Hall of Fame Photo - The Cracked Egg - 2006

Hall of Fame Photo - The Cracked Egg - Siesta Key 2006

The SAME EMPLOYEE IS IN The MIDDLE.

WHO ARE THOSE OTHER TWO GUYS?

Hint- They are on the other side of the guy in the Hall of Shame Photo!

Hall of Shame Photo - The Cracked Egg- 2004

Hall of Shame Photo - The Cracked Egg- Siesta Key 2004

Hall of Shame Photo - The Cracked Egg- 2004

BubbaFest- Tuesday November 14, 2006 - including the Hall of Shame and the Hall of Fame

BubbaFest- Tuesday November 14, 2006 - including the Hall of Shame and the Hall of Fame

Tuesday started out with an 8 mile ride to breakfast at THE CRACKED EGG IN SIESTA KEY. So, by the time I had rode 8 miles, I was pretty much pooped and goofy. But as it is DICK VITALE's FAVORITE RESTAURANT and having been there before I knew the food would be great.

In 2003 and 2004, we should have been put in the HALL OF SHAME. I would eat a HUGE BREAKFAST with a HUGE OJ and a HUGE CHOCOLATE MILK. Probably the biggest breakfast I have ever had.

In 2006,I ate two scrambled eggs and one link of spicy cheese sausage (yummy) three forkfuls of home fries and one piece of toast. On a regular LapBand Day, this would be 1/2 to 2/3 of the whole day's food. But as I knew I was feeling bad, I had to try to eat more. So, I did.

But that brings us to the HALL OF SHAME and the HALL OF FAME.

Bubba and I met the cook and took our photo with him in 2004. We took his photo with us again in 2006. I wonder which one is him, which one is Bubba and which one is me? HALL OF SHAME AND HALL OF FAME.

I did finish the ride, having to take three long breaks, all with protein bars, and one with THREE PROPELS. The place we had chosen for lunch was closed- THOSE KNUCKLEHEADS! So my "lunch" was another Propel and a Protein Bar. At about 2 miles from our campground end I started getting dizzy headed so I took a 10 minute break. No protein Bars left. So I just rested. Thanks to Doug and Roger Roger for staying with me. I will be reviewing nutrition and hydration a lot more over the next four months before my next scheduled ride- BIKE FLORIDA.

I finished! I rode all the way to KEY WEST! We could have road 4 more miles out and 4 miles back to the Bottom of the US of A, but I was exhausted. I had done it before, so I passed and took a nap to be able to get to enjoy Key West that night. And THAT IS ANOTHER POST- yet to come!

BubbaFest- Monday November 13, 2006

BubbaFest- Monday November 13, 2006

Today was the first day that I really had any problems. I had no CPAP Machine on Saturday night, so Sunday was a bit tough and I did get tired. I borrowed an extension cord and had my CPAP for Sunday, but it kept popping the circuit, so I gave up on it for much of the night Sunday.

Now, Sunday I had two protein bars while riding, and besides the Key lime tart and a piece of Key lime pie at dinner, I had almost stuck with the LapBand 1500 calorie diet. As a matter of fact, I would say I probably ate just a little more than I would on a regular day as I ate just 1/3 of my lasagna for dinner.

I started Monday off with a JC breakfast creation on the beach- The Yogurt Strawberry Short Cake. One crumbled Muffin Top- One cup berries, one cup yogurt on top- WALLAH- Wonderful. Other riders saw my creation and made them as well.

But Monday, It hit! Not hunger- but tiredness, goofiness (not the fun kind, but the what the hell is he doing - he is gonna get killed kind), dehydration and nearly bonking.

I called the Deaconess Dieticioness and discussed what I was doing, exercise levels and food intake. We decided I needed to EAT MORE! (Again check back on Bonking in a future post) I stopped twice on the way to the Dolphin Research center for protein bars- twice in 15 miles. It turns out the second stop was perhaps a quarter mile from my destination. I could have made it, but I was getting goofy so I stopped at the FLAMINGO HOTEL and finished off my camelback of water.You can decide if I was goofy or not.

So, then after a great morning at the Dolphin Research center and drinking THREE PowerAde Options and still not being able to pee, I decided I was WAY DEHYDRATED. So, I drank even more.

Lunch was at the Seven Mile Grill, and I had THREE ICE TEAS before lunch. I ate my sandwich on half the bun, stole a popcorn shrimp (in the Keys they are HUGE!) from Roger Roger and stole some fries from Doug. Then Key Lime Pie.

I attacked the 7 Mile Bridge (see the movie TRUE LIES for an excellent chase scene on that bridge) and I knew that our camp was just less than a mile over the bridge. The last 3 miles are technically DOWNHILL, so I kept pedaling and got into camp before sitting in a chair and collapsing. I was pooped at 32 miles and fell asleep and was late for my shower and dinner. They had run out of food (again- don't get between a biker and food) and they did not tell me they had LOTS of black beans and rice so I waited an hour for the second BBQ truck to bring more. I violated the PROTEIN FIRST RULE and had a piece of birthday cake while starving and waiting. I also had four or six diet lemonades while waiting. Finally they brought more food, and I ate quite a bit of pulled pork and beans till full. (who wants to be in that tent? haha) After celebrating a79 year old's birthday on the ride (yup- I got beat by a 79 year old- pathetic isn't it?) I had a Diet lemonade and bourbon (almost a whiskey sour) and collapsed to bed with a working CPAP. I slept for 10 hours.

BubbaFest- Sunday November 12, 2006

BubbaFest- Sunday November 12, 2006

Day one of riding.

We got started at 10:30, (again-with the not getting started thing-I got outvoted.)

Rode 37.25 miles (.15 MORE than on the Ghost Rider) We'll talk about nutrition, bonking and hydration in a future post- check back later.

Watched a Miami Dolphin Game at a Tiki Bar on the Atlantic Ocean. Saw updates of the Bungals come from ahead loss. Cincinnati was 32 degrees with freezing rain- Florida 80 - 82 degrees and Sunny! (THAT WOULD BE AN NSV!) Had a Key Lime TART with lunch. Lunch was a crab cake sandwich- toss half the bun, eat two fries and be full!

Getting to camp last, we had to borrow the convertible to drive to dinner. Drat, no minivan-had to drive the convertible again. Life is tough.

At dinner we met an old friend of Bubba's named Wood Bob. Actually - Woody is now a park ranger at Long Key State park where we were camping. Woody was sitting with Bubba a few tables over and kept looking over at me. Finally Woody asked Bubba- "DO I KNOW THAT GUY?" "Yup- you do - that would be BIG JOHN". Woody gasps and then said "He looks more like a MEDIUM JOHN NOW!" A NON SCALE VICTORY

Also at dinner- An NSV- THE CHAIRS.

The restaurant has two kinds of chairs- 95% have arms, 5% do not. In 2003 and 2004 Bubba, Art and me had to scrounge for the no arms chairs. This year- ARM CHAIRS, and there was ROOM LEFT OVER!

IT'S ALL GOOD BABY!  

BubbaFest- Sunday November 12, 2006

BubbaFest- Sunday November 12, 2006

Day one of riding.

We got started at 10:30, (again-with the not getting started thing-I got outvoted.)

Rode 37.25 miles (.15 MORE than on the Ghost Rider) We'll talk about nutrition, bonking and hydration in a future post- check back later.

Watched a Miami Dolphin Game at a Tiki Bar on the Atlantic Ocean. Saw updates of the Bungals come from ahead loss. Cincinnati was 32 degrees with freezing rain- Florida 80 - 82 degrees and Sunny! (THAT WOULD BE AN NSV!) Had a Key Lime TART with lunch. Lunch was a crab cake sandwich- toss half the bun, eat two fries and be full!

Getting to camp last, we had to borrow the convertible to drive to dinner. Drat, no minivan-had to drive the convertible again. Life is tough.

At dinner we met an old friend of Bubba's named Wood Bob. Actually - Woody is now a park ranger at Long Key State park where we were camping. Woody was sitting with Bubba a few tables over and kept looking over at me. Finally Woody asked Bubba- "DO I KNOW THAT GUY?" "Yup- you do - that would be BIG JOHN". Woody gasps and then said "He looks more like a MEDIUM JOHN NOW!" A NON SCALE VICTORY

Also at dinner- An NSV- THE CHAIRS.

The restaurant has two kinds of chairs- 95% have arms, 5% do not. In 2003 and 2004 Bubba, Art and me had to scrounge for the no arms chairs. This year- ARM CHAIRS, and there was ROOM LEFT OVER!

IT'S ALL GOOD BABY!  

BubbaFest - Saturday November 12th

BubbaFest - Saturday November 12th

While I had hoped to get a ride in today, that didn't quite work out. I had hoped to be up at dawn, have a yogurt, go for a walk on the beach and head south for the 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive. My travel companions chose to sleep in, have a long breakfast, then the walk on the beach, then we had an over 3 1/2 hour drive, plus two errands, plus get a bike, plus get to camp, then pick up Saturday nights dinner. When we left at 10:30 and not 7:30 or 8, I knew we were doomed. While it is technically only 60 miles to the start, it takes quite a while to get out of Miami and then US 1 is slow. Trust me.

But, it was still a good day. We picked up the Cuban Sandwiches for 80 people, and despite making the other riders wait a half an hour, they did not kill us or try to eat us as we walked in. Once the bikers had food in hand, they got much friendlier. (note to you faithful reader- DO NOT step between a bicyclist and food- it can get ugly)

I knew that around 5 folks I knew would be there. Two had hear of but not seen the new me, the other three had seen me. But it turns out, there were 20 people there I knew. But only 10 recognized me!

I wore Bubba's Elvis Shirt to the opening ceremony and there were a lot of gasps of amazement. Most had seen Bubba (now they call him Bubba LITE - haha) But none ever expected the new me. It was a great night.

We drove back to camp in the convertible with the top down and slept in our tents on the beach. Before going tour separate tents, I could not even tell which constellation was which- THERE WERE TOO MANY STARS, INCLUDING THE THICKEST MILKY WAY I'VE EVER SEEN !

IT'S ALL GOOD BABY!

BubbaFest- Friday's NSVs

BubbaFest- Friday's NSVs

In keeping with all the tales to tell, I must try to get them down now, before they all blend into one inside my brain. So, we will split them up by days.

 

Friday November 10, 2006

1. NO ELEPHANT BELT

2. THE ELVIS SHIRT

3. YOU LOOK GOOD IN THAT CAR!

THE ELEPHANT BELT.

We've all been on the plane and feared the day. THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER. My first official need for one was in June 2005 on a Delta Flight to Boston. I quietly and sadly asked the stewardess for a belt extender. She turned and YELLED " HEY, WE NEED AN ELEPHANT BELT" to the gay male stewardess standing in the front who then pranced his way down the aisle waving it in front of a plane load of people, some of which I knew.

Well, today- NO ELEPHANT BELT. As a matter of fact, I had about FOUR INCHES LEFT OVER! There was a guy next to me who was bigger than me and he had to ask for an extender. He was lucky, the stewardess was nice and quietly handed him one. I considered discussing the LapBand with him, but as Bubba and I have talked about before, this is not a journey for everyone. When he is ready, perhaps he'll find a person to talk the LapBand over with. But I kept quiet.

THE ELVIS SHIRT.

I've been telling Bubba for months that the shirt just wouldn't fit. He bought it for me as a recovery goal. At BubbaFest 2004 I saw it and wanted it, but tried it on and it needed 6-8 more inches to close on me. Very Depressing. When I decided to go forward to the LapBand, Bubba bought me the shirt when he was in the Keys for BubbaFest - the Spring Opener.

Well, I sort of lied to Bubba. But for a good reason. I CAN get into the shirt. It is just tight when I sit in it. I compared it to a number of other shirts in my closet and it is actually smaller than quite a few Regular XL shirts I have. But, as I said- I CAN WEAR IT! So, I changed into it and shorts when I got off the plane and when he came to meet me- THERE WAS ME IN THE ELVIS SHIRT. Bubba gave me a big hug and there was a tear in his eye. Of course, it might have just been from the stinky bus exhaust, but I like to think it was the shirt!

YOU LOOK GOOD IN THAT CAR!

My travel plans changed a bit as we were setting up the trip.

 

I was going to pick up a minivan at the Miami airport and drive it down to the Keys. This was to serve as our SAG vehicle. Well, Bubba needed the van a day earlier now. So, no van for me.

 

I get stuck with having to take Bubba's car down. He was going to meet me at the airport and hand me the keys.

 

Yup, I had to DRIVE A CONVERTIBLE AROUND MIAMI, SOUTH BEACH AND THE KEYS!

 

Life is tough.

 

As I was driving around on Ocean Drive in South Beach, out of FOXES RESTAURANT (not making this up!) sitting in the sidewalk cafe next to a table of seven beautiful women is a guy and a gal. A very pretty gal. She sees me in Bubba's convertible and jumps up and comes into the street saying "YOU LOOK GOOD IN THAT CAR!" 

 

Of course, she is totally drunk and her boyfriend grabs her and hauls her drunk self back into her seat. But she was hot and said I looked good in the convertible, so I'm TAKING IT! 

So, to sum up-

1. NO ELEPHANT BELT

2. THE ELVIS SHIRT

3. YOU LOOK GOOD IN THAT CAR!

IT'S ALL GOOD BABY!

YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL AND YOUR MINE

YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL AND YOUR MINE
 

In my continuing shout outs to friends with other success stories, tonight continues with the tale of a friend who has now shrunken herself to a SIZE SIXTEEN. She went shopping for Ski Pants,and now is on the weigh (haha) to being a snow bunny. After much work, she went to the ski bum store and tried on 18 ski pants AND THEY WERE TOO BIG. So, she tried on the Sixteens and JUMPED FOR A JOY.

 

To my anonymous friend I commemorate you in song- FORGIVE ME RINGO!

 

YOU COME ON LIKE A DREAM, DIET PEACHES AND LIGHT CREAM,
LIPS LIKE STRAWBERRY SPLENDA WINE.
YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU'RE MINE. (mine, all mine)
 
YOU'RE ALL RIBBONS AND CURLS, OOH, WHAT A GIRL,
EYES THAT SPARKLE AND SHINE.
YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU'RE MINE.
(Mine, all mine, mine, mine)
 
YOU'RE MY BABY, YOU'RE MY PET,
WE FELL IN LOVE ON THE NIGHT WE MET.
YOU TOUCHED MY HAND, MY HEART WENT POP,
OOH, WHEN WE KISSED, I COULD NOT STOP.
 
YOU WALKED OUT OF MY DREAMS, INTO MY ARMS,
NOW YOU'RE MY ANGEL DIVINE.
YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU'RE MINE.
 
YOU'RE MY BABY, YOU'RE MY PET,
WE FELL IN LOVE ON THE NIGHT WE MET.
YOU TOUCHED MY HAND, MY HEART WENT POP,
OOH, WHEN WE KISSED, I COULD NOT STOP.
 
YOU WALKED OUT OF MY DREAMS, INTO MY CAR,
NOW YOU'RE MY ANGEL DIVINE.
YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU'RE MINE.
 
YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU'RE MINE.
 
YOU'RE A SIXTEEN, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU'RE MINE.
 
ALL MINE, ALL MINE, ALL MINE.
 
ALL MINE, ALL MINE, ALL MINE.
 
ALL MINE, ALL MINE, ALL MINE, ALL MINE, BUT I DO.
 
YOU ARE MINE!
 
 
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE DRUNKEN SAILOR?
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE DRUNKEN SAILOR?
 

Happy ThanksBandiversary!

To my favorite School Marm-

 

If memory serves me right, as her LapBand came to be the week of Thanksgiving 2005, this needs to be said-

Happy ThanksBandiversary!

JC

Jackie Gleason believes in them

Sunday November 19, 2006

 

    Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly         believes in them and has actually seen them on at     least two occasions. What are they?

    Charley Weaver: His feet

 

-----

OK, a Very Humorous Non Scale Victory.

 

I was doing a small home repair today, and was laying on my back to do it. I dropped a tool and had to reach to get it. Without bending, I lifted my head to see where it rolled.

 

I SAW MY TOES!

 

OK, I see them all the time, but the point is I was actually laying TOTALLY FLAT ON MY BACK and by just barely tilting my head I could see them.  No bending involved. Used to be that they were hidden well behind or below a big ole belly.

 

I had to laugh. And smile.

 

And since I was at the Jackie Gleason Theatre last week, we had to use the Hollywood Squares joke.

 

 

 

 

The Black Suit

The Black Suit

Saturday November 18, 2006

Well, tonight may have been the last night for the Black Suit.

I bought it in 2002 at the Big and Tall Department of Men's Wearhouse. I don't remember the specific price, but it was much more than I expected to pay. But the salesman said that their Big and Tall Department was usually higher. MUCH HIGHER it turned out.

The Suit only comes out now for weddings and funerals and the occasional job interview. (I turned down the last offer and didn't get the previous two).

Tonight was a friend's wedding, and I don't have any more weddings planned that I know of. Hopefully there will be no funerals, but I will keep it around just in case. If you really need a black suit, I guess a too big one is gonna do in a pinch.

Tonight the suit could almost be DOUBLE BREASTED. It overlapped BY FIVE INCHES. In June, it would not even button. Amazing.

Here are some timeline photos of the Black Suit. Enjoy.

August 2005, June 2006, July 2006, November 2006

BUBBAFEST - FLORIDA KEYS- IT'S ALL GOOD BABY

BUBBAFEST - FLORIDA KEYS- IT'S ALL GOOD BABY

Saturday November 18, 2006

Well, I got back yesterday from succeeding at a MAJOR MAJOR RECOVERY GOAL I set for myself. And I WAS SUCCESSFUL.

I rode BubbaFest in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, I simply was not healthy enough to do it. Too overweight. Blood pressure too high. Too much trouble with my esophagus and too much trouble from the hiatal hernia. Life was not pleasant, and I figured that my riding days were over. I was sad that I was unable to go in 2005. I just would not have been able to physically complete the 2005 ride.

Well, 2006 - I RODE IT. ALL THE WAY to Key West. While it was not without difficulty, I did it. This was a "Test Week" to see how well I would do. I still need to do some work on nutritional and hydration items as both were issues during the week. But, faithful reader, we will go into those in a future blog posting.

Lots of non scale victories, nearly every day.

And, who do you think LOST FIVE POUNDS in the week, despite having a piece of Key Lime Pie at EVERY lunch and dinner? Me- that's who! 291. Five pounds off the scale. 78 down total.

As I said, there will be more postings soon, but as I had to come home early for a friend's wedding this Saturday, time is short. As a matter of fact as I need to get ready for the wedding, I think I'll go put on my black suit now -FOR ONE LAST TIME- as the thing is getting pretty loose!

But lastly, thanks to Bubba for all he did to guide me down this path, one that has me enjoying life again!

IT'S ALL GOOD BABY!

 

 

 

FISH OIL FISH OIL

FISH OIL FISH OIL

Fish Oil, Fish Oil,

Yummy, Yummy Fish Oil,

Fish Oil, Fish oil,

Eat them up, Yum!

-------

Having no fear of becoming the Wolfman or Bigfoot anymore, I've begun taking a vitamin for hair loss, and Three Fish Oil Capsules for mine eyes. Mine Eyes that have seen the shrinking of the JC.

 

-------

Last night I stood in the vitamin aisle in Kroger with GLAZED EYES. Not GLAZED as in a donut, not GLAZED as in LUV, but GLAZED as in WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE IN ALL OF THESE EXACTLY THE SAME LOOKING BOTTLES?

-------

    HAIR LOSS-

 

Over the last two weeks, in my continuing search for ways to add protein for minimal calories, I have tried adding the following to my diet:

    Protein shake, made with milk, 25 + protein, 250 calories

    3 pieces of String cheese, 7 protein each, 80 calories each 21/240

    And last night- the worst of all- yogurt, with a scoop of protein powder and a bit of granola 25 grams protein 150 calories. (AND IT WAS DISGUSTING!)

 

and a few other ideas- more protein pudding, oatmeal with protein and dry milk,

 

So, after 2 weeks

    I think I will be trying to add a shake when I come home from work, or take More String cheese when I am out and about. I may also do more of the SF Protein pudding, but eating something sweet, just makes me want to eat MORE SWEETS. These solutions will add 20-25 grams of protein for less than 250 extra calories. That slows my weight loss down, but maybe those extra calories will keep some extra hair in my head and off my bathroom floor. 

 

So, in the Kroger vitamin aisle last night I bought "BASIC VITAMINS FOR HAIR".

 

I never did see any vitamin labeled "PRE NATAL", so I guess there is some other secret name for those.

 

My buddy who works at a medical research firm has sent me an email about the subject,  I've read just a bit of it, as it is EXTREMELY LONG  and EXTREMELY TECHNICAL. But I will work on it.

 

Well, I read the whole thing and my head did not explode.

 

This sounds like what I'm facing.

 

    TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM

 

Diets for weight loss should be balanced, with daily caloric intake greater than 1200 kcal/day [29]. Recently, the current authors have seen a few cases of TE related to the Atkins diet, which occurred after a period of significant weight loss (>2 lb/wk). Once these factors have been addressed, observational monitoring and reassurance are usually all that is required. Regrowth is expected within 3 to 6 months after the trigger has been removed—at most, 1 year.

 

So, if the above attempt at self diagnosis is correct, once I get to GOAL WEIGHT, and then stay there for 3-6 months, possibly a year, regrowth is expected. My current diet (without the now added 250 calories) was around 1,000 to 1,200 calories. So now I will be 1,200 to 1,450. I checked the bottles and my new vitamins have calorie, so just make me an even 1,500 calories. Argh. That is 1/2 more than a month ago.

 

Well, I'm still taking more vitamins. There has to be a way to slow this down and still lose weight!

 

---------

 

Eyes

 

I bought Omega -3 / Omega - 6 Fish Oil 1200 mg tonight. I will begin taking THREE OF THEM and see if they are of any value. My next appointment with the eye doctor is December 11th.

 

See ya ( I hope- see an EYE JOKE- haha)

 

JC