WELCOME HOME, SARA

Sadly, Friday the 13th, November 2015 was the '9/11' for Paris, France.  Our daughter, and twenty-three of her classmates from Lincoln Elementary School were spending their final evening in Paris at the conclusion of a one week visit on the night of the attacks.  Most were already back 'home' with their host families for the night and making final preparations for the return trip home the following day, Saturday, November 14th.  That is precisely the schedule that was kept.  The biggest effect on their travel plans was a four hour delay at Charles De Gaulle airport that delayed their departure from the city of light.  All the students are now back home in Chicago.  Each student probably had one of the most memorable weeks of their lives, and that was before the final night of their visit while the city of Paris was under attack.  Welcome Home, Sara!

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Another day, another 10 mile walk in the morning.  Since the focus of the day was to drive to O'Hare airport and pick up our daughter.  I squeezed in second walk, only 6.5 miles before driving to the airport in the late afternoon.

While on my morning walk, I spotted a Chicago police officer on horseback right outside Lincoln Park.  I asked him what he was doing there.  He told me he was just on a normal patrol.  I asked his permission to take a 'selfie' with him in the background - and he immediately agreed.  After snapping my photo I thanked him for his thankless job which is so important to maintaining law and order and peace in our city.  He was very appreciative of my appreciation.

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My fitbit rewarded me with another 'lifetime' badge during the day.  Evidently, since I started 'fitbitting' on September 3, I have walked the equivalent of the length of New Zealand, which is 990 miles.  A couple of weeks ago, October 28, I had earned a badge for walking the equivalent of the length of Italy, which was 'only' 736 'lifetime' fitbit miles.  I don't know what reward is up next - but I am sure to find out.

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, November 14, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Kashi - Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar, 1 bar	120	21	4	4	50	7
General Mills - Kix Cereal, 6.25 cup	550	125	5	10	900	15
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple (170g)	190	50	1	1	4	38
Add Food Quick Tools	860	196	9	15	954	60
L U N C H
Campbells Home Style Soup - Italian Wedding Soup, 2 cup	200	26	5	12	820	8
Kashi - Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar, 1 bar	120	21	4	4	50	7
	320	47	9	16	870	15
D I N N E R
WHOLE FOODS 8738 - DRIED MANGO SLICES, 52.0 g (approx 6 pieces)	143	36	0	3	1	26
WHOLE FOODS - NATURAL WASABI GREEN PEAS, 0.5033328268210888 cup (30 grams)	181	29	5	6	362	3
Akmak - Cracker, 20 cracker	440	80	8	20	560	0
	764	145	13	29	924	29
S N A C K S
WHOLE FOODS 8497 - CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA, 60.5 g (3/4 cup)	264	44	8	6	66	17
WHOLE FOODS 7700 - ORGANIC DATE PIECES w/OAT FLOWER, 59.2 g (2 TBSP)	178	44	0	1	15	33
WHOLE FOODS 7089 - 42% CACAO SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS, 32.25 g (approx 2 TBSP)	151	22	9	2	0	17
Lilly's - Dark Chocolate Coconut, 80 g	340	40	32	4	10	2
	933	150	48	13	91	68
Totals	2,877	538	78	73	2,838	172
Your Daily Goal	5,742	718	191	288	2,300	215
Remaining	2,865	179	112	215	-538	42
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,812 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 5.0 mph	126	2,085
Walking, 5.0 mph	75	1,539
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	188
Daily Total / Goal	202 / 30	3,812 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	893 / 210	12,942 / 4,130

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TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 2877 CALORIES
TOTAL CALORIES BURNED (10 MILE WALK, 6.5 MILE WALK)   3624 CALORIES
TOTAL NET CALORIES 747 CALORIE DEFECIT
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fitbit day 73

36232 steps

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I always see grasshoppers on the boardwalk in Lincoln Park - yesterday, I simply felt compelled to photograph one

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LIFE GETS INTERRUPTED

Every day I blog. I try to be interesting. I try to be amusing. I try to be funny. I try to be informative. Today, I will be mostly somber. Late yesterday afternoon my daughter was winding down from another busy day and her one week visit to Paris, France. We received a text from her requesting permission for her to skip brushing her teeth as she was preparing to go to sleep. (I guess she was tired.)  While receiving this text, my wife and I were at the hotel where our out-of-town guests will be gathering to celebrate our daughter's Bat-Mitzvah in three weeks. And while that was going on, my phone started lighting up and buzzing.  It did not take long to learn that Civilization was attacked.  This time, in Paris, France (again.)   While I was learning how to operate the audio visual projector to show photos to our guests in three weeks, I was concurrently learning that there were multiple deaths in Paris, France at the hands of terrorists.  The true scope of these murders were not known to us for an hour or so more.  What to do?  We already knew that our daughter was snug as a bug, safe and sound in the home of her Parisian hosts.  Shortly thereafter, we received emails from the chaperones in Paris, as well as Sara's Principal back here in Chicago - that every child and all four teacher/chaperones were safe.  I received phone messages, and/or texts from family and friends over the next hour or so.  After assuring all that Sara was indeed safe, and possibly oblivious to what had transpired (at least until she awakens in Paris on Saturday morning) all we could do was watch the news and hope that Sara's plane departs Paris as scheduled on Saturday. We monitored her aircraft that departed Chicago four hours late which made necessary that Sara's flight would be delayed by some hours as well.  That is where we are now.... Waiting and hoping that Sara's flight departs as scheduled on Saturday, even if it delayed by a few hours.  

Now, I want to make one 'political statement.'   Every time I visit a building with the 'warning' sticker on the front door that this location is a gun-free zone - I know that the person that cheerfully applied that sticker is among the biggest morons in the universe.   I have noticed that criminals, murderers and terrorists tend to not attack police stations where people are known to be armed.  They do, however, seem to enjoy attacking places where they know people are not armed.  Way to go liberals, thanks for broadcasting the absolute safest places in the world for criminals, murderers and terrorists to 'apply their trade.'  

I guess I am not being my amusing, chipper self today... I apologize to readers of my blog who visit only to be amused and/or learn how a guy who used to be 309 lbs turned into a guy who is not about 220 lbs. Life Gets Interrupted sometimes.  And today, was one of those days.

Why are there so many morons that think that this sign is a sign of intelligent life?

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PLEASE STOP VOTING FOR THE MORONS THAT THINK THAT GUN FREE ZONES ARE INTELLIGENT.  PLEASE STOP SENDING YOUR CHILDREN TO UNIVERSITIES WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE BRAINWASHED TO THINK THAT GUNS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDER.  MURDERERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDER. PLEASE STOP VOTING FOR POLITICIANS WHO CANNOT NAME OR IDENTIFY OUR ENEMY.  PLEASE STOP SUPPORTING DEMOCRATS WHO ESPOUSE LEFTIST IDEAS.  PLEASE STOP LIVING A LIFE OF BLISSFUL IGNORANCE.  PLEASE EXCUSE MY ANGER THIS MORNING. 

...and now, I return you to my regular blog...

Another reminder that winter is on the way.  When I got underway this morning in Chicago, the temperature was 39° F and the windchill made it feel more like 28°F.  I dressed in four different layers and I did what I have been doing... I took off for a 10 mile walk to start my day.  As many of you know, one of the milestones of fitbit use is to (at least) surpass 10,000 steps per day.  A ten mile walk insures that the fitbit will be satisfied for the day. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, November 13, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
tasteeos - Cereal, 3 cup	300	63	5	9	480	3
Kashi - Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar, 3 bar	360	63	11	12	150	21
	660	126	15	21	630	24
L U N C H
Ak Mak - Sesame Cracker, 20 Crackers	440	80	8	20	892	0
WHOLE FOODS 8738 - DRIED MANGO SLICES, 52.0 g (approx 6 pieces)	143	36	0	3	1	26
	583	116	8	23	893	26
D I N N E R
Generic - Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 1 cup	65	13	3	6	23	0
Teriyaki - Salmon, 120 g	270	3	8	47	0	0
Ronzoni - Gemelli., 56 g (2/3 cup)	200	42	1	7	0	2
Little Sald Bar Spinach (Aldi) - Spinach, 0.99 cups	7	1	0	1	21	0
Crab Salad - Imitation Crab, Deli, 1 cup	225	18	2	26	680	2
	767	77	14	86	724	4
S N A C K S
WHOLE FOODS - YOGURT PRETZELS, 34.0 g (approx 8 pcs)	162	24	0	2	153	16
Whole Foods - Dancing Star - Chunks of Energy - Carob Spirulina, 3 chunks (28g)	195	23	11	6	15	12
WHOLE FOODS - CHEDDAR SESAME STICKS, 36.4 g (1/3 cup)	195	17	13	4	624	1
WHOLE FOODS 7089 - 42% CACAO SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS, 48.0 g (approx 2 TBSP)	224	32	13	3	0	26
General Mills With Whole Grain - Kix Cereal (Net Carbs), 2.5 cup	220	50	2	4	360	6
	996	145	38	19	1,152	61
Totals	3,006	464	75	148	3,400	115
Your Daily Goal	3,985	498	133	200	2,300	149
Remaining	979	33	58	51	-1,099	33
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,055 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, November 13, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	128	2,043
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	12
Daily Total / Goal	129 / 30	2,055 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	691 / 210	9,130 / 4,130

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TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 3006 CALORIES
TOTAL CALORIES BURNED (10 MILE WALK) 2043 CALORIES
TOTAL NET CALORIES 963 CALORIES
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220.4 lbs

I weigh 220.4 lbs.

I gained 1.8 lb this week (It's gotta be muscle mass!)

I have lost 88.6 lbs in 325 days. Today begins Day 326.

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

I weigh 220.4 lbs (325 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 28.7% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 29.48

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 325 days ago (Class III obesity)

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fitbit day 72

30009 steps

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a little before 9:00AM Chicago time, my daughters flight took off from Paris...Now due to arrive Chicago a little after 6:00PM.  

MESSAGE CACHÉ POUR MA FILLIE

Cette semaine, ma fille adolescente est de passer une semaine avec une fille de Paris France et sa famille . Elle est en visite en France à un voyage organisé par son école . Au printemps , deux douzaines d' enfants français wil visiteront Chicago. Cette semaine, je promis d'envoyer un message à travers mon blog pour ma fille . Aujourd'hui est le jour que je garde cette promesse . Si cela est du charabia - s'il vous plaît blâmer Google translate.

This is where my daughter, Sara is this week....Paris, France!

Dear Sara,

While I was taking a morning walk yesterday, I was thinking about you.  If you carefully look at the route I took, I believe you will see a message....Just make sure that you scroll down to see everything... Love, Daddy

NOTHING TOO SEE HERE... I THINK YOU WILL NEED TO SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT MAP WHICH HAS AN IMPORTANT SECTION ENLARGED

Well, that's it Sara... I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you yesterday morning during my 6 mile walk. Before Mom and Dad went to the movies to the see the new James Bond movie I decided to write you a greeting through the steps that I took walking through the park.  I know that you are having a great time in Paris and I am looking forward to hearing all about it!  Love, Daddy

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, November 8, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Food Lion - Essentially You Vanilla Almond Cereal, 2 1/4 cup	330	75	5	6	450	27
	330	75	5	6	450	27
L U N C H
Rhythm Superfoods - Kale Chips - Texas Bbq, 2 oz	280	26	12	10	400	6
WHOLE FOODS 8890 - STRAWBERRY VANILLA HEMP GRANOLA, 55 g (3/4 cup)	250	40	8	5	60	15
	530	66	20	15	460	21
D I N N E R
Campbells Home Style Soup - Italian Wedding Soup, 2 cup	200	26	5	12	820	8
MARIANO'S - HUGE SPINACH SALAD, 1 SALAD	500	0	0	0	0	0
	700	26	5	12	820	8
S N A C K S
Ghirardelli - Midnight Reverie 86% Cacao, 8 pieces	500	30	50	6	0	10
dang toasted coconut - original recipe, 84 g	495	51	30	3	495	33
Lilly's - Dark Chocolate Coconut, 80 g	340	40	32	4	10	2
	1,335	121	112	13	505	45
Totals	2,895	288	142	46	2,235	101
Your Daily Goal	5,650	706	188	283	2,300	212
Remaining	2,755	418	46	237	65	111
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
. Your Exercise Diary for: Sunday, November 8, 2015 Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace 81 1,144 Walking, 5.0 mph 99 1,694 MFP iOS calorie adjustment N/A 882 Add Exercise Quick Tools     Daily Total / Goal 181 / 30 3,720 / 590   Weekly Total / Goal 1152 / 210 21,198 / 4,130 . TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 2895 TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 2838 TOTAL NET CALORIES 57 CALORIES . After returning from the movie theatre to see SPECTRE and sitting in a lounge chair eating snack food for three hours - it seemed like a good idea for another walk. ....................... fitbit day 67 40075 steps ........................ message caché pour ma fille HIDDEN MESSAGE FOR MY DAUGHTER Wondering what the first paragraph of the blog said today? This is the English translation. This week, my teenage daughter is to spend a week with a girl from Paris, France and her family. She is visiting France on a trip organized by her school. In the spring, two dozen French children wil be visiting Chicago. This week I promised to send a message through my blog for my daughter. Today is the day that I keep that promise. If this is gibberish - please blame Google translate .

BON VOYAGE

Bon Voyage.  My daughter, age 13, left Chicago yesterday with 23 classmates and 4 chaperones from her school.  A public school in Chicago.  She left early yesterday evening for Paris, France!  Bon Voyage, Sara.  Have a safe (and incredibly fun) trip.  We will see you in a week.

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I guess my daughter was had some mixed feelings at the airport.  She was excited to be going to France for the week.  I think she was a bit nervous too.  I know that she did not enjoy my joke when she picked up her boarding pass and dropped off her luggage.  The person at the check in counter asked Sara if her luggage included any electronic cigarettes.  I found the question an odd one for a 13 year old girl - so I told the person behind the counter that my daughter only smoked Marlboro's.  Although the gate person thought this was pretty funny, neither my wife nor daughter found this even slightly humoruous....apparently they were not in a humorous mood.

THE BENEFITS OF A LATE NIGHT WALK

It was an extremely busy day yesterday.  We had an appointment at our synagogue to get some (December) Bat Mitzvah details squared away.  Then there were some final preparations for the trip to Paris. We drove to O'hare airport and battled traffic and construction for the entire trip.  We said 'Bon Voyage' to our daughter.  Then we battled traffic and construction in the opposite direction as we headed home.  A quick shopping trip followed by a quick dinner at Mariano's.  We finally arrived home shortly before 10PM.  It would have been very easy to simply skip a day of exercise.  Addicts do not skip days.  I suited up in some warm clothes and took your basic 10 mile walk through the streets of Chicago,   I ended my day with 25000 steps....  Since my 10 mile walk did not complete until 1AM - I will begin today, Saturday, with 5000 steps 'in the bank.'  This is surely a benefit of a late night walk.

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218.6 lbs

I weigh 218.6 lbs.

I lost 1.4 lb this week

I have lost 90.4 lbs in 318 days. Today begins Day 319.

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

I weigh 218.6 lbs (318 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 29.2% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 29.24 

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 318 days ago (Class III obesity)

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, November 6, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
John McCann Steel Cut - Oat Meal, 1 cup	600	108	0	16	0	0
FORRELLI - MULTIGRAIN RICE CAKES, 18 SLICE	360	72	0	0	360	0
Add Food Quick Tools	960	180	0	16	360	0
L U N C H
Roundy's Select - Sirloin Burger Soup, 2 cup	300	46	7	12	960	8
Quaker - Chewy Granola Bar - Low Fat S'mores, 3 bar (24g)	300	57	6	3	225	24
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
Add Food Quick Tools	790	153	14	16	1,189	70
D I N N E R
MARIANO'S - HUGE SPINACH SALAD, 1 SALAD	500	0	0	0	0	0
Forrelli - Rice Cakes Multigrain Thin, 27 SLICE	540	108	0	0	540	0
Add Food Quick Tools	1,040	108	0	0	540	0
S N A C K S
Quaker Oats - Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar, 48 g	200	34	7	2	140	14
Add Food Quick Tools	200	34	7	2	140	14
Totals	2,990	475	21	34	2,229	84
Your Daily Goal	4,152	519	138	208	2,300	155
Remaining	1,162	43	117	174	71	71
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,222 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, November 6, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 5.0 mph	125	2,092
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	130
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	126 / 30	2,222 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	775 / 210	14,422 / 4,130

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TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 2990

TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 2092

NET CALORIES 908 CALORIES

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.......................

fitbit day 65

25066 steps

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BREAKFAST

Calories

Carbs

Fat

Protein

Sodium

Sugar

John McCann Steel Cut - Oat Meal, 1 cup

600

108

0

16

0

0

FORRELLI - MULTIGRAIN RICE CAKES, 18 SLICE

360

72

0

0

360

0

Add Food

Quick Tools

960

180

0

16

360

0

L U N C H

Roundy's Select - Sirloin Burger Soup, 2 cup

300

46

7

12

960

8

Quaker - Chewy Granola Bar - Low Fat S'mores, 3 bar (24g)

300

57

6

3

225

24

Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple

190

50

1

1

4

38

Add Food

Quick Tools

790

153

14

16

1,189

70

D I N N E R

MARIANO'S - HUGE SPINACH SALAD, 1 SALAD

500

0

0

0

0

0

Forrelli - Rice Cakes Multigrain Thin, 27 SLICE

540

108

0

0

540

0

Add Food

Quick Tools

1,040

108

0

0

540

0

S N A C K S

Quaker Oats - Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar, 48 g

200

34

7

2

140

14

Add Food

Quick Tools

200

34

7

2

140

14

Totals

2,990

475

21

34

2,229

84

Your Daily Goal

4,152

519

138

208

2,300

155

Remaining

1,162

43

117

174

71

71

Calories

Carbs

Fat

Protein

Sodium

Sugar

*You've earned 2,222 extra calories from exercise today

Cardiovascular

Minutes

Calories Burned

Walking, 5.0 mph

125

2,092

MFP iOS calorie adjustment

N/A

130

Add Exercise

Quick Tools

 

 

Daily Total / Goal

126 / 30

2,222 / 590

 

Weekly Total / Goal

775 / 210

14,422 / 4,130 

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