith.  I don't believe that the Bible itself as a whole, is the word of God and can be taken literally.  I can only speak for myself, but after reading from beginning to end, it doesn't make sense.   Why after the coming of Jesus would slavery be an endorsed behavior.  If you take the Bible literally you can easily use it to oppress and justify the disenfranchisement of the rights of large groups of people. So now I feel closer to God in believing in his teachings,  Jesus was one who didn't judge and showed everyone around him love all the time to be like Jesus means much more than what I thought previously.  It means letting go of all your prejudices for any group of people and showing everyone around you the same love of Christ.  We should do this without regard for race, religion, sexual orientations and social standing.  We must look at everybody with love.

Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”


Songs of the Day:

• Day 31: "If My People" by Fred Hammond
• Day 32: "Meeting In My Bedroom" by Silk
• Day 33: "Californication" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• Day 34: "Damage Inc." by Metallica
• Day 35: "Crazy" by Seal
• Day 36: "Handlebars" by Flobots
• Day 37: "Transformers" by Gnarls Barkley
• Day 38: "Sweet Lady" by Tyrese
• Day 39: "Rusted Wheel" by Silversun Pickups
• Day 40: "Until The End of Time" by 2Pac

This has been a very trying time and I am glad that this is over as of midnight tonight.  I wouldn't have been able to do this without supplementing my diet a bit with juices from the Naked company.  Especially during the last week with the outage starting.  It is very hard to shop and prepare juice when you have to work 12 hours a day.


Now for the important part.
Final Weight: 200lbs (Down 34 lbs)
Final Body Fat: 19.3% (Down 6%)
Final Waist: 36" (Down 5")
Final Chest: 40" (Down 1.5")
Final Biceps: 15" (No Change)


The Beginning
The blog isn't finishing and I'm starting P90X on Monday.  It's a new me.  A healthier me. 

Day 30: Zorin Unlimited

It's been tough these past few weeks.  Over this time I've had to overcome a  ton of mental  barriers in order to make it this far.  Now I'm 75% of the way done.  I can't even believe it.  It makes me think about how much more I could have done in my life if I would have just believed in myself more and put my mind towards accomplishing them.  


I had a long talk with my pastor this morning for a long time, much of which was about what I wrote in yesterday's blog post.  Sometimes I worry that my ability to reason and the way I think about things, which is completely different than most of my friends and family gets in the way of me having the ability of just accepting Christianity at face value.  I have to investigate.


Song of the Day: "My Body" by Young The Giant


Weight: 209lb (Down 30lbs)
Body Fat: 22.6 (Down 7%)
Waist: 39" (Down 2")
Chest: 41" (Down .5")
Biceps: 15" (Down .5")


Today I Consumed:

• 1 Naked Protein Zone Mango
• 3Tablespoons Coconut Oil
• Juice of:
• 1/2 Pineapple
• 3 Zucchini
• 7 Oz Spinach
• 1/2 pound Green Beans
• 2 Inches Ginger

Luke 14:27-30 AM
Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it? Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to complete [the building], all who see it will begin to mock and jeer at him, Saying, This man began to build and was not able (worth enough) to finish

Day 29: The OT

First off. Heat beat the Bulls! Yeah it wasn't that great of a victory beating them by 4 points without Deng but I find comfort in the fact that the bulls NEVER had the lead in that game.  What an awesome way to spend a Sunday.

So I also completely broke the TV thing... I just got a 60" Plasma... what do you expect?


I also have made it through the Old Testament and I haves come to the conclusion that I do not believe in the Old Testament as a whole.  I find that it is very rasist, sexist and though it does have some good principles, I simply can't believe that God just simply chose a group of people based on who they were born to and then put them in a situation where these societies would constantly at war with each other over love. God is Love, love does not envy, therefore God cannot be jealous.  The concept of a jealous angry vengeful God is something that I can't wrap my head around.


I'm not saying that there aren't good parts of the Old Testament aren't good, and I do believe in intelligent design, but I don't believe that the earth was created in seven days or there was a flood covering the entire earth and that two of every animal survived on a boat for months.  Don't get me wrong I do not think it is beyond the power of God to be able to do such things, I just think that such parts of the Bible are men trying to explain that which they could not explain.  In short I do not believe that a majority of the Old Testament is divinely inspired.


Song of the Day: "It's OK" by Cee Lo Green


Yesterday I Consumed:

• 1/2 a Large Acorn Squash Roasted and Pureed
• 1 Pound Grape Tomatoes Roasted and Pureed
• 6 Cloves Roasted Garlic Pureed
• 2 Cups Coconut Milk
• 1 Naked Reduced Calorie Tropical
• 1 FRS Healthy Protien Blueberry Acai
• Juice of:
• 1/2 Pinapple
• 2 Oranges
• 1/2lb Strawberries
• 3 Handfuls Spinach
• 2 inches Ginger

Matthew 15:2-5, 9, 17-20 NKJV
Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.  But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God  And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.


I've kind of rationalized this passage as another instance of Jesus elimanting the traditions of man and placing more of an importance on a relationship with God than ritualistic behaviors, but at the same time He's telling people not to wash their hands before they eat... and that's nasty. I also find it interesting that He said: "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." Does anyone think that implicitly provides an endorsement towards things like say drug use and pornography ... among many other things.

Day 22-28: [Insert Title Here]

So it has been quite some time since I made a blog post so I decided to go ahead and make  a long one now.   This week started out on a huge low.  For some strange reason I started out this week massively depressed.  I couldn't tell you if it was a result of my new eating habits or the fact that I had worked so many days in a row by that time but it was just weird.  I usually get a lot more sleep when I work the night shift, but  for some reason or another I couldn't sleep.  One day because I had to make tons of random phone calls about getting my cell phone replaced that I lost, another day because I was woken up in the middle of my sleep time for them to deliver said phone.  Either way for quite some time I felt completely defeated.  It was like all of this (or anything I was doing for that matter)  didn't mean anything at all.


Fortunately those feelings were isolated to that day in particular and didn't continue on.  I did have the chance to go snowboarding and I am getting a lot better.  I think I'm going to get a helmet for next time because there is a lot of fear in my head right now for falling (although those instances are getting a little farther between each other).  It will also be the last time I go snowboarding directly after midnight shift.  I knew that I was too tired to be on that mountain when I almost fell asleep on the lift.  Pretty dangerous.  The odd thing was directly after that I  was so awake.  I drove home and was awake until 5 am the next morning.  That was like around 36 hours without sleep only to be awakened by my TV's delivery, and subsequently the mounts for my speakers.


While we're on the subject of home theater systems, I did indulge in some major spending (for the first time in forever this week too).  It was Wednesday night when I was getting ready to watch the State of the Union from the night before that I recorded.  When I turned on the TV,  all I got was this gray screen.  So I'm like maybe it's just the DirecTV box, so I changed the input to the Xbox to see if that would work and gray screen again.  Then I go to HH Gregg and spend $4400 on TVs, Surround Sound and Blu Ray players.  Impulse spending is still alive and well with me so I guess the economy isn't as bad as we thought.  The new stuff looks and sounds great though, but it also leaves me in kind of a conundrum for several reasons.  In order to watch Amazon Instant videos, I need the original TV remote, because I can't find the Viera Tools Option on my Harmony Remote.  Also the Harmony remote doesn't do a very good job with the inputs.  I also need the original remote for Google TV because of the keyboard.  DirecTV remote is still pretty useless, since almost every other remote I have controls DirecTV box pretty easy, but still I was at one remote and now I'm at 3 at a minimum.


There are only 13 Days remaining.


I decided to do a playlist since I was gone for so long, this is just a bunch of high energy songs that I listen to for workouts and was also what I was listening to while snowboarding.

Down With the Sickness Disturbed
Right In Two Tool
So Cold Breaking Benjamin
Spiders System Of A Down
The Package A Perfect Circle
Head Like A Hole Nine Inch Nails
No More Tears Ozzy Osbourne
Master Of Puppets Metallica
Wont Back Down Eminem
Ænema Tool
Man In the Box  Alice In Chains
Keep Your S*** the Hardest DMX
This Is The Hook Deadmau5
Weight of the World Evanescence
Neva Eva' Trillville
Killing In The Name Rage Against The Machine
Notorious Thugs The Notorious B.I.G.
No More Sorrow [Live] Linkin Park
Throw Some D's Rich Boy
Hitchin' a Ride Green Day
Candy Coated Shawnna Featuring Eightball & MJG
Inspector Gadget Chrispy
Hysteria Muse
Niggas in Paris Jay-Z and Kanye West
Cassie Flyleaf
Push that N****, Push that H** Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz
Thriller Fall Out Boy
Wipe Me Down FOXX
Heart In A Cage The Strokes

Over this time period I consumed:

• 2 Large Baked Sweet Potatoes Pureed
• 3 Handfuls Cilantro Pureed
• 3 Cups Almond Milk
• 1 Cup Coconut Milk
• 2 Handfuls Frozen Mixed Berries Pureed
• 1 Handful Mixed Greens Pureed
• 6 Portabella Mushrooms Pureed
• Half of a Large Roasted Acorn Squash Pureed
• 1 Celery Stalk Pureed
• 1 Pasilla Pepper Pureed
• 1 Onion Pureed
• 1 Naked Mango Protein Zone
• 1 Naked Peach Mango Oat Smoothie
• 1 Naked Blueberry Oat Smoothie
• 1 Naked Apple Cinnamon Oat Smoothie
• 2 Naked Berry Veggie
• 1 Naked Green Machine
• 1 Naked Mighty Mango
• Juice Of:
• 5 Parsnips
• 6 Carrots
• 6 Stalks of Celery
• 4 Bell Peppers
• 1 Zuchinni
• 2 Cucumbers
• 6 oz Blueberries
• 1 Grapefruit
• 3 Oranges
• 4 Tangerines
• 3 Handfuls of Kumquats
• 3 Handfuls Spinach
• 3 Handfuls Mixed Greens
• 3 Apples
• 2 Handfuls of Grapes

Daniel 1:8, 12-13, 15-16 NLT
But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.


These verses came at a good time and were rather inspiring considering that I'm currently fasting.

Day 21ish: Fumbled

Its bad enough that I have to watch along as Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, also known as the worst commentart crew in the history of the football universe comment on the game.  Its bad enough that they couldn't stop talking about how great Eli Manning is to say anything about the game.  But to have your backup return guy give the ball up twice and singlehandedly give the game away on two different occasions.  Ive never been so mad in my life.  I mean damn, if you're gonna do that you should at least gift wrap the game for them.  Its the polite thing to do.
Anyway I would also like to take a moment to endorse the New York Giants as champions for Super Bowl 46. Mostly on the basis that I hate the Patriots so much, and that goes twice as much for that douchebag overrated quarterback Tom Brady. At least the Super Bowl isn't on Fox so I don't have to worry about having a repeat of today's awful commentary.  The bad part is now that the Niners will be respected as a legit team next year, I will probably be hearing a lot more of that awful duo next year.


Football Gods:  a great Wideout at 29 or 30 please.


Got to say Jim Harbaugh proved that a good coach is everything to a successful season.
In other news.  Newt Gingrich... really? Kinda crazy for him to win SC right after his ex wife explains that he requested an open marriage.  Even more surprising that the Republicans at the debate cheered his complete deflection of the question.  For me personally, I think a person's private life should be just that.  He quite frankly did in that moment what Bill Clinton Anthony Wiener and others should have done in that instance.  I personally just think that its very hypocritical for someone like himself drinking on the basis of family values to take that stance.  I mean who ruins the sanctity of marriage more, Newt and his three wife open ended in health but not necessarily sickness, or a devoted Lesbian couple.  Absurd the way our country thinks.


Song of The Day: "I'm Not Calling You A Liar" by Florence + The Machine
Awesome voice and lyrics.


Today I Consumed:

• 1 Handful Mixed Berries
• 1 Cup Almond Milk
• 1 Handful Spinach
• Juice of:
• 1 Honeydew Melon
• 4 Oranges
• 1 Cucumber
• 3 Zuchinni
• 1 Lime
• 1 5" Piece of Ginger
• 1 Mango

Ezekiel 4:9, 12, 15 AMP
Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt and put them into one vessel and make bread of them. According to the number of the days that you shall lie upon your side, 390 days you shall eat of it.  And you shall eat your food as barley cakes and you shall bake it with human dung as fuel in the sight of the people.  Then He said to me, Behold, I will let you use cow’s dung instead of human dung, and you shall prepare your food with it. 

I selected this verse because I always eat that Ezekiel 4:9 bread.  Look out for it in your grocer's freezer. Funny how they omit the rest of the recipe.  The funny thing is in the next chapter God tells of the coming destruction.  God basically just told the Israelites to eat shit and die.

Day 20: Halfway Point

So I'm at the halfway point.  All I gotta say today is 40 Days is a long, long time.  Blog posts are off by a day since I'm working nights right now.


Weight 217lbs (Down 21lbs)
Body Fat: 21.2% (Down 8%)
Waist: 39.5" (Down 1.5")
Chest: 41.5" (No Change)
Biceps: 15" (No Change)


Song of the Day: "Living On A Prayer" by Bin Jovi
This song should be played when you're halfway through anything.
Today I consumed:

• 1 Naked Mighty Mango
• 1 Naked Green Machine
• Juice of:
• 1 Head of Broccoli
• 2 Zuchinni
• 1 Cucumber
• 2 Oranges
• 1 Apple
• 1 Pear
• 2 Kiwi
• 1 Red Bell Pepper

Jeremiah 27: 15-16 NLT
This is what the LORD says: ‘I have not sent these prophets! They are telling you lies in my name, so I will drive you from this land. You will all die—you and all these prophets, too.’”Then I spoke to the priests and the people and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not listen to your prophets who claim that soon the gold articles taken from my Temple will be returned from Babylon. It is all a lie!


So read through probably the most difficult book to read in my opinion, Jeremiah, only to get three chapters deep into Lamentations and find out it is written by Jeremiah.  Did this guy seriously need 52 Chapters to explain the eventual fufilled prophecy of Babylon taking over Israel and Judah as a punishment for worshiping other gods.... 52 Chapters... really... Almost as bad as Job.  Luckily Lamentations is only 5 chapters long.

Day 18&19: Acceptance

After about the 5 inches of snow we got today with the third consecutive day in the teens, I'm pretty sure that my dog is gone forever. I really miss the little guy.  I'm definitely not getting another dog though.  Bolt has his freedom and now I have mine.


I'm starting to catch a cold which is putting a damper on my workouts.  I did get the chance to go ahead a clean my house prettty good with my day and a half that I had off. I gathered all of Bolt's stuff together and I came to the realization that I spent a lot of money on him.


Also I lost my cellphone.  Awesome.


Song of the Day: "Everyday Struggle" by The Notorious B.I.G.
This was a song that I listened to a lot especially in the navy when I was having a bad day.  It was one of the low points of my life.  Its one thing to be completely unsatisfied with your job, but it is another thing to be unsatisfied wig your job and broke.


Song of the Yesterday: "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green
Evidently the president can sing.
Yesterday I consumed:

• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
• Puree of:
• 6 Roma Tomatoes
• 8 Tomatillos
• 1/4 Onion
• 1 Handfull of Cilantro
• 1 Jalenpeno
• 1 Padilla
• 2 Handfuls of Arugula
• Juice of:
• 1 Bell Pepper
• 1 Apple
• 1 Orange
• 4 Handfuls of Arugula

Today I Consumed:

• 3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
• Puree of:
• 2 Small Butternut Squash Roasted
• 1 Small Celery Root Roasted
• 1 Small Baked Sweet Potato
• 1/2 Onion calrmelized
• 1 Handful of Raw Almonds
• 1 Handful of Raw Sunflower Seeds
• 1 Handful of Parsley
• Juice of:
• 3 Apples
• 6 Oranges
• 2 Small Beets with greens
• 1 Head Romaine Lettuce+
• 1 2 inch piece of ginger

Jeremiah 39:18 KJV
For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.

Day 17: Requiem For a Lost Dog

For the first time in a  long time I got up for work, didn't have to worry about feeding a dog or letting him outside. I went straight from work to the gym.  It was pretty much an awesome day.  If I could give all that up to have my dog back home again I would in a heartbeat.  I a certain sense I kind of admire Bolt.  He is willing to put his freedom ahead ahead of everything including warmth, security and food.  In the meantime, most of the nation sits idly by as laws that bring us closer and closer to a police state are passed.  Like the recent  bill that gives the president the power to detain someone indefinitely.  Now they're trying to take away the internet.  Might as well be China.


Today I Consumed:

• 1 Mango Pureed
•  Strawberries Pureed
• 8 Blackberries Pureed
• 1.5 cups Coconut Milk
• Juice of:
• 1 Beet
• 1/2 Bulb of Fennel
• 1 Large Sweet Potato
• 1 Orange
• 3 Carrots
• 2 Handfuls of Grapes
• 3 Handfuls of Kale
• 2 Cucumbers
• 1 Bell Pepper

Song of the Day: "Dream Brother" by Jeff Buckley

Every now and then I come across a song where I feel like the guitar is just played perfectly and this is one.

Jeremiah 2:19-21

Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,"
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

"Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, 'I will not serve you!'
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute.

I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine?

Day 16: Alone

I've only lived with my family for six months after I turned 18.  Every now and then I get those moments where I feel a little alone.  I know my family loves me but it's kind of hard to feel that way when you're thousands of miles away from them.  Even my closest friends live far away from me.  I act as if it doesn't take affect me but it takes a bit of a toll.


My dog ran away today, without his collar and it didn't really hit me until just now that he's gone.  I miss the little guy being curled up at the foot of my bed.  If he doesn't come back I may move closer to work.  I don't see dog ownership in my immediate future if he isn't found though.


Song of the Day: "Off The Wall" By Michael Jackson
Today I Consumed:

• 1 Roasted Acorn Squash Pureed
• 1 Handful of Parsley Pureed
• Juice of:
• 1 Lemon
• 1 pound of dates and apricots
• 1 Apple
• 1 Orange
• 1/2 Bulb of Fennel

Song of the Day: "Off The Wall" by Michael Jackson 
It's one of my favorite MJ songs and the melodies are great.  The tempo of this song is perfect and it always takes me back to my childhood.


Isaiah 33:1 AMP WOE TO you, O destroyer, you who were not yourself destroyed, who deal treacherously though they [your victims] did not deal treacherously with you! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have stopped dealing treacherously, they will deal treacherously with you.

Day 15: Discipline

Man I really thought I posted this and then I noticed that I just saved it as a draft.
So the hardest day of this fast was supposed to be like day 5 or something... Nope, for woke strange reason that day has come today.  It wasn't when I was watching the end of the miners game at Hooters and watching everyone scarf down wings while I drank glass after glass of unsweetened tea (Which actually isn't that bad).  It didn't come when I had to sit down and do probably the most boring job every sitting next to a bag of my favorite chips in the world (Salt and Pepper for future reference). Those parts were actually a lot easier than I thought they would be.  The hard part is coming to the realization that I actually have self discipline, and a lot of it.  While I have all of these parts neatly firing together, that aspect of self discipline does not eextend itself to every aspect of my lifestyle.


Today I consumed:

• 1/2 Roasted Eggplant Pureed
• 1 Handful Parsley Pureed
• 1 Tomato Pureed
• Juice of:
• 1 Cantelope
• 1 Orange
• 1 Apple

Song of the Day:  "Modern Inventions" by The Submarines

Isiah 25:1 NIV

Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago.

Day 14: Catch Up Day

Today I had to catch up on everything.  I also had to do three days worth of workouts. 70 mins of cardio and 75 mins of weight lifting.  I can't tell if my soreness is from weight lifting or falling so many times snowboarding.  I am exhausted now.  So this is going to be so short.  So short it ends now.


Song of the Day: "Butterflies and Hurricanes" by Muse


Today I Consumed

• One FRS Healthy Protien
• One Scoop of Green Vibrance
• 2 Tablespoons Veganese
• 1 Naked Berry Veggie
• Half and Eggplant Pureed
• Handful of Parsley Pureed
• 1 Tomato Pureed
• 6 Blackberries Pureed
• 3 Strawberries Pureed
• 1 Cup Coconut Milk
• Juice of 1 Lemon

Isaiah 1:11, 13 NIV
"The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the Lord.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

Day 12&13: They Say

"You'll be eating burgers on day 3."
 Funny that I've quadrupled that total.  I'm going John Locke.  Don't tell me what I can't do.  This one statement has been a big driving force for me. Almost every time I think about just quitting this I think about those people that told me that I would fail.  It just drives me harder to want to finish this.
"What you're doing is a star diet, it's just like what Beyonce did to get ready for Dreamgirls"
This was very demotivating.  Although Beyonce is fine and I would like to hit that (who wouldn't),  I would never want to be put in the same category as Beyonce for anything.  Not to say in my spare time without TV and internet, I had time to read a article on the child birth drama of Beyonce, but news is slow in the Tribune... Anyhow I do think you can be a Diva and still be considerate.  Closing down the entire floor of a hospital to give birth to a perfectly healthy kid is ridiculous.  She really couldn't spend that money to have their kid at home like a normal high profile celebrity.
"I'm gonna get drunk and shoot ten year olds in the face"
Kinda disturbing until you realize he's talking about Call of Duty.
"You're from Florida and have no clue how to drive in this weather."
So true.  Two days with snow, two days in the ditch.  It's just my economic plan to stimulate job development by having more tow truck drivers at work.
"Tim Tebow can't loose with God on his side."
Kinda true, but did anybody really believe that the all knowing, all powerful creator of the universe would be a Broncos fan...
"Fry's should sell fries."
I'm so poetic and hilarious.
"The 49ers are a good team but the Saint's Red Zone offense puts them over the edge to win this one"
Drew Bress 0 TDs in Red Zone.
Alex Smith 1 Rushing TD 1 Passing TD in Red Zone....
"Who Dat?"
The San Francisco 49ers!!!!
On Day 12 and 13 I consumed:

• One Naked Blue Machine
• 1 Odwalla Mango Tango
• 1 Odwalla Superfood
• 1 FRS Healthy Protein Blueberry Acai
• Juice of:
• 1 Red Cabbage
• 1 Habenero Chile
• 1 Bag of Spinach
• 2 Handfulls Kale
• 3 Apples
• 4 Oranges
• 12 Oz Mini Sweet Peppers
• 8 oz Blueberries
• 4 Kiwis
• 1 Grapefruit
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1 Lime
• 1 Beet
• 2 Inches Ginger
• 1 Sweet Potato
• 1 Bunch Spinach
• 1 Serano Chile
• 1 Red Pepper

Side note:  As previously stated, I do think this is unhealthy.  I think a person should take a balanced approach to weight loss.  If I get to that 180lb mark or start loosing a lot of muscle, I will stop as previously stated.  So if you're concerned don't worry.  I have no intentions of becoming vegan or anything like that.  Though I do welcome all your criticisms and concerns (see today's Bible verse).

Song of the Day:  "They Say" by Common

Song of the Yesterday: "Oysters" by Meshell Ndegeocello <== Love this song awesome lyrics.

Proverbs 12:1 NIV

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.