ACCIDENTAL MOUNTAIN HIKE

My first obligation in Salt Lake City yesterday was at noon for a series of meetings. I decided that I should make use of the free morning by taking an urban hike around downtown Salt Lake City. My hike began by walking one mile east of my hotel and then I started walking north. It didn't take too long for me to see that I was walking uphill. (My recent workouts on the treadmill at various angles of elevation gave me the confidence to continue)  I decided to walk north (and up) as far and as long as I could. I quickly found myself in the foothills of the mountains that surround Salt Lake City. At some point, there was no more neighborhood - but there was an entrance to series of trails that led to the small mountains (big hills?) just north of Salt Lake City. I simply could not believe where I was since the hike was supposed to be a completely urban hike in downtown Salt Lake. I took a couple of 'selfies' of myself at the top of a hill which an elevation app on my phone told me was 5,506 feet. (My hotel where my hike began was at an elevation of 4,263 feet.  My roundtrip ten mile hike did have me climb 1243 feet. This was one of my best day hikes ever.

Just me at an elevation of 5506 feet during my 'accidental' mountain hike

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panoramic view from 5506 feet just north of downtown Salt Lake City

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I met someone walking their pug who was kind enough to take a photo for me.

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I always expect to find some enjoyment when taking a 10 mile hike - yesterday was the best.

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by this time I was back in the city enjoying some of the artwork attached to the street lights.

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, May 19, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Scrambled Eggs - Eggs Hotel	235	5	15	15	390	0
Hatfield - Canadian Brand Ham	175	5	3	25	1,050	5
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal - Original	300	57	6	12	225	0
	710	67	24	52	1,665	5
L U N C H
Banana - Banana, 2 medium banana	248	60	0	2	2	38
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
Planters - Salted Cashews, 1.5 oz	240	13	19	8	140	3
Deli Express - Smoked Ham & Cheese Sandwich on Homestyle White Bread, 1 sandwich	250	28	7	19	1,250	5
	833	126	26	30	1,394	65
D I N N E R
Great Value - Fettuccini Noodles	400	82	2	14	0	4
Lobster Tails	400	10	5	114	601	0
	800	92	7	128	601	4
S N A C K S
Oreos - Minis, 10 cookies	130	21	6	1	140	11
Cliff Bar - Blueberry Crisp, 1 Bars (68g)	250	44	5	10	180	22
	380	65	11	11	320	33
Totals	2,723	350	68	220	3,980	107
Your Daily Goal	3,808	476	127	191	2,300	142
Remaining	1,085	125	59	-29	-1,679	35
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,878 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	161	1,598
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	280
Daily Total / Goal	162 / 30	1,878 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	466 / 210	5,490 / 4,130

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The MapMyWalk app calculated that I took 19064 steps during this 10 mile hike.  There were two consecutive weeks before my hernia surgery when I was trying to rest myself to health, that I only walked about 20,000 steps during an entire week.

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This day hike yesterday had me climb 1243 feet. I had expected my hike to be completely flat walking around downtown Salt Lake City. Just one more reason that it pays to be 'in shape' and ready to face an unexpected challenge. I do not want to be overly dramatic, it's not like I climbed Mt Everest - but still a climb of 1243 feet is not something that I do every - day before lunch.

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DAVID BARTON GYM

I have mentioned previously that I intend to visit a bunch of other gyms located in Chicago, with an emphasis on gyms that have other locations around the country that I can use. I already do belong to the YMCA and I admit the more that I take advantage of my membership at the YMCA,  the more I appreciate what it has to offer.  Andy yet, I keep on wondering what I am missing at other places.

Yesterday, I made arrangements to check out the DAVID BARTON GYM.  This gym has 11 locations in the United States.  I was very surprised to learn that membership in one gym at one location provides no reciprocal privileges in other cities.  Each of the eleven gyms is a business unto itself - apparently the only thing in common with other David Barton Gyms is that they are connected by name and on the same website.

David Barton Gym - perhaps this place is simply too hip for me.

As I approached the front desk, the ambience of the gym seemed more like a trendy nite club than a gym.  (Not that I know what a trendy nite club looks like these days - or even in the old days or that matter)   I guess I can see that there was some modern and ultra modern furniture and architectural design elements.  Once one actually entered the gym - It looked like a gym. The lighting keeps the place very dark (another element making it seem like a nite club) even though I was there in the middle of the day.  Mirrors on opposite sides of the gym made the gym appear to be huge beyond all imagination.

The Chicago David Barton Gym that I visited look more like a nite club than a gym - I presume that that is the point.

It turns out that this gym was in a huge office building occupied largely by the corporate headquarters of Groupon in Chicago.  This gym caters mostly to corporate clients and does not seem to be seeking neighborhood memberships too aggressively.   Although I had made the appointment, I will say that there was no 'hard sell' put upon me.  In fact, if I had not inquired about the price of membership - I don't think my 'tour guide' was making any effort to sign me up at all.  Maybe I don't look cool enough for this club - who knows?

I was able to enjoy my visit by working out for two hours on a LifeCycle Elliptical machine.  I was also trying my new Bluetooth headphones as my first pair stopped working properly...  The workout was fine.  The locker room had some amenities that I have not seen before in a gym: deoderant, mouthwash, shaver, shaving cream - but not enough to justify an $80/month membership to a stand alone gym with no reciprocal travel privileges.

The David Barton Gym was certainly interesting.  They treated me extremely well during my visit - but this club is not really an improvement over the YMCA for me.   I am still going to periodically visit other places at times permits.

Sure the philosophy is a bit risqué - but nothing about it I disagree with... Fit people look better in clothing.
(and presumably fit people look better naked as well!)

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 Sunday MENU

breakfast  three poached eggs, oatmeal, center cut bacon                          590 calories 
lunch        MARIANO'S SALAD BAR, figs, ginger, cacao chocolate       927 calories     
dinner       spinach salad, salmon burger, potato pancake,  asparagus         300 calories                                                             
SNACK   wasabi peas, cherry vanilla granola                                          1470 calories

total calories consumed 3288 calories

calories burned at DAVID BARTON GYM
maximum time the elliptical machine could be set was 60 minutes.
I did two consecutive sets.  65 minutes each includes 5 minute cooldown.

65 minutes LifeFitness elliptical   965 CALORIES
65 minutes LifeFitness elliptical   940 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED 1905 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories 1383 calories

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first 65 minute workout at David Barton Gym

second 65 minute workout at David Barton Gym

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT LINCOLN

All Americans should be thankful that President Abraham Lincoln successfully preserved the Union (although at great cost) .  Today, I am (sort of) thanking President Abraham Lincoln (five dollar bill version of him) as only $5.00 will allow me to utilize a local fitness club in Clare, Michigan (an extremely low cost)

Yesterday I left Chicago and travelled to Clare, Michigan.  Clare, Michigan is centrally located in northern Michigan and it is not exactly a large metropolis.   The nearest YMCA is a approximately 40 miles distant.  Clare, Michigan has no national fitness chains within miles.  What the town does have is exactly one privately owned fitness center with a very friendly policy for out-of-town guests or anyone that simply wants to use the facility.  For just $5.00 one can have access to CLARE FAMILY FITNESS.    Although this is a small town, the fitness center is open 24 hours per day!   So as soon as I 'publish' this post to the blog - I will travel the half mile from my hotel and get in a good workout to start my day.

CLARE FAMILY FITNESS, where my day will start on Tuesday

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 Monday MENU

breakfast   THREE APPLES                                                              240 calories
lunch         SALAD BAR, granola trail mix                                     1085 calories
dinner       SUBWAY double chicken spinach salad, w/croutons       280 calories
SNACK   BULK FOODS: granola, dried fruit, chocolate                  829 calories

total calories consumed 2434 calories

calories burned

HOME STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL 45 minutes, level 20                     1072 calories

CALORIES BURNED 1072 CALORIES

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Monday net calories 1362 calories

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This following passage lifted from the Clare Family Fitness website is from the about me page of Clare Family Fitness.... It is a brief history of the business told by the owner, Kim Denton.    One has to admire a small business success story run by a typical American.  It is people like this that make America great (y'know when America was great before the Leftists did everything they could to destroy it - they have not completely succeeded yet - but they will never give up.)   Therefore either can we!

I am so proud and excited to be the new owner of Clare Family Fitness.  I thank Randy Hale for the opportunity - he has created an environment where I have personally thrived with his killer X-Fit class for 3 years and now on a professional level.  Stepping into the gym as the owner is completely exhilarating.  I am anxious to bring new programs and fitness opportunities to the Clare area.

My fitness journey begins with Jane Fonda…for real!!!  In high school I worked out with a neighbor lady in tights and a body suit…YIKES.  I ran cross country in high school, but wasn’t very good thanks to shin splints.  Then in college I started swimming and eventually competed in a few sprint triathlons.  I really loved step aerobics and water aerobics and taught a few classes.  Truthfully, I was never an athlete, but always wanted to be fit and healthy.  Then came marriage and babies and I put my fitness quest on hold.  

About 10 years ago, I needed to burn some “baby fat” and worked out in two health clubs in Mt. Pleasant daily and eventually got kicked out of both…because of their rules about children.   (That’s not going to happen at Clare Family Fitness.)  At that point, I took my fitness pursuit into my own home and did workouts with neighbors.  Then, we realized that we wanted to get the kids involved and brought Girls on the Run to Clare.  This was when I realized my passion to help young girls realize their unique beauty, make healthy choices, exude confidence, and reach their fullest potential.  

Ok, so I do have a competitive side too…I have loved coaching Clare Middle School Cross Country with Kyle McKown for the last 5 years and intend to continue with “my girls”.   Personally, I competed with a team of “MissFits” in Clare’s Toughest Contest and we earned second place to a guys’ team…but we had much better form thanks to Randy’s coaching.  I am a sports booster, a board member for Girls On The Run, and the ultimate fan for my kids’ teams.

Speaking of my family, they are also invested in my new endeavor as a gym owner.  My husband of almost 25 years, Jeff Denton, is thrilled to have a membership at CFF!   It would have been easier for him to work out a deal while Randy was the owner because now he has to lay rubber flooring and handle my constant flow of ideas for improvement.  Gabe is a sophomore at Clare High School and luckily got his dad’s athletic mind, body, and ability.  His brute strength is also an asset to the gym…thanks Gabe!  Leah is in 8th grade and enjoys the gym for running club and the cozy couch for naps after school.  My eldest, Abigail, is attending Calvin College in Grand Rapids and would like me to install a climbing wall…not sure about that…how about the water tower!  My parents are also roped into the new business…my mom works at The Studio (old Curves is now Clare Family Fitness) in the early morning and my dad runs errands and they both check on me to make sure I’m taking care of myself! 

I graduated from Mason High School in 1986.  In 1989, I earned a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Business Administration from Alma College.  We have lived in Clare for almost 17 years, but this is Jeff’s home town, he graduated in 1983. As a stay-at-home-mom for 2 decades, I was restless for a professional endeavor.  

Clare Family Fitness is where I will pursue a life-long dream of business ownership that started as a little girl in Lansing selling lemonade by the road at my card table station!

At Clare Family Fitness, my goal is to provide a fitness opportunity for all ages, shapes, and situations (even moms with kids in tow).  I have surrounded myself with an amazing team to meet your needs.  We are here to help you reach your fitness goals…so join our family at Clare Family Fitness!

Be healthy and be happy!

KIM DENTON