ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL WEEK (DAY 89)

I returned home to Chicago late Friday afternoon.

I immediately changed clothes and took a ten mile hike.

It's been a long time since I have not walked/hiked on any given day.

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and here is one more fun fact, that I am likely the only guy in the world who cares about. When I initially made the decision to lose weight (even though I gained so much of it back before I recently lost it again) I was 309 lbs on December 24, 2014. So here is something that I can 'hang my hat on.' I am down 80 pounds from my all-time fattest. The thing is...even at 229.4 lbs I am ain't slim, in fact, if I check the charts, I am still officially obese. Damn those charts!  I feel good!

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This chart 'only' shows a loss of 53.6 lbs in the past 3 months.... That is because, I 'dipped' UP another .6 lbs from the initial weight shown here.... At my most recent fattest, I was 283.6 lbs on July 31, 2018.  On Saturday morning, today, October 27, 2018 I checked in at 229.4 lbs. I am in  a very good mood right now. I think I am going to celebrate...

...and I know just how to do that...

I am going to take a hike!

DAY 35

Sunday September 2 was Day 35 of Exreme Low Calorie consumption.

After my 18 mile urban hike on Saturday, I was sure that I would walk very little, if at all, on Sunday.
When I ventured out around 2PM, I found that I was feeling pretty good and I logged 6 miles.

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CHARTS

This is a chart of my weight since I started recording it on December 24, 2014. My starting weight was 309 lbs and I currently weight 239.3 lbs. That would be good, if the chart wasn't interrupted by periods when I was gaining weight.

If I only focus on my chart oner just the past two months, It looks like I have been right on target once I became serious (again) on August 26.

My goal now is to keep doing what I am doing and get back to the neighborhood of 225 lbs. It's a nice neighborhood. And these days, I am only about 15 pounds away from getting there.





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This is me on Division Avenue during the second of my two urban hikes yesterday

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, October 15, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	300	66	5	6	930	3
Nature's Nectar - 100% Apple Cider, 16 oz	240	60	0	0	50	60
	540	126	5	6	980	63
L U N C H
Johnsonville - Polish Kielbasa ( correct), 2 links	440	6	40	18	1,020	1
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	740	71	40	23	2,520	41
D I N N E R
Weight Watcher's - Cabbage Soup	200	20	0	5	157	11
	200	20	0	5	157	11
S N A C K S
Snack Cheese	200	0	18	13	325	0
Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries	300	55	27	0	0	27
	500	55	45	13	325	27
Totals	1,980	272	90	47	3,982	142
Your Daily Goal	3,976	497	132	199	2,300	149
Remaining	1,996	225	42	152	-1,682	7
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,046 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 207.5 lbs in 5 weeks.

READ THIS

On Sunday my wife served me a side dish with lunch that I have never had before. 4 BEAN SALAD.  READ SALADS are marketed by Seneca Foods. Nutritionally, I am aware that fresh vegetables are preferable to canned vegetables. Nevertheless, fresh vegetables are not always available. The complete contents of this can are only 300 calories, and I am sure that it will be a useful snack to keep in stock at home and on the road. Apparently, my daughter has been enjoying this as part of her school lunches for some time now. Even if the health benefits of canned vegetables are somewhat limited - I am pretty certain that this is still better than a candy bar or a bag of chips.

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15 Oz. CanClassic salad of green beans, wax beans, kidney beans plus chickpeas in a vinegar based, sweet-tangy dressing. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Ingredients:
Green Beans, Water, Wax Beans, Kidney Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Dehydrated Onions, Red Peppers, Salt, Soybean Oil, Turmeric..
Serving Size: 85g 
Servings Per Container: 5
Amount Per Serving: 1/3 cup
(Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet)
Calories: 60
   Calories from Fat 0
Total Fat 0g (0%)
   Saturated Fat 0g (0%)
   Trans Fat 0g (0%)
Cholesterol 0mg (0%).
Sodium 300mg (13%)
Potassium 90mg (5%)
Total Carbohydrate 13g (5%)
   Dietary Fiber 2g (8%) 
   Sugars 8g
Protein 1g 
Vitamin A (0%)
Vitamin C (4%)
Calcium (2%)
Iron (4%)

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I woke up at the crack of dawn on Monday, in sharp contrast to my 10AM start of the day on Sunday. Long before my family woke up I completed 99 minutes on the elliptical machine.

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After lunch our family took a leisurely bike ride along the Lake. I didn't initialize the MapMyRide Application until we arrived at the Museum Campus.  The 17 Mile ride that we recorded was understated by about 4 miles.

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Right before we returned home from the bike ride, my daughter expressed an interest in returning to Navy Pier to watch the 4th of July Fireworks. You know me...any chance to 'take a walk' and I am usually ready. We left our home at 8:40 which gave us plenty of time before the 9:30 start time. We hadn't counted on the fact that NAVY PIER was closed as it was FULL TO CAPACITY. We found a spot close by, still packed like sardines and watched the show.
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Our attempt to walk to Navy Pier failed as it was filled to capacity

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We took the long way home, fighting through a sea of humanity to get away from Navy Pier  area.

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, July 4, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 3 packet (28 g)	300	66	0	6	930	0
Maltomeal - Honey Nut Scooters, 2 cup	240	48	3	6	420	18
	540	114	3	12	1,350	18
L U N C H
Campbell's Chunky - Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Read 4 Bean Salad - Green and Yellow Beans, Red Beans, Chickpeas, 1.65 cup	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Sargento - Havarti (sliced) - 7 oz, 2 slice	160	0	14	8	250	0
Butternut - Whole Grain White, 4 slices	280	54	3	10	540	8
Oscar Meyer - Deli Fresh Black Forest Ham	100	0	3	18	1,120	0
	1,080	155	26	51	5,010	54
D I N N E R
Italian Roast Beef, 4 ounces	60	0	2	12	390	0
Melon - Honeydew	150	36	1	3	90	33
Broiled Whitefish	200	0	9	29	0	0
	410	36	11	44	480	33
S N A C K S
Nestle - Mini Baby Ruth, 2 bars	170	24	8	2	85	20
YOGURT PRETZELS	380	56	0	4	360	38
Nice! Trail Mix - trail mix, 1 package	200	24	11	4	0	0
	750	104	19	10	445	58
Totals	2,780	409	59	117	7,285	163
Your Daily Goal	5,017	627	167	251	2,300	188
Remaining	2,237	218	107	134	-4,985	25
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,087 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, July 4, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	99	1,154
Bicycling, road cycle	132	1,200
Walking	77	585
Walking	38	285
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-137
Daily Total / Goal	347 / 30	3,087 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	347 / 210	3,087 / 4,130

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INDIANA DUNES

I keep on finding more proof that in my previous lifestyle, I spent way too much time being an inactive person, content to watch TV for hours on end. These days, I can spend a full week in various hotel rooms and never once turn on the TV.  This is because during the time that I used to watch TV - I am often out and about doing something far more rewarding.  After my late afternoon appointment ended in Chesterton, Indiana, my customer asked where I was headed next. (Customers of mine are always wondering which of their competitors I am going to visit next.) I said I was going to look for a trail and/or visit the local YMCA. She suggested the Indiana Dunes which were less than 10 miles away. It is ridiculous that in the nearly quarter century of living in Chicago, I had never once made the trip to Indiana to visit the dunes. Even my daughter has been to the dunes, coincidentally within the past two weeks on a school trip. I parked at the visitors center outside the National Park and walked about two miles straight to the beach. I still had to pay $2.00 admission fee entering the park on foot. I was told to look for the Dune Ridge Trail (trail 8) as it was considered the most difficult and it included the three highest peaks, which were nearly 200 feet above beach level. When my hike was over, I had traversed 12 miles. I would definitely go back with my family. It was very challenging to walk uphill in sand, as my feet sunk into the sand with each step. A more perfect end to a visit to Indiana Dunes would have one disrobe from one's hiking clothes and refresh in Lake Michigan, and then catch some rays lounging on the beach.  That would be a perfect day. Nevertheless, my completely unexpected, unplanned visit yesterday was near perfect.

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I parked for free at the Visitors Center outside the park as I was told that this was perfectly OK, but still paid the $2.00 walk in fee

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Entrance to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

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Before climbing up into the dunes, I walked straight to the beach. In the distant background is the small silhouette of Chicago.

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Mt. Tom (the summit of the first of three 'peaks' at the dunes

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It is odd to the the elevation of something called Mt. Holden be only 184 feet. (I promise you, it took some effort to get up there)

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With each step walking up to the top of a dune (on the designated trail) one's foot sinks into the loose sand.

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Taken from the rim of what is called a 'blowout' and looking back into the thick woods which  grow on the dunes. During my walk, I did see a wild turkey - although I did not snap a photo of it.  I guess you will have to take my word that I saw it.

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, June 2, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker Oats - Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon	640	132	8	16	800	48
KELLOGGS - RAISIN BRAN	380	92	2	10	420	36
	1,020	224	10	26	1,220	84
L U N C H
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Turkey & Cheddar With Crackers Withtout Cookies, 1 package (3.2oz)	260	22	13	12	670	5
Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey, Crunchy Granola Bar	190	29	7	3	180	11
Lunchables - Ham & Cheddar with Crackers, 1 pkg	260	22	13	14	700	5
	710	73	33	29	1,550	21
D I N N E R
Panera - Thai Chicken Broth Bowl, 1 bowl	290	37	6	23	1,320	6
Panera Bread - French Baguette, 5 oz.	360	72	2	8	880	0
Panera - Half Roasted Turkey & Avocado Blt on Sourdough, 1/2 sandwich	260	24	11	16	470	1
Panera - Chips, 1 bag	150	17	8	2	170	1
	1,060	150	27	49	2,840	8
S N A C K S
Grandmas - Mini Sandwich Cremes, 18 cookies	300	44	14	4	190	18
	300	44	14	4	190	18
Totals	3,090	491	84	108	5,800	131
Your Daily Goal	5,059	632	168	253	2,300	189
Remaining	1,969	141	84	145	-3,500	58
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,129 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	205	1,798
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	205 / 30	1,798 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	866 / 210	9,825 / 4,130

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