THANKSGIVING

Good Morning, Today is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Perhaps many of you will be eating a traditional Turkey today.  Whether or not you do, you might consider starting your day will a bowl of ice cream.  I know that I am 'smart enough' to believe the veracity of this news story which I have duplicated below.

This story is from 'The Telegraph' in the UK.
www.telegraph.co.uk

Ice cream for breakfast makes you smarter, Japanese scientist claims

Smart choice: Could ice cream have been the key to Boris Johnson's success while campaigning for Vote Leave?

By Julian Ryalll, Tokyo and James Rothwell

23 NOVEMBER 2016 • 2:52PM

In a discovery that will give nutritionists the shivers, a Japanese scientist has discovered that consuming ice cream for breakfast improves a person's alertness and mental performance.

Yoshihiko Koga, a professor at Tokyo's Kyorin University, has carried out a series of clinical trials in which test subjects were required to eat ice cream immediately after waking up. 

They were then put through a series of mental exercises on a computer.

Compared to a group that had not eaten ice cream, Prof Koga's subjects exhibited faster reaction times and better information-processing capabilities, the Excite News web site reported.

Monitoring of the subjects' brain activity revealed an increase in high-frequency alpha waves, which are linked to elevated levels of alertness and reduced mental irritation.

To examine the possibility that the test subjects' reactions were simply the result of the brain being shocked into higher levels of alertness by the low temperature of the ice cream, Prof Koga repeated the experiment with cold water instead of ice cream.

Test subjects who drank cold water did display a degree of increased alertness and mental capacity, although the levels were markedly lower than among subjects who started the day with ice cream. 

Prof Koga is a specialist in psychophysiology, with his studies including looking into links between certain types of food and reduced stress. 

Another area of study is the connection between different foods and their impact on the ageing process.

Prof Koga is continuing his research and has yet to determine a firm connection between the mental boost delivered by ice cream and a specific ingredient, while another explanation may lie in the sense that ice cream is a treat that triggers positive emotions and added energy.

British nutritionists have reacted with some skepticism to Dr Koga's findings.

"A possible explanation [for increased alertness[... is the simple presence of consuming breakfast vs. not consuming breakfast," said Katie Barfoot, a Nutritional Psychology Doctoral Researcher at Reading University. 

Dimitri Panciera, the world record holder for most ice cream scoops balanced on a cone CREDIT:  RICHARD BRADBURY

"Our brain needs glucose to function, and a high glucose meal will aid mental capacity considerably compared to a fasted brain.

"This, however, does not condone eating dessert for breakfast. A study which explores the interaction between consumption of low and high GI foods, whilst including a fasted group, would establish a better understanding of this increased mental capacity."

There has already been some scientific research into why ice cream may have a positive mental effect on those who eat it.

In 2005, neuroscientists at the Institute of Psychiatry in London scanned the brains of test subjects as they ate vanilla ice cream and saw immediate results. 

The study found that eating ice cream activated the same "pleasure spots" of the brain that are lit up by winning money, or listening to a favourite piece of music.

"This is the first time that we've been able to show that ice cream makes you happy," Unilever spokesman Don Darling said at the time.

"Just one spoonful lights up the happy zones of the brain in clinical trials."

It's not the first time a study has suggested a high-calorie "dessert" could be better eaten in the morning, either - a 2012 study found that eating chocolate cake for breakfast could help you lose weight. 

This news story ends with an even more preposterous assumption - that eating chocolate cake for breakfast could help you lose weight?  Here's what I want to know.  Where is this universe where this is true?  I think I might like to live there.

* * * * * * * * * *

Yesterday was a day where I needed to finish up my root canal on one of my teeth. I walked to the dentists office, and afterwards continued walking so that when my urban hike was concluded, I had logged 16 miles. 

.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	600	126	6	12	2,040	6
Dunkin Donuts Bavarian Creme 1 donut	270	31	15	4	350	9
	870	157	21	16	2,390	15
L U N C H
Kikka - Salmon and Avocado Roll, 8 pieces	350	66	5	11	1,270	24
	350	66	5	11	1,270	24
D I N N E R
Homemade - Bean and Cheese Burrito	700	95	28	36	0	0
	700	95	28	36	0	0
S N A C K S
ENERGY CHOCOLATE ALMOND CHIP	330	48	18	9	30	36
SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS	200	29	11	3	0	23
Little Debbie - Banana Twins, 5 cakes	650	103	25	5	350	63
	1,180	180	54	17	380	122
Totals	3,100	498	108	80	4,040	161
Your Daily Goal	5,889	736	196	295	2,300	220
Remaining	2,789	238	88	215	-1,740	59
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 3,959 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 186.2 lbs in 5 weeks.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
16 MILE DAYTIME URBAN HIKE	222	2,971
6 MILE NIGHTTIME URBAN HIKE	84	1,119
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	306 / 30	4,090 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	747 / 210	9,324 / 4,130

10,000 STEPS

I have been a 'fitbitter' for just over one week. I know that I am joining a community of hundreds of thousands of people who are each day logging and counting their steps. Before I made my purchase, even I was aware that the fitbit is a device that encourages its users to make 10,000 steps per day.  I was curious where this number came from....

I found this article on the fitbit blog dated June 22, 2010

The Magic of 10,000 steps

When you join Fitbit, the default goal we set for each member is the magical number of 10,000 steps a day (you can also choose to customize your goal).  And while this may not be the first time you’ve heard that goal, it might be more meaningful, and motivating, to understand its origins. 

The Japanese first started using the 10,000 steps a day number, as part of a marketing campaign! (to help sell pedometers).  Since that initial campaign however, medical authorities around the world have agreed that 10,000 is a healthy number to aim for. The American Heart Association uses the 10,000 steps metric as a guideline to follow for improving health and decreasing risk of heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in America. 

10,000 steps a day is a rough equivalent to the Surgeon General’s recommendation to accumulate 30 minutes of activity most days of the week. It should be enough to reduce your risk for disease and help you lead a longer, healthier life. The benefits are many:  lower BMI, reduced waist size, increased energy, and less risk for Type II diabetes and heart disease.  In fact, a recent study of the 10,000 steps a day method reported conclusive health benefits. 

10,000 steps daily is approximately 5 miles.  Unless you have a very active lifestyle or profession, you probably don’t reach 10,000 steps on a given day without putting some effort into your activity.  This could be a lifestyle change such as walking to work, or the addition of an exercise routine to your day. 

Another reason to do it?  For most people, it’s convenient, free and simple to do with just a little change to your daily routine.  Working towards a 10,000 step a day goal?  Good for you!  Get motivated with one of our Fitbit groups, like 5k-6k steps a day.  Already mastered 10,000? Maybe Active Maintainers is for you.

After reading this I was wondering was ACTIVE MAINTAINERS was all about.  It is an online group of 'overachieving' people with fitbit.  Naturally, I joined.... This is what the leaderboard looked like this morning, September 12th.

Steps in September

• Mike K. - 582,197 steps#1
• Jennifer K. - 526,615 steps#2
• Debbie A. - 492,026 steps#3
• Tracy E. - 211,113 steps#122
• Chris E. - 210,583 steps#123
• You - 210,492 steps#124
• Alma R. - 210,107 steps#125Tracey V. - 209,941 steps
• #126

This group has nearly 200,000 members.... so my standing of #124 is fairly respectable.  I do not think that this will ever be a group where I will be number 1.

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

226.6 lbs

I weigh 226.6 lbs.

I gained 0.8 lbs this week

I have lost 82.4 lbs in 262 days. Today begins Day 263.

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

I weigh 226.8 (262 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 26.6% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 30.31 

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 234 days ago (Class III obesity)

I have 4 words of RATIONALIZATION for myself today: IT MUST BE MUSCLE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

 FRIDAY MENU

breakfast   oatmeal, bacon, poached eggs                                         590 calories

lunch         almonds, bacon, apples, dark choice cashew bars         1270 calories
dinner        Mariano's huge spinach salad                                          750 calories
SNACK    mango, cacao goji, Quaker Rice Cakes                         1030 calories

total calories consumed 3641 calories

calories burned

Northfield YMCA PRECOR 100i elliptical machine 
(maximum session length limited to 60 minutes)
session 1 elliptical 60 min, 5 min cooldown, level 20, 1095 cal
session 2 elliptical 60 min, 5 min cooldown, level 20, 1108 cal

TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 2203 calories

Friday net calories 1438 calories
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

NOODLES & COMPANY

For lunch today, I set my GPS to direct me to the nearest Whole Foods for lunch.  I parked the car and noticed that I was parked right in front of a Noodles & Company franchise.

I have wanted to try their menu offerings for quite some time and I ventured inside.  First I checked online for the nutritional information offered by this establishment and found many different possibilities.   I settled on the BUFF JAPANESE PAN.

BUFF JAPANESE PAN: Marinated steak sits atop a bed of spinach, rich in vitamins and minerals, plus a double amount of veggies like broccoli for a healthy dose of vitamins C & K, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, a good source of fiber, Asian sprouts, black sesame seeds and cilantro, dressed with a sweet soy sauce.  (320 CALORIES)

I am sold!  Very delicious, healthy, low calorie lunch.  I need to find more of these Noodle & Company restaurants during my travels.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
  

 Wednesday MENU

breakfast   HOUSE RECIPE INSTANT OATMEAL                            690 calories

lunch         Noodles & Company BUFF Japanese Pan, apples         605 calories
dinner        corn thins, wasabi, granola, date pieces, chewy ginger 1400 calories
SNACK      dark chocolate ginger                                                       272 calories

total calories consumed 2967 calories

calories burned

NEW HOPE, Minnesota YMCA PRECOR elliptical machine 120 minutes              1670 calories


TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 1670 calories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

Wednesday net calories 1297 calories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

ICHIBAN JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Last night was a great treat.  I went to dinner with my colleagues and we visited ICHIBAN JAPANESE RESTAURANT an independently owned business with two locations.   Their other location is in Winnipeg, Canada.

The chef put on quite a show flinging knives in the air and behind the back.  His story was that he had  been a busboy at the restaurant and through intensive training and desire he became a chef.

For dinner I chose 'The Superior' which included: Filet Mignon, Shrimp, Teriyaki Chicken, Lobster and Teriyaki Scallops.  The chef served each of these small portions as he prepared them...  Dinner began with a small blizzard of tasty treats:

 There is no way to really know the calorie count of my dinner or breakfast.   What I do know...Is that I had sensible portions of good food.   This has been my goal all along.

THURSDAY MENU

breakfast  HYATT ham/cheese omelette, bowl oatmeal                                        600 calories
lunch        Herring Fillet in Dijon Mustard Sauce                                              
                 Cucumber salad in Vinegar Brine                                                          331 calories
dinner      ICHIBAN DINNER (estimated calories)                                               700 calories

total calories consumed 1631 calories

calories burned
elliptical 35 minutes 330 calories                  

THURSDAY NET CALORIES   1301 CALORIES

L'CHAIM! TO LIFE!

Could anything be more true?

Some of my best friends are Jewish.   This is really not so amazing as I am Jewish.  When Jews gather together to celebrate Shabbat (the Sabbath) and other happy life events - we toast, "To Life." (L'chaim)   Many people familiar with the musical, Fiddler on the Roof,  remember the song, "To Life"  (L'chaim)  In fact, L'chaim is really plural, and the toast is better understood as 'To Lives.'   None of us lives alone, we all count on each other to experience meaningful lives.  So, why am I telling you all this?  In two weeks, I will be attending the birthday party of my dear friend, and Rabbi at my neighborhood Chabad House.   I know that there will be many 'L'chaims' during this celebration. When we toast L'chaim it is usually with 1oz of vodka or whiskey or scotch.  I need to plan in advance how I can participate in the 'L'chaims' without busting my calorie budget. It is not complicated. I will just fill my 'L'chaim' cup only 1/3 full, so that I can enjoy the camaraderie of sharing 'L'chaims' with my friends.

I am lucky that I am not a regular drinker.  Alcohol consumption can greatly interfere with weight loss.   I was curious how many calories are in some of the drinks that I have enjoyed in the past.

GREY GOOSE VODKA 1oz               69 CALORIES
MAKER'S MARK BOURBON 1 oz.  69 CALORIES

It appears that if I only 'fill' my cup 1/3 full, I will be able to fully enjoy myself.  And that, is my plan.
L'Chaim!

Tevye and Lazer Wolf toast 'L'Chaim' as they have sealed the deal on the marriage of Tevye's daughter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I have enjoyed virtually every meal I have eaten since December 24th, when I started my lifestyle changes.   Today, at Costco, something caught my eye that I would never have seen or considered in my previous life.   Something called: Vegetable Yakisoba (Japanese Noodles)  

This product was described as "Japanese-style stir fried noodles with crisp vegetables and a savory sauce."   It sounded good to me.   A 4.5 oz serving has 250 calories.   On Wednesday evening, I tried the Yakisoba and it was in fact, delicious!  Experimentation is fun.  

WEDNESDAY MENU

breakfast  3 poached eggs, 2 strips turkey 'bacon'                                280 CALORIES

lunch        3 oz beef, sweet potato bisque soup, spinach w/balsamic   327 CALORIES

dinner      4.5 oz YAKISOBA JAPANESE NOODLES

                sweet potato bisque soup                                                       350 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIES      957 CALORIES

calories burned

6AM  30 minutes elliptical  380 CALORIES

6PM   30 minutes elliptical  390 CALORIES

total calories burned 770 CALORIES

NET CALORIES 187 CALORIES

YAKISOBA JAPANESE NOODLES w/Sweet Potato Bisque Soup  350 CALORIES

And finally.... a last word

A favorite quote from my Rabbi, goes something like this:  "Jews don't drink, we L'chaim!"   I think he means that there is a spiritual benefit when we L'chaim.   I have to admit, it does sometimes kinda feel like drinking!

More dubious 'wisdom' from Homer Simpson