Saturday, September 30, 2017

YOM KIPPUR

YOM KIPPUR is the Jewish Day of Atonement. It is common to see Jews in synagogue who might have been missing in action all year. I admit, I am one of these Jews. Today, Saturday, I will go to synagogue. I did start fasting at sundown on Friday (when the Holiday began) and will not eat or drink again until later today at sundown.  Some people have specific rituals for their last meal, I do not. This year, I chose Chinese Food, as I have done in the past. The ritual that I most look forward to - is the meal that breaks the fast. I know what I will be having for dinner today. Two bagels with cream cheese and lox. The other thing that I did to prepare for my fast day was take an urban hike on Friday. This urban hike was completed when I had logged 17 miles. 




Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits 400 88 6 8 1,240 0
Vita Coco - Pure Coconut Water 300 73 0 0 500 73

700 161 6 8 1,740 73
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad 300 65 0 5 1,500 40
Costco - Hot Dog, no bun 370 5 31 18 0 0

670 70 31 23 1,500 40
D I N N E R
Panda Express - Mixed Vegetable 80 16 1 4 540 5
Panda Express - Mushroom Chicken 170 11 14 12 840 4
Panda Express - Broccoli Beef 150 13 7 9 520 7
Panda Express - Honey Walnut Shrimp    360 35 23 13 440 9

760 75 45 38 2,340 25


Totals 2,130 306 82 69 5,580 138
Your Daily Goal 4,516 564 150 226 2,300 169
Remaining 2,386 258 68 157 -3,280 31
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 2,586 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 213.7 lbs in 5 weeks.


SATURDAY WEIGH/IN.

Not tremendous progress, but progress neverthelesss             249.7 lbs
Only down an additonal half pound this week.
Better down than up!


.

Friday, September 29, 2017

TOMORROW NEVER DIES

Thursday my 1:00PM appointment was about two hours northwest of Chicago (in traffic), which gave me the opportunity to take an urban hike of six miles right after an early breakfast. I still cannot figure myself out. How did I fail to exercise at all for so many weeks this past summer? And yet, since the beginning of September, I have not missed even one day? How did I manage to go so far backwards in my weight management before I finally reversed course?  Have you ever heard of someone losing 80 pounds and then putting them all back on, and sometimes more? It's a very stupid thing to do. I did  it around 10 years ago. I had vowed to myself that I would never let that happen again. Nevertheless, I was recently heading for the same stupidity, but this time, I did manage to stop myself. This serves as one more reminder, that the best day to make a life change is today. And if you let today, slip by, then tomorrow. Just don't let too many tomorrows pile up. Tomorrow never dies. There is always a tomorrow.

Tomorrow never dies, there is always another tomorrow

Just fooling around with the 'black & white' filtering with my photo application.







Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Eggs - Poached, 4 300 2 20 26 599 2
Quaker - Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal 480 96 8 12 540 30

780 98 28 38 1,139 32
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
Johnsonville Polish Kielbasa Sausage 340 4 30 14 1,140 2
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder 240 36 6 10 1,600 6

580 40 36 24 2,740 8
S N A C K S
Fresh Thyme - Praline Pecans  151 16 9 1 64 14

151 16 9 1 64 14
Totals 1,911 212 85 76 4,723 58
Your Daily Goal 2,946 368 98 148 2,300 110
Remaining 1,035 156 13 72 -2,423 52
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 1,016 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.2 lbs in 5 weeks     





Thursday, September 28, 2017

SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." This quotation has been attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt.  Although I did carry my big (walking) stick during my 10 mile hike at Indiana Dunes yesterday, today I want to speak loudly.


Our President, Donald Trump has been saying lots about the ungrateful, unpatriotic, unthinking NFL Football Players who have been disrespecting our flag and our country. Does anyone really know what this protest is about? There is no one, including me, who denies that these players have the 'right' to 'take a knee' or sit or even fail to appear on the field during the National Anthem. Good, so we all agree to this. The thing is, the NFL is a private organization and they have lots of rules that impinge on the players 'rights.'  For example, let's say that a player scores a touchdown and wants to do a little jig, waltz or cha cha in the End Zone... Now, I don't know too much about football, but I do know that this is not allowed.  Apparently his right to free speech is curtailed. Say for example, a player wanted to wear pink socks to honor someone in his family that was fighting breast cancer... Again, I repeat, I don't know too much about football, but I do know that this is not allowed. Apparently his right to free speech is curtailed. So this is what I want to see to the football players, the owners, the sportswriters and every other dope who thinks this 'taking a knee' is a good idea. Shut up. Respect our flag, Respect our country, and respect yourselves. Because if you do not,  the 11% decline  in television viewership will only accelerate, while more and more Americans will simply find another diversion. Dennis Prager, astute radio host, and author, has been suggesting lately that badminton is an exciting game. Now, if I can only find my shuttlecock...

* * * * * * * * * *

My day yesterday started at 4:00AM when my alarm went off. I needed to be in Warsaw, Indiana for a 9:00AM appointment about 2.5 hours from Chicago. Unfortunately, Indiana is in the Eastern Time Zone, so I needed to be well on my way by 5:00AM to insure that I would be on time.  On my return trip home, I stopped at Indiana Dunes and took an actual hike of 10 miles. I do enjoy my urban hikes. But I much prefer a hike at the Dunes which is evenly divided between walking through a forested area and walking right on the beach where Lake Michigan meets the beach. Plus, I like breaking out my recently acquired walking stick, which comes in real handy when one is trying to climb a mountain of sand. 







.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 4 400 88 6 8 1,240 0

400 88 6 8 1,240 0
L U N C H
Jimmy John's - Bootlegger, 1 sandwich 684 67 24 42 1,660 0
Fresh Thyme Coconut Water w/pulp 140 32 0 0 0 0

824 99 24 42 1,660 0
D I N N E R
Trader Joe's - Mahi Mahi Burgers, 1 patty 110 1 5 15 320 0
Read - 3 Bean Salad 300 65 0 5 1,500 40
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder 240 36 6 10 1,600 6

650 102 11 30 3,420 46
S N A C K S
Fruitfull - Coconut Ice Cream, 3 cup 135 14 8 2 35 13

135 14 8 2 35 13
   
Totals 2,009 303 49 82 6,355 59
Your Daily Goal 3,330 416 111 167 2,300 125
Remaining 1,321 113 62 85 -4,055 66
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 1,400 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 224.4 lbs in 5 weeks     



Wednesday, September 27, 2017

WICKER WICKER WICKER

Yesterday during my hike I stopped by the statue of WICKER which is in a park called, WICKER PARK, in a Chicago community also called WICKER PARK.

Charles Gustavus Wicker

Charles Wicker was a businessman, politician, and developer.  His statue is donned in a Lincoln-like stovepipe hat and bulky overcoat holding a straw broom, a reference to sweeping out a dusty polling place and illustrating the idea of "If there is something to be done, then do it."  SOUNDS MUCH LIKE THE NIKE MOTTO....JUST DO IT.


This is a closeup of my path through the park called, Wicker Park

As you can see, Wicker Park is in Wicker Park, Chicago


Right before dinner I scooted out for an 8.5 mile urban hike


Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Kirkland Signature - Bacon, 4 slices 160 0 12 12 700 0
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple, 1 packet 160 32 2 4 260 12
Eggs - Poached, 4 300 2 20 26 599 2

620 34 34 42 1,559 14
L U N C H
Campbell's Chunky Manhattan Clam Chowder 240 36 6 10 1,600 6
Goya - Agua De Coco 90 23 1 0 102 17
Hot Dog w/Bun 300 22 18 10 820 3

630 81 25 20 2,522 26
D I N N E R
Curry Chicken w/Rice 500 146 14 29 1,088 5

500 146 14 29 1,088 5
S N A C K S
Chewy Oat & Honey Cranola Bar, 3 300 57 6 6 165 21

300 57 6 6 165 21
   
Totals 2,050 318 79 97 5,334 66
Your Daily Goal 3,092 386 103 155 2,300 116
Remaining 1,042 68 24 58 -3,034 50
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 1,162 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.2 lbs in 5 weeks 




Tuesday, September 26, 2017

NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME

from wikipedia...
"Night Time Is the Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by American musician Nappy Brown in 1957. It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired many subsequent versions, including hits by Ray CharlesRufus and Carla, and James Brown.
Yesterday, I had to leave home at 7:00AM to make a 10:00AM in Pecatonica, Illinois which is about 100 miles away. Driving in the early morning traffic, my first ten miles of that trip took about one hour. My visit with my customer concluded around 4:30PM after I had sold her buttons, and trims and fabrics from three different lines that I carry. My trip home which included a brief stop at a store to pick up some beverages outside of Cook Country to avoid the 1 cent per ounce 'sweet tax' had me arrive home a bit after 7:30PM. I had spent more than twelve hours of my waking day barely moving a muscle. If I wanted to get outdoors and take an urban hike, I would have to take inspiration from the song popularized by Ray Charles, "Night Time is the Right Time." So I did. Before eating my dinner, I scooted outside and squeezed in a 5.5 mile urban hike under the cover of darkness. I wore my headlamp to give me some extra illumination as I walked along the lakefront. Is this the same guy who went weeks this past summer without taking something as long as a three mile hike? Apparently it is. What's changed? I don't know. A welcome change, it is.



Your Food Diary For:
BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Eggs - Poached, 4 300 2 20 26 600 2
Kirkland Signature Bacon, 4 slices 160 0 12 12 700 0

460 2 32 38 1,300 2
L U N C H
Subway - Sweet Onion Teryiaki 730 118 9 52 1,800 36
Pure Coconut Water 100 26 0 0 150 24

830 144 9 52 1,950 60
D I N N E R
Curry Chicken w/Rice 500 146 14 29 1,088 5

500 146 14 29 1,088 5
S N A C K S
Protein Plus Protein Bar - MET-Rx      400 37 13 41 123 1

400 37 13 41 123 1
   
Totals 2,190 329 68 160 4,461 68
Your Daily Goal 2,815 352 94 141 2,300 105
Remaining 625 23 26 -19 -2,161 37
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 885 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 231.3 lbs in 5 weeks







Monday, September 25, 2017

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have walked as much as I did last week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have accumulated as many steps as I did.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have lost 3 pounds in one week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have been so confident.



Last week, I walked....92 miles

...17 miles on Saturday
...12 miles on Friday
...16 miles on Thursday
...16 miles on Wednesday
... 7 miles on Tuesday
...11 miles on Monday
...13 miles on Sunday

Last week, my total steps as recorded by my fitbit 229,176
The last time, I stepped so much was the week that ended November 26, 2016 when I hit 231,085.

I do not aspire to walk this much all the time. There were weeks during the past summer where my urban hiking was zero. Somehow, I had lost my desire to traipse through Chicago neighborhoods seeking some level of fitness. I am glad that I have recaptured the desire in recent weeks. Walking is good exercise, it contributes very little when it comes to weight loss, but it sure doesn't hurt.

Compared to some of my more recent jaunts, my hike on Sunday was a low key affair. It was just 7.5 miles. This particular urban hike was with my 15 year old daughter, and I always enjoy when she joins me.






Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 4 package 400 88 6 8 1,240 0

400 88 6 8 1,240 0
L U N C H
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad 385 46 21 7 1,190 25
365 Organic - Water Crackers, 4 crackers 70 12 2 1 50 0
Here - Beetroot dip, 2 oz 70 12 2 4 230 0
Vita Coco - 100% Pure Coconut Water 240 60 0 0 148 60

765 130 25 12 1,618 85
D I N N E R
Hot Dog with Bun, 2 600 45 37 21 1,640 6

600 45 37 21 1,640 6
S N A C K S
Whole Foods Wasabi Rice Crackers 250 52 3 4 177 0

250 52 3 4 177 0
Totals 2,015 315 71 45 4,675 91
Your Daily Goal 3,042 380 101 153 2,300 114
Remaining 1,027 65 30 108 -2,375 23
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 1,112 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.3 lbs in 5 weeks 
.