CHAI

Yesterday, I walked 10 miles in the morning before breakfast, and I walked another eight miles right around the time the sun set. 18 miles for the day. Chai. That's good luck! I will confess, that I will be very disappointed if I don't see some drop in my weight this week. I have learned that mountains of exercise do not necessarily translate into big weight loss - but I am hoping for something more than a pound. On Saturday morning, I will know how much progress I have made this week. 

I found this article by Ariela Pelaia about.judaism.com

Definition:Chai (חי) is a Hebrew word and symbol that means “life.” It is spelled with the Hebrew letters Het (ח) and Yud (י). Jews will often wear a Chai on a necklace, sometimes with a Star of David or Hamsa.
Chai is pronounced as if you were saying “hi” in English. 

The Symbolic Meaning of Chai
Judaism is a religion that emphasizes the importance of life. Jews are encouraged to be good, ethical people (mensches) and enjoy the time they are given on Earth. A common Jewish toast is “l’chaim!,” which means, “to life!.” It is said at celebrations in anticipation of all the good things to come. Because it means “life,” the Chai is consequently a symbol that captures an important aspect of Judaism. According to the gematria, which is a mystical tradition that assigns a numerological value to Hebrew letters, the letters Het (ח) and Yud (י) add up to the number 18. The Het has a value of 8 and the yud has a value of 10. As a result, 18 is a popular number that represents good luck. At weddings, bar mitzvahs and other events Jews often give gifts of money in multiples of 18, symbolically giving the recipient the gift of “life” or luck.

My day started with a 10 mile hike in the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve which is part of the Champaign County Forest Preserve District. My initial visit here was back in November. The first 6 miles of my hike were spent crisscrossing across various trails and the final 4 miles of my hike was spent walking along county roads. By 9:00AM, I was back in my hotel room ready to start my day, with 17,000 steps 'banked' according to my fitbit.

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After a one hour drive back to my hotel in Champaign from Mt Zion, I quickly changed and set out for an evening walk. I had more or less mapped out a course and when I arrived back at my hotel, I had logged an additional eight miles.

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I took this photo of myself overlooking Interstate Highway 57, I was within a half mile of my hotel during my second hike of the day..

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, June 9, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 5 packet	500	110	0	10	1,550	0
	500	110	0	10	1,550	0
L U N C H
Skippy - Creamy Peanut Butter	463	15	39	17	366	7
Clover Valley - Whole Wheat Bread	480	88	4	32	880	8
Smucker's - Concord Grape - Jelly	150	39	0	0	15	36
	1,093	142	43	49	1,261	51
D I N N E R
Big Daddy Charbroil and Cheese	780	65	43	32	1,460	11
Jack Links - Teriyaki Jerky, 3.5 oz	280	21	4	42	1,680	18
	1,060	86	47	74	3,140	29
S N A C K S
Oats 'n Honey Crunchy Granola	190	29	6	4	160	12
Banana - Banana, 2 medium banana (126 g)	248	60	0	2	2	38
Chunk Light Tuna In Water, 3 oz in can	60	0	1	13	250	0
	498	89	7	19	412	50
Totals	3,151	427	96	152	6,363	130
Your Daily Goal	5,950	744	198	298	2,300	223
Remaining	2,799	317	101	145	-4,062	93
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 4,020 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
WALKING	135	1,903
WALKING	107	1,544
Daily Total / Goal	242 / 30	3,447 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	856 / 210	10,965 / 4,130

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and finally... a discussion about my lunch... My 'lunch' yesterday was really my second breakfast. The first breakfast was at 6AM. After I walked 10 miles, I was feeling a bit hungry. So my second breakfast, was consumed around 10AM. I chose to consider it lunch. I know that I did not have to have four peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. I had intended to have two and perhaps save the other two for a snack later in the day. But before you judge me...Ask yourself: DID YOU WALK 18 MILES YESTERDAY? Still, I know that I should not have had four sandwiches.  But you know what?  I was hungry.

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.

BEST MEAL OF THE YEAR

For traditional religious Jews there are several 'fasting days during the year.  Traditionally, my family observed the fast of Yom Kippur only.  The fast is more meaningful if one finds themselves in Shul (Synagogue) during the day.  In recent years, I have gone to Synagogue during at least part of the day.    Jews greet each other during this holiday by wishing each other a meaningful and easy fast. I would be lying if I said that I look forward to the fast.  I do not. However, since I do fast - you cannot believe how much I look forward to the meal that breaks the fast.  There is no food that I enjoy more when breaking fast than bagels and lox.  Since I started my new lifestyle back on December 24, 2014 - I have not had a bagel.  Bagels used to be a staple in my 'diet.'  BAGELS ARE NOT LOW CALORIE AND THEY ARE NOT NUTRITIOUS.  THEY ARE HOWEVER, QUITE DELICIOUS.   My dinner, my first food that I had in 24 hours was a meal of bagels and lox and as always, it was the  BEST MEAL OF THE YEAR.

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 Wednesday MENU

breakfast   YOM KIPPUR - FAST DAY - NO MEAL                0 CALORIES
lunch         YOM KIPPUR - FAST DAY - NO MEAL                0 CALORIES
dinner       TWO BAGELS w/LOX & CREAM CHEESE      880  CALORIES
SNACK    POPPED CARAMEL CORN                                 385 CALORIES

total calories consumed  1265 calories                                                              

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CALORIES BURNED

6.5 mile walk home from Synagogue, leisurely walk at 3 MPH              651 calories

WEDNESday net calories 614 calories

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fitbit day 21

20028 steps

Most of the steps recorded on Wednesday were from my walk home from Synagogue (6.5 miles)

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After YOM KIPPUR services on Wednesday I walked home as I had planned.  I was wearing suit pants and a white shirt and tie.  I made no effort for speed.  I was walking at my normal leisurely pace of 3mph.   (I never even loosened the top button of my white dress shirt)   Nevertheless,  6.5 mile walk is not nothing.  I found a calorie estimator online, from sparkpeople.com and apparently even a walk at that leisurely pace for two full hours should have 'burned' 650 calories.  Yesterday was a 'fasting' day - I am happy to have had some physical exercise.  Really, this has to be counted as a day off from my daily exercise routine.  Still, I am glad to post some calories burned over and above what one burns simply by being alive and breathing.

Calories Burned - WALKING: 3 mph

(20 minutes per mile)

The number of calories one burns while exercising is dependent on the exercise, your weight, and the time spent doing the exercise. The calories burned calculator estimates calories burned during your workout.

Your Weight in Pounds: 

Minutes Spent Exercising: 

Calculate

› Calories Burned: 651 

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weekly status report

Hi Marc, here are your weekly stats. Sep 14, 2015 to Sep 20, 2015 WEEK'S MOST ACTIVE DAY Sat, Sep 19 WEEK'S LEAST ACTIVE DAY Fri, Sep 18 TOTAL STEPS 143,937  DAILY AVERAGE 20,562 steps BEST DAY 30,044 steps TOTAL DISTANCE 68.83 miles  DAILY AVERAGE 9.83 miles BEST DAY 14.34 miles TOTAL FLOORS CLIMBED 193  DAILY AVERAGE 28 floors BEST DAY 57 floors TOTAL CALS BURNED 30,133  DAILY AVERAGE 4,305 cals BEST DAY 5,080 cals WEIGHT CHANGE 0.0 lb LIGHTEST 226.6 lbHEAVIEST 226.6 lb Add caption AVG SLEEP DURATION -- hrs -- min Seems like you haven't tracked your sleep. Need Help?

Last week's step winners 1 Marc  143,937 steps 2 Bobby 101,199 steps 3 Andrew J. 87,626 steps See current leaderboard Last week's badges See all of my badges

YOM KIPPUR

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish Calendar.  It is the Day of Atonement.  It is a day when Jews ask forgiveness from others.  It is a day of fasting.  I finished eating dinner last night at sunset and the fast ends 24 hours later after sunset on the following day. For those who fast, this means no food and no water. One cannot (or certainly should not) try to eat an extra large meal before the fast begins. I have long ago figured out that that was a silly idea.  So yesterday, Tuesday, I had 'normal' meals. (normal for me, that is.)   After my very enthusiastic physical activities on Monday, I was a sore in the morning, and had some difficulty just walking.  As the day progressed, the soreness dissipated and virtually vanished. After my afternoon appointment I still managed to spend 60 minutes on the ELLIPTICAL MACHINE in my building.  Restricting my workout to 'only' 60 minutes was my way of taking it easy for the day. Today is a day when our family will go to Shul (Synagogue) and as it appears that the weather is cooperative - my intention is to walk home the 6.5 miles after services.  Religious Jews refrain from driving on Yom Kipper - so my authentic religious experience will be restricted to my walk home after driving to Shul.

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 Tuesday MENU

breakfast oatmeal, center cut bacon, scramble eggs, 
                popped caramel corn, two gala apples                             1157 calories

lunch       corn snack, wasabi, granola, date pieces, two apples       1130 calories
dinner      seafood, spinach salad, OREO cookies                              820 calories


total calories consumed     3107 calories                                                              

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STAR TRAC elliptical 62 minutes, manual, level 20   1520 calories

TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 1520 CALORIES

TUESday net calories 1587 calories

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fitbit day 20

12657 steps

On Monday, my steps were over 50,000.  When I awoke on Tuesday morning, my first few steps were not so easy....It took until the early afternoon when my body worked out all the 'kinks' and by late afternoon I felt as good as new!

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My daughter accompanied me to the exercise room yesterday afternoon - what a nice treat!

My daughter spent a few minutes trying out the elliptical machine

I was pleased that I summoned the energy (& desire) to fit in
an exercise session after Monday's 40 mile bike ride -
I had neither the energy (or the desire) when the day started.

BARUCH HASHEM - THANK GOD!

BARUCH HASHEM! 

I don't normally trot out Hebrew expressions.  The reason for this is although I am Jewish - I don't know that many Hebrew expressions.  Today, I will proudly proclaim: BARUCH HASHEM!  (This can be translated at Blessed be God, or Thank God!)

My four month relationship with my gastroenterologist is coming to an end.  I was referred to a gastroenterologist in May when my doctor discovered anemia in an otherwise unremarkable blood test.  Although I was asymptomatic - protocol apparently 'demanded' that the source be found. The source was in fact not found.

I was subjected to a colonoscopy.   No source of blood loss located.

I was subjected to an endoscopy.    No source of blood loss located.

I was subjected to a capsule endoscopy.  No source of blood loss located.

I was subjected to a full body cat scan.  No source of blood loss located.

My stool sample was subjected to a full investigation.  No source of blood loss located.

During the four months that this was going on my iron levels have returned to normal - although even now - by blood count - hemoglobin is a little low.  My current official diagnosis normocytic anemia. And it seems possible that my hemoglobin count will also return to normal as that seems to be the current trend.

The real verdict from the gastroenterologist after all of this.  I am fine.

Now listen, I don't want to complain.   Four months ago, when I got the phone call from my doctor urging me to quickly see a gastroenterologist - I was convinced that my death was imminent from some horrible disease or body malfunction.

I am fine.

Baruch Hashem (Hebrew)

BARUCH HASHEM!  THANK GOD!

(...in a side note to the Almighty: Might there have been another way of me finding out that my health was good without spending thousands of dollars before my insurance deductible was activated, or am I being an ungrateful malcontent by asking the question?)

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226.3 lbs

I weigh 226.3 lbs.

I gained 0.5 lbs this week

I have lost 82.7 lbs in 234 days. Today begins Day 235.

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

I weigh 226.3 lbs. (234 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 26.8% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 30.27 

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

I have two words of advice for myself today: REVERSE COURSE

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 FRIDAY MENU

breakfast    oatmeal, center cut bacon, corn thins                                   669 calories
lunch          spinach salad, crisp bread, dried papaya, pink lady apple 1034 calories 
dinner         pink lady apples, wasabi peas, corn, kahuna crunch           765 calories
SNACK     ginger chews                                                                         160 calories

total calories consumed 2628 calories

calories burned

6AM HOME ELLIPTICAL 92 MINUTES, MANUAL SETTING, LEVEL '20'  2071 CALORIES
since I was not sure I would have time for a workout on Saturday - I worked out twice on Friday
9PM  HOME ELLIPTICAL 92 MINUTES, MANUAL SETTING, LEVEL '20' 2125 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 4196 CALORIES

Friday net calories NEGATIVE 1568 calories

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DENNIS PRAGER IS NOT A 'FUN' GUY - BUT HE IS HAPPY

I have spent the past few weeks trying to unravel the enigma of my own mind.  After losing 80 lbs seven years ago - what part of me allowed myself to gain every pound back and tack on nine more?   I have noticed that there are no self-help books at the bookstore with guidelines for gaining weight.  Apparently, most human beings are fully capable of this weight gaining skill without any specialized training.

I cringe when I think about what I have been eating for the past many years.
I cringe when I think about the portion sizes I enjoyed.
I cringe when I think about how often I would get junk from a vending machine late at night.
I cringe when I think that I could find a 'breakfast' in the selections offered by a vending machine.
I cringe when I think about my attitude at a breakfast buffet. (No, it's not an eating contest!)

WHY DID I EAT LIKE THIS?

The answer is quite simple.   IT WAS FUN TO EAT LIKE THAT.
Why would anyone eat a whole pint of ice-cream at one sitting.   IT IS FUN TO EAT.
Why would anyone drink a large high calorie milkshake?  IT IS FUN TO DRINK MILKSHAKES.
Why would anyone eat 10 'Sliders' at White Castle?  IT IS FUN TO EAT SLIDERS.
Why would anyone eat a giant slice of seven-layer chocolate cake?  IT IS FUN TO EAT CAKE. 
Why would anyone visit a vending machine at 11PM at night?  IT IS FUN TO EAT CANDY.

Would anyone feel happier after eating in this fashion?  NEVER. 

In fact, I have been doing the opposite lately.  Certainly it is NOT FUN to avoid tasty, high-calorie foods and drinks and candies and cookies and ice-creams and milkshakes.

I am HAPPIER when I remember to avoid these foods and I remember how much this 'SACRIFICE' is improving my waistline and my health and my attitude.

Dennis Prager, host of 'The Dennis Prager Show' broadcast nationally from L.A.'s KRLA 870 AM radio is my favorite talk radio host, author,  and thinker.   In Prager's 1998 book, 'Happiness is a Serious Problem' (still in print) he addresses this issue:

"FUN THAT DECREASES HAPPINESS 

There is a second type of fun, one that can actually decrease happiness.  I am not referring to anything either immoral or illegal, such as taking drugs.  I am referring to nothing more sinister than, for example, eating fattening food. Eating delicious foods is a great deal of fun, but for many people these foods are more a source of unhappiness than of happiness.  Which group is happier - those who have fun eating all the fattening foods they enjoy, or those who have learned to usually deprive themselves of that fun and keep the body they want?"   (Dennis Prager)

That's it!  That is why I gained every pound back that I had lost.  That is why I gained all that weight in the first place.  It is fun to eat.  It is fun to overeat.  It is fun to eat three slices of pizza. It is fun to drink a giant milkshake.  It is fun to have cookies, cake and ice-cream when planting oneself on the sofa to sit back and enjoy a movie.  Fun is not the same as happiness.  I never felt happier after eating like this.  In fact, the more 'fun' I had eating, the more and more unhappy I became.

Since way, way back on December 24, 2014 I have reversed course.   It is NOT FUN to deprive myself of every sweet delicious food concoction that one can imagine.

As a result of my self-deprivation of junk food, high calorie food and simply too much of all food - I am overwhelmed with a feeling of great HAPPINESS.  

I guess I must admit that I am having less fun - BUT I SURE AM HAPPIER!

The thing is, since I am happier, I am having fun.  
Almost seems to negate the entire premise of my argument.
Believe me, it does not.

And one more thing...I don't know Dennis Prager any better than any of his one million+ radio audience...nevertheless, I am sure he really is a very fun guy! He is definitely a happy guy!

I briefly met Dennis Prager when he was in Chicago on November 3, 2012  (back then I probably weighed slightly under 300 lbs - but who knows - In those days I wasn't jumping onto a scale too often - or at all!)

MONDAY'S MENU

Monday was another low calorie day (DAY 27) as they have all been since December 24, 2014.

BREAKFAST   three poached eggs with two slices of turkey 'bacon'                       280 CALORIES
LUNCH            2 cups Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix, CHICKEN SAUSAGE            200 CALORIES
DINNER            Premium Black Angus Steak Tips 4 oz, 3 Cups Baby Spinach
                            w/two tablespoons of Marie's Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing            255  CALORIES            
                               
 TOTAL CALORIC CONSUMPTION SUNDAY        735 CALORIES

I had Midnight 12:30AM morning 4 mile walk @ 4 MPH for 60 minutes - BURNED 600 CALORIES

Since Monday was a holiday and I was home for the day, I visited the treadmill again in the afternoon.

1:30PM  4 mile walk @ 4 MPH for 60 minutes - BURNED ANOTHER 600 CALORIES.

NET CALORIC INTAKE WAS NEGATIVE 465 CALORIES

I think that I can assume that a lot of the energy needs of my body yesterday came from my extraordinarily ample storehouse of fat cells.

The hardest thing for me to resist these days, is not chocolate, or a Klondike Ice Cream Bar - it IS the urge to step onto a scale.   For the time being, I would like to weigh myself once per week and I am sticking to that plan. 

                     LUNCH  2 cups Chopped Veggie Mix & CHICKEN SAUSAGE  200 CALORIES

DINNER  Black Angus Steak w/Organic Baby Spinach & Vinaigrette Dressing 255 CALORIES