You don’t look the way you used to

Recently, I’ve noticed that people have been commenting on how I look different from before. Some are genuinely worried about the changes in my facial appearance and profile. Additionally, an increasing number of people have expressed concerns about my face appearing somewhat sunken, likely due to the loss of fat in my face and neck. Still, my chest doesn’t share the same flatness though my waist line has dropped significantly. While I still have room to lose a few pounds, I’m uncertain about the extent, especially since I’m reintroducing higher-quality dairy, homemade whole-grain breads, and healthier locally-sourced meats into my diet.

People seem to assume that I’m following a strict diet or that I might have health issues. The reality, though, is that I’ve been educating myself about nutrition and making healthier food choices. Rather than focusing on portion control, I’ve been loading up on fruits and vegetables. When you fill your plate with well-prepared, delicious vegetables, it’s naturally difficult to consume excess calories because your stomach has its limits. While indulging in too many veggies might send you to the bathroom frequently, they won’t contribute to weight gain due to their high water and fiber content compared to carbohydrates and fats.

Despite the concerns voiced by others, I’ve never been happier in my life. My stomach feels full, and I experience fewer hunger pangs. I’ve managed to avoid regular sugar crashes and junk food cravings. Processed sugar doesn’t hold the same appeal for me anymore, and even fatty foods have lost their allure. When your stomach is satisfied and you’re aware of the harm they can cause, things like cake and cookies lose their satisfaction. Importantly, my mental health has significantly improved since I’m no longer on a rollercoaster of sugar-induced highs and subsequent crashes.

In my forties, gaining knowledge about the relationship between food and health has profoundly transformed both my perspective and my body. The positive effects I encounter on a daily basis far outweigh the initial challenges of making changes. Undoubtedly, my 40th year of life stands out as the most remarkable thus far, and I’m confident that the trajectory will continue to improve.

Exciting Views

These are of the Petersburg ridge with the cobble along East Mountain.

Taken on Sunday September 6, 2009 at Pine Cobble.

Monday returns this last one of August 🌼

The clam bake last night with the folks was nice, stayed overnight, having breakfast and then will head home, shower and ride to work. Got to burn off those alcohol calories from the family clam bake riding up the Madison Street Hill. Then the hike up to the 18th floor.

Good morning! Monday’s come back around again. Partly sunny and 55 degrees in Dormansville, NY. πŸŒ„ Calm wind. The dew point is 55 degrees. It’s a pleasant morning, I was up around 5 AM which sounds early but I was dead out a little after nine, after having a few beers with the family clam bake, then drinking some of the clam juice. Part of the reason I woke up so early is I had to go pee off the tailgate of my truck. But it was a nice morning.

I had a nice morning with mom and dad 🍳, mom made up her scrambled eggs with tomato, spinach and feta. Maybe not as healthy as I’d make it up at home as I really like to load my eggs up with spinach, but still pretty good breakfast. They also have some bacon πŸ₯“ which I had a small portion along with toast, which I had a half a slice. Maybe I’d have more but I had a lot of clams πŸ•Ή last night and didn’t want to totally over-due it. Lunch today at work I am going the direction of tofu and veggies, for some less calories but still a good portion of fiber and protein. Looking at my nutrient profile, I think I’m still consuming way too much sugar in my day, so lately I’ve been swapping out some of the fruit in my office 🍏 for more carrots or celery with halved avocados for dipping. πŸ₯‘ The great thing about the celery or carrot πŸ₯• combination with avocados is you end up with fiber and omega-3 fats certain to help ward off hunger for a few hours.

Today will have a slight chance of showers after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny 🌦, with a high of 73 degrees at 2pm. A bit foggy currently in Dormansville, will have to be careful going over Derbyshire Hill to Clarksville this morning. Seven degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 19th. Maximum dew point of 63 at 4pm. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with more sun in the afternoon. It was humid. The high last year was 83 degrees. The record high of 98 was set in 1948.

I am not sure if it’s going to rain 🌦 or not be nice for the evening bike ride home, but if it’s bad, I’ll just put Blackie 🚡‍♀️ on the bus, and we’ll take it from there. I had forgotten how nice the bike racks are on the bus, and how secure bikes ride when you mount them on the bus. 🚌 The thing is if you ride at least one way, that’s still calories burned and time enjoyed on the bike trail, even if I can’t do both ways. But I’m hopeful the rain holds off until 6 PM or later, or if I get a little wet on my evening commute, πŸ’¦ I don’t think I’ll necessarily melt. Might be muggy later, but probably not super hot.

Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:58 pm with sun having an altitude of 57.3° from the due south horizon (-13.7° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 3.9 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour πŸ… starts at 7:01 pm with the sun in the west (278°). πŸ“Έ The sunset is in the west-northwest (284°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:39 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 59 seconds with dusk around 8:06 pm, which is one minute and 39 seconds earlier than yesterday. πŸŒ‡ At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the southeast (137°) at an altitude of 12° from the horizon, 226,847 miles away. πŸš€ The best time to look at the stars is after 8:44 pm.

At sunset, look out for rain 🌧 and temperatures around 67 degrees. The dew point will be 63 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 5 mph. Tomorrow will have 13 hours and 21 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 44 seconds over today. Probably a good night to spend with a book at home πŸ“— — I still have a lot of books to read but I have to find the time to do it. I am thinking of doing another light meal for dinner to balance out the heavy calorie-rich clam bake of yesterday πŸ•Ή and carbs of bread and bacon this morning, probably broil tofu with smoked salt, green beans, sweet corn and crack open that cantaloupe I bought yesterday for dessert. 🍈 Need to find out if those 36″ waist jeans I bought yesterday at Walmart fit. I should try them on. πŸ‘–

Tonight will be mostly cloudy ☁️, with a low of 60 degrees at 4am. One degree above normal, which is similar to a typical night around August 25th. Maximum dew point of 64 at 8pm. South wind around 6 mph. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It became very sticky as the night progressed. It got down to 69 degrees. The record low of 34 occurred back in 1982.

The clam bake I had with my folks was pretty good, πŸ•Ή though I wish there was more veggies and garlic in the mix, πŸ‘©‍🍳 but I had to compromise over how I wanted it versus what my parents would like. My mom has surgery in a few days, so it was one of the last days she could enjoy food like this for a few months, so it was fun spending a nice evening out back, especially as you know these nice evenings won’t last forever.

Labor Day Weekend Looks Great. πŸ‘·Friday, mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Maximum dew point of 57 at 6pm. Saturday, mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Maximum dew point of 60 at 7pm. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Maximum dew point of 64 at 1pm. Labor Day, will be a warm 85 degrees and sunny. Typical average high for the weekend is 79 degrees.

Definitely going to try to take Friday off so I can get a jump on the holiday weekend β›Ί in the Adirondacks. Thinking Speculator for a great weekend with lots of sun β˜€ relaxing, biking and swimming 🏊. It doesn’t look like we will be short on staff, I could probably remote work but I’d rather just be able to set up camp and relax, do a lot of mountain biking or paddling on Friday, especially as the weather looks so nice. And hammock time with a good book. 😁 Plus maybe some of those fourth of July fireworks I bought but never lit off.  And a few cold beers, though not like back in the day. 🍺 I mean I was surprised how many pounds I packed on Piseco-Powley during that rainy weekend a few weeks back, with some drinking and too many shrimp and other things cooked with cornstarch. Burned it off in a few days, but it was noticeable.

Hard to believe but, next Monday is Labor Day πŸ‘¨‍🏭 when the sun will be setting at 7:27 pm with dusk at 7:54 pm. Dark so early, come September! On that day in 2022, we had hot, humid, partly sunny, rain showers and temperatures between 87 and 61 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 79 degrees. We hit a record high of 97 back in 1929.

Full Dumpster

Embracing Change and Beauty

Monday, Monday, a fresh start anew,
Back to work with tasks to pursue.
Memories linger of the weekend’s grace,
As August departs with a gentle embrace.

Autumn whispers secrets of gold,
Labor Day Weekend, a story untold.
Soon, students gather with books and zeal,
Traffic and bustle, a familiar ordeal.

Days grow shorter, a cooler embrace,
Nature’s canvas adorned with grace.
Amidst the change that’s in the air,
This week’s beauty, let’s cherish and share.