Friday, September 16, 2016

MONKEYING AROUND

Since my Saturday afternoon 'accident' at Matthiessen State Park when I took an unplanned dip near a waterfall with my iPhone, I had not ventured outside for a walk. On Tuesday and Wednesday I got involved with a Netflix show which kept me exercising on the elliptical machine so I could continue some harmless binge watching. The weather was spectacular on Thursday so it was time to get back outside. Before my afternoon appointment I had the chance to take a nine mile urban hike. And while I was walking through the Lincoln Park Zoo, I had the chance to monkey around a bit.

That's me on the right.

It wasn't all monkey business at the zoo, me and the lion had some quality time together as well.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Creamy Wheat - Enriched Farina	480	100	0	16	340	4
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories	360	76	8	4	320	28
	840	176	8	20	660	32
L U N C H
Spaghetti With Meatsauce	1,140	172	28	52	2,660	12
	1,140	172	28	52	2,660	12
D I N N E R
Campbell's Chunky - Manhattan Clam Chowder	480	72	12	20	3,200	12
Nabisco - Oyster Crackers	180	30	6	3	420	0
Texas Toast	300	60	3	9	0	0
	960	162	21	32	3,620	12
S N A C K S
VANILLA ALMOND GRANOLA	600	110	19	12	144	34
	600	110	19	12	144	34

Totals	3,540	620	76	116	7,084	90
Your Daily Goal	3,832	479	127	192	2,300	143
Remaining	292	-141	51	76	-4,784	53
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,902 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking 9 miles	115	1,842


Daily Total / Goal	115 / 30	1,842 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	441 / 210	5,777 / 4,130

HALLOWEEN IS STILL 45 DAYS AWAY.
ELECTION DAY WILL BE 8 DAYS AFTER HALLOWEEN.
I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE A RANDOM SCARY PHOTO.
According to some recent polling, it appears that Hillary's electoral support is collapsing.
I would like to publicly wish Hillary a speedy recovery from whatever ails her.
Any replacement Democratic candidate would only be stronger and more formidable.

Hillary remains the best chance for a Republican win in November.

and now... a poem.

Hillary for America is wrong
but we need her to stay healthy and strong
so she can be defeated and kept away from the White House where she does not belong.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

10000 STEPS IS EASY, 10000 CALORIES IS HARD

As the millions of 'fitbitters' around the country know - 10000 steps is the recommended target to shoot for each day. 10000 steps is estimated to be the equivalent of walking 5 miles.

It's not that attaining 10,000 steps per day is easy. It is not. Trying to 'burn' 10,000 calories in a day is nearly, but not quite, impossible. Certainly, it is hard to argue against the fact that it is highly improbable.

Today I wanted to shine a spotlight on my dubious accomplishment on Friday when I spent 7 hours on an elliptical machine over the course of the day. My fitbit recorded 'only' 45,774 steps. Those steps were not just walking around the neighborhood, or strolling through a mall: the steps on the elliptical machine were calculated by the fitbit to have burned 10,160 calories. As I have discussed many times before, I know that these numbers are likely wildly overestimated - but it is clear that I must have burned some large number of calories having spent 7 hours on an elliptical machine.

In contrast, back on October 1, 2015, all I did was hike up to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite Park and back down again in one day. The fitbit on that day recorded 54,101 steps - but 'only' recorded 7,212 calories burned.

And finally, on October 11, 2015, I walked nearly 40 miles over the course of the day... (26 miles Chicago Marathon route, with other miscellaneous walks that day that totaled nearly 40 miles) That day was my personal record for steps and calories burned. The fitbit recorded an astounding 75,029 steps and recorded a calorie burn of 10,891.

No matter how inflated the calorie burn recorded by the fitbit and/or elliptical machines are.... It is still some kind of accomplishment to end a day with an alleged burn of 10000+ calories.

My exercise on Saturday kept me far away from any elliptical machine. Still, I did not exactly take a day off. I took a long 10 mile walk. I took a short break to pick up a snack in downtown Chicago. Then I walked 2 miles more to get home. Walking 12 miles at 4.5 miles per hour is excellent exercise. In fact, it is my favorite exercise. I enjoy watching TV and/or Netflix movies while working on the elliptical machine - but nothing beats being outdoors in the sunshine.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
2 Egg Omelette With Ham and Cheese	383	2	21	32	810	2
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon, 6 slices	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
Apple - Braeburn, 2 medium apple	142	38	0	1	0	29
	765	40	40	51	1,860	31
L U N C H
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	240	40	7	5	60	15
Campbell's Manhattan Clam Chowder	480	72	12	20	3,200	12
Organic Fair Trade Dark Chocolate Baton	190	21	11	3	5	11
	910	133	30	28	3,265	38
D I N N E R
Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 1 cup	65	13	3	6	23	0
BLACK ANGUS TOP SIRLOIN	360	0	24	33	0	0
Baked Stuff Potatoes, 2 cooked	480	54	24	16	800	8
	905	67	51	55	823	8
S N A C K S
Organic Dark Chocolate Baton Espresso	400	38	26	6	10	26
	400	38	26	6	10	26

Totals	2,980	278	146	139	5,958	103
Your Daily Goal	4,066	508	135	204	2,300	152
Remaining	1,086	230	-11	64	-3,657	49
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,136 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	133	1,938
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	27	379
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-181


Daily Total / Goal	161 / 30	2,136 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1081 / 210	16,759 / 4,130

total calories consumed 2980 calories

total calories burned (twelve miles walking) 2317 calories

total net 663 calories

. . . . . . . . . . .

fitbit day 192

22765 steps

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

One thing that you can't see while working out indoors on an elliptical machine is a RHINO. Oh sure, the GOP debate stages have been chock full of RINOS (Republicans in Name Only) but I prefer the real ones at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

This lion at the Lincoln Park Zoo was enjoying the day while relaxing on a big rock.

I enjoy working out on an elliptical machine, but you'd never see a lion working out indoors.