RIGHT TRIANGLE TRAIL

Lately I have been naming my pathways. I have dubbed yesterday's route, the Right Triangle Trail, in honor of the geometry that I have recently been diving into while helping (and attempting to help) my daughter with her homework. About 40 years ago I was a geometry 'genius.'  Forty years can make anyone rusty. I have found it challenging to try to assist my daughter in a subject matter that I was highly proficient in about a half century ago. Nevertheless, the definition of a right triangle is fairly straightforward. It is a triangle that has one right angle (90° angle, two perpendicular sides) and this was the basic shape of my hike on Saturday morning. The 'hypotenuse' of this 'triangle' was spent mostly traveling the paved trails through multiple adjacent forest preserves in the suburbs.  My responsibility yesterday was to pick up my daughter and her friend from cheerleading practice at 11:30AM.  They had been dropped off by the parent of the other child at 10:00AM.  I basically drove to the area where they were to be picked up at 8:30AM, so that I could take a long 2.5 hour hike. By the time I had finished, I had logged twelve miles.

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This photo attempted to capture the changing colors of the leaves on the trees in the forest preserve.

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The section of the trail that led to this area indicated that the trail was closed. Naturally I needed to check out why. In the background is the remnants of a bridge that used to cross the river.  The bridge is no longer there. Now I know why this part of the trail is closed.

Once I emerged from the forest preserves, I hiked along Touhy Avenue and passed the iconic YMCA known for its  'Leaning Tower of Pisa'  There was scaffolding at the bottom.  What are they trying to do, straighten out the building?

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, November 5, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon	320	66	4	8	400	24
	320	66	4	8	400	24
L U N C H
Orecchiette pasta, 1 cup	200	41	10	7	0	1
Teriyaki - Salmon	300	3	9	52	0	0
Seafood Pasta Salad	300	10	1	10	175	0
General Tso Chicken	300	23	18	13	713	13
	1,100	77	38	82	888	14
D I N N E R
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Chocolate Birthday Cake	600	87	27	15	0	99
Special K - Vanilla Almond, 174 grams	660	150	9	12	1,020	54
	1,560	302	36	32	2,520	193
S N A C K S
Nestle - Dark Chocolate Bar	500	52	30	6	0	0
	500	52	30	6	0	0
Totals	3,480	497	108	128	3,808	231
Your Daily Goal	4,299	537	143	215	2,300	161
Remaining	819	40	35	87	-1,508	-70
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,369 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 202.9 lbs in 5 weeks.

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
TWELVE MILE HIKE	157	2,369
Daily Total / Goal	157 / 30	2,369 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	835 / 210	13,754 / 4,130

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ENERGIZED

Two days ago, I took a much needed day off from working out - after failing to locate a nearby YMCA.  I had to admit that I was not too heartbroken that the YMCA that I visited no longer existed. I made the decision that I would skip a day of exercising. I could not remember the last time I missed a day of working out. I know that I should NOT work out EVERY day - but my addictive/obsessive need to exercise each day is strong. Yesterday which was the day after the day off was a different story. Yesterday I was energized.

This time I visited a YMCA that still does exist. I arrived around 5:15PM.  My original goal was to spend two hours on the elliptical machine. After my two hour workout, I still had some energy - so after a short break, I hopped on the machine again for another hour. And after that third hour - I still had some energy to release and worked out for a fourth hour.  It was close to 10:00PM when I left, and I was the last person in the place as the facility closes at 10:00PM. I found an uninspiring dinner of two pre-wrapped sandwiches at a gas station on the way home.  I ate my dinner and at midnight, I still had some energy within myself to unravel.  I spent two hours until 2:00AM walking in place.  I did not stop that particular activity until I had recorded my 10,000th step.  So, today, Thursday when I awoke, I already have 10,000 steps 'in the bank.'

There are two conclusions to explain that abundance of activity. It might be true that that day off was a much needed respite for my body and that it explains my energy burst on the following day. Another conclusion might be made that I am nuts. I guess a third conclusion could be made that both of those statements are true. Yes, that's it.
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Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker Cinnamon & Spice Instant Oatmeal	480	96	6	12	630	33
Crispy Biscotti - Biscoti, 1 bar	150	20	7	2	15	11
KELLOGGS - RAISIN BRAN (dry cereal)	190	46	1	5	210	18
	820	162	14	19	855	62
L U N C H
Colcannon, 0.5 cup	150	27	4	4	164	1
Pasta Roni - Parmesan & Romano Cheese	120	22	3	4	420	2
Codfish	189	0	2	41	140	0
Whole Foods Cherry Granola	240	40	7	5	60	15
Caprese Salad	90	10	4	4	150	5
	789	99	19	58	934	23
D I N N E R
Sheetz - Turkey Deli Sandwich, 2 Sandwich	580	78	14	36	1,700	16
Quaker Rice Crisps Cheddar Cheese	390	63	15	6	1,230	3
Crunchy Granola Bar Oats and Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
	1,160	170	36	45	3,110	30
S N A C K S
Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, 1 bar	190	14	12	10	170	6
Fiber One Fiber One Bar, Oats & Chocolate	140	29	4	2	90	10
	330	43	16	12	260	16
Totals	3,099	474	85	134	5,159	131
Your Daily Goal	5,569	696	185	279	2,300	208
Remaining	2,470	222	100	145	-2,859	76
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,639 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	65	909
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	65	1,053
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	65	949
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	65	1,049
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-321
Daily Total / Goal	261 / 30	3,639 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	656 / 210	5,996 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3099 calories

total calories burned (four hours elliptical) 3960 calories

total net 861 calorie defecit

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fitbit day 203

30351 steps  

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EXERCISE IN FUTILITY

What is an exercise in futility?

1. a useless action that cannot succeed
   

   Synonyms and related words

   
   

   Likely to fail:

   hopeless, unworkable, unpromising....

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This definition of an exercise in futility works for me.  Two days ago, on Thursday, I felt badly that I 'only' exercised for one hour.  My reason was pretty lame too.  I was staying at a Baymont Hotel in Fishers, Indiana.  I did wake up early enough to spend two hours on their very adequate hotel elliptical machine - but instead I chose to work out for just one hour and make use of my inroom jacuzzi.

On Friday, back in Chicago, my appointment cancelled at the last minute.  So, I made lemonade out of lemons.  I went to my local YMCA for a two hour workout and came home for a very enjoyable lunch of cabbage soup.  However, I still had energy, and I returned to the fitness room in my own building for another 92 minute workout.  Right about this time, I thought about breaking my personal record of exercising for five hours in one day.  When the day was over, the record was crushed.  After a quick break, I returned for a third workout of the day, another 92 minutes in the late afternoon.  My family went grocery shopping in the evening, and when I returned, I worked out for a fourth time for another set of 92 minutes.  And right before midnight, I completed a short 19 minute workout which meant my total for the day was 420 minutes which translates to 7 hours on an elliptical machine in one day.  Please do not tell me that this is moronic - I already know that.  I think that this is a personal record that I will never break.  I am glad to have accomplished this dubious feat once.

One cannot exercise the pounds away.  It is an exercise in futility to think that that is possible. But hey, it couldn't hurt!

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, March 11, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon, 6 slices	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
2 Egg Omelette With Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	383	2	21	32	810	2
	623	2	39	50	1,860	2
L U N C H
Weight Watcher's - Cabbage Soup	500	51	1	11	392	28
Roundy's - Medium Peas, 1.75 cup	245	42	2	14	1,120	21
	745	93	3	25	1,512	49
D I N N E R
Generic - Teriyaki Salmon Steaks, 3 oz	135	2	4	23	183	3
Southwest Roasted Corn, 0.67 c	160	17	9	3	260	3
Roasted Lemon Pepper Cod, 1 Fillet	140	2	4	25	360	0
Cranberry and Carrot Quinoa Salad, 1/2 cup	140	23	5	3	0	0
	575	44	21	54	803	6
S N A C K S
72% Dark Chocolate Bar With Mint, 0.5 bar	220	20	18	3	0	11
Kind - Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan Bar	200	16	16	5	20	5
Dang - Coconut Flakes, 0.7 oz	115	12	7	1	115	8
	535	48	41	9	135	24
Totals	2,478	186	104	139	4,309	81
Your Daily Goal	8,913	1,114	297	446	2,300	334
Remaining	6,435	927	192	307	-2,009	253
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 6,983 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, March 11, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	125	2,346
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,610
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,562
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	92	1,633
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	19	318
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-486
Daily Total / Goal	421 / 30	6,983 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	920 / 210	14,623 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2478 calories

total calories burned (7 HOURS elliptical) 7469 calories

total net 4991 calorie deficit

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fitbit day 191

45774 steps  

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SATURDAY WEIGHT

I stepped on my scale this morning, and the imaginary needle on my digital scale stopped at 227.3 lbs.  This is 3 pounds less than my weight last Saturday.  I sincerely hope that my solution to weight loss does not include the requirement to work out for 7 hours in a day!  Of course, I know that it does not.  Nevertheless, there is an extra bounce in my step today... I feel great that I am a bit more comfortably under 230 lbs again.  I feel great that I had the stamina to actually spend 420 minutes on an elliptical machine in one day.  Of course it was a somewhat ridiculous endeavor.  But still, I did it. I was physically able to do it.  I am pretty sure that I am unlikely to be doing something like that again.  However, I know myself pretty well... Maybe I will.  I know that I won't be trying to break that record today.  I think today might be a good day to talk a walk.

After recently crossing the border and traveling on highway 230, I am very pleased to be back on highway 227.  My trip started on December 24, 2014.  On that day I weighed 309 lbs.  I had the stamina to remain on the treadmill for only 20 minutes before being completely winded.  I have come a long way and I am justified in feeling some pride in my accomplishments. It is clear that I have lost a few skirmishes and weight loss battles along the way, but I am winning the war.  That is the point, yes?

NEVER NOT ENOUGH TIME TO WORKOUT

I used to be one of those people who thought that I could not exercise because I didn't have the time.  This is something that many people say. Perhaps they even believe it as I once did. According to multiple sources, Americans spend more than three hours per day watching television. The nice thing about watching television is that one can watch AND workout at the same time. Most people prefer to sit on the couch with a bag of chips. That description would have perfectly described me for much of my life. Yesterday was getaway day from Ohio as I needed to return to Chicago. I had a three hour visit with a customer in Chillicothe, Ohio and then I had a seven hour road trip back home. Although yesterday would have been a good day for me to schedule a day off from exercise - my exercise addiction did not allow it.  Instead, I set my alarm for 4:30AM, put on my workout clothes, checked out of my hotel and drove 15 minutes to the nearest YMCA and arrived prior to their opening at 5:30AM.  By 5:35AM I was pedaling on the AMT elliptical machine. The fitness room was quite active - there had to be at least 10 others getting an early fitness start to their day. After my workout, I showered, I shaved and I still had to drive 90 minutes to my appointment. I successfully squeezed in a two-hour workout before my 10:00AM meeting. It is a great way to start a day, with a two-hour workout under my belt. The conclusion is that there is never not enough time to workout.  (Yeah, I know that using double negatives is improper English - so you don't have to bother not telling me.)

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, February 18, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Starbucks - Reduced Fat Turkey Bacon, 1 Sandwich	230	28	6	13	560	3
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 4 packet (28 g)	400	88	0	8	1,240	0
Banana - One Piece - Banana (One Whole), 100 g	120	20	0	1	1	15
	750	136	6	22	1,801	18
L U N C H
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	240	40	7	5	60	15
Red Delicious - Apple, Large, 3 large	333	88	1	2	6	66
UNSWEETENED BANANA CHIPS	170	16	10	2	5	1
YOGURT ALMONDS	330	33	21	6	30	29
	1,073	177	39	15	101	111
D I N N E R
STARBUCKS - BACON & GOUDA BREAKFAST SANDWICH, 2 sandwich	700	60	36	34	1,640	0
	700	60	36	34	1,640	0
S N A C K S
Jason's Deli - Pumpkin Cheddar Flatbread	800	80	32	48	1,520	0
	800	80	32	48	1,520	0
Totals	3,323	453	113	119	5,062	129
Your Daily Goal	3,886	486	129	195	2,300	145
Remaining	563	32	15	76	-2,762	16
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,956 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	65	1,014
PRECOR AMT (ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINER)	65	1,001
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-59
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	1,956 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	524 / 210	8,291 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3323 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 2015 calories

total net 1308 calories

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fitbit day 165

16949 steps  

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5:35AM First Session 65 minutes, AMT Elliptical Machine 1014 calories burned

6:40AM Second Session 65 minutes, AMT Elliptical Machine 1001 calories burned

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