6–10 August 2023

I did a fasting mimicking diet consisting of only eating 800 daily calories. I made a crockpot of soup each day, made with various vegetables and each being around 500 calories for the full pot of soup. I supplemented with either a potato or some vegan ground beef.

11 August 2023

WEIGHT: unknown

FOOD: Calories 473, Carbs 56.5g, Fiber 14g, Protein 25.5g, Fat 16g

Siggi’s Vanilla & Cinnamon Plant-Based Yogurt
Not Milk Chocolate plant-based milk
Rockstar Pure Zero Fruit Punch
steamed broccoli cuts, cut green beans, Walden Farms Thousand Island Dressing

NOTES: I know I didn’t really eat enough calories, but I genuinely wasn’t feeling very hungry.

12 August 2023

EXERCISE: resistance bands, arms & shoulders. I need a routine to follow!

FOOD: Calories 1104, Carbs 195g, Fiber 36g, Protein 49g, Fat 14g

6 gherkins & 4 sticks of pickled carrots
Rockstar Pure Zero Fruit Punch
Fillo’s Walking Tamales–Bean Salsa Verde
Minute Maid Zero Sugar Pink Lemonade
pasta shells, mushrooms, Gardein Ground Be’f, steamed peas & carrots, Walden Farms Thousand Island Dressing
GV SF Lemonade

NOTES: My calories are still a little bit low. I’m trying to ramp back up to around 1800 for a few days. I’ll see how I’m feeling after that. I’m feeling very motivated, but I don’t want to burn out and I know that could happen if I go too long with so few calories. As usual, I don’t care for carrot mixed in with my food. I need to skip the carrot or have it on its own.

13 August 2023

EXERCISE: 10 minute resistance bands, mostly arms & shoulders. Followed a Youtube video, but did have to modify some of the exercises.

FOOD: Calories 1156, Carbs 124g, Fiber 17g, Protein 56g, Fat 34g

Siggi’s plant-based yogurt, vanilla & cinnamon
Chamberlain Coffee Cinnamon Bun Latte
GV SF Lemonade
2 medium russet potatoes, 1 medium sweet potato, 3 oz Gardein Ground Be’f, G Hughes Sugar Free Caribbean Jerk Wing Sauce
Tofurky Hickory Smoked Plant-based Deli Slices

14 August 2023

WEIGHT: 398 lbs

FOOD: Calories 840, Carbs 184g, Fiber 29g, Protein 24g, Fat 0g

1 medium russet potatoes, 1 medium sweet potato, steamed cauliflower, GV Horseradish Mustard, Walden Farms Ranch Dressing
GV SF Lemonade
Monster Energy Zero Sugar Ultra Peachy Keen
2 medium russet potatoes, 1 medium sweet potato, Griffin’s Yellow Mustard, Walden Farms Ranch Dressing

15 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1020*, Carbs 221g, Fiber 56g, Protein 54g, Fat 0g

steamed cauliflower & broccoli, Walden Farms Ranch Dressing, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning
GV SF Lemonade
Rockstar Pure Zero Mandarin Orange
Soup: tomato sauce, baby carrots, seasoning blend (onions, peppers, celery), Red Beans, Taco Bell taco seasoning, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning

NOTES: I felt pretty uninspired when I put together today’s soup, so it was missing something. It really needed a lot more onion, some garlic, and maybe some mushrooms. It also wasn’t very thick, which I would usually solve with okra, but the okra I had the other day was off-putting and made me apprehensive. This one was too watery though. Not bad, just not my best.

*I ate most, but not all of the pot of soup. I counted the calories in the whole thing.

16 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1267, Carbs 165g, Fiber 37g, Protein 77g, Fat 30g

Soup: tomato sauce, baby carrots, chopped onions, chopped green peppers, Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce, Italian Seasoning, MSG, Tofurky Lightly Seasoned Plant-based Chick’n
GV SF Lemonade

17 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1310, Carbs 287g, Fiber 38g, Protein 47g, Fat 9g

Rockstar Pure Zero Grape
Sun Tropics Chocolate Coconut Milk Rice Pudding
2 medium russet potatoes, 1 medium sweet potato, Head Country Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce, nutritional yeast, Yo Mama Cajun Seasoning
GV SF Lemonade
1 large russet potato, 1 medium sweet potato, Head Country Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce, Chili Beans

18 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1293*, Carbs 269g, Fiber 40g, Protein 34g, Fat 8g

GV SF Lemonade
Soup: mushroom pasta sauce, baby carrots, chopped onions, chopped green peppers, chili starter tomatoes, taco seasoning, turmeric, black pepper
3 medium russet potatoes, 1 medium sweet potato

NOTES: This soup never did quite come together. I’m not sure what didn’t work. It was also too sweet. I think the mushroom pasta sauce was part of the problem. I had it, so I wanted to use it up. I did not finish the pot of soup, but I added stuff for what I hope is a better one tomorrow. The calories will still be eaten.

19 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1483, Carbs 229g, Fiber 58g, Protein 89g, Fat 24g

GV SF Lemonade
Soup: chickpeas, sliced carrots, golden hominy, chopped spinach, petite diced tomatoes, soup base seasoning (vegan chicken flavor), Italian seasoning, Tabitha Brown Very Good Garlic seasoning
Reign Inferno Jalapeño Strawberry Energy Drink
Tofurky Hickory Smoked Plant-based Deli Slices

NOTES: Today’s soup was so good and satiating. My only critique was that it was slightly bitter, but I didn’t mind too much. I was afraid to add anything sweet to counteract the bitterness because the previous soup was so sweet and I don’t love sweet foods as much.

20 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 865, Carbs 175g, Fiber 20g, Protein 39g, Fat 2.25g

GV SF Lemonade
brown rice, red beans, steamed broccoli, G Hughes Sugar Free Sesame Teriyaki Sauce

21 August 2023

WEIGHT: 394

FOOD: Calories 1606, Carbs 279g, Fiber 77g, Protein 89g, Fat 10g

GV SF Lemonade
Soup: crushed tomatoes, fat free refried pinto beans, black beans, mushrooms, olives, chopped onions, salsa, black olives, Cholula Chipotle Hot Sauce, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, Gardein Ground Be’f
Prozis Krispees Green Peas Trigons

NOTES: Excellent soup. Very hearty. I will be trying that one again. Try with more refried bean and a little less tomato in the future. Possibly use corn instead of olives. The olives were great, but they can be expensive. I’m finding it difficult to get my calories up and I don’t want that to cause a problem. I’ll see if a few days of rice will help. I’m enjoying the weight loss, but I don’t want to hit a wall quickly because I have been eating so few calories. Maybe I don’t need to worry about it yet. I’ll look into it.

22 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1850, Carbs 336g, Fiber 31g, Protein 44g, Fat 42g

Prozis Krispees Potato & Black Cumin Seeds Trigons, spicy guacamole
Prozis Krispees Black Rice with Turmeric Rice Cakes
Prozis Crispy B’s Chili Lemon Crunchy Fava Beans
Udon & Buckwheat Noodles, G Hughes Caribbean Jerk Wing Sauce, green beans
GV SF Lemonade

NOTES: I can’t say this was a great day. I felt off today and went for snack foods and choices that weren’t optimal for me. That was the last of the guacamole in the freezer, so I don’t plan on having more for a long time. Once I’ve lost weight, I can enjoy avocados. I threw out the rest of the noodles. It’s just too easy for me to overeat that type of noodle, so I’d rather let them go. They aren’t nearly as good as rice or potatoes anyway. Days like today are the reason I’m currently counting calories and macros. In general, that’s not something I plan to continue doing forever, but it is nice to have reminders of how easy it is get extra calories with processed starches, dry foods and overt fats. I know what to do and need to stick to doing that.

23 August 2023

EXERCISE: – about 10 minutes on exercise bike

FOOD: Calories 2134, Carbs 367g, Fiber 45g, Protein 65g, Fat 38g

Prozis Crispy P’s Tomato Basil Crunchy Chickpeas
Prozis Krispees Black Rice with Turmeric Rice Cakes, hummus
rice, broccoli, Walden Farms Ranch Dressing
GV SF Lemonade

NOTES: Having hummus as a meal was a mistake I knew I was making. I have it to add to other things, but I couldn’t help myself. This is my criticism of diets that restrict items. I think a better approach is to allow yourself a bite of something you love every once in a while, unless you have foods that you cannot control. Hummus isn’t normally a big trigger food for me, but I had been avoiding buying it, so when I had it, I just wanted to eat it all. It was as though I would never have it again. I either need to have plain hummus on hand all the time or never buy it. I’m not sure which is a better plan. I still have more. I’ll try to keep myself from making it into a meal.

My stamina is low. I was not able to do 10 minutes on the bike in a single setting. Sadly, it took 3 settings to get to about that. I’ll keep working at it; I know it will get easier over time.

24 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1535, Carbs 271g, Fiber 31g, Protein 60g, Fat 18g

GV SF Lemonade
rice, corn, Sky Valley General Tso Sauce
2 medium russet potatoes, Gardein Ground Be’f, G Hughes Sugar Free Caribbean Jerk Wing Sauce
2 medium russet potatoes, Gardein Ground Be’f, hummus

25 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1788, Carbs 321g, Fiber 56g, Protein 59g, Fat 45g

Gingerbread Soylent
GV SF Lemonade
Soup: Mushroom Pieces & Stems, Lipton Onion Mushroom Soup Mix, Mushroom Seasoning, Carrots, Seasoning Blend, Chickpeas, cornstarch
2 medium russet potatoes, 1 medium red potato, 1 sweet potato, G Hughes Sugar Free Caribbean Jerk Wing Sauce

NOTES: I felt pretty good about everything today. While I’m impatient to lose weight, I just need to stick to a plan that I can continue forever. If that means slower weight loss, then that will just have to be okay. I think I would rather find ways of eating I love and that are sustainable than to lose weight as fast as I can.

26 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1633, Carbs 291g, Fiber 29g, Protein 68g, Fat 41g

Prozis Crispy B’s Chili Lemon Crunchy Fava Beans
GV SF Lemonade
Burgers (2): Aldi Protein Burger Patty, Tomato, Lettuce, Mayo (50/50 Walden Farms Amazin’ Mayo & Hellmann’s Vegan Mayo), Griffin’s Mustard, GV White Sandwich Bread (toasted),
4 medium russet potatoes, hummus
1 sweet potato

NOTES: This was my first time trying Aldi burger patties. They are pretty low in fat, which is nice, but they are a bit mushier than other vegan burger patties.

27 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1917, Carbs 345g, Fiber 31g, Protein 34g, Fat 34g

Van’s Waffles, Prozis Zero Choco-Caramel Syrup
GV SF Lemonade
broccoli florets, 5 russet potatoes (eaten throughout the day)
rice, Gardein F’sh Filets

NOTES: Cooking the potatoes in the rice cooker makes them so good. I got that tip from Cooking with Plants and I cannot imagine cooking them any other way. I went through a period of only using the microwave, I’ve used the Crock-pot, I have many times slow baked them in an oven, and most recently I’ve been boiling them (which has been my favorite). Doing it in the rice cooker is essentially boiling the potatoes slowly and they have time to develop into a very smooth and creamy consistency.

I’m really looking forward to not worrying about macros. I’ve been counting calories and macros this month as a tool for myself to know about what I am consuming. I put it on the blog because I’m putting everything on the blog. I do not think you normally need to count calories or chase macros. I find it an interesting took to use on occasion, and a nice reminder about some of the most calorie dense foods I love. After August, I’m done with that.

28 August 2023

WEIGHT: 390

FOOD: Calories 1328, Carbs 312g, Fiber 50g, Protein 43g, Fat 0g

Soup: tomato sauce, seasoning blend, mushroom slices, pearl onions, carrots, mushroom seasoning, msg, vegan chicken soup base
6 medium baked potatoes (4 with soup, 2 roasted into crispy wedges
GV SF Lemonade

NOTES: The soup was pretty good, but it needed to be spicier. I find that I want everything to be spicier lately.

I lost again. I hope I keep it up.

29 August 2023

FOOD: Calories 1821, Carbs 355g, Fiber 73g, Protein 78g, Fat 19g

GV SF Lemonade
Teriyaki Bowl: sunshine rice (Tabitha Brown Sunshine Seasoning, lemon crystals, sumac, Italian seasoning, msg, pineapple juice), broccoli, pineapple slice, spinach, butter beans, vegan luncheon meat, tomato sauce, teriyaki sauce
Caribbean Bowl: sunshine rice, zucchini, pineapple slice, spinach, carrots, black eyed peas, Daring Cajun Chick’n Pieces, tomato sauce, G Hughes Sugar Free Caribbean Jerk Wing Sauce, Walden Farms Amazin Mayo, crushed red pepper

NOTES: I meal prepped a few things on Sunday and tried two of them today. I really intended them for one meal per day, but I was impatient. I enjoyed both and I’m going to try and do that regularly on Sundays. I like that it gives me a way to use some of the things I enjoy without having to try and use a large portion or find room in the fridge for a bit. The rice was really good, but I think I’d like to up the amount of Sunshine Seasoning, lemon, sumac, and add both safflower and black pepper. I also might cook it with half, but add half after. The variation might be nice. One nice thing I noticed today is that I wasn’t thinking about food all day. I was just able to grab a meal and enjoy it. I’m so ready to have a routine so I don’t have to think too much about all of this.

30 August 2023

EXERCISE: 10 minutes on exercise bike, brief resistance band exercises

FOOD: Calories 1132, Carbs 227g, Fiber 35g, Protein 46g, Fat 1g

Mexican Bowl: Sunshine Rice, corn, black beans, Gardein Ground Be’f, cauliflower, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, Walden Farms Amazin’ Mayo, tomato sauce
3 medium potatoes, green beans
GV SF Lemonade

NOTES: I need to work on my Mexican Bowls. The addition of so much chipotle was the biggest problem. The flavor overpowered everything and it was slightly too hot. I’m not a big fan of chipotle, but I do like it in hot sauces. Maybe I need to stick with that. I’ll keep working on perfecting that. Everything else worked pretty well. I added the mayo to cut the heat a little bit.

31 August 2023

EXERCISE: resistance band exercises on arms only

FOOD: Calories 1698, Carbs 315g, Fiber 39g, Protein 60g, Fat 16g

Teriyaki Bowl: sunshine rice (Tabitha Brown Sunshine Seasoning, lemon crystals, sumac, Italian seasoning, msg, pineapple juice), broccoli, pineapple slice, spinach, butter beans, vegan luncheon meat, tomato sauce, teriyaki sauce
Mexican Bowl: Sunshine Rice, corn, black beans, Gardein Ground Be’f, cauliflower, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, Walden Farms Amazin’ Mayo, tomato sauce
GV SF Lemonade

NOTES: My prediction is that I will not have lost as much this week as I did in previous weeks. I only check on Mondays, so I will need to wait to find out. My calories were on the higher side this week, and I imagine they will be back down next week. I still intend to stop counting calories and macros, but if I start gaining weight I will have to start again.