59.25% = One Big Dumbbell

Today's weigh in confirmed that I've reached another milestone in my epic quest to lose 135lbs. As of this morning I have now lost 80.5 lbs. in just under 4 months. As a short term goal I'm trying to get to < 250 before May 22 - my next doctor's appointment - as I hope to get off (or reduce the dosage) of my medications.

"If You Want It Done Right...Do It Yourself"

My last few posts have been regarding the disappointing or mediocre BBQ I've had of late. So, with spring sprung, and summer quickly upon us, perhaps I'll have to get motivated and make some BBQ myself. As further motivation, I recently celebrated my 33rd birthday - for which I received various gifts of money for which I had no specific plans. Thats all changed!

The other day I ran to Kroger to pick up a few items for my wife. As I was heading to the checkout, I came across a small section of gas grills that caught my eye. Thats when I discovered my next purchase...The Char-Griller Duo. This unit is the best of all worlds - a gas grill - a charcoal grill - and, with a $60 attachment, a texas-style smoker.



My goal this week is to clean off the back deck at the house, preasure wash it, and remove my old grill and chairs. All of which to provide my soon to be new friend a nice and clean new home...

:)

Here's to a happy and productive summer of endless grilled / smoked items.

The Search for Smoke Leads South

After my disappointing experience at Ott's BBQ in Knoxville on Friday, the family headed out to Cleveland, TN on Saturday as my cousin was graduating from Lee University. After all the festivities finished, including a small family reunion and a brief tour around the alma matter, we decided to visit a local BBQ joint as the taste for BBQ had not fully been quenched on the previous day.

The wife and kids has eaten at a place called Jordan's BBQ before on one of their trips to visit Uncle Brad. My oldest had enjoyed a peanut butter and banana sandwich her last visit and aggressively suggested we go back their so she could partake of another. Having never been there myself, and the fact that my wife said it was good, I was agreeable.

The facility was what I would expect for a locally owned BBQ joint, had great atmosphere, and smelled of smoke! Ah, now this is how its supposed to be... Anyway, I ordered the combo dinner with ribs and a smoked chicken breast, corn-on-the-cob, and their hot slaw. Notice the semi healthy option for a side dish... Even better is that when the food came out, it actually covered the plate and didn't cost nearly as much as the trips to Ott's.

I have to say, I'm much more of a baby back ribs kind of person and Jordan's serves spareribs. Nevertheless, their ribs were very tender, had a good sauce (not great), and had a semi smokey flavor. The smoked chicken breast was very moist and tender, yet again, just a slightly smokey taste. The sides, well, they were sides...not a huge fan of the hot slaw and the corn was .... corn.

I would certainly eat there again and it was much better than Ott's. However, my top three or four BBQ favorite eating destinations are still secure in their rankings...

Ott's to keep driving!

Being a BBQ enthusist, I've been eager for the famed Ott's BBQ to reopen. For months I've saw blogs of folks recounting just how great the sauce was. Having opened last week, the Prodigal Pig, yours truly, made the trip over the hill (If the wind blows just right I can smell the smoker cooking) to see what this Ott's was all about.

The renovations to the resteraunt looked fantastic - although somewhat upscale from many of the BBQ joints I've frequented. Since it was a nice evening, the family decided to sit outside on the patio. Having two smaller kids, I gave my wife my order and then took the kids outside to get situated.

I should have know something was wrong with the place shortly after my wife appeared on the patio with "the" look. You know the look, the one where something was expensive or where she just encountered bad service of some sort. Turns out that in order to finance the renovations, Ott's has set their prices too high and skimped on the amount of meat they include.

Having recently acquired a taste for french food, I still held out hope in that sometimes small portions of excellent quality food more than make up the difference. Since I've been on a diet and exercise campaigne, I didn't really need the USUAL amount of pork I have been known to consume. Which brings me to another negative point...not a single available side dish had the hint of being healty (no side salad, green beans, corn-on-the-cob, etc.). So I opened up the sandwhich and was amazed at the lack of pork. Nevertheless, I charged on. The first bite of my sandwhich was nothing spectacular, in fact, not even half-way good. The pulled pork had very little, if any, smokey flavor. Further, the meat had large pieces of fat still attached. Hoping that the sauce would add value to the meat, I grabbed a bottle and covered the bun liberally...what a mistake. The sauce, to me, had an overwhelming pepper taste...

So, my first trip (and perhaps only) to Ott's was a HUGE disappointment! As the title suggests, perhaps next time I "Ott's" to just keep driving...for further down the road is Buddy's BBQ which, in my humble opinion, is MUCH MUCH better and less expensive. Better yet, continue on to Famous Dave's or the Bread of Heaven.

The Florida Trip In Review

We Ate!




Rachel learned to drive! :(



Jenna sought help to be released from the evil puppy!

Not quite the man I used to be...

After 10 days away from home and the comfort of my normal exercise/diet routine, I got back home on Saturday --- not looking forwared to greeting my trusty digital scale! After all, I ate most everything I wanted while on vacation with only a hint of self-control, mostly after my encounter with the 75 year old track star grandmother.

Evidentally the morning runs and constant walking associated with being at Disney went a long way towards burning off the extra calroies I consumed. I got back home Saturday, jumped on the scale, and to my pleasant surprise I neither gained nor lost any weight! That was a huge accomplishment given the temptations and lack of self-control I had at times on our trip.

3 Days later, a really intense workout or two later (I can certainly tell a big difference in my stamina and running speed after Florida), and back to the comforts of my normal diet plan, I've lost 4lbs. That brings my grand total weight loss to 72.5 lbs. - now just 62.5 lbs. from my ultimate goal of 200 lbs.

When I first began this journey, I thought 135 lbs. was an impossible mountain to climb -- however, I'm reminded by Phillipians 4:13 that "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"

The Old Grey Mare...

I suppose it is just another day. After all, it seems like any other day - I'm stuck in a conference center room listening to a lecture on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards auditing techniques. Even better, tonight I get the "pleasure" of taking the family to Disney's Animal Kingdom (never been there before) and smell animal droppings.

Maybe its the fact I'm now on day 10 of being away from home or maybe its a proportional dose of being a scrooge that comes with another year of life experience (today is my 33rd birthday)...whatever the reason, it really does feel like a normal day. I feel older, but thankfully in better shape and much lighter than this time last year. Hey, I even passed up granny today on my morning run and maintained the lead throughout... All-in-all, I look forward to another year - one that brings greater accomplishments in my personal health, spiritual growth, and further enjoying my family.