Goofing Around With Fat Body (Weighted) Pullups – Memorial Day 2023 :

This spot is a super thick bar, probably 3″ or better – it’s a good deal thicker than the blue fat grips.

I’ve used this bar before, but not at ~290lbs (288 last I saw, shop scale, a few days ago), nor had I done a single rep of weighted pullups in a little over a year and a half.

On a whim I decided to, bringing the 20kg bell with me.

I actually went to the spot thinking I’d be good for three sets or so of 5 x bw+16kg or 3 x bw+20kg, but the first issue was at this fat, 50-60lbs heavier than when I last did weighted pullups, that it was a hell of a time connecting the dip belt!

Fat waist on fat body status doesn’t make for ease of using any kind of belt.

I got an ugly “sorta” rep at bw+20kg (~330-335lbs), then an immediate fail on the second try.

“Okay, switch to unweighted. I hit 8-12, usually 10 or 11, on any given day.”

Three.
3 reps.

I hadn’t factored in how thin the bar I’ve been doing my capita once weekly set on is.

Here today grip was an issue.

I could barely hang from that bar, just seconds.

I’m fat. It’s time to change.

-J

P.S. the first hour uploaded has done real well – the lesson is to upload whatever strikes you, come up with the idea, run with the idea, film it, upload it, try not to compulsively check how it’s doing 🙂

May 2023 – Kept The Kettlebell Snatch & Burpee Habit Daily/Had Slept Riding Passenger In The Work Truck :

5/26/23
My cousin’s girl is a bank teller, I drew her window when I walked in to deposit my check.

Hadn’t seen him in two years, until a little over a month back, joked to her it’ll be another two years, and we agreed that comment needs to/will make it’s way to him through her.

She asked me about my work, and told me he’s thinking of joining the local powerlifting gym option.

Me? I’m still not in the headspace to go there.

And I thought to myself how he could’ve been training in his apartment parking lot, smashing burpees this entire time, the 2 4 6+ years he’s “wanted to” get in shape and yet exercised little more than zero times.

Dudes a giant, maybe he’ll go deep into powerlifting, and from there transition to strongman (he has the frame for it), personally I’d like to see him pare down to lean and mean with burpees.

Can’t do it for him though!

…..

I’m about to shower the grime of work off.
There was a small chance I brushed poison ivy today – all this overgrown shit alongside the truck in the shitty urban spot we were at today.

Only way to fit the truck in the lot, and well the ramps are stored on the side.

So I’ll shower, really douse myself in irish spring, and then hit the burpees and kettlebell snatches.

…..

To my surprise I dozed in the truck on the ride back, the driver shaking my shoulder and waking me after I’d been out for about five minutes, having taken ten minutes of in and out for seconds at a time before that to truly fall asleep.

Apparently I had fallen asleep, and was leaning a whole lot into the other helper, crushing him against the door – oddly it was the driver who decided to wake me, and not him.

I found this funny – that the driver took pity on him, that he didn’t just wake me himself.

As far as sleeping in the truck – I hadn’t done so in years, last in 2019 on an interstate delivery, before that in 2017 on a two and a half or three hour away ride.

I fell asleep in class once for a moment in 8th grade (answering the teacher’s gotcha question correctly to her chagrin – I knew my us history), these few times as a mover’s helper and always on the ride back.

Fasting. Working.
Working out. Feasting.

Felt good to get to that point.

…..

I was dreaming. They weren’t nightmares.
In the dream I heard the radio that I’d heard earlier while awake. I smelt the cigarette smoke of the other two in the cab, conscious of it while asleep.

I don’t remember dream details other than a mostly white background, and a sense of happiness/contentment.

When he started to shake my shoulder I hit a middle stage of totally lost, still half asleep, then fully came awake for a moment (a second) not knowing where I was – odd for me to wake that way.

However I did feel amazingly refreshed from the five minutes.

…..

I’ve been going without shaving, no trim, doing this for six weeks before shaping it, establishing the line.

A long wait til shaping it up.
While this time the “bumminess” isn’t bugging me as it always had in the past.

…..

I’d been stupid hungry on the ninety minute ride to location, found a package of honey roasted peanuts in my bag – had forgotten that I had them in there, while they are a much better “I need food” option than clif bars.

…..

I wrote the above around dinner time before going to bed, and sleeping moreso than napping til close to midnight, an alarm set to eat/do pushups (technically again)/not sleep the night through.

I think of this as “split sleep”, and it’s felt good the past few nights – sleep about two hours, get up, pushups, eat, go back to sleep for four to six hours.

I almost skipped the kettlebell snatches and burpees, was looking at the clock, 1148pm, pulled on a hoodie, slid on shoes, and went outside for three reps.

3 burpees
3 sn left + 3 sn right w/16kg
Kept the daily aspect truly daily still.

With the kettlebell snatch and burpees there is no excuse. Not when I’m around the house and have access, and not if I drive somewhere as the kettlebell easily fits in the car.

Hell, I’d even bring my bell on an interstate if I was to go on one anytime soon.

When you say you’re doing something. Do it.

My excuse threshold is far harder to activate than most.

I’d written of my cousin. He’s “looking into” the powerlifting gym, he’s a fucking giant fat boy – been not exercising for years of “wanting to get in shape”…

I’m not okay with where I’m at.
No excuse tonight to not get in something minimal.

Always doing something on the path is how you get there.
It makes zero sense to not kettlebell snatch and burpee daily.

Persistence & Tenacity

May 2023 – At 6′ ~290lbs I Grabbed Rim Today :

5/25/23
The kettlebell’s opposite is the mace.

None of today’s workout equipment cost me a penny.

•kettlebell – given to me by a coworker
•gloves – supplied by work
•mace – a branch from a downed tree

You could do burpees alone, and though these were free – the investment in a bit of equipment, tools, is worth it as investment for life vs paying monthly dues to someone/something else (and what is a corporation but an inhuman thing).

I’ll probably always miss being at a gym for hours when I’m training minimal amounts of time at home, but…

I grabbed rim off of one step while at work today.

“Damn – tubby can jump!” a coworker exclaimed.

By being slightly bent forward the rim likely was a tad shy of 10′. Still. 6′. Short arms. 288ish lbs. Grabbed rim a couple of times. One step.

As I went back to carrying boxes it was dawning on me how truly powerful I am, that this is me out of shape, not well trained/in training (at least in my eyes), and I’m grabbing rim at almost 300lbs.

Powerful hips. Strong upper body.

…..

Is the above from the kettlebell?
Yes.

It’s the “what the hell” effect.

Continue with kettlebell snatches and burpees.

…..

The sign said “don’t forget who you want/wanted to be”.

This mechanic’s shop has had motivational quotes on it’s sign for as long as I can remember.

The quote hit me, I drove around a bit more so as to drive by the sign twice.

Ended up three cars in front of the other crew in a company truck thirty seconds after my second time passing the sign.

That other crew got more hours, I almost was sent on that truck too, but by being out earlier I was able to accomplish a bunch of errands needing done – I wasn’t dreaming of being a mover as a child, not at any age.

But at work I work, hard, without complaint – often goofing around in a bad imitation of a foreign accent. I consciously aim to be joyous about it.

…..

Who do you want to be?

Society is shallow, even in the house of the lord the human only thinks, asks, “what are you” meaning money, how you make money.

Again I ask ; who do you want to be?
Dude. Me personally. Answer it…

…..

Part of my being happy with life is cracking all sorts of situational jokes, making comments, thinking aloud.

A related step to this is keeping conversations going past the initial comment when it’s some cute chick, and/or when they (regardless of who they are) riff back well.

Cause turnabout is fair play, and two people riffing back and forth is a blast.

I want to be the outgoing, hilarious, “uptime”, without inhibition version of me!
Always. (except when healthily in solitude introvert mode)

…..

That’s real.
Not just about money.

…..

I’ve been stimmed out a bunch lately, barely sleeping, yet damn good physically.

Been fasting hard lately, yesterday I ate up, today was a good day.

Today I ate up again. But my day was going well while fasted but for 100 calories of milky way candies.

…..

The note of real, who I want to be…

I saw it today, coming out of me today.

I was making jokes/comments/thinking aloud about half of the opportunities to do so while out today.

50% isn’t 100% (yet), but it’s a whole lot better than 0% – enjoying life, doing this, which is part of me being me, is something I must do.

It’s on me to open my mouth.
Nothing stops me but me.

So work hard. Do what you need to do.
Work while at work. Train when training.
Write. Video.

Enjoy the moment everywhere, always – and open my mouth. Do your daily workouts.

…..

My workout was maybe ten minutes, 40 kettlebell snatches, I counted 26 burpees though with miscounts it probably was 32 burpees. Then moments later the mace. 20 reps.

Still doing real short burpee and kettlebell snatch workouts.


ridin solo remix – jason derulo

↑ music for flow state, the first set’s song – I was in flow state, in the moment, during that first set – stomach hit, toe touch, hands up/squat – in flow state likely as the original version was something I was in flow state to while lifting as an almost 17yo working through some teen angst lol

I know thirty five to seventy minutes of these weekly works.

In the past I wouldn’t believe it, “only thirty five to seventy minutes a week”, whereas now I don’t argue with what is going on.

It’s working. I’m enjoying it.
The latter leads to the former.

…..

I’ll might always miss being at a gym for hours when I’m training minimal amounts of time at home, but…

It’s working for me!
The burpees are shedding inhibition as they always have!

Persistence & Tenacity

May 2023 Eats – Steak & Chicken Breast – A One Pot Crockpot Meal :

5/21/23
For three weeks now I’ve eaten primarily out of the crockpot.

The ease of preparing food is what has been winning me over, as well as the fact the most affordable way to eat is stews and pot roasts.

Homemade. Nutritious. Affordable.

Whatever size crockpot I have, it will comfortably make a stew with 3lbs of meat, with plenty of carrots, onions, celery, and potatoes cut into the pot and cooked beneath the meat.

Whereas without the root vegetables it comfortably fits 5lbs of meat, me putting in 3lbs of whatever is the lowest cost, and not too fatty looking steaks or roast, as well as 2lbs of chicken breast, again selecting a pretty looking lean package – this mix of beef and chicken breast what I consider ideal.

Near the end, or at the end of cooking time I remove the beef from the liquid, and cube it for eating and storage.

I’ve realized that due to the chicken coming apart more easily it can stay in with the liquid, being shredded rather easily, and then to have the bastard spawn of mashed potatoes and gravy – I pour in lots of instant mashed potatoes, of which the idahoan brand was surprisingly more affordable than generic, and some flour – therefore having all the good fatty juices sopped up, and eventually eaten.

large cubed steak bites with shredded chicken/mashed potato/corn/gravy mix – five minutes to prep, six hours of hands off cook time 🙂

I eat the meat first, the potato mix secondly.

The whole thing last me three or four days usually, with the last meal’s worth of potato mix being eaten with some other form of protein (often tuna – yes) as the meat separate the mix has already been finished.

Nothing cooks out. Nothing goes to waste.
However, on that note ; stew with all the root vegetables fills me rather fast, and a week and a half ago I did something that bothers me considerably and is something I’ve likely done naught but a couple of times in my adult life…

I ended up tossing out a goodly portion of that stew.

Then the next two batches have been the meat centric with instant mashed potatoes variant – these filling me less per capita, and therefore fulfilling my desire of waste not want not.

Notable was how affordable this most recent batch was, london broil at $3.99/lb, and chicken breast on sale at $2.49/lb – me able to purchase roughly three days of food for about $30.

And remember stew is nutrition for being jacked.

-J

May 2023 – Kettlebell Snatches & Burpees – The Start Of A New Daily Habit :

5/19/23
For a couple days now, realizing the other day that I must ; I’ve started a new daily habit, another no excuse thing with many payoffs.

I’m now doing burpees and kettlebell snatches each and every night.

It’s not a huge amount, just getting some in during a fifteen to twenty minute time span, in about 1% or 1.5% of the day, but it’s enough to have a pump, get out of breath to a small degree, and to feel good, real good.

What I’ve loved about burpees in the past is how when you’ve done at least a minimal amount, enough to get a pump and get out of breath – how you become your true self for a time, you are how humans are meant to act be.

real uninhibited

You feel good. The world is your’s.
Inhibitions? What are those? They don’t exist. You’re ideal you.

Like you were as a god’s honest, loving life, child.

For a brief time you’re the you as god designed.

No inhibitions.
No fear. No pain. No mental baggage.
Love. Seeing Brightness, All Existence.
Just ideal being.
In the moment, joyous.

I needed that vibe in me, that vibe as my life, so I’m shirtless, barefoot, in the evening sunlight – doing my daily burpees, doing my daily kettlebell snatches.

Life’s good. For this time after.
Then you carry that mood over to more and more of your twenty four.

-J

P.S.

cold world – snowgoons
(rediscovered the track yesterday after years without hearing it)

Lucky #7s – 7 Years Of Unbroken Daily Pushups – No Missed Days :

5/13/23 730pm
With today’s pushups I marked seven years of daily pushups, my habit you know, without a single missed day.

This is my longest confirmed streak, the record ever extending.

A habit done for fully half my life having started at about the time I entered high school – I have now gone about a quarter of my life without one miss.

At times the daily pushups, usually done nightly, functioned as my rock, something I could always count on in this world.

Something I could always control.

…..

Honestly it’s such force of habit now that it may not be the same to me psychologically anymore.

I just do them. There is no reason. It just is. Is.

how I am now about doing pushups – they are their own purpose

Persistence & Tenacity

“Two Years To 250”

5/5/23
There are now two youngsters working at the moving company.

One’s average height, average weight, the other is a tad taller than his buddy, and skinnier.

The customer (I’d actually had him as a gym teacher in both middle and high school – the first time I’ve known the customer having done this off and on for years) bought a couple pizzas, told us “don’t let it get cold”, which saw most of our ridiculously over manpowered crew have a slice or two.

16 big slices from two larges plus a real tiny pizza for 12-14 people all in all in the house ya can only have one, a couple two.

I had two.
I believe the first youngster had two.

You know I’m me, 290ish, “not fat”.
In fact I was hitting some pullups, note : not chin ups, in the doorway bar after work as something said in a Wes Watson video amped me up.

Immediately I went to the doorway bar, got an ugly 7 reps first set, ugly 6 reps second set vs an ugly 10 reps on a proper height bar.

“We were amped just to have the ability to do pullups on lockdown, yeah we had to bend our knees – they were designed as towel rack, but we could do pullups!” – paraphrase

That clicked for me.

And back the the work anecdote ;

I don’t know entirely what they said, I without thinking remarked off hand in passing “two years to 250”.

The two went “what”.

I paused, turned to them ; “two years to 250lbs. whatever you’re at now – if you really wanted to, you could force feed to 250. In. Two. Years.”

They faced each other, arguing amongst themselves a moment as to the possibility of the skinnier (and weaker – he may not cut it at this job, coaxing him to curl an empty bar on his first day was a struggle for him) of the two having the possibility to get that heavy.

“Maybe I could get that big” he thought aloud smiling facing me oblivious for a moment to the other – the asshole “alpha” of the pair for a moment unable to verbally cut the daydream off, and tear his friend down.

I probably just opened the kid’s eyes to the possibility that he, skinny, around average height, full of nervous energy, could in fact get jacked.

He saw possibility. You saw it in both the eyes and smile on that acne and scratch covered teenage face.

Possibly planted the seed for both of them.

Just an offhand comment.

Realistic? 250? More like 200.
But whatever. Planted a seed (albeit unintentionally).

Think big. Be awesome.

Persistence & Tenacity

May 2023 Flow – Today – A Playful Day :

5/3/23
Playing.

The way I’m using the kettlebell isn’t very rigid.

I do a handful of reps with a violence each set, then I rest.

I’ll go back and forth between the kettlebell and barbell, or I’ll goof around in a step between what I consider work and what I consider rest – a step of playfulness – I’ll do a burpee, I’ll kick into some handstands/handstand attempts, duck walk, cossack dance, do what I think of as the almost stomping heavy footed tribal around the fire/kill/circle dance

It’s all more primal movement.
It all is surprisingly anaerobic.

You’re out of shape.
So am I.

I’m looking for my place.

How I can have the people I want around me around me.

How I can make money, enough to live well.

Where do I need to be?
What do I need to be doing?

…..

As I exercised it was misting to lightly raining.

I’d decided, being a bit grimy from work also factoring in, to exercise barefoot and shirtless.

This in a misty overcast 50°f.

A tad of a shiver as I type.

I’d sat there indian style after the exercise, just breathing, thinking of the above that I desire – just feeling peaceful.

The external world blissfully irrelevant in the moment.

Relisten to a Wim Hof podcast.

Meditating on how to live as an uninhibited, joyous shaman.

…..

What I would give to hear the ubiquitous “what muscle does that train” question, as at this point I’m kettlebell snatch primary for exercises.

Lats. Glutes. Hands. Wind. Lower Back…
ALL OF IT!

It makes sense to me that I’m again bulling my way through 10 pullups, even at this bodyweight in the 290s – the kettlebell trains everything.

I might’ve dropped a pound in the past week.

Kettlebell. Metabolism.

I’m racking up the minisessions. No sooner than I end the session do I feel a whole bunch warmer.

Again – kettlebell metabolism.

I highly suggest one incorporate hard, brief, kettlebell snatch minisessions throughout the day.

What is a few months of this going to do?
I’m expectant. I’m without expectation…
I’m doing.

Persistence & Tenacity

P.S. I don’t have access to, yet daydream of ; this works real well when you’re heavy…

Low rep, lightly weighted pullups.

You build an amazing base for both settings bw amrap PRs and weighted PRs simply doing bunches of sets of 1-3 reps at bw+10 or bw+25, not pushing the pace, and just doing this til it’s stupid easy.

I’d like access to a rig of some sort capable of supporting a 600lb pullup, as it wouldn’t be long for me to hit bw+135 as in the 290s while seriously out of practice I’m beastings 10xbw with muscle memory for weighted pullups when in 2021 in was doing loads of them.

that would do it! how much to buy a forklift to keep in the backyard?

May 2023 Flow – “Bench Press In The Front Yard & Benching In The Rain” :

5/2/23
“Yeah the thing is ; after this I’m going to go home and lift.”
“In this?!?!?”
“Yeah, though instead of barbell it’s going to be kettlebell.”
“You’re crazy. Lifting outside in the rain.”
“It’s been a year and a half of lifting outside for me. Rain. Snow. It’s no longer a consideration to me.”

It’s been raining today, at times an absolute downpour. I’ll lift after work.

this is roughly what today’s post entails

I like lifting, so I do.
Look at it this way ; lifting weights is simulating the hard work we don’t get in the modern world – hard work has generally been outside in human history – hop, skip, and a jump…I’ve rationalized my outdoor lifting in any and all weather.

…..

My skullcap went on an interstate delivery…without me.

I’m hoping to get it back in a few days.
It is after all my stretched out for putting over headphones and lifting skullcap.

I’m not listening to music while lifting without it…which might be a good thing 🙂

…..

I lied.

When I got home I dug out the rickety bench.

Caffeine in me – I’m going to amrap 205lbs.
Front yard benching, ghetto stereotype.

Though I’m maybe the redneck version..

and benching in the rain!

Which I’m sure is quite the show to all who saw me doing this, while upon reflection I should’ve sang additionally.

…..

Got 20 reps on the first set benching 205lbs on this rickety setup.

Not far from 20x225lbs for a combine score.

…..

I think I’ll bench once or twice a week for a time, keep the weight at around 205lbs, and aim for 50+ reps at the weight.

~50×225 is an nfl combine record, and I see no season I couldn’t be ballpark this strong and enduring.

Everyone should look at college football and the nfl and think “I’ll be similar to that in ability”, weight room, being able to sprint well, not being fat, etc.

Pursuing 50×205 ; I’m pretty sure this’ll hypertrophy my upper body, push top end strength up some, while most importantly building a big base to build strength off of.

There’s nothing wrong with just doing everything for high reps, getting strong at them, and having no idea what your one rep maxes are.

…..

About two hours later I did a brief kettlebell minisession.

It’s sprint stimulus. I expect my wind to improve, and to get lean as I continue the kettlebell path.

…..

Most of my kettlebell minisessions truly are minisessions – playing around with the 16kg bell, getting a pump, getting my heart rate up…and being done in around 5:00 – go do something else.

With just a couple weeks of these I feel more solid, athletic, see my wind improving, and realize certain aesthetics are improving with it in addition to the performance increases.

There is no protocol to what exactly I do in a minisession – I just go til it feels right, playing with whatever I come up with in the moment, pointedly trying for stuff as I do it.

I’ve been digging ;
•clean
•flip
•catch high at crotch immediately into a high hang snatch
•a few snatches ripping the bell down

Then either set the bell down, or toss the bell to the other hand and repeat.

It’s a kettlebell, get creative with it.
-J


singing in the rain

May 2023 Flow – Massive “Inefficient” Action In Training VS “Training” (Researching) Efficiently :

Part 1 – Training Thoughts ie The Title – Massive “Inefficient” Action In Training VS “Training” (Researching) Efficiently :

5/1/23
There’s a neat ability with the kettlebell to lift it in very contrasting styles.

There’s hardstyle and girevoy, like the difference between powerlifting and an 800m dash though using the same implement.

I haven’t read too much on the kettlebell, and when I had – it was before I had access to them.

One groks more, practically, fully, truly when they are implementing, taking action.

So I get it better now with a few months of kettlebell usage, and in my eyes I have yet to go hard…though that’s the training path I’ve started on at present.

I’d say I’m using a hardstyle approach, though with a light bell, I’m making it heavy.

The lifts are in quick bursts. It feels like I’m sprinting.

I could let momentum do the work, partially doing the arc for me both up and down .

I can really pop my hips to throw the bell upwards in that arc.

I can rip the bell downwards from the top in reverse down that arc.

I’m learning how to put the preceding two effectively into the same reps.

Think wrestling ; one’s a snap down, one’s smashing your hips into them on a sprawl.
…..

Right now I’m doing most of my lifting with a 16kg kettlebell, building a base – having EVERYTHING done be in the realm of weighted conditioning.

…..

Where I’m different than a lot of the material I see online is ;

I have zero desire to go get certified with a tool, whether that’s bodyweight, kettlebells, barbell (in whatever form).

Personally I’d rather research… BETTER YET experiment.

When I first got the kettlebells I purposefully was not reading kettlebell material ; desiring to figure it out myself as I go.

With all things gym related this is a healthy approach, it’d be better for many if they walked the path in this manner.

It’s a matter of passion for one to do so this way.

…..

Gladly I’ll teach you.

What I’ve come to realize is many never will do this gym thing without some degree of external guidance.

What percentage of humanity is not the kind to test their own theories?

…..

Recently I’d been thinking about how I lost weight as a fat 14 year old.

It was extremely misguided in both exercise and dietary methodology, but since I threw enough effort at the problem the task got done.

Action taken in an inefficient manner ends up far more effective than forever searching for how to take action efficiently – therefore being inefficient by lack of action.

You’re not Drago with the power of top soviet labs and top secret sauce chemicals backing you.

You’re Rocky with what you’ve got.
Act as such.

Take massive action.

…..

At 14 I threw a lot of movement at the problem.

Now in my late 20s, this time around I know that it’s the anaerobic stuff and lifting that will best help.

Think of it this way ; do you want to look like a marathon runner or someone who lifts heavy things in bursts, can carry stuff all day, is built in a manner which signifies card carrying membership in a nation of linebackers.

I don’t want to “chronic cardio” my way to skinny fat. Did that once.

It’s lift and condition – the commonality being that throwing myself into a million minisessions works for me.

Having a small bit of kettlebells fits this bill perfectly.

With the 16kg bell I’m racking up minisession after minisession, muscles worked, out of breathe as if I’d ran a 300yd shuttle.

I expect great results.

Why?
Cause I came up with it, it’s playing to my desires, and is what I’ve “bought in” on.

…..

Part 2 – The Groceries :

5/1/23
“Did you just come from the gym?” she asks, her being a very petite, short, and short haired blonde woman in her 60s working as cashier.

“I just lifted at home. Man, do I smell that bad? That noticable?” I reply as I think to myself of how I’ve worn these sweats off and on for a week straight of both work and workouts.

(The clothing was getting a bit grimy.)

“No no no, I just noticed you’re purchasing a bunch of electrolytes, a lot of protein – I figured it’s for workouts.”

“Oh. The gatorade is more for work than workouts, and I’m going to make chicken stew with that mix of breast and thigh. I have some celery and carrots at home that I need to use, hence stew, and the steak – well it’s on sale this week. Gotta get steak.”

She then asked me a bunch about making soup, particularly how I thicken it and what goes in aside meat, I told her of my standard of carrots/celery/potatoes/onions, said “a bunch of garlic in this one”, then ended up using all the spices after all
– I answered how I make stew – she said she normally makes soup with the dutch oven, “I have one too, but crockpot stew is the lazy method. 6 hours on high it’ll be ready for tonight.”

“I’m sorry if I was intrusive.”
“No it’s fine. Have a good day.” I smiled as I walked away having enjoyed the conversation – funny that she felt the need apologize for it.

…..

Now I’ll get at least half of the meals for two days, probably three or four, out of this one set and forget crockpot prep.

3lbs of chicken, both cuts at $3/lb, so it’s $9 of meat in the pot plus whatever the onions/carrots/celery/potatoes that I had on hand had cost.

I hadn’t thought about how I too had three cans of tuna in the purchase when the cashier and I spoke of making stew and soup.

Her comment “a lot of protein” – yeah, 3lbs chicken, 1 or 1½lbs steak, plus three cans of tuna.

…..

I went with the lowest costing chunk light at 3 for $5 recalling on the opposite end of my 20s paying 49 or 50¢/can, stocking up on cans by the ~100 everytime they went on sale at that price.

Back then three cans of tuna and two packs of ramen (the craving I went with for lunch), 100g of poverty protein cost me about $1.85 and was one of my main meal options alongside chicken stew.

Today that meal cost me about $5.70, which compared to back when it cost only a $1.85 is actually a bit higher than my average daily food cost was then.

The poverty food isn’t poverty food anymore.

(Your most affordable meals will be chicken stews, ground beef, milk, potatoes, rice, maybe a big ole beef roast – and big cuts of pork, though I haven’t went there myself in quite some time, I have noticed that pork never upped in price from covid inflation.)

In 2023 top ramen and tuna aren’t as affordable anymore.

Alongside a cherry pepsi this stereotypical poverty meal was actually a splurge, however lately I’ve just been paying whatever it costs for the inflated priced foods – preferring to eat well to going without.

The kettlebell makes it all better :), besides the stew is going to be ready for dinner.

And that is hearty, nutritious, and keeps costs low.

Note : though I used two cuts of chicken, I should’ve seen what pork was available, had some of that in there too.

I’m a big proponent of getting multiple meats into your meals.
-J