Today is my last day of "retirement celebration" and I really celebrated. I had Krispy Kreme doughnuts for breakfast (yes, I was passing through the Pru Mall late last night and there was no line at the Krispy Kreme) along with my bran cereal, I saw Spider-Man 2 at the movies and had a package of Whoppers with my diet soda. After the movie, I had my final "retirement celebration" dinner on this the actual day of my retirement. I went to the Longhorn Steakhouse near the theater and had a 14 ounce New York Sirloin with salad, bread/butter, potato, and rice. Of course, I had a nice dessert too.

Well, now the celebration is over and starting tomorrow, July 1, 2004, I am returning to my proven weight loss eating behavior modifications with a goal of loosing 120 pounds by the end of 2005.

posted by Jim 8:30 PM

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I really celebrated today. I had 3 good meals and had a dessert with supper. I did have M & M's with my diet soda at the movies also.

Well, I only have 1 more day to celebrate. Tomorrow, June 30, at 3:30 pm is my official retirement. Starting Thursday, July 1, 2004, I will focus on a strict return to my weight loss eating behavior modifications with a goal of loosing 120 pounds by the end of 2005.

posted by Jim 7:50 PM

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Another day of "retirement celebration". I had three good meals and a water with chocolate chip cookies for a snack while composing my last work related email before visiting a friend. I did go to a movie at the Kendall Square Cinema and only had a bottled water during the movie.

Two more days of celebration and then, on July 1, I will definitely focus on loosing a substantial amount of weight.

posted by Jim 6:51 PM

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Still celebrating my retirement. I had a package of Whoppers with my diet soda at the movies. After the movies, I ate at the Cambridge Brewery (I had no alcohol). I did not have a dessert, but I did have a full meal. I did stop at the Cambridge Marriott Hotel's gift shop on the way to the subway station, and bought my last (hopefully) 2 boxes of Mike and Ike candy, one of my lifetime favorite candies that I will not have any more after July 1.

I still feel confident that July 1, 2004 will be a signifcant day in my life because it will mark my focused return to proven weight loss eating behavior modifications and the start of my loosing 120 pounds over a year and a half time span.

posted by Jim 7:37 PM

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My "retirement celebration" continues, I had a nice dinner at Bertucci's, but did not have a dessert. At the movies, I had a diet soda with no snack.

After visiting a friend, I went to the bus via the Pru Shopping Mall and stopped at the B & N Cafe. I had a hot tea with a lemon square while sitting on a bench watching the world go by and listening to an audio book on my iPod.

I still feel very strongly that I definitely will return to a strict adherence to my weight loss eating behavior modifications starting July 1, 2004. Even though I have been celebrating my retirement, I am still 6 pounds lighter today than I was on June 1.

posted by Jim 10:07 PM

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Still enjoying my "retirement celebration". Before going to a movie, I ate at the Longhorn Steakhouse and did have the chocolate stampede for dessert. At the movies, I just had a diet soda with no snack.

On July 1, next Thursday, I will return to my successful eating behavior modifications with the goal of loosing 120 pounds by the end of 2005.

posted by Jim 7:18 PM

. . .

I am still enjoying my retirement celebration. I had my usual bacon cheddar burger with fries and side caesar at the Cambridge Brewery (I had no alcohol) before going to a movie at the Kendall Square Cinema. At the movie, I had a diet soda and a package of whoppers.

At the end of the day, I stopped at the Pru Shops and had a lemonade, bottled water, and lemon square at the B & N Cafe.

A week from today is July 1, 2004 which will be the start of my official retirement and the start of my focused return to the weight loss eating behavior modifications that resulted in my loosing 70 pounds in 1999.

posted by Jim 9:24 PM

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Well, I am really continuing my retirement celebration. Last night, I passed through the Prudential Center shopping center on the way to the bus and there was no line at the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts which opened about a month ago. I bought some doughnuts and ate them this morning with my bran cereal breakfast. The last time I had a Krispy Kreme doughtnut was at Penn Station in New York last July on the way home from Macworld. Once a year is not too bad.

I ate in a nice restaurant near the movie theater and had no dessert. I did have a package of Whoppers along with my diet soda at the movie theater. However, I had a free coupon for a small popcorn and did not redeem it.

I will continue my retirement celebration until next Wednesday, June 30, my actual date of retirement. Starting July 1, I will definitely focus on my weight reduction eating behavior modifications.

posted by Jim 7:42 PM

. . .

I had a bran cereal breakfast and ate lunch/dinner at the Cambridge Brewery. I did have ice cream for dessert and had some Whoppers at the movies. I have extended my "retirement celebration" to June 30, 2004, my actual retirement date.

I definitely will focus on loosing weight starting July 1, 2004.

posted by Jim 7:44 PM

. . .

I had my bran cereal breakfast and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in the Prudential Center. I didn't intend to have a big sit down dinner, but there was no line at the Cheesecake Factory (unusual). I took advantage of the no lines and had a nice dinner with their fantastic Boston Cream cheesecake for dessert. I know I can not eat like that all the time; however, today was the first time in months that I have been to the Cheesecake Factory.

I will start my rigid eating behavior modifications before July 1.

posted by Jim 11:26 PM

. . .

Today was the last day of my retirement celebration. I had a good breakfast and had dinner at the Cambridge Brewery (I had a diet soda with the meal). I did have ice cream for dessert and had a popcorn with topping at the movies (first time in over 2 weeks).

Starting tomorrow, my retirement celebration ends and I will focus again on my eating behavior modifications. My goal is to loose 120 pounds by the end of 2005.

posted by Jim 8:29 PM

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Did ok today. I ate a good breakfast and went to Pizzeria Uno for lunch/dinner. I did have a dessert with my dinner, again celebrating my retirement. I went to a movie and had a diet soda with no snack. When I got home, I did have the usual diet soda and cheese/peanut butter crackers.

Although I have been watching what I eat and have lost a few pounds, starting Monday, I will really focus on the eating modifications to ensure I loose a significant amount of weight.

posted by Jim 11:56 PM

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I did ok today. I had a good breakfast and had dinner at the Longhorn Steak House. I did have dessert after my steak dinner; however, the dessert was to celebrate my retirement and will not be a regular thing. Although I went to two movies, I only had a diet soda at the first movie and nothing at the second movie. I did have my usual diet soda and cheese/peanut butter crackers when I got home.

After this weekend when my "retirement celebration" is over, I will really focus on loosing the weight and watching what I eat.

posted by Jim 11:49 PM

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My first day of retirement went well. I had a nice breakfast and did go to Bertucci's for a combined lunch/dinner. I did not have any dessert. I went to two movies and only had diet sodas, no snacks. I had the usual diet soda and cheese/peanut butter cookies when I got home.

At Bertucci's, I had pasta with meatballs. I know I cannot eat a big meal at a restaurant every day or the weight will go up, not down. I went for the big meal to celebrate my retirement and will probably have big meals until Monday, again celebrating my retirement. Starting Monday, I will have small lunch/dinners out so I can loose weight.

posted by Jim 11:40 PM

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Today was my last workday with the MWRA. The day was very hectic and I still managed to stay away from the vending machine in work. I am proud of my last 16 days, I have lost 5 pounds when work was very hectic when I normally would have raided the vending machines and gained 5 pounds. I had a good breakfast, lunch, and dinner with only minimum snacks.

Now that work is over, I must concentrate on really loosing the weight. The last time I retired, I lost 50 pounds. My goal is to loose 120 pounds over the next year and a half.

posted by Jim 9:36 PM

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I stayed away from the vending machine in work even though it was very busy. I did have some pizza and cake in between meals. Some coworkers dropped by with some pizza and my boss and the Training Dept. staff dropped by with a cake. The purpose of the visits was to celebrate my retirement from the MWRA. Since I was the "guest of honor", I certainly could not refuse to join in (and both the pizza and cake were very tasty).

As I related in an earlier post this week, I have no problem partaking in celebrations that involve food as long as I behave when the celebrations are over. I have certainly enjoyed the people stopping by and taking the time out of their busy schedules to wish me luck and talk about the "good times".

After I leave work and the much appreciated celebrations are over, I will definitely focus on loosing weight.

posted by Jim 9:42 PM

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I behaved during breakfast and dinner; however, some coworkers took me to lunch at a nice italian restaurant near work. At lunch, I had a nice chicken based meal that was very tasty with a diet soda and a cup of tea. I did have my usual diet soda with cheese/peatnut butter cookies when I got home from work.

Overall, it was an ok day for me from an eating point of view. When you are celebrating a special occasion, you should enjoy a good meal as long as you do not overdo it and the celebrations are infrequent.

posted by Jim 7:57 PM

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Behaved overall today. Had a good breakfast and went to Pizzeria Uno for spaghetti and meatballs with no dessert. Went to two movies again; had a diet soda at the first movie and nothing at the second movie. Had the usual diet soda and cheese/peanut butter crackers when I got home.

I am feeling positive about my chances of maintaining this return to my proven weight loss eating behaviors. I really hope I can do it this time.

posted by Jim 9:07 PM

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Overall, I behaved today. I had a good breakfast and a nice steak dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Landmark Center. I did not have any dessert and I only had a diet soda at the first movie I saw. I went to a sneak preview of "The Notebook" in the evening and did not have any snack, solid or liquid. When I got home, I had a diet soda and some cheese/peanut butter crackers.

Maybe, just maybe, I am returning to the good eating behaviors for the long run. Too early to say for sure that I will watch what I eat on a regular basis, but it does look promising.

posted by Jim 9:59 PM

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Overall, today was a good day. I had my usual breakfast and lunch. On the way to the Revere Cinema after work, I stopped at the Papa Gino's on Squire Rd. and had a spaghetti and meatballs, with a slice of cheese pizza. At the cinema, I had a soft serve ice cream and then a diet soda with one package of cheese peanut butter cookies when I got home. This description may sound like I ate a lot (and I did); however, it was a lot less than I usually eat on a Friday because I stayed away from the vending machine in work.

Today was another hectic day in work and, although I was not perfect, I did not visit the vending machine often. There is always room from improvement; however, I am proud of how I have eaten since I returned to my weight loss eating behaviors on June 1, particularly since it has been so hectic in work recently.

posted by Jim 8:31 PM

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Considering that work was extremely hectic today, I did ok. I had my usual cereal/juice/hot chocolate breakfast and my fat-free bologna lunch. For the most part, I did stay away from the vending machine. Went to the cemetery after work (my dad's anniversary is next week) and then to Sullivan's for my usual weekday dinner. Unwound a little at the Island and then came home.

Although I ate a little more than I would have preferred, I did well considering how hectic it was today in work. The old me would have eaten a lot more during a hectic workday like today.

posted by Jim 8:40 PM

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I did ok today. Had my usual bran cereal, juice, fat free hot chocolate breakfast. Went to lunch at a local restaurant today, some coworkers took me to lunch in celebration of my forthcoming retirement. I had a nice pot roast and had a dessert as well in celebration of my retirement. I will have a nice meal with a dessert for a special occasion, as long as I don't make a habit of it. I did stay away from the vending machine in work for the most part.

Ate supper at Sullivan's and didn't overdo it.

I'll be ok if I just watch myself and ensure my "celebration eating behavior" is reserved for special occasions

posted by Jim 8:19 PM

. . .

Did well today, 3 good meals and avoided the vending machine for the most part. Dined at Sullivan's after work before going to BOSPDAUG. I have behaved for the last week and I hope to continue. It would be fantastic to loose 120 pounds!

posted by Jim 8:42 PM

. . .

Overall, I had a good day. I had cereal for breakfast and my fat-free bologna sandwich for lunch. I did manage to stay away from the vending machine in work for the most part. After work, went to Sullivan's and had some hot dogs and fries.

posted by Jim 9:53 PM

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I ate a reasonable, small breakfast and went to the movies. During the movie, I had a diet soda, but again. I had no snack. I had a bacon cheesburger and salad with a diet soda at the Cambridge Brewery after the movie with no dessert.

Later in the day, I was in the Prudential Center and had a hot tea at the cafe, again without a snack. When I got home, I did have a diet soda and a package of cheese/peanut butter crackers (I'll have to watch this to ensure it does not become a daily habit).

Overall, for a weekend, I did pretty good.

posted by Jim 10:03 PM

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Today was my first non-workday since I returned to my eating behavior modifications. I had a reasonable breakfast before going to downtown Boston for a movie and dinner. At the movie theater, I did purchase a diet soda; however, I did not have any snacks.

I went to Bertucci's for an excellent pasta and meatballs with a salad. I did not have my usual soup and did not have any dessert.

While sitting in the Prudential Center contemplating my upcoming retirement, I had a cup of hot tea with no pastry or other snack.

Overall, I did well for a weekend day and hope to continue this behavior on other weekend days.

posted by Jim 11:58 PM

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Another good day, the fourth in a row. I ate my usual three good meals and did manage to stay away from the vending machine in work most of the time. I am particulalry pleased because the last four days in work have been hectic. Usually when work is hectic, I have been know to raid the vending machine. The last four days I have accomplished all of the tasks required and I still managed to stay away from the vending machines for the most part.

posted by Jim 10:15 PM

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I feel good about today. Today was the third day of my newest effort to return to my eating behavior modifications and I didn't fail like I usually do on the third day. I ate three good meals; however, I did ignore the vending machines in work for the most part. I know I certainly have a long way to go, but I do feel positive about my chances of meeting my weight loss goals.

posted by Jim 10:08 PM

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Did well again today, ate 3 good meals and did not visit the vending machine often. Tomorrow will be interesting - the third day of any eating behavior change is always the toughest for me.

posted by Jim 11:42 PM

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I am off to a good start, but have a long way to go. I ate 3 good meals and stayed away from the vending machine in work. Now, I just have to keep this revised eating behavior for the rest of my life.

posted by Jim 10:22 PM

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