Day 388

Well, this week has been great - saw Ben Monder on Monday at Club Tropical, I enjoyed his playing, very tasteful. Other than that, its been a rather un-productive week. Didn't accomplish much on tuesday, yesterday took the day off completely, and so far today nothing. But in 45 minutes, im planning on cleaning up my place and getting into gear. Id like to practice 3 hours today before my teaching. Ill start that around 11:00 or so.

I ran hard this morning - had little energy it seemed. Yesterday I ate crap on my day off, had no breakfast, decent lunch, then some sweets followed by popcorn at the movies but then a chicken salad at dinner and topped off with onion rings! So It could have been worse, but still, I gotta watch this. Im planning on going grocery shopping later this week, maybe tomorrow.

So I have 12 days until a big milestone - day 400. October 3rd I guess it will be. I honestly don't know how much longer I can go on like this - its so grueling to be watching the days. Ive done this for over a year now, trying to keep track of my every move. Working on little goals, little steps, slowly but surely getting there. Ive got more I want to lose, with this running it should come off just fine. I wish I knew an accurate BF% for me, I think the little hand held thing I have is crap.

I want it so bad I can taste it! Cheers to success and the abolishment of lazyness here in the real world.

Day 382- thursday

Well yesterday was just fine, went for a great run in the morning - over three miles total. I got to meet many of the nice gals in my mom's new sorority and followed that up with a good practice session and some lessons down in irvine. its looking like my schedule down there is nearly full which is great - now ive got to figure out how to manage all of them!! haha

Diet wise, not the best of days but still i did alright - a mid-afternoon splurge on finger food with a heavy 10:00am meal coupled with a wendy's chicken sand and chili (actually not as bad for you as it sounds) made yesterday a bit of a heavy day for me. I was up a bit on the scale this morning but what the heck - doesn't make that much of a difference.

Today Ive got a couple of great rehearsals followed by another trip over to SC and then to see once again Peter and Lonnie at the Bakery - its gonna be great!

Everyone should come on sunday to see New West play at the jazz bakery - i think it may be one of our best shows ever.

Day 381

Wonderful hang today - with Peter Bernstein and Lonnie Smith - we all had a great dinner - sure fun to catch up with Lonnie after so long, and pete is always good company. Man they sounded great - i esp. liked "Just Squeeze Me" and all those bluesy tunes Lonnie writes. Smitty sounded great on drums too - such an amazing feel he has. Pete and I are hopefully going to hang again before he leaves town - I know after this month it will probably be a while as it usually is.

Still shedding moment's notice - worked on that for an hour today, plus continued to memorize new west music, plus the david pritchard music - now its on to more new arrangements for new west, including jobim's fotographia and claire fischer's pensativa - plus some originals as well.

Today was great for another reason - went to the doctor and things are looking very very good. I can't believe my total cholesterol is only 110! my LDLs were 60!!! The doctor said ill quote "live forever" with those kinda numbers. Its sure re-assuring to know this health thing has really worked out for me. Plus, I got on the scale today and hit 219!!! Its amazing - 219. Im finally getting there again - I like it when I see new numbers on that damn scale. Tommorrow Ive got an awkward day ahead of me - since im in LA im gonna try and connect with some peeps before heading down to Irvine to teach.

What a day indeed food wise as well!

1. Cereal w/milk
2. 2 turkey veggie sausages w/whole wheat buns
3. baby carrots
4. 3 pieces dark chocolate
5. some pretzels
6. 1 pizza greco
7. cobb salad w/avocado, egg, some bacon, bleu cheese, light dressing
8. diet coke (unfortunetly i had three of these - too much sodium! but tommorrow ill purge, its fine)
9. oh yeah, lots of water

I had the opportunity twice to eat sweets and turned them both down - sounds like im on a roll again.

While I know the 219 reading was a bit light at this juncture, im gonna keep pressing forward - tommorrow its another three mile run and abs and lower body as well - im gonna make it a full circle. Plus Ive got lots of shedding to do after seeing peter play! Maaaann, so smoking.

more to come. . . . .

Day 380

Had a productive day, great swimming session at the belmont shores pool - ive found that if I use fins, i can get through the butterfly stroke pretty well! I sure come out of the pool breathing hard though! Its a great feeling to be transforming.

I worked on the David Pritchard music as well as New West book today too - I keep discovering new parts to this music that is so interesting. Ive decided to work on two new west charts a week - hopefully have 10 done by the end of the year. With the new album coming, thats a pretty productive vibe for the group

Health wise here's what I had;

-Kashi cereal w/ milk
-2 slices toast w/ peanut butter and jelly
-chicken breast
-spinich salad w/dressing
-pretzels
-popcorn
-cliff bar
-water

Not nearly enough to eat- I really should be careful - rather than burning, the body conserves calories when you undereat so im putting myself in a bad spot for the weight loss. Its so discouraging when I still see the numbers I am and where I want to be. I still need to drop 33 to be at my goal. Hopefully by day 400 Ill be seeing some better results and by day 450 ill be really on my way out of the 210s - who knows.

Im trying to focus less on the number and more about the feeling - but its so tough when you only have that damn number to hold on to.

Tommorrow I have a follow-up with the doctor regarding my kidneys and we'll see how that goes - im curious to see how the blood work turned out.

190 or bust!!!!!!

Day 378

Had a funny gig today - with this wedding singer - it was cool though, and some gorgeous people to look at. Long - 4 hours, but the dough was good. The tunes were okay, some standards I had never heard of like "Ive got a rainbow on my shoulder" ???

Food wise, started okay, had one of those new snickers marathon bars - out of all the protein bars Ive found - i like this one the best. Lunch, had a turkey sand w/avocado on whole wheat - always a good choice. At the wedding, the band-wiches were the usual, turkey and some pasta salad- so by 4:00 i had def. overloaded on carbs. I would have been fine the rest of the day, at dinner nibbled on some shrimp and a spinich salad. But then, I was still hungry and I endulged in a shrimp quesedilla - plus this giant sundae concoccion, with all the good stuff for sure. And I wonder why I havent' been taking it off as much as last year at this time ? ? ? ? Sounds to me like Im in for a rebuttal course this week.

At least I ran, about four miles. This cramp thing has been killing me though. It really sucks. Hopfully after seeing the doctor this wednesday Ill have isolated the cause.



Today is 379, 9/11, definetly an important day. This week will be very nostalgic for me. Today with 9/11, such a difficult day for me, not only because of the terrorist attacks. but also other stuff that was going on in my life back in 2001. Plus this friday will be the 9th anniversary of my dad's stroke - so hopefully that won't be as painful as Its been in the past. I hate these days - they make me reflect to the point where I want to go back in time and change everything.

At least Im spending this week getting on track with my diet/excersize routiene. My goal - lose 4 pounds this week - get back to 220-222. Ill keep you posted, post the foods I ate today - so far, so good!

Day 377

Well, its been a great musical week - just played with Adam Schroeder, JP Maramba and Dan Schnelle up in Sierra Madre - some good tunes tonight - I particularly enjoyed "just in time"

Still working on moments notice . . . .

Today I had: cereal, banana, cliff bar, popcorn, pretzel, pita chips, water, turkey sand, fries!!! ah!! damnit

no excersize - being a true musician

Looks like 377 could have been better aimed toward my goals - hopefully by 400 we'll see some improvements.

Day 376

Turkey Sandwich, Popcorn, Pita Chips, Banana, Cereal, - and then the day progressed- milano cookies, something from taco bell (damn you paul!) two hamburgers, and a cheese quesedilla - (oh don't mention the fries) - plus some diet coke

Oh yeah, and no excersize today

Well things are on a roll arent they? ha

Day 375

Well its on again. ..

1. Breakfast Burrito thiingy with vegetarian stuff
2. turkey sand
3. pretzels
4. light popcorn
5. pita chips
6. lots of water
7. an apple

Ran for 30 min - but didn't time it right - def more into working out in the mornings.

Tonight have a session with David Ashkenazy, Adam Schroeder, Mark Massey, and a bunch of other killin kats.
Long day tommorrow as well - NWGQ and Pritchard Rehearsal

Couln't be happier