UBER DRIVER

My Mom and her brother came to Chicago from New York this weekend for a wedding. I promised them both that I would be their personal uber driver during their 48 hour visit. Although I kept my promise, I still managed to get my walking accomplished as well.  On Friday when I picked them up at the airport, I walked 3 miles around O'Hare airport before I met them at the luggage carousel.  Friday afternoon we did some sightseeing, and while my guests rested before a Friday night party on a Chicago Party Boat, I had enough time to sneak in a seven mile walk before I had to don my uber hat again and drive them to the riverfront.  I spent the whole morning and afternoon with my Mom on Saturday. The high point of the day was watching The Thunderbird Jets as part of the Chicago Air and Water Show. We watched from the rooftop or our building.  

This photo was taken as these four jets flew directly over us on the 24th floor rooftop.

On Saturday night, I drove my Mom and my Uncle to the wedding which was about five miles from downtown (30 minutes with traffic) and since the parking lot seemed rather secure, I decided to park the car, and do my walking from that location. I dropped my guests off at 6:45PM and I picked them up at 11:45PM.  During that downtime, I managed a 17 mile walk, and I managed a quick healthy dinner at Mariano's.  Have I previously mentioned that I like to walk?  My hike was all over the to no place in particular, the one particularly nice spot I found was a short Canalport Riverwalk.

My favorite photo taken yesterday was me and my Mom in front of a Chicago store.  I can't say that I shop there often, but I do seem strangely attracted to the shop.

Does my Mom seem young or what? Couldn't we pass for brother and sister?

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, August 20, 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
	300	66	0	6	930	0
L U N C H
Italy Restaurant pizza quatro formaggi	700	86	26	28	0	10
Arrugula Salad	6	1	0	1	6	0
Chocolate Eataly - Chocolate	200	19	14	0	8	16
	906	106	40	29	14	26
D I N N E R
Bush's - Baked Beans	300	62	2	13	1,177	26
Cranberry Walnut Cabbage Slaw	200	19	14	3	167	0
Chicken 3 oz - Chicken Breast	300	0	4	65	158	0
	800	81	20	81	1,502	26
S N A C K S
Luna Bar - White Chocolate Macadamia	200	25	7	9	190	8
	200	25	7	9	190	8
Totals	2,206	278	67	125	2,636	60
Your Daily Goal	6,176	772	206	309	2,300	231
Remaining	3,970	494	139	184	-336	171
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 4,246 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 164.6 lbs in 5 weeks 

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	237	3,137
Daily Total / Goal	237 / 30	3,137 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1780 / 210	20,904 / 4,130

FITBIT vs. MOM

This posting if meant to be tongue in cheek.  I just saw this posted on my facebook 'newsfeed' yesterday.

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It is true that I like my fitbit.
It is also true that I am a willing slave to my fitbit which needs to be 'fed' steps every day.
It is not true that the fitbit nags me.
It is also not true that my Mom nags me (incessantly - only sometimes)
It is true that no matter what my accomplishments - my fitbit is never proud of me.
It is also true that my Mom is often very proud of me.
It is true that I like my fitbit.
However, It is true that I do love my Mom.
Any questions?
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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, March 14, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
2 Egg Omelette With Ham & Cheese	383	2	21	32	810	2
Nature Valley -Oats & Honey	190	29	6	4	160	12
	573	31	27	36	970	14
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	520	70	30	18	700	26
YOGURT PRETZELS	418	62	18	4	396	42
	938	132	48	22	1,096	68
D I N N E R
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
Cabbage Soup	300	31	1	7	235	17
Grilled Cheese Sandwich	360	128	28	36	500	22
	850	209	29	44	739	77
Totals	2,361	371	104	102	2,805	159
Your Daily Goal	5,382	673	179	270	2,300	201
Remaining	3,021	301	74	167	-504	42
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,452 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, March 14, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	125	2,308
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,502
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-358
Daily Total / Goal	218 / 30	3,452 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	218 / 210	3,452 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2361 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 3810 calories

total net 1449 calorie deficit

. . . . . . . . . . .   

fitbit day 194

23268 steps  

. . . . . . . ....

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IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION...

Aaaaaargh!  First there was the time a few months back when my Mom read my blog and questioned why I had so much liquor the previous night. I had to explain to her that they were 'L'chaims' enjoyed at the Chabad House which are not part of some ordinary drinking binge in a van down by the river.

Last night Mom 'struck' again. But this time I know she is right. My Mom wrote to me and told me that she brought her Kindle with her when she saw her chiropractor just to show off my somewhat dramatic before/after pictures. Since, my daily blog also records what I have been eating, the chiropractor could immediately see that I was not eating enough protein on a daily basis. Not to be stupid about it, but could this be the cause of my very slight anemia? Sure seems possible. So the recommendation is that I seek the a nutritionist for advice. Ok, Mom, I am talking to you: I will do it. And I won't wait six months. But I may not get to it this week. And that's all I want to say on this matter right now. 😀

and even if you are too old to ask... you are never too old to be told even without asking! 😀

I have lost my enthusiasm to post my food diary from yesterday. Although it was somewhat low in calories. It is another example of a protein deficient diet. I have work to do. In fact, I see a New Year's Resolution in the making...  For months now, I have been aware that I have developed some new unhealthy eating habits despite my progress on the scale. I am going to address this next year.

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, December 28, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Essential Everyday - Raisins (20 Oz), 1 cup (40g)	520	124	0	4	40	116
Fruit - Medium Apple, 2 Apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
	710	174	1	5	44	154
L U N C H
libby's - Sweet Corn, 1.75 cup	210	32	5	7	700	25
Earthbound Farm - Baby Spinach, Organic, 3 oz	20	3	0	2	65	0
Roundy's - Canned Mixed Garden Vegetables, 1 3/4 cup	123	25	0	4	1,470	11
	353	59	5	13	2,235	35
D I N N E R
Dynasty - Cut Baby Corn, 7.5 oz drained	50	8	0	3	475	0
Campbells Home Style Soup - Italian Wedding Soup, 2.5 cup	250	33	6	15	1,025	10
	300	40	6	18	1,500	10
S N A C K S
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal-original, 112 g	400	76	8	16	300	0
rice krispies treats - Rice Krispies, 2 bar	180	34	4	2	210	16
	580	110	12	18	510	16
Totals	1,943	383	24	53	4,289	215
Your Daily Goal	3,643	455	121	183	2,300	136
Remaining	1,700	72	96	130	-1,989	-79
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,713 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, December 28, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,699
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	14
Daily Total / Goal	93 / 30	1,713 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	93 / 210	1,713 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 1943 calories

total calories (92 minutes elliptical) 1699 calories

total net calories 244 calories

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fitbit day 116
12592 steps

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I am blessed to have two women in my life for whom I can wish a Happy Mothers Day.
My Wife and my Mom.   Happy Mothers Day, Jennifer.   Happy Mothers Day, Mom.
I think my Mom did a good job taking care of me and my two brothers.  My wife is doing a great job navigating our 13 year old daughter through life's challenges and perils.

One of the things that I enjoy doing nowadays more than ever is searching for new and different things to eat.  Yesterday at the grocery store I stumbled onto something called SLICED TENDER CACTUS.  Perhaps if I lived in desert country or somewhere out west - I would be more familiar with this food.  Up until today, I had no idea that cactus was edible.   So, naturally I purchased this product as the fact that its nutritional information sheet indicated that 2/3 cup was only 10 calories.

This food was added to my salad where, it just got lost in the other greens and I barely tasted it or noticed it.  I also had some straight out of the jar and it definitely had its own unique taste and texture.  It reminded me a little bit of okra.  SLICED TENDER CACUS, one more thing to add to my dinner plate.

SATURDAY MENU

breakfast   two cups oatmeal w/prune, two poached eggs, two slices turkey 'bacon'     505 calories
lunch        MARIANO'S HUGE SPINACH SALAD, red delicious apple, 28 almonds 765 calories
dinner       Spinach salad w/mushrooms, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, cactus, tomato
                 70 GRAMS DINON MUSSEL SALAD, cucumbder salad, sliced tender cactus
                 20 macadamia nuts                                                                                          564 calories

TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED  1834 CALORIES

calories consumed
1PM elliptical 32 minutes 476 calories

SATURDAY NET CALORIES    1358 CALORIES

DINNER : MUSSEL SALAD, 3.5 OUNCES SALMON, CUCUMBER SALAD  & SLICED TENDER CACTUS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Today is April 2.   On April 2, 1935, my Mom was born.  She is 80 years old today.  Happy Birthday, Mom.  I should not be so shocked that my own Mom is 80 years old...since I am 57 years old.   What is shocking to me is that at my age, I am not so far away from being 80 years old myself.  That IS shocking.  The good news for me is that I have changed my lifestyle so that I have a good chance of achieving this age (and beyond) in good health.  The path that I had been on previously was not leading to a good outcome.

HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY, MOM!
 I am so pleased to be here to help you celebrate!

The direction that my life took changed somehow while I was visiting the doctor for a 'wellness' exam on December 24, 2014.  When I awoke that morning, I had no plans and no real desire to make the decisions that would change my life.  During my consultation with the doctor, I summoned the desire to change my lifestyle.  During the summer of 2014, my Mom was suggesting that I should try to lose weight.   The only real reason that I had made that appointment was that I promised my Mom that I would 'at the very least' see a doctor for a checkup prior to the end of the year.  That promise was made during previous summer.  Obviously I was not in a big hurry to fulfill that promise to my Mom - but I am glad I did as the visit to the doctor has propelled me to a new freedom - the freedom to be fit and healthy.  It feels great.  Thanks, Mom!  And Happy Birthday!

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to spend the entire day with my Mom in Lynbrook, Long Island in the home that I grew up in.  It was a thoroughly delightful day.  As soon as i arrived home, we had lunch.   if there was any doubt, and there was none, my Mom is a regular reader of my blog. My Mom prepared two perfect meals for me yesterday. Isn't that what Moms do?

 LUNCH: spinach salad w/tomato and Panera Bread Tortilla soup (purchased from a supermarket) 305 calories

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DINNER: spinach salad w/cucumber & tomato, 4 Trader Joe's turkey meatballs,
one cup broccoli, one potato pancake, CABBAGE SOUP 416 calories

WEDNESDAY MENU
breakfast   two hard-boiled eggs, one apple, three slices turkey 'bacon'                   326 calories
lunch         spinach salad w/tomato, Panera Bread chicken tortilla soup.                  305 calories
dinner        spinach salad w/tomato & cucumber, turkey meatballs, cup broccoli     416 calories
               

total calories consumed  1047 calories

calories burned
late Tuesday night   elliptical 42min  478 calories

TUESDAY NET CALORIES   569 CALORIES