WALK ON

I guess in recent weeks I have adopted the song, Walk On, by the band, BOSTON, as my personal anthem. I am amazed at what I have accomplished in the past two weeks. Two consecutive weeks walking 100 miles. Unlike my earlier marathon walks from hours spent on a treadmill seeing and experiencing nothing other than than the four walls of the fitness room, these days I am seeing my hometown, my state, my country. I am discovering city, county, state and national parks that I never knew existed. I am discovering waterfalls and rock formations in the unlikeliest of places. I have walked into deep gorges and walked up ski slopes. I am discovering that walking is a viable mode of travel. I am discovering that walking is one of the best workouts one can do, as the human body was well designed for this function. 

Walk On ends with these words.  

Walk On
There's no turning back
Walk On
Get your train on the track

For me, there is no turning back. I have long left the couch sitting, TV-watching, potato chip eating, fat slob blob that I was. I have got my train on the track. Walk on.

The weather in Chicago on Friday was highly un-cooperatvive for any kind of lengthy urban hike. I did manage to walk nine miles from three separate outings just running some errands. I (mostly) dodged the rain.  I carefully kept my calories well below 3000, as there was no vigorous hike to balance a higher consumption.  It was a good day, in a string of good days.

It is 'fun' to remind myself that I was 309 lbs on December 24, 2014. No matter how far I let my weight slip backwards in recent months, I was always able to say to myself, "At least I am still down X pounds from where I started." That kind of rationalization, is useful for a short time, but it is precisely what leads to a person gaining back every pound lost. I know this, I was that guy.  Around the time that my high schooler was starting kindergarten, I went from 300 pounds to 220 pounds.  As I gained back the weight, I could always say, "At least I am still down X pounds from where I started." This self-soothing statement loses its punch once you have regained 70 of the 80 pounds lost. "At least I am still down 10 pounds from where I started."

About three months ago, I had once again begun to veer down this path of failure. During the time that I dealt with my hernia, I had reached 241.9 lbs on May 7.  And now you know what I was saying to myself as my clothes were becoming impossible to squeeze into: "At least I am still down 67 pounds from where I started."  

Renewed effort has paid off. This morning, I weighed myself, as I have done each Saturday since December 24, 2014.

221.1 lbs

I lost another 2.6 lbs this week.
In the past four weeks I have lost 7.9 lbs.
In the past eight weeks I have lost 10.8 lbs.
In the past twelve weeks I have lost 17.9 lbs.
In the past thirteen weeks, since I ballooned up to 241.9 lbs, I have lost 20.8 lbs.

I did get my train back on the track.
There's no turning back.
Walk on.

Earlier this year, I was derailed.

.

These days, I am back on track

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, August 12, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Kroger - Grits, 2 cup	200	42	2	4	680	2
Maltomeal - Honey Nut Scooters, 3 cup	360	72	5	9	630	27
	560	114	7	13	1,310	29
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Okami - Surimi Roll Sushi	320	52	10	6	640	12
Dark Chocolate Chip Chew Granola	130	27	2	2	80	11
	750	144	12	13	2,220	63
D I N N E R
Shrimp - Fried (Medium), 6 Shrimps	150	7	8	12	295	0
Codfish	100	0	1	22	74	0
Cream Corn, 0.5 cup	100	22	1	2	360	8
Fried Chicken Breast	320	9	16	33	1,100	0
	670	38	26	69	1,829	8
S N A C K S
UNSWEETENED BANANA CHIPS	200	19	12	2	6	1
YOGURT PRETZELS	310	46	0	3	293	31
	510	65	12	5	299	32
Totals	2,490	361	57	100	5,658	132
Your Daily Goal	3,598	450	120	180	2,300	135
Remaining	1,108	89	63	80	-3,358	3
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,668 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 201.7 lbs in 5 weeks.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, August 12, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking 4 miles	53	780
Walking 3 miles	45	520
Walking 2 miles	28	368
Daily Total / Goal	126 / 30	1,668 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1034 / 210	10,507 / 4,130

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1986 WORLD SERIES

The Republican National Convention begins tonight in Cleveland, Ohio... This reminds us that one of the most important decisions facing all Americans will be need to be made on Tuesday, November 8 in less than four months. There are many Americans like me, who know precisely who they will be voting for, although they are experiencing no joy supporting their candidate. There are many Republicans (like me) who disdain Donald Trump, but considering the alternative will nevertheless vote for him. There are many Democrats (unlike me) who disdain Hillary Clinton (also like me), but considering the alternative will nevertheless vote for her.  This election reminds me of the 1986 World Series.

Although the analogy of the personal conundrum that I face is seemingly ridiculous, it crystallizes my thoughts in this matter completely. For as long as I can remember, I have been a New York Yankees Fan. Another personal true fact, is that for as long as I can remember, I have 'hated' the New York Mets. Growing up in New York, most 'real' fans were either Yankee or Met fans. Those that claimed to like both teams were never to be taken seriously. True fans (Remember the word fan comes from the word fanatic.) identified with one team or the other. Another true fact, is that 'all' Yankee fans, by definition, 'hate' the Boston Red Sox. Yankee fans never 'hated' the Red Sox because there was something evil or immoral about the team, we 'hated' them because they were such fierce rivals, and often blocked the Yankees from reigning atop the American League Eastern Division. In fact, in 1986, the Red Sox bested the Yankees over the course of the year and it was the Red Sox not the Yankees who represented the American League in the 1986 World Series.  The opponent of the 'hated' Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series were the 'hated' New York Mets.

My personal conundrum.  Who to root for?  I could have been like those 'Never Trump' people and claimed that I was 'too pure' to root for the Boston Red Sox. Had I rooted against the Red Sox, I would have ipso facto been rooting for the Mets! My solution was to do what any responsible, clear thinking New York Yankee fan would have done - I rooted for the Boston Red Sox. (My Dad had long ago taught me that as a New York Yankee fan we should always root for the American League team in the World Series.) So I did. This is analogous to a Republican supporting the nominee of the party - even if the candidate was not the voter's first choice. 

It is for this same reason that I will be rooting (voting) for Donald Trump in the November election for President of the United States of America. I do not particularly admire this man. I do not particularly agree with much of his message, or with much of his methods, or much with his overbearing childish personality - but he does represent my 'team'. (The Republicans.) If I were to sit out this election, I would be unwittingly supporting (voting) for Hillary Clinton. This is simply not realistic for me. If I chose to 'sit out' the election and remain 'true' and 'pure' to my conservative beliefs... then what? I could feel good about myself? Better to be a mature voter and vote for the 'best' available choice. This advise applies to disappointed Republican voters and oddly enough disappointed Democrat supporters. Your candidate did not progress to the nomination? Now it is time to make a choice based the choices that are available - not imaginary choices in the land of lollipops.

Back in 1986, that year that I grudgingly supported (rooted for) the Boston Red Sox - they came up short. The World Series was won by the New York Mets. I sincerely hope that the man that I am tepidly supporting in the 2016 Presidential election does better than the Red Sox did back in 1986.

It was not 'magical' for me to witness a New York Mets victory in the 1986 World Series. It will be even less 'magical' for me to witness the election of Hillary Clinton as President of the United States. 

ENOUGH POLITICS... 
TIME TO DISCUSS MY DAY YESTERDAY....

* * * * * * * * * * 

Does this ever happen to you?  You find yourself barely able to stay awake watching a movie that ends before midnight, but somehow you manage to keep yourself up until you catch your 'second wind".  That happened to me yesterday.  My 'second wind' made me feel wide awake at 12:30AM early Sunday morning. What to do? I made a visit to my elliptical machine.

This workout began at 12:30AM Sunday morning and ended 97 minutes later.

Before noon on SundayI completed another 99 minute workout, allegedly burning 1306 calories

After two Sunday sessions on the elliptical machine, I was just getting started. My daughter joined me for a ten mile trek through Chicago.  I think the essence of the walk was that we traveled 5 miles to go to a Panera Bread for lunch even though there is a Panera Bread within 3/4 mile of our home. My daughter gets it - It's not always about the destination - it's about the length of the trip and the number of 'steps' taken.

Before the sun set on this hot Chicago day, my family went out for a bicycle ride.  We visited the the BLOOMINGDALE TRAIL that I had just 'discovered' last weekend. We rode the the end of the trail and another mile or so beyond the end. 

At this point in our bicycle journey we had pedaled just six miles... We would pedal another 8 miles before arriving home.

* * * * * * * * * 

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, July 17, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Jewel Osco Happy heart Mix - Trail Mix	300	34	17	6	2	25
Maltomeal - Honey Nut Scooters	300	60	4	8	525	23
	600	94	21	14	527	48
L U N C H
Panera - Thai Garden Chicken Wonton	290	37	6	23	1,320	6
Panera - Roasted Turkey & Avocado Blt	260	24	11	16	470	1
Panera Bread - French Baguette, 1 piece	150	30	1	5	370	1
Panera - Classic Grilled Cheese, Half	145	19	5	7	360	2
	845	110	23	51	2,520	10
D I N N E R
Fresh - Pineapples	150	39	0	2	4	29
Homemade - Lasagna	400	26	13	20	526	11
Home Made - Ham Wrapped Asparagus	150	3	3	25	0	0
	700	68	16	47	530	40
S N A C K S
Fountain soda root beer float pretzels	300	95	30	10	700	60
Sunmaid - Yogurt Raisins	360	60	14	3	45	54
	660	155	44	13	745	114
Totals	2,805	427	104	125	4,322	212
Your Daily Goal	7,114	889	237	356	2,300	266
Remaining	4,309	462	133	231	-2,022	54
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 5,184 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 173.9 lbs in 5 weeks.
.

Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	97	1,002
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	99	1,306
Walking	163	1,576
Bicycling, road cycle	115	1,045
Daily Total / Goal	474 / 30	4,929 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1963 / 210	18,974 / 4,130

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ip·so fac·to

ˌipsō ˈfaktō/

adverb

1. by that very fact or act.

   "the enemy of one's enemy may be ipso facto a friend"

   
   

   * * * * * * * *

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1986 WORLD SERIES RESULTS
NL New York Mets (4) beat AL Boston Red Sox (3)

Game	Date	Score	Location	Time	Attendance
1	Oct 18	Boston Red Sox – 1, New York Mets – 0	Shea	2:59	55,076
2	Oct 19	Boston Red Sox – 9, New York Mets – 3	Shea	3:36	55,063
3	Oct 21	New York Mets – 7, Boston Red Sox – 1	Fenway	2:58	33,595
4	Oct 22	New York Mets – 6, Boston Red Sox – 2	Fenway	3:22	33,920
5	Oct 23	New York Mets – 2, Boston Red Sox – 4	Fenway	3:09	34,010
6	Oct 25	Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Mets – 6 (10)	Shea	4:02	55,078
7	Oct 27	Boston Red Sox – 5, New York Mets – 8	Shea	3:11	55,032

ONE WEIGH STREET

ONE WAY STREET is a song by Aerosmith, written by Steven Tyler.  ONE WAY STREET dates back to their 1973 self-titled debut album,  Aerosmith.  

Weight changes do not take place on one way streets although sometimes it can seem that way especially when one it tacking on the pounds.  Unlike one way streets in the real world, one can always make a U-Turn to change the direction of weight changes.  All it takes is desire and a plan.  Navigating a course of losing weight is also does not take place a one way street.  One has to be careful that a U-Turn is NOT made, as there are many forces are always trying to steer one away from the chosen direction.  

If you are headed in the wrong direction,  you can always make a U-TURN.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

218.9 lbs

I weigh 218.9 lbs.
I gained 2.9 lbs this week.

I lost 90.1 lbs in 171 days. Today begins Day 172.
I have lost 14 inches from my waist. 
I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.
I weigh 218.9 lbs. (171 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)
I have lost 29.2% of my weight since Dec 24.
Considering how different my calorie count has been - eating much larger portions of still mostly nutritious foods - I am satisfied.  I must consider cutting back just a bit to continue to lose weight.
I have a BMI, body mass index of 29.28 (far away from obesity!)
I had a 42.0 BMI on 12.24.14 just 171 days ago (Class III obesity)
I wonder about achieving a 'normal weight' - the charts say 186.8 lbs - I'm not too sure about that...
I know this, regardless of what the BMI charts show - Marc Jacobs is no longer a fat man!
I have two words to describe how I feel right now - get focused!

...I know how to begin this week... 
32 minutes ELLIPTICAL, but before that... I will take the elevator to the ground floor and climb up 25 flights of stairs to the fitness room...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 FRIDAY MENU
breakfast    two eggs, turkey bacon, oatmeal w/raisin                           345 calories
lunch         spinach salad, turkey burger, three apples                           574 calories
dinner        Campbells tortilla soup, cucumber salad, almonds,
                   2 Kind Almond/Coconut bars, apple                                1246 calories
snack         POPPED RICE CAKES POPCORN FLAVOR MINIS      420 calories
total calories 2585 calories

calories burned
STAIR CLIMBING (ground floor to 25th floor)  65 calories
elliptical 32 minutes                                                 587 calories
STAIR DESCENDING (25th floor to ground floor) 15 calories
TOTAL CALORIES BURNED  667 CALORIES

Friday net calories  calories 1918 calories

Aerosmith, recently

Aerosmith, 1973

Aerosmith, cover art, DRAW THE LINE by one of my favorite artists, HIRSHBERG

Albert 'Al' Hirschfeld (June 21, 1903 - January 20, 2003) was an American caricaturist best known for his black and white portraits of celebrities and Broadway stars.