bker1370

Following along, Wolfie

2 hours ago, Manarelle said:

 

O.o Geez.... glad it's "slowing down" a bit. Do you get a day off anytime soon? 

I had a mostly off day on Monday.  I did have to go in for a little due to a delay in the delivery of our used grease disposal tank and an emergency delivery truck of groceries as we had underestimated just how much food we would go through in the first week.  I could have taken all of Monday off, but then I would have had to try to clean all three fryers and put away all of the delivery first things Tuesday morning before I got too busy to do it.  Going in for a few hours on Monday just made Tuesday morning quite a bit easier as we were closed Monday so I was able to complete all of my projects at my own pace without interruptions.

On 12/9/2019 at 1:21 PM, sarakingdom said:

 

I think I speak for many of us when I say: welcome back, my new best friend.

Thank you, I take it you enjoy a good steak then?  LOL

10 hours ago, Manarelle said:

Dear gosh. Cooks are usually busy; I can't imagine a two-year delayed reopening. Congrats and good luck. 

Thank you.  The first week (zero week) was insane.  I will do my best to explain how busy.

First, I must say that although we usually cut our own steaks, the boss ordered a substantial number of already cut steaks as he knew he would not have the time to cut enough to keep up.  He was right.

We have sold in 8 days, by my best estimates anyway:

• 300+  8 oz Ribeye (we ran out today and he had to cut a case and we sold some of those also)
• 180  10 oz NY Strip
• 180    8 oz Sirloin 
• 70     14 oz Ribeye
• 50     20 oz T-bone 
• 120  grilled chicken breasts (spread among several different menu offerings)
• an unknown number of buffets, however, the buffet has used 400+ lbs of fried chicken and roughly 10 gallons of spaghetti sauce, 150 lbs of fried catfish, 10 cases of rolls (roughly 120/case), and 8 gallons of ranch dressing that I know of off-hand.

Today was the eighth day since reopening and we slowed down to only slightly busier than a normal Tuesday and I managed to make it out in a little under 12 hours (11 am to about 10:40 pm)

Sleep.   Managed 8:20 last night.

Food.

Walking.

No, but not too far away.    My little corner is called Pinckneyville and is about halfway between Metropolis (about 75 miles southeast of me) and Saint Louis (about the same distance northwest from me).

43 minutes ago, Kat on the Run said:

Woah, glad to see you're back up and running but I can imagine that makes for quite the busy season.  Good luck with your goals!

4 minutes ago, Salinger said:

Oh my, congrats on the opening!!!! Keep well xx

Thanks for the well wishes.  Glad we are back open, but the initial rush has been crazy LOL.

Hello all, finally finding the time and focus to get a challenge written and posted.

I suppose a short introduction is in order for those who don't know me.  I am a single guy in my late 40s and live in southern Illinois in a small town in the middle of nowhere.  I am the head grill cook at my local steakhouse.  I have been on the forums for about 4 years now, since December 2015.  I was pretty consistent for quite a while, but then my routine got majorly disrupted and I have been more hit and miss for the last couple of years.

On December 23, 2017, the restaurant burned down and I have spent the last two years sort of in limbo working odd jobs for my boss to try to make ends meet until we could rebuild and get back to working normally again.  Well, we finally reopened Monday of zero week and as expected things have been insanely busy.  So this challenge will be simply about surviving the month until the reopening rush settles down into a more regular business pattern.  My "goals" as such will basically consist of tracking a few things I have been tracking the last couple of challenges.

• Food.  I will be tracking my calories and macros using a combination of MyFitnessPal for macros calories in and Fitbit for calories burned with an eye to making sure I am eating enough for the incredible amount of energy I burning at work.
• Walking.  I will be tracking my miles walked (90+% done at work) using my Fitbit.  I was Walking to Mordor and I need to check my status but I believe I reached Mount Doom just before Thanksgiving.
• Sleep.  I will be tracking my sleep using my Fitbit with an eye to making sure I am getting enough rest to survive the craziness that is work right now.

Now, zero week has been insane for me.  Work has been roughly 90 hours this week.

Food

Walking

Sleep

Found you Sal.  Following along to watch you be awesome.

On 11/27/2019 at 8:17 AM, DarK_RaideR said:

I think I'll take one of those.

 Count me in.

On 11/28/2019 at 5:47 AM, TiogaGirl said:

. I note that macros were much higher on fat and protein, lower on carbs than typical for me, and maybe that contributes.

This is very likely the contributing factor.  Based on my reading knowledge from several sources, macros digest as follows.  Carbs digest the fastest (hence the idea of rice/carb-heavy Chinese food leaving you hungry again a few hours later).  Protein digests next, and fat digests slowest, leading to higher protein and higher fat meal making you feel full longer.

B'ker slips outside and peers over Sky's shoulder before yelling back through the open door, "Barkeep, better make some room in the cold storage, looks like a lot of dinosaur steaks on the move out here."  

Week 3 Day 7 - Sunday

Sleep was 7:24

Sunday was a pretty good day.  I took care of the dog, then did some domestic rangering,  put laundry away, did up dishes, and did some meal prep (chicken alfredo, roasted broccoli, roasted potatoes).

Walking was 4.50 miles

Calories were a little on the high side due to a low calorie expenditure from low mileage day.

Second day of pushups accomplished.

Week 3 Wrapup

Monday - Week 4 Day 1

Sleep was 7:06.

Monday was a pretty good day.  I went out and took care of the dog, then went to the restaurant and spent a pretty chill day doing minor tasks (a little sweeping and mopping, helping the electronics unpack things he was installing, cleaning ductwork, etc.)  After taking care of the dog in the evening, I returned to the restaurant to work with some of the new hires to continue cleaning up.

Walking was 8.70 miles reaching a new milestone, Sam and Frodo Join Orc March.

Quote

Sam held his breath.  Now more than half the line had gone by.  Then suddenly one of the slave-drivers spied the two figures by the road-side.  He flicked a whip at them and yelled: "Hi you!  Get up!"  They did not answer, and with a shout he halted the whole company.

 

"Come on, you slugs!" he cried.  "This is no time for slouching."  He took a step towards them, and even in the gloom he recognized the devices on their shields.  "Deserting, eh?" he snarled.  "Or thinking of it?  All your folk should have been inside Udun before yesterday evening.  You know that.  Up you get and fall in, or I'll have your numbers and report you."

 

They struggled to their feet, and keeping bent, limping like footsore soldiers, they shuffled back towards the rear of the line.  "No, not at the rear!"  The slave-driver shouted.  "Three files up.  And stay there, or you'll know it, when I come down the line!"  He sent his long whip-lash cracking over their heads, then with another crack and a yell he started the company off again at a brisk trot.

Calories came in somewhat low.

Week 3, Day 6 - Saturday

Sleep was 7:47

I went out and took care of the dog, came home and had breakfast.  Then I went to the restaurant and worked with another group of the new people and one of the few returning employees on more cleaning (construction has created what appears to be an endless supply of dust everywhere).  We worked there until early afternoon, then came home and had lunch.  During lunch, one of my gaming group texted to see if we were on for that evening.  I agreed as scheduling has been hit and miss lately.  I straightened up the living room and made sure game supplies were ready, then went out to take care of the dog for the evening.  While I was there, the boss decided we needed to do some rearranging of things he had stored in his barn/shed.  So we spent a little while doing that before I came home and met the guys for gaming.  We finished the current scenario and wrapped up a little earlier than usual.  Then I had a late supper and relaxed a little before heading to bed.

Walking was 5.97 miles, reaching next milestone - Sam Spots Gollum

 

 

 

 

Quote

Sam crept out, and flitting from stone to stone with more than hobbit-care, he went down to the water-course, and then followed it for some way as it climbed north until he came to the rock-steps were long ago, no doubt, its spring had come gushing down in a little waterfall.  All now seemed dry and silent, but refusing to despair Sam stooped and listened, and to his delight, he caught the sound of trickling.  Clambering a few steps up he found a tiny stream of dark water that came out from the hill-side and filled a little bare pool, from which again it spilled, and vanished then under the barren stones.

 

Sam tasted the water, and it seemed good enough.  Then he drank deeply, refilled the bottle, and turned to go back.  At that moment he caught a glimpse of a black form or shadow flitting among the rocks away near Frodo's hiding place.  Biting back a cry,  he leapt down from the spring and ran, jumping from stone to stone.  It was a wary creature, difficult to see, but Sam had little doubt about it; he longed to get his hands on its neck.  But it heard him coming and slipped quickly away.  Sam thought he saw a last fleeting glimpse of it, peering back over the edge of the eastward precipice before it ducked and disappeared.

Calories came in a little high but not bad.

Today was a pretty good day.

Sleep last night was 7:35.

After I took care of the boss's dog (one of my temporary responsibilities), we loaded a few things from his house to take to the restaurant.  Then I went and unloaded the stuff at the restaurant, then several of the new hires showed up to work on cleaning up some of the construction mess.  After some cleaning, we finished putting the rest of the tables together and then began arranging them and the chairs.  After lunch (meatloaf made with one of Tank's recipes), I went back to the restaurant and was just hanging out until the workmen left in case someone came in to pick up or drop off an application.  Then I went back and walked the dog again, then ran to Wal-mart with my niece to pick up a few things.

Walking today was 8.25 miles in total.

Calories in vs. calories out is looking pretty good right now with pretty good food choices.

Congrats on getting the place you wanted Sal.

Sleep last night was 8:01.

Pushups were done yesterday, so were not planned for today.  Other BW exercises have not been done, and I think I may write them off for this challenge (3-4 BW exercises may isn't "easing back in" after all LOL).

Put together a little over half of the tables for the restaurant today, will probably finish them tomorrow.  I will find out what else we are doing after those are finished.

Walking today was 7.35 miles bringing total Walking to Mordor distance is 1,693.95 miles,  4.3 miles to next milestone (Sam spots Gollum) and 95.05 miles to Mount Doom.

Calories in vs calories out are questionable today, although food choices were better.  It will depend on how much is BMR uses up in the approx, 3 hours.

Sleep was 7:07 last night.

I did the thing this morning.  Pushups were done.

Preparing to open the restaurant continues, the main thing today was receiving and unloading all the tabletops (legs came last week and are already assembled).  Tomorrow will be putting the tables together.

Walking totaled up to 8.63 miles today.

Calories are looking good, although food choices have not necessarily been the best.  Calories should be pretty even by midnight.

On 11/10/2019 at 9:49 PM, Elastigirl said:

You are doing great at tracking things. You put in so many steps each day! 

Thanks, EG.  Most of my tracking is pretty much automatic these days, and the steps are ramping up as we get closer and closer to reopening the restaurant.

Sleep last night was 7:17

Planned on doing pushups this morning, but was feeling a little under the weather when I woke up.  Felt better as the day went on, but by the time I made it back home was too tired.

Calories are going to work out to just about even for the day, 3119 in, currently 3072 out with several hours to go before reset at midnight.

Walking was 8.73 miles today, reaching a new milestone on the walk to Mordor!

 

 

 

1

Quote

Finish Faramir's Food

"Even if all goes well, I could hardly reach the mountain in a week.  I am afraid, Sam, that the burden will get very heavy, and I shall go still slower as we get nearer."

 

Sam sighed.  "That's just as I feared," he said.  "Well to say nothing of water, we've got to eat less, Mr. Frodo, or else move a bit quicker, at any rate, while we're still in this valley.  One more bite and all the food's ended, save the Elves' waybread." 

 

"I'll try and be a bit quicker, Sam," said Frodo, drawing a deep breath.  "Come on then! Let's start another march!"

Walking today:  8.24 miles

No BW exercises planned for today (although could have made up for some missed ones)

Sleep was 7:44, making average for the week 7:01

Well, I have been neglecting my own thread it seems--end of week 2 and I haven't posted since the first one lol. Since I have fallen so far behind on updating, I will try to make this a brief summary of the past 3 weeks but as it will probably still be long I will spoiler it for those who don't wish to read the whole thing.

TLDR:  Walking is up, bodyweight exercises are down, sleep and calories are all over the place.

Well, the last challenge started off strong, but sort of fizzled on the BW exercises towards the end, although walking, sleep tracking, and calories were kept up with.  So, with a few minor modifications, we are going to try the same thing again.  The restaurant should reopen part way through this challenge and that may require changes to some items (most notably sleep schedule and eating schedule).

Walking

Continue with walking to Mordor tracking using Fitbit to count all movement.  If I maintain my current daily average for the year, I should make it to Mordor around the middle of December, and even if my average falls off somewhat should have no problem making by the end of the year.  The current average is figured at 5.08 miles per day and I need an average of about 3.85 to make it by the end of the year.

Eating

I managed to lose most of the weight I wanted to lose last challenge, it wasn't much (157.2 lbs down to 151.6 lbs with a goal of 150 lbs) but was a little more than I was happy with.  Now, I need to make sure I eat enough to maintain my weight and make sure it is at least reasonably healthy choices as I attempt a  little body recomposition as a little too much of the weight is gathered around the waist for my liking.  I will be posting not only calories but MFP reports of what I have eaten in an attempt to make sure I am not under-eating or overeating and that I am making healthy choices (at least for the most part).

Sleep

Sleep tracking will continue with the addition of attempting to get to bed earlier more regularly (at least until the restaurant reopens and then the schedule will likely require adjustment of going to bed later and getting up later).  With the goal of at least 7 hours of good restful sleep each night (more, of course, is better).

Body Weight Exercises

This is where things kind of fell apart last time, so going to make some minor adjustments.  Going to definitely continue with pushups and situps, undecided yet on squats but probably continue planks as well.  However, I think I need more recovery time so going to aim for 2x/week instead of 3x and going to rest the program back to Week 3, Day 1 and pick up from there.

I don't have any advice or encouragement to add that hasn't already been said better except welcome home Rho.

Following along again.  Another excellent story segment, btw.

Week 3 Day 2

Had an early morning this morning so sleep was a little short at 6:28.  It also meant I did not get planks or squats done early.  I do get them done later (late enough I almost decided against them but I did them anyway).

Food was a mess today, although the calorie numbers don't really represent it well.  I did not eat pretty much all day then had McDonald's at around 5 pm.  So, calories in are definitely way below calories out, but not quality calories in.

 calories out will increase until midnight and probably finish around 3000 (est.)

Walking to Mordor made some progress today with 7.46 miles making total progress 1,345.97 miles and starting October with a 4.91 miles/day average pace for the year, which I believe is exactly what I need to maintain to reach Mordor by the end of the year.

9 hours ago, SkyGirl said:

I legit had no idea that was going to stick with me all these years ... I don't think I mind too much though. 

You should be proud of that introduction, it has to be one of the best and most dramatic ones I've seen here.

9 hours ago, SkyGirl said:

Your miles AND pushups are seriously inspirational!!

For me the miles generally come pretty easily, I just wear my Fitbit all day and report what it says, the advantage of a non-sedentary work environment.  The pushups are a little harder, but if you are interested, I am using an app called Just 6 Weeks.  It sets the program for you with the goal of accomplishing one or all of the following in 6 weeks:  100 pushups, 200 sit-ups, 10-minute plank, 200 squats, 150 bench dips, 100 dips, 20 pull-ups.  It asks you to do as many as you can as test a day or two before you begin, it then sets the program for you.  3 days a week, beginning with 5 sets and rest times between, increasing the reps and varying rest times as you proceed, eventually decreasing number of sets until by the end of the 6 weeks all one set of chosen exercise.

And if you struggle with any of the exercises, no reason you couldn't begin with easier variation and when complete the program, restart with harder variation (for example, pushups since a lot of people struggle with those, do a run-through with incline pushups, then again with knee pushups, and then finally with regular pushups).

Speaking of pushups and situps, time to update yesterday's stuff.

Pushups were done

Sit-ups were done, although I will be repeating this day as I failed on one set (21/24).

Sleep was 7:07

Walking was 6.40 miles bringing total Walking to Mordor to 1338.51 miles

Calories were good, macros were slightly off ideal but still good

Goal  Carbs 38%  Fat 38%  Protein 24%

Act                42%         33%               25%