<p>The Down Sweaters are a little heavier with a little more down and a little softer fabric, but still not “Michelin Man” puffy. The UltraLights are cut athletic have lighter, shinier fabric, and weigh nothing.</p>
<p>For all-around use, running errands and the like, the Down Sweater is probably more all-purpose. That weight is an awesome dry winter car jacket. The Ultralights pack down to nothing and weigh nothing, so they are awesome for backpacking – the difference between bringing a down jacket and not.</p>
<p>Marmot calls their down sweater equivalent the Zeus Jacket (men) and the Jena Jacket (women). Their ultralight version is the Quasar.</p>
<p>Some of the Down Sweaters are on sale at Patagonia, but not the Ultralghts:</p>
<p>Both Marmot and Patagonia, in random size/color combos can be found on sale. It’s typical to see a blue jacket in one size go on big sale, but not other colors or sizes.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to change my avatar for today’s meal plan. For brunch, I had three strips of thick cut bacon and a three egg cheese omelet with an ounce of Cabot Extra Sharp cheddar.</p>
<p>Dinner is leftovers: two thin center cut pork chops, pan-fried in lard, and brussel sprouts, sauteed with bacon and cooked with a dash of Marsala wine.</p>
<p>16 miles - on my trusted home treadmill! I made it. Mild stomach upset plus heavy rain mixed with snow/38 degrees made me worried that I would not be able to finish the distance if I ran on the trail. Although I already knew the outcome, watching the Canada-Sweden game while running was very inspirational for my run (which I finished without bathroom breaks or any similar problems). I am such a pansy! :D</p>
<p>Oooo, that looks like good stuff. I am a sucker for proscuitto… and the American version, country ham.</p>
<hr>
<p>To the basement for me. A rare Sunday workout. I’m glad nobody can see me down there. How embarrassing… I missed a box jump. Caught a toe on the way up. There’s no graceful ending to a missed box jump, but at least I didn’t hurt myself or take any divots out of my shins… Maybe I was glycogen depleted after the [Stanley</a> Clarke concert](<a href=“Stanley Clarke - School Days - YouTube”>Stanley Clarke - School Days - YouTube) I went to last night? :)</p>
<p>MKat, 50% protein seemed high. When I do lots of endurance stuff, I am also a big carb eater, unashamedly. I have been known to stuff my bento box with candy corn. </p>
<p>Nothing today. The main reason was time, the secondary reason was a sleep injury. I got too hot and fled to the couch and now my lower back is sore. And yes, someone delighted in pointing out to me that I was moving crookedly. </p>
<p>Just recalculated the ratios based on actual food diary and calories. I average 35-40% protein, 40-45% carbohydrates and 20-25% fat. Today’s meal plan: 122 gms protein, 161 gms carbs, 33 gms fat. Is kind of typical except for days when I do very long bike rides on which days I eat additional carbs while maintaining the proteins and fats.</p>
<p>Unless I’ve got my math wrong, that’s only 1429 calories. That sounds really low for a guy who exercises as much as you do. I seem to be weight stable in the neighborhood of 2000 to 2200 calories a day. I loose weight when I (honestly) eat under 2000 calories a day.</p>
<p>That has to be the exceptional day for you, I would think. I bet the carbs and calories go way up on other days. They would have to. You can’t be fueling multi-hour bike rides on 1400 calories!</p>
<p>Busy parent, the first step is the right step. Keep is updated on your first few days of tracking - no judging here - we have all had our eyes opened through food tracking at one point or another!!</p>
<p>Lol, you’re right IDad. I took another look at my weight watchers points after that post, had a bunch left over and ate some more. And on days that I do the long bike rides, I eat significantly more. As a general rule, I eat all of my weight watchers exercise points each day (which is why I ate some more tonight - had not exhausted my points). As I mentioned in an earlier post, on days that I do the really long rides, I can accumulate 33-36 additional points. My normal points each day, before accounting for exercise, is 34 points. So on the heavy biking days, I can be consuming the equivalent of 2 days of food. The macronutrient ratios remain pretty consistent with what I posted.</p>
<p>iDad- Yeah, serving sizes are not exactly what I thought they were!</p>
<p>I am experimenting with some raw denim (selvedge) jeans and all I can think about is your “thermometer jeans”. Raw denim is like the old jeans we wore back in the day that were completely unprocessed, did not stretch and were stiff. The goal is to break them in, not wash them for ages and ages and let them wear naturally. You have to start with them really tight (they don’t shrink, supposedly) and they are not particularly comfortable. I’m not sure how this is going to work out. I need to get rid of about 3 pounds so I’m not as miserable.</p>
<p>Just for kicks 'n giggles, I’m going to do my best to resist the Braeburn apple in the fridge calling my name and stick to what would be probably my lowest carb (and sugar) day ever…</p>
<p>*Calories 1927</p>
<p>31% Protein 143g
57% Fat 116g
11% Carbohydrate 50g</p>
<p>Dietary Fiber 14g
Net carbs 36g
Sugars 13g*</p>
<p>A result of bacon and eggs (zero carbs) for brunch. I need to get better at rotating that option into a day with a higher carb dinner and have my massive lunch salads on days with lower carb dinners.</p>
<p>143g of protein is probably more than I need, but not so excessive as to cause any problems. I can’t eat that much protein day i and day out. That was three strips of thick sliced bacon. A three-egg cheese omelet. And two (thin-cut) pork chops. The only thing missing from that assortment is fried pork rinds. :)</p>
<p>I thought that it was the opposite… that the raw denim (there are some Levi 501s sold that way) DID shrink, so you have to buy them large aiming for where they will end up. It’s the regular versions that are preshrunk. </p>
<p>Not that it changes the need for 3-pound party! I can tell that I’m just going to have to mark my calendar for a round of food tracking in January each year. Just a wee bit of refresher…</p>
<p>MOfWC, just buy some Burberry jeans! The money you spend on them will keep you from ever gaining anything that will prevent you from fitting into these pants. Sadly, that is the brand that fits my butt the best nowadays, so I watch sales and outlets.</p>
<p>I too need to get rid of a couple of pounds (currently at the upper edge of my allowable limit). Even though to some 2 pounds might not sound like a big deal, I say - fill a large water bottle and try to carry it for 26.2 miles, and you will know what I’m talking about!</p>
<p>Ate a chunk of cake “From Renata” and did not feel any guilt (16 miles = 1600 calories off). :)</p>
An there in a single sentence is my greatest downfall I don’t even get the ounce of cheese thing right when I’m doing shredded on omlettes!</p>
<p>Idad, I DID treat myself to the down hoodie sweater yesterday…,found one at zappos on clearance :)</p>
<p>Instead of dressing like the abonimable snowman yesterday, first did the hill in a short jacket (one of those stretchy neoprene types with just a bit of fleece inside.) it was very freeing. I liked the lightness around my hips and felt more mobile somehow.</p>
<p>So then I went ahead on the down hoodie, figuring it would probably work on even the coldest days for me given the short up but uphill nature of my hike I also think it will be good for short stints if snow shoveling and kicking around town on weekends.</p>
Mild stomach upset plus heavy rain mixed with snow/38 degrees made me worried that I would not be able to finish the distance if I ran on the trail. Although I already knew the outcome, watching the Canada-Sweden game while running was very inspirational for my run (which I finished without bathroom breaks or any similar problems). I am such a pansy! :D</p>
I don’t even get the ounce of cheese thing right when I’m doing shredded on omlettes!</p>