Day 12

I had my usual glass of orange juice this morning. But instead of my usual bagel, I had an oatmeal cookie that my friend Anne had made for everyone. And I figured anything with oatmeal in it has got to be better than any bagel.

When lunch time came around, I had my leftover sandwich and a salad. Unfortunately the salad had become so saturated and tart from its vinaigrette dressing that it was pretty unedible. Even by my standards.

Fortunately, our Uncle Ben's account group had ordered mediterranean food for a lunch meeting, so i was able to fill up as well as make myself a plate for later this weekend.

Around 3:00, Chaya Playa was doing their normal ditch of leftover food from the cafeteria, so i stocked up on a few apples as well as a wrap that i thought would be best to save for Monday.

Towards the end of the work day I was able to score a leftover beer from a meeting that had been sitting out thanks to my friend Omeed. I also took a gamble to see if there was any food still leftover from lunch that I could eat for dinner. There's nothing quite like a warm beer and a cold falafel sandwich to end your Friday. I snagged an iced tea as well, but I brought it home for the weekend instead.

Today's Weight: 168.9 lbs (-3.5 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 11

I had my usual cup of orange juice this morning for breakfast. But with the weekend so near, I decided it'd be wise to save the apple just in case.

After an hour or so had passed, I was a bit hungry and was debating whether or not I should open up one of the granola bars I was keeping on reserve. But just as I was about to, my friend jenny was passing by and told me that there were muffins and donuts in the print production area. There were a lot of options to choose from, but I thought it'd probably be best to go with the bran one.

When lunchtime came around, I thought it'd be best to go with the mexican leftovers i had found on Tuesday since they were the oldest thing i had.

After lunch, there was some chocolate cake left in print production that was free for the taking.

And what better to go with chocolate cake than a nice cool glass of soy milk. Bleckkk.

As the day was ending, I did my usual lap around the office to see if I could find dinner anywhere. In the art buying department, there were some leftover hors d'oeuvres that a vendor had brought earlier.

I also packed some fruit to take home for the weekend.

After the art buying department, I continued my lap around the office and came across some more fruit that I packed up for the upcoming weekend as well.

Today's Weight: 169.8 lbs (-2.6 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 10: Jackpot

This morning I felt pretty tired and hungry when I woke up, so I decided to drive to work instead of biking it. When I got into the office I had some orange juice and a bagel, but even after that I was still pretty hungry.

Throughout the morning, I had a little bit of a struggle focusing and trying to keep awake. But then around noon I got a call from my roommate Pootee telling me there was still some leftover catered breakfast from a meeting in the broadcast meeting next door.

Being able to concentrate on work became much easier after that. The protein from the eggs is something I think my body also really needed. After that, finding food around the office became much easier as well. There were a lot of meetings happening around the office as well as clients in the building. And clients + meetings = lots of food. Jackpot!

At first I had some mixed-nuts and a mountain dew I snagged from a table near our basketball court.

Later on I was able to scavenge some leftover pasta and a salad from vbe. I was still pretty full from lunch, so I thought it'd be best to save it for later.

After that my friends Go and Rachelle clued me into some sandwiches that had been left on our surf bar (another hot spot for food usually.) but again, I decided to save it for later on.

I stuck around the office until the meetings were finished and the last of the clients had left the building.

Tonight's dinner was comprised from a collection of things around the office. From VBE, I snagged some spinach dip and some mediterranean food. From a banquet table near a large meeting room we call "The Tree House" I was able to have a beer. And then as I was walking by the surfbar again, my friend blake had some fries that were about to be discarded. And she's pretty healthy too, so I knew she wasn't just saying trying to make sure I had something to eat.

There were a lot of desserts and other sweets around the office as well, but I've really been trying to avoid those. Not that french are any better for you, in fact they're probably worse. But I guess I was just really craving some french fries. There was even an unfinished hamburger and some sweet potato fries in the trash can I found that looked pretty tempting, but don't worry; I haven't eaten anything out of the trashcan. . . Yet.

From the meetings, I snagged a few granola bars as well as some beer that I brought home for the weekend, and maybe even St. Patrick's Day.

Today's Weight: 169 lbs (-3.4 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 9: A Change to the Rules

For breakfast this morning I had my usual cup of orange juice to start my day. I was able to get an apple as well, but decided not to eat it in case I'd get really hungry.

For lunch, I had that leftover salad from yesterday.

During lunch, I also came to the decision that leftover food from people would be now banned from my diet. It's at the point now where this food experiment has become more of a leftover diet rather than a chiat diet.

So with that, here are the updated rules:

1. No purchasing food or beverages of any kind. Chiat's cafeteria and vending machines included.

2. No hand-outs from anyone, even if they are legitimate leftovers

3. Tips to where food might be is acceptable so long as no food is physically broughten to me.

4. Water is the only exception to the Chiat Diet.

5. Storing food for later is acceptable.

6. Food from Chiat trash cans is fair game.

7. Food from Chiat refrigerators is acceptable as long as it isn't stolen.

8. Food provided from any off campus shoots is acceptable (they're still technically provided by Chiat.)

9. Food from other companies within Chiat's wall are acceptable (VBE, OMD.)

10. Food from MAL is acceptable (although they aren't within Chiat's walls and no longer technically a part of Chiat, they still share with us, and we still share with them.)

11. Food provided from client lunches and dinners are acceptable.

12. Food from celebrations such as birthdays, congratulatory, welcoming or going away parties is acceptable as long as it's within chiat.

With the new changes to the rules, scavenging around the office becomes more important than ever. After lunch, I was given a tip that there was some leftover food in VBE. I'm saving my findings for tomorrow, but I think this may be the first legitimate serving of vegetables I've had in a week. Yes, I've had salads; but eating lettuce is basically like eating water.

Lunch wasn't super filling, so later in the afternoon I had some popcorn to snack on. But as it turned out, that popcorn also ended up being my dinner for the evening.

Today's Weight: 170 lbs (-2.4 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 8

When I got into the office, there was a very tempting plate of brownies sitting at my desk. My friend Ali had made them for an academy awards party she and her husband had hosted the night before. At the time she didn't know about my little food experiment, so I guess technically they would have been okay to eat. However, doing so would create the perception that people can just make food at home and bring it to me at the office; which is the last thing I want. So regretfully, I passed them onto my partner Katie.

But the morning wasn't a complete bust, I was still able to get a bagel and some orange juice. My friend ted also told me there was a full on catered breakfast meeting for pepsi nearby, but by the time I got there, the kitchen staff were already cleaning it up. . .Sigh. I've really been craving eggs since last week's episode of lost.

Remember that leftover salad from last Friday? Well that was my lunch for today. The lettuce had become pretty soaked in with the dressing and the fried wontons were anything but crispy, but at least it was something. There was some leftover quesadilla from Friday in there as well, but the taste reminded me of hamburger for some reason.

Later in the afternoon, i did my usual patrol around the office and was able to score some leftover salad from my friend Riki.

Around 5ish, I did another lap and came across a leftover unfinished tuna salad wrap from my buddy Go. Granted it had been sitting out for about 4 hours, but whatever, dinner was served.

I was at the office till about 7, but before leaving I drank some soy milk and had a little bit of the salad I had just picked up.

I'm starting to wonder if I should ban leftovers all together from my food experiment. It seems lately that this is becoming more of a "Leftovers diet" rather than "The chiat diet." not that I don't appreciate the meals, but I'm beginning to question their overall legitimacy. Earlier in the afternoon, a friend brought me 1/2 of a Ghiardelli chocolate bar by the trash can he had just so happen to come across. I immediately threw it out when he left. Are some of my friends purposefully not finishing their meals just so that I might have some food to eat? Granted it's only been a week, but I've done my best to keep this as pure as possible. And I think these leftover meals might be tainting its purity. I'll see how tomorrow goes, but I may just end up banning leftovers from my diet completely.

Today's Weight: 169.8 lbs (-2.6 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 7: End of Week 1

Today's meals went pretty close to plan. I skipped breakfast, but had an orange and two slices of pizza for lunch. In the afternoon I had a granola bar for a snack, and then for dinner I ate an apple and my last slices of pizza.

Today also marks the end of the first week of my little chiat diet experiment. I have to admit that it's been a little tougher to find food than I initially thought. But so far so good. One week down, three and a half more to go.

Today's Weight: 171 lbs (-1.4 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 6

Last night's meal made a nice difference as far as weight goes. At this morning's weigh-in I managed to break the current "Losing a pound a day" streak and gain a pound.

Since it's the weekend, the only thing I could eat was whatever I could save up from the week. So there really wasn't any surprises or good finds as far as meals go. The trick for weekends I think is being able to ration things out properly. So here's the breakdown of my food schedule this weekend:

Saturday:

Breakfast - one granola bar
Lunch - two slices of pizza and an apple
Dinner - the remainder of the salad and garlic knots

Sunday:
Breakfast - one orange
Lunch - two slices of pizza
Dinner - the last slice of pizza and an apple

I still have a couple granola bars, but I want to be able to hold onto them for as long as possible in case things get pretty dire and I really need something to eat.

After dinner I went to a birthday party which aside from being a fun time, also turned into a test of willpower. Having to say "No" to alcohol felt like being a kid again. The only part that kinda sucked was not being able to do birthday shots with the guest of honor.

My other roommates and I returned home probably within 20 minutes of each other (around 2ish I think.) one was eating macaroni and cheese, and the other was eating a double cheeseburger and fries from wendy's. I'll admit the aroma was pretty tempting. Not that I would break the rules and go to the closest restaurant or anything. But my stomach was growling and I was considering snagging one of my slices of pizza. I eventually chose not to for two reasons: one, it was late at night and there was really no reason to be eating food at that hour. And two, I'm pretty certain I would be regretting it the next day when my food rations would be less.

Today's Weight: 170.4 lbs (-2 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 5

I lost another pound again according to my weight in. I thought for sure after last night's meal I would've at least stayed the same weight from the day before. I biked to the office I had my usual cup of orange juice and a bagel for breakfast. I forgot to mention this in my earlier entries, but on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, chiat offers complimentary bagels. On Tuesdays and Thursdays its free fruit. And every afternoon there's free popcorn made.

Lunch time came and went as usual, but I was able to collect the last bits of a quesadilla from my friend jen. I thought it'd be better to save it for later though seeing as how it was going to be a couple days before I would be back in the office again. Today is a Friday after all.

A short time later, I was able to get my hands on a couple unfinished salads. They were leftover from a "Welcome" lunch to a new employee on the Pedigree account that just started. The weekend was starting to look up. I finished off one of the salads for lunch and put the other one in the fridge to save for later this weekend.

Every Friday around 3:00, our cafeteria gives away all the unsold fruits, cookies and bagels from the week; however, this week's give away was pretty dire. I was however able to get a couple granny smith apples which is still better than nothing I suppose.

Fortunately, there was some meeting on the basketball court where cookies were being offered.

And what better to go with a cookie than a nice cold glass of soy milk?

. . . Bleckkkk, I hate soy milk.

Anyways, just as the work day was ending, and any other prospects of food for the weekend was lost; I end up winning the food lottery! Yes, the food lottery. Thanks to a few tips from some friends, I learned that the visa account group had ordered pizzas and salads for lunch earlier in the day, and that there was still a lot leftover. So I immediately ate a couple of slices and then grabbed the largest container I could find that would still fit in my backpack (I still had to be able to bike home after all.) and I began to fill it as much as I could without it overflowing.

Then on my way out, i swiped an unfinished gallon of orange juice leftover from a going away breakfast from earlier in the morning.

All in all, I'd say it's been a pretty successful friday. A couple hours after I got home I was hungry again, so I had a couple servings of salad and garlic knots. I could easily eat a few more slices right now, but I think it'd be better not to. If possible, I'd like to be able to ration everything so that it can get me into the first part of next week as well. I still have a ways to go until this over after all. But hopefully with tonight's findings I should be back at 172 lbs by tomorrow morning's weigh in.

Today's Weight: 169.4 lbs (-3 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 4: I Like Birthdays

Not much around the office for breakfast this morning, so aside from my usual cup of orange juice I decided to eat the bagel I had snagged yesterday.

There weren't any catered meetings going on, so lunch pickin's were pretty slim. Around 2:30ish or so, I did score a chocolate chip cookie; although that only wet the appetite and made me even more hungry.

So a few minutes later while doing another lap for food around the office, I found a french fry that had dropped near a microwave in the cafeteria.

. . . It was probably one of the best french fries I'd ever eaten.

I learned today that when the usual meeting rooms and hot spots turn up dry, the next best place to look for food is unfinished leftovers from your friends. (mucho thanks Jen and Eclaire!)

As the afternoon went on, I grabbed some popcorn to snack on around 3ish.

But the best part of the day was when 5:30ish came around. In a building filled with 700+ employees, there's a good chance that on any given day, it's somebody's birthday. And where there's a birthday, there's cake and appetizers. Jackpot!

I think the last time I felt full after eating a meal was on Monday.

Before leaving, in an effort to include more nutrients in my diet, I decided to have a glass of soy milk from the company fridge. I've never been a huge fan of the stuff; but as it turns out, it's really quite good for you and pretty high in nutrients. So even though the taste of it still weirds me out a little, I think soy milk might become part of my regular routine. And who knows, maybe I'll even start liking it.

Today's Weight: 170.4 lbs (-2 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 3

This morning was a bit interesting. I must have stepped out of bed too fast or something; because when I did, I became so light headed that I lost my footing and fell to the floor. Normally I ride my bike to work in the mornings, but after this happened I decided to drive to the office instead.

For breakfast I ate the bagel I had been saving since Monday and replaced it with a new one. Later on in the morning, my friend kay hooked me up with about a half gallon of left over orange juice from the art buying department that they were about to toss. I decided not to drink it, but rather bring it home in preparation for the upcoming weekend.

2:00 came around, and once again, lunch was hard to find. There were a couple meetings going on with catering, but they didn't seem to be ending anytime soon. I ended up breaking into the last of my leftovers bbq from monday. I also had a rolo that was snagged from vbe (an editorial company that lives within chiat walls. Like the fruit salad from last night, lunch was not very filling.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, I was able to find some snacks from various meetings to help carry me through the rest of the day. I didn't eat the granola bars, but rather I decided to save them just in case I'd need them later. However, I did eat two of them for dinner. Which surprise surprise, wasn't very filling. Once again, I suppose I'm going to bed hungry.

Today's Weight: 171.3 lbs (-1.1 lbs from initial weigh in.)

Day 2: Slim Pickins

Not much going around the office today. This morning I was able to score a couple oranges and some orange juice for breakfast. Nothing like a little vitamin c to get your day started. I decided to only eat one of them and save the other for later.

Come lunch time, there weren't any lunch meetings going on like yesterday. My friend Rachelle had this candy that her boss gave her from Mexico. It packed some heat though, so I only ate one.

I thought I could get by till dinner time, but around 2:00 the munchies were starting to really kick in. So I decided to break into some leftover bbq I still had saved from yesterday. I didn't eat all of it though. I just ate one of the corns, a few spoon fulls of coleslaw and just one of the ribs. Aside from these leftovers, all I had left to eat was a bagel from yesterday, the orange from this morning and that fruit salad I took home last night. There were some donuts available to eat as well, but I thought it'd be best to try and avoid junk food as much as possible. Especially since I'll probably need as many nutrients and vitamins I can get.

A couple hours later I did drink a cup of coffee; however it was more to help keep me awake rather than fill me up.

Being that it's Tuesday night, my roommates and I had people over like we always do for dinner and watching lost. They all got to enjoy hot pizzas and chicken wings, while I ate that leftover fruit salad from yesterday. . . It was not remotely filling, and I think I was even more hungry after I had finished eating it. Needless to say, tonight I'm going to bed hungry.

Today's weight: 172.8lbs (+.4lbs from initial weight)

Day 1: Piece of Cake

The first day went much easier than anticipated. This was due largely to the fact that one of our accounts (gatorade) had a couple big meetings today, so I was able to mooch off of them.

Here's what today's meals consisted of:

For breakfast I was able to score a bagel and some oj. I drank the oj, but decided to keep the bagel in my desk drawer just in case I really needed it later.

Just as I was about ready to see what was around the office for lunch, a couple boxes of girl scout cookies that I had ordered from my cousin over the holidays arrived in the mail.

. . . I really hope they're still good in a month.

Lunch came a bit late because of a meeting, but I'm just thankful it even came at all. Nothing like a couple beef ribs, some coleslaw and cornbread to fill you up. I scored a gatorade, but again opted to not drink it in case I really needed it later. After I had finished eating, I went back and snagged seconds and put them in some tupperware to save for later. No one was the wiser.

Later in the afternoon I was able to score a slice of red velvet cake from our print island that was pretty delish.

Before I knew it, it was dinner time and the munchies were starting to kick in. Thanks to gatorade again, I was able to score a couple slices of pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. I also found some leftover fruit salad from another meeting as well. However, I decided to bring the fruit salad home just in case I get hungry there.

All in all I think it's been a pretty successful day as far as meals go. I'm starting to think that the odds are beginning to lean more in favor of me gaining weight by the end of this. But time will only tell I suppose.

Day 1

Today marks day 1 of my chiat diet experience.

I've told some friends my plans for the month of march already, not so much to be a topic of conversation; but rather, to have that accountability. From my own personal experience, it's a lot easier for me to slip if I don't have some sort of accountability in my life. And what better people to hold you accountable than your friends?

So far, I've received mixed reactions. From one end of the spectrum I hear: "This sounds like a terrible idea. Why would you do that? I'm going to sneak food to your desk." others have said, "I'll keep an eye out and let you know when I see anything." and then from the other end of the spectrum I generally hear laughter and something along the lines of "That's awesome!" regardless of anyone's thoughts or opinions, just having friends that know what I'm doing is enough motivation to help me persevere.

In regards to why would I even I subject myself to this: it's really for my own learning experience. No bet has been made, nor lost. I'm not even trying to prove any point of some sort. This is merely an exercise of self-discipline and perseverance; as well as a reminder for me to recognize and appreciate what is always so easily available in front of me. Knowing this is one thing, living and experiencing that appreciation is another.

So onto the blog, throughout the next month, I'll be documenting each meal with photos and any random thoughts I might have about it, as well as weighing myself each morning. I'm curious to find out whether or not I will have lost or gained weight by the end of the month. Because on the one hand, I will be eating significantly less, but on the other hand, I will be eating significantly worse. With that said. . .

Here I go.

Today's Weight: 172.4 lbs

The Chiat Diet Rules

A running joke when I was at Chiat was that a person could probably live solely off of the food that was constantly being catered for the various meetings throughout the agency. For the Month of March I plan to put that joke to test. But before I can do that, I have come up with the following rules for myself:

1. No purchasing food of any kind. Chiat's cafeteria and vending machines included.
2. No hand-outs from anyone unless they're legitimate leftovers.
3. Water is the only exception to the chiat diet.
4. Storing food for later is acceptable.
5. Food from Chiat trash cans is fair game.
6. Food from Chiat refrigerators is acceptable as long as it isn't stolen.
7. Food provided from any off campus shoots is acceptable (they're still technically provided by Chiat.)
8. Food from other companies within chiat's wall is acceptable (VBE, OMD.)
9. Food from Media Arts Lab is acceptable (although they aren't within Chiat's walls and no longer technically a part of Chiat, they still share with us, and we still share with them.)
10. Food provided from client dinners is acceptable.