HAPPY PASSOVER

Last night was the first night of Passover. Our family of three, enjoyed a Seder, as Jews around the world have been having for 3000+ years. During the Seder we tell the story about how the Israelites were given their freedom by God (with an assist from Moses) from their 200 years of slavery under the rule of the Egyptian Pharaohs.  During the retelling of this story, it is hard not to be in awe of God who revealed himself to the Jewish people and gave them the Torah. One definition of the Torah is that it is life's instruction book which guides one to lead a moral and meaningful life. It is where The Ten Commandments were revealed for the first time.  These rules have served as the foundation of a moral lifestyle for the Western world. 

There is one part of this story that has always troubled me. It is this: While it is impossible not to be thankful to God for releasing the Jews from the bondage in Egypt - we learn too, that sometimes God works at a pace that we may not completely understand. 200 years is a long time. I sometimes do wonder if America must descend into a further darkness, before the guiding hand of God sets our country on a better path. I do not know the answer, I can only ask the questions. That being said, I would like to wish a meaningful Pesach (Passover) to all my fellow Jews around the world. And since today is also a Saturday, let me add: Shabbat Shalom. 

My wife Jennifer, prepared the traditional Passover Seder Plate on a plate that was owned by my Grandparents.

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, April 22, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker Oats - Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon	640	132	8	16	800	48
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
	830	182	9	17	804	86
L U N C H
Jamwich - Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	520	70	30	18	700	26
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA, 1.5 CUP	480	80	14	10	120	30
Campbell's - New England Clam Chowder	360	36	20	10	1,780	2
	1,360	186	64	38	2,600	58
D I N N E R
Potatoes, red, flesh and skin, baked, 0.5 potato large	132	29	0	3	18	2
Home Made - Matzah Ball Soup, 1 cup	118	10	6	0	450	0
Homemade. - Roasted Stuffed Tomato	100	9	7	2	593	0
Beef, cured, corned beef, brisket, cooked, 3 oz	213	0	16	15	827	0
Manischewitz - Matzah, 1 Matzah	100	21	0	3	0	0
	663	69	29	24	1,888	2
S N A C K S
GIN GINS ORIGINAL CHEWY GINGER	120	30	0	0	0	30
	120	30	0	0	0	30
Totals	2,973	468	102	79	5,291	176
Your Daily Goal	1,977	247	66	99	2,300	74
Remaining	-996	-220	-35	20	-2,991	-101
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 47 extra calories from exercise today

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I was already having difficulty keeping my weight stable before I injured myself with the hernia. It has now been three weeks since I have had any meaningful exercise - this is reflected in my weight this morning: 235.5 lbs.

AND THOU SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN

The Goshen in the title of today's blog post refers to a specific place near biblical Egypt.  I have no intention of dwelling in Goshen - but I did lodge there last evening. Goshen, Indiana.  After a two hour trip out of Chicago, I arrived in Goshen in the late afternoon and managed to squeeze in an 11 mile walk.

I did not have much sunlight for this walk and in the future I am going to have to find well lit streets if I am to be out after dark.  As much as I am enjoying outdoor walking - it may be time to start taking advantage of my YMCA membership during the sunlight shortened wintry nights that I will be facing for the next few months.

The woman at the front desk of my hotel let me know that if I walked 3 miles down the road that I would find a nice trail.  It got dark soon after I arrived, but I did enjoy finding this river trail even if I only experienced it for a short time.

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This afternoon hike was 'only' 11 miles.  Too much of this walk took place under a moonless dark night.  The few parts of the walk that took place in a suburban subdivision were extremely enjoyable. The parts where I was walking along the road were not quite as relaxing.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Jones - Sliced Ham, 2 Slices	50	1	2	8	410	0
John McCann Steel Cut - Oat Meal, 1 cup	600	108	0	16	0	0
FARM FRESH EGG-LAND'S. BEST - GRADE A EGG LARGE, 2 egg	120	0	8	12	130	0
Clif Bar - Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch (2013), 1 bar (68g)	250	41	7	10	200	21
FRESH THYME - DEHYDRATED PAPAYA (lLOW SUGAR), 52.5 g (approx 1/10 cup)	175	44	0	0	44	32
WHOLE FOODS 8890 - STRAWBERRY VANILLA HEMP GRANOLA, 54.45 g (3/4 cup)	248	40	8	5	59	15
WHOLE FOODS 7089 - 42% CACAO SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS, 41.25 g (approx 2 TBSP)	193	28	11	3	0	22
	1,636	261	35	54	843	89
L U N C H
WHOLE FOODS - NATURAL WASABI GREEN PEAS, 0.38333294205272195 cup (30 grams)	138	22	3	5	276	2
WHOLE FOODS 7700 - ORGANIC DATE PIECES w/OAT FLOWER, 62.0 g (2 TBSP)	186	46	0	2	15	34
WHOLE FOODS 5938 - UNSWEETENED BANANA CHIPS, 39.0 g (1/4 cup)	221	21	13	3	6	1
WHOLE FOODS 7236 - SUPERFOOD CEREAL HEMP & GREENS, 45.9 g (approx 1/2 cup)	174	27	8	4	33	12
	719	116	25	13	331	49
D I N N E R
Forrelli - Rice Cakes Multigrain Thin, 36 SLICE	720	144	0	0	720	0
	720	144	0	0	720	0
S N A C K S
Dang - Toasted Coconut Chips - Caramel Sea Salt, 3 oz (28 g)	480	48	30	3	570	30
	480	48	30	3	570	30
Totals	3,555	569	90	70	2,464	169
Your Daily Goal	4,988	623	166	250	2,300	187
Remaining	1,433	54	76	180	-164	18
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
....................... our Exercise Diary for: Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace 144 2,159 MFP iOS calorie adjustment N/A 899 Add Exercise Quick Tools     Daily Total / Goal 145 / 30 3,058 / 590   Weekly Total / Goal 309 / 210 5,671 / 4,130 ....................... TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 3555 CALORIES TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 2159 CALORIES NET CALORIES 1396 ....................... fitbit day 62 31051 steps .......................

PASSOVER - EXODUS FROM MITZRAYIM

Friday night was the first night of Passover.  Most people know that Passover (Pesach) is a holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Jewish People from slavery in Egypt (Mitzrayim).   The story was depicted in the famous Cecil B. DeMille 1956 movie, The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston as Moses.

My Rabbi at the Chabad House that I frequent has explained that among the things that make this 3000 year old story as relevant today as it ever was - is that many of us need to escape from slavery.  Some of us may be slaves to fashion, or money, drugs, or as in my case....I was a slave to a voracious appetite for unhealthy foods.   For the past 3+ months, I have been escaping from Mitzrayim.  No longer a slave.  I am free.  And it feels real good!  Chag Sameach.  (Joyous Festival, Happy Passover)

SATURDAY MENU

breakfast   one round Shmurah Matzo                                                                            120 calories

lunch         My Fit Foods Korean BBQ Tenderloin, spinach salad, 12 cherry tomatoes 447 calories

dinner       spinach salad, 12 cherry tomato, Panera Chicken Tortilla Soup bowl, matzo 497 calories

total calories consumed 1064 calories

CALORIES BURNED

2PM elliptical 32 minutes   485 calories

SATURDAY NET CALORIES     579 NET CALORIES

From the chabad.org website: 

Shmurah matzot are round, kneaded and shaped by hand, and are similar to the matzot that were baked by the Children of Israel as they left Egypt. 

My Chabad Rabbi introduced me to Shmurah Matzo three years ago.
I had never seen such Matzo before, or even heard of it.
The Matzo is watched (guarded) through each step of production.