BACK TO CHICAGO

On Saturday I completed my weeklong visit to see my Mom and said farewell to the 'moderate' New York Winter Weather.  This was the view of the crystal clear skies as my plane headed into the airport after crossing Lake Michigan.

What the photo does not convey is the ambient temperature. When my plane touched down in Chicago (approximately 3.5 hours later than the initial arrival time) the outside temperature was 1°F. The forecast for the rest of the week degraded from there.  I mostly enjoyed my experience flying JetBlue for the first time. I enjoyed the full can of soft drink they served, the wide selection of snacks they offered (in comparison to Southwest Airlines) and I enjoyed the complimentary wifi. What I did not enjoy so much, was that after the plane landed in Chicago, we sat on the tarmac for approximately one hour. However, with the free wifi still fired up, all I did was watch netflix, so it really wasn't so bad. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, December 30, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Bagel, Lox and Cream Cheese	400	49	12	27	1,556	9
Trader Joe's Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal	320	64	4	8	480	26
	720	113	16	35	2,036	35
L U N C H
Trader Joe's Soft 10 Grain Bread	180	30	5	8	320	2
Trader Joe's Sliced Cheese	220	0	18	12	360	0
	400	30	23	20	680	2
D I N N E R
Bagel, Lox and Cream Cheese	400	49	12	27	1,556	9
	400	49	12	27	1,556	9
S N A C K S
Brownies	300	47	12	4	231	27
JetBlue Terra Chips - Sweets and Blues	140	17	7	2	115	2
JetBlue Abby's - Chocolate chip cookies	120	21	4	2	0	13
Homemade Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus	100	10	3	13	0	4
	660	95	26	21	346	46
Totals	2,180	287	77	103	4,618	92
Your Daily Goal	2,185	273	73	110	2,300	82
Remaining	5	-14	-4	7	-2,318	-10
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 255 extra calories from exercise today

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I thought my weight would have dropped more than the half pound that it did drop during my New York trip. But it is what it is. Sunday weight 239.9 lbs.

HEMPSTEAD LAKE STATE PARK

For the third consecutive day during my trip to visit my Mom in Lynbrook, I set out early to take a suburban hike. On Friday I decided to trek out to Hempstead Lake State Park. I have no recall of going to this park ever before. It is only about three miles away from the home I grew up in. I went to the park, and exited into Rockville Centre before returning home. This was an 8 mile hike. This completed my hiking schedule for my Lynbrook visit. I did walk only three days, Wednesday 17 miles, Thursday 6 miles and Friday 8 miles. I was satisfied with my level of exercise during the week. The warmest temperature that I experienced on any of these three hikes was 20°F.  The weather was cooperative with me, the temperatures in Chicago this week had been much colder. However the temperatures in Chicago when I return today are soon to be dipping even further into minus territory.  I don't foresee any long hikes in that kind of environment - but I am sure I will get out at least for a short excursion. I guess I will find out this week.

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, December 29, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Trader Joe's Maple and Brown Oatmeal	320	64	4	8	480	26
Bagel, Lox and Cream Cheese	400	49	12	27	1,556	9
Trader Joe's Spiced Cider	120	30	0	0	10	24
	840	143	16	35	2,046	59
L U N C H
Cabbage Soup	200	20	0	5	157	11
	200	20	0	5	157	11
D I N N E R
Lasagna	800	86	28	46	1,340	10
Chicken Parmigian	350	46	11	18	594	14
Rataouille	200	44	3	8	216	44
	1,350	176	42	72	2,150	68
S N A C K S
Red Delicious Apple	100	26	0	1	2	20
	100	26	0	1	2	20
Totals	2,490	365	58	113	4,355	158
Your Daily Goal	3,373	421	112	169	2,300	126
Remaining	883	56	54	56	-2,055	-32
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,443 extra calories from exercise today

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Normally on Saturday I weigh myself. I will wait until tomorrow when I am home on my own scale. Since I don't trust that all scales are calibrated the same, the only way to know if one has gained or lost any weight is to use the same scale.

VALLEY STREAM SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

I am still in Lynbrook visiting my Mom. After Wednesday's 'epic' hike to Long Beach it was time to stay a bit closer to home for Thursday's hike. The balmy weather of Wednesday had dissipated and dropped another six degrees to 14°F when I set out. I decided to start my hike by walking to my old high school which I graduated from a bit more than 42 years ago - Valley Stream South. I was curious just how long that walk was. Back in the old days, my home was the furthest away from the high school of any home in the district. I am sure that it still the case. Anyway, I logged my hike and 'discovered' that it was merely 2.2 miles door-to-door.

This was the route I took when I walked (or rode my bike) to my high school. I was convinced that I lived 2.5 miles from my school, it turned out to be a little bit less.

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I thought that this street sign in Millbrook (formerly Green Acres) had a snappy name.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, December 28, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Trader Joe's Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal	320	64	4	8	480	26
Bagel, Lox and Cream Cheese	400	49	12	27	1,556	9
	720	113	16	35	2,036	35
L U N C H
Trader Joe's Soft 10 Grain Bread	180	30	5	8	320	2
Trader Joe's Sliced Cheddar Cheese	220	0	18	12	360	0
Shrimp	100	0	2	21	468	0
	500	30	25	41	1,148	2
D I N N E R
Chicken Parmigian	350	46	11	18	594	14
Rataouille	200	44	3	8	216	44
Garden Salad	100	6	0	4	400	4
Spaghetti With Meatballs	400	105	3	18	0	0
	1,050	201	17	48	1,210	62
S N A C K S
Cookies, Brownies	300	47	12	4	231	27
	300	47	12	4	231	27
Totals	2,570	391	70	128	4,625	126
Your Daily Goal	3,123	390	104	157	2,300	117
Remaining	553	-1	34	29	-2,325	-9
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,193 extra calories from exercise today

LONG BEACH

In the spirit of Homer Simpson, it has been my 'lifelong dream' for the past two years to walk to Long Beach from my Mom's house in Lynbrook where I grew up. My Mom still lives in the house that I grew up in and I got it into my head that it would be a interesting to walk to the beach sometime during a visit. During my last visit to Lynbrook, a family crisis interfered with my plans.  When my Mom shattered her ankle in three places during my last visit, my enthusiasm for taking such a walk and the opportunity to do so disappeared. Fast forward, fourteen months, and my Mom is back on her feet and while the ankle is not 100%, it still qualifies as a wonderful miracle that she can walk again, and while my Mom humorously says the ankle is not painful, but gives her discomfort. Me? I consider pain and discomfort to be synonyms - but I digress.

I woke up early on Wednesday morning in the same bed that I used to wake up in when I was going to high school nearly, but not quite 50 years ago.  I made myself two bowls of instant oatmeal and set out for my suburban hike. I bundled up quite well, and checked the temperature. The temperature when I set out was 20°F. I was able to easily convince myself that it was not so cold, because back at my home in Chicago at the very same moment, it was -1°F.

The trek to the beach, the the Atlantic Ocean was just 6.5 miles and it took just over an hour and a half. Had I just turned around and returned the way I came, I would have taken a 13 mile trek. I did not do that. I continued west along the boardwalk which was recently re-built after 'Super Storm Sandy' five years ago to the very end, and then I continued on the main road to the Atlantic Beach Bridge. I don't think that I crossed this bridge even a dozen times in my entire life growing up. In fact, I wasn't sure that I could cross it as a pedestrian until I googled it during my hike and confirmed that it did have a pedestrian sidewalk. Using my MapMyWalk App, I saw that the way back to Lynbrook was very uncomplicated. I made a right turn shortly after crossing this bridge and walked a few miles on Broadway right back to my neighborhood. I made a short detour to walk past the elementary school that I started attending as a kindergartner likely in 1962.

My hike was 17 miles. I came home, had some lunch with my Mom and then I had to go back outside to do my chores. My Mom had asked me to clear some leaves in her front yard and yesterday seemed like a good day to do that.

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Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Trader Joe's - Maple and Brown Instant Oatmeal	320	64	4	8	480	26
	320	64	4	8	480	26
L U N C H
Oven Broiled Chicken	200	0	13	20	146	0
	200	0	13	20	146	0
D I N N E R
Garden Salad	100	6	0	4	400	4
Chicken Parmesan and Spaghetti	600	99	21	79	858	0
French Baguette	300	60	2	10	740	2
Rataouille	200	44	3	8	216	44
	1,200	209	26	101	2,214	50
S N A C K S
Cookies, Brownie	300	47	12	4	231	27
	300	47	12	4	231	27
Totals	2,020	320	55	133	3,071	103
Your Daily Goal	4,560	570	152	229	2,300	171
Remaining	2,540	250	97	96	-771	68
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,630 extra calories from exercise today

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This was just the beginning of my hike, when I arrived at the boardwalk for my view of the Atlantic Ocean.

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I am facing east, but the camera is facing west while standing on the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

I am facing west, but the camera is facing east while standing on the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

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BAREBURGER

Spent the day with my Mom in Lynbrook, Long Island. I probably could have carved out some time to take some kind of walk, but I didn't. The plan is to do that today, Wednesday.  For lunch, I went with my Mom and a friend of hers to a Bareburger restaurant. I had never heard of this organic restaurant chain before - but they can be found in New York, California, Japan, Germany and few other places. I had a good healthy, apparently organic, hamburger for lunch.

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Trader Joe's Maple Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal	320	64	4	8	480	26
	320	64	4	8	480	26
L U N C H
Bareburger - Sweet Potato Fries	300	31	20	1	281	12
Bareburger - The Standard	800	47	43	59	1,209	11
	1,100	78	63	60	1,490	23
D I N N E R
Oven Broiled Chicken	200	0	13	20	146	0
Sweet Potato	150	34	0	3	60	10
Rataouille	100	22	1	4	108	22
Garden Salad	100	6	0	4	400	4
	550	62	14	31	714	36
Totals	1,970	204	81	99	2,684	85
Your Daily Goal	1,987	248	66	100	2,300	74
Remaining	17	44	-15	1	-384	-11
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 57 extra calories from exercise today

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LYNBROOK

After more than a year, I have returned to the town where I grew up to visit my Mom. I traveled on Christmas Day. I had imagined that my airplane would have been half-empty, it was completely full. Still there was very little traffic in the ride to the O'hare Airport in Chicago nor the ride from JFK on Long Island. I flew JetBlue for the first time and that was a good experience. In the past ten years I think I have exclusively used Southwest Airlines. While I am visiting Long Island, I will try to take an interesting suburban hike, although I did not do so yesterday.

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, December 25, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Dunkin' Donuts Boston Kreme Donut	600	75	31	6	716	31
	600	75	31	6	716	31
L U N C H
Bagel With Cream Cheese	400	58	12	13	780	4
	400	58	12	13	780	4
D I N N E R
Beef - Brisket	200	0	15	15	131	0
Rataouille	100	22	1	4	108	22
Potato pancakes	200	21	11	5	571	1
	500	43	27	24	810	23
S N A C K S
Red Delicious Apple	100	26	0	1	2	20
Green Grapes	100	25	0	1	3	24
	200	51	0	2	5	44
Totals	1,700	227	70	45	2,311	102
Your Daily Goal	2,083	260	69	105	2,300	78
Remaining	383	33	-1	60	-11	-24
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 153 extra calories from exercise today

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