UPTOWN GRILL LASALLE, ILLINOIS

On Friday I was with a particularly good customer from 10AM until 9PM.
Afterwards we had a dinner at Uptown Grill in LaSalle, Illinois.
I am so used to eating virtually every meal at Red Lobster, Applebee's, Panera and Starbucks.
Now that I have trained myself to make (relatively) healthy choices - I selected menu items which although were not listed with calories - I was confident that I was making somewhat smart (and tasty) choices.


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INDIAN CAVES

Natural Cave, maybe 20 feet deep into the rocks

Yesterday I had an appointment to sell fabric at a store in Bourbonnais, Illinois (approximately 50 miles from Chicago)  During my visit I let my customer know that I planned to take hike somewhere nearby before darkness set in)  My customer recommended that I visit the Indian Caves. I parked at Perry Farm Park and set out to see the caves.  I found only one small cave.  I believe that the other cave(s) were accessed by climbing down from the ravine that led to the creek. I did some exploring and after my feet broke through ice and got completely soaked, I lost some of my adventuresome spirit. I did see one cave that was visible from the trail and took a bunch of photos. The temperature seemed warm compared to my 3 mile hike on Sunday morning when it was -2F. Yesterday the temperature was a relative balmy 28°F.  It was plenty cold, and I was wearing 6 layers of clothing and brought better gloves with me. The hike was completed when I had travelled 6 miles.

Recommended parking is located at the Cavalier de LaSalle Park to the North, but is also available at the main parking area for the Perry Farm just off of Kennedy Dr. (Rt. 45) or at Lavesseur Park to the South. 



from geocaching.com

Before this area was settled by pioneers, Native Americans resided here for many centuries along the banks of what is now known as the Kankakee River. The Potawatomi Indians who called this place home actually called the River the "Theatiki", which only through a series of mispronunciations and misspellings became known by the settlers as the "Kankakee" River.

The Bourbonnais Geologic area, locally known as the Indian Caves, is located within the Perry Farm Park along the Kankakee River. The geological area includes the Bourbonnais Creek and ravine and covers approximately 30 acres of land. This area features a dolomite cliff and cave community, rare in the State of Illinois. On September 16, 1996, Governor Jim Edgar authorized the dedication of the Bourbonnais Geologic Area as an Illinois Nature Preserve in an attempt to protect it against vandalism and other destructive activities. It is open year round and its public use is limited to walking, exploring, and observing nature. Please remember to take care when exploring the cliff and creek areas and to take care of this rare natural resource.

The Indian Caves at this site are small, narrow caves that are readily accessible for exploration only to the most daring adventurers. The deepest of the caves is only about 20 feet deep, and requires entry through a very narrow crevice in the rock. Access to the caves can most easily be obtained by venturing back to the trail from the posted coordinates, walking North across the bridge spanning the creek, and following the dirt trail up and over the cliffs to the East. From there it will be evident how to get down into the ravine and ultimately to the caves. You can also follow the trail to the ENE of the posted coordinates, but the trail is not quite as defined and the climb may be a bit steeper..

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This is from inside a small cave that was easy to find.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese, 3 eggs	425	0	21	28	650	2
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
Quest bar - cinnamon	170	23	7	20	200	1
	1,095	128	33	58	2,550	8
L U N C H
Ham, Turkey, & Cheese on Honey Wheat Bread	620	68	22	44	2,900	16
Fit Crunch - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar	380	27	16	30	320	6
	1,000	95	38	74	3,220	22
D I N N E R
Taco Bell - Hard Shell Taco	850	60	50	40	1,550	5
	850	60	50	40	1,550	5
S N A C K S
DARK COCOA MELTING WAFERS	660	72	39	9	135	63
	660	72	39	9	135	63
Totals	3,605	355	160	181	7,455	98
Your Daily Goal	2,840	355	94	143	2,300	106
Remaining	-765	0	-66	-38	-5,155	8
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Bourbonnais Six Mile Hike	102	910
Elliptical Trainer	97	921
Daily Total / Goal	200 / 30	1,532 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	340 / 210	3,557 / 4,130

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I found this on wikipedia regarding the pronunciation of Bourbonnais.

Pronunciation

The original French pronunciation of Bourbonnais came to be Anglicized over time to /bɜːrˈboʊnᵻs/ bər-boh-nəs. In 1974 a state representative from Bourbonnais introduced a resolution "correcting" the pronunciation of the town's name to /bɜːrbəˈneɪ/ burr-bə-nay, closer to the French.

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Although it was cold hiking through the ice and snow on the trails, I kept warm as I was wearing six different layers of clothing.

SQUEEZING IN A FIVE MILE WALK

Yesterday I was out the door at 7:30AM to drive about 100 miles to see a customer for an extremely productive visit. That appointment ended around 1:30PM, and I reversed course and headed back home. I was trying to get back to Chicago in order to keep my 4:00PM Genuis Bar appointment at the Apple Store. There was not much time between my visit to the Apple Store and my dinner which would be the last meal before the 24 hour Yom Kippur Fast.  Nevertheless, everything was accomplished, and my walk to the Apple Store was stretched to a five mile walk.  There is almost always a way to get certain things accomplished, if there is a will. It is my will to walk at least 10,000 steps per day - which is about the equivalent of five miles. 

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 3 packet	300	66	0	6	930	0
Mighty Bar Uncured Bacon & Apple, 1 bar	70	3	4	8	300	3
Sobe Life Water Coconut Water	80	21	0	0	110	20
Met-Rx - chocolate cookie dough, 1 Bar	360	52	5	28	160	25
	810	142	9	42	1,500	48
L U N C H
Caseys - Turkey Club Wrap, 1 Wrap	390	42	15	21	1,310	0
	390	42	15	21	1,310	0
D I N N E R
Panda Express - Tangy Shrimp	150	16	50	11	550	0
Panda Express - Orange Chicken	380	45	18	14	620	19
Panda Express Restaurant - Lo Mein	500	61	23	18	0	0
Pineapple, Fresh, Chunks	225	59	0	5	5	45
	1,255	181	91	48	1,175	64
S N A C K S
Nature Valley Crunchy - Oats 'n Honey	380	58	14	6	360	22
Hersheys Dark Chocolate Bar	500	28	38	9	100	11
	880	86	52	15	460	33
Totals	3,335	451	167	126	4,445	145
Your Daily Goal	2,816	352	94	141	2,300	105
Remaining	-519	-99	-73	15	-2,145	-40
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 886 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 219.3 lbs in 5 weeks.


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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
5 MILE WALK	73	886
Daily Total / Goal	73 / 30	886 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	166 / 210	2,261 / 4,130

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

My daughter will have her first day as a High School Freshman today on Tuesday morning. My first day as a High School Freshman was the day after Labor Day in 1971, a mere 45 years ago. It is hard to know who is more excited - me or my daughter (OK, apparently it is me.) The last time my daughter had her first day of school was the day she walked into her kindergarten class for the first time nine years ago. Oddly enough, back then I weighed about what I weigh now, as I had lost 80 pounds in the preceding Spring and Summer. At that time, my weight never stabilized and from the moment that kindergarten started I gained and gained and gained weight back after having lost it in the previous year. By the time that my daughter was in 7th Grade, I had ballooned up to 309 lbs. Fast forward nearly ten years, and this time things have been different.  My weight has mostly been stable for nearly two years. In four years time, when my daughter graduates from high school, I would expect to weigh something very close to what I weigh now, or perhaps a bit less. That's the plan. It is useful to have a plan.

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Eight Mile walk in the early morning.

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Three Mile walk in the early evening.

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, September 5, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Roundys - Creamy Wheat - Enriched Farina	480	100	0	16	340	4
	480	100	0	16	340	4
L U N C H
Johnsonville 170 - Polish Kielbasa Sausage	340	4	30	14	1,140	2
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese	425	0	21	28	650	2
Roundy's - Center Cut Bacon	210	0	12	21	660	0
Quaker Chewy - 90 Cal Chocolate Chunk	90	19	2	1	80	7
	1,065	23	65	64	2,530	11
D I N N E R
Homemade - Spaghetti With Meat Sauce	800	210	5	35	0	0
	800	210	5	35	0	0
S N A C K S
Yogurt Pretzels	400	59	0	4	379	40
Lay's - Doritos	140	16	8	2	210	0
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories, 1 bar	90	19	2	1	80	7
Nestle - Dark Chocolate Bar	300	31	18	4	0	0
	930	125	28	11	669	47
Totals	3,275	458	98	126	3,539	62
Your Daily Goal	3,899	487	130	195	2,300	146
Remaining	624	29	32	69	-1,239	84
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,969 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 196.5 lbs in 5 weeks.

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First Day of Kindergarten, the day after Labor Day, 2007 (for a brief period in late 2007 I weighed about 225 lbs, by the time that that first year of Kindergarten ended I had probably gained at least 25 pounds on my way to 309 lbs)

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First Day of High School, the day after Labor Day, 2016. (my current weight this morning was 215 lbs) My next photo in this series is unlikely to be me with my daughter on her first day of college, but rather a photo of us as we drop her off in her university dormitory wherever that might be. The third picture in this series should be available in less than 48 months! 

STARVED ROCK

STARVED ROCK STATE PARK is approximately 90 miles from Chicago.  The park is known for its many canyons within its 2600 acres.  The park is located near the small village of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River.   The park attracts over two million visitors each year which is tops among the the state parks in Illinois.  This park is a hikers paradise offering over 12 miles of trails.  Yesterday, our family walked 5 miles on the trails (and steps) visiting some of the scenic overlooks which towered 125 feet above the river and we also ventured deeper into the woods to see some of the famous canyons.   We spent the most time at LaSalle Canyon which  is one of two canyons that has at least a trickle of water that flows year round.   It is not too difficult for me to wonder why it never occurred to me to visit this park before - in fact, I am sure that I know the reason.  Men who are 309 pounds don't look for recreational opportunities that involve strenuous hiking.  In fact, men who are 309 pounds don't look for recreational opportunities that involve moving too much at all.   One more reason that I am happy to no longer be a man who weighs 309 pounds.

We left Chicago, promptly at 6:00AM for the nearly two hour drive. Our visit to the park yesterday started at 8:00AM.  We ate breakfast at the Starved Rock Lodge which was built by the CCC in the 1930's. (Civilian Conservation Corps)   At 9:30AM we started our pre-arranged tour which was a 'land and sea' package of sorts.   We took a trolley which first went to the Visitor's Center where we saw a 15 minute film about Starved Rock and its history. We re-boarded the trolley and continued on a tour of Utica (all two blocks of it) and then we visited the visitors center of a lock and dam on the Illinois River before boarding The Belle of the Rock, an authentic Coast Guard licensed paddlewheel tour boat.   After an extremely relaxing 'boat trip' on the Illinois River we returned to the lodge for lunch.   After lunch we set out for the trails.

Father/Daughter standing behind the trickle of waterfall at LaSalle Canyon, Starved Rock State Park

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 Sunday MENU

breakfast   oatmeal, crispbread, granola, goji, figs, apples                 1397 calories
lunch         half pound Angus Burger (Starved Rock) two apples        616 calories
dinner       Fresh Thyme Salad, green peas, Kahuna, mango, wasabi 1001 calories

total calories consumed 3605 calories

calories burned

elliptical machine 92 minutes, manual, level 20              1812 calories

(I did not purposely cut back on my intensity of workout on Saturday, however after two 90 minutes sessions on Saturday, and an all-day long excursion to Starved Rock State Park - I clearly had run out of gas and was running on fumes by the time that I got back on the elliptical machine at 9PM last night)

CALORIES BURNED 1812 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories 1793 calories
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We arrived at the park entrance approximately 8:00AM

Mother/Daughter taking a break at LaSalle Canyon

Eagle Cliff Overlook

My daughter is hiding in plain sight in the middle of this photo

 BELLE OF THE ROCK 

Starved Rock Trolley parked outside the Starved Rock Lodge

There is an 'Indiana Jones' quality to wooden steps in the woods

My wife generally does not disobey 'Don't Walk' traffic signals even if there is no car within sight. Ironically, my wife had no problem leading our expedition of three across a portion of the trail that was closed as the bridge was 'out.'  As you can see, we survived.   My daughter posed for a picture just to insure that I didn't forget this small detail!  

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HOW DID STARVED ROCK GET ITS NAME?

This synopsis of the explanation for how Starved Rock got its name comes directly from starvedrockstatepark.org

The park derives its name from a Native American legend. In the 1760s, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe, was attending a tribal council meeting. At this council of the Illinois and the Pottawatomie, Kinebo, the head chief of the Illinois tribe stabbed Chief Pontiac. Vengeance arose in Pontiac’s followers. A great battle started. The Illinois, fearing death, took refuge on the great rock. After many days, the remaining Illinois died of starvation giving this historic park its name – Starved Rock.

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HOW WAS STARVED ROCK FORMED?

This article is reproduced from mywebtimes.com

Geology is responsible for Starved Rock

by Derek Barichello, derekb@mywebtimes.com  (May 25, 2011)

Geology is pressure over time.  Starved Rock State Park took millions of years for its sandstone to form and thousands to be carved into the waterfalls and box canyons today.  While the legends of the park add lore to the scenery, the canyons, bluffs, overhangs and waterfalls are what continue to bring people to the state park, according to Pam Grivetti, president of the Starved Rock Foundation. There are 18 canyons in the six-mile park. "It's a beautiful park," she said. "Illinois is filled with prairie and farms and all of a sudden right here, you have Starved Rock."The sandstone at Starved Rock was formed during the Ordovician time period in geology when the land was actually south of the equator.The local uplift was brought about by the formation of the La Salle Anticlinorium. Due to the erosion of Devonian and Silurian ages, the time period for the formation of the La Salle Anticlinorium is estimated during the Mississippian period, according to a Northern Illinois University study.The area was then covered in a glacier during the Wisconian glaciation during the Ice Ages. This left most of Illinois flat but thanks to a flood called the Kankakee Torrent, Starved Rock land remained more similar to how it looked before the Ice Ages. This flood caused the Illinois River to swell and caused the park to collect bedrock and glacier deposits. Erosion continues at a much slower pace comparative to what the major floodwaters did. "Field observations indicate that ice and flooding may be the two most powerful erosive forces at work on the canyons," said Davina Wolfe, who has studied Starved Rock at the Department of Geology at Ball State University. "These observations suggest that seepage erosion may be the dominant erosional force in the late winter."You can see the effects water has had on the sandstone by looking at the rocks below you," Wolfe said. "The sandstone displays an uneven surface because some areas are cemented stronger than others."

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