TERRIFIC WEEKEND

The visit to Chicago by my Mom and her brother came to an end when I dropped them off at O'hare Airport at 11:30AM. My Mom wrangled an invitation for me to join them at the Wedding Brunch held in a downtown Chicago Hotel. It gave me an opportunity to briefly meet some distant relatives and enjoy a good hearty breakfast. We arrived at O'Hare Airport precisely when we needed to and miraculously there was very little traffic in either direction. I was back home by noon time. This gave me just enough time for a 10 mile urban hike before I needed to get underway for my drive to Cincinnati. There was time to squeeze in a ten mile hike because I wanted to make the time. It would have been easy (at least for an earlier version of myself) to come to the conclusion that there was no time for a ten mile hike with a five hour drive looming at the end of the day. That particular version of myself is long gone. My priorities included getting in my exercise. As the summer is winding down, I will be faced with options that include the elliptical machine and/or treadmill in the future. I am convinced that there is simply nothing better than an outdoor hike, be it a fast walk through city streets or navigating down the sides of a gorge or climbing to the top of a midwest hilltop. Outdoor exercising when possible is the best. One thing you can't do indoors - Take a Hike.

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, August 21, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Bacon - Generic - Bacon	150	0	11	11	684	0
Pineapple slices - Slices, 4 slices	120	30	0	0	20	28
Scrambled Eggs - 2 Large Eggs	70	0	6	6	70	0
steel cut oatmeal - steel cut oat meal	750	135	13	25	0	5
	1,090	165	30	42	774	33
L U N C H
Oki Sushi - Spicy Tuna Maki, 1 roll	330	33	13	17	210	1
YOGURT RAISINS	400	66	16	2	35	59
	730	99	29	19	245	60
D I N N E R
Gimme Organic - Roasted Seaweed Snacks	50	2	4	2	130	0
Tru Joy - Organic Choco-Chews	240	24	7	2	0	23
Whole Foods 365 - Whole Cashews	160	9	12	5	0	2
Whole Foods - Tamari Almonds	150	4	13	6	110	1
WHOLE FOODS - DATE PIECES	300	75	0	3	25	55
SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE	210	30	14	0	0	24
Add Food Quick Tools	1,110	144	50	18	265	105
S N A C K S
skinny pop - pop, 1 cup	80	8	5	1	40	0
	80	8	5	1	40	0
Totals	3,010	416	114	80	1,324	198
Your Daily Goal	3,926	491	131	197	2,300	147
Remaining	916	75	17	117	976	-51
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,996 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 195.2 lbs in 5 weeks.


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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	136	1,996
Daily Total / Goal	136 / 30	1,996 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1917 / 210	24,496 / 4,130

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Me and me Mum right before enjoying a downtown Chicago Sunday Brunch.

* * * * * * * * 

 A party favor from the wedding attended by my Mom was a gigantic 360 gram (a bit more than 3/4 of a pound) chocolate bar. 159 calories per serving. Allegedly twelve servings per bar. Yeah, right.  I know myself. 

I have a complex formula that I use to calculate calories for any packaged food.

1 BAR=1 SERVING

THAT WOULD BE NEARLY 2000 CALORIES

FOR THIS 'ONE BAR' OF CHOCOLATE.

My wife asked for the bar, for my child and herself. I immediately handed it over. I do not need it. I am not active enough to 'erase' 2000 calories in one chocolate bar.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bar

Product information

Guideline Daily Amount Summary

Be Treatwise. Per 30g contains

• Energy

  664 kJ
  159 kcal,8.0%of your GDA

• Fat

  9.1g,13.0%of your GDA

• Saturates

  5.6g,28.0%of your GDA

• Sugars

  17g,19.0%of your GDA

• Salt

  0.07g,1.0%of your GDA

*% reference intake of an average adult (8400 kJ/2000 kcal)

Description

Milk Chocolate

By Appointment to H.M. The Queen Cocoa and Chocolate Manufacturers Cadbury UK Ltd., Bournville.

Pack Size: 360g

• Deliciously creamy milk chocolate made with a Glass and a Half of fresh milk
• Made with Fairtrade cocoa and sugar
• Generous 360g bar - perfect for gifting
• Packed in our special easy-open, easy close wrapper
• Suitable for vegetarians

Information

Ingredients:

Milk**, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Vegetable Fats (Palm, Shea), Emulsifiers (E442, E476), Flavourings, Sugar, Cocoa: traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 70%, **The equivalent of 426ml of Fresh Liquid Milk in every 227g of Milk Chocolate, Milk Solids 20% minimum, actual 23%, Cocoa Solids 20% minimum, Contains Vegetable Fats in addition to Cocoa Butter

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ONE LAST QUESTION?  This Cadbury Chocolate Bar touts its 'EASY CLOSE WRAPPER.   
They close? 
WHO CLOSES A CHOCOLATE CANDY BAR!

* * * * * * * * * *

one more thing...
I titled today's blog TERRIFIC WEEKEND.

I just want to clarify that I am using definition '1' for 'terrific'.

ter·rif·ic      təˈrifik

adjective

1. 1.

   of great size, amount, or intensity.

   "We had a terrific vacation"

   synonyms:

   tremendous, mighty, great
2. 2.

   archaic

   causing terror.

JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCES A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

What do Jews do in Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? If family is nearby, it is a good day to get together as everyone is off from work. Of course, the movie theatres are open everywhere.  Problem is, we already saw the new Star Wars movie - What else is there to see? It is a common tradition for Jews to go to a Chinese Restaurant on Christmas Day. That option is unavailable to us as our daughter has declined a trip to Chinatown in Chicago. Looks like we won't be going sledding either.  Temperatures across the country are unseasonably high and there is hardly any snow cover anywhere. All retail stores close early on Christmas Eve so shopping is out of the question as well.  Although this brings us to our 'Christmas Miracle'.

My daughter and I often will take an evening walk to a specialty candy store on Michigan Avenue right on Chicago's Miracle Mile. Dylan's Candy Bar. This small chain of candy stores is owned by Dylan Lauren,  the daughter of internationally famous designer, Ralph Lauren.

As I review this photograph, my guess is that founder and owner of Dylan's Candy Bar, Dylan Lauren, spends more time counting  the money that the stores take in on a daily basis rather than consuming her product(s).

Among the reasons that I particularly enjoy going to Dylan's is that I can purchase some very small amounts of candy that is priced by weight. The best benefit of the trip to Dylan's is that  it requires a roundtrip walk of a minimum 3.5 miles and it is a good way to accumulate steps for my 'hungry' fitbit. I anticipated that the store would close early last evening. I checked the website and the store announced that they would close at 6:00PM. I timed my late afternoon 92 minute workout on the elliptical machine to end around 5:15PM. As soon as I returned home, I announced that I was going to go to Dylan's. My daughter is almost always ready to accompany me for this trip. I told her that in order to get there before 6:00PM we could not waste any time. We walked there at a speedy power walk speed of 5 mph, which is faster than my usual speed. Usually my daughter implores me to 'slow down' when we walk together. Last evening, my daughter was moving faster than me! We arrived at the store at 5:48PM. This was more than enough time to make our regular selections and be on our way. The only problem was that the front door was locked with a sign taped to the front announcing that due to the Christmas Eve Holiday the store closed at 5:00PM. My daughter was very upset and I admit I was not too pleased either. There were still some employees within sight and I knocked loudly, yet politely on the front glass door. An employee did come to the door and open it to find out what my 'problem' was. He explained that the store closed early for Christmas Eve and I explained that we checked the website and had just walked two miles in order to get there before closing time. After a few back-and-forths of us each repeating our cases, the young man offered to get the the manager. A young respectful woman came to the door and without too much fanfare, did let us in.  We quickly made our usual modest selections of some bulk candy and when we asked to pay - we were told it was a gift. On the way out, we were asked one more time if we had gotten everything we needed. My daughter, was very respectful of the gift and said that she did not think it was right to take more after we knew we would not be paying for it. It was precisely then that the original employee we spoke with asked us if Sara would like a 'gingerbread house.' A gingerbread house may not have been something that we would have purchased - but my daughter did have fun making the icing and decorating it. At first it looked like we were going to be locked out of Dylan's - but, we were let in, we made out selections, the store made it a gift to us and gave us a gingerbread house too! I don't want to be too dramatic about this: However, it was a 'Christmas Miracle' for our Jewish Family.

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My daughter had fun decorating this gingerbread house

My day started at the doctors office for my annual wellness visit. Everything checked out real well.  My doctor continues to be somewhat amazed as what I accomplished this year. I showed him by before/after pictures that I had posted on by blog just yesterday. Before I left, he said that I was his 'hero.' That may have been over-the-top, but I did get the impression that he might have told my story to some of his other patients over the course of the past year. Before I left, my doctor, who is about one inch taller than me, and surely even thinner than I am, hugged me. I can not recall being hugged by any medical professional ever before. The best thing he told me was that my next appointment with him should be one year from now. What a great thing to hear from one's doctor!

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, December 24, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
NO BREAKFAST....FASTING FOR BLOOD WORK AT DOCTOR'S OFFICE
L U N C H
Marianos - Spicy Curried & Kale Walnut Salad, 1 Cup	360	36	26	6	460	0
Mariano's - Asian Broccoli Kale Slaw, 1 C	200	28	10	4	520	0
MARIANO'S - HUGE SPINACH SALAD, 1 SALAD	500	0	0	0	0	0
Mariano's - Chicken Milanese (Estimate), 6 oz Chicken Breast	461	11	18	60	560	11
	1,521	75	54	70	1,540	11
D I N N E R FONDUE-SHRIMP, ROAST BEEF, BROCCOLI MUSHROOMS, BREAD, SWISS CHEESE
Shrimp - Raw, 10 medium	64	1	1	12	89	0
Wegmans - Deli Roast Beef, 2 oz (aprox.4 slices)	60	0	2	10	230	0
Broccoli - Broccoli, 1 cup	60	6	1	5	49	0
Mushrooms, white, raw, 1 cup, pieces or slices	15	2	0	2	4	1
Bread - Bread Baguette, 1/4 baguette	150	30	1	5	0	0
Emi Swiss Knight - Fondue Au Fromage Suisse - Swiss Cheese Fondue, 0.5 cup (57g)	260	4	18	16	720	0
	609	43	23	51	1,091	1
Totals	2,130	117	77	121	2,631	12
Your Daily Goal	4,507	563	150	226	2,300	169
Remaining	2,377	445	73	105	-330	157
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,577 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	29	368
Walking, 5.0 mph	19	405 <-speedy walk to Dylan's Candy Bar
Walking, 3.5 mph, brisk pace	25	236 <-slow walk back from Dylan's Candy Bar
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,478 <-(resistance level set to '20')
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	90
Daily Total / Goal	166 / 30	2,577 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	902 / 210	13,293 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2130 calories

total calories (5.25 miles, 92 minutes elliptical) 2487 calories

total net calories 357 calorie deficit

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fitbit day 113

26384 steps

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A girl and her gingerbread house... Shouldn't this be eaten once it's made? or is only for show?

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That is my daughter, Sara, peeking through the gingerbread house 'window.'

BAT MITZVAH

In Jewish tradition, once a boy/girl is 13 years old they are Bar/Bat Mitzvah. They are considered an adult within the Jewish Community and are responsible for following  Jewish Laws and customs.  Today, Saturday, my daughter will be Bat Mitzvah.

I think, that I will get my priorities straight and forego my 10 mile walk today.  Yesterday's walk didn't quite agree with me and I was limping a bit on and off all day with a tight muscle... A rest is apparently in order.   I will be busy today from 9AM straight through to perhaps Midnight.  There simply is not time for a ten mile walk - and this was not a day to get up a 5:00AM to get that done.  

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, December 4, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quakers - Rice Cake Salted, 14 Cake (9g)	490	98	0	14	210	0
John McCann Steel Cut - Oat Meal, 1/2 cup	300	54	0	8	0	0
Toast and Butter - Toast and Butter, 1 slice	100	0	11	0	0	0
	890	152	11	22	210	0
L U N C H
Sushi - Salmon Avocado Roll, 1 roll	304	42	9	13	0	0
	304	42	9	13	0	0
D I N N E R
Seedlander Crispbreads, 7 piece	700	84	28	28	910	14
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	940	120	34	38	2,510	20
S N A C K S
YOGURT PRETZELS, (approx 24 pcs)	570	84	0	6	540	57
Chocolate Chip Cookies, 3 Medium Cookie	330	19	18	7	45	10
	900	103	18	13	585	67
Totals	3,034	417	72	86	3,305	87
Your Daily Goal	4,035	504	134	202	2,300	151
Remaining	1,001	86	62	116	-1,005	63
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,105 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, December 4, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 5.0 mph	124	2,106
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-1
Daily Total / Goal	125 / 30	2,105 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	644 / 210	11,924 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3034 calories

total calories burned (10 mile walk) 2106 calories

total net calories 928 calories

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fitbit day 93

27258 steps

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minimum ten mile per day walking streak reached 26 days.   And at 26 days, this streak will end... I have a full day ahead of me today.  My daughter will be Bat Mitzvah during Shabbat morning services.  In the afternoon I will be in attendance at her party for 40+ friends.  And following the party for her friends, the adults with gather for a more serene dinner.  And just as the adult party starts to taper off - my Chabad friends have been invited for some L'chaims!   This should be an interesting day.  I do not have the opportunity (or desire) to do my 10 mile walk today... but it might still be interesting to see how many steps I accumulate.  I expect the day to be somewhat active.

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

214.5 lbs

I weigh 214.5 lbs.

I lost 0.3 lb this week

I have lost 94.5 lbs in 346 days. Today begins Day 347.

I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.

I weigh 214.5 lbs (346 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 30.6% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 28.69

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 346 days ago (Class III obesity)

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