It has been hard to find A2 milk.  What is A2 milk you ask.  well according to a2milk.com.

​All regular cows’ milk brands today contain a combination of two main types of beta-casein protein, namely A1 and A2. a2 Milk™ is special because it is the only exception to this.

What makes a2 Milk™ different to regular cows’ milk is the absence of the A1 protein. It is the A1 protein that many people seek to avoid by switching from regular cows’ milk to a2 Milk™.
The a2 Milk Company™ uses comprehensive herd selection to choose cows which don’t produce the A1 protein.

AND

a2 Milk™ does not contain A1 beta-casein protein which has been shown to release the potent opioid BCM-7 on digestion. Opioids in the gut may affect gut motility and absorption processes which may affect digestive wellbeing.

And also some websites say BCM-7 is responsable thick mucus in the throat and asthma like symptons.  And both A1 and A2 have BCM-7 but A2 binds to BCM-7 better and does not let it be absorbed into the body.  I say if it works its worth it.  It may a gimmick or no way to know where the testimonials on their website are coming from.  But if it works I saw why not.  Nobody can tell me its too expensive or a fad if it makes me feel better.  Its not placebo either.  If I don't feel sick or like wheezing (yes I have had asthma since I was about 6 years old) then I say it all good.

And goat milk and some other alternatives are mostly made from A2 also which is why it doesn't affect my asthma.  So maybe its not a scam.

I have added all photos under the last link in the menu labeled Food Photos.  For this article I will add just what is relevant as I go along.

​Anyhow so I went to a chiropractor on June 10th 2016 for minor aches and pains and message and he said I was gluten sensitive.  Not the answer I was expecting.  He said if I remove all gluten from my diet it will solve everything.  All the aches and pains will go away.  Not sure if it will or not but it is worth a try.  He said check with a blood test.  But test are not very accurate and are expensive.  In few years I read more will come soon including one at the drug store for 10 bucks where its just a prick of the finger.  But for now its not worth it.  

But still excluding gluten completely for 30 days will tell if there is some difference.  Even if I am not allergic if I feel better that is all that matters.  I am not celiac.  I have not officially tested but I don't have major issues like throwing up and all that.  My problem is too much appetite overeating.  And not enough fruits and vegees which I have to start adding.

And that is where the bloating, gas, and constipation comes from.  Not from celiac or gluten.  But still worth seeing what happens if I stop eating gluten for 30 days.

So I went on the 12th of June 2016 to a place called Pie Five and tried the gluten free crust.  It was good and was one of the better ones I could actually stomach.  And its close by so I just go there.  Here is a picture of the gluten free I ate then.

​I also went to MOD Pizza once.  It is not as close by but still not too far.  I tried the gluten free crsut but it was horrible and I could not eat it.  Other places have a gluten free also but this was not one of the better ones.  I took this picture a few days ago when I went back there.  I wanted to make sure it was as I remembered it.  It was cooked fine and not burnt or raw.  But I just did not like the taste.  Pie Five was much better.

I also went to Chipotle on June 25th 2016.  It is 97% gluten free according to what I have read on the internet.  The ingredients are all gluten free mostly.  I am not sure if all is so don't quote me.  But gluten is mostly in wheat, breads, and cereals.  So beans, cheese, and chicken (unmarinated) (some seasonings may be ok) are all gluten free.  And avacodos are gluten free also.  At least according to this article.

www.californiaavocado.com/blog/avocado-gluten-free-diet

aThe only problem is the wheat totrillas have gluten.  But the hard shells are gluten free because they are all made out of corn.  And they have soft tortillas that are made out of corn also.  Corn is naturally gluten free.  I double checked when I went there today and the kids working there not sure.  But one guy confirmed it was corn and not anything else.  It was good.  I took a pic to give you an idea.  And also according to their website they have confirmed this.

chipotle.com/allergens

Read the second to last paragraph about "GLUTEN INTOLERANCE & CELIAC DISEASE".

Latest blood test from January 20th 2016

Test Post

I have asthma.  Its under control thanks to Advair twice daily and the occasional Ventolin.  But once in a while the acute attack happens.  And its not pretty.  

Its ok at home.  I love my barrington ventures air tech nebulizer.  But its 2amps. 115v x 2amps is 230w.  The problem is my 2004 toyota highlander limited only has a 15amp fuuse.  15amps x 12volts is 180w.  It says when all cigarette lighter ports are in use 120 watts maximun.  Not sure why.  But even 180 is not enough.  And most cars are 120w maximum.  My dads BMW X3 2004 is 30amps fuse and my moms BMW 525i also 2004 is 20 amp fuse.  But most cars are 10 or 15 amps.  Some auto power inverters hook up to the car battery but that is draining the battery since the car is off and it cant be while running or driving.  So hooking into a cigrette lighter is the best.

But most machines are high power.  Some are less but if you need it in a pinch its a must.  Unless certain meds are requiring a lot of PSI like TOBI or something.  But for me it doesn't matter.

So I got the Omron NE-C801 off ebay for 33 dollars and free shipping from "wholesalepointinc".  The first is a pic from thier ebay page.  The other 2 are mine.
​

It is great fro travel because it is low watts.  Its 12 v x 1 amp.  So 12 w total.  Even the ac adapter is 12v.  But the bottom of the unit says 0.8amps and the ac adapter says 1apm.  Not sure why but it still very low watts.  And it is good enough for my needs.

But I needed a spare for another car so and I did not want to repeat.  So I started looking for other models but don't want to buy them all just to write this article.  So I am borrowing photos from ebay.  Not to make any money.  Just to inform others who are looking for travel models.  There are battery operated models but they are not as powerful.  Its good to know you can use full sized ones also.

The above picture is a Pari Vios 310B0000.  Not sure why it says 1.5 amps.  Because 1.5 x 12 is 180 watts not 80 watts like it says in the picture.  But maybe 1.5 is max amps and 80 is the normal operating watts.  But if it does use 80 watts normally when running that is good and well below the 120 watts most cars allowed.

The Probasics Rite-Neb by PMI is also low watts.  It is only 1.1 apms.  1.1 x 115 is 126.5 and 1.1 x 120 is 132.  Slightly over and might work.  Or if you have the schumacher 140 watter inverter and at least 20 amp car it would be ok.  This is the one I got for my moms car.

​​http://www.lowes.com/pd_595185-41462-XI14___?productId=50217987&pl=1&Ntt=schumacher

According to one nice guy at toyotanation forums 

"I think you'll be fine, the 120watt label I feel like is precautionary to prevent overloading. I've used a 400 watt inverter on my HL with no problems. And actually, at idle, the voltage hovers around 14v so a 15A fuse would power up to 210watts. Its just 12V when the engine is off."

If that is true then 120 is not the limit.  I was just using a  lower watt inverter.  So that mean a 1.7 amp machine will do that opens a lots of possibilities.  

The INVACARE IR 1705 is also 1.1 amps so should work in any car with at least an 20 amp fuses and mabye in a 120 watt car.  Unless the 120 watt is strict and will blow a fuse with anything over, even 1 watt.

A quick simple list of links to places and how much fat and calories is in their food.  I know it is not much now but I will keep adding as I go along.

1.  http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/nutritionfacts.pdf

2.  http://www.jasonsdeli.com/nutrition

3.  http://www.goroma.net/content/pdf/goroma_nutritional.pdf

4.  http://www.culvers.com/menu-and-nutrition/nutrition-grid/

Eating out is very expensive these days.  It used to be under 10 dollars a guy at my local grocery store told me for he and his girl friend when he was in high school.  

No I'm not rich either but now adays it seems nothing less than 10 for even 1 person is possible.  Unless you eat off the dollar menu at MCdonalds.  No thank you.  
I mean I enjoy a greasy meal as much as the next guy once in a while.  But that is not healthy.  I don't know if all the reports online of the bad ingredients and what have you they claim to use are true.  

But at the very least nothing like their double and triple cheese burgers I used to enjoy as a kid are fat free or void of cholesterol.  Now that would be one hell of a burger.  Fatfree burgers will be popular in my opinion but then again probably tasteless.

But eating out none the less is very expensive regardless of health.  I mean you can have a 3 dollar meal like a bagel with cream cheese and a glass of water at einstein bagel but it won't be very filling.  So any half way decent meal ends up costing a lot.  
But I have done a reasonable amount of eating out as you can see in my diet link.  So I will break it down for you.  By price since we are talking about price strictly today.  And I will try to include some photos if possible.  

I am sorry if some of the photos do not blow up big enough.  Just right click on the photos and save them to your desktop.  Then open them with windows default photo viewer or what ever and blow them up.  And of course throw them away when you are done.

I will start with one of my favorite places chipotle.

1.  Chipotle

http://www.wcaj.com/admin-2/living-in-new-york-city-is-expensive

As noted in my other article that is linked right above this paragraph it does vary by state but in illinois it is cheap.  And it is definitely cheaper than NYC.  Not under 10 dollars.  But if you minus the soda and have a glass of water and no chips or other sides it is under 10 dollars.

2.  Blaze Pizza

A new place opened in Old Orchard shopping Center recently called Blaze Pizza.  I like it because I get to pick my toppings.  And also it is 11 inches and paper thin crust.  I love deep dish as much as the next guy but it is too heavy.  And not many places sell individual size.  They also have a gluten free crust if you request.  And most places charge a lot and you end up wasting half if you don't eat so much.  Or you have to eat it the next day and it never tastes as good.  This is just enough for 1 person.  And it is always under 10 dollars even with a drink unless you get more than 1 topping.  Just cheese is 5 dollars and 1 topping is 1 dollar extra.  And unlimited toppings is 2 dollars extra so 3 dollars total.  So it would be slightly over 10 as without is just 4 cents shy of 9 dollars for 1 topping with a soda.  And without tax it was even 8 dollars and 20 cents for 1 topping and a soda. So it would be 10 dollars and 20 cents plus tax for unlimited toppings and 1 soda.  So not bad even with unlimited toppings and a drink.

3.  Jason's Deli

I love this place.  Its a little heavy.  Especially since they give free ice cream afterwards.  But its not too bad.  Each scoop of vanilla ice cream is only 210 calories and the chocolate is only 10 calories more.

However the rest is very heavy.  Look how much cheese they put on my pasta.  But the JD nuggets in the center are only 350 calories and 12 grams of fat.  That is 8 pieces by the way.

http://www.wcaj.com/admin-2/nutritional-facts-links

Number 1 on the list linked right above according to Mcdonalds even 4 pieces of nuggets are 12 grams of  fat and 8 would be 24.  So double the fat.  So 12 grams is not bad for 8 pieces.   

So it varies but its not all unhealthy.  And the fruit is only 50 calories so not bad for 400 calories total.  The dip right in front of the red number 35 sign is an 150 calories extra and is very sweet.  But you don't have to eat it.  So its still a very filling 400 calories.  Just skip the desert.

4.  Einstein Brothers Bagels

I love Einstein Bagels.  I don't have a photo of the turkey sandwich mention on the right receipt but it is the same as the ham except that it turkey with everything including lettuce, tomato, etc.  But anyhow its always reasonably priced.  Regular bagels are only 1 dollar or 3 with cream cheese.  But that is super boring.   The sandwiches are not so bad however.  The Deli ham and swiss with chips and soda is only 10 dollars and 22 cents.  And the turkey is the same price.  And is under 10 if you have just the sandwich as you can see.  Take it to go and bring your own chips and water or eat at home.  Either way still not too bad even if you don't have time to go home.  So lunch does not have to cost you an arm and a leg.  And it is oretty filling.  Even their bagel sandwiches are not too bad.  I like the egg ones.  And they always let you substitute egg white for the normal yellow eggs.

5.  Buffalo Wild Wings

I know that picture of the naked tenders looks not so appealing.  But that is probably just well cooked.  I don't remember since it was a while back.  But it is never bad here.  A little well done some times but it is always good.  And it is a little high but even with a pitty scoop of ice cream after loosing a game its always under 20.  But it is on the unhealthy side.  The naked tenders are only 12 grams of fat and the black bean burger is only 500 calories but just by them selves.  But the fries add a lot of extra fat.  And according to one website I read the naked tenders are heavy in sodium.

6.  Taco Bell

I was helping my father remodel some property and this was close by.  I could of gone elsewhere for lunch but by the time you sit down and order it takes too long.  So I grabbed a quick bite from here.  I had not been here in ages so I went to try it out.  I had not realized how heavy it was.  I don't remember how heavy it is but its a lot.  But if you are on a budget it not bad.  Once in a while I guess its ok though.  It was only 4 dollars an 30 cents for a burrito and a drink.

7.  Las Fuentes

I love this place.  It used to be a champs but now is a mexican restaurant.  I found the pictures of the last time I went there.  So I have added those.  Its not under 10 but the chicken, rice, and beans I had and 1 soda was only 20 dollars.  Plus tax and tip of course but still not bad for a sitdown (not fast food restaurant).

8.  Noodles and company

I love noodles and company.  Some dishes are heavy.  But plain spaghetti with marinara is not too bad and they only charged 6 dollars and 20 cents  including tax.  So with a drink and no other sides it is still under 10.  Anywhere including here can be more.  But one order of full spaghetti is more than enough even without sides.  And the flatbread was very good but I am not a fan of veggies.  

9. Culvers

I love 

This is my family.  Not all of it.  But some.  This was when we went to chicago to my cousins house to celebrate her parents 40th anniversary. 

Living in New York City is expensive.  I went to visit my sister on the 29th of January and I noticed something odd.

If you click the photo it will blow up.  As you can see.  I had the exact same burrito and fountain soda.  I know too much soda is not good for you but once in  awhile its ok.

Anyhow on the left is NYC Manhattan upper east side and and on the right is Glenview IL where the target is close to me.

As you can see my burrito consisted of chicken and guacamole.  Also brown rice, black beans, and a little cheese.  But those don't show up on the receipt.

But I made sure to order the exact thing just to be sure.  Also to gauge how filling it is.  Some locations skimp on the ingredients according to yelp.

But the receipt clearly show a difference in price even for the stuff listed.  I thought all chains were the same.  I will goto other locations just to make sure.  I will try the one nest to the gym just to make sure.

I thought tax was the only issue and the rest was the same but I was wrong.  But at least state to state it varies as you can see.

So much difference.  It all adds up as my mom always says.

As you can see the chicken burrito was 8 dollars and 27 cents versus 6 dollars and 50 cents.  Big difference.  Almost 2 dollars more in New York City.  Same exact burrito.  And they only have one size so it has to be the same.

Also the guacamole is 2 dollars and 30 cents in New York City versus 1 dollar and 95 cents where I live.  And the soda is 1 dollar and 84 cents in New York city.  My Chipotle is 4 cents cheaper.  Not a big deal but the rest is quite a difference.

And finally tax is 1 dollar and 10 cents in New York City versus 90 cents where I live.

So not much but the others make up for it.  The total was 13 dollars and 50 cents in New York City for a chicken burrito with guacamole.  I understand guacamole is extra 2 or 3 bucks.  However even the chicken base was more for the same ingredients, just chicken, cheese, brown rice, and black beans.

And where I live the same exact buritto with chicken and guacamole was 11 dollars and 15 cents.  So that is a difference of 2 dollars and 35 cents.  If you go 5 times that is 11 dollars and 75 cents and is enough for a burrito and drink where I live.  So as you can see it all adds up.

Also the rest of NYC eating out was pretty expensive too.

And my mom pointed out that the food was only expensive because I was in the city.  And things are more expensive in the city.  That is true but NYC is still expensive.  I hate city driving.  Too much traffic so I stick to the suburbs.  But I called 3 places in downtown Chicago.  One on Michigan ave and Two I forget where exactly.  Two said it was 7 dollars and 68 cents for chicken tacos.  So looks like it is standard everywhere by state or city at the very least.  And 2 dollars for a small drink and 50 cents more for a large one location said.  And I forgot to ask about the guacamole but one location said 2 dollars and 10 cents.  And and Michigan ave said 2 dollars and 5 cents.  And then I decided to call more locations so I called State street and they said 1 dollar and 95 cents before tax.  
 
But even 2 dollars and 10 cents at the most plus a 2 dollar drink is 4 dollars and 10 cents.  And plus 7 dollars and 68 cents for the chicken is 11 dollars and 78 cents total.  And that is still 1 dollar and 72 cents cheaper compared to NYC's 13 dollars and 50 cents.  So New York City is expensive.  Its not just the city.  Yes the city is more but here in Chicago it is still cheaper.

OK so I gained a few pounds.  I've never been more that 200 pounds before.  And I've never worn size 36 pants before.  A few years ago I finally started 36's.  And the holidays are coming.  This is the time I gain the most weight.  So I had to do something.  And pills are never the answer.  There is no substitute for a proper diet.  Fiber keeps you full and binds to all the junk.  And protein is harder for the body to digest so it speeds up metabolism. 

But it doesn’t always work or for very long for that matter.  It works once or twice and the stops working.

I have always have trouble pin pointing exactly what works and how.  Why I loose weight some days and gain others.  So I've made a list of everything I've been eating in hopes to get a better understanding of what is going on.

I've included photos of some of the things I've eaten and proof of weight with actual photos.

Anyhow we are going to tackle this in 3 parts to make it easier for me to edit.  I will add 1 link per year per section to make it easier to scroll through and lookup.

1 section with the list of all the stuff I ate.  1 with some photos of what I ate.  And 1 with the proof of the weight.  Here are the links.