THIS IS IT

Well, this may not be IT.
But it is me, standing in front of a wall mural advertising the new Stephen King flick, IT.
I just downloaded iOS 11 last night, and Apple has upgraded the efficiency of the iphone camera.
Perhaps it is my imagination, but I do think that colors captured by this photograph are more vivid.
Whatever. It is what it is. Obviously.

As I set out for my urban hike right around 3:00PM, it can be said that yesterday's twelve mile jaunt was the first  of the new fall season. Ironically, it felt more like one of the hottest days of the summer.

Since the universe tends to run like 'clockwork' it is easy to make certain predictions. It is easy to predict when the seasons change, and it is easy to predict phases of the moon, and for that matter, it is easy to predict solar eclipses...years, decades or even centuries into the future. As predicted, Summer gave way to Autumn yesterday afternoon in Chicago at 3:02PM. Apparently someone forgot to tell the weather forecasters, because they correctly predicted that the temperatures would approach 90°F in the late afternoon. Still seemed like summer to me.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 22, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Scrambled Eggs	325	3	22	28	317	2
Nova Lox Haven - Smoked Salmon	100	0	6	12	650	0
Kraft  Ham and American Cheese	340	37	16	11	620	17
	765	40	44	51	1,587	19
L U N C H
Jimmy John's - Bootlegger Unwich	320	3	22	28	1,120	0
	320	3	22	28	1,120	0
D I N N E R
Bagel With Cream Cheese	400	58	12	13	780	4
	400	58	12	13	780	4
S N A C K S
Chewy Oat & Honey Cranola Bar	400	76	8	8	220	28
	400	76	8	8	220	28
Totals	1,885	177	86	100	3,707	51
Your Daily Goal	3,649	456	121	183	2,300	136
Remaining	1,764	279	35	83	-1,407	85
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,719 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 222.8 lbs in 5 weeks     

SATURDAY...TIME TO WEIGH IN

This morning I weighed 250.2 lbs. 
I lost an additional 3.1 lbs this past week.

On August 26, just one month ago my weight has crested at 263.3 lbs.
I WAS depressed.
I was NOT walking.
I was NOT eating well.
I was NOT blogging.

Fast forward one month.
I am NOT depressed.
I AM walking.
I AM eating well (OK, technically not well, but certainly better)
I AM blogging.

THIS IS IT.
It appears to me that I have recaptured the will to succeed that had evaded me for way too long.

SPRING

Today, March 20, 2017 is the first day of spring. (for us earthlings in the northern hemisphere)  Although it is true that every day is a good day to make changes in one's life, some days are seemingly just perfect. The first day of spring appears to be one such day.  I have a bunch of changes to make in my culinary habits. Today, like everyday, is a good day to start. 

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, March 19, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
L U N C H
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese	425	0	21	28	650	2
Johnsonville 170 - Polish Kielbasa Sausage	170	2	15	7	570	1
Trader Joes - Hash Brown Patty, 1 patty	130	14	8	1	250	0
	725	16	44	36	1,470	3
D I N N E R
Kirkland Signature Pizza	760	83	31	35	1,956	6
	760	83	31	35	1,956	6
Totals	1,985	204	80	81	5,126	14
Your Daily Goal	2,796	349	93	140	2,300	104
Remaining	811	145	13	59	-2,826	90
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	71	798
Daily Total / Goal	71 / 30	798 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	313 / 210	4,052 / 4,130

CHANGING SEASONS

One thing interesting about living in North America is experiencing the changing seasons. Definitionally there are four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. One of the most amusing articles of clothing that I once saw for sale in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was a shirt that said: The 4 Seasons of the UP: Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter, and Next Winter.  Here in Chicago where I live, we are said to have only two seasons: Winter and Construction. Personally, I have concluded that my life revolves around these four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Netflix. As the colder weather sweeps in, I have noticed that I have and will continue to spend much more time indoors with my workouts on an elliptical machine rather than walking or hiking inside.

Yesterday, I did actually squeeze in a four mile urban hike before my late morning appointment. However, I have come to recognize that I will be indoors more and more as the mercury drops. The 10-Days Forecast in Chicago shows no day forecasted to have high temperatures that will rise above freezing, 32°F. I think that there is going to be a lot of Netflix in my immediate future. If you know of something that I should be watching, please let me know.

The 10-Day forecast for Chicago shows that we will never actually get above freezing for the foreseeable (forecastable) future.

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Creamy Wheat - Enriched Farina	600	125	0	20	425	5
Kellogg's - Raisin Bran Crunch	400	95	2	8	421	40
	1,000	220	2	28	846	45
L U N C H
Ponzu Chicken	400	1	16	60	832	1
Mashed Yams	200	37	4	3	229	2
Sweet Butternut Squash	200	32	7	0	12	10
	800	70	27	63	1,073	13
D I N N E R
Hard Shell Taco	850	60	50	40	1,550	5
	850	60	50	40	1,550	5
S N A C K S
DARK CHOCOLATE GINGER	600	124	15	0	150	109
	600	124	15	0	150	109
Totals	3,250	474	94	131	3,619	172
Your Daily Goal	4,042	505	134	203	2,300	151
Remaining	792	31	40	72	-1,319	-21
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,112 extra calories from exercise today

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
4 mile urban hike	51	775
Elliptical Trainer	99	1,010
Elliptical Trainer	99	825
Daily Total / Goal	249 / 30	2,610 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	348 / 210	3,519 / 4,130

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FIRST DAY OF SPRING ONE MONTH EARLY

The actual first day of spring will be March 20. Yesterday in Chicago we were treated to 'coming attractions.'  Apparently those 36 mph winds of Friday blew away the last vestiges of the last polar vortex and brought Chicago some warmer weather from the south. The cloudless sky was deep blue, the temperatures were approaching 60 degrees and it seemed that everyone in the city was out and about. I was out for three hours enjoying what became a 15 mile walk throughout the city. The sidewalks were quite crowded with people enjoying the day. The unseasonably mild spring day was apparently only a one day phenomenon as today, Sunday, the temperatures are dipping into the high 30's. It has been a long time since I took one of my 10+ mile jaunts through the city - it felt great to be outdoors again. I had become quite used to my elliptical machine workouts. And although a 2 hour elliptical machine workout offers a great opportunity to catch up on netflix videos - nothing beats being out and about in a beautiful city.

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 This photo was taken in front of my favorite retail store in Chicago and shows off my recent haircut.

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, February 20, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 5 packet (28 g)	500	110	0	10	1,550	0
Roundy's - Honey Nut Tasteeos, 2 1/4 cup	330	66	5	6	420	27
	830	176	5	16	1,970	27
L U N C H
Whole Foods - Banana Chips, 0.25 cup	150	17	10	1	0	10
WHOLE FOODS. 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA, 110 g (3/4 cup)	480	80	14	10	120	30
	630	97	24	11	120	40
D I N N E R
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC BABY SPINACH, 85 g (approx 3 oz, two cups)	20	0	0	2	65	0
365 - Hearts of Palm: Salad Cut, 1 cup	50	10	0	4	580	0
Louis Kemp - Crab Delights Leg Style, 3 legs (85g)	70	11	0	6	430	1
Eggs - Hard Boiled - Large, 1 egg	78	1	5	6	62	1
	218	22	5	18	1,137	2
S N A C K S
WHOLE FOODS 7700 - ORGANIC DATE PIECES w/OAT FLOWER, 60 g (2 TBSP)	180	45	0	2	15	33
	180	45	0	2	15	33
Totals	1,858	340	34	47	3,242	102
Your Daily Goal	5,051	631	168	253	2,300	189
Remaining	3,193	291	134	206	-942	87
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,121 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 5.0 mph	183	3,238
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-117
Daily Total / Goal	184 / 30	3,121 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	839 / 210	13,445 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 1858 calories

total calories burned (fifteen mile walk) 3238 calories

total net 1380 calorie defecit

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fitbit day 171

26061 steps  

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This is the 'panoramic' view taken with my phone of the Chicago skyline. Taken from the Adler Planetarium waterfront

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NATIONAL FITNESS CHAINS

I think it might be time to add a national fitness club membership to augment my YMCA membership.   I would probably only settle for a club that offered 24 hour access.  I might be interested in any value-added perks that might be offered.  Yesterday I stopped at two different clubs to inquire about their rates.  The rates at one club were just $20 per month.   It does not really make sense for me to join a club in Michigan.   I do believe that once I return home to Chicago I will see if there are any options that might make sense for me.   As ubiquitous as the YMCA is, they are not everywhere.   There will be quite a few options to explore.  That alone, might be fun.

Although CURVES is not an option for me, as it is for women only.
I am remembering that I have female readers of this blog as well!

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 Tuesday MENU

breakfast   2 apples, Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Nature Valley Bar      750 calories
lunch         Whole Foods Salad Bar, 3 apples                                     740 calories
dinner        Whole Foods Salad Bar, bulk foods                                1063 calories
SNACK    GRANOLA, GOJI, 40g semi-sweet chocolate                  663 calories

total calories consumed   3216 CALORIES

calories burned
5:30AM CLARE FAMILY FITNESS elliptical machines
30 minutes FREEMOTION f7.8 elliptical          402 calories
35 minutes PRECOR EFX  elliptical                  468 calories
30 minutes LifeFitness elliptical                          406 calories

CALORIES BURNED 1276 CALORIES

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Monday net calories 1940 calories

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