THAT'S A LOT OF BULL

Among the fun things about taking an urban hike is seeing something new that I have never seen before. It had been nearly 6 weeks since I had taken a 10 mile urban trek.  I had been nearly two months since I had logged 25,000 steps in one day. Those streaks of inactivity ended yesterday. During my hike I had the idea of walking out to the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. My intention was to see if the arena was open to the public so that I could see the Michael Jordan Statue.  In order to gain entrance to the lobby to see the statue, one has to enter through 'The Madhouse' which is the official Chicago Bulls/Blackhawks store. Within the store is a particularly fun photo booth which I tried out.

In recent weeks, I have been embarrassed about my weight gain and as a result I have become camera shy. Now that I have finally convinced myself to reverse this unwelcome weight gain, I am less unwilling to take photos of myself. Afterall, photos taken of my now, will only serve to document how much better I will look in a few weeks.  

That's a lot of Bull - Taken at the Photo Booth at the Madhouse (United Center Store)

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This was my first urban hike of TEN MILES in a long time.  I had recently lost the confidence that  I could complete this a hike like this. This past week when I spent hours marching in place in my hotel room, I regained the confidence to take an actual hike in the great outdoors.  At the conclusion of this 10 mile hike, I met my family briefly in a Whole Foods in downtown Chicago. After having a quick, low calorie, healthy lunch, we parted company and I walked (a bit more slowly) home an additional three miles.  My total mileage walked yesterday was 13. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, September 2, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Appleton Farms - Biscuit Ham Slices	60	0	3	9	680	0
4 Poached Eggs	300	2	20	25	629	1
	360	2	23	34	1,309	1
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Chicken Drumstick	100	1	5	14	0	0
Baked Whitefish Filet	300	0	14	41	108	0
Broccoli	50	8	0	2	40	1
Fire Roasted Corn	50	8	4	1	100	1
	800	82	23	63	1,748	42
D I N N E R
Taco Bell - Beefy Potatorito, 1 burrito	450	45	24	14	1,030	3
	450	45	24	14	1,030	3
S N A C K S
Jacob's - Cream Crackers	240	40	8	4	320	0
	240	40	8	4	320	0
Totals	1,850	169	78	115	4,407	46
Your Daily Goal	3,795	474	126	190	2,300	142
Remaining	1,945	305	48	75	-2,107	96
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,865 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 224.2 lbs in 5 weeks     

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This was the famous Michael Jordan Statue that drew me to the United Center.  It used to be outside on the east side of the building. After an addition to the building was recently completed, it was moved indoors into a big open lobby area.

HUMBOLDT PARK

Humboldt Park, the community and the actual park are located on the west side of Chicago. It is in a part of the city that many 'northsiders' never see due to its 'inaccessibility' and/or the fear that it might be dangerous. 

Humboldt Park Field House and Refectory, 2014

I am fairly certain that I would not make a habit of visiting this location after dark. A lone guy trekking along with a backpack garners unusual stares in some neighborhoods. I have only once in all my urban treks felt uneasy, and that was much closer to home in broad daylight in front of a low income housing project. At that time, not a single person said anything to me to make me feel unsafe, but there is something discomfiting about walking past a block with scores of people just hanging around, apparently not doing too much of anything. And recently in America, thanks to our President, race relations are not exactly at a zenith.

Apparently Humboldt Park has been a place for Chicagoans to kick back for quite some time.

1883 Lithograph by Louis Glaser (1881-1915),  german printer

Humboldt Park was nothing like that. The park itself was large and reminded me of Central Park in New York. The park is home to a lagoon where fishing is allowed and encouraged, although I have no idea what fish are being hooked. I saw a lone woman with an entire section of the park to herself doing some new age exercise - yoga? pilates? Honestly, I have no idea. My hike yesterday, took me to Humboldt Park, and from there I continued my urban hike to visit to Garfield Observatory, then I turned east back to the city and passed the United Center which is currently adding a completely new wing to the building. I had wanted to see the famous Michael Jordan statue but that will be out of public view for a few months more as the construction project continues. During my hike I passed Roberto Clemente High School. I stared at this wall mural for a few moments trying to figure out why the artist has written the word 'hate' on Roberto's jersey.  Finally, I figured out that I was seeing the artists rendition of part of the name of the team that Roberto played for, The Pirates.

I had to stare at this wall mural for a few moments trying to determine why the word 'Hate" was on Roberto Clemente's jersey. I finally figured out that it was not 'Hate" but a part of his jersey, "PIRATES."  (Yes, that did make much more sense!) The artist depicted on part of Clemente's jersey, as the complete name of the team was obscured by a tiled rendition of a jacket.

I have lived in Chicago for 23 years, yesterday was the first time that I ever saw Humboldt Park from within the park.

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Isn't this supposed to be election season? Perhaps you have heard, the United States is about to select its next President in less than 50 days. When one walks 17 miles through a city, one might expect to see some yard signs, or signs in windows professing support for one candidate or another. The thing is, since both candidates are mostly distrusted by their own supporters, it appears that not too many people are willing to publicly announce their support to the world.  I have no doubt that the upcoming debate on Monday will be watched by many millions of voters. It is not a lack of interest that prevents people for publicly endorsing their guy (or gal). I did pass a bar which is looking to cash in on the Monday debate in much the same way that bars like to cash in on popular football games.

Other than this sign promoting the upcoming nationally televised debate, I did not notice one single solitary sign on anyone's lawn, window or doorway endorsing either candidate for President. I did see one "Hillary" sign, but it appeared to support her for a different job aside from the Presidency.

Hillary for Prison 2016

The private house that posted this sign on the west side of Chicago was protected by a iron fence.  That was probably a good idea. Chicago is a city in a state that has voted Democratic for the Presidency every time in recent years. This sign would probably not be too popular with most of the nearby neighbors.  Me? I concur completely the sentiments of this placard.

The first urban hike of my day was ended once I had logged 17 miles. Late in the evening, I met my family at a supermarket for which I had to walk an additional 3 miles.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 23, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Generic - Banana	110	30	0	1	0	19
Fruit - Honeycrisp Apple	80	22	0	0	0	17
YOGURT ALMONDS	300	30	19	5	27	26
	490	82	19	6	27	62
L U N C H
Trader Joes - Multigrain O's	440	96	4	8	540	24
	440	96	4	8	540	24
D I N N E R
Generic - Battered and Fried Codfish	300	22	16	19	0	0
Chef Salad	600	18	44	34	1,275	9
	900	40	60	53	1,275	9
S N A C K S
Dark Chocolate Chips	300	34	21	0	0	26
	300	34	21	0	0	26
Totals	2,130	252	104	67	1,842	121
Your Daily Goal	5,565	695	185	279	2,300	208
Remaining	3,435	443	81	212	458	87
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 3,635 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, September 23, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
17 MILE URBAN HIKE	232	3,205
3 MILE URBAN HIKE	39	603
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	271 / 30	3,808 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	859 / 210	13,007 / 4,130

SATURDAY - TIME TO WEIGH MYSELF
I am fairly certain my results would have been much improved if I could remember to eat less.
Nevertheless, my weight this morning was 219.9 lbs.
I guess, I will simply choose to be happy that I have remained under 220.0 lbs.
Still down 89 pounds from where I started nearly two years ago.

SUNFOOD SUPERFOODS RAW VEGAN COCONUT WRAPS

While taking a stroll to Whole Foods on Saturday - my wife and I passed a store called RAW.  It looked interesting enough to check out - so we did.  RAW is an acronym for:

RAISING AWARENESS WORLDWIDE

It appears that the store aims to raise awareness of the virtues of eating healthy with a particular emphasis on the vegan lifestyle.  A vegan diet is definitely not in my future.  This, of course, does not preclude me form tasting, enjoying and/or buying  specific vegan items.  The small shop is owned by two partners - and the one partner we did meet, Polly, was a true dynamo.  She was only too happy to answer questions as she was extremely proud of the hard work that she put into making this 3 year old business a success.  Healthy eating and nutrition, she said, were her passions, and she was passionate about describing how many food items her business prepared each day at their commercial kitchen which was located a few short miles away, not too far from The United Center,  home of the Chicago Bulls.

We tasted some foods that were prepared in small cups to be sampled. Each item that I tasted was delicious.  The prepared foods were not sold with nutritional information: calories, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, etc.   It was explained to me that each menu item submitted for testing to determine this type of information costs in excess of $1000.  This is a prohibitive expense for a small business.  I was compelled to try something.  I purchased some of the packaged foods also sold in the store.

The package contains seven wraps, and each wrap was only 70 calories.  My wife prepared my spinach salad wrapped in the SUNFOOD SUPERFOODS RAW VEGAN COCONUT WRAPS and they were absolutely delicious.   I will be buying this product again.  It was thoroughly enjoyable.

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 Sunday MENU

breakfast  oatmeal, pitted dates, apples                                               600 calories
lunch        medjool dates, mango, wasabi peas, almonds, granola      662 calories
dinner       Whole Foods Salad Bar, Whole Foods Hot Bar, wasabi  1240 calories

total calories consumed 2503 calories

calories burned

elliptical machine 92 minutes, manual, level 20              2243 calories

CALORIES BURNED 2243 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories 260 calories

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The following comes directly from the 'raw' website: chicagorawfood.com

Originating from the vision of a world enjoying better health, raw strives to deliver only the highest in quality of fully uncooked, 100% plant-based products to an under-served community in need. Through the fresh daily packaging of the simple raw goodness of nutrient-rich ingredients & by educating our patrons, the healing mission of raw is to raise awareness worldwide. 

Chicago Raw was started by two savvy foodies at a small farmers market in New Buffalo, MI. Founders, Carole Jones & Polly Gaza, have joined creative forces and set out to raise awareness about the wonderful health benefits of incorporating raw foods into your diet! With gratitude & love, we choose to provide & educate you about the most organic & naturally abundant nutrients we can find. share this journey of health and vibrance as we reflect the beautiful vision of raw together.

Polly lives in New Buffalo, Michigan, with her husband  Don Gaza and her two children, Zachary Gaza age 21 and Margo Gaza age 19.

From an early age Polly recognized the importance of nutrition. Running two full marathons and many halves. Losing her father and both of her grandparents tragically to cancer only helped to affirm her belief that bad nutrition plays a key role in the epidemic of mall health we as a people are enduring. She believes the keystone of good nutrition is understanding that its not what you take out of your diet that is important but what you put in it. 

Always being health conscious, Polly followed a 40/30/30 plan (zone eating plan) with the majority of her carbohydrates coming from raw foods. She noticed a gradual change for the better the less animal proteins she ate. Mind full of questions she started researching raw food, attending CHI to further her knowledge on the subject, and to get to know the raw food lifestyle. Eating at a local raw food restaurant she ran into Carole Jones, from the moment they met they realized that they both not only shared a love for raw food but the want to share their passion with the world. This “want” expressed itself in raising awareness worldwide, or raw.

Her passion and love for raw food not only shows in her exuberance in talking about her lifestyle, but in the food itself. While good nutrition may seem like an impossible journey remember the words of philosopher Lao Tzu; “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” we vow to help you make that first step in the right direction. 

Born and raised in Luxembourg, a small picturesque country bordering Germany, France, and Belgium, Carole Jones grew up on rich heavy cooked foods. After falling in love with an American in Luxembourg, she decided to follow her heart and fly to Chicago to start a family. She had a son, Jeremy, who also works with raw and benefits from the raw food lifestyle.
  

After years of the roller coaster we call life and losing her husband to cancer she hit a slump, amidst this deep depression she came across Anne Wigmore’s book Recipes for a longer life. The book just spoke to her, after a little more research she fell in love with the raw food lifestyle. W. Clement Stone once wrote: “When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.” This sums up how she felt after discovering raw food. She changed her way of eating and her outlook on life; losing 50 lbs on raw food she felt the need to share her calling with others.

On a cold winter’s morning she decided to walk into a local raw food restaurant and apply for a job. A few days later she was contacted and told that there was a vacancy in the kitchen, and that if she was still in need of work could fill that vacancy. Half a year into her employment she worked her way up to kitchen manager, started teaching raw food prep classes; even redesigning the recipes on the menu.

As most things in life if you are spending your energy to realize someone else’s dream it tends not to feel as good as if you were to bring your own to fruition. After meeting Polly Gaza, who deeply echoed Carole’s passion for raw food, they started contemplating the idea of starting their own raw food restaurant. After long nights on the phone their mission was born, raising awareness worldwide, or raw in short. Fusing creativity with ingenuity in their new mission to provide the best raw food in Chicago, and to also share their vision, the two have teamed up to provide a healthy & great tasting alternative to the traditional heavily processed cuisine most of us are used to.

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