Day 13 DP - Where are the fish?

I was eager to wake up this morning to get to the beach and try some surf fishing.  When I got there, shortly before 7, the tide was way up and it was rough.  Not terrible - but rough.  There were about 8 other fishermen in the same spot.  I didn't see anyone catching anything.  I had a hard time casting out beyond the breakers and after about 20 minutes I called it quits.  Not worth the effort.  I could really feel myself dragging too.  As I walked down the beach in the sand, I felt weak and sluggish and I could only attribute this to lack of food.

Day 12 DP - Having doubts

Having doubts about my ability to complete this challenge.  As my sources for food grow scarce, my desire for other peoples food intensifies.  I've said it before but the hardest part about this whole thing is being around other people eating normally and especially watching the kids waste all kinds of food.  It kills me when I see someone throw out half a sandwich because they, "didn't really like it that much" or "didn't realize that they weren't as hungry as they thought when they ordered it."  Ahh - I wish I could be a garbage picker!  I'd be fine just following my kids around all day.

Day 11 DP - Hit my first wall

If you're a runner, you know what it means to hit 'the wall.'  You start out really well, full of energy and enthusiasm.  You're steadily going along pretty smoothly and without a problem but then all of a sudden your body puts on the brakes.  Lifting your legs one after the other feels like a chore.  The mental game kicks into high gear and your pain body is fed by all kinds of negative emotions and feelings.

That was me today.  I looked at the trout in the fridge and didn't even want to get it out to cook.  Glanced over to the three remaining clams and was a little repulsed.  Beans and rice - blahch!  My thoughts: "Why am I doing this to myself?"  "I'm only a quarter way through and I can't stand any of the food I have."  "Why do these kids keep leaving out their Easter candy?!"  "Boy that bowl of fruit looks good."  Boy that (fill in the blank with any food item) looks and smells so good."  "What was I thinking?"  All of these thoughts are just feeding my pain body.  And it's growing.  This is my first wall. 

Day 10 DP - busy busy busy

Wednesday - my day off from work.  Lots to do today to get prepared for the upcoming days.  I have been seeing several people fishing in the evening hours right before sundown.  I presume they are trying for striped bass because it is time for the spring run of bass and bluefish into the river and oceans.  That's a good sign for me and the SDC.  However, the forecast, once again is looking lick crap and the wind and rain will be here later today.  Talk about April showers.  I have resolved to return to Mohawk Pond in Red Bank to see if any more trout are biting.  Honestly though (and I didn't think I would say this) I'm starting to get sick of trout.  I caught those 6 fish on Sunday morning and it seems like that has been all I have been living on.  There's only so much more I can take - even with the butter.

Day 9 DP - Work takes the mind off food

Today was a very busy day at work.  I didn't have much for breakfast (warm water and some broccoli greens) and didn't prepare any lunch because I was planning on coming home for lunch and broiling up a trout.  However, the day got ahead of me and I never made it home for lunch.  Because it was so busy my mind and my body were preoccupied and it went by rather quickly.  I didn't get too hungry.  I drank a lot of water.  It was all ok.  Then, when I arrived home from work I had a nice broiled trout dinner to look forward to.

Day 8 DP - Pass da butta!

One week is in the books.  After surviving one week I am rewarding myself with a pound of butter and a small jar of rice seasoning.  And oh how nice it is to have some butter!  I still don't have any salt - more out of laziness than anything at this point.  I will get some soon from the sea.  To be able to cook with some butter and some seasoning is making such a big difference - especially with trout.  I have been recalling memories from my childhood - going camping with my dad, catching trout and cooking them in a cast iron pan over the campfire - drenched in butter!  Trout taste pretty good on their own but throw a little butter in the pan and it takes it to a whole new level.

Day 7 DP - Perseverance pays off

Happy Easter everyone!  Boy could I go for a hard boiled egg right now.  Oh look, there are 4 dozen of them on my breakfast table.  Maybe next year I can raise a couple of chickens so I have some eggs for this challenge.  Don't think I haven't thought of that yet.  It was actually suggested by a few people so I will keep that in mind for next time.

Do you think this article was directed towards me?

 The kids had their egg hunt this morning, collected a bunch of candy filled plastic eggs and proceeded to eat gummy worms for breakfast.  I had to get outta there.  It was about 7:45 and guess what folks - the weather finally broke!  Sunshine and warmth - what a great start for the day.  I debated whether to go to the pond to try for trout, AGAIN, or to check out the ocean to see if any striped bass would cooperate.  It was basically a coin flip and the pond in Red Bank won - I would give this place one more chance before giving up on it for good.

Day 6 DP - The most delicious turkey never eaten

Day 6 is Saturday.  Finally a weekend to get some serious surviving done.  I need to get a stash of food for the weekend and the beginning of next week.  Only problem - rain, rain, rain - just about all day long.  Also, this is Easter weekend and we have plans for both days to do some traveling to visit family.  So if something is going to get done, it's going to have to get done in the rain.
Jamie wanted to go driving so I used this as an opportunity to take her back to the pond in Red Bank (which was supposed to be stocked yesterday) to see if the elusive trout would be cooperative today.  She used it as an opportunity to negotiate a trip to Jersey Mike's Subs for a turkey sub with the works!  This was my first turkey battle of the day.  By battle I mean battle of will power not to 'gobble' it all up.

Day 5 DP - You're not going to believe what I caught

You're not going to believe what I caught.  I caught a cold and a sore throat from my kids!  Sheesh.  Not feeling all that good on day 5 - but not feeling all that bad either.  I had my clam breakfast (same as yesterday) and brought some rice and beans into work.
For those who didn't realize it, there are two of us posting to this blog.  I have added my DP initials to the titles on my posts after the day number so the readers don't get confused.
I was asked an interesting question today about the Survivor Diet. 

Evening 4

Well, in my modified version of this adventure, I pan fried some frozen flounder today, and if was delicious. I am feeling really good, no headache at all. I think just eliminating all of the prepared foods has been really making me feel different. I usually eat only healthy prepared foods, and usually they are gluten free as well, but none the less- they are not food that I would be able to "find" growing. I am referring to all of the lentil chips, millet flax chips, olive-multigrain chips etc. hummus, even yogurt. I love all of them so much- but do I really "need" them- obviously not. Eating for pleasure is out of my life for the duration of this experiment- and it changes EVERYTHING! I am really looking at this as a lifestyle change, and I am surprisingly comfortable with it. I will eat a small portion of my oats tomorrow morning, as I have to go to the gym for medicine ball class. This class is tough and if I do not have enough carbs before it i will pass out. Other than that, I will eat my baby lettuce and perhaps some more fish. I am off all next week and plan to attempt to catch some fish- as my first attempt did not work in my favor. I think the trout have all been caught in Mac's Pond. Signing off, shelly.

Day 4 DP - Clams and more clams

Pretty uneventful so far.  Woke up, had a fancy bowl of clam and rice for breakfast with a little kale thrown in.  I was planning on having sushi today as part of my weekly allowance of 1 sushi lunch (see Official Guidelines) at work.  But one thing led to another and I got busy at work around lunch time and missed my opportunity.  How much does that suck?  I didn't bring in anything prepared so I was left with nothing but a tall glass of water for lunch.  I have to be a little smarter than that.

Trying to make a clam look good

Day 3 DP - Headache from hell - not a surprise

Does history always repeat itself?  I'm glad that I have last year's blog to refer to because my head is pounding right now and I think I know why.  See "The Headache" and you'll understand.  Unfortunately after reading this it may also mean that there is no relief in sight until tomorrow - hopefully.   Ugh!  Is there anything more miserable than a headache?  I really don't think so.  People who don't get them just can't understand - people that get them know exactly what I'm talking about.

Day 2 DP - Whoops, should have started on a weekend!

Sometimes even the best laid plans don't work very well.  I don't know what I was thinking starting this on a Monday.  Note to future self - start on a Saturday!  This would have given me time to gather and stockpile at least a couple of days worth of supplies.  Now I am stuck at work and can't do anything except think of food.  And don't get me started on breakfast today - here's a nice photo I took of my breakfast:

H2O

Day 1

I don't think I have ever gone to bed "hungry" in MY LIFE. How spoiled we are. This will be a feeling I will never forget.

Day 1 DP - A New Beginning

Here we go again!  I have officially turned into a fat bastard again over the winter and am ashamed to admit that my scale hit the 204 pound mark today!  That's right - time to go into Survivor mode.

For anyone who is new to reading this blog, here's a quick link to The Beginning from last year.  It will give you a pretty good background understanding about what the Survivor Diet Challenge is, and what is involved.
I am VERY excited to have at least one, maybe two, maybe three other challengers this year.  I will be very curious to see how resourceful they become and I hope to learn a thing or two from their efforts.  I commend you for taking on the challenge!

Day -1

So I am preparing mentally for 40 days that lie ahead of me. I have agreed to try this with my friend Doug because he is always so excited about it and it has definately peaked my curiosity. I have also never watched survivor, but I always love a challenge. I think that there is much to be gained from this exercize in self dicipline. I will be altering a couple of the rules slightly, as I am not the avid fisherwoman or hunter. (I am hoping to find some time in my busy schedule to learn to do both) I have a feeling I will learn to appreciate all of the delicious food that I have access to, and that I take for granted. Maybe my grocery bills will even go down after this experience. I have raided all of my cabinets to find some items to substitute for the beans and rice ration. Over the past year I have picked up so many funky grains in my gluten free efforts, but have not cooked them! I intend to use them now, a random bag of Brown Teff, some Quinoa, half a bag of brown rice, an opened but never used bag of aduki beans, half a bag of black beans, and a small bag of purple rice! I am going to add another bag of beans whenever i get to the store, and that will be it. Way to clean out my pantry! I will look forward to my pound of butter reward at the end of this week, and a spice for my rice. I am feeling like this is not going to be VERY difficult, but we shall see!!!!!!